And, certes, mirth it were to see
Thy joyous madrigals twice three,
With preface meet, and notes profound,
Imprinted fair, and well ye-bound.”
All suddenly then home I sped,
And did ev'n as my lord had said.

Lo, here thou hast mine eclogues fair,
But let not these detain thine ear.
Let not th'affairs of states and kings
Wait, while our Bouzy beus sings.
Rather than verse of simple swain
Should stay the trade of France or Spain ;
Or, for the plaint of parson's maid,
Yon emperor's packets be delay'd ;
In sooth, I swear by holy Paul,
I'll burn book, preface, notes, and all.

Lo, yonder, Cloddipolo, the blithesome swain,
The wisest lout of all the neighboring plain !
From Cloddipole we learnt to read the skies,
To know when hail will fall, or winds arise.
He taught us erst the heifer's tail to view,
When stuck aloft, that showers would straight ensue:
He first that useful secret did explain,
That pricking corns foretold the gathering rain.
When swallows fleet soar high and sport in air,
He told us that the welkin would be clear. 30
Let Cloddipole then hear us twain rehearse,
And praise his sweetheart in alternate verse.
I'll wager this same oaken staff with thee,
That Cloddipole shall give the prize to me.

LOBBIN CLOUT.
See this tobacco-pouch, that's lin'd with hair,
Made of the skin of sleekest fallow-deer.
This pouch, that's tied with tape of reddest hue,
I'll wager, that the prize shall be my due.

MONDAY; OR, THE SQUABBLE.

Lobbin Clout, Cuddy, Cloddipole.

CUDDY.
Begin thy carols then, thou vaunting slouch!
Be thine the oaken staff, or mine the pouch.

40

LOBBIN CLOUT.

CUDDY

The younglings, Cuddy, are but just awake,

LOBBIN CLOUT.
No thrustles shrill the bramble-bush forsake,
No chirping lark the welkin sheen invokes,

My Blouzelinda is the blithest lass,
No damsel yet the swelling udder strokes ;

Than primrose sweeter, or the clover-grass. O'er yonder hill does scant the dawn appear;

Fair is the king-cup that in meadow blows,
Then why does Cuddy leave his cot so rear?

Fair is the daisy that beside her grows;
Fair is the gilliflower, of gardens sweet,
Fair is the marigold, for pottage meet :

But Blouzelind's than gilliflower more fair,
Ah, Lobbin Clout! I ween, my plight is guess'd, Than daisy, marigold, or king-cup rare.
For he that loves, a stranger is to rest :
If swains belie not, thou hast prov'd the smart,

CUDDY.
And Blouzelinda's mistress of thy heart. 10
This rising rear betokeneth well thy mind,

My brown Buxoma is the featest maid,
Those arms are folded for thy Blouzelind.

That e'er at wake delightsome gambol play'a. 50 And well, I trow, our piteous plights agree :

Clean as young lambkins or the goose's down, Thee Blouzelinda smites, Buxoma me.

And like the goldfinch in her Sunday gown.

The witless lamb may sport upon the plain,
LOBBIN CLOUT.

The frisking kid delight the gaping swain,

The wanton calf may skip with many a bound,
Ah, Blouzelind! I love thee more by half, And my cur Tray play deftest feats around;
Than does their fawns, or cows the new-fall’n call; But neither lamb, nor kid, nor calf, nor Tray,
Woe worth the tongue! may blisters sore it gall, Dance like Buxoma on the first of May.
That names Buxoma Blouzelind withal.

LOBBIN CLOUT.
CUDDY.

Sweet is my toil when Blouzelind is near;
Hold, witless Lobbin Clout, I thee advise,

Of her bereft, 'tis winter all the year. Lest blisters sore on thy own tongue arise.

20 With her no sultry summer's heat I know; 60

In winter, when she's nigh, with love I glow.

Come, Blouzelinda, ease thy swain's desire, Ver. 3. Welkin, the same as welken, an old Saxon word, My summer's shadow, and my winter's fire! signifying a cloud; by poetical license it is frequently taken for the element, or sky, as may appear by this verse

CUDDY. in the Dream of Chaucer

As with Buxoma once I work'd at hay,
Ne in all the welkin was no cloud.

