14
THE MERIE BALLAD
NASHES DILDO
It was the merry moneth of February,
when younge men in their brauery
Rose in the morning, before breake of daye,
to seeke their valentynes soe fresh and gaye.
With whome they maye consorte in Somers shene,
and daunce the high degree in our towne greene:
And allso at Ester, and at Penticost,
preambulate the fieldes that florish most:
And goe into some village bordering neere,
to tast the Cakes & creame and such good cheere,
To see a playe of strange morality,
showen by the bachelours of magnaminity,
Whither our Country Franklins flockmeale swarme,
and John and Joane come marching arme in arme.
Even on the Hallowes of that blessed Sainct,
that doth true lovers with those ioyes acquaint,
I went, poore pilgrime, to my Ladyes shrine,
to see if shee would be my valentyne.
[? woe]But out, alas, she was not to be found,
for she was shifted to another ground:
Good Justice Dudgeon, with his crabbed face,
with bills and staues had scard her from that place:
And she poore wench, compeld for sanctuary
to fly into a house of Venery.
Thither went I, and bouldly made inquire
if they had hackneys to lett out to hire,
And what they craud by order of their trade,
when younge men in their brauery
Rose in the morning, before breake of daye,
to seeke their valentynes soe fresh and gaye.
With whome they maye consorte in Somers shene,
and daunce the high degree in our towne greene:
And allso at Ester, and at Penticost,
preambulate the fieldes that florish most:
And goe into some village bordering neere,
to tast the Cakes & creame and such good cheere,
To see a playe of strange morality,
showen by the bachelours of magnaminity,
Whither our Country Franklins flockmeale swarme,
and John and Joane come marching arme in arme.
Even on the Hallowes of that blessed Sainct,
that doth true lovers with those ioyes acquaint,
I went, poore pilgrime, to my Ladyes shrine,
to see if shee would be my valentyne.
[? woe]But out, alas, she was not to be found,
for she was shifted to another ground:
Good Justice Dudgeon, with his crabbed face,
with bills and staues had scard her from that place:
And she poore wench, compeld for sanctuary
to fly into a house of Venery.
Thither went I, and bouldly made inquire
if they had hackneys to lett out to hire,
And what they craud by order of their trade,
