And what life have they there, all that great sort?
IMAGINATION.
By God, sir, once a year some taw halts of Burport:[117]
Yea, at Tyburn there standeth the great frame.
And some take a fall that maketh their neck lame.
FREEWILL.
Yea, but can they then go no more?
IMAGINATION.
Oh, no, man; the wrest is twist so sore, For as soon as they have said _In manus tuas_ once, By God, their breath is stopped at once.
FREEWILL.
Why, do they pray in that place there?
IMAGINATION.
Yea, sir, they stand in great fear, And so fast tangled in that snare, It falleth to their lot to have the same share.
FREEWILL.
That is a knavish sight to see them totter on a beam.
IMAGINATION.
Sir, the whoresons could not convey[118] clean; For, and they could have carried by craft as I can, In process of years each of them should be a gentleman.
Yet as for me I was never thief; If my hands were smitten off, I can steal with my teeth; For ye know well, there is craft in daubing:[119]
I can look in a man's face and pick his purse, And tell new tidings that was never true, i-wis, For my hood is all lined with lesing.[120]
FREEWILL.
Yea, but went ye never to Tyburn a pilgrimage?
IMAGINATION.
No, i-wis; nor none of my lineage, For we be clerks all, and can our neck verse, And with an ointment the judge's hand I can grease, That will heal sores that be incurable.
FREEWILL.
Why, were ye never found reprovable?
IMAGINATION.
Yes, once I stall a horse in the field, And leapt on him for to have ridden my way: At the last a baily me met and beheld, And bad me stand; then was I in a fray: He asked, whither with that horse I would gone; And then I told him it was mine own: He said I had stolen him; and I said nay: This is, said he, my brother's hackney.
For, and I had not excused me, without fail, By our lady, he would have lad me straight to jail; And then I told him the horse was like mine, A brown bay, a long mane, and did halt behine, Thus I told him, that such another horse I did lack; And yet I never saw him, nor came on his back: So I delivered him the horse again.
And when he was gone, then was I fain: For and I had not excused me the better, I know well I should have danced in a fetter.
FREEWILL.
And said he no more to thee but so?
IMAGINATION.
Yea, he pretended me much harm to do; But I told him that morning was a great mist, That what horse it was I ne wist: Also I said, that in my head I had the megrin, That made me dazzle so in mine eyen, That I might not well see.
And thus he departed shortly from me.
FREEWILL.
Yea, but where is Hickscorner now?
IMAGINATION.
Some of these young men hath hid him in Their bosoms, I warrant ye: Let us make a cry, that he may us hear.
FREEWILL.
How now, Hickscorner, appear; I trow thou be hid in some corner.
HICKSCORNER.
Ale[121] the helm, ale, veer, shoot off, veer sail, veer-a.
FREEWILL.
Cock's body, hark, he is a ship on the sea.