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Characters
Coll is one of the protagonists of the play, alongside his two other shepherd companions, Gyb and Daw. The eldest of the three shepherds, Coll has the most political complaints and attributes his suffering to the wealthy landowners who force him to work long hours for little pay. Despite his struggles, Coll is empathetic and forgiving in the face of adversity. After finding out that Mak stole one of their sheep, a crime punishable by hanging, Coll shows Mak mercy and compassion by sparing him from the death penalty, even while Daw demands that Mak (and Gill) to be hanged.
Coll Quotes in The Second Shepherd’s Play
The The Second Shepherd’s Play quotes below are all either spoken by Coll or refer to Coll. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Scene 1
Quotes
We are so hammed, / Over-taxed and rammed, / We are made hand-tammed / By these gentlemen.
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There was never since Noah’s flood such weather seen. / …How these snows all drown / The fields and the town / And bear all down, / ‘Tis a wonder!
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Ere we go now, I would someone gave us a song.
So I thought, as I stood, to beguile us along.
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Let be! I’m a yeoman of the king / And a messenger from a great lordling / …I must have reverence! / Dare you ask, who am I?
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Manus tuas commendo / Pontio Pilato.
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Scene 6
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Oh, my belly! I die! / I vow to God so mild / If ever I you beguiled / Then I will eat this child / That doth in cradle lie!
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Sirs, for this deed, take my advice instead / For this trespass. / We will neither curse not fight / Nor dispute our right / We’ll tie him up tight / And toss him in canvas.
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Rise, herdsmen, rise, for Christ is born / To rend that fiend that Adam had lorn / The Saviour of all, this night is he born. / His behests / To Bethlehem go see / Where lies this baby / In a crib full poorly / Betwixt two beasts.
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Hie we thither right merry / If we be wet and weary / Still, we’ll find the child and lady, / We cannot lose.
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Scene 7
Quotes
Thou hast cowed at last the devil so wild / The false beguiler now goes beguiled.
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And now he is born. / To keep you from woe / I shall pray him so, / Tell it forth, as ye go, / And mind on this morn!
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Coll Quotes in The Second Shepherd’s Play
The The Second Shepherd’s Play quotes below are all either spoken by Coll or refer to Coll. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Scene 1
Quotes
We are so hammed, / Over-taxed and rammed, / We are made hand-tammed / By these gentlemen.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
There was never since Noah’s flood such weather seen. / …How these snows all drown / The fields and the town / And bear all down, / ‘Tis a wonder!
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Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Ere we go now, I would someone gave us a song.
So I thought, as I stood, to beguile us along.
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Let be! I’m a yeoman of the king / And a messenger from a great lordling / …I must have reverence! / Dare you ask, who am I?
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Explanation and Analysis:
Manus tuas commendo / Pontio Pilato.
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Scene 6
Quotes
Oh, my belly! I die! / I vow to God so mild / If ever I you beguiled / Then I will eat this child / That doth in cradle lie!
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Explanation and Analysis:
Sirs, for this deed, take my advice instead / For this trespass. / We will neither curse not fight / Nor dispute our right / We’ll tie him up tight / And toss him in canvas.
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Rise, herdsmen, rise, for Christ is born / To rend that fiend that Adam had lorn / The Saviour of all, this night is he born. / His behests / To Bethlehem go see / Where lies this baby / In a crib full poorly / Betwixt two beasts.
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Hie we thither right merry / If we be wet and weary / Still, we’ll find the child and lady, / We cannot lose.
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Scene 7
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Thou hast cowed at last the devil so wild / The false beguiler now goes beguiled.
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And now he is born. / To keep you from woe / I shall pray him so, / Tell it forth, as ye go, / And mind on this morn!
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