So foundly thus they both fell to ‘t, And giving bang for bang; At ev’ry blow the Shepherd gave King Alfred’s sword cried _twang_!
His buckler proved his chiefest fence; For still the Shepherd’s hook Was that the which King Alfred could In no good manner brook.
At last, when they had fought four hours, And it grew just midday, And wearied both, with right good will, Desired each other’s stay:
“A truce, I crave,” quoth Alfred then “Good Shepherd, hold thy hand, A sturdier fellow than thyself Lives not within the land!”
“Nor a lustier roister than thou art,” The churlish Shepherd said; “To tell thee plain, thy thievish look Now makes my heart afraid.
“Else sure thou art some prodigal, Which hast consumed thy store, And now com’st wand’ring in this place To rob and steal for more.”
“Deem not of me, then,” quoth our King, “Good Shepherd, in this sort. A gentleman well known I am In good King Alfred’s Court.”
PART II--WHEREIN KING ALFRED BECOMES A SHEPHERD
“The Devil thou art!” the Shepherd said, “Thou go’st in rags all torn; Thou rather seem’st, I think, to be Some beggar basely born.
“But if thou wilt mend thy estate, And here a shepherd be; At night, to Gillian, my sweet wife, Thou shalt go home with me:
“For she’s as good a toothless dame As mumbleth on brown bread; Where thou shalt lie in hurden sheets, Upon a fresh straw bed.
“Of whig and whey we have good store, And keep good pease-straw fire; And now and then good barley cakes, As better days require.
“But for my master, which is Chief And Lord of Newton-Court, He keeps, I say, his shepherd swains In far more braver sort;
“We there have curds and clouted cream Of red cow’s morning milk; And now and then fine buttered cakes As soft as any silk.
“Of beef and reifed bacon store, That is most fat and greasy, We have likewise, to feed our chaps And make them glib and easy.
“Thus if thou wilt my man become, This usage thou shalt have; If not, adieu; go hang thyself; And so farewell, Sir Knave.”
King Alfred hearing of this glee The churlish Shepherd said, Was well content to be his man; So they a bargain made;
A penny round the Shepherd gave In earnest of this match, To keep his sheep in field and fold, As shepherds use to watch.
His wages shall be full ten groats, For service of a year, Yet was it not his use, old lad, To hire a man so dear: