Classic Poem

That god that dyed for vs all
& dranke both vinigar & gall,
bringe vs out of balle,
and giue them both good life & longe
w hi ch listen doe vnto my songe,
or tend vnto my talle!

there dwelt a man in my countrye
w hi ch in his life had wiues 3,
a blessing full of Ioye!
By the first wife a sonne he had,
w hi ch was a prettye sturdye ladde,
a good vnhappy boye

His father loued him well,
but his stepmother neue[r] a deale, —
I tell you as I thinke, —
All things shee thought lost, by the roode,
w hi ch to the boy did anye good,
as either meate or drinke;

And yet I-wis it was but badde,
nor halfe enouge therof he hade,
but euermore the worst;
And therfore euill might shee fare,
that did the litle boy such care,
soe forth as shee durst.

Vnto the man the wiffe gan say,
" I wold you wold put this boy awaye,
& that right soone in haste;
Trulie he is a cursed ladde!
I wold some other man him hade
that wold him better chast "

Then said the goodman, " dame, not soe,
I will not lett the yonge boy goe,
he is but tender of age;
Hee shall this yeere w i th me abyde
till he be growne more strong & tryde
ffor to win better wage:

" Wee haue a man, a sturdie lout,
w hi ch keepeth our neate the feilds about,
& sleepeth all the day,
Hee shall come home, as god me sheeld,
and the Boy shall into the feild
to keepe them if thee may "

Then sayd the wiffe in verament,
" husband, therto I giue consent,
for tha t I thinke it neede. "
On the Morrow when it was day,
the litle boy went on his way
vnto the feild with speede

Off noe man hee tooke anye care,
but song " hey ho! away the Mare! "
much mirth he did pursue;
fforth hee went w i th might & maine
vntill he came vnto the plaine,
where he his dinner drew.

But when he saw it was soe bad,
full litle list therto he had,
but put it from sight,
Saying he had noe list to tast,
but tha t his hunger still shold last
till hee came home att Night.

And as the boy sate on a hill,
there came an old man him vntill,
was walking by the way;
" Sonne, " he said, " god thee see! "
" now welcome, father, may you bee! "
the litle boy gan say.

The old man sayd, " I hunger sore;
then hast thou any meate in store
w hi ch thou mightest giue to me? "
The child replyed, " soe god me saue!
to such poore victualls as I haue,
right welcome shall you be "

Of this the old man was full gladd,
the boy drew forth such as he hadd,
& sayd " goe to gladlie. "
The old man easie was to please,
he eate & made himselfe att ease,
saying, " sonne, god amercye!

" Sonne, " he sayd, " thou hast giuen meate to me,
& I will giue 3 things to thee,
what ere thou wilt intreat "
Then sayd the boy, " tis best, I trow,
tha t yee bestow on me a bowe
w i th w hi ch I burds may gett. "

" A bow, my sonne, I will thee giue,
the w hi ch shall Last while thou dost liue,
was neuer bow more fitt!
ffor if thou shoot therin all day,
waking or winking, or anye waye,
the marke thou shalt hitt. "

Now when the bowe in hand he felt,
& had the arrowes vnder his belt,
hartilye he laught I-wiss,
And sayd, " had I a pipe w i th-all,
tho neuer litle or soe small,
I then had all my wishe. "

" A pipe, sonne, thou shalt haue alsoe,
w hi ch in true Musicke soe shall goe —
I put thee out of doubt —
As who tha t liues & shall it heare,
shall haue noe power to forbeare,
but laugh & leape about.

" Now tell me what the 3 d shalbee;
for 3 things I will giue to thee
as I haue sayd before. "
The boy then smiling, answere made,
" I haue enough for my pore trade,
I will desire noe more. "

The old man sayd, " my troth is plight,
thou shalt haue all I thee behight;
say on now, let me see. "
" Att home I haue, " the boy replyde,
" a cruell step dame full of pride,
who is most curst to mee;

" when meate my father giues to mee,
shee wishes poyson it might bee,
and stares me in the face:
Now when shee gazeth on me soe,
I wold shee might a rapp let goe
that might ring through the place. "

The old man answered then anon,
" when-ere shee lookes thy face vpon,
her tayle shall wind the horne
Soe Lowdlye, that who shold it heare
shall not be able to forbeare,
but laugh her vnto scorne.

" Soe, farwell sonne! " the old man cryed;
" god keepe you, S i r! " the boy replyed,
" I take my leaue of thee!
God, that blest of all things, may
keepe thee save both night & day! "
" gramercy, sonne! " sayd hee.

