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And now farewell both spear and shield,
Caliver, pistol, arquebuse,

See, see, what sighs my heart doth yield
To think that I must leave you thus;
And lay aside my rapier-blade,

And take in hand a ditching spade.

And you farewell, all gallant games,
Primero, and Imperial,

Wherewith I used, with courtly dames,
To pass away the time withall:
I now must learn some country plays
For ale and cakes on holidays!

And now farewell each dainty dish,
With sundry sorts of sugar'd wine:
Farewell, I say. fine flesh and fish,

To please this dainty mouth of mine;

I now, alas, must leave all these,

And make good cheer with bread and cheese.

And now, all orders due, farewell:

My table laid when it was noon;

My heavy heart it irks to tell

My dainty dinners all are done. With leeks and onions, whig and whey,

I must content me as I may.

And farewell all gay garments now,
With jewels rich, of rare device;
Like Robin Hood, I wot not how,

I must go range in woodman's wise;
Clad in a coat of green or grey,
And glad to get it if I may.

What shall I say, but bid adieu
To every dram of sweet delight,
In place where pleasure never grew,
In dungeon deep of foul despite,
I must, ah me! wretch, as I may,
Go sing the song of welaway!

[Abridged from 39 stanzas.]

Not long ago, as I at supper sat,
Whereas indeed I had exceeding cheer,

In order served, with store of this and that,
With flaggons fill'd with wine, and ale, and beer,

I did behold, (that well set out the rest!)
A troop of dames in brave attire addrest.—

Now gan I guess, by outward countenance,
The disposition of each dainty dame :

And though, perhaps, I missed some by chance,
I hit some right, I do not doubt the same.
But shall I tell of each one what I guest?
No fie! for why, fond tattling breeds unrest.

But let them be such as they were: by chance
Our banquet done, we had our musick by,
And then, you know, the youth must needs go
dance,

First, galliards; then larousse; and heidegy; "Old lusty gallant;"" all flow'rs of the bloom;" And then a hall! for dancers must have room.

And to it then; with set, and turn about,

Change sides, and cross, and mince it like a hawk;

Backwards and forwards, take hands then, in and

out;

And, now and then, a little wholesome talk, That none could hear, close rowned in the ear; Well! I say nought: but much good sport was there.

Then might my minion hear her mate at will:
But, God forgive all such as judge amiss!
Some men, I know, would soon imagine ill,
By secret spying of some knavish kiss:

But let them leave such jealousy for shame!
Dancers must kiss: the law allows the same.

And, when friends meet, some merry sign must

pass;

Of welcoming unto each other's sight:
And for a kiss that's not so much, alas!

Dancers, besides, may claim a kiss of right,
After the dance is ended, and before.
But some will kiss upon kiss: that goes sore.

But what? I had almost myself forgot

To tell you on of this same gentle crew;
Some were, alas, with dancing grown so hot,

As some must sit; while other danced anew:
And thus forsooth our dancing held us on
Till midnight full; high time for to be gone.

But to behold the graces of each dame!

How some would dance as though they did but

walk;

And some would trip, as though one leg were

lame;

And some would mince it like a sparrow-hawk;

And some would dance upright as any bolt;
And some would leap and skip like a young colt!

And some would fidge, as though she had the itch; And some would bow half crooked in the joints; And some would have a trick; and some a twitch; Some shook their arms, as they had hung up 'points:

With thousands more that were too long to tell, But made me laugh my heart sore, I wot well.

--

But let them pass: and now" sir we must part; "I thank you, sir, for my exceeding cheer.""Welcome (quoth the good man) with all my heart:

"In faith the market serves but ill to year, "When one could not devise more meat to dress." Jesus! (thought I) what means this foolishness ?

But let that pass.-Then, parting at the door,
Believe me now, it was a sport to see
What stir there was, who should go out before.

Such curtsies low, with " Pray you pardon me”"You shall not chuse"-" In faith you are to "blame."

Goodsooth! (thought I) a man would think the same!

Now being forth (with much ado) at last,

Then part they all; each one unto their house;

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