Classic Poem

S ITTINGE : late, my selfe alone,
to heare the birds sweete harmonye,
one sighed sore w i th many a grone,
" my wiffe will still my m aster bee! "
his sig[h]es ecclipsed bright Phebus beames,
his hart did burne like aetna hill,
his teares like Nilus fflowing streames,
his cryes did peirce the Eccho shrill.
w i th tha t I drew my eare aside
to heare him thus complaine of ill;
his greefe & mind were both a-like,
tha t ginnye his ffilly wold haue her owne will.

The K ing of Sirya mad a law,
tha t euery man w i th-in his land,
tha t he shold lordlye keepe in awe
his wiffe, & those tha t did w i th-stand.
w hi ch acte is cleane gone out of mind
of all degrees, & will be still;
pore silly husbands are soe kind,
they let their wiues haue their owne will.

When Princely Paris, pride of Troye,
had stolen away K ing Menelaus wiffe,
10 yeeres of warr was all his Ioy,
& after wards bereaued of liffe.
by this wee see tha t K ing s are tyed,
as well as subiects, to much ill;
why shold wee poore men thinke itt scorne
to let our wiues haue their owne will?

All tha t lookes blacke, diggs not ffor coles;
how shold our chymneys then be swept?
& he tha t thinkes to Iumpe ore Powles,
may once a yeare be well out leapte;
ffor vulcan wore a head of horne
when least misprision was of ill.
lett no man liuing thinke itt scorne
to let his wiffe haue her owne will!

But shee tha t liues by nille & tape,
& w i th her bagge & lucett beggs,
oft makes her husband many a scape
although shee goes in simple raggs;
ffor hungry doggs will alwayes range,
& vnsauory meate will staunch their flill;
& they tha t take delight in change
will, Nolens Volens, haue their owne will.

But he tha t goes ffrom dore to dore,
& cryes " old buskins ffor new broome; "
althoe his liuing be but poore,
another must supply his roome.
" old bootes & buskins ffor new broome!
come buy, ffaire maids, & take yo u r ffill!
there are no Cucholds made att Roome;
Pope Ione hath sett itt downe by will. "

The Carman whistles vp & downe;
another cryes " will you buy any blacke? "
the cuntryman is held a clowne,
when better men haue greater lacke.
thus whiles they cards are shuffled about,
the knaue will in the decke lye still;
& if all secretts were found out,
I doubt a number wold want their will.