s: To thy brother have I reconciled thee.'"


s: Nine fair sons possessed a happy mother;


s: And the tenth, the loveliest and the latest,


s: Till the sons were ripe for bridal altars,


s: Many a lover asked the maid in marriage;


s: And the third, a neighbour from her village.


s: So her mother for the neighbour pleaded;


s: For the far-off dwelling ban her brothers.


s: Thus they urged it to their lovely sister:


s: Go! thy brothers oft will hasten to thee;


s: Every month of every year will seek thee;


s: Every week of every month will seek thee."


s: With the ban she crossed the distant waters:


s: God sent down the plague, and all the brothers.


s: All the nine, were swept away, and lonely


s: Three long years had pass'd away unheeded;


s: Have I sinn'd against them?--that my brothers,


s: Spite of all their vows, come never near me."


s: Then did her stepsisters scorn and jeer her:


s: "Cast away! thy brothers must despise thee!


s: Never have they come to greet their sister."


s: Till the God of heaven took pity on her,


s: "Hasten down to earth," he said, "my angels!


s: To the white grave, where Jovan is sleeping,--


s: Young Jovan, the maiden's youngest brother.


s: Breathe your spirit into him; and fashion


s: From the white grave-stone a steed to bear him:


s: From the mouldering earth his food prepare him:


s: Let him take his grave shroud for a present!


s: To the white grave where Jovan was sleeping.


s: From the white grave-stone a steed they fashion'd;


s: Into his dead corpse they breathed their spirit;


s: From the ready earth the bread they moulded;


s: For a present his grave-shroud they folded;


s: And equipp'd, and bade him seek his sister.


s: Long before he had approach'd her dwelling,


s: Far, far off his sister saw and hail'd him;


s: Hastened to him--threw her on his bosom,


s: Loosed his vest, and stamp'd his cheeks with kisses.


s: Then she sobb'd with bitterness and anguish,


s: Then she wept, and thus address'd her brother:


s: Thou, and all my brothers, all, ye promised


s: Oft and oft to seek your distant sister:


s: Every month in every year to seek her,--


s: Three long years have sped away unheeded,


s: And ye have not sought me"--For a moment


s: She was silent; and then said, "My brother!


s: Thou art deadly pale! why look so deadly


s: Pale, as if in death thou hadst been sleeping?"


s: But Jovan thus check'd his sister: "Silence,


s: Silence, sister! as in God thou trustest;


s: When eight brothers had prepared their nuptials,


s: Eight stepsisters ready to espouse them,


s: Ere we built us eight white dwellings, sister!


s: Three white days had pass'd away unheeded,


s: And the maid equipp'd her for a journey.


s: For her brothers and her bridal sisters:


s: For her brothers, fairest silken vestments;


s: But Jovan would fain detain her--"Go not,


s: Wait until thy brothers come and greet thee."


s: But she would not listen to her brother:


s: She prepared the costliest, fairest presents.


s: And his sister travell'd patient by him.


s: So as they approach'd their mother's dwelling,


s: Near the house a tall white church was standing,


s: Young Jovan he whispered to his sister--


s: Let me enter the white church an instant.


s: When my middle brother here was married,


s: And Jelitza stood--she stood impatient--


s: Wondering--wondering--but in vain she waited.


s: Then she left the spot to seek her brother.


s: Many and many a grave was in the churchyard


s: Saw her mother's dwelling, and press'd forward


s: To that cuckoo's cry within the dwelling!


s: Lo! it was not the gray cuckoo's crying--


s: To the door Jelitza press'd--outstretching


s: Her white neck, she call'd--"Make ope, my mother!


s: Hasten to make ope the door, my mother!"


s: "Plague of God! avaunt! my sons have perish'd--


s: All--all nine have perish'd--Wilt thou also,


s: Shriek'd, "O open--open, dearest mother!


s: I am not God's plague--I am thy daughter.


s: Thine own daughter--thy Jelitza, mother!"


s: Then the mother push'd the door wide open,


s: And she scream'd aloud, and groan'd, and flung her


s: Old arms round her daughter--All was silent--


s: Stiff and dead they fell to earth together.


s: Such a wonder ne'er before was witness'd.


s: In Saint Paul's--within the holy cloister,


s: In three ranks, the saints are all collected;


s: And their health the holy Nicholas pledges.


s: Pledges them their health to Jesus' glory.


s: But behold, behold the saint!--he slumbers;


s: From his hand the cup of wine has fallen,


s: Yet the wine's unspilt,--the cup unbroken.


s: Not to drop the cup--And tell me, brother,


s: Why to-day does slumber's power subdue thee?"


s: "Jest not thus with me, thou sainted thunderer!


s: For I fell asleep, and dreamt three hundred,


s: Dreamt three hundred friars had embark'd them


s: Offerings,--golden wax, and snowy incense.


s: From the clouds there broke a furious tempest,


s: Lash'd the blue waves of the trembling ocean,


s: Scooping watery graves for all the friars.


s: Then I heard their blended voices call me,


s: 'Help, O God! and help, O holy Nicholas!


s: Would that thou, where'er thou art, wert with us!'


s: So I hurried down to help the suppliants--


s: So I saved the whole three hundred friars


s: So I shipped them full of joy and courage;


s: Brought their offerings to the holy mountain,


s: Brought their golden wax, their snowy incense;--


s: And meanwhile I seem'd in gentle slumber,


s: "Sun! I am fairer than thou,--far fairer;


s: Fairer than is thy sister or thy brethren,--


s: Fairer than yon bright moon at midnight shining,


s: Fairer than yon gay star in heav'n's arch twinkling,


s: That star, all other stars preceding proudly,


s: As walks before his sheep the careful shepherd."


s: The sun complain'd to God of such an insult:


s: "What shall be done with this presumptuous maiden?"


s: And to the sun God gave a speedy answer:


s: "Thou glorious Sun! thou my beloved daughter!


s: Be joyous yet! say, why art thou dejected?


s: Wilt thou reward the maiden for her folly--


s: Shine on, and burn the maiden's snowy forehead.


s: But I a gloomier dowry yet will give her;


s: Evil to her shall be her husband's brother;


s: Evil to her shall be her husband's father.


s: Then shall she think upon the affront she gave thee."


s: Thick fell the snow upon St. George's day;


s: The little birds all left their cloudy bed;


s: The maiden wander'd bare-foot on her way;


s: Her brother bore her sandals, and he said:


s: "O sister mine! cold, cold thy feet must be."


s: "No! not my feet, sweet brother! not my feet--


s: There's nought to chill me in the snowy sleet:


s: My mother--'tis my mother who hath chill'd me,


s: Bound me to one who with disgust hath fill'd me."


s: That they would make themselves a brother:


s: They cut them silk, as snow-drops white;


s: And said, "Now live, and speak, and eat."


s: _From photograph by kind permission of Mr. Crawford Price._]


s: It's something heaps better and finer,--


s: It's the _soul_ of my country _in sight!_


s: There's a lot of ceremony 'bout the Flag,


s: But we who work beneath the Flag to-day,


s: Who'll honor it--and die for it, perhaps--


s: Get a slightly different view of the old red, white and blue


s: Than is visioned by th' criticisin' chaps.


s: It isn't just an emblem, clean and bright,


s: No matter what its "hoist" or what its "fly,"


s: To us it means our country--wrong or right!


s: The sobby stuff that some good people spout


s: Won't help a man to understand this view,


s: But: Wherever that Flag goes, the man who follows, _knows_


s: That a better, cleaner citizen _goes too!_


s: It's something that represents _freedom;_


s: It's the _soul_ of my country--in sight!


s: To measure fealty with a worn foot-rule;


s: To ask: "Shall we keep still or shall we fight?"


s: The Clock of Fate has struck; the hour is here;


s: "How may I serve my country, day by day?"


s: Not all of us may join the khakied throng


s: Of those who answer and go forth to stem


s: The tide of war. But we can all be strong


s: Not with unfettered thought, or tongue let loose


s: In bitterness and hate--a childish game!


s: That honors those who put the rest to shame!


s: There is no middle ground on which to stand;


s: We've done with useless pro-and-con debates;


s: The one-time friend, so welcome in this land,


s: There is no way, with honor, to stand back--


s: You cannot trim the flag to fit your lack;


s: You pull a lot of funny stuff about us, when there's peace,


s: The jokes you spring are sometimes rough, and make a guy see red;


s: And them that laughed the loudest laugh, salute the flag instead!


s: The khaki that they doll us in ain't seen war service--no!


s: The most of it has been worn thin a-loafin' 'round the mess;


s: Folks think it's great to josh us when things are goin' slow,


s: But when the country's all het up--we ain't so worse, I guess!


s: We're only folks--th' reg'lar kind--that answered to th' call;


s: Just wearin' khaki doesn't change our insides--not a'tall!


s: And when she married a handsome, polished Prussian


s: He had much money, and he wasn't arrogant--


s: With his father's arrogance in the small.


s: No spiritual standards for measurements;


s: And the child had everything it should have


s: The woman, up in arms, dinned at officials


s: Until (so easy-going and so slow to learn)


s: That night she stared long at their child, asleep,


s: She carrying it (the nurse was left behind)


s: And the passports that allowed her to see him


s: Yet he threw back his head and shoulders


s: And shrugged as his wife and boy came in.


s: "Always late," said he, after a perfunctory kiss,


s: She stared long at him, holding the child close,


s: Thoughtfully chewing a straw and looking


s: "That my brother was on that transport--


s: My only brother--a soldier--my only blood?


s: If it had gone down--that transport--been sunk--"


s: Then--her little head lifted, her eyes gone mad--


s: Life to another human scorpion like you--


s: Man in form only!--Lower than the floor of hell itself;


s: Swift as the eagle that drives a lamb to death


s: She whipped a hat-pin from her dainty hat,


s: All that was left of what had once meant joy--


s: A dead baby with red bubbles on its lips!


s: While the navy's standin' guard, we are lookin' out;


s: Patrol boats in shoals, good old craft and new


s: Hustle here and skitter there--what's it all about?


s: Pleasure craft a-plenty, all dolled up in gray


s: Grim and ugly war-paint dress, we're a gloomy lot,


s: Gosh! It's wearin' on the nerves, waitin' round--for what?


s: Stickin' for the Big Show! Will it ever start?


s: When it does, Good night, Irene! We won't make a squeak.


s: "Boy Scouts of the Sea," watch us do our part


s: If a raider or a sub. gives us just a peek!


s: _Little mother, little mother, with the shadows in your eyes


s: And the icy hand of Fear about your heart,


s: You cannot help your boy prepare to make his sacrifice


s: Unless you make yours bravely, at the start!_


s: He is training, as a million others train;


s: He is giving what the others give--their best;


s: Because he's joined the colors--he's not dead!


s: Because he's found his duty--he's not lost!


s: Through your mother-love, my dear, keep him steady, keep him near


s: You're not alone in heartaches or in doubts;


s: All mothers feel this burden newly coined;


s: Then call your trembling pride to your colors--to your side--


s: "Be a sport!" and make him glad that he has joined!


s: There is this that you can do: "Play the game"; there honor lies.


s: It's a high-falutin' title they have handed us;


s: But a year or so ago they called us "hicks," you know--


s: An' joshed the farmer and his hired hand!


s: It's a mighty fancy title you have given us,


s: A name that sounds too fine to really stick;


s: But maybe you'll forget (when you figure out your debt)


s: To call th' man who works a farm a "hick."


s: Billy is a ladies' man; Billy dances fine


s: Billy pulls the social stuff all along the line--


s: But he knows this business, just the same.


s: Maybe he was soft at first--ev'rybody's that;


s: Now he's in the Service (where you don't grow fat),


s: When he joined the Training Camp, Billy says, "No doubt,


s: But he's shown he can _command_; so--the news is out--


s: When Jimmy joined the colors first, he knowed that soon he'd be


s: A non-com. officer,--oh, sure, he had that idee firm;


s: But Jimmy got another think, fer quite eventually


s: They had him workin' like a Turk, th' pore, astonished worm.


s: The rest of us, we gotta eat, and Jimmy--he can cook!


s: (He makes a stew that tastes as good as mother used to make.)


