And  make  betwix  us  sicker  bandis
WTicn  ocht  shall  vaik^  amangs  our  handis
That  ilk  man  stand  to  help  his  fallow." —

"  I  hald  thereto,  man,  by  Allhallow,  190

Swa  thou  fish  not  -nithin  my  boundis." —

"  That  shall  I  not,  by  Ciodis  woundis,"
Quod  he,  "  but  crar''  tak  thy  part."  —

"  Swa  shall  I  thine,  by  Goddis  hart ;

And  gif  the  Thcsaureii-'  be  our  friend

Then  shall  we  get  baith  tak"  and  teind.'

Take  he  our  part,  then  who  dare  wrong  us

But  we  shall  part  the  pelf  among  us.
But  haste  us,  while  the  ICing  is  young,

And  let  ilk^  man  keep  well  a  tongue,  200

And  in  ilk  quarter  have  a  spy

Us  to  advertise  hastily

When  any  casualities

Shall  happen  in  till'  our-  countries.
Let  us  make  sui-e  provisioun

Ere  he  come  to  discretioun.
No  more  he  wate  than  does  a  sante'"

What  thing  it  ben  to  have  or  wante,

So  ere  he  be  of  perfect  age

We  shall  be  sicker  of  oui-  wage ;  210

And  s)-ne,  let  ilka  carle  crave  "  other

That  mouth  speak  mail-."

Quoth  he,  "  My  brother.
Fore  God,  nor  I  rax  in  a  rape,'-

Thou  might  give  counsel  to  the  Pape."

Thus  labourit  they  withia  few  years

That  they  become  no  page's  peers.
So  hastily  they  made  a  hand  ;

Some  gatherit  gold,  some  conqueist  land.
"  Sii-,"  some  would  say,  "by  Saint  Denice,       220

Give  me  some  fat  benefice.
And  all  the  profit  ye  shall  have :

Give  me  the  name,  take  you  the  lave."

But,  by  Ms  bows''  were  well  come  hame

To  make  service  he  would  think  shame,

Syne,  slip  away  w-ithoutin  more

AVTien  he  had  gottin  that  he  sang  for.
