ALL ’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL 297

knuckles were white. His lips parted as if to speak, but
-he only swallowed very hard once or twice instead, and
looked around at them all. “Why, sir,” he said at length,
looking at Master Shakspere, “why, sirs, all of ye—I ha’
been a hard man, and summat of a fool, sirs, ay, sirs, a
very fool. I ha) misthought and miscalled ye foully many
a time, and many a time. God knows I be sorry for it
from the bottom o’ my heart!” And with that he sat
down and buried his face in his arms among the dishes on
the buffet.

“Nay, Simon Attwood,” said Master Shakspere, going
to his side and putting his hand upon the tanner’s shoulder,
“thou hast only been mistaken, that is all. Come, sit thee
up. Tosee thyself mistaken is but to be the wiser. Why,
never the wisest man but saw himself a fool a thousand
times. Come, I have mistaken thee more than thou hast
me; for, on my word, I thought thou hadst no heart at
all—and that’s far worse than having one which has but
gone astray. Come, Neighbor Attwood, sit thee up and
eat with us.”

“Nay, Ill go home,” said the tanner, turning his face
away that they might notseehistears. “Ibea spoil-sport
and a mar-feast here.”

“Why, by Jupiter, man!” cried Master Jonson, bringing
his fist down upon the board witha thump that made the
spoons all clink, “thou art the very merry-maker of the
feast. A full heart’s better than a surfeit any day. Don’t
let him go, Will—this sort of thing doth make the whole
world kin! Come, Master Attwood, sit thee down, and