"What tidings hear you," said the king. "As you ride far and near?"-- "I hear no tidings, sir, by the mass, But that cow-hides are dear."--

"Cow-hides! cow-hides! what things are those? I marvel what they be!"-- "What, art thou a fool?" the tanner replied; "I carry one under me."--

"What craftsman art thou?" said the king, "I pray thee tell me trow.""-- "I am a barker, sir, by my trade. Now tell me what art thou?"--

"I am a poor courtier, sir," quoth he, "That am forth of service worn; And fain I would thy 'prentice be, Thy cunning for to learn."--

"Marry, heaven forfend," the tanner replied, "That thou my 'prentice were! Thou'dst spend more good than I should win, By forty shilling a year."--

"Yet one thing would I," said our king, "If thou wilt not seem strange: Though my horse be better than thy mare, Yet with thee I fain would change."--

"Why, if with me thou fain wilt change, As change full well may we, By the faith of my body, thou proud fell-ow I will have some boot of thee."--

"That were against reason," said the king, "I swear, so mote I thee: My horse is better than thy mare, And that thou well may'st see."--