Ev'n noontide labor seem'd an holiday ;
-Sheen, or shine, an old word for shining, or bright. And holidays, if haply she were gone,

Ver. 5. Scent, used in the ancient British authors for Like worky-days I wish'd would soon be done.

Ver. 6. Rear, an expression, in several counties of Eng. land, for early in the morning.

Ver. 25. Erst; a contraction of ere this: it signifien. Ver. 7. To meen, derived from the Saxon, to think, or sometime ago, or formerly. conceive.

Ver. 56 Deft, an old word, signifying brisk, or nimble

CUDDY.
LOBBIN CLOUT.
Leek to the Welch, to Dutchmen butter’s dear, I'll frankly own thee for a cunning wight.

Answer, thou carle, and judge this riddle right. Of Irish swains potato is the cheer;

"What flower is that which royal honor craves, Oats for their feasts the Scottish shepherds grind,

Adjoin the virgin, and 'tis strown on graves ?"
Sweet turnips are the food of Blouzelind.
While she loves turnips, butter I'll despise,
Nor leeks, nor oatmeal, nor potato, prize.

CLODDIPOLE.
Forbear, contending louts, give o'er your strains !
An oaken staff each merits for his pains. 120

But see the sun-beams bright to labor warn,
In good roast beef my landlord sticks his knife, And gild the thatch of goodman Hodge's barn.
The capon fat delights his dainty wife, 90 Your herds for want of water stand a-dry,
Pudding our parson eats, the squire loves hare,

They're weary of your songs—and so am I.
But white-pot thick is my Buxoma's fare.
While she loves white-pot, capon ne'er shall be,
Nor hare, nor beef, nor pudding, food for me.

TUESDAY; OR, THE DITTY.

CUDDY.

CUDDY

As once I play'd at blind man's buff, it hapt

Young Colin Clout, a lad of peerless meed, About my eyes the towel thick was wrapt ;

Full well could dance, and deftly tune the reed; I miss'd the swains, and seiz'd on Blouzelind,

In every wood his carols sweet were known,
True speaks that ancient proverb, “Love is blind." At every wake his nimble feats were shown.

When in the ring the rustic routs he threw,
The damsels' pleasures with his conquests grew;

Or when aslant the cudgel threats his head,
As at hot-cockles once I laid me down,

His danger smites the breast of every maid, And felt the weighty hand of many a clown; 100 But chief of Marian. Marian lov'd the swain, Buxoma gave a gentle tap, and I

The parson's maid, and neatest of the plain; 10 Quick rose, and read soft mischief in her eye. Marian, that soft could stroke the udder'd cow,

Or lessen with her sieve the barley-mow;

Marbled with sage the hardening cheese she press d.

And yellow butter Marian's skill confessid ; Ver. 69. Fftsoons, from eft, an ancient British word, sig. But Marian now, devoid of country cares. nifying soon. So that eftsoons is a doubling of the word Nor yellow butter, nor sage-cheese, prepares, soon ; which is, as it were, to say tuice soon, or very soon. For yearning love the witless maid employs,

Ver. 79. Queint has various significations in the an. And,“ Love” say swains, “all busy heed destroys." cient English authors. I have used it in this place in the Colin makes mock at all her piteous smart; same sense as Chaucer hath done in his Miller's Tale. “As A lass that Cicely hight had won his heart, 20 clerkes being full subtle and queint,” (by which he means arch, or waggish); and not in that obscene sense wherein he useth it in the line immediately following.

Ver. 103—110 were not in the early editions.-N. Ver. 85. Populus Alcidæ gratissima, vitis Iaccho,

Ver. 113. Marigold. Formosa myrtus Veneri, sua laurea Phæbo,

Ver. 117. Rosemary. Phillis amat corylos. Dlas dum Phillis amabit

Dic quibus in terris inscripti nomina regum Nec myrtus vincet corylos nec laurea Phobi, &c. Nascantur flores. Virg.

Virg Ver. 120. Et vitula tu dignus & hic. Virg.

