Ask me no more whither do stray Ask me no more whither doth haste Ask me no more where those stars 'light, Ask me no more if east or west THOMAS CAREW. A BALLAD UPON A WEDDING I TELL thee, Dick, where I have been, Be it at wake or fair. At Charing-Cross, hard by the way, Where we (thou know'st) do sell our hay, There is a house with stairs; And there did I see coming down Forty at least, in pairs. Amongst the rest, one pest'lent fine (His beard no bigger though than thine) Walked on before the rest : Our landlord looks like nothing to him: The King (God bless him) 't would undo him, At Course-a-Park, without all doubt, Or Vincent of the Crown. 15 20 But wot you what? the youth was going 25 The parson for him stay'd: Yet by his leave (for all his haste) (Perchance), as did the maid. The maid (and thereby hangs a tale), Could ever yet produce: 30 No grape, that 's kindly ripe, could be So round, so plump, so soft as she, 35 Her finger was so small, the ring Would not stay on, which they did bring, It was too wide a peck: And to say truth (for out it must) It looked like the great collar (just) 40 Her feet beneath her petticoat, 45 As if they fear'd the light; But O she dances such a way! No sun upon an Easter-day Her cheeks so rare a white was on, No daisy makes comparison, (Who seeks them is undone), For streaks of red were mingled there, The side that 's next the sun. Her lips were red, and one was thin, (Some bee had stung it newly); But, Dick, her eyes so guard her face: I durst no more upon them gaze Her mouth so small, when she does speak, Thou 'dst swear her teeth her words did break That they might passage get; 50 55 60 But she so handled still the matter, They came as good as ours, or better, 65 And are not spent a whit. Just in the nick the cook knocked thrice, His summons did obey; Each serving man, with dish in hand, 70 Marched boldly up like our trained band, Presented and away. When all the meat was on the table What man of knife or teeth was able To stay to be intreated? And this the very reason was, The business of the kitchen's great, Nor was it there denied: Passion o' me, how I run on! There's that that would be thought upon Now hats fly off, and youths carouse; The bride's came thick and thick: And when it was nam'd another's health, And who could help it, Dick? On the sudden up they rise, and dance; Then dance again and kiss: Thus several ways the time did pass And every man wished his. 90 95 SIR JOHN SUCKLING. WHY SO PALE AND WAN, FOND LOVER? WHY SO pale and wan, fond lover? Prithee, why so pale? Will, when looking well can't move her, Looking ill prevail? Prithee, why so pale? 5 |