When it grew neere vpon the night,
Iacke, well p re pared, hied home full right; —
itt was his ordinance; —
And as he went his pipe did blow,
the whilest his cattell on a row
about him gan to dance;

Thus to the towne he pipt full trim,
his skipping beasts did ffollow him
into his ffathers close
He went & put them [up] each one;
w hi ch done, he homewards went anon;
vnto his fathers hall he gooes.

His ffather att his supp er sate,
& litle Iacke espyed well thatt,
and said to him anon,
" father, all day I kept yo u r neate,
at night I pray you giue me some meate,
I am hungrye, by S ain t Iohn!

" Meateless I haue lyen all the day,
& kept yo u r beasts, they did not stray;
My dinner was but ill. "
His ffather tooke a Capon winge,
& at the boy he did it fling,
bidding him eate his fill.

This greeued his stepdames hart full sore,
who lothed the Ladd still more & more;
shee stared him in the face:
w i th that shee let goe such a blast
that made the people all agast,
itt sounded through th e place;

Each one laught & made good game,
but the curst wife grew red for shame
& wisht shee had beene gone
" Perdy, " the boy sayd, " well I wott
that gun was both well charged & shott,
& might haue broke a stone. "

ffull curstlye shee lookt on him tho:
that looke another cracke lett goe
w hi ch did a thunder rise.
Q uo th the boy, " did you euer see
a woman let her pelletts flee
More thicke & more at ease?

" ffye! " said the boy vnto his dame,
" temp er yo u r teltale bum m , for shame! "
w hi ch made her full of sorrow.
" Dame, " said the goodman, " goe thy way,
for why, I sweare, by night nor day
thy geere is not to borrow. "

Now afterwards, as you shall heare,
Vnto the house there came a fryar,
& lay there all the night
The wiffe this fryer loued as a S ain t,
& to him made a great complaint
of Iackes most vile despight.

" We haue, " q uo th shee, " w i thin, I-wis,
a wiced boy, — none shrewder is, —
w hi ch doth me mighty care;
I dare not looke vpon his face,
or hardly tell my shamefull case,
soe filthylie I fare;

" for gods loue meet this boy to-morrow,
beat him well, & giue him sorrow,
& make him blind or lame. "
The fryar swore he wold him beat,
the wiffe prayd him not to forgett,
the boy did her much shame:

" Some wiche he is, " q uo th shee, " I smell. "
" but, " q uo th the fryar, " Ile beat him well!
of tha t take you noe care;
Ile teach him witchcraft, if I may. "
" O, " q uo th the wiffe, " doe soe, I pray,
lay on & doe not spare "

Early next morne the boy arose,
& to the field full soone he goes,
his cattell for to driue.
The fryer then vp as early gatt,
he was afrayd to come to late,
he ran full fast & blythe

But when he came vnto the land,
he found where litle Iacke did stand,
keeping his beasts alone.
" Now, boy, " he sayd, " god giue thee shame!
what hast thou done to thy stepdame?
tell me forthw i th anon!

" And if thou canst not quitt thee well,
Ile beate thee till thy body swell,
I will not longer byde "
The boy replyed, " what ayleth thee?
my stepdame is as well as thee;
what needs you thus to Chyde?

" Come, will you seemy arrow flye
& hitt yon small bird in the eye,
& other things w i thall?
S i r fryer, tho I haue litle witt,
yett yonder bird I meane to hitt,
& giue her you I shall "

There sate a small birde in a bryar:
" Shoot, shoot, you wagg, " then sayd the fryer,
" for that I long to see "
Iacke hitt the bird vpon the head
soe right tha t shee fell downe for dead,
noe further cold shee flee

ffast to the bush the fryar went,
& vp the bird in hand hee hent,
much wondering at the chance
Meane while Iacke tooke his pipe & playd
soe lowd, the fryar grew mad apaide,
& fell to skip & dance;

Now sooner was the pipes sound heard,
but Bedlam like he bou[n]cet & fared,
& leapt the bush about;
The sharpe bryars cacth him by the face,
& by the breech & other place,
tha t fast the blood ran out;

It tare his clothes downe to the skirt,
his cope, his coole, his linen shirt,
& euery other weede.
The thornes this while were rough & thicke,
& did his priuy members pricke,
tha t fast they gan to bleede.

Iacke, as he piped, laught amonge;
the fryar w i th bryars was vildlye stunge,
he hopped wonderous hye.
Att last the fryar held vp his hand,
& said, " I can noe longer stand!
Oh! I shall dancing dye!

