Mrs. Sedley (coming from church)
What is it?
Ned
Private business.
Mrs. Sedley
I heard two voices during psalms
One was Grimes, and one more calm.
Boles
While you worshipped idols there
The Devil had his Sabbath here.
Mrs. Sedley
Maltreating that poor boy again.
Balstrode
Grimes is weatherwise and skilled
In the practice of his trade.
Let him be, let us forget
What slander can invent.
Chorus
What is it?
Auntie, Boles and Ned
What do you suppose?
Grimes is at his exercise.
(As people come out two by two, they circulate the village green singing their couplets
as they reach the centre. First come Swallow and a fellow lawyer.)
Chorus
What is it? What do you suppose?
Grimes is at his exercise.
Fellow Lawyer
Dullards build their self-esteem
By inventing cruelties.
Swallow
Even so, the law restrains
Too impetuous enterprise.
Fisherwoman
Fishing is a lonely trade
Single men have much to bear.
1st and 2nd Nieces
If a man's work cannot be made
Decent, let him stay ashore.
Chorus (over all)
What is it? What do you suppose?
Grimes is at his exercise.
(Balstrode pauses by Ned as he walks round.)
Rector
My flock - oh what a weight is this
My burden pastoral.
Mrs. Sedley
But what a dangerous faith is this
That gives souls equality!
Balstrode
When the Borough gossip starts
Somebody will suffer.
Chorus
What is it? What do you suppose?
Grimes is at his exercise.
What is it?
Ned
Private business.
Mrs. Sedley
I heard two voices during psalms
One was Grimes, and one more calm.
Boles
While you worshipped idols there
The Devil had his Sabbath here.
Mrs. Sedley
Maltreating that poor boy again.
Balstrode
Grimes is weatherwise and skilled
In the practice of his trade.
Let him be, let us forget
What slander can invent.
Chorus
What is it?
Auntie, Boles and Ned
What do you suppose?
Grimes is at his exercise.
(As people come out two by two, they circulate the village green singing their couplets
as they reach the centre. First come Swallow and a fellow lawyer.)
Chorus
What is it? What do you suppose?
Grimes is at his exercise.
Fellow Lawyer
Dullards build their self-esteem
By inventing cruelties.
Swallow
Even so, the law restrains
Too impetuous enterprise.
Fisherwoman
Fishing is a lonely trade
Single men have much to bear.
1st and 2nd Nieces
If a man's work cannot be made
Decent, let him stay ashore.
Chorus (over all)
What is it? What do you suppose?
Grimes is at his exercise.
(Balstrode pauses by Ned as he walks round.)
Rector
My flock - oh what a weight is this
My burden pastoral.
Mrs. Sedley
But what a dangerous faith is this
That gives souls equality!
Balstrode
When the Borough gossip starts
Somebody will suffer.
Chorus
What is it? What do you suppose?
Grimes is at his exercise.