But when he spyed her his saint, He wip'd his greasie shooes, And clear'd the drivell from his beard, 'I have, sweet wench, a peece of cheese, And bread and wildings souling well,' (And therewithall did drawe His lardrie) and in [yeaning] see Yon crumpling ewe,' quoth he, 'Did twinne this fall, and twin shouldst thou, If I might tup with thee. Thou art too elvish, faith thou art, Too elvish and too coy: Am I, I pray thee, beggarly, I wis I am not yet that thou Is brimme abroad, and made a gybe There be as quaint (at least that thinke The match, that thou, I wot not why, Maist, but mislik'st to have. How wouldst thou match? (for well I wot, Thou art a female) I, Her know not here that willingly With maiden-head would die. Ver. 135, Eating, PCC.-Ver. 153, Her know I not her that. 1602. 130 135 140 145 150 The plowmans labour hath no end, The craftsman hath more worke in hand Then fitteth unto love: The merchant, traffiquing abroad, Suspects his wife at home: A youth will play the wanton; and An old man prove a mome. Then chuse a shepheard: with the sun He merrie chat can hold; And with the sun doth folde againe; Then jogging home betime, He turnes a crab, or turnes a round, Or sings some merry ryme. Nor lacks he gleefull tales, whilst round The nut-brown bowl doth trot; And sitteth singing care away, Till he to bed be got: 155 160 165 170 Theare sleepes he soundly all the night, 175 Forgetting morrow-cares: Nor feares he blasting of his corne, Nor uttering of his wares; Or stormes by seas, or stirres on land, Or cracke of credit lost: 180 Ver. 169, i.e. roasts a crab, or apple.-Ver. 171, to tell, whilst round the bole doth trot. Ed. 1597. Not spending franklier than his flocke Well wot I, sooth they say, that say More quiet nights and daies The shepheard sleeps and wakes, than he Beleeve me, lasse, a king is but A man, and so am I: Content is worth a monarchie, And mischiefs hit the hie; As late it did a king and his The neatresse, longing for the rest, How faire she was, and who she was. For beautie: though I clownish am, Or did I not, at seeing thee, I senceles were to mis. Her stature comely, tall; her gate To marvell at, not meddle with, 185 190 195 200 205 A globe-like head, a gold-like haire, A forehead smooth, and hie, An even nose; on either side. Did shine a grayish eie: Two rosie cheeks, round ruddy lips, A mouth in meane; and underneathe Her snowie necke, with blewish veines, Her portly shoulders: beating balles 210 215 220 Adde more to beautie. Wand-like was Her middle falling still, And rising whereas women rise: *** And more, her long, and limber armes 225 And slender fingers aunswere to Had white and azure wrists; Her smooth and lillie fists. A legge in print, a pretie foot; For amorous eies, observing forme, With these, O raretie! with these But speaking, Venus seem'd to speake, 230 235 With Phoebe, Juno, and with both Her smiles were sober, and her lookes Even such as neither wanton seeme, A quiet minde, a patient moode, And not disdaining any; Not gybing, gadding, gawdy: and A nimph, no tong, no heart, no eie, Might praise, might wish, might see; For life, for love, for forme; more good, More worth, more faire than shee. Yea such an one, as such was none, Save only she was such: Of Argentile to say the most, Were to be silent much.' 'I knew the lady very well, But worthles of such praise,' Thy clownish shape a coined shew. But wherefore dost thou weepe?' 1i.e. emblazon beauty's coat. Ed. 1597. 1602. 1612. read Coote. 240 245 250 255 260 |