WILL. It seemeth that colliers have a very[114] trim life.
GRIM. Colliers get money still: tell me of troth, Is not that a trim life now, as the world go’th? All day though I toil with my main and might, With money in my pouch I come home merry at night, And sit down in my chair by my wife fair Alison, And turn a crab in the fire,[115] as merry as Pope John.
JACK. That pope was a merry fellow, of whom folk talk so much.
GRIM. H’ad to be merry withal, h’ad gold enough in his hutch.
JACK. Can gold make men merry? they say, who can sing so merry a note, As he that is not able to change a groat?[116]
GRIM. Who sings in that case, sings never in tune. I know for my part, That a heavy pouch with gold makes a light heart; Of which I have provided for a dear year good store, And these benters,[117] I trow, shall anon get me more.
WILL. By serving the court with coals, you gain’d all this money.
JACK. After what sort, I pray thee tell me?
GRIM. Nay, there bate an ace (quod Bolton[118]); I can wear a horn and blow it not.
GRIM. Shall I tell you by what sleight I got all this money? Then ich were a noddy indeed; no, no, I warrant ye. Yet in few words I tell you this one thing, He is a very fool that cannot gain by the king.
WILL. Well said, Father Grim: you are a wily collier and a brave, I see now there is no knave like to the old knave.
GRIM. Such knaves have money, when courtiers have none. But tell me, is it true that abroad is blown?
GRIM. Hath the king made those fair damsels his daughters, To become now fine and trim barbers?
GRIM. Good fellows, believe me, as the case now stands, I would give one sack of coals to be wash’d at their hands, If ich came so near them, for my wit chould not give three chips, If ich could not steal one swap at their lips.
JACK. Will, this knave is drunk, let us dress him. Let us rifle him so, that he have not one penny to bless him, And steal away his debenters[119] too. [_Aside._
WILL. Content: invent the way, and I am ready,
JACK. Faith, and I will make him a noddy. [_Aside._ Father Grim, if you pray me well,[120] I will wash you and shave you too, Even after the same fashion as the king’s daughters do: In all points as they handle Dionysius, I will dress you trim and fine.