s: An' when he starts to flappin' cakes, why, every hungry rook


s: Is droolin' at the mouth for them, a-waitin' fer his take.


s: He's ranked a sergeant, but he don't mix up with no recruits;


s: He rides a horse when we parade (which ain't so often now);


s: But where he shines is when we eat; the grub that Jimmy shoots


s: At hungry troopers every day is certainly "some chow."


s: He's jest a "dough-boy," of a sort; it's Jimmy's job to cook;


s: Don't hafter drill, don't hafter tote a lot of arms with him;


s: Jest messes up th' stuff we eat, and we don't hafter look--


s: But I know the man, and I know that he lies


s: When the boys in khaki first were called to serve,


s: Bob was just a private in the old N. G.,


s: When they sent his comp'ny down the road a bit,


s: Some one's car and drive it--marching gets my goat!"


s: Lonesome work, this pacing up and down a bridge.


s: But at night--just nothing; everything was dead;


s: Then the chauffeur lady got into the game,


s: Drove her car each midnight to our tents,


s: Bringing us hot coffee, sandwiches, and pie;


s: All the others thought that was immense.


s: But Bob, ungrateful cuss, he would never say,


s: Like the rest, that she had saved their lives;


s: He was too blamed busy, like the one-armed man


s: Bob would eat the lunches--eat and come again,


s: Finish with a piece o' pie, swallow it--and go;


s: Then one night we heard him talking to the girl,


s: Can't you change the stuffing? I am sick of ham!


s: Have a heart! I'd just as lief eat hay!"


s: Did we all jump on him? You can bet we did:


s: "Who gave you the right to kick, you steer,


s: Over what she brings us? She's a first-rate pal;


s: Bob was somewhat flustered; thought we hadn't heard.


s: Then he said, "Well, ain't you tired o' ham?"


s: "What of that?" says Wilcox. "Think of how she works!


s: Spends her cash ...!" (All Bob said then was, "Damn!")


s: Grabbing up his Springfield, "Listen, you!" he snaps.


s: Sure she's spending money--but it comes from me;


s: Then, as he marched himself into the night,


s: "We've ditched our good luck--he won't _let_ her come back,"


s: Is straight.... But I wonder if Bill _would_ lie?


s: Bill wouldn't laugh, whatever you'd say;


s: "Grin, ye hyenas," he'll say as he smokes;


s: "Thinkin' of all of the pain you caused folks


s: "My audience laughed till it cried salty tears,


s: D'you s'pose at _that_ joke he actually laughed?


s: But I've got my place and I'll stick to it--


s: But somehow I feel that he's better than me--


s: You mustn't _hate_ the enemy--that wastes a lot of "pep"--


s: The Colonel passed the word around the training camp to-day.


s: The Captain says with modern war we gotta all catch step;


s: "'Pirates, rapists, murderers; poisoners and lying thieves;


s: Super-vandals, run amuck--black devils quoting sermons;


s: This world was mostly Heaven-made, our Chaplain, he believes;


s: But Hell itself conceived and spawned the Military Germans!


s: "The enemy is good at killing kids, and old folks, too;


s: Torpedoing hospital ships and blowin' up our plants;


s: But cogitatin' on their line of wicked things won't do;


s: We'll never hate 'em off the map--just give the guns a chance!"


s: So we don't go in for loathin', and with anger we don't burn;


s: And ev'ry man's a better shot when he can shoot--and smile!


s: The folks at home will spend their time a-broodin' over all


s: The nasty devils do and on the details they can dwell;


s: It's up to us to learn this game, and then--when comes the call--


s: Since Johnny has joined the Marine corps,


s: But Johnny's a-wearin' the blue--and ain't carin'--


s: Whenever he'd get on a boat, and he'd fret


s: Till we'd land--which was usually quick.


s: He's answered the call, bless his heart!


s: And he'll square out his jaw and think of his maw


s: But he said, "If I stayed, they'd call me afraid;


s: Of the days he was mine. They are done--


s: I'm proud; but I wish--I could fix up a dish


s: We'd made the port, with time to spare--


s: He said, and that was all. They smiled--


s: And said they hoped the weather'd clear.


s: "When can you start to work?" they asked.


s: It may be that you know him. A slim and likely kid;


s: Red-headed, tall, and soft of speech and glance.


s: He never took a prize at school (his talents always hid),


s: And yet he's got a medal from the Government of France!


s: The other roared, but Briggs, sleep-deaf,


s: 'Twas like some spent star-shell glued on


s: Briggs never stopped, but when the groans


s: I wonder if you know him? A slim and quiet kid,


s: Red-headed, tall, and soft of speech and glance;


s: He doesn't like to have you talk about the thing he did--


s: And yet he's got a medal from the Government of France.


s: Back of the Front in this durn trainin' camp,


s: Day after day we are stuck, an' we swear


s: Of th' men who are through and are goin' somewhere.


s: We're all of us willin', but why keep us drillin'


s: Forever?... Just waitin' for somethin' to do!


s: At home they are readin' th' outlandish name


s: Of a battle that's won or a hero that's dead


s: Of a stunt that had won him a place in this Game--


s: But all that I've won is a cold in my head!


s: While others are fightin' we're readin' or writin'--


s: An' the censors will see that it don't get to you!


s: We long for a scrap that will sizzle the blood;


s: This marchin' an' diggin' in acres of mud


s: War may be a curse, but this here is worse--


s: This dreamin' th' dreams that never come true.


s: All set for a mix-up that we can't begin;


s: We're linked to the side-lines.... Ain't it a sin,


s: Seems like a crime to waste so much time


s: A-waitin'--an' waitin'! You'd find it so, too.


s: My bunkie is peevish, and I'm out of tune;


s: The Capting's a grouch whenever we hike;


s: If we don't get into this muss pretty soon,


s: We fellers are likely to go on a strike!


s: We signed for a scrap, not a tea or a nap,


s: What's th' meanin' of the look you see in soldiers' eyes?


s: Some of them you thought would kick an' stall around an' howl;


s: But just listen (if they'll talk) an' hear, to your surprise,


s: A lot of laughs, a lot o' tales--but never once a growl!


s: That's the meaning of the call; ev'ry man is proud


s: He is in the common cause, with a bunch of men


s: Fighting for democracy, lined up with this crowd--


s: God! It's pretty nifty _just to be a man again!_


s: "I wasn't so much of a soldier," said the soul of Sergeant Todd,


s: (Fumbling at his medal, that statement sounded odd.)


s: "I wasn't so much of a fighter, but when they came, and came,


s: A Corporal's soul beside him nodded and mustered a smile:


s: "And now that I'm dead," said the troubled soul of the one-time


s: We meet ev'ry week to make surgical dressings--


s: I watched her a day--then I just _had_ to say,


s: While I was explaining the teacher came by--


s: She's so cross that her mouth's just a _line_--


s: I'll mind _no one's_ business _but mine!_


s: To-day I was filling my neighbor's slow mind


s: When a dog I don't _know_ just _ruined_ mine--so


s: Then a talk that I gave to the Home Service Group


s: On "Waste" was _quite_ spoiled--though 'twas fine--


s: By my bread burning up while I talked....


s: I'll mind _no one's_ business but _mine!_


s: At a lecture on "Hospital Units at Work"


s: Ere the talk had _begun_ started _crying_....


s: "But you should be _brave_ and 'buck up'," I remarked.


s: "And _yours_?" she asked.... How did she divine


s: That _I_ am not married?... Oh, well, after this


s: I'll mind _no one's_ business--b-but mine!


s: This horrid old war is right _in_ our house


s: Making itself _at home_, goodness sakes!


s: The scraps from our table won't feed a _mouse_


s: We've cut out desserts, salads, and cakes.


s: Wednesday is _sugarless_, too, gee whiz!


s: Our plates must be _cleaned_, they tell us. That's why


s: And then, just to keep from wasting a _drop_,


s: Says Pa told the doctor, "My fault, old top--


s: The doctor was writing a 'scription note


s: When I come to, turned over and grinned,


s: And he frowned at Pa, as he wrote and wrote,


s: Till Pa grew red like his cheeks was _skinned_.


s: If that's your game it's good for _my_ biz.


s: But if _I_ was _you_, I surely would 'can'


s: And then enlisted. "That's all I can do,"


s: He said; "and I'm glad to give it, for true!"


s: His cash and his watch and his auto he gave,


s: And then himself. Was that foolish, or brave?


s: There's work ahead, not just a joyous spree.


s: Of course we sing and talk and sometimes dance;


s: But get this in your mind--that when we hear


s: "Hullo, Soldier! How's the boy?" as we disembark in France,


s: Don't you think that we are just a bunch of flivvers;


s: We've measured up the job that must be done


s: And we know what we are facing, though the shivers


s: Don't turn our spines to rubber--not a one!


s: The Prussian scorned the world. Well, let him scorn it


s: (The world exchanges loathing for that scorn);


s: So it doesn't matter that some foolish people


s: Unless it _is_, the harvest they will reap'll


s: Be slavery or death, they ought to know.


s: It isn't what they want or what we'd like--


s: It's what we've _got_ to do.... When others say,


s: "Hullo, Soldier! How's the boy?" as we drill and shoot and hike,


s: _It's this nation's debt to France we've


s: A simple ditty Private Smithy sang for me,


s: Entitled "Beans."... The tune was not a joy;


s: The words were commonplace as they could be,


s: But just to hear his earnest voice--"Oh, Boy!"


s: A very simple ditty, you'll agree with me;


s: And unction that he puts into the melody,


s: The _splendid appetite_ he sings--Oh, Boy!


s: We'll never reach the firing-line, nor bear its hellish brunt--


s: Book-keeper, paymaster, spectacled clerk,


s: Doing our bit, though it's every day work--


s: We're the backwash whirl of the pool of War gathering in the men,


s: We're the silent corps of the Men Behind, over and over again


s: Doing our part in the war for Right, small though it seem to you.


s: Knowing no hours--and not too much pay--


s: If it takes ten men behind the front to put one on the Line,


s: (We all remember the speech that cheers the backwash, anyhow!)


s: But a cog that doesn't complain, you see--


s: There's a Red Cross Button on his left lapel,


s: There's a U. S. flag above the Red Cross, too;


s: His loyalty is spread on his hollow breast


s: (And sometimes he's pathetic, I confess),


s: But the button that he's most ashamed to wear


s: There's an aching heart in his 28-chest,


s: There's a look of deep longing in his eyes;


s: Behind his heavy glasses there gleams a hope


s: There's a hero-throb in the heart of that boy,


s: Though he wears too much "scenery"--ah, yes!--


s: But the badge that hurts he really tries to hide--


s: You fellows that are in--have a heart for those


s: Who want to be, but can't! For they must know


s: A bitterness of soul you can never feel--


s: _They_ haven't got a chance on earth to go!


s: So it's, "Stay back home with the old and unfit,"


s: (There's nothing else to do but that, I guess!)


s: The badge he'd be glad to throw a mile away


s: But now--what a diff'rence! Living throbs


s: And wished you were marching home again!


s: Would make _us_ ashamed.... For now we choke


s: Shall gladden the eyes of we useless men


s: We can't forget who is meeting the storm--


s: You went.... We talked.... God blot the past!


s: And a firm belief in the might of right.


s: Uncompromising devotion to this country,


s: "Write me," she ordered, nodding her head,


s: "A song of the rippling Spring that is gone--


s: A song that's different from songs that are dead--


s: Sparkling with happiness, heavy with dew,


s: Trilling and thrilling, all the way through;


s: Fill it with heaven's own laughing blue--


s: Write it!" she said. So I wrote it--"Love's Pawn."


s: I spoke of the sunshine caught in her hair;


s: I sang of the peach blossom's pink in her face;


s: I mentioned the heavenly blue with great care


s: That colored her wonderful eyes. And her grace


s: I likened to that of a slender young tree


s: Bowing and laughing when breezes blow free;


s: In fact, there was naught in the Spring I could see


s: Save this girl who with Love would ever keep pace.


s: She took it and read it, that poor thing of mine--


s: Drank in the similes (flattering wine!),


s: Then gave her verdict, "You are a _dear_;


s: Written for her; I will treasure it long;


s: How _could_ you know me so well--in one year?"


