It were myne efe, to lyve in pese; fo wyll I, yf I can ; Wherfore I to the wode wyll go, alone, a banyshed man. B. Though in the wode I undyrftode ye had a paramour, All this may nought remove my thought, but that I will be your: And the fhall fynde me foft, and kynde, and courteys every hour; Glad to fulfyll all that the wyll commaunde me, to my power: For had ye, lo, an hundred mo, yet wolde I be that one; For, in my mynde, of all mankynde I love but you alone. A. Myne own dere love, I fe the prove that y.c and true; be kynde, Of mayde, and wyfe, in all my lyfe, the best that ever I knewe. Be and glad, be no more fad, the cafe is chaunged mery For it were ruthe, that, for your truthe, ye fholde have caufe to rewe : Be nat difmayed; whatsoever I fayd to you, whan I began, I wyll not to the grene wode go, I am no banyfhed man. B. Thefe B. These tydings be more gladder to me than to be made a Yf I were fure they fholde endure but it is often fene, Whan men wyll breke promyfe, they fpeke the wordes on the fplene : Ye fhape fome wyle, me to begyle, and ftele from me, I wene : Than were the cafe worfe than it was, and I more wo begone; For, in my mynde, of all mankynde I love but you alone. B.. Ye fhall nat nede further to drede; I will not dyfparage You, (God defende!) fyth you defcend of fo grete a I wyll you bringe; and with a rynge, by way of maryage I wyll you take, and lady make, as fhortely as I can: Thus have ye won an erlys fon, and not a banyfhed man. B. Here may ye fe, that women be, in love, meke, kynde, and ftable: Late never man reprove them than, But, rather, pray God, that we may to them be com fortable, Which fometyme proved fuch as he loved, yf they be charytable. For Forfoth, men wolde that women fholde be meke to them ech one; Moche more ought they to God obey, and serve but hym alone. HENRY AND EMMA. A POE M, Upon the Model of the NUT-BROWN MAID. T To C L O E. HOU, to whofe eyes I bend, at whofe command (Though low my voice, though artlefs be my hand) I take the sprightly reed, and fing, and play; Careless of what the cenfuring world may fay: Bright Cloe, object of my constant vow, Wilt thou a while unbend thy ferious brow? Wilt thou with pleasure hear thy lover's strains, And with one heavenly fmile o'erpay his pains? No longer fhall the Nut-brown Maid be old; Though fince her youth three hundred years have roll'd: At thy defire, fhe shall again be rais'd; And her reviving charms in lafting verfe be prais'd. No longer man of woman fhall complain, That he may love, and not be lov'd again : What Whatever has been writ, whatever faid, My pains and hopes; and, when thou fay'st that one WHERE beauteous Ifis and her husband Tame With mingled waves for ever flow the fame, In times of yore an ancient baron liv'd; Great gifts bestow'd, and great respect receiv'd. When dreadful Edward with fuccessful care } Led his free Britons to the Gallic war; This lord had headed his appointed bands, The remnant of his days he safely past; Nor found they lagg'd too flow, nor flew too fast. One child he had, a daughter chaste and fair, As ftill they please, who imitate their lord); As with her ftature, fill her charms increas'd; From |