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Their fame did found fo paffingly,

That it did pierce the ftarry sky,
And throughout all the world did flye
To every princes realme.

TAKE THY OLD CLOAK ABOUT THEE.

T

HIS winters weather waxeth cold,
And froft doth freese on every hill,
And Boreas blowes his blafts foe bold,
That all our cattell are like to fpill;
Bell my wife, who loves no ftrife,
She fayd unto me quietlie,

Rife up, and fave cow Crumbockes life,
Man, put thine old cloake about thee.

HE.

6

O Bell, why doft thou flyte and scorne'?

Thou kenft my cloak is

It is fo bare and overworne,

very thin:

A cricke he thereon cannot renn: Then Ile noe longer borrow nor lend, For once Ile new appareld bee, To-morrow Ile to towne and spend,'

For Ile have a new cloake about mee.

SHE.

Cow Crumbocke is a very good cowe,

Shee has been alwayes true to the payle,
Still as helpt us to butter and cheese, I trow,
And other things she will not fayle;
I wold be loth to fee her pine,

Good husband, councell take of mee,
It is not for us to goe foe fine,

Then take thine old cloake about thee.

HE.

My cloake it was a very good cloake,
Itt hath been alwayes true to the weare,
But now it is not worth a groat;

I have had it foure and fortye yeare:
Some time it was of cloth in graine,

'Tis now but a figh-clout as you may fee, It will neither hold out winde nor raine; Ill have a new cloake about mee.

SHE.

It is four and fortye yeeres agoe

Since th' one of us the other did ken,
And wee have had betwixt us towe
Of children either nine or ten;

Wee have brought them up to women and men ;
In the feare of God I trowe they bee;

And why wilt thou thy felf misken?
Man, take thine old cloake about thee.

HE.

O Bell my wife, why doft thou floute!
Now is nowe, and then was then:
Seeke now all the world throughout,

Thou kenft not clownes from gentlemen.
They are clad in blacke, greene, yellowe, or 'gray,
Soe farr above their owne degree:

Once in my liffe Ile doe as they,'

For Ill have a new cloake about mee.

SHE.

King Stephen was a worthy peere,

His breeches coft him but a crowne, He held them fixpence all too deere; Therefore he calld the taylor Lowne. He was a wight of high renowne,

And thoufe but of a low degree:

Itt's pride that putt's the countrye downe,,
Then take thine old cloake about thee.

HE

Bell my wife fhe loves not ftrife,
Yet fhe will lead me if the can,

And oft, to live a quiet life,

I am forced to yeild, though Ime good-man':
Itt's not for a man with a woman to threape,
Unleffe he first gave oer the plea :

Where I began I now mun leave,
And take mine old cloak about mee.

SIR LANCELOT DU LAKE.

WHEN Arthur firft in court began,

And was approved king,

By force of armes great victoryes wanne,
And conqueft home did bring.

Then into England ftraight he came
With fifty good and able
Knights, that reforted unto him,
And were of his round table.

And many jufts and turnaments,
Wherto were many prest,

Wherein fome knights did then excell
And far furmount the reft.

But one Sir Lancelott du Lake,
Who was approved well,

He for his deeds and feates of arms,
All others did excell.

When he had refted him a while,
In play, and game, and sportt,
He faid he wold goe prove himfelfe
In fome adventurous fort.

He armed rode in forreft wide,

And met a damfell faire,

Who told him of adventures great,
Whereto he gave good eare.

Such wold I find, quoth Lancelott:
For that caufe came I hither.

Thou seemst, quoth she, a knight full good,
And I will bring thee thither.

Whereas a mighty knight doth dwell,

That now is of great fame:
Therfore tell me what wight thou art,
And what may be thy name.

"My name is Lancelott du Lake.”
Quoth fhe, it likes me than :
Here dwelles a knight who never was
Yet matcht with any man:

Who has in prifon threefcore knights
And four that he did wound;
Knights of King Arthurs courts they be,
And of his table round.

She brought him to a river fide,

And alfo to a tree,

Whereon a copper bason hung,
And many fheilds to fee.

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