Cicely, the western lass, that tends the kee,

“ Have I not sat with thee full many a night, The rival of the parson's maid was she.

When dying embers were our only light, In dreary shade now Marian lies along,

When every creature did in slumbers lie, And, mixt with sighs, thus wails in plaining song : Besides our cat, my Colin Clout, and I? 90

" Ah, woful day! ah, woful noon and morn! No troublous thoughts the cat or Colin move, When first by thee my younglings white were shorn; While I alone am kept awake by love. Then first, I ween, I cast a lover's eye,

" Remember, Colin! when at last year's wake My sheep were silly, but more silly I.

I bought the costly present for thy sake; Beneath the shears they felt no lasting smart, Couldst thou spell o'er the posy on thy knife, They lost but fleeces, while I lost a heart. 30 And with another change thy state of life? “Ah, Colin! canst thou leave thy sweetheart If thou forgett'st, I wot, I can repeat, true ?

My memory can tell the verse so sweet : What I have done for thee, will Cicely do ? * As this is gray'd upon this knife of thine, Will she thy linen wash, or hosen darn,

So is thy image on this heart of mine.' 100 And knit thee gloves made of her own spun yarn ? But woe me! such presents luckless prove, Will she with huswife's hand provide thy meat? For knives, they tell me, always sever love." And every Sunday morn thy neckcloth plait, Thus Marian wail'd, her eyes with tears brimful, Which o'er thy kersey doublet spreading wide, When Goody Dobbins brought her cow to bull. In service-time drew Cicely's eyes aside ? With apron blue to dry her tears she sought,

* Where'er I gad, I cannot hide my care, Then saw the cow wellserv'd, and took a groat. My new disasters in my look appear.

40
White as the curd my ruddy cheek is grown,
So thin my features, that I'm hardly known.
Our neighbors tell me oft, in joking talk,

WEDNESDAY; OR, THE DUMPS.*
Of ashes, leather, oatmeal, bran, and chalk;
Unwittingly of Marian they divine,
And wist not that with thoughtful love I pine.

SPARABELLA.
Yet Colin Clout, untoward shepherd swain,
Walks whistling blithe, while pitiful I plain. The wailings of a maiden I recite,

“Whilom with thee 'twas Marian's dear delight A maiden fair, that Sparabella hight.
To moil all day, and merry-make at night. 50 Such strains ne'er warble in the linnet's throat,
If in the soil you guide the crooked share, Nor the gay goldfinch chants so sweet a note.
Your early breakfast is my constant care ; No magpye chatter'd, nor the painted jay,
And when with even hand you strow the grain, No ox was heard to low, nor ass to bray ;
I fright the thievish rooks from off the plain. No rustling breezes play'd the leaves among,
In misling days, when I my thresher heard, While thus her madrigal the damsel sung.
With nappy beer I to the barn repair'd;

A while, O D'Urfey! lend an ear or twain, Lost in the music of the whirling flail,

Nor, tho' in homely guise, my verse disdain ; 10 To gaze on thee I left the smoking pail :

Whether thou seek'st new kingdoms in the Sun, In harvest, when the Sun was mounted high, Whether thy Muse does at Newmarket run, My leathern bottle did thy draught supply; 60 Or does with gossips at a feast regale, Whene'er you mow'd, I follow'd with the rake, And heighten her conceits with sack and ale, And have full oft been sun-burnt for thy sake: Or else at wakes with Joan and Hodge rejoice, When in the welkin gathering showers were seen, Where D'Urfey's lyrics swell in every voice; I lagg'd the last with Colin on the green; And when at eve returning with thy car, Awaiting heard the jingling bells from far, Straight on the fire the sooty pot I plac'd,

* Dumps, or dumbs, made use of to express a fit of the To warm thy broth I burnt my hands for haste. sullens. Some have pretended that it is derived from When hungry thou stood'st staring, like an oaf,

Dumops, a king of Egypt, that built a pyramid, and died I slic'd the luncheon from the barley-loaf; 70

of melancholy. So mopes, after the same manner, is With crumbled bread I thicken'd well thy mess.

thought to have come from Merops, another Egyptian

king, that died of the same distemper. But our English Ah, love me more, or love thy pottage less !

antiquaries have conjectured that dumps, which is a * Last Friday's eve, when as the Sun was set,

grievous heaviness of spirits, comes from the word dumpI, near yon stile, three sallow gypsies met.

ling, the heaviest kind of pudding that is eaten in this l'pon my hand they cast a poring look,

country, much used in Norfolk, and other counties of Bid me beware, and thrice their heads they shook : England. They said, that many crosses I must prove ;

Ver. 5. Some in my worldly gain, but most in love.

