Page:Ludus Coventriae (1841).djvu/63

Record of my boy, here wytnes this he xal,
  What merk that were set me to deth it xuld blede.

Adolescens. It is trewe, mayster, that ȝe seyn, indede;
  ffor that tyme ȝe had ȝoure bowe bent in honde,
If that ȝour prycke had be half a myle in brede,
  ȝe wolde the pryk han hitte, if ȝe ny had stonde.

Lameth. I xuld nevyr affayled what marke that ever were sett,
  Whyl that I myght loke and had my clere syght;
And ȝitt, as me thynkyht, no man xuld shete bett
  Than I xuld do now, if myn hand were sett aryght.
Aspye some marke, boy, my bowe xal I bende wyght,
  And sett myn hand evyn to shete at some best;
And I dare ley a wagour his deth for to dyght,
  The marke xal I hitt, my lyff do I hest.

Adolescens. Undyr ȝon grett bushe, mayster, a best do I se,
  Take me thin hand swythe and holde it ful stylle,
Now is thin hand evyn as evyr it may be,
  Drawe up thin takylle ȝon best for to kylle.

Lameth. My bowe xal I drawe ryght with herty wylle,
  This brod arwe I shete that best ffor to saylle;
Now have at that busche ȝon best for to spylle,
  A sharppe schote I shote, therof I xall not faylle.

Cayn. Out, out, and alas! myn hert is on sondyr.
  With a brod arwe I am ded and sclayn!
I dye here on grounde, myn hert is alle to tundyr,
  With this brod arwe it is clovyn on twayn!

Lameth. Herke, boy, cum telle me the trewthe in certeyn,
  What man is he that this cry doth thus make?

Adolescens. Caym thou hast kyllyd, I telle the ful pleyn,
  With thi sharp shetyng his dethe hath he take.

Lameth. Have I slayn Cayme? Alas! what have I done?
  Thou stynkynge lurdeyn, what hast thou wrought?