This pouch, that's ty'd with tape of reddest hue, CUD. Begin thy carols, then, thou vaunting slouch, Be thine the oaken staff, or mine the pouch. 40 LOB. CL. My Blouzelinda is the blithest lass, CUD. My brown Buxoma is the featest maid LOB. CL. Sweet is my toil when Blouzelind is near, Of her bereft, 'tis winter all the year. With her no sultry summer's heat I know; 50 60 Ver. 56.1 Deft, an old word, signifying brisk or nimble. Volume I. M Come, Blouzelinda! ease thy swain's desire, CUD. As with Buxoma once I work'd at hay, And holydays, if haply she were gone, 70 LOB. CL. As Blouzelinda, in a gamesome mood, 80 [dear, Ver. 69. Ertsoons, from eft, an ancient British word, signifying soon; so that eftsoons is a doubling of the word soon, which is, as it were to say, twice soon, or very soon. Ver. 79. Quaint has various significations in the ancient English authors. I have used it in this place in the same sense as Chaucer hath done in his Millar's Tale, As clerkes being full subtle and quaint--(by which he means arch or waggish) and not in that obscene sense wherein he useth it in the line immediately following. Cats for their feasts the Scottish shepherds grind, CUD. In good roast beef my landlord sticks his knife, The capon fat delights his dainty wife; Pudding our parson eats, the squire loves hare, 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. LOB.CL. As once I play'd at Blindman's buff, it hapt About my eyes the towel thick was wrapt : I miss'd the swains, and seiz'd on Blouzelind. True speaks that ancient proverb, "Love is blind." CUD. As at Hot-cockles once I laid me down, And felt the weighty hand of many a clown, Buxoma gave a gentle tap, and I Quick rose, and read soft mischief in her eye. 100 LOB.CL. On two near elms the slacken'd cord I hung; Now high, now low, my Blouzelinda swung. With the rude wind her rumpled garment rose, And show'd her taper leg and scarlet hose. CUD. Across the fallen oak the plank I laid, And myself pois'd against the tott'ring maid: Ver. 83.] Populus Alcidae gratissima, vitis Iaccho, Formosa myrtus Veneri, sua laurea Phoebo. Phyllis amat corylos. Illas dum Phillis amabit, Nec myrtus vincet corylos nec laurea Phoebi, &c. Cay] Mij High leapt the plank; adown Buxoma fell; 110 LOB. CL. This riddle, Cuddy, if thou can'st explain, This wily riddle puzzles ev'ry swain; What flow'r is that which bears the Virgin's name, The richest metal joined with the same? CUD. Answer, thou carle, and judge this riddle right, I'll frankly own thee for a cunning wight; What flow'r is that which royal honour craves, Adjoin the Virgin, † and 'tis strown on graves ? CLOD. Forbear, contending louts, give o'er your An oaken staff each merits for his pains. But see the sunbeams bright to labour warn, And gild the thatch of Goodman Hodges' barn. Your herds, for want of water, stand adry, They're weary of your songs---and so am I. [strains; 121 Ver. 117.] Dic quibus in terris inscripti nomina Nascantur flores. regum. VIRG. Ver. 120. Et vitula tu dignus et hic. VIRG. TUESDAY: OR, THE DITTY. MARIAN. 10 YOUNG Colin Clout, a lad of peerless meed, 20 Ver. 21.] Kee, a West country word for kine, or COWS. |