A SONNET

Upon the Author's first seven years service.

[Perhaps addressed to his Wife.]

SEVEN times hath Janus ta'en new year by hand,
Seven times hath blustering March blown forth

his power,

To drive out April's buds, by sea and land,

For minion May to deck most trim with flower :
Seven times hath temperate Ver like pageant plaid;
And pleasant Æstas eke her flowers told;
Seven times Autumnus' heat hath been delay'd,

With Hyems' boisterous blasts and bitter cold: Seven times the thirteen moons have changed hue; Seven times the sun his course hath gone about; Seven times each bird his nest hath built anew ;Since first time you to serve I choosed out:

Still yours am

I, though thus the time hath past, And trust to be, as long as life shall last.

Good huswifely physick.

GOOD huswife provides, ere a sickness do come,
Of sundry good things in her house to have some.
Good aqua composita, and vinegar tart,
Rose-water, and treacle, to comfort thine heart.

VOL. II.

L

Cold herbs in her garden, for agues that burn,
That over-strong heat to good temper may turn.
White endive, and succory, with spinach enow;
All such with good pot-herbs, should follow the
plough.

Get water of fumitory, liver to cool,

And others the like, or else lie like a fool.
Conserves of barbary, quinces, and such,
With sirops, that easeth the sickly so much.
Ask Medicus' counsel, ere medicine ye take,
And honour that man for necessity's sake.
Though thousands hate physic, because of the cost,
Yet thousands it helpeth, that else should be lost.
Good broth, and good keeping, do much now and
than:

Good diet, with wisdom, best comforteth man.
In health, to be stirring shall profit thee best;
In sickness, hate trouble; seek quiet and rest.
Remember thy soul; let no fancy prevail;
Make ready to God-ward; let faith never quail:
The sooner thyself thou submittest to God,
The sooner he ceaseth to scourge with his rod.

UNCERTAIN AUTHORS.

The three Ravens.

A DIRGE.

THERE were three ravens sat on a tree,
Down a down, hey down, hey down,
There were three ravens sat on a tree,
With a down;

There were three ravens sat on a tree,

They were as black as they might be,

With a down, derry, derry, derry, down, down.

Down in yonder greene field:

There lies a knight slain under his shield.

His hounds they lie down at his feet,

So well they their master keep.

• Mate.

V.

His hawks they fly so eagerly,

There's no fowl dare him come nigh.

VI.

Down there comes a fallow doe,

As great with young as she might go:

VII.

She lift up his bloody head,

And kist his wounds that were so red:

VIII.

She got him upon her back

And carried him to earthen lake:

IX.

She buried him before the prime :

She was dead herself ere even-song time!

X.

God send every gentleman,

Such hawks, such hounds, and such a leman!

This elegant and pathetic little piece is taken from Mr. Ritson's volume of Ancient Songs (1792), where it is printed, together with the original music, from Ravenscroft's "Melismata.” 1611. 4to. The burthen of the first stanza is to be supplied in all the others.

YLOOP.

The perfect Trial of a faithful Friend.

[From the Paradise of Dainty Devices.]
NOT stayed state, but feeble stay;
Not costly robes, but bare array;
Not passed wealth, but present want;
Not heaped store, but slender scant; ››
Not plenty's purse, but poor estate;
Not happy hap, but froward fate;

Not wish at will, but want of joy;

Not heart's good health, but heart's annoy;
Not freedom's use, but prison's thrall;
Not costly seat, but lowest fall;

Not weal I mean, but wretched woe;

Doth truly try the friend from foe:
And nought but froward fortune proves,'

Who fawning feigns, or simply loves.

1

'Mr. Steevens supposed the real name to be Pooly, the letters, of which it is composed, being reversed, but no anecdotes of this author are known.