The cherry and the slae, with other poems

•

m^mmmmtm

PR

• i ,-.

THE

WORKS

OF CAPTAIN

ALEXANDER MOUNTGOMERY,

THE

CHERRY

AND THE

S L A E,

WITH OTHER

POEMS.

BY CAPTAIN

ALEXANDER MOUNTGOMERY.

GLASGOW,

B1IMTID AND SOLD BY ROBERT AND ANDREA fOVLXf
M DCC LI,

3 H T

a i

THE

CHERRY

: j ' . ;J'3 '• I / ' -'',-.$

AND THE

(i, J *_' v ^

: S L A E

ABOUT A BANK Wi TH BALMY BEWS,

Where nightingales their notes renews

With gallant goldfpinks gay,

The mavis, merle, and Progne proud,

The lint white, lark, and laverock loud,

Saluted mirthful May.

When Philomel had fweetly fung,

To Progne (lie deplored ;

How Tereus cut out her tongue,

Andfainyherdeflo'red.

Which ftory, fo fory,

To fhewafharn'd fhefeem'd;

To hear her, fo near her,

I doubted if I dream'd.

A

2 THE CHERRY AND

THE cufbat crouds, the corbie cryes,

The cucko cucks, the pratling pyes

To geek her they begin:

The jargoun, or the jangling jay es,

The cracking craws, the keckling

They deav'd me with their din. [kayes,

The painted pown, with Argos eyes

Can on his mayock call,

The turtle wails on withered tree;

And echo anfwer'd all,

Repeating, with greeting,

How fair Narciflus fell,

By lying, and fpying

His fhadow in the well.

I SAW the hurcheon and the hare,

In hidlings, hirpling here and there,

To make their morning mange:

The con, the coney, and the car,

Whofe dainty downs with dew were

With ftiiFmuftachoes, ftrange! [wat,

THESLAE. 3

The hart, the hynd, the dae, the rae,
The fulmart and falfe fox;
The bearded buck clamb up the brae
With birfie bears and brocks:
Some feeding, fome dreading,
The hunter's fubtile fnares,
With fkipping, and tripping,
They plaid them all in pairs.
THE air wasfober, foft and fweet,
But mifty vapours, wind and weet ;
But quiet, calm and clear;
To fofter Flora's fragrant flow'rs;
Whereon Apollo's paramours
HadtrickTd many a tear;
The which like filver- fliakers fhin'd,
Embroid'ring beauty's bed:
Wherewith their heavy heads declin'd
All in May's colours cled;
Some knopping, fome dropping
Of balmy liquor fweet:
Az

4 THE CHERRY AND

Excelling in fmelling,

Through Phoebus wholfome heat.

METHOUGHT an heav'nlv heartfome

»/

thing,

Where dew like diamonds did hing,
O'er twinkling all the trees,
To ftndy on the flouriih'd twills,
Admiring nature's alchymifts,
Laborious bufy bees.
Whereof fome fweeteft honey fought,
To flay their lives to flarve;
And fome the waxie veflels wrought,
Their purcbafs to preferve:
So heaping, for keeping,
It in their hives they hide:
Precifelie,and wifelie,
For winter they provide.
TO pen the pleafures of that park,
How ev'ry blolfom, branch and bark,
Againil the fun did ihin?

THE SLA E. 5

I pafs to poets to compile

In high, heroick, (lately ftile,

Whofe mufe furmatches mine.

But as I looked me alone,

I faw a river rin,

Out o'er a fteepy rock of ftone,

Syne lighted in a lin ;

With tumbling, and rumbling,

Among the roches round,

Devalling, and falling

Into a pit profound.

THROUGH routing of the river rang

The roches founding like a fang;

Where defcant did abound,

With treble, tenor, counter, meen:

An echo blew a baffe between,

In diapafon found.

Set with the c-fol-fa-uth clief,

With large and long at lift,

With quiver, crotchet, femibrief,

6 THE CHERRY AND

And not a minim mift;

Compleatlie, more fweetlie,

She fir'd down flat and fharp,

Than mufeSj which ttfes

To pin Apollo's harp.

WHO woii'd have tir'd to hear tli&t time

Which birds corrob'rate ay abune,

With lays of lovefome larks?

Which climb fo high in chriftal ikies,

While Cupid wak'ned with the cries

Of nature's chappel clarks:

Who leaving all the heav'ns above,

Alighted on the card.

Lo, how that little lord of love

Before me there appeared

So mild-like, and child-like,

With bow three quarters fkant,

Syne moyly and coyly,

He looked like a faint!

T H E S L A E. 7

A CLEANL v crifp hang o'er his eyes,

His quiver by his naked thighs,

Hang in a filver lace

Of gold, between his fhoulders grew

Two pretty wings, wherewith he flew,

On his left arm a brace.

This god foon off his gear he fhook

Upon the graffie ground,

I ran as lightly for to look,

Where ferlies might be found;

Amazed, I gazed

To fee his geer fo gay,

Perceiving mine having,

He counted me his prey.

HIS youth and ftature made me flout,

Of doublenefs I had no doubt;

But bourded with my boy.

Quoth I, how call they thee, my child?

Cupido, Sir, (quoth he) and fmil'd,

Pleafe ou

8 THE CHERRY AND

For I can ferve you in your fuit,

If you pleafe to impyre,

With wings to flee, and fliafts to fhoot,

Or flames to fet on fire.

Make choife then, of thofe then,

Or of a thoufand things,

But crave them, and have them;

With that I woo'd his wings. [he,

WHAT would you give, my heart, quoth

To have thefe wanton wings to flee,

To fport thy fp'rit a while?

Or, what if love fhould lend thee here,

Bow, quiver, ihafts, and (hooting-gear,

Some body to beguile?

This geer, (quoth I) cannot be bought,

Yet would I have it fain.

