1

MISCELLANIES

IN

VERSE.

CC4

THE

HAPPY LIFE

OF A

COUNTRY PARSON.

IN IMITATION OF MARTIAL.

PARSON, these things in thy possessing

Are better than the bishop's blessing:
A wife that makes conserves; a steed
That carries double when there's need;
October store, and best Virginia,
Tithe pig, and mortuary guinea ;
Gazettes sent gratis down, and frank'd,
For which thy patron's weekly thank'd;
A large Concordance, bound long since;
Sermons to Charles the First, when prince;
A chronicle of ancient standing;
A Chrysostom, to smooth thy band in;
The Polyglot, -three parts, my text-
Howbeit-likewise-now to my next-
Lo here the Septuagint, - and Paul, -
To sum the whole, -the close of all.

He that has these, may pass his life,
Drink with the 'squire, and kiss his wife;
On Sundays preach, and eat his fill;
And fast on Fridays, if he will;

Toast church and queen, explain the news,
Talk with churchwardens about pews,

Pray heartily for some new gift,

And shake his head at doctor Swift.

A TALE A TALE OF CHAUCER.

LATELY FOUND IN AN OLD MANUSCRIPT.

WOMEN, though nat sans leacherie,
Ne swinken but with secrecie :
This in our tale is plain y-fond,
Of clerk that wonneth in Irelond;
Which to the fennes hath him betake
To filch the gray ducke fro the lake.
Right then there passen by the way
His aunt, and eke her daughters tway:
Ducke in his trowzes hath he hent,
Not to be spied of ladies gent.
"But ho! our nephew (crieth one)
"Ho: (quoth another) couzen John;"
And stoppen, and lough, and callen out,-
This sely clerk full low doth lout.
They asken that and talken this,
"Lo here is coz, and here is miss."
But, as he gloz'd with speeches soote,
The ducke sore tickleth his erse roote:
Forepiece and buttons all to-brest,
Forth thrust a white neck and red crest.
"Te-he," cried ladies; clerke nought spake;
Miss star'd; and gray ducke crieth "quaake."
"O moder, moder (quoth the daughter)
"Be thilke same thing maids longen a'ter ?
"Bette is to pyne on coals and chalke,
" Then trust on mon, whose yerde can talke."

THE