My first day's walk was to the court,
Where beauty fed mine eyes,
Yet found I that the courtly sport,
Did mask in sly disguise.

For falsehood sat in fairest looks,
And friend to friend was coy,
Court-favour fill'd but empty rooks,
And there I found no joy.

Desert went naked in the cold,

When crouching craft was fed, Sweet words were cheaply bought and sold, But none that stood in stead.

We was employed for each man's own,
Pain-rearing came too short,

All these devices seen and known,

Made me desile the court..

Unto the city next I went,
In hope of better hap.
Where liberally I lunch. E and spent,
As set on fortune's lap..

The little stock I had in store

Methought would ne'er be done,

ads flocked about me more and more,

ickly lost as won.

For when I spent, then they were kind, But when my purse did fail,

The foremost man came last behind,

Thus love with wealth doth quail.

Once more for footing yet I strove,
Although the world did frown,
But they before that held me up,
- Together trod me down.

And lest once more I should arise,
They sought my quite decay,

Then got I into this disguise,
And thence I stole away.

And in my mind (methought) I said,
Lord bless me from the city,
Where simpleness is thus betray'd,
Without remorse or pity.

Yet would I not give over so,
But once more try my fate,

And to the country then I go,
To live in quiet state.

There did appear no subtile shows,

But yea and nay went smoothly, But, Lord, how country folks can gloze, When they speak most untruly!

More craft was in a buttonn'd cap,
And in an old wife's rail,
Than in my life it was my hap
To see on down or dale.

There was no open forgery,
But under-handed gleaning,
Which they call country policy,
But hath a worser meaning.

Some good bold face bears out the wrong, Because he gains thereby,

The poor man's back is cracked ere long, Yet there he lets him lie.

And no degree among them all,
But had such close intending,

That I upon my knees did fall,

And prayed for their amending.

Back to the woods I got again,
In mind perplexed sore,
Where I found ease of all my pain,
And mean to stray no more.

There, city, court, nor country too,
Can any way annoy me,

But as a woodman ought to do,
I freely may employ me.

There live I quietly alone,

And none to trip my talk,

Wherefore when I am dead and gone,
Think on the woodman's walk.

LXXXIII.

"Jacke Dove's Resolution, by which he doth shew, That he cares not a rush how ere the world goe."

To the tune of To drive the cold Winter away.

To all my good friends, these presents I send,

Yet neither to beg nor to crave,

For though some have store, and I am but poor,
I'm content with that little I have

And I'll ne'er for my want turn sycophant,
(Though many there be that do so,)
But I'll honest be, love them that love me,
And care not how ere the world go.

And though fortune frown, I'll not cast myself down,
But mildly bear what doth fall,

Care will make me but worse, and ne'er fill my purse,
But the day will come may mend all,
Then 'tis but a folly, for that to be sorry,
Which must whether I will or no,

But impatience in rest, then I'll hope for the best,
And care not how ere the world go.

For why should a man care, or drown in despair,
Though his fortunes be ne'er so unkind,
Why should I be sad, for what I ne'er had,
Or foolishly trouble my mind,

And I do hate to pine at my fate,

There's none but fools will do so,

I'll laugh and be fat, for care kills a cat,
And I care not how ere the world go.

To sigh and to wail, what will it prevail,

Or any whit better my fare,

When a little good mirth, 'mongst friends is more worth, And better than a great deal of care;

Then I'll cheer up myself, for content is great wealth,
Let sighing and sorrowing go,

I'll laugh and be merry, with a cup of old sherry,
And care not how ere the world go.