THIS winters weather itt waxeth cold,
And frost doth freese on every hill,
And Boreas blowes his blasts soe bold,
That all cur cattell are like to spill;
Bell my wife, who loves noe strife,

She sayd unto me quietiye,
Rise up, and save cow Crumbockes liffe,
Man, put thine cid cloake about thee.

HE. O Bell, why dost thou frte "and scorne?" Then kenst my cloak is very thin: It is soe bare and overworne

Are he theron cannot renn: Then De noe longer borrowe nor lend,

For once The new appareld bee, To-morrow lle to towne and spend," For The have a new cloake about mee.

SHE.

SHE.

It is four and fortye yeeres agoe

Since the one of us the other did ken, i And we have had betwixt us towe

Of children either nine or ten; Wee have brought them up to women an men;

In the feare of God I trow they bee; And why wilt thou thyselfe misken?

Man, take thine old cloake about the

HE.

O Bell my wiffe, why dost thou "floute Now is nowe, and then was then : Seeke now all the world throughout,

Thou kenst not clownes from gentleme They are cladd in blacke, greene, yellow or "gray,"

Soe far above their owne degree: Once in my life Ile "doe as they," For Ile have a new cloake about mee SHE.

trow,

And other things shee will not fayle;

I wold be loth to see her pine,

Good husband, councell take of mee,

It is not for us to go soe fine,

Man, take thine old cloake about thee.

HE

My doake it was a very good cloake,
Itt hath been alwaves true to the weare,

Fut now it is not worth a groat;

I have had it four and forty yeere: Sometime itt was of cloth in graine,

Is now but a sigh cleat as you may

see.

It will neither hold out winde nor raine; And lle have a new cloake about mee.

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

And thouse but of a low degree: Itt's pride that putts this countrye dow Man, take thine old cloake about th HE.

Bell my wife she loves not strife, Yet she will lead me if she can ; And oft, to live a quiet life,

I am forced to yield, though Ime g man;"

Itt's not for a man with a woman to thre

Unlesse he first gave oer the plea : As wee began wee now will leave,

And Ile take mine old cloake about r

In few, his offers were so large

She lastly did consent;

With whom he lodged all that night, And early home he went.

He tooke occasion oftentimes

In such a sort to hunt.
Whom when his lady often mist,
Contrary to his wont,

And lastly was informed of

His amorous haunt elsewhere; It greev'd her not a little, though She seem'd it well to beare.

And thus she reasons with herselfe,

Some fault perhaps in me;
Somewhat is done, that soe he doth :
Alas! what may it be?

How may I winne him to myself?
He is a man, and men
Have imperfections; it behooves
Me pardon nature then.

To checke him were to make him checke,*
Although hee now were chaste;

A man controuled of his wife,

To her makes lesser haste.

If duty then, or daliance may
Prevayle to alter him ;

I will be dutifull, and make
My selfe for daliance trim.

So was she, and so lovingly

Did entertaine her lord, As fairer, or more faultles none Could be for bed or bord.

Yet still he loves his leiman, and

Did still pursue that game, Suspecting nothing less, than that His lady knew the same:

*To check is a term in falconry, applied when a hawk stops and turns away from his proper pursuit; to check also signifies to reprove or chide. It is in this verse used in both senses.

Wherefore to make him know she knew,

She this devise did frame:

When long she had been wrong'd, and sought

The foresayd meanes in vaine,
She rideth to the simple graunge
But with a slender traine.

She lighteth, entreth, greets them well,
And then did looke about her:
The guiltie houshold knowing her,
Did wish themselves without her ;
Yet, for she looked merily,

The lesse they did misdoubt her.

When she had seen the beauteous wench
(Then blushing fairnes fairer),
Such beauty made the countesse hold
Them both excus'd the rather.

Who would not bite at such a bait?

Thought she; and who (though loth) So poore a wench, but gold might tempt? Sweet errors lead them both.

Scarse one in twenty that had bragg'd
Of proffer'd gold denied,

Or of such yeelding beautie baulkt,
But, tenne to one, had lied.

Thus thought she and she thus declares
Her cause of coming thether;
My lord, oft hunting in these partes,
Through travel, night or wether,

Hath often lodged in your house;
I thanke you for the same;
For why? it doth him jolly ease
To lie so neare his game.
But, for you have not furniture
Beseeming such a guest,

I bring his owne, and come myselfe
To see his lodging drest.

With that two sumpters were discharg'd,
In which were hangings brave,
Silke coverings, curtens, carpets, plate,
And al such turn should have.