his gossips, tell now to me!

_Mac._ So fair fall their lips!

_1st Shepherd (aside)._ Hark now, a lee![173]

_Mac._ So God them thank,
Parkin, and Gibbon Waller, I say,
And gentle John Horne, in good fay,[174]
He made all the garray,[175]
With the great shank.

_2nd Shepherd._ Mac, friends will we be, for we are all one.

_Mac._ Why! now I hold for me, for help get I none.
Farewell all three: all glad were ye gone.

_3rd Shepherd._ Fair words may there be, but love there is none.

_1st Shepherd._ Gave ye the child anything?

_2nd Shepherd._ I trust not one farthing.

_3rd Shepherd._ Fast again will I fling,
Abide ye me there. [_He returns to Mac's cot._
Mac, take it to no grief, if I come to thy barn.

_Mac._ Nay, thou dost me great reprieve, and foul hast thou farne.[176]

_3rd Shepherd._ The child will it not grieve, that little day starn.[177]
Mac, with your leave, let me give your bairn,
But sixpence.

_Mac._ Nay, go 'way: he sleepys.

_3rd Shepherd._ Methink he peepys.

_Mac._ When he wakens he weepys.
I pray you go hence.

_3rd Shepherd._ Give me leave him to kiss, and lift up the clout.
What the devil is this? He has a long snout.

_1st Shepherd._ He is marked amiss. We wait ill about.

_2nd Shepherd._ Ill spun weft, I wis, aye cometh foul out;
Aye so;
He is like to our sheep.

_3rd Shepherd._ How, Gib, may I peep?

_1st Shepherd._ I trow, kind will creep,
Where it may not go.

_2nd Shepherd._ This was a quaint gaud,[178] and a far cast
It was a high fraud.

_3rd Shepherd._ Yea, sirs, was't.
Let burn this bawd and bind her fast.
A false skawd[179] hangs at the last;
So shall thou.
Will ye see how they swaddle
His four feet in the middle?
Saw I never in a cradle
A horned lad e'er now.

_Mac._ Peace bid I: what! let be your fare;
I am he that him gat, and yond woman him bare.

_1st Shepherd._ What devil shall he halt?[180] Mac, lo, God makes air.

_2nd Shepherd._ Let be all that. Now God give him care!
I sagh.[181]

_Wife._ A pretty child is he,
As sits upon a woman's knee;
A dylly-downe, perdie!
To make a man laugh.

_3rd Shepherd._ I know him by the ear mark:--that is a good token.

_Mac._ I tell you, sirs, hark:--his nose was broken.
Since then, told me a clerk,--that he was forespoken.[182]

_1st Shepherd._ This is a false work.--I would fain be wroken:[183]
Get a weapon!

_Wife._ He was take