What if (quoth he) itcoft thee nought,

But rendringall again?

His wings then, he brings then,

And band them on my back:

THE SLAE. 9

Go flee now, quoth he now,
And fo my leave I take.
I SPRANG up with Cupido's wings,
Whofe (hoots and fhooting-gear refigns
To lend me for a day.
As Icarus with borrowed flight,
I mounted higher than I might,
O'er perillous a play:
Firft forth I drew the double dart,
Which fometimes (hot his mother,
Wherewith I hurt my wanton heart,
In hope to hurt another;
It hurt me, or burnt me,
While either end I handle:
Come fee now, in me now,
The butterflee and candle.
AS fhe delights into the low;
So was I browden of my bow,
As ignorant as fhe;
And as (he flies, while fhe is fir'd,
B

tO THE CHERRY AND

So with the dart that I defir'd,

Mine hands have hurt me too^

As foolifli Phaeton by fuit,

His father's chair obtain'd ;

I longed in love's bow to fhoot,

Not marking what it mean'd>

More wilful, than fkilful,

To flee I was fo fond,

Defiring, impyring,

And fo wasfeen upon't.

TOO late I knew, who hews too hie,

The fpail fhall fall into his eye,

Too late I went to fchools,

Too late I heard the fwallow preachy

Too late experience doth teach

The fchool-mafter of fools.

Too late I find the neft I feek>

When all the birds are flown:

Too late the ftable door I fteekr

When as the fteed is ftowa;

THE SLAE. II

Too late ay, their ftate ay,

As foolifli folk efpy,

Behind fo, they find fo,

Remeed, and fo do I.

IF I had ripely been advis'd,

I had not rafhly enterpriz'd

To foar with borrowed pens,

Nor yet had fey'd the archer-craft,

To (hoot my felf with fuch a (haft,

As reafon quite milkens.

Fra wilfulnefs gave me my wound,

I had no force to flee:

Then came I groaning to the ground.

Friend, welcome home, quoth he,

When flew ye, whom flew ye,

Or who brings home the booting?

I fee now, quoth he now,

You have been at the fhooting.

AS fcorn comes commonly with Ikaitb,

So I behov'd to bide them baith ;

B2

12 THE CHERRY AND

So ftagg'ring was my ftate,
That under cure I got fuch check,
Which I might not remove nor neck,
But either ftaile or maire:
Mine agony was fo extream,
Ifvveit and fwoon'd for fear.
But ere I waken 'd of my dream,
He fpoil'd me of my gear,
With flight then, on height then,
Sprang Cupid in the ikies,
Forgetting, and fetting,
At nought my careful cries,
so long with fight I followed him,
While both my dazled eyes grew dim,
Through flaring on theftarns;
Which flew fo thick before myeen,
Some red, fome yellow,blewand green,
Which troubled all mine hams,
That ev'ry thing appeared two
To my parboiled brain,

THE SLAE. 1 3

But long might I ly looking fo,

Ere Cupid cam again:

Whofe thund'ring, with woncPring,

I heard up through the air:

Through clouds fo, he thuds fo,

And flew I wift not where.

THEN when I faw that god was gone,

And in a languor left alone,

And fore tormented too,

Sometime I figh'd, while I was fad,

Sometime I mus'd, and moft gone mad,

I doubted what to do :

Sometime I rav'd half in a rage,

As one into defpair :

To be oppreft with fuch a page,

Lord, if my heart was fair !

Like Dido, Cupido,

I widdle, and I warie,

Who reft me, and left me,

Jn fuch a feirie-farie.

44 THE CHERRY AND

THEN felt I Courage and Defirei

Inflame my heart with uncouth fire,

To me before unknown : *

But then no blood in me remains, *•

Unburnt or boild within my veins,

By Love his bellows blown,

To drown it ere I was devoured,

With fighs I went about;

But ay the morelfchupe tofmoor't,

The bolder it brake out ;

Ay preffing, but ceafing,

While it might brake the bounds,

Mine hew fo, forth fhew fo,

The dolour of my wounds.

WITH deadly vifage, pale and wan,

More like anatomy than man,

I withered clean away.

As wax before the fire, I felt

Mine heart within my bofom melt,

And piece and piece decay;

TH E SLAE. 15

My veins by brangling like to break,

My pulfes lap with pith:

So fervency did me infeft,

That I was vex'd therewith;

Mine heart ay, it ftart ay,

The fiery flames to flee:

Ay houping, through louping,

To leap at Liberty.

BUT (O alas!) it was abus'd,

My careful corps kept it inclus'd

In prifon of my breaft,

With fighs fo fopite and o'er-fet,

Like to a fifli faft in a net,

In dead-thraw undeceaft:

Which though (in vain) fhe ftrives by

For to pull out her head, [ftrength

Which profits nothing at the length,

But hailing to her dead ;

With thrifting, and wrifting,

The fafter ftill is fhe: ilT

t6 THE CHERRY AM)

There Ifo, did lyfo,
My death advancing to.
THE more I wreftled with the wind,
The fafter ftill my felf I find,
No mirth my mind could meafe,
More noy than I, had never none,
I was fo alter'd and o'ergone,
Through drought of my difeafer
Yet weakly, as I might, I raife,
My fight grew dim and dark,
I ftagg'red at the windleftraes,
No token I was ftark;
Both fightlefs and mightlefs ;
I grew almoft at once:
In anguifh, I languifh,
With many griveous groans.
WITH fober pace yet I approach,
Hard to the river and the roch,
Whereof I fpake before:
The river fuch a murmur made,