s: I read it myself--and grew red, I confess,


s: As a good workman should, when a poor job is done;


s: But the joy of her laugh and the sweet, swift caress


s: And then as she stood on the brow of the hill


s: And swayed in the wind, as Youth ever will,


s: I think that I heard her silv'ry laugh trill....


s: But perish the thought that she'd spoken in fun!


s: The radiant dawn flows up the empty sky,


s: Unfinished morning fades and slips away.


s: While Nature holds her fragrant breath at dawn


s: Watching the loveliness she's made--it's gone!


s: From dew-drenched garden thrills a thrush's call--


s: That liquid note that all night long was stilled--


s: The living chalice, brown and bright and small,


s: Seems with the joy of living overfilled--


s: Then suddenly, unfinished, clear and sweet


s: The song is drowned in noises from the street.


s: Would speak to your white soul, would humbly come


s: Oh, heart of mine, within your quiet breast


s: Unfinished dawn--and song--and love--find rest!


s: You've paid for that day with days gone by--


s: The days that you'd like to forget--and try--


s: The lowering clouds and the sodden world,


s: But--though you paid as they paid, eyes wet--


s: Your banner of courage was still unfurled!


s: Paid in advance with a shrug and a smile--


s: While others complained, you heard a tune,


s: We rode at night, and the cut-steel stars


s: In the Scheme of the Silent Worlds on high.


s: The night air whipped your hair and your face,


s: Our hearts kept time to the horses' pace,


s: And we were alive, and our blood was red!


s: We rode at night.... Though you did not speak


s: Love lent me strength to an arm not weak,


s: And I swept you out of your saddle--to me!


s: I rowelled your horse and he thundered on,


s: While in my arms you cuddled, and sighed;


s: And I kissed your hair and lips--and lied


s: When you asked if the coming light was the dawn?


s: We rode at night; and our love, new-found,


s: Gloried our way, as the pace slowed down;


s: Close about mine, ere we reached the town.


s: You cared, you cared! Though your firm white hand


s: Was cut by the reins you had held too long,


s: "Dear Cave-man, I love you," you said; "is it wrong?"


s: We ride no more, for the years have fled,


s: The wine of hot Youth is down to the lees;


s: Of the gold-shot Past that age ever sees.


s: We ride no more.... Yet the scar is still there


s: On the brave little hand that I kissed that night,


s: And my love is as strong as the hand is white;


s: But I wonder--I wonder--do you still care?


s: A thousand years from now, how will this earth


s: Conduct itself? Will there be wars, and men


s: Inventing things? Or will there be a dearth


s: Of ideas (such as we feel, now and then?)


s: Nobody knows. We can surmise, perchance--


s: But glancing that far oft is quite some glance!


s: A thousand years from now--in Time's swift flight--


s: To match the hearts and brains those bodies hold!


s: A thousand years from now--why should we care


s: What Science then brings forth--we won't be here


s: The present with our past--won't that be queer?


s: But men, as now, will hope (as we have done)


s: That each new year will be a better one!


s: That had claimed his every waking thought


s: For years ... and a miracle had been wrought!


s: That all these years--how long, God knows!--


s: I really have not _understood_ the rose?"


s: And he waved his hand and paused and smiled


s: Till the baby laughed--and its laugh was sweet.


s: To the child, and he whispered, "And _that_ I have missed!"


s: To the end of the day that was full of care


s: The song in his heart was strong and new,


s: And the woman who loved him heard it too:


s: But I fear he didn't--until he was dead!


s: "A Merry Christmas!" You who make each day


s: Weighted with sorrow; you who have been gay


s: For others' sake--although you paid the toll


s: In the still watches of the weary night,


s: Fighting despair. You who have faced the world


s: With spirit and put cowardice to flight;


s: You, with your rugged banner still unfurled--


s: "A Merry Christmas!" Through the winter chill,


s: The singing spring--hot summer and drear fall,


s: You go your way, seeking for good, not ill,


s: Remembering life's joy and not its gall;


s: Clasping the hand that trembles, when you may,


s: Spending your love whole-heartedly the while


s: For those who need it _now_, nor wait that day


s: When they no longer care for word or smile.


s: The fetching airs you have; the way you sing, dear;


s: The pretty uplift of your round, firm chin;


s: Into my heart the sunshine daily bring, dear;


s: To be downcast when you're here were a sin!


s: Yet ev'ry motion, ev'ry smile and word, dear,


s: I know full well--and lost are their effect.


s: All of your bell-like tones you see, I've heard, dear,


s: When they were meant for me--and came direct.


s: That golden hair! How well you know its worth, dear,


s: To draw enraptured praise from lovers bold!


s: I, too, know well that from its very birth, dear,


s: Its meshes have entrapped the young and old.


s: Yet, when I watch you laughing, teasing--you, dear,


s: Who have been given such a hold on hearts,


s: I do not thrill as all the others do, dear;


s: Not that I'm jealous, indifferent, or cold, dear;


s: Not that I don't approve of all your charms;


s: Not that you're "just a little bit too old," dear;


s: No, no; you're sweet, and fresh, and fair, dear,


s: Unspoiled, delightful--really "all the rage."


s: But somehow I can't seem to rightly care, dear--


s: I wooed your mother--when she was your age!


s: Of tender missives--decorated treasures--


s: Of throbbing heart-songs, tuned to lilting measures;


s: Of fervent verse--with somewhat halting feet;


s: Of every dainty Valentine that's fashioned


s: You've had a rather goodly share each year;


s: So will you take, in place of love-impassioned


s: Three words I'll send--that is, if they're enough


s: To take the place of all that flossy stuff!


s: Throughout the year life is so full of trouble,


s: Beneath grim work the lover's back must double,


s: And then he lets poor sentiment go slide!


s: We try to think of what you'd have us say, dear,


s: But when we've coaxed a good thought half way out,


s: And then Love's gentle troops are put to rout.


s: So--with a business missive in each hand--


s: Will three words do? Or do you more demand?


s: Gone are the days when troubadors sang daily


s: Of hearts and flowers, lips and eyes and hair;


s: We take (I fear) our deep emotions gaily,


s: And think we haven't time to love or care.


s: Yet once a year it shouldn't be impossible


s: Then gloss the faults of mine you think are glossible,


s: Hark to my valentine, my dear, _I love you!_


s: I sure do like that kid, although I know


s: He's rotten spoiled, and ought to be suppressed.


s: The neighbors have no chance to get a rest.


s: Not bad, you understand; just "some unlucky"


s: In getting caught at things, once in a while;


s: Yet when he does, he never runs--he's plucky!


s: But plays that smile of his, that flashing smile.


s: Sometimes when he has done a foolish thing--


s: Like "hoeing weeds" with our best garden hose,


s: Or in the rose bed "built a min'rul spring,"


s: He's bound to make me peevish, goodness knows!


s: Yet when he tries to "'splain it all" to me,


s: I'm stern, as stern, indeed, as I can be--


s: Until he smiles that mother-given smile!


s: Perhaps he doesn't understand how strong


s: Disarmed by it, I can not right the wrong


s: On breaking him, 'twould hesitate a while


s: And feel ashamed!... He wins without intent


s: Because--God bless him!--he knows _when_ to smile.


s: If Antoinette were sitting here before the cheery blaze,


s: And she should ask me what I'd like to-morrow--day of days--


s: Would not my heart leap to my mouth, as any chap's would do,


s: While leaning down to her pink ear, I softly whispered, "You!"


s: If Antoinette were just to give me half a chance to say


s: What gift of gifts I'd like the best, how long would I delay


s: In taking her into my arms and keeping her there, too,


s: While earnestly I answer her with one brief, heartfelt "You!"


s: If Antoinette, dear Antoinette, were simply to suggest


s: That question, don't you think that I would quickly do the rest?


s: Well, you'd be wrong, because, alas! a year ago--or two--


s: She asked Jim what he wanted, and the lucky chap said "You!"


s: They all fell beneath my faithful hammering;


s: And then--my pretty neighbor across the street


s: Put in a player-piano that could tear a hole


s: Through classics that I'd never learned even to dent!


s: (She was studying for the operatic stage.)


s: Then we both laughed--and quit our exercises.


s: Using her big eyes in a financially-effective way,


s: I've figgered out that worryin' don't pay a little bit,


s: Fer every feller's got to have some trouble in his day;


s: An' wonderin' what's comin' next don't help to sidetrack hit--


s: You can't foretell afflictions, or stop 'em, thataway!


s: Looks like to me that every one has got a large amount


s: Things even up before we die, as every old man knows.


s: We've got to stand our share of pain and meet a heap of sorrow;


s: We've got to shoulder burdens that no one likes to tote;


s: But worryin' about the load, and thinkin' of th' morrow


s: Don't make it one mite easier, er cheerfuller, I note!


s: Ma wanted a good, new picture of me; so pa says, "'Lizabeth Ann,


s: I runned away at 'leven o'clock, and ma didn't see me go,


s: And then we went to the picture man. He's nice enough, I s'pose,


s: And now the pictures are finished up, and one is already framed;


s: But ma'll be mad, I am pretty sure--I know that _I_ feel ashamed;


s: He held her hand, and joy shone in his eyes;


s: The world and all therein to him was fair;


s: What mattered now the gloomy, lowering skies?


s: For what the future held he did not care!


s: Was everything a real sweetheart should be.


s: He held her hand.... The car was crowded, too;


s: The passengers could not suppress their smiles.


s: The love he felt, perhaps, obscured his view,


s: So wrapt was he in all her pretty wiles.


s: And when he kissed her rosy lips, a hush


s: Fell on them as they saw her slowly blush!


s: He held her hand and gazed about with pride,


s: As though to challenge those who'd say him nay;


s: He held her hand--and nestling to her side,


s: "Oh, Momie, dear, you're sweet as any rose--


s: Oncet, when I was a gret big man, I got mad at the way


s: Ol' nurses bossed the childruns an' so I wouldn't stay;


s: I jest got up and PUSHED MY HOUSE right over--yes, I did;


s: An' then I turned the streets all round, and runned away and hid!


s: 'N oncet I was a NELUPHANT, as big as all outdoors,


s: 'N every time I turned around it shook the roofs and floors;


s: I walked down to the river, and I drunk it up--ALL up,


s: Jest like it was some cambric tea in my ol' silver cup.


s: An' when the people come fer me, I jest set down, kerplunk!


s: You better let me go, Louise--I MIGHT do that to-day!


s: You won't? All right--you'd BETTER DID, for one time long ago,


s: Before I gotter be a boy, I was a BEAR--oh, no--


s: I was a SNAKE--a yaller snake, an' I was TEN MILES long,


s: 'N all I et was nurse girls--yes, I DID, although 'twas wrong.


s: That was a million years ago, but something--inside me--


s: Tells me I'm goin' to be a snake AGAIN--jest watch and see!


s: You don't believe a word I say? Well, I don't care--I DO--


s: How could I 'MEMBER all these things, unlessen they was true?


s: The doctor brung a baby up to our house last week--


s: A little bit of thing it is--but my! it's gotta squeak!


s: It makes a noise that's twice as big as you expect to hear,


s: And then ma says, "Go right away--you mustn't tease him, dear!"


s: I told the boys, and Billy Black, he says, "Well, that is nice,


s: But I would rather have my dog--they're worth more at the price,


s: For pa says babies cost a lot to feed and dress and train,


s: And Rover, he is smart, he is, and gotter splendid brain!"


s: Frank Brown has got a billygoat that pulls him on his sled,


s: And Kenneth's got a ponycart; but pa looked cross and said


s: I mustn't talk so foolish when I asked him if I might


s: Go trade our baby for a pony or a goat, last night.


s: I wouldn't mind it, I believe, if any boy I knew


s: It takes so long to grow up big and get to be a man,


s: I wisht sometimes that I'd been born as old as Mary Ann;


s: (She is the cook, and she's so old her teeth come out at night),


s: 'Cause then I wouldn't want a boy to play with or to fight.