Immemor herbarum quos est mirata juvenca Next morn I miss'd three hens and our old cock;

Certantes, quorum stupefactæ carmine lynces, And off the hedge two pinners and a smock ; 80

Et mutata suos requierunt flumina cursus. I bore these losses with a Christian mind,

Virg. And no mishaps could feel, while thou wert kind.

Ver. 9.
But since, alas ! I grew my Colin's scorn,
I've known no pleasure, night, or noon, or morn.

Tu mihi, seu magni superas jam saxa Timavi,
Sive oram Illyrici legis æquoris-

Virg.
Help me, ye gypsies; bring him home again,
And to a constant lass give back her swain.

Ver. 11. An opera written by this author, called The World in the Sun, or the Kingdom of Birds; he is also

famous for his song on the Newmarket horse-race, and Ver. 21. Kee, a west-country word for kine, or cows. several others that are sung by the British swains.

90

flow;

Yet sufler me, thou bard of wond'rous mced, “Sooner shall cats disport in waters clear,
Amid thy bays to weave this rural weed.

And speckled mack'rel graze the meadows fair;
Now the Sun drove adown the western road, Sooner shall screech-owls bask in sunny day,
And oxen, laid at rest, forgot the goad, 20 And the slow ass on trees, like squirrels, play; 70
The clown, fatigu'd, trudg'd homeward with his Sooner shall snails on insect pinions rove;
spade,

Than I forget my shepherd's wonted love. Across the meadows stretch'd the lengthen'd shade; “My plaint, ye lasses, with this burthen aid, When Sparabella, pensive and forlorn,

"Tis hard so true a damsel dies a maid.' Alike with yearning love and labor worn,

Ah! didst thou know what proffers I withstood, Lean'd on her rake, and straight with doleful guise When late I met the squire in yonder wood! Did this sad plaint in mournful notes devise : To me he sped, regardless of his game,

“Come Night, as dark as pitch, surround my head, While all my cheek was glowing red with shame; From Sparabella Bumkinet is fled ;

My lip he kiss'd, and prais'd my healthful look, The ribbon that his valorous cudgel won,

Then from his purse of silk a guinea took, 80 Last Sunday happier Clumsilis put on. 30 Into my hand he forc'd the tempting gold, Sure if he'd eyes (but Love, they say, has none) While I with modest struggling broke his hold. I whilom by that ribbon had been known. He swore that Dick, in livery strip'd with lace, Ah, well-a-day! I'm shent with baneful smart, Should wed me soon, to keep me from disgrace; For with the ribbon he bestow'd his heart. But I nor footman priz’d, nor golden fee;

“My plaint, ye lasses, with this burthen aid, For what is lace or gold, compard to thee? 'Tis hard so true a damsel dies a maid.'

“My plaint, ye lasses, with this burthen aid, “Shall heavy Clumsilis with me compare ? • 'Tis hard so true a damsel dies a maid.' View this, ye lovers, and like me despair.

“ Now plain I ken whence Love his rise begun; Her blubber'd lip by smutty pipes is worn, Sure he was born some bloody butcher's son, And in her breath tobacco whills are borne ! 40 Bred up in shambles, where our younglings slain The cleanly cheese-press she could never turn, Erst taught him mischief, and to sport with pain. Her awkward fist did ne'er employ the churn; The father only silly sheep annoys, If e'er she brew'd, the drink would straight go sour, The son the sillier shepherdess destroys. Before it ever felt the thunder's power;

Does son or father greater mischief do? No huswifery the dowdy creature knew;

The sire is cruel, so the son is too. To sum up all, her tongue confess'd the shrew. “My plaint, ye lasses, with this burthen aid,

“My plaint, ye lasses, with this burthen aid, • 'Tis hard so true a damsel dies a maid.' "Tis hard so true a damsel dies a maid.'

