Sometimes, to show his lightness and mast’ry, He playeth Herod 1029 on a scaffold high. But what availeth him as in this case? So loveth she the Hendy Nicholas, That Absolon may blow the buckë’s horn: 1030 He had for all his labour but a scorn. And thus she maketh Absolon her ape, And all his earnest turneth to a jape. 1031 Full sooth is this provérb, it is no lie; Men say right thus alway; the nighë sly Maketh oft time the far lief to be loth. 1032 For though that Absolon be wood 1033 or wroth Because that he far was from her sight, This nigh Nicholas stood still in his light. Now bear thee well, thou Hendy Nicholas, For Absolon may wail and sing “Alas!”