He was so weak he could hardly support his tools.

Unwilling to expose his debility, he yet could not succeed in concealing it.

At last, to avoid worse imputations, he confessed the cause.

His companions regarded him with compassion, and exempted him from the severer toil.
About noon the knight visited his workmen.

Noticing that Israel made little progress, he said to him, that though he had long arms and broad shoulders, yet he was feigning himself to be a very weak man, or otherwise must in reality be so.
Hereupon one of the laborers standing by informed the gentleman how it was with Israel, when immediately the knight put a shilling into his hands and bade him go to a little roadside inn, which was nearer than the house, and buy him bread and a pot of beer.