The curse of the children upon him,
The curse of the bishops upon him,
Until he be as rotten as an old mushroom!
second cripple [speaking at same time as first cripple and mayor and brian]. The curse of wrinkles be upon him!
Wrinkles where his eyes are,
Wrinkles where his nose is,
Wrinkles where his mouth is,
And a little old devil looking out of every wrinkle!
brian [speaking at the same time with mayor and cripples]. And nobody, will sing for him,
And nobody will hunt for him,
And nobody will fish for him,
And nobody will pray for him,
But ever and always curse him and abuse him.
mayor [speaking at same time with cripples and brian]. What good is in a poet?
Has he money in a stocking,
Or cider in the cellar,
Or flitches in the chimney,
Or anything anywhere but his own idleness?
[brian seizes mayor.
Help! help! Am I not in authority?
brian. That’s how I’ll shout for the King!
mayor. Help! help! Am I not in the King’s place?
brian. I’ll teach him to be kind to the poor!