" Gentle Iacke, thy pipe hold still,
& here I vow for goode nor ill
to doe thee any woe! "
Iacke laug[h]ing, to him thus replyed,
" fryer, sckipp out on the other side,
thou hast free leaue to goe. "

Out of the bush the fryar then went,
all Martird, raggd, scratcht & rent,
& torne on euery side;
Hardly on him was left a clout
to wrap his belly round about,
his harlotrye to hide.

The thornes had scratcht him by the face,
the hands, the thighes, & euery place,
he was all bathed in bloode
Soe much, tha t who the fryar did see,
for feare of him was faine to flee,
thinking he had beene woode.

When to the good wife home he came,
he made noe bragge for verry shame
to see his clothes rent all;
Much sorrow in his hart he had,
& euery man did guesse him made
when he was in the hall.

The goodwiffe said, " where hast thou beene?
sure in some evill place, I weene,
by sight of thine array. "
" Dame, " said he, " I came from thy sonne;
the devill & he hath me vndone,
noe man him conquer may. "

w i th tha t the goodman he came in,
the wiffe sett on her madding pin,
cryed, " heeres a foule array!
thy sonne, tha t is thy liffe & deere,
hath almost slaine the holy fryar,
alas & welaway! "

The goodman said, " Benedicitee!
what hath the vile boy done to thee?
now tell me w i thout let. "
" The devill him take! " the fryar he sayd,
" he made me dance, despite my head,
among the thornes the hey-to-bee. "

The goodman said vnto him thoe,
" father! hadst thou beene murdered soe,
it had beene deadly sine "
The fryar to him made this replye,
" the pipe did sound soe Merrilye
tha t I cold never blin. "

Now when it grew to almost night,
Iacke the boy came home full right
as he was wont to doo;
But when he came into the hall,
full soone his father did him call,
& bad him come him too:

" Boy, " he said, " come tell me heare,
what hast thou done vnto this fryer?
lye not in any thing. "
" ffather, " he said, " now by my birthe,
I plaide him but a fitt of Mirth
& pipet him vp a spring "

" That pipe, " said his father, " wold I heare. "
" now god forbidd! " cryed out the fryar;
his hands he then did wringe
" You shall, " the boy said, " by gods grace "
the ffryar replyed, " woe & alas! "
making his sorrowes ringe.

" ffor gods loue! " said the warched fryar,
" & if you will tha t strange pipe heare,
binde me fast to a post!
for sure my fortune thus I reade,
if dance I doe, I am but deade,
my woe-full life is lost! "

Strong ropes they tooke, both sharpe & round,
& to the post the fryer bounde
in the middest of the hall.
All they w hi ch att the table sate,
laughed & made good sport theratt,
sayinge, " fryer, thou canst not fall! "

Then sayd the goodman to the boy,
" Iacke, pipe me vp a merry toye,
pipe freelye when thou will! "

" ffather, " the boy said, " verelye
you shall haue mirth enoughe & glee
till you bidd me bee still "

W i th tha t his pipe he quicklye sent,
& pipt, the whilest in verament
each creature gan to dance;
Lightly the scikipt & leapt about,
yarking in their leggs, now in, now out,
striuing aloft to prance

The good man, as in sad dispaire,
leapt out & through & ore his chayre,
noe man cold caper hyer;
Some others leapt quite ore the stockes,
some start att strawes & fell att blockes,
some wallowed in the fyer.

The goodman made himselfe good sportt
to see them dance in this madd sortt;
the goodwiffe sate not still,
But as shee dancet shee looket on Iacke,
& fast her tayle did double each cracke,
lowd as a water Mill.

The fryer this while was almost lost,
he knocket his pate against the post,
it was his dancing grace;
The rope rubd him vnder the chinn
tha t the blood ran from his tattered sckin
in many a Naked place.

