Classic Poem

" THIS winters weather itt waxeth cold,
& ffrost itt ffreeseth on euery hill,
& Boreas blowes his blasts soe bold
tha t all our cattell are like to spill
Bell my wiffe, shee loues noe strife,
she sayd vnto my quietlye,
" rise vp, & saue Cow crumbockes liffe!
man! put thine old cloake about thee!"

" O Bell my wiffe! why dost thou fflyte?
thou kens my cloake is verry thin;
itt is soe sore ouer worne,
a cricke theron cannott runn:
Ile goe ffind the court w i thin,
Ile noe longer lend nor borrow;
Ile goe ffind tho court w i thin,
for Ile haue a new cloake about me. "

" Cow Crumbocke is a very good cowe,
shee has alwayes beene good to the pale,
shee has helpt vs to butter & cheese, I trow,
& other things shee will not fayle;
for I wold be loth to see her pine;
therfore, good husband, ffollow my councell now,
forsake the court & follow the ploughe;
man! take thine old coate about thee! "

" My cloake itt was a verry good cloake,
it hath beene alwayes good to the weare,
itt hath cost mee many a groat,
I have had itt this 44 yeere;
sometime itt was of the cloth in graine,
itt is now but a sigh clout, as you may see;
It will neither hold out winde nor raine;
& Ile haue a new kloake about mee. "

" It is 44 yeeres agoe
since the one of vs the other did ken,
& wee haue had betwixt vs both,
children either nine or ten;
wee haue brought them vp to women & men
in the feare of god I trow they bee;
& why wilt thou thy selfe misken?
man! take thine old cloake about thee! "

" O Bell my wiffe! why doest thou flyte?
now is nowe, & then was then;
seeke all the world now throughout,
thou kens not Clownes from gentlemen;
they are cladd in blacke, greene, yellow, & blew,
soe ffarr aboue their owne degree;
once in my liffe Ile take a vew,
ffor Ile haue a new cloake about mee. "

" King Harry was a verry good K[ ing ;]
I trow his hose cost but a Crowne;
he thought them 12 d ouer to deere,
therfore he called the taylor Clowne
he was King & wore the Crowne,
& thouse but of a low degree;
itts pride tha t putts this cumtrye downe;
man! put thye old Cloake about thee!

" O Bell my wiffe! why dost thou fflyte?
now is now, & then was then;
wee will liue now obedyent liffe,
thou the woman, & I the man.
itts not ffor a man w i th a woman to threape
vnlesse he ffirst giue ouer the play;
wee will liue noue as wee began,
and Ile haue mine old Cloake abaut me. "