Musa Pedestris | Page 4

watch; [6]

So she and I, did stall and cloy,[7]
whateuer we could catch. [8]
II
This Doxie dell, can cut bien whids, [9]
and wap well for a win; [10]

And prig and cloy so benshiply, [11]
all the dewsea-vile within.
[12]
III
The boyle was vp, wee had good lucke,[13]
in frost, for and in
snow;[14]
When they did seeke, then we did creepe,[15]
and plant
in ruffe-mans low.[16]
IV
To Stawling Kenne the Mort bings then,[17]
to fetch loure for her
cheates;[18]
Duds and Ruff-pecke, ruinboild by Harmanbecke,[19]

and won by Mawnder's feates.[20]

V
You Mawnders all, 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