Past help!
his paws are past help. God help him!
_Enter the_ BEGGARS _(and seat themselves at the Tables)_.
BECKET _and_ HERBERT _wait upon them_.
1ST BEGGAR.
Swine, sheep, ox--here's a French supper. When thieves fall out,
honest men----
2ND BEGGAR.
Is the Archbishop a thief who gives thee thy supper?
1ST BEGGAR.
Well, then, how does it go? When honest men fall out, thieves--no, it
can't be that.
2ND BEGGAR.
Who stole the widow's one sitting hen o' Sunday, when she was at mass?
1ST BEGGAR.
Come, come! thou hadst thy share on her. Sitting hen! Our Lord
Becket's our great sitting-hen cock, and we shouldn't ha' been sitting
here if the barons and bishops hadn't been a-sitting on the
Archbishop.
BECKET.
Ay, the princes sat in judgment against me, and the Lord hath prepared
your table--_Sederunt principes, ederunt pauperes_.
_A Voice_.
Becket, beware of the knife!
BECKET.
Who spoke?
3RD BEGGAR.
Nobody, my lord. What's that, my lord?
BECKET.
Venison.
3RD BEGGAR.
Venison?
BECKET.
Buck; deer, as you call it.
3RD BEGGAR.
King's meat! By the Lord, won't we pray for your lordship!
BECKET.
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