"7
'.I J

THE S LAE. 17

As to the fea it fofcly flade, ^n/
The craig was ftay and Ihore.
Then Pleafure did me fo provoke,
There partly to repair;
Betwixt the river and the rock,
Where Hope grew with Defpair:
A tree then, I fee then,
Of Cherries on the braes;
Below too, I fa w too,
Abulh of bitter Slaes.
THE Cherries hang about my head,
Like trickling rubies round and red,
So high up in the heugh ;
Whofe fhadows in the river fhew
Their fhape as graithly as they grew,
On trembling twifts and teugh:
Whiles bow'd through burden of the
Declining down their tops; [birthj
Reflex of Phoebus off the Firth

Now colcrur'd all their knops.
C

\9 THE C'HERRY AND

With dancing and glancing,
In trile as dornick champ,
Which fbeamed and learned,
Through lightnefs of that lamp.
WITH earned eye, while I efpy
That fruit between me and the fky,
Half gate almoft to heaven,
The craig fo cumberfome to dim,
The tree fo tall of growth and trim,'
As any arrow even;
I caJfrd to mirid, how Daphne did
Within the lawrel fhrink;
When from Apollo fhe her hid,
A thoufand times I think:
Tliat tree there, to me there,
As he his lawrel thought,
Afpiring, but tyring,
To get the fruit I fought.
TO climb that craig it was no buity
Let be to prefs to pull the fruit,

CT THE SLAEUT I?

la top of all the tree: Bri:

I knew no way whereby to come^ j/jfi

By any craft to get it clura,

Appearautly to me.

The craig was ugly, ftay and dreigh,

The tree long, found and.fmall,

I was afraid to climb fo high,

For fear to fetch a fall;

Afrayed, I ftayed,

And looked up aloft,

Whiles minting, whiles dinting,

My pnrpofe changed oft.

THEN Dread, with Danger, and Defpair

Forbade me minting any mair

To rax above my reach.

What? tufh? (quoth Courage) man, go

He is but daft that hath to do, [to>

And fpares for ev'ry fpeech ;

For I have oft heard footh men fay,

And we may fee't our fels,

C 2

20 THE CHERRY AND

That fortune helps the hardy ay,

But pultrons ay repels;

Then fpare not, and fear not

Dread, Danger, nor Defpair,

To fazards, hard hazards

Is death ere they come there.

WHO fpeeds, but fuch as high afpires?

Who triumphs not, but fuch as tires

To win a noble name?

Of flirinking what but fhamefucceeds;

Then do as thou would have thy deeds

In regifter of fame.

I put the cafe, thou not prevail'd,

So thou with honour die,

Thy life, but not thy courage fail'd,

Shall poets pen of thee:

Thy name then, from fame then,

Can never be cut aff.

Thy grave ay, fhall have ay,

That honeft epitafE

THE SLAB. 21

WHAT canft thou lofe, when honour

Renown thy virtue ay revives, [lives ?

If valiantly thou end.

Quoth Danger, huly, friend, take heed,

Untimous fpurring fpills the deed,

Take tent what ye pretend:

Though Courage counfel thee to dim,

Be war thou kep no fkaith,

Have thou none help but Hope and

They may beguile thee baith. [him.

Thy fell now, can tell now,

The counfel of thefe clarks;

Wherethrow yet, I trow yet,

Thy breaft doth bear the marks.

BURNT bairns with fire the danger

So I believe thy bofom bleeds, [dreads,

Since laft that fire thou felt:

Befides that, feindle times thou fees,

That ever Courage keeps the keys

Of Knowledge at his belt.

2Z THE CHERRY AND

Though he bid foreward with the guns.

Small powder he provides:

Be not a novice of that nuns.

Who faw not both the fides.

Fools hafte ay, almaift ay,

O'erfyles the fight of fome;

Who luiks not, who huiks not

What afterwards may come.

YET Wifdom wiiheth thee to weigh

This figure in philofophie,

A leflbn worth the lear;

Which is in time for to take tent,

And not, when time is paft, repent,

And buy repentance dear ;

Is there none honour after life

Except thou flay thy fell ?

Wherefore hath Atropos that knife?

I trow thou canft not tell.

Who but it, would cut it,

Which Clotho fcarce hath fpun,

T H E S L A E. 23

Deftroying, the joying,

Before it be begun?

ALL o'ers are repute to be vice.

O'er high, o'er low, o'er rafli, o'er nice,

O'er hot, or yet o'er cold ;

Thou feems unconftantby thy figns,

Thy thoughts are on a thoufand things,

Thou wots not what thou would.

Let Fame her pity on theepour,

When all thy bones are broken:

Yon Slae, fuppofe thou think it four,

Would fatisfy to flocken

Thy drought now of youth now,

Which dries thee with delire:

Affwage then thy rage then;

Foul water quenches fire.

WHAT fool art thou to die a-thirft,

And now may quench it if thou lift,

So eafily but pain?

More honour is to vanquifh ane

14 THE CHERRY AND

Than fight with tenfome and be tane,

And either hurt or flain.

The pra&ick is to bring to pafs,

And not to enterprife:

And as good drinking out of glafs,

As gold in any wife.

I lever, have ever

A foul in hand or tway,

Than feeing ten flying

About me all the day. [loup,

LOOK where thou light before thou

And flip no Certainty for Houp,

Who guides thee but be guefs.

Quoth Courage, cowards take no cure

To fit with ihame, fo they be fure:

I like them all the lefs.

What pleafure purchaft is but pain,

Or honour won with eafe?

