7
Again bespake the Heir of Linne,
To John o’ th’ Scales wife then spake he:
"Madam, some alms on me bestow,
"I pray for sweet saint charity."
"Away, away, thou thriftless loon,
"I swear thou’lt get no alms of me;
"Should we hang any losealls here,
"The first we would begin with thee."
O then bespake a good fellow,
Who sat at John o’ th’ Scales's board,
Said, "Turn again, thou Heir of Linne;
"Some time thou wast a right good Lord;
"Some time a good fellow thou'st been,
"And sparedst not thy gold and see;
"Therefore I'll lend thee forty pence,
"And other forty if need be:
"And aye, I pray thee John o’ th’ Scales,
"Let him sit in thy companie;
"For well I wot thou hadst his land,
"And a good bargain it was to thee."
Up to him spak’ John o’ the Scales,
All wud he answer’d him again
"Now Christ’s curse on ray head,’ he said,
"But I did lose by that bargain.
"Here I do proffer thee all, Linne,
"Before these Lords so fair and free;
"Thou’lt get it cheaper back again
"A hundred merits than it cost me.
"I take you witness. Lords,” he said;
With that he gave a god’s-pennie:
Now by my fay,” said th’ Heir of Linne,
"And here, good John, is thy monie."
Then he pull’d forth three bags of gold,
And laid them down upon the board;
