We well know that through it
corn-land has been turned into pasture, so that flocks of sheep
with perchance a single shepherd wander now where once a hundred
men had work and wage."
"There is no great harm in that," remarked the tooth-drawer, "for
the sheep give many folk their living. There is not only the
herd, but the shearer and brander, and then the dresser, the
curer, the dyer, the fuller, the webster, the merchant, and a
score of others."
"If it come to that." said one of the foresters, "the tough meat
of them will wear folks teeth out, and there is a trade for the
man who can draw them."
A general laugh followed this sally at the dentist's expense, in
the midst of which the gleeman placed his battered harp upon his
knee, and began to pick out a melody upon the frayed strings.
"Elbow room for Floyting Will!" cried the woodmen. "Twang us a
merry lilt."
"Aye, aye, the `Lasses of Lancaster,'" one suggested.
"Or `St. Simeon and the Devil.'"
"Or the `Jest of Hendy Tobias.'"
To all these suggestions the jongleur made no response, but sat
with his eye fixed abstractedly upon the ceiling, as one who
calls words to his mind.
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