C. Aftonyed lay the heire of Linne, Ne knewe if he were live or dead, He took the bill, and lookt it on, Strait good comfort found he there : It told him of a hole in the wall, In which there stood three chefts in-fere . Two were full of the beaten golde, The third was full of white money; And over them in broad lettèrs These words were written fo plaine to fee: "Once more, my fonne, I fette, thee clere; "Amend thy life and follies paft; "For but thou amend thee of thy life, "That rope muft be thy end at last.” And let it bee, fayd the heire of Linne; This reade || fhall guide me to the end. Away then went the heire of Linne; 40 45 50 55 Away he went with a merry cheare; I wis, tin-fere, i. e. together. i. e. advice, counsel. ~‡i.e. unless I amend. ANCIENT POEMS. I wis, he neither flint ne ftayd, 135 Till John o' the Scales house he came neare. 60 And when he came to John o' the Scales, Up at the speere * then looked hee; And then befpake the heire of Linne I pray thee now, good John o' the Scales, 65 To John o' the Scales wife then spake he: 75 *Perhaps the Hole in the door or window, by which it was fpeered, i. e. fparred, faftened, or fout.-In Bale's 2d Part of the Acts of Eng. Votaries, we have this phrase, (fo. 38.) "The dore therof oft tymes opened and Speared agayne.", For if we fhold hang any lofel heere, Then befpake a good fellowe, Which fat at John o' the Scales his bord : Sayd, Turn againe, thou heire of Linne; Some time thou wat a well good lord: Some time a good fellow thou hast been, And other forty if need bee. And ever, I pray thee, John o' the Scales, For well I wot thou hadft his land, And a good bargain it was to thee. Up then spake him John o' the Scales, And here I proffer thee, heire of Linne, 80 85 ,99 95 Thou shalt have it backe again better cheape, I drawe you to record, lords, he faid. Now |