That now nill be quit with bail nor borrow. PAL. Three things to bear be very burdenous, But the fourth to forbear is outrageous: Women, that of love's longing once lust, Hardly forbearen, but have it they must: So when choler is inflamed with rage, Wanting revenge, is hard to assuage: And who can counsel a thirsty soul, With patience to forbear the offer'd bowl? But of all burdens, that a man can bear, Most is, a fool's talk to bear and to hear. I ween the giant has not such a weight, That bears on his shoulders the heaven's height. Thou findest fault where n'is to be found, And buildest strong work upon a weak ground: Thou railest on right withouten reason, And blamest them much for small encheason. How shoulden shepheards live, if not so? What? should they pinen in pain and woe? Nay, say I thereto, by my dear borrow, If I may rest, I nill live in sorrow. Sorrow ne need be hastened on, For he will come, without calling, anon, While times enduren of tranquillity, Usen we freely our felicity; For, when approachen the stormy stowres, We must with our shoulders bear off the sharp showers; And, sooth to sayn, nought seemeth sike strife, That shepheards so witen each other's life, And layen their faults the worlds beforn, The while their foes do each of them scorn. Let none mislike of that may not be mended; So contest soon by concord might be ended. PIERS. Shepheard, I list no accordance make With shepheard, that does the right way forsake; And of the twain, if choice were to me, Had lever my foe than my friend he be; For what concord have light and dark sam? Or what peace has the lion with the lamb? Such faitours, when their false hearts be hid, Will do as did the Fox by the Kid.[8] PAL. Now, Piers, of fellowship, tell us that saying; For the lad can keep both our flocks from straying. PIERS. Thilk same Kid (as I can well devise) Was too very foolish and unwise; For on a time, in summer season, The Goat her dam, that had good reason, Yode forth abroad unto the green wood, To brouze, or play, or what she thought good: But, for she had a motherly care Of her young son, and wit to beware, She set her youngling before her knee, That was both fresh and lovely to see, And full of favour as kid might be. His velvet head began to shoot out, And his wreathed horns gan newly sprout; The blossoms of lust to bud did begin, And spring forth rankly under his chin. "My son," (quoth she, and with that gan weep; For careful thoughts in her heart did creep;) "God bless thee, poor orphan! as he might me, And send thee joy of thy jollity. Thy father," (that word she spake with pain, For a sigh had nigh rent her heart in twain,) "Thy father, had he lived this day, To see the branch of his body display,