Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

222 XX. SIR THOMAS WIAT.;;;;;(A) Of the vieane and sure estate, written to John Poins.INTymothers maides, when they do sowe and spinne, -'^They sing a song made of the feldishe ^ mouse ;That, forbicause her Huelod was but thinne,Would nedes go se her townish sisters houseShe thought her-selfe endured to greuous payne, 5The stormy blastes her caue so sore did sowse,That, when the furrowes swimmed with the rayne, -She must lie colde, and wet in sory plight.And worse then that, bare meat there did remaineTo comfort her, when she her house had dightSometime a barly-corne, sometime a beane,For which she laboured hard both day and night,In haruest tyme, while she might go and gleane.And when her store was stroyed with the floode,Then weleaway, for she vndone was cleane ; 15Then was she faine to take, in stede of fode,Slepe, if she might, her honger to begyle.'My sister' (quod she) hath a liuyng good,'And hence from me she dwelleth not a myle.In colde and storme, she lieth warme and dry, 20In bed of downe ;the durt doth not defileHer tender fote, she labours not as I,Richely she fedes, and at the richemans costAnd for her meat she nedes not craue nor cry.By sea, by land, of delicates the most 25Her cater sekes, and spareth for no perillShe fedes on boyle-meat, bake-meat, and on rostAnd hath therfore no whit of charge nor trauell.10* Printed ' seldishe'; but the second ed. has 'feldishe.'