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

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

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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.'

XX. (a) satire I. 223And, when she list,the licour of the grapeDoth glad her hart, till that her belly swell/ 30And at this iourney makes she but a iape :So forth she goe^, trusting of all this wealthWith her sister her part so for to shape,That, if she might there kepe her-self in health,To liue a Lady while her life doth last. 35And to the dore now is she come by stealth,And with her fote anone she scrapes full fast.Thother, for fear,durst not well scarse appereOf euery noyse so was the wretch agast.At last, she asked softly, who was there 40And, in her language as well as she could,'Pepe ' (quod the other) ' sister, I am here.'Peace' (quod the towne mouse) ' why speakest thou soloude?'And by the hand she toke her fayre and well.*Welcome' (quod she) 'my sister, by the rode.' 45She feasted her, that ioye it was to tellThe fare they hadde ; they dranke the wine so clere,And, as to purpose now and then itfell,She chered her, with ' how, sister, what chere VAmid this ioye be-fell a sory chance, 50That (weleaway) the stranger bought full dereThe fare she had. For, as she lookt a-scance.Under a stole she spied two stemyng eyesIn a rounde head, with [two] sharpe eares :in FraunceWas neuer mouse so ferde, for the vnwise 55Had not ysene such a beast before.Yet had nature so taught her, after her gise.To know her fo, and dread him euermore.The townemouse fled, she knew whither to go :The other had no shift, but wonders sore do

XX. (a) satire I. 223And, when she list,<strong>the</strong> licour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> grapeDoth glad her hart, till that her belly swell/ 30And at this iourney makes she but a iape :So forth she goe^, trusting <strong>of</strong> all this wealthWith her sister her part so for <strong>to</strong> shape,That, if she might <strong>the</strong>re kepe her-self in health,To liue a Lady while her life doth last. 35And <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> dore now is she come by stealth,And with her fote anone she scrapes full fast.Tho<strong>the</strong>r, for fear,durst not well scarse appereOf euery noyse so was <strong>the</strong> wretch agast.At last, she asked s<strong>of</strong>tly, who was <strong>the</strong>re 40And, in her language as well as she could,'Pepe ' (quod <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r) ' sister, I am here.'Peace' (quod <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>wne mouse) ' why speakest thou soloude?'And by <strong>the</strong> hand she <strong>to</strong>ke her fayre and well.*Welcome' (quod she) 'my sister, by <strong>the</strong> rode.' 45She feasted her, that ioye it was <strong>to</strong> tellThe fare <strong>the</strong>y hadde ; <strong>the</strong>y dranke <strong>the</strong> wine so clere,And, as <strong>to</strong> purpose now and <strong>the</strong>n itfell,She chered her, with ' how, sister, what chere VAmid this ioye be-fell a sory chance, 50That (weleaway) <strong>the</strong> stranger bought full dereThe fare she had. For, as she lookt a-scance.Under a s<strong>to</strong>le she spied two stemyng eyesIn a rounde head, with [two] sharpe eares :in FraunceWas neuer mouse so ferde, for <strong>the</strong> vnwise 55Had not ysene such a beast before.Yet had nature so taught her, after her gise.To know her fo, and dread him euermore.The <strong>to</strong>wnemouse fled, she knew whi<strong>the</strong>r <strong>to</strong> go :The o<strong>the</strong>r had no shift, but wonders sore do

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