Miscellaneous Poems.

63

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Now, Sir, what think you how the Case befell ?

This N icholas (for I the Truth will tell)

Was a meer Wag, and on a certain Day,

When the good Man, the Husband, was away,

Began to sport and wanton with his Dame,

(For Clerks are fly and very full of Game)

And privily he caught her by That fame.

My * Lemman Dear, quoth he, I’m all on Fire,

And perish, if you grant not my Desire.

He clafp’d her round, and held her fast, and cry’d,

O let me, let me-never be deny’d.

At this she wreath’d her Head, and sprung aloof,l ike a young frisking Celt, whose tender HoofNe’er felt the Farrier’s Hand, and never knewThe Virgin Burden of an Iron Shoe.

Fie Nicholas, away your Hand, quoth she.

Is this your Breeding and Civility ?

Foh ! Idle Set! What means th' unmanner’d Clown,

To teaze me thus, and toss me up and down ?

I vow I’ll tell, and bawl it o’er the Town.

You’re rude, and will you not be answer’d, No ?

I will not kiss you—prithee, let me go.

Here Nicholas, a young, designing Knave,

Began to weep, and cant, and Pardon crave.

So fair he spoke, and importun’d so fast,

This seeming modest Spouse consents at last ;

By good St. T homas V swore, her usual Oath,

That she would meet his Love, tho’ mighty loath.

“ If you, said she, convenient Leisure wait,

" (You know my Husband has a jealous Pate)

" I will requite you, for if once the Beast *)

“ Should chance to find us out, and smell the Jest, S“ I must be a dead Woman at least. J

Let that, quoth Nicholas, ne’er vex your Head,He must be a meer learned Ass indeed,

And very foolishly besets his Wile.

Who cannot a dull Carpenter beguile.

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* Mistress.

11 St. Thomas a Becket.