Then said I more and boldly spake:—
“Thy tale me seemeth reasonless:
God's right is ready, raised eterne,
or Holy Writ is but a fable.
In Psalter is said a verse full clear,
putting, as point determin'd, this:—
‘Each Thou requitest as his desert,
Thou High King, ever fore-ordained!’
Now he who all day steadfast stood,—
if thou to payment come ere he,
then the less the work, the more the pay,
and ever the longer the less the more.”