Classic Poem

SCENE VII.

CONSTABLE.

Friends, reprehend him, reprehend him there.

SERGEANT.

For what? — —

CONSTABLE.

— — — For stealing gaffer Gap 's gray mare.

PEASCOD.

Why, heark ye, heark, ye, friend; you'll go to pot.
Would you be rather hang'd — hah! — — hang'd or shot?

SERGEANT.

Nay, hold, hold, hold — —

PEASCOD.

— — — Not if you were my brother.
Why, friend, should you not hang as well's another?

CONSTABLE.

Thus said Sir John — the law must take its course;
'Tis law that he may 'scape who steals a horse.
But (said Sir John ) the statutes all declare,
The man shall sure be hang'd — that steals a mare.

PEASCOD.

Ay — right — he shall be hang'd that steals a mare.
He shall be hang'd — that's certain; and good cause.
A rare good sentence this — how is't? — the laws
No — not the laws — the statutes all declare,
The man that steals a mare shall sure — be — hang'd,
No, no — he shall be hang'd that steals a mare.