s: The house next door is big and fine, but nobody lives there;


s: And all the winders, like big eyes, just stare at me, and stare,


s: Until I run back in our house and 'tend like I can't see,


s: And feel my way around the rooms till ma, she says to me:


s: I've ast my pa to go and buy a brother for me, too;


s: But he jest shakes his head and says that it would never do;


s: And then he takes a book up quick and reads to me and tries


s: To make me laugh and talk to him; but sometimes ma, she cries.


s: Some time I'm going to run away and find a father-man


s: Who has whole lots of boys and girls--for I am sure I can--


s: And when I do, I'm going to ast him please to come and take


s: The house next door and live in it--and--do it for my sake!


s: Th' little feller's gone! Since he was so big, him an' I


s: Have been like good old cronies, agreein' on the sly


s: He was jest goin' on five years--an' I am "Grandpa Brown,"


s: Although he named me "Santa Claus" when fust he come to town--


s: He won't be standin' by the gate to holler to me, "Hi!


s: Wait fer me, Santy!" like he done when I went stumpin' by


s: We'll never sit agin an' argue which way we should go;


s: Or figger if that bird was jest a blackwing er a crow,


s: He was so full of fun I uster feel my heavy years


s: Drop from me when I went with him. Sometimes he'd pull my ears


s: Dat is a quail a-whistlin' in de woods, somewhere--le's go


s: An' ketch him--we can sprinkle salt upon his tail, you know!"


s: It must be right, but somehow I can't look at it that way--


s: Why should he go, so young and good, and me--so worn out--stay?


s: But mebbe up in heaven he will think of me and wait


s: And holler "Hi!" when he sees me a-limpin' to the Gate,


s: And mebbe (where is my old han'kerchief a-got to now?)


s: He'll say to Peter, "Let him in--_I_ like him, anyhow!"


s: I am a lucky dog, I know, and all my friends agree


s: The people that I live with now are good as gold to me


s: Because three times I saved a life--and that is why they give


s: Me everything a dog could want--and will, while I shall live.


s: One day the cart that Bobbie drives ran up on pony's heels,


s: And off he bolted! I went, too, and mixed up with the wheels,


s: Until the cart came to a stop, and Bobbie-boy was saved--


s: Then folks wept o'er the noble way that I, a dog, behaved.


s: Another time, when Bobbie went to play out on the dock


s: He fell into the water there, (he'd stumbled on a block);


s: I sprang in after him, of course, and dragged him back to land--


s: Then everybody said the way I acted was "just grand."


s: You see this stubby tail of mine? I got that when a car


s: Came near to crushing Bobbie-boy--it gave us all a jar;


s: I knocked him off the track in time, but one wheel caught my tail


s: So, though I haven't meant to be a noble brute at all,


s: I have to take the praise they give, and hear them patiently;


s: Br'er Rabbit sorter snoozin' in de Big Bresh Pile,


s: Years laid back an' pink eyes shet up tight,


s: Snow a-layin' deep an' gittin' deeper all de while--


s: Br'er Rabbit glad dat he is outer sight.


s: Pretty soon he hear a noise--dat's Br'er Fox, he know,


s: Gropin' th'ough de quiet woods, out in de cold an' snow;


s: "Is dat you, Br'er Rab?" he say--but Br'er Rab lay low


s: An' never let on dat he heerd him right.


s: "Come out an' take a little stroll," seys Br'er Fox, seys he,


s: Sniffin' at de bresh pile an' walkin' all aroun';


s: "Much obleeged," seys Br'er Rab; "but dis will do fer me--


s: Hate ter walk when snow is on de groun'."


s: "Woods is lookin' pretty," says Br'er Fox; "de sun


s: Is shinin' jest like diamon's--come on, and have some fun!"


s: "Hafter thank you kindly, but my diamon' days is done,"


s: Seys Br'er Rab, "dey huhts my eyes, I foun'."


s: Br'er Fox, he lick he chops, an' set down where he at


s: (Gotter git some plan to bring him out);


s: Den he say, "Dere's lettuce here--make you nice an' fat!"


s: But Br'er Rab lay back he haid an' shout:


s: "Oh, Br'er Fox, you surely is a liar--dat you is;


s: De lettuce days is done gone by--an' all de leaves is friz;


s: You'll hafter try anudder way--mah name is Leery Liz!"


s: (Ol' Br'er Rabbit slangy, widdout doubt!)


s: "Dar comes a man!" seys Br'er Fox; "he gotter dog an' gun!


s: "Ef dat is true," seys Br'er Rab, "_you_ orter jump an' run--


s: He gwine t' shoot when youah red haid he see!"


s: "I got a better house dan dis," seys Br'er Fox; "come on


s: And live wid me--I treat you well--de man and dog is gone!"


s: "An' s'ply you wid fresh meat? Oh, no, I hasn't jest bin bawn,"


s: Seys Br'er Rab; "you make me laff," seys he.


s: Den Br'er Fox, he slink away, and bahk like he was sad,


s: An' Br'er Rab, he shake he sides wid laffin'--ain't he bad?


s: He small, but still, he gotter mind--an' jest fer dat he glad--


s: When to the tired heart and soul and brain


s: There comes, at last, the Unrepeated Call,


s: Ahead of me, without one touch of pain--


s: Turn down a glass, and then--Be glad I'm gone!


s: For what the Future holds who knows, or cares?


s: The Past is done, the Now is here alway--


s: So, lighten it for those who needs must stay,


s: Breathe no regrets for him who onward fares.


s: Back to the Night, face to the coming Dawn,


s: Bid him God-speed, and then--Be glad he's gone!


s: The almost general desire to have THE OWL


s: KANGAROO, in a distinct form from Mr. LEAR's


s: other Nonsense Drolleries, has induced us to


s: issue them separately with Original Illustrations.


s: They took some honey, and plenty of money


s: O let us be married! too long we have tarried:


s: "Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling


s: So they took it away, and were married next day


s: They dinèd on mince, and slices of quince


s: And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,


s: And I long to go out in the world beyond!


s: "I would sit quite still, and say nothing but 'Quack,'


s: And we'd go to the Dee, and the Jelly Bo Lee,


s: Perhaps on the whole it might bring me luck,


s: Which is, if you'll let me speak so bold,


s: Your feet are unpleasantly wet and cold,


s: And I bought four pairs of worsted socks


s: And to keep out the cold I've bought a cloak


s: But to balance me well, dear Duck, sit steady!


s: So away they went with a hop and a bound,


s: And they hopped the whole world three times round;


s: The Book of Nonsense. 27th Edition, 110 Illustrations


s: printed in outline as originally published.


s: says, in his _List of the Best Hundred Authors_--"Surely the most


s: "Knowledge of trouth, prudence, and iust symplicite


s: Hath vs clene left; For we set of them no store.


s: Our Fayth is defyled loue, goodnes, and Pyte:


s: Honest maners nowe ar reputed of: no more.


s: Lawyers ar lordes; but Justice is rent and tore.


s: Or closed lyke a Monster within dores thre.


s: For without mede: or money no man can hyr se.


s: Al is disordered: Vertue hath no rewarde.


s: Alas, compassion; and mercy bothe ar slayne.


s: Alas, the stony hartys of pepyl ar so harde


s: That nought can constrayne theyr folyes to refrayne."


s: "We are full lade and yet forsoth I thynke


s: A thousand are behynde, whom we may not receyue


s: For if we do, our nauy clene shall synke


s: He oft all lesys that coueytes all to haue


s: For if we there anker, outher bote or barge


s: There be so many that they vs wyll ouercharge."


s: "My speche is rude my termes comon and rural


s: And I for rude peple moche more conuenient


s: Than for estates, lerned men, or eloquent."


s: He afterwards humorously supplements this in "the prologe," by:--


s: "But if I halt in meter or erre in eloquence


s: Or be to large in langage I pray you blame not me


s: For my mater is so bad it wyll none other be."


s: In more recent times however, Barclay has, probably in part, from


s: "I n prudence pereles is this moste comely kynge


s: A nd as for his strength and magnanymyte


s: C oncernynge his noble dedes in euery thynge


s: O ne founde or grounde lyke to hym can not be


s: V nder the bolde planet of Mars the champyon


s: "While I in youth in Croidon towne did dwell."


s: "He hath no felowe betwene this and Croidon,


s: Save the proude plowman Gnatho of Chorlington."


s: "And as in Croidon I heard the Collier preache"


s: "Such maner riches the Collier tell thee can"


s: "As the riche Shepheard that woned in Mortlake."


s: "And once in Cambridge I heard a scoller say."


s: 'John highte that on, and Alein highte that other,


s: Of o toun were they born that highte Strother,


s: Fer in the North, I cannot tellen where.'


s: "The great foly, the pryde, and the enormyte


s: Of our studentis, and theyr obstynate errour


s: Causeth me to wryte two sentences or thre


s: More than I fynde wrytyn in myne actoure


s: The tyme hath ben whan I was conductoure


s: Of moche foly, whiche nowe my mynde doth greue


s: Wherfor of this shyp syns I am gouernoure


s: I dare be bolde myne owne vyce to repreue."


s: "One rennyth to Almayne another vnto France


s: "As if diuers wayes laye vnto Islington,


s: To Grantham, Totnes, Bristow or good Manchester,


s: (What ho man abide, what already in Fraunce,


s: Lo, a fayre iourney and shortly ended to,


s: With all these townes what thing haue we to do?


s: By Gad man knowe thou that I haue had to do


s: To see the worlde in youth me thought was best,


s: And after in age to geue my selfe to rest.


s: Thou might haue brought one and set by our village.


s: What man I might not for lacke of cariage.


s: To cary mine owne selfe was all that euer I might,


s: And sometime for ease my sachell made I light."


s: And manly knyghtes that lyue in rightwysenes


s: But they that do nat ar worthy of a bable


s: Syns by theyr pryde pore people they oppres


s: My mayster Kyrkhan for his perfyte mekenes


s: His chaplayne and his bede man whyle my lyfe shall endure


s: More manly rightwyse wyse discrete and sad


s: But thoughe he be good, yet other ar als bad."


s: "Mansell of Otery for powlynge of the pore


s: Were nat his great wombe, here sholde haue an ore


s: But for his body is so great and corporate


s: And so many burdens his brode backe doth charge


s: If his great burthen cause hym to come to late


s: Yet shall the knaue be Captayne of a barge


s: Where as ar bawdes and so sayle out at large


s: For therupon hath he lyued all his dayes."


s: "For if one can flater, and beare a Hauke on his fist,


s: He shalbe made parson of Honington or Clist."


s: "Softe, fooles, softe, a little slacke your pace,


s: Till I haue space you to order by degree,


s: I haue eyght neyghbours, that first shall haue a place


s: Within this my ship, for they most worthy be,


s: They may their learning receyue costles and free,


s: Their walles abutting and ioyning to the scholes;


s: Nothing they can, yet nought will they learne nor see,


s: Therfore shall they guide this our ship of fooles."


s: Bale stands alone in casting aspersions upon his moral character,


s: "They disceyue myndes chaste and innocent


s: With dyuers wayes whiche I wyll nat expres


s: Lyst that whyle I labour this cursyd gyse to stynt


s: I myght to them mynyster example of lewdnes


s: And therfore in this part I shall say les


s: And to reuyle foule synne and vyciousnes"


s: "This man malycious whiche troubled is with wrath


s: Nought els soundeth but the hoorse letter R."


s: "For he that loueth is voyde of all reason


s: Wandrynge in the worlde without lawe or mesure


s: In thought and fere sore vexed eche season


s: And greuous dolours in loue he must endure


s: From loues soft dartis: I say none on the grounde


s: But mad and folysshe bydes he whiche hath the wounde


s: Aye rennynge as franatyke no reason in his mynde


s: He hath no constaunce nor ease within his herte


s: His iyen ar blynde, his wyll alwaye inclyned


s: To louys preceptes yet can nat he departe


s: The Net is stronge, the sole caught can nat starte


s: The darte is sharpe, who euer is in the chayne


s: Can nat his sorowe in vysage hyde nor fayne"


s: "Yet sometimes riches is geuen by some chance


s: To such as of good haue greatest aboundaunce.


s: Likewise as streames unto the sea do glide.


