They never prevail'd, till theywrought mydowne-fall; 45 Soe Pride was entertained, but Confcience decried, And now ever fince' abroad have I tryed To have had entertainment with fome one or other; But I am rejected, and fcorned' of my brother. Then went I to Court the gallants to winne, 50 But the porter kept me out of the gate: Then went I to London, where once I did 56 dwell': But they bade away with me, when they knew my name; For he will undoe us to bye and to fell!! They bade me goe packe me, and hye me for fhame; 60 They laught at my raggs, and there had good game; This is old thread-bare Confcience, that dwelt with faint Peter: But they wold not admitt me to be a chimney-sweeper. Not one wold receive me, the Lord he doth know; And And by ftatute wold prove me a rogue, and forlorne, And whipp me out of towne to feeke where I was borne. Then did I remember, and call to my minde, ༡༠ 75 For thoughe' the judge us'd my name in every com miffion, The lawyers with their quillets wold get my difmiffion. 80 Then Westminster-hall was no place for me; e; Next the Merchants faid, Counterfeite, get thee away, 85 We banisht thee the country beyond the falt fea, Then Then had I noe way, but for to go on To Gentlemens houfes of an ancyent name; They fayd, Fye upon thee! we may thee curfe Theire leafes continue, and we fare the worfe. And then I was forced a begging to goe 95 To hufbandmens houses, who greeved right fore, 100 Nor nothing had left to give to the poore : *105 Yet within this fame defert fome comfort I have The which the riche glutton will anfwer one day.. Why then, I faid to him, me-thinks it were beft 115 For upon, For their wives and their children foe hange them Then laid he him down, and turned him away, 120 For him and his fellowes to live with the best. *We ought in justice and truth to read ' can'. II. PLAIN TRUTH, AND BLIND IGNORANCE. This excellent old ballad is preferved in the little ancient mifcellany intitled, "The Garland of Goodwill."—IGNORANCE is here made to speak in the broad Somersetshire dialect. The fcene we may fuppofe to be Glastonbury Abbey. TRUTH. OD speed you, ancient father, And And that you keep fuch gazing 5 On this decayed place, The which, for fuperftition, Good princes down did raze ? IGNORANCE. Chill tell thee, by my vazen That zometimes che have knowne A vair and goodly abbey Stand here of bricke and stone; As ich may fay to thee, Within thefe goodly cloysters Che did full often zee. TRUTH. Then I muft tell thee, father, Thou couldst not likely fee; With falfe and feigned lies: But fuch an order truly Chrift never did devife. IGNORANCE. Ah! ah! che zmell thee now, man; Che know well what thou art; 10 15 20 25 A vel i. e. faithen: as in the Midland counties they say boufen, clofen, for boufes, closes. A. |