XLII

SNATCHES

I

HEY bore him barefaced on the bier;

THEY

Hey non nonny, nonny, hey nonny; And in his grave rain'd many a tear :You must sing a-down a-down,

An you call him a-down-a.

And will he not come again?

And will he not come again?
No, no, he is dead:

Go to thy death-bed ·

He never will come again.

His beard was as white as snow,

All flaxen was his poll :

He is gone, he is gone,

And we cast away moan:

God ha' mercy on his soul !

II

Come o'er the bourn, Bessy, to me!

-Her boat hath a leak,

And she must not speak

Why she dares not come over to thee!

III

Sleepest or wakest thou, jolly shepherd? Thy sheep be in the corn;

And for one blast of thy minikin mouth, Thy sheep shall take no harm.

E

XLIII

THE MISANTHROPE

IMMORTAL gods, I crave no pelf;
I pray for no man but myself:
Grant I may never prove so fond,
To trust man on his oath or bond;

Or a harlot, for her weeping;

Or a dog, that seems a-sleeping;

Or a keeper with my freedom;

Or my friends, if I should need 'em. Amen. So fall to't :

Rich men sin, and I eat root.

XLIV

NATURE AND MAN

BLOW, blow, thou winter wind,

Thou art not so unkind

As man's ingratitude;

Thy tooth is not so keen,

Because thou art not seen,

Although thy breath be rude.

Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly : Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly : Then, heigh-ho, the holly!

This life is most jolly.

Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
That dost not bite so nigh

As benefits forgot :

Though thou the waters warp,

Thy sting is not so sharp

As friend remember'd not.

Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:

Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly: Then, heigh-ho, the holly!

This life is most jolly.