`` Nay , '' said Matcham , `` I was in the right . Come , cruel ! I be lame ; I be weary ; I resist not ; I ne'er did thee hurt ; come , beat me -- coward ! '' Dick raised the belt at this last provocation , but Matcham winced and drew himself together with so cruel an apprehension , that his heart failed him yet again . The strap fell by his side , and he stood irresolute , feeling like a fool . `` A plague upon thee , shrew ! '' he said . `` An ye be so feeble of hand , ye should keep the closer guard upon your tongue . But I 'll be hanged before I beat you ! '' and he put on his belt again . `` Beat you I will not , '' he continued ; `` but forgive you ? -- never . I knew ye not ; ye were my master 's enemy ; I lent you my horse ; my dinner ye have eaten ; y ' ` ave called me a man o ' wood , a coward , and a bully . Nay , by the mass ! the measure is filled , and runneth over . 'T is a great thing to be weak , I trow : ye can do your worst , yet shall none punish you ; ye may steal a man 's weapons in the hour of need , yet may the man not take his own again ; -- y ' are weak , forsooth ! Nay , then , if one cometh charging at you with a lance , and crieth he is weak , ye must let him pierce your body through ! Tut ! fool words ! '' `` And yet ye beat me not , '' returned Matcham .
`` Let be , '' said XXXXX -- `` let be .
Dick Matcham Tut belt crieth forsooth lance measure right runneth