He will not ly where he is flain,

Who doubts before he dies:

THE SLAB. 25

For fear then, I hear then>
But only one remeed,
Which late is, and that is,
For to cut off the head.
WHAT is the way to heal thy hurt?
What way is there to flay thy Hurt?
What mean to make thee merry?
What is the comforts that thou craves?
Suppofe thefe fophifts thee deceives,
Thou knows it is the Cherry;
Since for it only thou but thrifts,
The Slae can be no bait:
In it alfo thine health confifts,
And in no other fruit.
Why quakes thou, and fhakes thou,
Or ftudies at our ftrife?
Ad vife thee, it lies thee,
On no lefs than thy life.
IF any patient would be panc'd, ^
Why (liquid he leap when he is lanc'd,
D

26 THE CHERRY AMD

Or (brink when he is fhorn ?
For I have heard chirurgeons fay,
Oft times deferring of a day
Might not be mend the morn.
Take time in time, ere time be tint,
For time will not remain ;
Whatforceth fire out of the flint,
But as hard match again?
Delay not, nor fray not,
And thou fhalt fee it fae:
Such gets ay, whofets ay
Stout ftomacks to the brae.
THOUGH all beginnings be moft hard,
The end is pleafant afterward,
Then fhrink not for no fhower
When once that thou thy greening get.
Thy pain and travel is forget*
The fweet exceeds the'fowre:
Go then quickly, fear not thir,
For Hope good hap hath height* v ,

THE SLAB. 27

Quoth Danger, be not hidden, fir,
The patter is of weight.
Firft fpy both, then try both,
Advifement doth none ill:
Thou may then, I fay then,
Be wilful, when thou will.
BUT yet to mind the proverb call,
Who ufes perils, perifh (hall,
Short while their life them lafts.
And I have heard (quoth Hope) that he
Should never ihape to fail the fea,
That for all perils cafts,
How many through defpair are dead,
That never perils priev'd?
How many alfo, if thou read,
Of lives have we relieved?
Who being, even dying,
But Danger, but defpair'd,
A bunder, I wonder,
But thou haft heard declar'd,

28 THfi CHERRY AND

IF we two hold not up thine

Which is the chief and nobleft part,

Thy works will not go well:

Confidering thefe companions can

DilTvvade a filly fimple man,

To hazard for his heal.

Suppofe they have deceived fome,

Ere we and they might meet,

They get no credence where we come,

In any man of fp'ric.

By reafon, their treafon

By us is plainly fpy'd:

Revealing their dealing,

Which dow not be deny 'd.

WITH fleekie fophifms feeming fweet,

As all their doings were difcreet,

They wifh thee to be wife;

Postponing time from hour to hour?

But faith, its underneath the ftow'r

The lurking ferpent lyes?

THE SLAB. 29

Suppofe thou feeft her not a ftiffie,

While that fhe fting thy foot,

Perceives thou not what precious tirtwJ

Thy fleuth doth overfhoot*

Alas man, thy cafe man,

In lingring I lament !

(Jo to now, and do now,

That Courage be content,

WHAT if Melancholy come Id*

And get a grip ere thou begift?

Then is thy labour loftj

For he will hold thee hard and faft,

Till time, and place, and fruit be paftj

And thou give up the ghoft:

Then fhall be grav'n upon that place,

Which on thy tpmb is laid,

Sometime there liv'd fuch one, alace !

But how fhall it be faid ?

Here lyes now, but praife now,

Into difhonour's bed,

JO THE CHERRY AND

Acowart, as thou art,

Who from his fortune fled.

IMAGINE man, if thou were laid

In grave; and fyne might hear this {aid ;

Would thou not fweat for fhame ?

Yes, faith, I doubt not but thou would ;

Therefore, if thou have eyes, behold

How they would fmore thy fame.

Go to, and make no more excufe,

Ere life and honour lofe;

And either them or us refufe,

There is no other chofe:

Confider, together

That we do never dwell,

At length ay, by ftrength ay,

The pultrons we expel.

QUOTH Danger, fmce I underftand,

That counfel can be no command,

I have no more to fay ;

Except, if that ye think it good,

T H E S L A E. 31

Take cotmfel yet, ere ye conclude,

Of wifer men than they;

They are but racklefs, young and rafh,

Suppofe they think us fliet,

If of ourfellowfhipye fafli,

Go with them hardly be it.

God fpeed you, they lead you

Who have not mickle wit;

Expel us, ye'll tell us

Hereafter comes not yet.

WHILE Danger and Defpair retir'd,

Experience came in and fpeir'd,

What all the matter mean'd?

With him came Reafon, Wit and Skill:

Then they began to alk at Will,

Where make you to, my friend?

To pluck yon lufty Cherrie lo,

Quoth he, and quite the Slae.

Quoth they, is there no more ado,' •

Ere ye win up the brae:

3X THE CHERRY AND

But do it, and to it,

Perforce your fruit to pluck ?

Well, brother, fome other

Were better to conduct.

WE grant, ye may be good enough,

But yet the hazard of yon heugh

Requires a greater guide:

As wife as ye are may go wrang,

Therefore take counfel, ere ye gang,

Of fome that ftands befide.

But who were yon three, ye forbade,

Your company right now ?

Qpoth Will, three preachers> to per-

The poifon'd Slae to pow. [fwade,

They traded, and pratled

A long half hour and mair,

Foul fall them, they call them,

Dread, Danger, and Defpair.

THEV are morefafhious than of feck,

Yon fazards durft not, for their neck,

TH E SLAE. 33

Climb up the craig with us*
Frae we determined to die,
Or then to climb the Cherrie tree,
They bode about the bufh.
They are condition'd like the cat,
They would not weet their feet:
But yet if any filh they gat,
They would be apt to eat.
Though they now, I fay now,
To hazard have no heart:
Yet luck we, or pluck we
The fruit, they would have part.
BUT when we get our voyage won,
They fhallnot then a Cherry cun,
Who would not enterprife.
Well, quoth Experience, ye boaft:
But he, who reck'ned but his hoaft,
Of-times has counted twife.
Ye fell the boar's ildn on his back,
But bide while ye it get:
E

34 THE CHERRY AND

When ye have done, it's time to crack,

Ye fifh before the net.

With hade, fir, ye tafte, fir,

The Cherry ere ye pow it:

Beware, fir, ye are, fir,

More talkative than trow it.