Iacke, piping, ran into the street;
they followed him w i th nimble ffeet,
hauing noe power to stay,
And in their hast they dore did cracke,
eche tumbling over his ffellows backe
vnmindfull of their way

The Neighbors tha t were dwelling by,
hearing the pipe soe Merrilye,
came dancing to the gate;
Some leapt ore dores, some oer the hatch,
Noe man wold stay to draw the latch
but thought they came to Late;

Some sicke or sleeping in their bedd,
as the by chance lift vp their heade,
were with the pipe awaked;
Straight forth the start thorrow dores & kockes,
some in their shirts, some in their smockes,
& some starke belly naked

When all were gathered round about,
there was a vild vnrulye rout
tha t dancing in the street,
Of whi ch, some lame tha t cold not goe,
striuing to leape, did tumble soe
they dancet on hands & feet

Iacke tyred w i th the sport said, " now Ile rest. "
" doe, " q uo th his father, " I hold it best,
thou cloyest me w i th this cheere;
I pray thee, boy, now quiett sitt;
in faith this was the Merryest fitt
I heard this 7 yeere. "

All those tha t dancing thither came,
laught heartilye & made good game,
yett some gott many a fall.
" Thou cursed boy! " cryed out the fryar,
" heere I doe sum m on thee to appeare
beffore the Officiall!

" Looke thou be there on fryday next;
Ile meet thee then, thou now p er plext,
for to ordaine thee sorrow. "
The boy replyed, " I make avowe,
fryer, Ile appeare as soone as thou,
if fryday were to Morrowe "

But fryday came, as you shall heare;
Iackes stepdam & the dancing fryar,
together they were mett,
And other people a great pace
flockt to the court to heare eche case:
the Officiall was sett.

Much c[i]uill matters were to doo,
more libells read then one o tow
both [against priest & clarke;]
Some there had testaments to proue,
some women there through wanton loue,
w hi ch gott strokes in the darke.

Each Proctor there did plead his case;
when forth did stepp fryer Topias
& Iackes stepdame alsoe:
" S i r Officiall, " a-lowd said hee,
" I haue brought a wicked boy to thee,
hath done me mightye woe;

" He is a wiche, as I doe feare,
in Orleance he can find noe peere,
this of my troth I know. "
" He is a Devill, " q uo th the wiffe,
" & almost hath bereaued my liffe! "
at tha t her taile did blow

Soe lowd, the assembly laught theratt,
& said " her pistolls cracke was flatt,
the charge was all amisse."
" Dame, " q uo th the gentle Oficiall,
" p ro ceed & tell me forth thy tale,
& doe not let for this. "

The wiffe tha t feared another cracke,
stood mute, & neere a word shee spake;
shame put her in such dread
" Ha! " said the fryer right angerlye,
" knaue! this is all along sill of thee;
now euill mayst thou speed! "

The fryer said, " S i r Officiall!
this wicked boy will vexe vs all
vnlesse you doe him chast
S i r, he hath yett a pipe trulye
will make you dance & leape full hie
& breake yo u r hart at last. "

The Officiall replyd, " p er dee!
such a pipe faine wold I see,
& what mirth it can make "
" Now god forbidd! " replyed the fryar,
" tha t ere wee shold tha t vild pipe heare
ere I my way hence take. "

" Pipe on, Iacke! " sayd the officiall,
" & let me heare thy cuning all. "
Iacke blew his pipe full lowde
That euery man start vp & dancte;
Proctors & preists, & somners pranct,
& all in tha t great crowde;

Over the deske the officiall ran,
& hopt vpon the table, then
straight Iumpt vnto the flore.
The fryer tha t danct as fast as hee,
mett him midway, & dangerouslye
broke eithers face full sore

The register leapt from his pen,
& hopt into the throng of men,
his inkhorne in his hande;
w i th swinging round about his head,
some he strucke blind, some almost dead,
some they cold hardly stand

The proctors flung their bills about,
the goodwiues tayle gaue many a shout,
p er fuming all the Mirthe;
The Somners, as they had beene woode,
leapt ore the formes & seates a goode,
& wallowed on the earth.

Wenches tha t for their pennance came,
& other Meeds of wordlye shame,
danct euery one as fast;
Each sett on a merry pin,
some broke their heads, & some their shin,
& some their noses brast.

The officiall thus sore turmayld,
Halfe swelt w ith sweat, & almost spoyld,
cryed to the wanton childe
" To pipe noe more w i thin that place,
but stay the sound, euen for gods grace,
& loue of Mary Milde."

Iacke sayd, " as you will, it shalbe,
p ro vided I may hence goe free,
& no man doe me wrong,
Neither this woman nor this fryer,
nor any other creature heere. "

he answered him anon,
" Iacke, I to thee my p ro mise plight,
in thy defence I mean to fight,
& will oppose thy fone "

Iacke ceast his pipes: then all still stood;
some laughing hard, some raging woode.
soe par ted at tha t tide
The Officiall & the Somner,
the stepdame & the wicked fryer,
w i th much Ioy, mirth, & pride.