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<div id="Ploughboy"></div><br>
'''''Ploughboy'''''. Master, I have to work far too much; I go out at dawn, driving the oxen to the field, and I yoke them to the plough ; I dare not in the severest weather lie hid at home, for fear of my lord ; and when I have yoked the oxen together, and fastened the ploughshare to the plough, I have to plough a whole acre every day, or more. <br>
''Master''. Have you any companion ? <br>''Ploughboy''. I have a boy who threatens the oxen with a goad, and he is also hoarse with the cold and his shouting. <br>''Master''. What more do you perform in the day ? <br>''Ploughboy''. Certainly I do more besides that. I have to supply the mangers of the oxen with hay, and give them water, and carry their dung outside. <br>''Master''. indeed ! This is a great labour. <br>''Ploughboy''. Yes, it is a great labour that I have to fulfil, for I am not free. <br>''Master''. What do you say, Shepherd, have you any work ? <br>
<div id="Shepherd"></div><br>
'''''Shepherd'''''. Indeed, I have. In early morning I drive my sheep to the pastures, and I stand by them, in heat and cold, with dogs, lest the wolves should devour them, and I bring them back to their folds, and milk them twice a day, and I move their folds besides. I also make butter and cheese, and I am faithful to my lord. <br>
<div id="Oxherd"></div><br>
''Master* ''. Oxherd, what do you work at ? <br>'''''Oxherd'''''. Master, I labour much. When the ploughman unyokes the oxen, I lead them to the pastures, and all night I stand by them watching against thieves, and then, early in the morning, I give them over to the ploughman, well fed and watered. <br>''Master''. Is that boy one of your companions ? <br>''Oxherd''. He is. <br>
<div id="Huntsman"></div><br>
''Master''. Can you do anything ? <br>
'''''Huntsman'''''. One craft I know. <br>
''Master''. Which is that ? <br>''Huntsman''. I am a huntsman. <br>''Master''. Whose ? <br>''Huntsman''. The King's. <br>''Master''. In what way do you practise your art ? <br>''Huntsman''. I make myself nets, and set them in a fitting spot, and I urge on my dogs, to chase the wild animals, till unawares they get into the nets, and so they are entangled, and I cut their throats when in the nets. <br>''Master''. Don't you know how to hunt without nets ? <br>''Huntsman''. Yes, I am able to hunt without nets. <br>''Master''. How do you manage that ? <br>''Huntsman''. I hunt the wild animals with swift dogs. I take stags, and boars, and fallow deer, and goats, and sometimes hares. <br>''Master''. Were you hunting to-day ? <br>''Huntsman''. I was not, because it is the Lord's Day, but yesterday I was hunting. <br>''Master''. What did you catch ? <br>''Huntsman''. I took the stags in nets, and I cut the throat of the boar. <br>''Master''. How was it that you were daring enough to cut the throat of the boar ? <br>''Huntsman''. The dogs drove him towards me, and I, standing towards him, suddenly cut his throat. <br>''Master''. You were very daring then. <br>''Huntsman''. A huntsman must not be fearful, for a number of various beasts haunt the woods. <br>''Master''. How do you dispose of what you have caught ? <br>''Huntsman''. I give whatever I catch to the King, as I am his huntsman. <br>''Master''. And what does he give you ? <br>''Huntsman''. He clothes and feeds me well, and sometimes he gives me a horse, or a bracelet, that I may the more willingly practise my art. ''(Anglo-Saxon men were fond of wearing bracelets.)'' <div id="Fisherman"></div><br>''Master''. What craft do you know ? <br><div id="Fisherman"></div><br>
'''''Fisherman''''''. I am a fisherman. <br>
''Master''. And what do you gain by your craft ? <br>''Fisherman''. Food, and clothing, and money. <br>''Master''. How do you catch the fish ? <br>''Fisherman''. I get into a boat, and place my nets in the river, and I throw in a hook, and baskets, and whatever they catch I take. <br>''Master''. What if your fishes are not clean ? <br>''Fisherman''. I throw the unclean away, and take the clean ones for food. <br>''Master''. Where do you sell your fish ? <br>''Fisherman''. In the city. <br>''Master''. Who are your purchasers ? <br>''Fisherman''. The citizens. I cannot catch as many as I could sell. <br>''Master''. What kinds of fish do you catch ? <br>''Fisherman''. Eels and pike, minnows and joltheads, trout and lampreys, and any fish that swim in the river. <br>''Master''. Why don't you fish in the sea ? <br>''Fisherman''. I do sometimes, but it is a long way to the sea, so I seldom go thither. <br>''Master''. What do you catch in the sea ? <br>''Fisherman''. Herrings and salmon, dolphins and sturgeons, oysters and crabs, mussels and winkles, cockles, plaice, soles and lobsters, and the like. <br>''Master''. Are you desirous of catching a whale ? <br>''Fisherman''. I am not. <br>''Master''. Why is that ? <br>''Fisherman''. Because catching a whale is a dangerous business. I prefer to go on the river in my own boat rather than to accompany a number of boats for hunting a whale. <br>''Master''. How is that ? <br>''Fisherman''. Because I like better to catch a fish that I can kill, than a fish that by one blow can drown or put to death both myself and my companions. <br>''Master''. Yet there are many, who catch whales, and escape the dangers and make great gain thereby. <br>''Fisherman''. You speak the truth, but I dare not, for my mind is slothful. <br><div id="Fowler"></div><br>''Master''. Fowler, what have you to say ? How do you deceive the birds ? <br>
