"ay, marry, will i join with you all," quoth the tinker, "for i love a merry life, and i love thee, good master, though thou didst thwack my ribs and cheat me into the bargain. fain am i to own thou art both a stouter and a slyer man than i; so i will obey thee and be thine own true servant." so all turned their steps to the forest depths, where the tinker was to live henceforth. what universal theme does this excerpt represent? money is everything. rebels inspire loyalty. obedience is better than rebellion. cheating will get you everywhere.