Musa Pedestris | Page 4

stow what you stall,[21]?to Rome coues watch so quire;[22]?And wapping Dell that niggles well,[23]?and takes loure for her hire.[24]
VI
And Jvbe well Ierkt, tick rome-comfeck,[25]?for backe by glimmar to mawnd,[26]?To mill each Ken, let coue bing then,[27]?through ruffemans, lague or launde.[28]
VII
Till Cramprings quier, tip Coue his hire,[29]?and quier-kens doe them catch;[30]?A canniken, mill quier cuffen,[31]?so quier to ben coue's watch.[32]
VIII
Bein darkmans then, bouse, mort, and ken [33]?the bien coue's bingd awast; [34]?On chates to trine, by Rome-coues dine [35]?for his long lib at last. [36]

Bingd out bien morts, and toure, and toure,[37]?bing out of the Rome-vile; [38]?And toure the coue, that cloyde your duds,[39]?upon the chates to trine.[40]
[1 Go abroad, good women,]?[2 and look about you;]?[3 For all your clothes are stolen;]?[4 and a good fellow (a clever thief) has the money.]?[5 I met a wench and summed her up,]?[6 she suited me very well]?[7 So (joining company) she watched while I stole]?[8 whatever came our way.]?[9 This young whore can lie like truth,]?[10 fornicate vigorously for a penny]?[11 And steal very cleverly]?[12 on the countryside]?[13 When the house was alarmed we had good luck]?[14 in spite of frost and snow]?[15 When they sought us we hid]?[16 in the woods.]?[17 To a thieves' receiving house the woman goes]?[18 to get money for the swag--]?[19 Notes]?[20 got by a rogue's dexterity.]?[21 Ye rogues do not brag of your booty]?[22 to rogues who are not straight]?[23 Or trust a mistress, who though she [Notes]]?[24 does so for hire.]?[25 With a counterfeit license and forged signatures [Notes]] [26 as to losses by fire]?[27 To rob each house let a man go]?[28 thro' hedge, ditch and field]?[29 Till fetters are his desserts]?[30 and a prison is his fate]?[31 A plague take the magistrate!]?[32 who is so hard on a clever rogue]?[33 A good-night then to drink, wench, and ale-house--]?[34 the poor fellow is gone]?[35 On the gallows to hang by rogues betray'd]?[36 to his long sleep.]?[37 So go, my good woman]?[38 out of London]?[39 And see the man who stole your clothes]?[40 upon the gallows hanging.]
THE SONG OF THE BEGGAR [Notes]?[1620]
[From "A Description of Love" 6th ed. (1629)].
I
I am Rogue and a stout one,?A most courageous drinker,?I doe excell, 'tis knowne full well,?The Ratter, Tom, and Tinker.?Still doe I cry, good your Worship good Sir,?Bestow one small Denire, Sir [1]?And brauely at the bousing Ken [2]?He bouse it all in Beere, Sir. [3]
II
If a Bung be got by the hie Law, [4]?Then straight I doe attend them,?For if Hue and Crie doe follow, I?A wrong way soone doe send them.
Still doe I cry, etc.
III
Ten miles vnto a Market.?I runne to meet a Miser,?Then in a throng, I nip his Bung, [5]?And the partie ne'er the wiser.?Still doe I cry, etc.
IV
My dainty Dals, my Doxis, [6]?Whene'er they see me lacking,?Without delay, poore wretches they?Will set their Duds a packing. [7]?Still doe I cry, etc.?V
I pay for what I call for,?And so perforce it must be,?For as yet I can, not know the man,?Nor Oastis that will trust me.?Still doe I cry, etc.
VI
If any giue me lodging,?A courteous Knaue they find me,?For in their bed, aliue or dead,?I leave some Lice behind me.?Still doe I cry, etc.
VII
If a Gentry Coue be comming, [8]?Then straight it is our fashion,?My Legge I tie, close to my thigh,?To moue him to compassion.?Still doe I cry, etc.
VIII
My doublet sleeue hangs emptie,?And for to begge the bolder,?For meate and drinke mine arme I shrinke,?Vp close vnto my shoulder.?Still doe I cry, etc.
IX
If a Coach I heere be rumbling,?To my Crutches then I hie me,?For being lame, it is a shame,?Such Gallants should denie me.?Still doe I cry, etc.
X
With a seeming bursten belly,?I looke like one half dead, Sir,?Or else I beg with a woodden legge,?And a Night-cap on me head, Sir,?Still doe I cry, etc.
XI
In Winter time starke naked?I come into some Citie,?Then euery man that spare them can,?Will giue me clothes for pittie.?Still doe I cry, etc.
XII
If from out the Low-countrie, [9]?I heare a Captaines name, Sir,?Then strait I swere I have bin there;?And so in fight came lame, Sir.?Still doe I cry, etc.
XIII
My Dogge in a string doth lead me,?When in the towne I goe, Sir,?For to the blind, all men are kind,?And will their Almes bestow, Sir,?Still doe I cry, etc.
XIV
With Switches sometimes stand I,?In the bottom of a Hill, Sir,?There those men which doe want a switch,?Some monie give me still, Sir.?Still doe I cry, etc.
XV
Come buy, come buy a Horne-booke,?Who buys my Pins or Needles??In Cities I these things doe crie,?Oft times to scape the Beadles.?Still doe I cry, etc.
XVI
In Pauls Church by a Pillar; [10]?Sometimes you see me stand, Sir,?With a Writ that showes, what care and woes?I past by Sea and Land, Sir.?Still doe I cry, etc.
XVII
Now blame me not for boasting,?And bragging thus alone,