Classic Poem

The smell of the meate is felt round about: the sediti ous Captaine thereupon came to the Lady, and threatens to kill her for meate. Whereupon the Lady, sets part before them .

The sent thereof was straight smelt round about,
The neighbours then out of their houses ran,
Saying, we smell roast-meat out of all doubt,
Which was great wonder vnto euery man:
And euery one like to a longing wife,
In that good cheer did wish his sharpest knife.

This newes so swift in each mans mouth did flie,
The proud seditious heard thereof at last,
Who with all speed vnto the house did hye,
And at the doores and windowes knocked fast:
And with vilde words & speeches rough and great,
They askt the Lady, where she had that meat.

Thou wicked woman how comes this (quoth they)
That thou alone hast roast-meat in the towne?
While we with griping famine dye each day,
Which are your Lords, and leaders of renowne:
For this contempt, we thinke it right and reason,
Thou shouldst be punisht as in case of treason.

The louely Lady trembling at their speech,
Fearing their bloody hands and cruell actions,
With many gentle words, did them beseech,
They would not enter into further factions:
But listen to her words and she would tell,
The certaine truth, how euery thing befell.

Be not (she said) at your poore hand-maid grieued,
I haue not eaten all in this hard case,
But that your selues might something be relieued,
I haue kept part to giue you in this place:
Then sit you downe, right welcome shall you be,
And what I haue, your selues shall tast and see.

With diligence the Table then she layde,
And siluer trenchers on the boord she set,
A golden salt, that many ounces wayde,
And Damask napkins, dainty, fine, and neate:
Her guests were glad to see this preparation,
And at the boord they sat with contentation.

In massie siluer platters brought she forth
Her owne Sonnes flesh, whom she did loue so deere,
Saying my maisters take this well in worth,
I pray be merry: looke for no other cheere:
See here my childs white hand, most finely drest,
And here his foote, eate where it likes you best.

And doe not say this child was any others,
But my owne Sonne: whome you so well did know,
Which may seeme strange vnto all tender Mothers,
My owne childes flesh, I should deuoure so:
Him did I beare, and carefully did feed,
And now his flesh sustaines me in my need

Yet allbeit this sweet relieuing feast,
Hath dearest beene to me that ere I made,
Yet niggardize I doe so much detest,
I thought it shame, but there should some be layde
In store for you: although the store be small,
For they are gluttons which consumeth all.

Herewith she burst into a flood of teares,
Which downe her thin pale cheekes distilled fast,
Her bleeding heart, no sobs nor sighes forbeares,
Till her weake voyce breath'd out these words at last:
O my deere Sonne, my pretty boy (quoth she)
While thou didst liue, how sweet wast thou to me?

Yet sweeter farre, a thousand times thou art,
To thy poore mother, at this instant howre,
My hungry stomake hast thou eas'd of smart,
And kept me from the bloody Tyrants power,
And they like friends doe at my table eat,
That would haue kild me for a bit of meate.

When this was said, wiping her watery eyes,
Vnto her self fresh courage then she tooke,
And all her guests she welcom'd in this wise,
Casting on them a courteous pleasant looke:
Be mery friends, I pray you doe not spare.
In all this towne, is not such noble fare.