Call Danger back again (quoth Skill)

To fee what he can fay to Will ;

We fee him fhod fo ftrait,

We may not trow what each one tells.

Quoth Courage, we concluded els,

He ferves not for our mait,

For I can tell you all perquiere,

His counfel ere he come.

Quoth Hope, whereto fhould he come

He cannot hold him dum; [here?

He fpeaks ay, and feeks ay

Delay of time and drifts,

To grieve us, and deiveus,

With fophiflry and Jhifts.

THE SLAE. 35

QUOTH Reafon, why was he debar'd?
The tale is ill, cannot be heard;
Yet let us hear him anes.
Then Danger to declare began,
How Hope and Courage took the man,
To lead him all their lades:
How they would have him up the hill,
But either flop or flay;
And who was welcomer than Will,
He would be foremofl ay.
He could do, and Ihould do,
Who ever would or dought,
Such fpeeding, proceeding
Unlikely was I thought.
THEREFORE I wifht him to beware,
And rafhly not to run o'er far.
Without fuch guides as ye.
Quoth Courage, friend, I hear you fail,
Take better tent unto your tale,
Ye faid it could not be;
Ez

36 THE CHERRY AND

Befides that, he would not coiifent,

That ever we fliould climb.

Quoth Will, for my part, I repent,

We faw them more than him:

For they are the (layer

Of us as well as he;

I think now, they flirink now,

Go forward, let thetn be,

GO, go, we do nothing but gucks>

They fay, the voyage never lucks,

Where each one hath a vote.

Quoth Wifdom gravely, fir, I grant,

We were no worfe your vote to want,

Some fentence now I note;

Suppofe you fpeak it but be guefs,

Some fruit therein I find,

Ye would be foremoft I confefs,

But comes oft-times behind.

It may be, that they be

Deceived, that never doubted:

THE SLAE* 37

Indeed fir, that head, fir,

Hath mickle wit about it.

THEN wilful Will began to rage,

And fwore, he faw nothing in age,

But anger, ire, and grudge:

And for my felf (quoth he) I fwear

To quite all my companions here,

If they admit you judge.

Experience is grown fo old,

That he begins to rave.

The reft, but Courage, are fo cold,

No hazarding they have:

For Danger, far ftranger

Hath made them than they were.

Go frae them, we pray them,

Who neither dow nor dare.

WHY may not we three lead this one?

I led an hundred mine alone,

But counfel of them all.

I grant (quoth Wifdom) ye have led,

38 THE CHERRY AND

But I would fpeir how many Iped ,

Or furthered but a fall?

But either few, or none I trow,

Experience can tell.

He fays, that man may wite but you,

Thefirft time that he fell;

He kens then, whofepen then

Thou borrowed him to flie:

His wounds yet, with ftounds yet,

He got them then through thee.

THAT (quoth Experience) is true,

Will flatter'd him, when firft he flew,

Will fet him in a low,

Will was his counfel and convoy,

Will borrowed from the blinded boy,

Both quiver, wings, and bow:

Wherewith before he fey'd to flioot,

He'd neither yield to youth.

Nor yet had need of any fruit

To quench his deadly drouth ;

THE SLAB. 39

Which pines him, and dwineshim

To death, I wot not how :

If Will then, did ill then,

Himfelf remembers now.

For I Experience was there,

(Likeas I ufe to be all where)

What time he wy ted Will,

To be the ground of all his grief;

As I my felf can be a prief,

And witnefs thereuntil :

There are no bounds but I have been,

Nor hidlings from me hid,

Nor fecret things but I have feen,

That he or any did.

Therefore now, no more now

Let him think to conceal't:

For why now ? ev'n I now iV i

Am debt-bound to reveal' t.

MY cuilom is for to declare

The truth, and neither eek nor pare,

40 THE CHERRY AND

For any man, a jot.
If wilful Will delights in lies,
Example in thy felf thou fees,
How he can turn his coat ;
And with his language would allure
Thee yet to brake thy bones:
Thou knows thy felf, if he be fure,
Thou us'd his counfel once;
Who would yet, be bold yet,
To wreck thee, were not we.
Think on now, on yon now,
(Quoth Wifdom then to me.)
WELL(quoth Experience) if he
Submits himfelf to you and me,
I wot what I fhould fay.
Our good advice he fhall not want,
Providing always that he grant
To put yon Will away;
And banifh both him and Ddpair,
That all good purpofe fpills:

TH E S L A-E. 41

So you will mell with them no mair,

Let them two flyte their fills.

Such toffingjbut loffing,

All honeft men may ufe;

That change now, were ftrange now,

Quoth Reafon, to refufe.

QUOTH Will, fy on him, when he flew,

That pow'd not Cherries then a new,

For to have ftay'd his fturt. [blame,

Quoth Reafon, though he bear the

He never faw nor needed them,

While he himfelf had hurt.

Firft, when he mifter'd not, he might;

He needs, and may not, now:

*

Thy folly, when he had his flight,
Empafhedhim to pow.
But he now, and we now
Perceive thy purpofe plain,
To turn him, and burn him,
And blow on him again. .
F

42 THE CHERRY AND

QUOTH Skill, what would you longer
Far better late than never thrive, [ftrive?
Come let us help him yet:
Tint time we may not getagain,
We wafle but prefent time in vain.
Beware with that, quoth Wit,
Speak on, Experience, let's iee,
We think, ye hold you dumb.
Of by gones I have heard, quoth he,
I know not things to come.
Quoth Reafon, the feafon,
With flouthing, flides away:
Firft take him, and make him,
A man if that you may.
QUOTH Will, if he be not a man,
I pray you, firs, what is he than?
He looks like one at leaft.
Quoth Reafon, if he follow thee,
And mind not to remain with me.
Nought but a brutal beaft:

THE SLAB. 43

A man, in fhape, doth not confift,
For all your ranting tales;
Therefore, fir Will, I would ye wift
Your metapbyfick fails:
Go lear yet, a year yet,
Your logick at the fchools ;-
Some day then, you may then
Pafs mafter with the mools.
(QUOTH Will)Imarvel, what you mean,
Should I not trow my own two een,
For all your logick-fchools?
If I did not, I were not wife.
(Quoth Reafon) I have told you thrife,
None fairlies more than fools:
There be more fenfes than the fight,
Which ye o'er-hale for hafte,
To wit, if ye remember right,
Smell, hearing, touch andtafte:
All quick things, have fick things,
I mean both man and beaft;

44 THE CHERRY AND

By kind ay, we find ay,

Few lacks them at the leaft.

so by that confequence of thine,

Or fyllogifm faid like a fwine,

A cow may learn thee lear:

Thou ufes only but the eyes,

She touches, taftes, fmells, hears, and

Which matches thee and mair. [fees,

But fince to triumph ye intend,

As prefently appears,

Sir, for your clergy to be kend.

Take ye two afs's ears.

No myter, perfyter,

Got Midas for his meed 2

That hood, fir, is good, fir,

To hap your brain- fick head.

YE have no feel for to define,

Though ye have cunning to decline

A man to be a mool.

With little work yet ye may vow'd,

a/: THE SLAE. 45

To grow a gallant horfe and good, -
To ride thereon "atyobL^Bsjdf/i
But to our ground where he began;
For all y our guftlefs jells,
I rnuftbe mailer of the man,
But thou to brutal beafls.
So we two, muft be two
To eaufeboth kinds be known:1"
Keep thine then, for mine then,
And each one ule their own.
THEN Will, as angry as an ape,
Ran ramping, fwearing, rude and rape,
Saw he none other ihift,
He would not want an inch ofs will,
E v'n whether't did him good or ill,
For thirty of his thrift:
He would be foremoft in the field^ bn /
And mailer if he might;
Yea, he would rather die than yield,
Though Reafon had the righp:«; -;r;c

46 THE CHERRY AND

Shall he now, make me now, ,7

His fubjeft, or his flave?

No rather, my father

Shall quick go to his grave.

I HEIGHT him, while mine heart is heal,

To perifh firft ere he prevail,

Come after what fo may.

Quoth Reafon, doubt you not indeed,

Ye hit the nail upon the head,

It fhall be as ye fay.

Suppofe ye fpur for to afpire,

Your bridle wants a bit:

That mare may leave thee in the mire,

Asficker as ye fit;

Your fentence, repentance

Shall you leave, I believe,

And anger you langer,

When you that pra&ick prive.

AS ye have dyted your decreet,

Your prophecy to be complect, rx

THE SLAE. 47

Perhaps and to your pains.

It hath been faid, and hath been fo,

A wilful man wants never wo,

Though he gets little gains.

But fince ye think't an eafy thing

To mount above the moon,

Of your own fiddle take afpring

And dance when ye have done:

If then, fir, the man, fir,

Like of your mirth he may;

And fpeir firft, and hear firft,

What hehimfelf will fay.

THEN all together they began,

And faid, come on, thou martyr'd man,

What is thy will, advife.

Abas'd a bony while I bade,

And mus'd ere I mine anfwer made,

I turn'd me once pr twice,

Beholding every one about,

Whofe motion mo v'd me maid,

48 THE CHERRY

Somefeem'd afTur'd. fome dread for

Will ran red-wood for hafle: [doubt,

With wringing and flinging,

For madnefs like to mang;

Defpair too, for care too,

Would needs himfelf go hang:

WHICH when Experience perceiv'd,

Quoth he, remember if I rav'd,

As Will alleged of late:

When as he fwore, nothing he fa w,

In age, but anger, flack and flaw,

Andcanker'd in conceit;

Ye could not luck, as he alleg'd,

Who all opinions fpeir'd:

He was fo frank and fiery edg'd,

He thought us four but fear'd.

Who panfes, what chances,

Quoth he, no worlhip wins,

To fome be|t, fhall come beft,

Who hap well, rack well rins.

T H E S L A E. 49

YET (quoth Experience) behold,
For all the tales that he hath told,
How he himfelf behaves.
Becaufe Defpair could come no fpeed,
Lo here he hings all but the head,
And in a widdie waves ;
If you be true, once thou may fee,
To men that with them mells,
If they had hurt or helped thee,
Conlider by themfels.
Then chufe thee, to ufe thee
By us, or fuch as yon,
Sync foon now, have done now,
Make either off or on. [ceeds

PERGEIV'ST thou not, wherefrae pro-
That frantick fantafie, that feeds
Thy furious flaming fire;
Which doth thy bailful breaft combure,
That none indeed (quoth he) can cure,
Nor help thine heart's defire J
G

50 THE CHERRY AND

The piercing paffion of thy fp'rit,

Which waites thy vital breath,

Doth hold thine heavy heart with heat,

Defire draws on thy death.

Thy punces renounces

All kind of quiet reftj

That fever hath ever

Thy perfon fo opprert: [Skill,

COULDS'T thbu come once acquaint with

He knows what humours do thee ill,

And how thy cares contrails;

He knows the ground of all thy grief,

And Recipees of thy relief.

All medicine he makes.

Quoth Skill, come on, content am I

To put mine helping hand,

Providing always he apply

To counfel and command.

While we then, quoth he then,

Are minded to remain,

THE SLA E. 51

Give place now, in cafe now

Thou get us not again.

Allure thy felf, if that we fhed,

Thou /halt not get thy purpofe fped,

Take heed, we have thee told;

Have done, and drive not off the day,

The man that will not when he may,

He fhall not when he would.

What wilt thou do ? I would we wift;

Accept or give us o'er.

