simples it should have motion, and in one month space speak: the time of
the month: or the day he knew not. Also he told them that if they heard
it not before it had done speaking, all their labor should be lost.

Then went these two learned Friars home again and prepared the simples
ready and made the fume, and with continual watching attended when this
Brazen Head should speak. Thus watched they for three weeks without any
rest, so that they were so weary and sleepy that they could not any
longer refrain from rest. Then called Friar Bacon his man Miles, and
told him that it was not unknown to him what pains Friar Bungey and
himself had taken for three weeks space only to make and to hear the
Brazen Head speak, which if they did not, then had they lost all their
labor, and all England had a great loss thereby. Therefore he entreated
Miles that he would watch whilst that they slept and call them if the
head spake. 'Fear not (good master), I will harken and attend, upon the
head and if it do chance to speak, I will call you; therefore, I pray
take you both your rest and let me alone for watching this head.'

* * * *

At last, after some noise, the Head spake these two words: 'Time is.'
Miles, hearing it to speak no more, thought his master would be angry if
he waked him for that, and therefore he let them both sleep and began to
mock the Head in this manner: 'Thou Brazen-faced Head, hath my master
took all this pains about thee and now dost thou requite him with two
words, "Time is"?'

* * * *

After half an hour had past, the Head did speak again two words which