And byddes me leave my woful warke, Ere nature me compell. My kepers knit the knot, That youth did laugh to skorne, Thus must I youth geve up, Lo, here the bare hed skull, [ANONYMOUS. 1521.] THE NUT-BROWN MAID. BE it right or wrong, these men among Of women do complain; Affirming this, how that it is A labour spent in vain, To love them well; for never a deal For let a man do what he can, Their favour to attain, Yet, if a new do them pursue, Their first true lover then Laboureth for nought; for from their thought He is a banished man. I say not nay, but that all day It is both writ and said, That woman's faith is, as who saith, All utterly decayed; But, nevertheless, right good witness That they love true, and continue: Which, when her love came, her to SHE-O Lord, what is this worldys prove, To her to make his moan, bliss, That changeth as the moon! Should change, if you were gone; HE.-I can believe, it shall you grieve, Shall soon aslaket: and ye shall take Comfort to you again. Why should ye ought? for to make Your labour were in vain. For I must to the green wood go, SHE.-Now, sith that ye have shewed to me The secret of your mind, I will not leve behind; Shall never be said, the nut-brown maid Was to her love unkind : Make you ready, for so am I, HE.-Yet I you rede to take good heed What men will think, and say: Of young, and old it shall be told, That ye be gone away, Your wanton will for to fulfil, No longer make delay. Yet would I to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man. For so that I your company May have, I ask no more: From which to part, it maketh my heart As cold as any stone; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. HE. For an outlaw this is the law, What rescue could ye find? Forsooth, I trow, ye and your bow For fear would draw behind: And no marvel; for little avail Were in your counsel then : Wherefore I will to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man. SHE.-Right well know ye that woman be But feeble for to fight; I would withstand, with bow in To grieve them as I might, And you to save; as women have From death men many one; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. He. Yet take good heed; for ever I dread That ye could not sustain The cold, the heat: for dry, or We must lodge on the plain; But a brake bush, or twain: Which soon should grieve you, I believe, And ye would gladly than SHE.-Sith I have here been partynère Yet am I sure of one pleasure; That, where ye be, me seemeth, I could not fare amiss. Without more speech, I you be. seech That we were soon agone; For, in my mind, of all mankind I kwe but you alone. HE.-If you go thither, ye must consider, When ye have lust to dine, There shall no meat be for you SHE.-Among the wild deer, such an archer As men say that ye be, Ne may not fail of good vitayle, And water clear of the river Endure, as ye shall see ; And, or we go, a bed or two I can provide anon; For, in my mind, of all mankind HE.-Lo yet, before, ye must do more, And ever shall, whatso befall; To die therefore anon; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. HE.-A baron's child to be beguil'd! Yet better were the poor squyère Than ye should say another day, The best rede ‡ that I can, SHE-Whatever befall, I never shall For, if ye, as ye said, Be so unkind, to leave behind, HE.-If that ye went, ye should repent ; I have purvayed § me of a maid, I dare it well avow; And of you both each should be wroth With other as I trow : It were mine ease to live in peace: Wherefore I to the wood will go, SHE.-Though in the wood I understood + Ensue-follow. Purvayed-provided. All this may nought remove my thought, But that I will be your: And she shall find me soft and And courteous every hour; Command me to my power: HE.-Mine own dear love, I see the proof That ye be kind and true; Be merry and glad, be no more The case is changed new; For it were ruth, that, for your truth, Ye should have cause to rue. Be not dismayed; whatsoever I said To you when I began ; I will not to the green wood go; SHE. These tidings be more glad to me, If I were sure they should endure; The wordés on the spleen. Then were the case worse than it And I more woe-begone; HE.-Ye shall not need further to dread; You (God defend !), sith ye descend Of so great lineage. Now understand; to Westmoreland, Which is mine heritage, I will you bring; and with a ring, I will you take, and lady make, Thus have you won an Erly's son, AUTHOR.-Here may ye see, that woman be In love, meek, kind and stable : But rather pray God that we may If they be charitable. For sith men would that women should Be meek to them each one; Much more ought they to God obey, And serve but him alone. [BEN JONSON. 1573-1637.) Drink to me only with thine eyes, And I will pledge with mine; Or leave a kiss within the cup, And I'll not look for wine. The thirst that from the soul doth rise, Doth ask a drink divine: But might I of Jove's nectar sup, I would not change for thine. II. I sent thee late a rosy wreath, It could not withered be; Since when it grows, and smells, I swear, EPITAPH ON THE COUNTESS UNDERNEATH this sable hearse, |