s: So smallest persons haue small rewarde alway


s: Must haue rewardes great after their degree."--ECLOGUE I.


s: "And so such thinges which princes to thee geue


s: So princes are wont with riches some to fede


s: As we do our swine when we of larde haue nede


s: When they be fatted by costes and labour."--ECLOGUE I.


s: And when their frendes would heare of their cunning


s: Then are they neuer disposed for to sing,


s: Then shewe they all and more then they can


s: And neuer leaue they till men of them be wery,


s: So in their conceyt their cunning they set by."--ECLOGUE II.


s: As a stepmother she doth to us appeare."


s: "Coyne more than cunning exalteth every man."


s: "It is not clothing can make a man be good


s: Better is in ragges pure liuing innocent


s: Than a soule defiled in sumptuous garment."


s: "Better is a frende in courte than a peny in purse"--(I. 70.)


s: "Whan the stede is stolyn to shyt the stable dore"--(I. 76.)


s: "It goeth through as water through a syue."--(I. 245.)


s: "And he that alway thretenyth for to fyght


s: For greattest crakers ar nat ay boldest men."--(I. 198.)


s: "I fynde foure thynges whiche by no meanes can


s: Be kept close, in secrete, or longe in preuetee


s: The firste is the counsell of a wytles man


s: The seconde is a cyte whiche byldyd is a hye


s: That to hyde his dedes a louer hath no skyll


s: The fourth is strawe or fethers on a wyndy hyll."--(I. 199.)


s: "For it is a prouerbe, and an olde sayd sawe


s: That in euery place lyke to lyke wyll drawe."--(II. 35.)


s: "Better haue one birde sure within thy wall


s: Or fast in a cage than twenty score without"--(II. 74)


s: "Gapynge as it were dogges for a bone."--(II. 93.)


s: "Each man for himself, and the fende for us all."


s: "They robbe Saint Peter therwith to clothe Saint Powle."


s: "For might of water will not our leasure bide."


s: "Once out of sight and shortly out of minde."


s: "For children brent still after drede the fire."


s: "Together they cleave more fast than do burres."


s: "I aske of the foxe no farther than the skin."


s: "To touche soft pitche and not his fingers file."


s: "From post unto piller tost shall thou be."


s: "A man may contende, God geueth victory."


s: "They shall my youth pardone, and vnchraftynes


s: Whiche onely translate, to eschewe ydelnes."


s: "That idleness, mother of all adversity,


s: Her subjects bringeth to extreme poverty."


s: "Whiche was the first ouersear of this warke


s: It nat to suffer to slepe styll in the darke


s: But to be publysshyd abrode: and put to prent


s: That thy honour may prospere and augment


s: In this short balade I can nat comprehende


s: All my full purpose that I wolde to the wryte


s: But fayne I wolde that thou sholde sone assende


s: To heuenly worshyp and celestyall delyte


s: Than shoulde I after my pore wyt and respyt,


s: Display thy name, and great kyndnes to me


s: But pray that thy name and worshyp may agre."


s: With many folys our Nauy not to charge."


s: At the George: in Richarde Pynsonnes place


s: "Nowe to my purpose, their workes worthy fame,


s: Did in my yonge age my heart greatly inflame,


s: Dull slouth eschewing my selfe to exercise,


s: In such small matters, or I durst enterprise,


s: To hyer matter, like as these children do,


s: Which first vse to creepe, and afterwarde to go.


s: So where I in youth a certayne worke began,


s: And not concluded, as oft doth many a man:


s: Yet thought I after to make the same perfite,


s: But long I missed that which I first did write.


s: But here a wonder, I fortie yere saue twayne,


s: Proceeded in age, founde my first youth agayne.


s: To finde youth in age is a probleme diffuse,


s: But nowe heare the truth, and then no longer muse.


s: As I late turned olde bookes to and fro,


s: One litle treatise I founde among the mo


s: Because that in youth I did compile the same,


s: And seing some men haue in the same delite,


s: At their great instance I made the same perfite,


s: Adding and bating where I perceyued neede,


s: All them desiring which shall this treatise rede,


s: Not to be grieued with any playne sentence,


s: Rudely conuayed for lacke of eloquence."


s: "Beside noble Henry which nowe departed late,


s: Spectacle of vertue to euery hye estate,


s: The patrone of peace and primate of prudence,


s: Which on Gods Church hath done so great expence.


s: Of all these princes the mercy and pitie,


s: The loue of concorde, iustice and equitie,


s: The purenes of life and giftes liberall,


s: Not lesse vertuous then the said princes all.


s: And Henry the eyght moste hye and triumphant,


s: No gifte of vertue nor manlines doth want,


s: Mine humble spech and language pastorall


s: If it were able should write his actes all:


s: But while I ought speake of courtly misery,


s: But what other princes commonly frequent,


s: As true as I can to shewe is mine intent,


s: But if I should say that all the misery,


s: Which I shall after rehearse and specify


s: Were in the court of our moste noble kinge,


s: I should fayle truth, and playnly make leasing."--ECLOGUE I.


s: "Such as for honour unto the court resort,


s: Looke seldome times upon the lower sort;


s: To the hyer sort for moste part they intende,


s: For still their desire is hyer to ascende


s: And when none can make with them comparison,


s: Against their princes conspire they by treason,


s: Then when their purpose can nat come well to frame,


s: Agayne they descende and that with utter shame,


s: Coridon thou knowest right well what I meane,


s: When men would ascende to rowmes honorable


s: Euer is their minde and lust insaciable."


s: To heare a Captayne so good and honorable,


s: _So soone_ withdrawen by deathes crueltie,


s: Before his vertue was at moste hye degree.


s: If death for a season had shewed him fauour,


s: To all his nation he should haue bene honour."


s: 'Fearefull is labour without fauour at all,


s: Dreadfull of visage, a monster intreatable,


s: To some men his looke is halfe intollerable,


s: His shoulders large, for burthen strong and able,


s: His body bristled, his necke mightie and stiffe;


s: By sturdy senewes, his ioyntes stronge and stable,


s: Like marble stones his handes be as stiffe.


s: Here must man vanquishe the dragon of Cadmus,


s: Against the Chimer here stoutly must he fight,


s: Here must he vanquish the fearefull Pegasus,


s: For the golden flece here must he shewe his might:


s: If labour gaynsay, he can nothing be right,


s: This monster labour oft chaungeth his figure,


s: Playnely he seemeth, thus chaungeth his nature,


s: Like as Protheus ofte chaunged his stature.


s: Under his browes he dreadfully doth loure,


s: With glistering eyen, and side dependaunt beard,


s: For thirst and hunger alway his chere is soure.


s: His horned forehead doth make faynt heartes feard.


s: Alway he drinketh, and yet alway is drye,


s: The sweat distilling with droppes aboundaunt,'


s: The hero's descent and knightly qualities are duly set forth:--


s: "Though he were borne to glory and honour,


s: Yet thought his courage to be of more valour,


s: His princes quarell with right and equitie,


s: So did this Hawarde with courage valiauntly,


s: "Tell me, frayle fortune, why did thou breuiate


s: That when his actes ought to be laureate


s: Thy fauour turned him suffring to be slayne?"


s: And then he addresses the Duke himself in a consolatory strain,


s: "But moste worthy duke hye and victorious,


s: Of other princes, whose fortune prosperous


s: "This shall be, this is, and this hath euer bene,


s: That boldest heartes be nearest ieopardie,


s: To dye in battayle is honour as men wene


s: To suche as haue ioy in haunting chiualry.


s: "Suche famous ending the name doth magnifie,


s: Note worthy duke, no cause is to complayne,


s: His life not ended foule nor dishonestly,


s: In bed nor tauerne his lustes to maynteyne,


s: In sturdie harnes he died for the right,


s: From deathes daunger no man may flee certayne,


s: But suche death is metest vnto so noble a knight.


s: "But death it to call me thinke it vnright,


s: Sith his worthy name shall laste perpetuall," [&c.]


s: "Some men deliteth beholding men to fight,


s: Or goodly knightes in pleasaunt apparayle,


s: Or sturdie souldiers in bright harnes and male.


s: Some glad is to see these Ladies beauteous,


s: A number of people appoynted in like wise:


s: In costly clothing after the newest gise,


s: Sportes, disgising, fayre coursers mount and praunce,


s: Or goodly ladies and knightes sing and daunce:


s: To see fayre houses and curious picture(s),


s: Or pleasaunt hanging, or sumpteous vesture


s: Of silke, of purpure, or golde moste orient,


s: And other clothing diuers and excellent:


s: Hye curious buildinges or palaces royall,


s: Or chapels, temples fayre and substanciall,


s: Gardeyns and medowes, or place delicious,


s: Forestes and parkes well furnished with dere,


s: Colde pleasaunt streames or welles fayre and clere,


s: Curious cundites or shadowie mountaynes,


s: Swete pleasaunt valleys, laundes or playnes


s: Houndes, and suche other thinges manyfolde


s: Some men take pleasour and solace to beholde."


s: "What man is faultlesse, remember the village,


s: Nought can them tame, they be a beastly sort,


s: In sweate and labour hauing most chiefe comfort,


s: On the holy day assoone as morne is past,


s: When all men resteth while all the day doth last,


s: They drinke, they banket, they reuell and they iest


s: They leape, they daunce, despising ease and rest.


s: If they once heare a bagpipe or a drone,


s: There vse they to daunce, to gambolde and to rage


s: Such is the custome and vse of the village.


s: When the ground resteth from rake, plough and wheles,


s: Then moste they it trouble with burthen of their heles:


s: To Bacchus they banket, no feast is festiuall,


s: They chide and they chat, they vary and they brall,


s: They rayle and they route, they reuell and they crye,


s: Laughing and leaping, and making cuppes drye.


s: What, stint thou thy chat, these wordes I defye,


s: Such rurall solace so plainly for to blame,


s: Thy wordes sound to thy rebuke and shame."


s: Football is described in a lively picture:--


s: "They get the bladder and blowe it great and thin,


s: It ratleth, soundeth, and shineth clere and fayre,


s: While it is throwen and caste vp in the ayre,


s: Eche one contendeth and hath a great delite,


s: With foote and with hande the bladder for to smite,


s: If it fall to grounde they lifte it vp agayne,


s: This wise to labour they count it for no payne,


s: Renning and leaping they driue away the colde,


s: The sturdie plowmen lustie, stronge and bolde,


s: Ouercommeth the winter with driuing the foote ball,


s: Forgetting labour and many a greuous fall."


s: "No shepheard throweth the axeltrie so farre."


s: "For women vse to loue them moste of all,


s: Which boldly bosteth, or that can sing and iet,


s: Which are well decked with large bushes set,


s: Which hath the mastery ofte time in tournament,


s: Or that can gambauld, or daunce feat and gent."


s: The following sorts of wine are mentioned:--


s: From Gene brought, from Grece or Hungary."


s: Curlewe, nor crane, but course beefe and mutton."


s: "What fishe is of sauor swete and delicious,--


s: Rosted or sodden in swete hearbes or wine;


s: Or fried in oyle, most saporous and fine.--


s: The crane, the fesant, the pecocke and curlewe,


s: The partriche, plouer, bittor, and heronsewe--


s: That the hall is full of pleasaunt smell and sent."


s: "Slowe be the seruers in seruing in alway,


s: But swift be they after, taking thy meate away;


s: No good dish to suffer on borde to be longe:


s: If the dishe be pleasaunt, eyther fleshe or fishe,


s: And if it be flesh ten kniues shalt thou see


s: Mangling the flesh, and in the platter flee:


s: To put there thy handes is perill without fayle,


s: Without a gauntlet or els a gloue of mayle."


s: Or Bentleyes ale which chafeth well the bloud,


s: Of perre of Norwich, or sauce of Wilberton,


s: Or buckishe Joly well-stuffed as a ton."


s: "Then is it pleasure the yonge maydens amonge


s: To watche by the fire the winters nightes long:


s: At their fonde tales to laugh, or when they brall


s: Great fire and candell spending for laboure small,


s: And in the ashes some playes for to marke,


s: To couer wardens [pears] for fault of other warke:


s: To toste white sheuers, and to make prophitroles;


s: And after talking oft time to fill the bowles."


