Jack changes the subject; offers to shoot a bird and give it to the friar. Shoots it. The friar gone among and makes him dance. The briars scratch and tear him. There sate a small birde in a5 bryar: "Shoot, shoot, you wagg," then sayd the fryer, 232 Iacke hitt the bird vpon the head 244 The sharpe bryars cacth 14 him by the face, It tare his clothes downe to the skirt, 2 248 his cope, his coole,3 his linen shirt, 252 & euery other weede.1 The thornes this while 5 were rough & thicke, & did his priuy members pricke, that fast they gan to bleede. Iacke, as he piped, laught amonge 6; the fryar with bryars was vildlye stunge, he hopped wonderous hye. 256 Att last the fryar held vp his hand, & said, "I can noe longer stand! Oh! I shall dancing dye! The thornes had scratcht him by the face, 272 the hands, the thighes,10 & euery place, he was all bathed in bloode 1 He tare.-P. 2 His cap.-P. cowle, a monk's hood.-P. 4 garment, A.-S. wæd, wed.-F. 5 the while.-P. 6 at intervals.-F. ' at the.-P. Jack laughs. The friar begs for mercy. Jack lets him go. The friar goes away ragged and lacerated, to the stepdame, and recounts his woes. She complains of the boy to the goodman, who inquires into the case, When to the good wife home 2 he came, 280 Much sorrow in his hart he had, 284 288 The goodwiffe said, "where hast thou beene ? 66 by sight of thine array." Dame," said he, "I came from thy sonne; the devill & he hath me vndone, noe man him conquer may." 300 1 were fain.-P. 2 MS. hone.-F. 3 mad.-P. now tell me without let." "The devill him take! "7 the fryar he sayd, among the thornes the hey-to-bee.9" [page 101.] hey-go-beat.-P. Hey, to sport, play or gambol; to kick about. Halliwell.-F. The goodman said vnto him thoe, it had beene1 deadly sine.2" 304 The fryar to him made this replye, "the pipe did sound soe Merrilye that I cold never blin.3' 66 lye not in any thing." 316 ffather," he said, "now by my birthe, I plaide him but a fitt of Mirth & pipet him vp a spring." "That pipe," said his father, "wold I heare.”8 320 now god forbidd!" cryed out the fryar9; 324 his hands he then did1o wringe. "You shall," the boy said, "by gods grace." making his sorrowes ringe. "ffor gods loue!" said the warched fryar,11 1 It shd be:-It had been no deadly sin.-P. 2 sin, pr. copy.-P. 3 blin, cessare, desinere, desistere.— Lye.-P. 4 unto.-P. 5 let me hear.-P. 6 piped him a.-P. and, when Jack comes home, calls him to account for his doings. Wishes himself to hear the pipe. At his own request the friar is bound fast to a post. Jack pipes, and every creature dances, the goodman 328 for sure my fortune thus I reade, if dance I doe, I am but deade, my woe-full life is lost!" Strong ropes they tooke, both sharpe & round, 332 & to the post the fryer bounde1 The good man, as in sad dispaire, 352 Some others leapt quite ore the stockes, [page 102.] |