She. King Stephen was a worthy peer;

He.

His breeches cost him but a crown;
He held them sixpence all too dear,

Therefore he called the tailor 'lown.'
He was a king and wore the crown,
And thou'se but of a low degree:
It's pride that puts this country down:
Man, take thy old cloak about thee!

Bell my wife, she loves not strife,

Yet she will lead me, if she can ;
And to maintain an easy life

I oft must yield, though I'm good-man.
It's not for a man with a woman to threap,
Unless he first give o'er the plea:

As we began, so will we keep,

And I'll take my old cloak about me.

30.

JOHN SKELTON

To Mistress Margery Wentworth

WITH margerain gentle,

The flower of goodlihead,

Embroidered the mantle
Is of your maidenhead.

Plainly, I cannot glose;

Ye be, as I divine,

The pretty primèrose,
The goodly columbine.

14607-1529

29. threap] argue.

30. margerain] marjoram.

31.

Benign, courteous, and meek,
With wordes well devised;
In you, who list to seek,
Be virtues well comprised.
With margerain gentle,

The flower of goodlihead,
Embroidered the mantle
Is of your maidenhead.

To Mistress Margaret Hussey

ERRY Margaret

As midsummer flower,

Gentle as falcon

Or hawk of the tower:
With solace and gladness,
Much mirth and no madness,
All good and no badness;
So joyously,

So maidenly,
So womanly
Her demeaning
In every thing,
Far, far passing
That I can indite,
Or suffice to write
Of Merry Margaret
As midsummer flower,
Gentle as falcon

Or hawk of the tower.

As patient and still
And as full of good will
As fair Isaphill,
Coliander,

Sweet pomander,

Good Cassander;
Steadfast of thought,
Well made, well wrought,
Far may be sought,
Ere that ye can find
So courteous, so kind,
As merry Margaret,
This midsummer flower,
Gentle as falcon

Or hawk of the tower.

32.

STEPHEN HAWES

The True Knight

d. 1523

FOR knighthood is not in the feats of warre,
As for to fight in quarrel right or wrong,

But in a cause which truth can not defarre:
He ought himself for to make sure and strong,
Justice to keep mixt with mercy among:

And no quarrell a knight ought to take
But for a truth, or for a woman's sake.

31. Isaphill] Hypsipyle. coliander] coriander seed, an aromatic. pomander] a ball of perfume.

32. defarre] undo.

Cassander] Cassandra.

33.

O

His Epitaph

MORTAL folk, you may behold and see How I lie here, sometime a mighty knight The end of joy and all prosperitee

34.

Is death at last, thorough his course and might:
After the day there cometh the dark night,
For though the daye be never so long,
At last the bells ringeth to evensong.

SIR THOMAS WYATT

Forget not yet

1503-1542

The Lover Beseecheth his Mistress not to Forget his Steadfast Faith and True Intent

FORGET not yet the tried intent

Of such a truth as I have meant;
My great travail so gladly spent,
Forget not yet!

Forget not yet when first began
The weary life ye know, since whan
The suit, the service, none tell can;
Forget not yet!

Forget not yet the great assays,
The cruel wrong, the scornful ways,
The painful patience in delays,
Forget not yet!

Forget not! O, forget not this !—

How long ago hath been, and is,
The mind that never meant amiss-
Forget not yet!

Forget not then thine own approved,
The which so long hath thee so loved,
Whose steadfast faith yet never moved:
Forget not this!

35.

The Appeal

An Earnest Suit to his Unkind Mistress, not to
Forsake him

AND wilt thou leave me thus?
Say nay, say nay, for shame!

-To save thee from the blame
Of all my grief and grame.
And wilt thou leave me thus?
Say nay! say nay!

And wilt thou leave me thus,
That hath loved thee so long
In wealth and woe among:
And is thy heart so strong
As for to leave me thus?
Say nay! say nay!

And wilt thou leave me thus,
That hath given thee my heart
Never for to depart

Neither for pain nor smart:
And wilt thou leave me thus?
Say nay! say nay!

J. grame] sorrow.