officer muft lift up an iron hatch; take heed, my flops are iron. [They fearch Adam. Second Searcher. Oh, villain, see how he hath gotten victuals, bread, beef, and beer, where the king commanded upon pain of death none fhould eat for fo many days; no, not the fucking infant. Adam. Alas, fir, this is nothing but a modicum non nocet ut medicus daret; why, Sir, a bit to comfort my ftomach. First Searcher. Villain, thou shalt be hanged for it. Adam. These are your words, 'I shall be hanged for it;' but firft answer me to this question, how many days have we to faft ftill? Second Searcher, Five days. Adam. Five days: a long time: then I must be hanged? First Searcher. Ay, marry, Sir, must thou. Adam. I am your man, I am for you, Sir; for I had rather be hanged than bide fo long a faft. What, five days? Come, I'll untrufs. Is your halter and the gallows, the ladder, and all fuch furniture in readiness ? First Searcher. I warrant thee fhalt want none of these. Adam. But, hear you, muft I be hanged? Firft Searcher. Ay, marry. Adam. And for eating of meat. Then, friends, know ye by these presents, I will eat up all my meat, and drink up all my drink ; for it fhall never be faid I was hanged with an empty stomach. First Searcher. Come away, knave; wilt thou ftand feeding now? Adam. If you be fo hafty, hang yourfelf an hour, while I come to you, for furely I will eat up my meat. Second Searcher. Come, let's draw him away perforce. Adam. You fay there is five days yet to faft, these are your words. Second Searcher. Ay, Sir. Adam. I am for you: away, and yet let me be put in the Chronicles. come, let's [Exeunt. (Ibid., pp. 105-109.) A CONTENTED MIND. Sweet are the thoughts that favour of content; The quiet mind is richer than a crown; Sweet are the nights in careless flumber spent ; The poor eftate fcorns Fortune's angry frown: Such fweet content, fuch minds, fuch fleep, fuch blifs, Beggars enjoy, when princes oft do mifs. The homely house that harbours quiet reft; The cottage that affords no pride nor care; The mean that 'grees with country mufic beft; The fweet comfort of mirth and modeft* fare; * The original has 'music's fare.' The word had been caught from the preceding verse. My venerable friend, W. J. Linton, in his 'Rare Poems,' reads as above, and it is inevitably accepted.-G. Obfcurèd life fets down a type of bliss, A mind content both crown and kingdom is. (Farewell to Folly' [1591], ix., pp. 279, 280.) CONTENT. Barmenia's Song. The cottage feated in the hollow dale, That Fortune never fears because so low; The quiet mind that Want doth set to fale, Sleeps fafe, when prince's feats do overthrow; Want fmiles fecure when princely thoughts do feel That Fear and Danger treads upon their heel. Blefs Fortune thou whofe frown hath wrought thy good; Bid farewell to the crown that ends thy care; The happy fates thy forrows have withftood By 'fygning want and poverty thy share; For now content (fond Fortune to despite) With patience 'lows* thee quiet and delight. ('Penelope's Web' [1587], v., p. 180.) A COUNTRY BEAUTY. Edward [Prince of Wales]. I tell thee, Do lighten forth fweet Love's alluring fire: And in her treffes fhe doth fold the looks Of fuch as gaze upon her golden hair : Her bashful white, mixed with the morning's red, Luna doth boast upon her lovely cheeks: Her front is Beauty's table, where she paints The glories of her gorgeous excellence : Her teeth are shelves of precious margarites, * allows. |