Bulchevy's Book of English Verse Part 8

But do not, do not, pretty mine, To faynings false thy heart incline!

Be loyal to thy lover true, And never change her for a new: If good or fair, of her have care For women's banning 's wondrous sare-- Balow, la-low!

Bairn, by thy face I will beware; Like Sirens' words, I'll come not near; My babe and I together will live; He'll comfort me when cares do grieve.

My babe and I right soft will lie, And ne'er respect man's crueltye-- Balow, la-low!

Farewell, farewell, the falsest youth That ever kist a woman's mouth!

I wish all maids be warn'd by me Never to trust man's curtesye; For if we do but chance to bow, They'll use us then they care not how-- Balow, la-low!

Anonymous. 16th Cent. (?)

29. The Old Cloak

THIS winter's weather it waxeth cold, And frost it freezeth on every hill, And Boreas blows his blast so bold That all our cattle are like to spill.

Bell, my wife, she loves no strife; She said unto me quietlye, Rise up, and save cow Crumbock's life!

Man, put thine old cloak about thee!

He. O Bell my wife, why dost thou flyte?

Thou kens my cloak is very thin: It is so bare and over worn, A cricke thereon cannot renn.

Then I'll no longer borrow nor lend; For once I'll new apparell'd be; To-morrow I'll to town and spend; For I'll have a new cloak about me.

She. Cow Crumbock is a very good cow: She has been always true to the pail; She has helped us to b.u.t.ter and cheese, I trow, And other things she will not fail.

I would be loth to see her pine.

Good husband, counsel take of me: It is not for us to go so fine-- Man, take thine old cloak about thee!

He. My cloak it was a very good cloak, It hath been always true to the wear; But now it is not worth a groat: I have had it four and forty year'.

Sometime it was of cloth in grain: 'Tis now but a sigh clout, as you may see: It will neither hold out wind nor rain; And I'll have a new cloak about me.

She. It is four and forty years ago Sine the one of us the other did ken; And we have had, betwixt us two, Of children either nine or ten: We have brought them up to women and men: In the fear of G.o.d I trow they be.

And why wilt thou thyself misken?

Man, take thine old cloak about thee!

He. O Bell my wife, why dost thou flyte?

Now is now, and then was then: Seek now all the world throughout, Thou kens not clowns from gentlemen: They are clad in black, green, yellow and blue, So far above their own degree.

Once in my life I'll take a view; For I'll have a new cloak about me.

She. King Stephen was a worthy peer; His breeches cost him but a crown; He held them sixpence all too dear, Therefore he called the tailor 'lown.'

He was a king and wore the crown, And thou'se but of a low degree: It 's pride that puts this country down: Man, take thy old cloak about thee!

He. Bell my wife, she loves not strife, Yet she will lead me, if she can; And to maintain an easy life I oft must yield, though I'm good-man.

It 's not for a man with a woman to threap, Unless he first give o'er the plea: As we began, so will we keep, And I'll take my old cloak about me.

flyte] scold. cloth in grain] scarlet cloth. sigh clout] a rag for straining. threap] argue.

John Skelton. 1460?-1529

30. To Mistress Margery Wentworth

WITH margerain gentle, The flower of goodlihead, Embroidered the mantle Is of your maidenhead.

Plainly I cannot glose; Ye be, as I divine, The pretty primrose, The goodly columbine.

Benign, courteous, and meek, With wordes well devised; In you, who list to seek, Be virtues well comprised.

With margerain gentle, The flower of goodlihead, Embroidered the mantle Is of your maidenhead.

margerain] marjoram.

John Skelton. 1460?-1529

31. To Mistress Margaret Hussey

MERRY Margaret As midsummer flower, Gentle as falcon Or hawk of the tower: With solace and gladness, Much mirth and no madness, All good and no badness; So joyously, So maidenly, So womanly Her demeaning In every thing, Far, far pa.s.sing That I can indite, Or suffice to write Of Merry Margaret As midsummer flower, Gentle as falcon Or hawk of the tower.

As patient and still And as full of good will As fair Isaphill, Coliander, Sweet pomander, Good Ca.s.sander; Steadfast of thought, Well made, well wrought, Far may be sought, Ere that ye can find So courteous, so kind As merry Margaret, This midsummer flower, Gentle as falcon Or hawk of the tower.

Isaphill] Hypsipyle. coliander] coriander seed, an aromatic. pomander] a ball of perfume. Ca.s.sander] Ca.s.sandra.

Stephen Hawes. d. 1523

32. The True Knight

FOR knighthood is not in the feats of warre, As for to fight in quarrel right or wrong, But in a cause which truth can not defarre: He ought himself for to make sure and strong, Justice to keep mixt with mercy among: And no quarrell a knight ought to take But for a truth, or for the common's sake.

defarre] undo.

Stephen Hawes. d. 1523

33. An Epitaph

O MORTAL folk, you may behold and see How I lie here, sometime a mighty knight; The end of joy and all prosperitee Is death at last, thorough his course and might: After the day there cometh the dark night, For though the daye be never so long, At last the bells ringeth to evensong.

Sir Thomas Wyatt. 1503-1542

34. Forget not yet The Lover Beseecheth his Mistress not to Forget his Steadfast Faith and True Intent

FORGET not yet the tried intent Of such a truth as I have meant; My great travail so gladly spent, Forget not yet!

Forget not yet when first began The weary life ye know, since whan The suit, the service, none tell can; Forget not yet!

Forget not yet the great a.s.says, The cruel wrong, the scornful ways, The painful patience in delays, Forget not yet!

Forget not! O, forget not this!-- How long ago hath been, and is, The mind that never meant amiss-- Forget not yet!

Forget not then thine own approved, The which so long hath thee so loved, Whose steadfast faith yet never moved: Forget not this!