Away then went with a merry cheare, Away then went the heir of Linne; I-wis, he neither ceas'd ne blanne, Till John o' the Scales house he did winne. And when he came to John o' the Scales, And John himselfe sate at the bord-head, "I pray thee," he said, "good John o' the Scales, "One forty pence for to lend mee." "Away, away, thou thriftless loone; Then bespake the heire of Linne, To John o' the Scales wife then spake he: 66 I pray for sweet saint Charitie." Away, away, thou thriftless loone, I swear thou gettest no almes of mee; For if we should hang any losel heere, Then bespake a good fellowe, Which sat at John o' the Scales his bord; Sayd, "Turn againe, thou heir of Linne; Some time thou wast a well good lord. "Some time a good fellow thou hast been, And sparedst not thy gold and fee; Therefore Ile lend thee forty pence, And other forty if need bee. "And ever I pray thee, John o' the Scales, And a good bargain it was to thee." Up then spake him John o' the Scales, "And here I proffer thee, heire of Linne, "I drawe you to record, lords," he said, And he pull'd forth three bagges of gold, He told him forth the good red gold. He told it forth with mickle dinne. "The gold is thine, the land is mine, And now Ime againe the lord of Linne." Sayes, "Have thou here, thou good fellowe, "Ile make thee keeper of my forrest, "Now welladay!" sayth Joan o' the Scales; "Now welladay, and woe is my life! Yesterday I was lady of Linne, Now Ime but John o' the Scales his wife." Y "Now fare thee well," sayd the heire of Linne, "Farewell now, John o' the Scales," said hee: "Christs curse light on mee, if ever again I bring my lands in jeopardy." THE OLD AND YOUNG COURTIER. Reprinted from an ancient black-letter copy in the Pepys collection. N old song made by an aged old pate, Of an old worshipful gentleman, who had a greate estate, That kept a brave old house at a bountiful rate, And an old porter to relieve the poor at his gate; Like an old courtier of the queen's, And the queen's old courtier. With an old lady, whose anger one word asswages; They every quarter paid their old servants their wages, And never knew what belong'd to coachmen, footmen, nor pages, But kept twenty old fellows with blue coats and badges; With an old study fill'd full of learned old books, With an old reverend chaplain, you might know him by his looks. With an old buttery hatch worn quite off the hooks, And an old kitchen, that maintain'd half a dozen old cooks; With an old hall, hung about with pikes, guns, and bows, With a good old fashion, when Christmasse was come, |