"Farewell, ye woods, ye meads, ye streams that “I've often seen my visage in yon lake, Nor are my features of the homeliest make : 50 A sudden death shall rid me of my woe. 100 Though Clumsilis may boast a whiter dye, This penknise keen my windpipe shall divide. Yet the black sloe turns in my rolling eye; What! shall I fall as squeaking pigs have died ? And fairest blossoms drop with every blast, No—To some tree this carcass I'll suspend. But the brown beauty will like hollies last. But worrying curs find such untimely end ! Her wan complexion's like the wither'd leek, I'll speed me to the pond, where the high stool While Katharine pears adorn my ruddy cheek. On the long plank hangs o'er the muddy pool; Yet she, alas! the witless lout hath won, That stool, the dread of every scolding quean; And by her gain poor Sparabell's undone ! Yet, sure a lover should not die so mean! Let hares and hounds in coupling straps unite, There plac'd aloft, I'll rave and rail by fits, The clucking hen make friendship with the kite ; Though all the parish say I've lost my wits; 110 Let the fox simply wear the nuptial noose, 61 And thence, if courage holds, myself I'll throw, And join in wedlock with the waddling goose ; And quench my passion in the lake below. For love hath brought a stranger thing to pass, Ye lasses, cease your burthen, cease to moan. The fairest shepherd weds the foulest lass. And, by my case forewarn’d, go inind your own."

My plaint, ye lasses, with this burthen aid, • 'Tis hard so true a damsel dies a maid.'

Ver. 67. Ver. 17. Meed, an old word for fame, or renown.

Ante leves ergo pascentur in æthere cervi, Ver. 18. -Ilanc sine tempora circum

Et freta destituent nudos in littore pisces-
Inter victrices hederam tibi serpere lauros.

Quàm nostro illius labatur pectore vultus.
Virg.

Firg. Ver. 25.

Ver. 89. To ken. Scire. Chaucer, to kon, and kende, Incumbens tereti Damon sic cæpit olivæ. Virg.

notus A. S. cunnam. Goth, kunnam. Germanis bennen Ver. 33. Shent, an old word, signifying hurt, or harmed. Danis kiende. Islandis kunna. Belgis kenner. This wor] Ver. 37

is of general use, but not very common, though not un Mopso Nisa datur, quid non speremus amantes?

known to the vulgar. Ker, for prospicere, is well known, Virg.

and used to discover by the eye. Ray, F. R. S. Ver. 49.

Nunc scio quid sit amor, &c. Nec sum adeo informis, nuper me in littore vidi.

Virg.

Crudelis mater magis an puer improbus ille ? Ver. 53

Iinprobus ille puer, crudelis tu quoque mater. Alba ligustra cadunt, vaccinis nigra leguntur.

Firg Virg. Ver. 59.

Ver. 99. Jungentur jam gryphes cquis; avoque sequenti

-vivite syivæ: Cum canibus timidi venient ad pocula dame.

Præceps aërii speculâ de montis in undas
Virg.

Dcferar.

66

HOBNELIA.

6

The Sun was set; the night came on apace, "With my sharp heel I three times mark the And falling dews bewet around the place;

ground, The bat takes airy rounds on leathern wings, And turn me thrice around, around, around.' And the hoarse owl his woful dirges sings ;

“Last May-day fair I search'd to find a snail, The prudent maiden deems it now too late,

That might my secret lover's name reveal. 50 And, till to-morrow comes, defers her fate. 120

Upon a gooseberry-bush a snail I found,
(For always snails near sweetest fruit abound).

I seiz'd the vermin, whom I quickly sped,
THURSDAY; OR, THE SPELL. And on the earth the milk-white embers spread.'

Slow crawld the snail; and, if I right can spell,
In the soft ashes mark'd a curious L.