'''''Fowler'''''. I have many ways of deceiving the birds; sometimes by nets, sometimes by snares, sometimes by lime, sometimes by whistling, sometimes by a hawk, sometimes by a trap. <br>
Master. Have you a hawk ? <br>
Master. Yet many persons keep the hawks which they have tamed through the summer, that they may have them ready again. <br>
Fowler. Yes, they do, but I am not inclined to bestow so much labour on them, as I know how to catch others, and many of them. <br>
<div id="Merchant"></div><br>
Master. What have you to say, Merchant ? <br>
'''''Merchant'''''. I maintain that I am useful to the King, and to the nobles, and to the wealthy, and to the whole people. <br>
Master. Are you willing to sell your things just as you bought them there ? <br>
Merchant. By no means. If I did so, what good would my labour be to me ? I wish to sell dearer here, than I bought there, that I may gain some profit, to keep myself, and my wife and son. <br>
<div id="Shoemaker"></div><br>
Master. You, Shoemaker, what do you produce ? <br>
'''''Shoemaker'''''. My craft is indeed very useful and necessary for you. <br>
Master. How is that ? <br>
Shoemaker. I buy skins and hides, and prepare them, and make various kinds of sandals, slippers, shoes, and high boots, besides bridles, harness, and other horse trappings, halters and spurs; and also leather bottles, flasks, purses, and bags. ''(The order of some of these names has been transposed in the translation so as to bring together those that appear to have the same meaning. It is by no means easy to identify the signification of these names.)''<br>
<div id="Salter"></div><br>
Master. Oh, Salter, of what value is your craft to us? <br>
'''''Salter'''''. My craft is of great value to all of you; none of you would enjoy his dinner or supper unless my craft were his entertainer. <br>
Salter. What man would enjoy pleasant meats, without the savour of salt ? Who could fill his pantry, or his storeroom without my craft ? Behold, all your butter and cheese would perish, unless I were near to be their keeper, and you could not use your herbs without me. <br>
Master. What have you to say, Baker ? What is the use of your craft, or can we live our life without you ? <br>
<div id="Baker"></div><br>
Baker. You might indeed, for a while, live your life without me, but not for long, nor well; for without my craft, every table would seem empty, and without bread all food would be distasteful. I stablish the heart of man, I am the strength of men, and even the little ones cannot pass me by.<br>
Master. What shall we say of the Cook ? Do we in any way need his craft ? <br>
Cook. If you drive me out of your society, you will have to eat your vegetables and your meat raw, and anyhow you cannot have good gravy without my craft. <br>
Master. Monk, who hast spoken to me already, behold I find that you have good companions, and very necessary ones, who are they ? <br>
Scholar. I have smiths, iron smiths, goldsmiths, silver smiths, brass smiths, carpenters, and many other workmen skilled in various arts. <br>
<div id="Councillor"></div><br>
Master. Have you any wise councillor ? <br>
Scholar. Certainly we have. How could our society be ruled if we had no councillor? <br>
Master. And which do you think among secular crafts holds the first place ? <br>
Councillor. Agriculture; because the ploughman feeds us all. <br>
<div id="Blacksmith"></div><br>
(The Blacksmith now speaks.) <br>
Blacksmith. How does the ploughman get his plough or his ploughshare, or his goad, but by my craft? How does the fisherman obtain his hook, or the shoemaker his awl, or the tailor his needle,
but by my work ? <br>
Councillor. What you say is indeed true : but we all prefer to be guests of the ploughman, rather than yours ; for the ploughman gives us bread and drink, and what do you give us in your workshop but sparks of iron, and the noise of hammers striking, and bellows blowing ? <br>
<div id="Woodman"></div><br>
(The Woodman speaks.) <br>
Woodman. Which of you does not avail himself of my craft, when I make houses, and various utensils and boats for you all? <br>
Master. boys, how does this conversation please you? <br>
Scholar. We are indeed well pleased with it, but your words are deep, and your speech goes beyond our age; pray speak to us as remembering our youthful minds, that we may understand what you
are talking about. ''(The critics consider that Alfric Bata did not improve upon his jbrgjbbgmaster's work by his additions. The above remark seems reasonable, as the speech is plain enough.)'' <br>
Master. I will ask you why you are so diligent in learning ? <br>
Scholar. It is because we do not wish to be like brute animals, that know nothing but grass and water. <br>
Master. I will do as you ask. You, my boy, what have you done to-day ? <br>
Scholar. I have done many things. This night, when I heard the call, I rose from my bed, and went out to the church, and sang nocturns with the brethren ; then we sang of all the saints, and
the matin song of praise ; after that prime, and the seven psalms, with litanies, and the first mass, then terce, and we performed the mass of the day, after master's work by his additions. The above remark seems un- reasonable, as the speech is plain enough. that we sang sext ; then we ate and drank, and had our sleep, and rose up again, and sang nones, and now we are here before you, prepared to hear what you may say to us. <br>
Master. When do you mean to sing vespers and compline? <br>
Scholar. fgbfgn is the time for them. <br>
