st better laft[290]
The tales that thou hast told.

_4th Torturer._ Stand near, fellows, and let us see
How we can horse our king so free
By any craft;
Stand thou yonder on yon side,
And we shall see how he can ride.
And how to wield a shaft.

_1st Torturer._ Sir, come ye hither, and have done,
And get upon your palfrey soon
For he is ready bowne:[291]
If ye be bound to him be not wroth,
For be ye secure we were full loth
On any wise that ye fell down.

_2nd Torturer._ Knit thou a knot, with all thy strength
For to draw this arm at length
Till it come to the bore.

_3rd Torturer._ Thou art mad, man, by this light!
It wants, in each man's sight
Another half span, and more.

_4th Torturer._ Yet draw out this arm, and make it fast,
With this rope, that well will last,
And each man lay hand to.

_1st Torturer._ Yes, and bind thou fast that band,
We shall go to that other hand,
And look what we can do.

_2nd Torturer._ Do drive a nail there throughout,
And then there shall nothing doubt,
For it will not _breste_.[292]

_3rd Torturer._ That shall I do, so might I thrive,
For to hammer and to drive
Thereto I am full pressed;
So let it stick, for it is well.

_4th Torturer._ Thou sayest sooth,
There can no man mend.

_1st Torturer._ Hold down his knees.

_2nd Torturer._ That shall I do.
His nurse did never better do;
Lay on with each hand.

_3rd Torturer._ Draw out his limbs, let see, have at.

_4th Torturer._ That was well drawn out, that,
Fair befall him that so pulled!
For to have gotten it to the mark
I trow laymen nor clerk
Nothing better should!

_1st Torturer._ Hold it now fast there
One of you the bore shall bear,
And then it may not fail.

_2nd Torturer._ That shall I do withouten dread,
As ever might I well speed
Him to mickle bale.

_3rd Torturer._ So, that is well, it will not brest,[293]
But now, let see, who does the best
With any sleight of hand.

_4th Torturer._ Go we to the other ende
Fellows, fasten fast your hende,[294]
And pull well at the band.

_1st Torturer._ I counsel, fellows, by this weather
That we draw now all together,
And look how it will fare.

_2nd Torturer._ Now let see, and leave your din
And draw we ilka syn from syn.[295]
For nothing let us spare.

_3rd Torturer._ Nay, fellows, this is no play,
We no longer draw one way,
So mickle have I espied.

_4th Torturer._ No, for as I have bliss
Some