Oh, may this wondrous omen lucky prove!
HOBNELIA, seated in a dreary vale,

For L is found in Lubberkin and Love.
In pensive mood rehears'd her piteous tale;
Her piteous tale the winds in sighs bemoan,

· With my sharp heel I three times mark the And pining echo answers groan for groan.

ground,

And turn me thrice around, around, around.' “I rue the day, a rueful day, I trow, The woful day, a day indeed of woe!

“Two hazel-nuts I threw into the flame, When Lubberkin to town his cattle drove,

And to each nut I gave a sweetheart's name; A maiden fine bedight he hapt to love ;

This with the loudest bounce me sore amaz'd, The maiden fine bedight his love retains,

That in a flame of brightest color blaz'd. And for the village he forsakes the plains. 10 As blaz'd the nut, so may thy passion grow; Return, my Lubberkin, these ditties hear; For 'twas thy nut that did so brightly glow. Spells will I try, and spells shall ease my care. With my sharp heel I three times mark the With my sharp heel I three times mark the

ground, ground,

And turn me thrice around, around, around.' 68 And turn me thrice around, around, around.'

“As peascods once I pluck'd, I chanc'd to see " When first the year I heard the cuckoo sing,

One that was closely fillid with three times three : And call with welcome note the budding spring,

Which, when I cropp'd, I safely home convey'd,

And o'er the door the spell in secret laid ;
I straightway set a running with such haste,
Deborah that won the smock scarce ran so fast;

My wheel I turn'd, and sung a ballad new,
Till spent for lack of breath, quite weary grown,

While from the spindle I the fleeces drew; Upon a rising bank I sat adown,

20

The latch mov'd up, when, who should first come in, Then doff'd my shoe, and, by my troth, I swear,

But, in his proper person—Lubberkin. Therein I spied this yellow frizzled hair,

I broke my yarn, surpris'd the sight to see ; As like to Lubberkin's in curl and hue,

Sure sign that he would break his word with me. As if upon his comely pate it grew.

Eftsoons I join'd it with my wonted sleight:

So may again his love with mine unite! 80 With my sharp heel I three times mark the

* With my sharp heel I three times mark the ground,

ground, And turn me thrice around, around, around.'

And turn me thrice around, around, around.' “At eve last Midsummer no sleep I sought, This lady-fly I take from off the grass, But to the field a bag of hemp-seed brought; Whose spotted back might scarlet red surpass : I scatter'd round the seed on every side,

• Fly, lady-bird, North, South, or East, or West, And three times in a trembling accent cried, 30 Fly where the man is found that I love best. • This hemp-seed with my virgin hand I sow,

He leaves my hand ; see, to the West he's flown, Who shall my true-love be, the crop shall mow.'

To call my true-love from the faithless town. I straight look'd back, and, if my eyes speak truth, With his keen scythe behind me came the youth.

"With my sharp heel I three times mark the

ground, • With my sharp heel I three times mark the And turn me thrice around, around, around.' 90 ground,

“I pare this pippin round and round again, And turn me thrice around, around, around.'

My shepherd's name to flourish on the plain,
“ Last Valentine, the day when birds of kind I fling th' unbroken paring o'er my head,
Their paramours with mutual chirpings find; Upon the grass a perfect L is read ;
I early rose, just at the break of day,

Yet on my heart a fairer L is seen
Before the Sun had chas'd the stars away ;

40 Than what the paring makes upon the green. A-field I went, amid the morning dew,

With my sharp heel I three times mark the To milk my kine (for so should huswives do);

ground,
Thee first I spied; and the first swain we see, And turn me thrice around, around, around.'
In spite of Fortune, shall our true-love be.
See, Lubberkin, each bird his partner take;
And canst thou then thy sweetheart dear forsake ?

Ver. 64.-εγώ δ' επί Λέλφιδι δάφναν
Αίθω. χώς αυτά λακέει, μέγα καππυρίσασα.

Theoc.

Ver. 66. Ver. 8. Dight, or bedight, from the Saxon word dightan, Daphnis me malus urit, ego hanc in Daphnide. which signifies to set in order.

Ver. 21. Doff and don, contracted from the words do off Ver. 93. Transque caput jace; ne respexeris. and do on.

Virg

6

6

Virg