"Everyman," With Other Interludes, Including Eight Miracle Plays Part 13

_1st Shepherd._ Lord! what, these weathers are cold, and I am ill happed; I am near hand-dold,[86] so long have I napped; My legs bend and fold, my fingers are chapped, It is not as I would, for I am all lapped In sorrow.

In storms and tempest, Now in the east, now in the west, Woe is him has never rest, Mid day nor morrow.

But we silly shepherds, that walk upon the moor, In faith, we are near hands out of the door; No wonder, as it stands, if we be poor, For the tilth of our lands lies fallow as the floor, We are so lamed, So taxed and shamed, We are made hand-tamed, With these gentlery-men.

Thus they rieve us of rest, Our Lady them wary, These men that are lord-fest,[87] they cause the plough tarry.

That men say is for the best, we find it contrary, Thus are husbands[88] opprest, in point to miscarry, In life.

Thus hold they us under, Thus they bring us in blunder, It were great wonder, And ever should we thrive.

For may he get a paint sleeve,[89] or a brooch now on days, Woe is he that shall grieve, or once again says, Dare no man him reprieve, what mast'ry he has, And yet may none believe one word that he says-- No letter.

He can make purveyance, With boast and bragance,[90]

And all through maintenance, Of men that are greater.

There shall come a swain, as proud as a po,[91]

He must borrow my wain, my plough also, Then I am full fain to grant or he go.

Thus live we in pain, anger, and woe, By night and day; He must have if he longed If I should forgang[92] it, I were better be hanged Than once say him nay.

It does me good, as I walk thus by mine own, Of this world for to talk in manner of moan To my sheep will I stalk and hearken anon There abide on a balk, or sit on a stone Full soon.

For I trow, pardie!

True men if they be, We get more company Or it be noon.

_2nd Shepherd._ "Beniste"[93] and "Dominus!" what may this bemean?

Why fares this world thus, oft have we not seen.

Lord, these weathers are spitous,[94] and the weather full keen; And the frost so hideous they water mine een, No lie.

Now in dry, now in wet, Now in snow, now in sleet, When my shoon freeze to my feet It is not all easy.

But as far as I ken, or yet as I go, We silly wed-men dree mickle woe;[95]

We have sorrow then and then, it falls often so, Silly capyl, our hen, both to and fro She cackles, But begin she to croak, To groan or to cluck, Woe is him, say of our c.o.c.k, For he is in the shackles.

These men that are wed, have not all their will, When they are full hard sted,[96] they sigh full still; G.o.d wait they are led full hard and full ill, In bower nor in bed they say not there till This tide.

My part have I found, My lesson is learn'd, Woe is him that is bound, For he must abide.

But now late in our lives, a marvel to me, That I think my heart rives,[97] such wonders to see, What that destiny drives it should so be, Some men will have two wives, and some men three, In store.

Some are woe that have any; But so far ken I, Woe is he who has many, For he feels it sore.

But young men of wooing, for G.o.d that you bought, Be well ware of wedding, and think in your thought "Had I wist" is a thing it serves ye of nought; Mickle still mourning has wedding home brought, And griefs, With many a sharp shower, For thou may catch in an hour That shall serve thee full sour As long as thou lives.

For as read I epistle, I have one to my fear As sharp as a thistle, as rough as a brere.[98]

She is browed like a bristle with a sour lenten cheer; Had she once wet her whistle she could sing full clear Her pater-noster.

She is as great as a whale, She has a gallon of gall; By him that died for us all!

I would I had run till I lost her.

_1st Shepherd._ G.o.d look over the row, full deafly ye stand.

_2nd Shepherd._ Yea, the devil in thy maw!--so tariand,[99]

Saw thou aught now of Daw?

_1st Shepherd._ Yea, on a lea land Heard I him blow, he comes here at hand, Not far; Stand still.

_2nd Shepherd._ Why?

_1st Shepherd._ For he comes here, hope I.

_2nd Shepherd._ He will make us both a lie, But if we beware.

_3rd Shepherd._ Christ's cross me speed, and Saint Nicholas!

Thereof had I need, it is worse than it was.

Whoso could take heed, and let the world pa.s.s, It is ever in dread and brittle as gla.s.s, And slithers,[100]

This world fared never so, With marvels mo and mo,[101]

Now in weal, now in woe, And all things withers.

Was never since Noah's flood such floods seen, Winds and rains so rude, and storms so keen, Some stammered, some stood in doubt, as I ween, Now G.o.d turn all to good, I say as I mean, For ponder.

These floods so they drown Both in fields and in town, They bear all down, And that is a wonder.

We that walk in the nights, our cattle to keep, We see sudden sights, when other men sleep: Yet methinks my heart lights, I see shrews peep, Ye are two, all wights,[102] I will give my sheep A turn.

But full ill have I meant, As I walk on this bent,[103]

I may lightly repent, My toes if I spurn.

Ah, sir, G.o.d you save, and master mine!

A drink fain would I have and somewhat to dine.

_1st Shepherd._ Christ's curs, my knave, thou art a lazy hyne.[104]

_2nd Shepherd._ What, the boy list rave. Abide until syne[105]

We have made it.

I'll thrift on thy pate!

Though the shrew came late Yet is he in state To dine if he had it.

_3rd Shepherd._ Such servants as I, that sweats and swinks, Eats our bread full dry, and that me forthinks; We are oft wet and weary when master men winks, Yet comes full lately both dinners and drinks, But neatly.

Both our dame and our sire, When we have run in the mire, They can nip at our hire,[106]

And pay us full lately.

But hear my truth, master, for the fare that ye make I shall do thereafter work, as I take; I shall do a little, sir, and strive and still lack, For yet lay my supper never on my stomack In fields.

Whereto should I threap?[107]

With my staff can I leap, And men say "light cheap Letherly for yields."[108]

_1st Shepherd._ Thou wert an ill lad, to ride on wooing With a man that had but little of spending.

_2nd Shepherd._ Peace, boy!--I bade: no more jangling, Or I shall make thee afraid, by the heaven's king!

With thy gawds; Where are our sheep, boy, we scorn?

_3rd Shepherd._ Sir, this same day at morn, I them left in the corn, When they rang lauds; They have pasture good, they cannot go wrong.

_1st Shepherd._ That is right by the rood, these nights are long, Yet I would, or we yode,[109] one gave us a song.

_2nd Shepherd._ So I thought as I stood, to mirth us among.[110]

_3rd Shepherd._ I grant.

_1st Shepherd._ Let me sing the tenory.

_2nd Shepherd._ And I the treble so high.

_3rd Shepherd._ Then the mean falls to me; Let see how ye chaunt.

[_Mac enters, with a cloak thrown over his smock._

_Mac._ Now, Lord, for thy names seven, that made both moon and starns[111]

Well more than I can even: thy will, Lord, of my thorns; I am all uneven, that moves oft my horns,[112]

Now would G.o.d I were in heaven, for there weep no bairns So still.

_1st Shepherd._ Who is that pipes so poor?