s: "   .   .   .   .   Methinkes no mirth is scant,


s: Where no reioysing of minstrelcie doth want:


s: The bagpipe or fidle to vs is delectable."


s: "Englande hath cloth, Burdeus hath store of wine,


s: Cornewall hath tinne, and Lymster wools fine.


s: London hath scarlet, and Bristowe pleasaunt red,


s: Fen lands hath fishes, in other place is lead."


s: "When your fat dishes smoke hote vpon your table,


s: Then layde ye songes and balades magnifie,


s: Ye clappe your handes and to the making harke,


s: And one say to other, lo here a proper warke."


s: "Yes since his dayes a cocke was in the fen,


s: I knowe his voyce among a thousande men:


s: He taught, he preached, he mended euery wrong;


s: But, Coridon alas no good thing bideth long.


s: He all was a cocke, he wakened vs from slepe,


s: And while we slumbred, he did our foldes hepe.


s: No cur, no foxes, nor butchers dogges wood,


s: Coulde hurte our fouldes, his watching was so good.


s: The hungry wolues, which that time did abounde,


s: What time he crowed, abashed at the sounde.


s: This cocke was no more abashed of the foxe,


s: When he went, faded the floure of all the fen;


s: I boldly dare sweare this cocke neuer trode hen!


s: And that well sheweth his Church cathedrall,


s: There was I lately about the middest of May,


s: Coridon his Church is twenty sith more gay


s: Then all the Churches betwene the same and Kent,


s: There sawe I his tome and Chapell excellent.


s: I thought fiue houres but euen a little while,


s: Saint John the virgin me thought did on me smile,


s: If the people were as pleasaunt as the place


s: Then were it paradice of pleasour and solace,


s: Then might I truely right well finde in my heart.


s: There still to abide and neuer to departe,


s: But since that this cocke by death hath left his song,


s: Trust me Coridon there many a thing is wrong,


s: When I sawe his figure lye in the Chapell-side,


s: Like death for weping I might no longer bide.


s: Lo all good thinges so sone away doth glide,


s: That no man liketh to long doth rest and abide.


s: When the good is gone (my mate this is the case)


s: Seldome the better reentreth in the place."


s: "My harte sore mourneth when I must specify


s: Of the gentle cocke whiche sange so mirily,


s: All the fayre cockes which in his dayes crewe


s: When death him touched did his departing rewe.


s: The pretie palace by him made in the fen,


s: The maides, widowes, the wiues, and the men,


s: With deadly dolour were pearsed to the heart,


s: When death constrayned this shepheard to departe.


s: Corne, grasse, and fieldes, mourned for wo and payne,


s: For oft his prayer for them obtayned rayne.


s: The pleasaunt floures for wo faded eche one,


s: When they perceyued this shepheard dead and gone,


s: The okes, elmes, and euery sorte of dere


s: Shronke vnder shadowes, abating all their chere.


s: The stones, rockes, and towres semblably,


s: Swet all for sorowe, when this good cocke was gone,


s: Though he of stature were humble, weake and leane,


s: His minde was hye, his liuing pure and cleane,


s: Where other feedeth by beastly appetite,


s: On heauenly foode was all his whole delite."


s: "And shepheard Morton, when he durst not appeare,


s: Howe his olde seruauntes were carefull of his chere;


s: In payne and pleasour they kept fidelitie


s: Then his olde fauour did them agayne restore


s: To greater pleasour then they had payne before.


s: Though for a season this shepheard bode a blast,


s: The greatest winde yet slaketh at the last,


s: And at conclusion he and his flocke certayne


s: Eche true to other did quietly remayne."


s: "Micene and Morton be dead and gone certayne."


s: "For this I learned of the Dean of Powles


s: I tell thee, Codrus this man hath won some soules."


s: as is "the olde friar that wonned in Greenwich" in Eclogue V.


s: "That fiue Egloges this whole treatise doth holde


s: "That X. egloges this hole treatyse dothe holde."


s: Which a priest may write, not hurting his estate,


s: Nor of honest name obumbring at all his light.


s: This playne litle treatise in stile compendious,


s: Much briefly conteyneth four vertues cardinall,


s: In right pleasaunt processe, plaine and commodious,


s: With light foote of metre, and stile heroicall,


s: Rude people to infourme in language maternall,


s: To whose vnderstanding maydens of tender age,


s: And rude litle children shall finde easy passage.


s: The best of that sort since Poetes first began."


s: "I wryte no Ieste ne tale of Robyn Hode,


s: Nor sawe no sparcles, ne sede of vyciousnes;


s: Wyse men loue vertue, wylde people wantones,


s: It longeth nat to my scyence nor cunnynge,


s: For Phylyp the sparowe the (Dirige) to synge."


s: The dolefull desteny, and the carefull chaunce,


s: Dyuysed by Skelton after the funerall rate;


s: Yet sum there be therewith that take greuaunce,


s: And grudge thereat with frownyng countenaunce;


s: But what of that? harde it is to please all men;


s: Who list amende it, let hym set to his penne."


s: "Another thing yet is greatly more damnable:


s: Of rascolde poetes yet is a shamfull rable,


s: Which voyde of wisedome presumeth to indite,


s: Though they haue scantly the cunning of a snite;


s: And to what vices that princes moste intende,


s: Those dare these fooles solemnize and commende


s: When stinking Thais made him her graduate;


s: When Muses rested, she did her season note,


s: And she with Bacchus her camous did promote.


s: Such rascolde drames, promoted by Thais,


s: Or by suche other newe forged Muses nine,


s: Thinke in their mindes for to haue wit diuine;


s: They laude their verses, they boast, they vaunt and iet,


s: Though all their cunning be scantly worth a pet:


s: If they haue smelled the artes triuiall,


s: They count them Poetes hye and heroicall.


s: Such is their foly, so foolishly they dote,


s: Thinking that none can their playne errour note;


s: Yet be they foolishe, auoyde of honestie,


s: Nothing seasoned with spice of grauitie,


s: Auoyde of pleasure, auoyde of eloquence,


s: With many wordes, and fruitlesse of sentence;


s: Unapt to learne, disdayning to be taught,


s: Their priuate pleasure in snare hath them so caught;


s: And worst yet of all, they count them excellent,


s: Though they be fruitlesse, rashe and improuident.


s: To such ambages who doth their minde incline,


s: They count all other as priuate of doctrine,


s: And that the faultes which be in them alone,


s: Thus bide good poetes oft time rebuke and blame,


s: Because of other which haue despised name.


s: And thus for the bad the good be cleane abject.


s: Their art and poeme counted of none effect,


s: Who wanteth reason good to discerne from ill


s: Doth worthy writers interprete at his will:


s: So both the laudes of good and not laudable


s: For lacke of knowledge become vituperable."


s: To all auncient poetes, litell boke, submytte the,


s: Whilom flouryng in eloquence facundious,


s: And to all other whiche present nowe be;


s: Fyrst to maister Chaucer and Ludgate sentencious,


s: Also to preignaunt Barkley nowe beying religious,


s: Praye them all of pardon both erly and late.


s: "Who entreth the court in yong and teder age


s: Are lightly blinded with foly and outrage:


s: But suche as enter with witte and grauitie,


s: But ere thei enter if thei haue lerned nought


s: Afterwardes Vertue the least of theyr thought."


s: _Dialogue against the Fever Pestilence._


s: "What is the end of fame? 'Tis but to fill


s: Your muse to tread th' Aruncan path designs:


s: 'Tis hard to write but Satires in these days,


s: And yet to write good Satires merits praise:


s: Those ancient Romans) scourg'd the impious throng;


s: excusynge the rudeness of his translacion," followed with "An


s: The book is extremely rare. There is a fine copy in the Bodleian


s: The following are the more notable prices: Farmer, 1798, £2. 4s.;


s: The following amusing note on prices is taken from Renouard's


s: "Catalogue d'un Amateur." "Les premières éditions latines de ce


s: Edition en lettres de forme, sans chiffres ni réclames, avec


s: Au recto du dernier f. est cette souscription:


s: They with Jack Adams may acceptance find,


s: Who will strain hard ere they shall stay behind.


s: A wretched production in verse, in imitation of Barclay's Ship of


s: Anglo-Poetica, Lowndes, and Corser, 1548. There is a copy in the


s: Appended to Cawood's edition of the Ship of Fools. No title page,


s: The English part, in black letter, is entitled: The englysshe of


s: Imprinted at London in Knightrider-strete, by Henry Bynneman, for


s: figures only, two other figures, evidently of servants, and some


s: Both editions have the Latin in Roman letter in the margins, and


s: historye of Jugurth, writen by the famous Romaine Salust, and


s: translated into Englyshe by Alexander Barcklaye.


s: Heber's copy (the one above mentioned), £40. 9s. 6d.


s: recommendacionem cum omni summissione, et reuerentia._


s: Another Prologe: in Balade concernyng the same.


s: In what place this Boke was translate and to what purpose it was


s: ¶ Here begynneth the Folys and firste of inprofytable bokys.


s: ¶ Of euyll Counsellours Juges & men of lawe.


s: ¶ A lawde of the nobles and grauyte of Kynge Henry the eyght.


s: Of negligent Fathers ayenst their Children.


s: Of them that synne trustynge vpon the mercy of almyghty god.


s: Of folys y^t begyn great byldynge without sufficient prouysion.


s: Of folys that wyl serue two lordes both togyther.


s: Of them that correct other, them self culpable in the same faut.


s: Of them that folvsshly speke ayenst the workes of god.


s: Of auoutry, and specially of suche as ar bawdes to theyr wyues.


s: Of folys that force or care for the bacbytynge of lewde people.


s: Of talkers and makers of noyse in the Chirche of god.


s: Of folys that put them self in wylful ieopardy and peryll.


s: Of bodely lust or corporall voluptuosyte.


s: Of folys that can nat kepe secrete theyr owne counsell.


s: Of folysshe Fesicians vsynge theyr practyke without speculacyon.


s: Of the vyce of ingratytude or vnkyndnes and folys that vse it.


s: Of Folys that stande to moche in theyr owne conceyte.


s: Alexander Barclay excusynge the rudenes of his translacion.


s: Go Boke: abasshe the thy rudenes to present.


s: By byrthe or fortune: or to men eloquent.


s: By thy submyssion excuse thy Translatour.


s: Of men: I thynke thou ought to quake for fere


s: Of tunges enuyous whose venym may the dere


s: Tremble, fere, and quake, thou ought I say agayne.


s: For to the Redar thou shewest by euydence


s: Thy selfe of Rethoryke pryuate and barayne


s: In speche superflue: and fruteles of sentence.


s: Thou playnly blamest without al difference


s: Bothe hye and lowe sparinge eche mannes name.


s: Therfore no maruayle thoughe many do the blame.


s: But if thou fortune to lye before a State


s: As Kynge or Prince or Lordes great or smal.


s: Be this thy Excuse to content theyr mynde withal


s: My speche is rude my termes comon and rural


s: And I for rude peple moche more conuenient.


s: Than for Estates, lerned men, or eloquent.


s: But of this one poynt thou nedest not to fere


s: Wyth his yl speche shal the hurt or dere.


s: But the defende. As I suppose and trust.


s: But suche Unthriftes as sue theyr carnal lust


s: Whome thou for vyce dost sharply rebuke and blame


s: Shal the dysprayse: emperisshinge thy name.


s: But ye that shal rede this boke: I you exhorte.


s: And you that ar herars therof also I pray


s: Where as ye knowe that ye be of this sorte:


s: Amende your lyfe and expelle that vyce away.


s: Slomber nat in syn. Amende you whyle ye may.


s: And yf ye so do and ensue Vertue and grace.


s: Wythin my Shyp ye get no rowme ne place.


s: The wynde vs calleth our sayles ar displayed.


s: Where may we best aryue? at Lyn or els at Hulle?


s: To vs may no hauen in Englonde be denayd.


s: If any corde or Cabyl vs hurt, let outher hynder.


s: Let slyp the ende, or els hewe it in sonder.


s: Retourne your syght beholde vnto the shore.


s: There is great nomber that fayne wold be aborde.


s: They get no rowme our Shyp can holde no more.


