I am sent with broom before, To sweep the dust behind the door. Through the house give glimmering light, By the dead and drowsy fire: Every elf and fairy sprite Hop as light as bird from brier; And this ditty, after me, First, rehearse your song by rote, Now, until the break of day, Which by us shall blesséd be; And the issue there create Ever shall be fortunate! So shall all the couples three And the blots of Nature's hand Shall not in their issue stand; Shall upon their children be. With this field-dew consecrate, Every fairy take his gait : And each several chamber bless, Through this palace, with sweet peace ; And the owner of it blest Ever shall in safety rest. Trip away; make no stay; Meet me all by break of day. XXVI A SINNER TORMENTED IE on sinful fantasy! FIE Fie on lust and luxury ! Lust is but a bloody fire Kindled with unchaste desire, Fed in heart, whose flames aspire As thoughts do blow them, higher and higher. Pinch him for his villany; Pinch him, and burn him, and turn him about, Till candles and starlight and moonshine be out XXVII THE WISDOM OF THE FOOL FATHERS that wear rags Do make their children blind; But fathers that bear bags Shall see their children kind. Fortune, that arrant whore, Ne'er turns the key to the poor. That, Sir, which serves and seeks for gain And follows but for form, Will pack when it begins to rain, And leave thee in the storm. But I will tarry; the fool will stay, The knave turns fool that runs away; The fool no knave, perdy. XXVIII THE PEDLAR'S SONG WHEN daffodils begin to peer, With heigh! the doxy over the dale, Why then comes in the sweet o' the year; The white sheet bleaching on the hedge, With heigh the sweet birds, O, how they sing! Doth set my pugging tooth on edge; For a quart of ale is a dish for a king. The lark, that tirra-lyra chants, With heigh! with heigh! the thrush and the jay, Are summer songs for me and my aunts, While we lie tumbling in the hay. D |