(Quoth I) I think me more than bleft,

To find fuch famous four

Befide me, to guide me,

Now when I have to do,

Confidering what fwiddering

You found me firft into.

WHEN Courage cry'd, a ftomach ftout.

And Danger drave me into doubt,

With his companion Dread:

Whiles Will would up above the air,
Gz

52 THE -CHERRY AND

Whiles I am drown'd in deep Defpair,

Whiles Hope held up mine head.

Such pithy reafons and replies,

On ev'ry fide, they fhew,

That I, who was not very wife,

Thought all their tales were true:

So mony and bony

Old problems they propon't,

But quickly and likely,

I marvel mickle on't.

Yet Hope and Courage wan the field,

Though Dreadand Danger never yield,

Entiled to find refuge:

Yet when the four came, they were fain,

Becaufeye gait us come again,

They grein'd to get you judge.

Where they were fugitive before,

Ye made them frank and free

To fpeak, and fland in awe no more*

Quoth Reafon, fo Ihould be.

THE SLAE. 53

Oft-times now, but crimes now;

But even perforce it falls,

The flrong ay, with wrong ay; • ;

Puts weaker to the walls.

WHICH is a fault ye muft confefs,

Strength was not ordain'd to opprefs

With rigour by the right:

But by the contrair, to fuftain

The loaden, which o'erburden'd been,

As mickle as they might.

So Hope and Courage did, (quoth I)

Experimented like,

Shew fkill'd and pithy reafons why,

That Danger lap the dike.

Quoth Danger, take heed, fir,

Longfpoken, part muft fpill:

Infiftnot, we wift not,

We went againft our will.

WITH Courage ye were fo content,

Ye never fought our fmall confent.

54 THE CHERRY AND

Of us ye ftood not aw ;
Then logick leflbns ye allow'd,
And were determined to trow't
Alledgeance paft for law.
For all the proverbs we perus'd,
Ye thought them fkantly fkiU'd:
Our reafon had been as well rus'df
Had ye been as well will'd
To our fide, as your fide,
So truly I may term't,
I fee now, in thee now
Affedlion doth affirm't.
EXPERIENCE then fmirkingfmird,
We are no bairns to be beguil'd,
(Quoth he) and fhook his head?
For authors who alledges us,
They ftill would win about the bufs
To fofter deadly feed.
For we are equal for you all,
No perfons we relpeft;

THE SLA E. 55

We have been fo, are yet, and fhall

Be found fo in effeft.

If w<i were, as ye are,

We had come unrequir'd :

But we now, ye fee now,

Do nothing undefir'd.

THERE is a fentence faid by fome,

Let none uncalled to counfel come.

That welcome weens to be:

Yea, I have heard another yet,

Who came uncalled, unferv'd fhould lit.

Perhaps fit fo may ye.

Good-man, gramercie for your geek,

(Quoth Hope) and lowly louts;

If ye were fent for, we fufpeft,

Becaufe the doftors doubts :

Your years now appears now,

With wifdom to be vext,

Rejoicing ingloffing,

While ye have tint your text.

56 THE CHERRY AND

WHERE ye were fent for, let us fee,

Who would be welcomer than we*

Prove that, and we are pay'd. .-jw \

Well (quoth Experience) beware,

You know not, in what cafe you are,

Your tongue hath ydu betray'd.

The man may able tine a flot,

Who cannot count his kinch,

In your own bow you are o'er-fhot,

By more than half an inch.

Who wat, fir, if that, fir,

Be four which feemeth fweet;

I fear now, ye hear now

A dangerous decreed

SIR, by that fentence, ye have faid,

I pledge, ere all the play be plaid,

That fome fhall lofe a laik,

Since ye but put me for to prove

Such heads, as help for my behove,

Your warrant is but weak.

T H E S L A E« 57

Spier at the man your felf and fee,
Suppofe you ft rive for flate;
For he regarded not, how he
Hath learn'd my leflbnlate:
And granted, he wanted
Both Reafon, Wit, and Skill,
Complaining, and meaning,
Our abfence did him ill.
CONFRONT him farther face to face,
If that he rue his racklefs race.
Perhaps and ye (hall hear:
For ay fince Adam and fince Eve,
Who firft the leafing did believe,
I fold thy doftrine dear.
What hath been done unto this dayr /•,
I keep in mind almaift :
Ye promife farther than ye pay,
Sir Hope, for all your hafle ;
Promitting, unwitting,
Your heghtsyou never hooked:,
H

58 THE CHERRY AND

I fhow you, I know you.

Your by-ganes I have booked.

I WOULD, in cafe account were crav'd,

Show thoufand thoufands thou deceived,

Where thou was true to one ;

And, by the contrair, I may vant,

Which thou muft (though it grieve

I trumped ne'er a man ; [thee) grant

But truly told the naked truth

To men, that mell'd with me,

For neither rigour nor for ruth,

But only loth to lie.

Tofome yet, to come yet,

Thy fuccour fhall be flight,

Which I then, muft try then,

And regifter it right.

HA, ha, (quoth Hope)and loudly leugh,

Ye're but a prentice at the pleugh,

Experience, ye prieve.

Suppofe all by-ganes as ye fpake,

T H E S L A E. 59

Ye are no prophet worth a plack,
Nor I bound to believe.
Ye fhould not fay, fir, till ye fee,
But when ye fee it fay.
Yet (quoth Experience) at thee
Make many mints I may
By figns now, and things now.
Which ay before me bears,
Exprefling, by gueffing,
The peril that appears.
THEN Hope reply'd, and that with pith,
And wifely weigh'd his words there-
Seritentioufly and fhort. [with,

Quoth he, I am the anchor grip,
That faves the failers and their ihip
From peril to their port.
Quoth he, oft-times that anchor drives
As we have found before;
And lofles many thoufand lives,
By fhipwrack on the fhore,
Hz

60 THE CHERRY AND

Your grips oft, but flips oft,

When men have moft to do;

Syne leaves them, and reaves them,

Of my companions too.

