I had a fair choice , by the rood ! to lose my sweetheart or else lose my life ! Well , the cast is thrown -- it is to be my life . '' `` By the mass , '' cried Lawless , half arising , `` I am gone ! '' But Dick had his hand at once upon his shoulder . `` Friend Lawless , sit ye still , '' he said . `` An ye have eyes , look yonder at the corner by the chancel arch ; see ye not that , even upon the motion of your rising , yon armed men are up and ready to intercept you ? Yield ye , friend . Ye were bold aboard ship , when ye thought to die a sea-death ; be bold again , now that y ' are to die presently upon the gallows . '' `` Master Dick , '' gasped Lawless , `` the thing hath come upon me somewhat of the suddenest . But give me a moment till I fetch my breath again ; and , by the mass , I will be as stout-hearted as yourself . '' `` Here is my bold fellow ! '' returned Dick . `` And yet , Lawless , it goes hard against the grain with me to die ; but where whining mendeth nothing , wherefore whine ? '' `` Nay , that indeed ! '' chimed Lawless . `` And a fig for death , at worst ! It has to be done , my master , soon or late . And hanging in a good quarrel is an easy death , they say , though I could never hear of any that came back to say so . '' And so saying , the stout old rascal leaned back in his stall , folded his arms , and began to look about him with the greatest air of insolence and unconcern .
`` And for the matter of that , '' XXXXX added , `` it is yet our best chance to keep quiet .
Dick Lawless Master Nay eyes life mendeth rood sea-death suddenest