s: Haws in the Cocke gyue them none other worde.


s: God gyde vs from Rockes, quicsonde tempest and forde


s: If any man of warre, wether, or wynde apere.


s: My selfe shal trye the wynde and kepe the Stere.


s: But I pray you reders haue ye no dysdayne.


s: Thoughe Barclay haue presumed of audacite


s: This Shyp to rule as chefe mayster and Captayne.


s: Though some thynke them selfe moche worthyer than he.


s: It were great maruayle forsoth syth he hath be.


s: A scoler longe: and that in dyuers scoles


s: But he myght be Captayne of a Shyp of Foles


s: But if that any one be in suche maner case.


s: That he wyl chalange the maystershyp fro me


s: For in euery place my selfe I oft may se.


s: To pardon my youthe and to bolde interprise.


s: For harde is it duely to speke of euery vyce.


s: For yf I had tunges an hundreth: and wyt to fele


s: A thousand mouthes: and voyce as harde as stele.


s: And sene all the seuen Sciences lyberal.


s: And syn of the worlde: ne theyr braunches comprehende:


s: Nat thoughe I lyued vnto the worldes ende.


s: But if these vyces whiche mankynde doth incomber.


s: Were clene expellyd and vertue in theyr place.


s: I cowde nat haue gathered of fowles so great a nomber.


s: Whose foly from them out chaseth goddys grace.


s: But euery man that knowes hym in that case


s: To this rude Boke let hym gladly intende.


s: And lerne the way his lewdnes to amende.


s: And ouer the worlde, south north eest and west


s: Soundeth godly doctryne in plenty and foyson


s: Wherin the grounde of vertue and wysdome doth rest


s: Rede gode and bad, and kepe the to the best


s: Was neuer more plenty of holsome doctryne


s: Nor fewer people that doth therto enclyne


s: We haue the Bybyll whiche godly doth expresse


s: Of the olde testament the lawes mysticall


s: And also of the newe our erour to redresse


s: But thoughe suche bokes vs godly wayes shewe


s: Banysshed is doctryne, we wander in derknes


s: Throughe all the worlde: our selfe we wyll not knowe


s: Wysdome is exyled, alas blynde folysshenes


s: Mysgydeth the myndes of people hye and lowe


s: Grace is decayed, yll governaunce doth growe


s: Both prudent Pallas and Minerua are slayne


s: Or els to heuyn retourned are they agayne


s: Knowledge of trouth, Prudence, and iust Symplicite


s: Hath vs clene left: For we set of them no store.


s: Our Fayth is defyled loue, goodnes, and Pyte:


s: Honest maners nowe ar reputed of: no more.


s: Lawyers ar lordes: but Justice is rent and tore.


s: Or closed lyke a Monster within dores thre.


s: For without mede: or money no man can hyr se.


s: Al is disordred: Vertue hathe no rewarde.


s: Alas, Compassion: and Mercy bothe ar slayne.


s: Alas, the stony hartys of pepyl ar so harde


s: That nought can constrayne theyr folyes to refrayne


s: But styl they procede: and eche other meyntayne.


s: So wander these foles: incresinge without nomber.


s: That al the worlde they vtterly encomber.


s: Crakars and bosters with Courters auenterous,


s: Bawdes and Pollers with comon extorcioners


s: Ar taken nowe adayes in the worlde moste glorious.


s: But the gyftes of grace and al wayes gracious


s: We haue excluded. Thus lyue we carnally:


s: Thus is of Foles a sorte almost innumerable.


s: Defilynge the worlde with syn and Vylany.


s: Some thynkinge them self moche wyse and commendable


s: Thoughe al theyr dayes they lyue vnthryftely.


s: No goodnes they perceyue nor to no goode aplye.


s: But if he haue a great wombe, and his Cofers ful


s: Than is none holde wyser bytwene London and Hul.


s: But to assemble these Foles in one bonde.


s: Fayne shal I Shyppes of euery maner londe.


s: None shalbe left: Barke, Galay, Shyp, nor Bote.


s: One vessel can nat brynge them al aflote.


s: For yf al these Foles were brought into one Barge


s: The bote shulde synke so sore shulde be the charge.


s: The sayles ar hawsed, a pleasant cole dothe blowe.


s: The Foles assembleth as fast as they may dryue.


s: Some swymmeth after: other as thycke doth rowe


s: In theyr small botes, as Bees about a hyue


s: The nomber is great, and eche one doth stryue


s: Quarter mayster, Lodesman or els Boteswayne.


s: They ron to our shyp, eche one doth greatly fere


s: Lyst his slacke paas, sholde cause hym byde behynde


s: The wynde ryseth, and is lyke the sayle to tere


s: Eche one enforseth the anker vp to wynde


s: The se swellyth by planettes well I fynde


s: These obscure clowdes threteneth vs tempest


s: All are nat in bed whiche shall haue yll rest


s: We are full lade and yet forsoth I thynke


s: A thousand are behynde, whom we may not receyue


s: For if we do, our nauy clene shall synke


s: He oft all lesys that coueytes all to haue


s: For if we there anker, outher bote or barge


s: There be so many that they vs wyll ouercharge


s: Ye London Galantes, arere, ye shall nat enter


s: We kepe the streme, and touche nat the shore


s: In Cyte nor in Court we dare nat well auenter


s: Lyst perchaunce we sholde displeasure haue therfore


s: But if ye wyll nedes some shall haue an ore


s: And all the remenaunt shall stande afar at large


s: And rede theyr fautes paynted aboute our barge.


s: The fourme and fygure of mannes countenaunce


s: So in our shyp shall he se wrytyn playne


s: The fourme and fygure of his mysgouernaunce


s: What man is fautles, but outher ignoraunce


s: Than let hym nat disdayne this shyp, tyll he amende.


s: Lyuynge in this lyfe mortall in transytory


s: Without all spot, as worthy eternall glory


s: Fully the dedys both of his youthe and age


s: He wyll graunt in this shyp to kepe some stage


s: But who so euer wyll knowlege his owne foly


s: And it repent, lyuynge after in sympylnesse


s: Shall haue no place nor rowme more in our nauy


s: But become felawe to pallas the goddesse


s: But he that fyxed is in suche a blyndnesse


s: That thoughe he be nought he thynketh al is well


s: Suche shall in this Barge bere a babyll and a bell


s: These with other lyke may eche man se and rede


s: Eche by themselfe in this small boke ouerall


s: The fautes shall he fynde if he take good hede


s: Bothe pore and riche, Chorles and Cytezyns


s: For hast to lepe a borde many bruse theyr shynnys


s: Here is berdles youth, and here is crokyd age


s: Children with theyr faders that yll do them insygne


s: And doth nat intende theyr wantones to swage


s: Here be men of euery science and doctryne


s: Lerned and vnlerned man mayde chylde and wyfe


s: May here se and rede the lewdenes of theyr lyfe.


s: Here ar vyle wymen: whome loue Immoderate


s: And lust Venereall bryngeth to hurt and shame.


s: Here ar prodigal Galantes: wyth mouers of debate.


s: And thousandes mo: whome I nat wel dare name.


s: Here ar Bacbyters whiche goode lyuers dyffame.


s: Brakers of wedlocke, men proude: and couetous:


s: Pollers, and pykers with folke delicious.


s: Of al suche Foles: as in one Shelde or targe.


s: Syns that theyr foly dystynctly shal apere


s: On euery lefe: in Pyctures fayre and large.


s: To Barclays stody: and Pynsones cost and charge


s: Wherfore ye redars pray that they both may be saued


s: Before God, syns they your folyes haue thus graued.


s: But to thentent that euery man may knowe


s: The cause of my wrytynge: certes I intende


s: To profyte and to please both hye and lowe


s: And blame theyr fautes wherby they may amende


s: But if that any his quarell wyll defende


s: Knowe he that noble poetes thus haue done.


s: Blamynge and reuylynge the inconuenyence


s: Of people, wyllynge them to withdrawe therfro


s: And though I am nat to them lyke in science


s: To blame all vyce lykewyse as they haue done.


s: That they eschewe may all lewdenes and offence


s: Whiche doth theyr myndes often sore assayle


s: But if I halt in meter or erre in eloquence


s: Or be to large in langage I pray you blame nat me


s: For my mater is so bad it wyll none other be.


s: Here begynneth the foles and first inprofytable bokes.


s: To kepe the pompe, the helme and eke the sayle


s: For this is my mynde, this one pleasoure haue I


s: Of bokes to haue grete plenty and aparayle


s: I take no wysdome by them: nor yet auayle


s: Nor them preceyue nat: And then I them despyse


s: Thus am I a foole and all that sewe that guyse]


s: That in this shyp the chefe place I gouerne


s: The cause is playne, and easy to dyscerne


s: For to haue plenty it is a plesaunt thynge


s: In my conceyt and to haue them ay in honde


s: And honoure sauynge them from fylth and ordure


s: By often brusshynge, and moche dylygence


s: Full goodly bounde in pleasaunt couerture


s: I kepe them sure ferynge lyst they sholde be lost


s: For in them is the connynge wherin I me bost.


s: I drawe the curtyns to shewe my bokes then


s: That they of my cunnynge sholde make probacion


s: And whyle they comon my bokes I turne and wynde


s: For all is in them, and no thynge in my mynde.


s: Ouer all the worlde good bokes to be sought


s: These bokes he had and in his stody brought


s: Whiche passyd all erthly treasoure as he thought


s: Unto theyr doctryne, but lyued unhappely.


s: I folowe nat theyr doctryne nor theyr lore


s: For to be bounde to loke within the boke


s: I am content on the fayre couerynge to loke


s: Why sholde I stody to hurt my wyt therby


s: Or trouble my mynde with stody excessyue


s: The fruyt of wysdom can they nat contryue


s: That utterly they fall out of theyr mynde


s: Eche is nat lettred that nowe is made a lorde


s: They are nat all lawyers that plees doth recorde


s: All that are promotyd are nat fully wyse


s: On suche chaunce nowe fortune throwys hir dyce


s: That thoughe one knowe but the yresshe game


s: Thoughe I nought can I wolde be callyd wyse


s: Lyst by moche speche my latyn sholde be spent


s: I am lyke other Clerkes whiche so frowardly them gyde.


s: That after they ar onys come vnto promocion


s: They gyue them to plesour theyr stody set asyde.


s: Theyr Auaryce couerynge with fayned deuocion.


s: Yet dayly they preche: and haue great derysyon


s: Against the rude Laymen: and al for Couetyse.


s: Though theyr owne Conscience be blynded w^t that vyce.


s: But if I durst trouth playnely vtter and expresse.


s: This is the special cause of this Inconuenyence.


s: That greatest foles, and fullest of lewdnes


s: Ar fyrst promoted: and haue greatest reuerence


s: For if one can flater, and bere a hawke on his Fyst


s: He shalbe made Person of Honyngton or of Clyst.


s: But he that is in Stody ay ferme and diligent.


s: And without al fauour prechyth Chrystys lore


s: Of al the Comontye nowe adayes is sore shent.


s: And by Estates thretened to Pryson oft therfore.


s: Thus what auayle is it, to vs to Stody more:


s: To knowe outher scripture, trouth, wysedom, or vertue


s: Syns fewe, or none without fauour dare them shewe.


s: But O noble Doctours, that worthy ar of name:


s: Consyder our olde faders: note wel theyr diligence:


s: Ensue ye theyr steppes: obtayne ye such fame,


s: As they dyd lyuynge: and that by true Prudence.


s: Within theyr hartys they planted theyr scyence


s: And nat in plesaunt bokes. But nowe to fewe suche be.


s: Therefore in this Shyp let them come rowe with me.


s: Say worthy doctours and Clerkes curious:


s: What moueth you of Bokes to haue such nomber.


s: Syns dyuers doctrines throughe way contrarious.


s: Doth mannys mynde distract and sore encomber.


s: Alas blynde men awake, out of your slomber


s: And if ye wyl nedys your bokes multyplye


s: With diligence endeuer you some to occupye.


s: Of euyl Counsellours, Juges and men of lawe.


s: To rule a Royalme: as Juge or Counsellour


s: Which seynge Justice, playne ryght and equyte


s: Them falsly blyndeth by fauour or rigour


s: Condemnynge wretches gyltles. And to a Transgressour


s: For mede shewinge fauour. Suche is as wyse a man


s: As he that wolde seeth a quycke Sowe in a Pan.]


s: Right many labours nowe, with hyghe diligence


s: For to be Lawyers the Comons to counsayle.


s: Therby to be in honour had and in reuerence


s: But onely they labour for theyr pryuate auayle.


s: The purs of the Clyent shal fynde hym apparayle.


s: And yet knowes he neyther lawe good counsel nor Justice.


s: But speketh at auenture: as men throwe the dyce.


s: Suche in the Senate ar taken oft to counsayle


s: With Statis of this and many a other region.


s: Whiche of theyr maners vnstable ar and frayle


s: Nought of Lawe Ciuyl knowinge nor Canon.


s: But wander in derknes clerenes they haue none.


s: Nor general Empyre by suche Counsellours.


s: Whan noble Rome all the worlde dyd gouerne


s: Theyr councellers were olde men iust and prudent


s: But nowe a dayes he shall haue his intent


s: That hath most golde, and so it is befall


s: That aungels worke wonders in westmynster hall.


s: There cursyd coyne makyth the wronge seme right


s: The cause of hym that lyueth in pouertye


s: Hath no defence, tuycion, strength nor myght


s: Suche is the olde custome of this faculte


s: That colours oft cloke Justyce and equyte


s: Without the aungell be weyghty in his honde


s: Thus for the hunger of syluer and of golde


s: And though that many lawyers rightwysnes be


s: And they ar suche as blynde Justycis syght


s: There is one and other alleged at the barre


s: And namely suche as chrafty were in glose


s: Upon the lawe: the clyentis stande afarre


s: Full lytell knowynge howe the mater goose


s: And many other the lawes clene transpose


s: Folowynge the example, of lawyers dede and gone


s: Tyll the pore Clyentis be etyn to the bone


s: Thou sholde say trouthe, so Justyce doth the bynde


s: To knowe hir, and kepe hir without transgressyon


s: Lyst they whome thou hast Juged wrongfully


s: Unto the hye Juge for vengeaunce on the crye.


s: Perchaunce thou thynkest that god taketh no hede


s: Yes certaynly he knowes thy thought and dede


s: No thynge is secrete, nor hyd from his presence


s: Wherefore if thou wylt gyde the by prudence


s: Or thou gyue Jugement of mater lesse or more


s: Take wyse mennys reade and good counsayle before


s: Loke in what Balance, what weyght and what mesure


s: Thou seruest other. for thou shalt serued be


s: With the same after this lyfe I the ensure.


s: If thou ryghtwysly Juge by lawe and equyte


s: Thou shalt haue presence of goddes hyghe maiestye


s: (As Poetis sayth) hell Juge thy rewarde discusse


s: Whiche shall vs deme at his last Jugement,


s: After suche fourme as he his lyfe hath spent


s: Than shall we them se whome we as violent


s: Traytours: haue put to wronge in worde or dede


s: And after our deserte euen suche shall be our mede


s: There shall be no Bayle nor treatynge of maynpryse


s: Ne worldly wysdome there shall no thynge preuayle


s: There shall be no delayes vntyll another Syse


s: Ill Juges so iuged, Lo here theyr trauayle


s: Than shall no grace be graunted ne space to amende.


s: Therfore ye yonge Studentes of the Chauncery:


s: (I speke nat to the olde the Cure of them is past)


s: Remember that Justyce longe hath in bondage be


s: Reduce ye hir nowe vnto lybertye at the last.


s: Endeuer you hir bondes to louse or to brast


s: Hir raunsome is payde and more by a thousande pounde


s: And yet alas the lady Justyce lyeth bounde.


s: Thoughe your fore Faders haue take hir prysoner


s: And done hir in a Dongeon nat mete for hir degre


s: Lay to your handes and helpe hir from daungere


s: That pore men and monyles may hir onys se


s: But certaynly I fere lyst she hath lost hir name


s: Or by longe prysonment shall after euer be lame.


s: Come nere, a place is here for you to dwel


s: Come nere ye wastfull people in lyke wyse


s: Youre rowme shall be hye in the Topcastell


s: Ye care for no shame, for heuen nor for hell


s: Golde is your god, ryches gotten wrongfully


s: Ye dame your soule, and yet lyue in penury.]


s: To gather riches and great store of treasoure


s: Therof no ioy takinge, confort nor consolacion.


s: He is a Fole: and of blynde and mad opynyon


s: For that which he getteth and kepeth wrongfully


s: His heyre often wasteth moche more vnthryftely.


s: While he here lyueth in this lyfe caduke and mortal.


s: Ful sore he laboureth: and oft hungry gothe to bed


s: Sparinge from hymselfe: for hym that neuer shal


s: After do hym goode. thoughe he were harde bested.


s: Thus is this Couetous wretche so blyndly led


s: By the fende that here he lyueth wretchydly


s: Amonge infernall flodes tedyous and horryble


s: Let se what auayleth than all his ryches


s: Ungracyously gotyne, his paynes ar terryble


s: Than wolde he amende but it is inpossyble


s: But sorowe vpon sorowe, and that euerlastyngly.


s: He lyketh nat to lyue styll in prosperite


s: But all and more he wastyth out at large


s: (Beware the ende) is the leste poynt of his charge.


s: But of the couetous somwhat to say agayne


s: Thou art a fole thy soule to sell for riches


s: Thy mynde to fere, thy herte to heuynesse


s: Thou fole thou fleest no maner cruelnesse


s: So thou may get money, to make thy heyr a knyght


s: Thou sleest thy soule where as thou saue it myght


s: Thou hast no rest thy mynde is euer in fere


s: Deth is forgoten, thou carest nat a here


s: To saue thy soule from infernall punysshement


s: If thou be dampned, than art thou at thy stent


s: By thy ryches which thou here hast left behynde


s: To thy executours, thou shalt small comforte fynde


s: Theyr custome is to holde fast that they haue


s: Thy pore soule shall be farthest fro theyr thought


s: If that thy carkes be brought onys in the graue


s: And that they haue thy bagges in handes cought


s: What say they, than (by god the man had nought)


s: Thus dampned is thy soule, thy ryches cause of all


s: Whyle thy selfe leuest departe some to the pore


s: With thy owne hande trust nat thy executours


s: Gyue for god, and god shall sende at all houres


s: And writen shalt thou fynde in right fruteful sentence


s: That neuer wyseman loued ouer great honour.


s: Nor to haue great riches put ouer great diligence


s: But onely theyr mynde was set on Sapience


s: For in greatest honour is greatest ieoperdye.


s: He that is symple, and on the grounde doth lye


s: And that can be content with ynoughe or suffisaunce


s: Is surer by moche than he that lyeth on hye.


s: Nowe vp nowe downe vnsure as a Balaunce.


s: But sothly he that set wyll his plesance


s: Onely on wysdom and styl therfore labour.


s: Shal haue more goode than all erthly tresour.


s: Gydynge mankynde the ryght way to vertue.


s: But of couetyse Comys all Inconuenyence.


s: Forswerynge and falshode doth it also ensue.


s: Brybery and Extorcion, murder and myschefe.


s: Shame is his ende: his lyuyinge is reprefe.


s: By couetyse Crassus brought was to his ende.


s: By it the worthy Romayns lost theyr name.


s: Of this one yl a thousand ylles doth descende.


s: Besyde enuy, Pryde, wretchydnes and Shame.


s: Crates the Philosopher dyd Couetyse so blame:


s: That to haue his mynde vnto his stody fre.


s: He threwe his Tresour all hole into the see.


s: But shortly to conclude. Both bodely bondage.


s: And gostly also: procedeth of this couetyse.


s: The soule is damned the body hath damage


s: As hunger, thyrst, and colde with other preiudice.


s: Bereft of the ioyes of heuenly Paradyse.


s: For golde was theyr god and that is left behynde


s: Theyr bodyes beryed the soule clene out of mynde


s: Therefore thou couetouse thou wretch I speke to the.


s: Amende thy selfe ryse out of this blyndenes.


s: Dam nat thy soule by gatheringe frayle riches


s: Thou shalt no rest nor dwellynge place here fynde.


s: Depart thou shalt and leue it al behynde.


s: Of newe fassions and disgised Garmentes.


s: Suche one is a Fole and skant shal euer thee


s: And comonly it is sene that nowe a dayes


s: One Fole gladly folowes anothers wayes.]


s: Drawe nere ye Courters and Galants disgised


s: Ye counterfayt Caytifs, that ar nat content


s: As god hath you made: his warke is despysed


s: Ye thynke you more crafty than God onipotent.


s: Unstable is your mynde: that shewes by your garment.


s: A fole is knowen by his toyes and his Cote.


s: But by theyr clothinge nowe may we many note.


s: Aparayle is apayred. Al sadness is decayde


s: The garmentes ar gone that longed to honestye.


s: And in newe sortes newe Foles ar arayede


s: Despisynge the costom of good antiquyte.


s: Mannys fourme is disfigured with euery degre


s: As Knyght Squyer yeman Jentilman and knaue,


s: For al in theyr goynge vngoodely them behaue


s: The tyme hath ben, nat longe before our dayes


s: Whan men with honest ray coude holde them self content.


s: Without these disgised: and counterfayted wayes.


s: Wherby theyr goodes ar wasted, loste, and spent.


s: Socrates with many mo in wysdom excellent.


s: Bycause they wolde nought change that cam of nature


s: Let growe theyre here without cuttinge or scissure.


s: At that tyme was it reputed to lawde and great honour.


s: To haue longe here: the Beerde downe to the brest


s: For so they vsed that were of moste valour.


s: Saddest, moste clenely, discretest, and moste honest.


s: But nowe adayes together we contende and stryue.


s: Who may be gayest: and newest wayes contryue.


s: Fewe kepeth mesure, but excesse and great outrage


s: In theyr aparayle. And so therin they procede


s: That theyr goode is spent: theyr Londe layde to morgage.


s: Or solde out right: of Thryft they take no hede.


s: Hauinge no Peny them to socour at theyr nede.


s: So whan theyr goode by suche wastefulnes is loste.


s: They sel agayne theyr Clothes for half that they coste.


s: A fox furred Jentelman: of the fyrst yere or hede.


s: If he be made a Bailyf a Clerke or a Constable.


s: And can kepe a Parke or Court and rede a Dede


s: Than is Ueluet to his state mete and agreable.


s: Howbeit he were more mete to here a Babyl.


s: For his Foles Hode his iyen so sore doth blynde


s: That Pryde expelleth his lynage from his mynde.


s: Yet fynde I another sort almoste as bad as thay.


s: As yonge Jentylmen descended of worthy Auncetry.


s: Whiche go ful wantonly in dissolute aray.


s: Counterfayt, disgised, and moche vnmanerly


s: Blasinge and garded: to lowe or else to hye.


s: And wyde without mesure: theyr stuffe to wast thus gothe


s: But other some they suffer to dye for lacke of clothe.


s: Some theyr neckes charged with colers, and chaynes


s: As golden withtthes: theyr fyngers ful of rynges:


s: Theyr neckes naked: almoste vnto the raynes


s: Theyr sleues blasinge lyke to a Cranys wynges


s: Thus by this deuysinge suche counterfayted thinges


s: They dysfourme that figure that god hymselfe hath made


s: On pryde and abusion thus ar theyr myndes layde.


s: Than the Courters careles that on theyr mayster wayte


s: Seinge hym his Uesture in suche fourme abuse


s: Assayeth suche Fassion for them to counterfayte.


s: And so to sue Pryde contynually they muse.


s: Than stele they; or Rubbe they. Forsoth they can nat chuse.


s: For without Londe or Labour harde is it to mentayne.


s: But to thynke on the Galows that is a careful payne.


s: But be it payne or nat: there many suche ende.


s: At Newgate theyr garmentis ar offred to be solde.


s: Theyr bodyes to the Jebet solemly ascende.


s: Wauynge with the wether whyle theyr necke wyl holde.


s: But if I shulde wryte al the ylles manyfolde.