THOU leaves them not thy felf alone,

But, to their grief, when thou art gone,

Gars Courage quite them alfe.

Quoth Hope, I would ye underftood,

I grip faft, if the ground be good;

And fleets it, where it's falfe.

There fhould no fault with mebefound,

Nor I accused at all,

With fuch as fhould have found the

Before the anchor fall : [ground,

Their leed ay, at need ay,

Might warn them, if they would,

If they there, would Itay there,

Or have good anchor-hold.

IF ye read right, it was not I,

Put only Ignorance, whereby

THE SLA E. 6l

Their carvels all were cloven:

I am not for a trumpet tane.

All (quoth Experience) is ane,

I have my procefs proven:

To wit, that we are call'd each one.

To come before we came,

That now objections ye have none,

Your felf muft fay the feme.

Ye are now, too far now,

Come forward for to flie :

Perceive then, ye have then,

The worft end of the tree.

WHEN Hope was gall'd into the quick,

Quoth Courage, kicking at the prick,

We let you well to wit,

Make he you welcoraer than we,

Then by-ganes, by-ganes, farewel he,

Except he feek us yet ;

He tinderftands his own eftate,

Let him his chiftains chufe;

62 THE CHERRY AND

But yet his battle will be blate,

If he our force refufe.

Refufe us, or chufe us,

Our counfel is, he clim:

But flay he, or ftray he,

We have none help for him.

EXCEPT the Cherry be his chofe,

Be ye his friends, we are his foes ;

His doings we defpite:

If we perceive him fettled fae,

To fatisfie him with the Slae,

His company we quite.

Then Dread and Danger grew fo glad,

And wont that they had won,

They thought all feal'd that they had

Syne they had firft begun. [faid,

They thought then, they mought then,

Without a party plead:

But yet there, with Wit there,

They were dung down indeed.

TH E SLAE. 63

SIRS, Dread and Danger then (quoth

Ye did your felves to me fubmit, [Wit)

Experience can prove.

That (quoth Experience) I paft,

Their own confeffion make them faft,

They may no more remove.

For if they right remember me,

This maxim then they made,

To wit, the man with Wit fliould weigh,

What philofophs had faid.

Which fentence, repentance

Forbade him dear to buy;

They knew then, how true then,

And prefs'd not to reply. [down,

THOUGH he dang Dread and Danger

Yet Courage could not be overcome,

Hope height him fuch a hire:

He thought himfelf, how foon he law

His enemies were laid fo law,

It was no time to tire:

&}. THE CHERRY AND

He hit the ir'n while it was het,
In cafe it might grow cold:
For he efteem'd his foes defeat,
When once he found them fold,
Though he now, quoth he now,
Hath been fo free and frank,
Unfought yet, he mought yet,
Forkindnefs, cund us thank.
SUPPOSE it fo, as thou haft faid,
That unrequir'd we offer'd aid:
At leaft it came of love,
Experience, ye ftart too foon ;
Ye dow nothing while all be done,
And then perhaps ye prove
Mo re plain than pleafant too perchance,
Some tell, that you have try'd :
As faft as ye your felves advance,
Ye dow not well deny't;
Abide then the tide then,
And wait upon the wind:

THE SLAB* :• 65

Ye know, fir, ye owe, fir,
To hold you ay behind. [deeds,
WHEN ye have done fome doughty
Syne ye fhould fee how all fucceeds,
To write them as they were.
Ffiend, hulie, haft not half fo faft,
Left (quoth Experience) at laft
Ye buy my doftrine dear.
Hope puts that hafte into your head,
Which boils your barmie brain:
Howbe't fool's hafte makes hulie fpeed,
Fair heghts makes fools be fain.
Such fmiling, beguiling,
Bids fear not for no freets:
Yet I now, deny now,
That all is gold that gleets.
SUPPOSE not filver all that fhines;
Ofttimes a tentlefs merchant tines,
For buying gear beguefs.
For all the vantage and the winning,.i5
I

66 THE CHERRY AND

Good buyers gets at the beginning.
Quoth Courage not the lefs,
Whiles as good merchants tines as wins,
If old men's tales' be true:
Suppofe the pack comes to the pins,
Who can his chance efchew?
Then good fir, conclude, fir,
Good buyers have done baith:
Advance then, take chance then,
As fundry good (hips hath.
WHO wift what would be cheap or dear,
Should need not traffique but a year,
If things to come were kend.
Suppofe all bygane things be plain,
Your prophecy is but prophane,
Ye dbeft behold the end.
Ye would accufe me of a crime,
Almoft before we met;
Torment me not before the time,
Since dolor pays no debt:

THE SLA E. 67

What by-paft, that I paft,

Ye wot if it was well:

To comq yet, by doom yet,

Confefs ye have no feel.

YET (quoth Experience) what than?

Who may be meeteft for the man,

Let us his anfwer have.

When they fubmitted them to me,

To Reafon I was fain to flee,

His counfelfor to crave.

Quoth he, finceye your felves fubmit,

To doasldecreet;

I (hall advife both Skill and Wit,

What they think may be meet.

They cry'd then, we bide then,

At Reafon for refuge:

Allow him, and trow him,

As governourand judge.

sofaidtheyall with one confent,

What he concludes, we are content

68 THE CHERRY AND

His bidding to obey:

He hath authority to ufe, [chufe,

Then take his choice whom he would

And longer not delay.

Then Reafon rofe, and was rejoic'd,

(Quoth he) mine hearts, come hither,

I hope the play may be compos'd,

That we may go together.

To all now, I fhallnow

His proper place affign,

That they here, fhall fay here,

They think none other thing.

COME on (quoth he) companion Skill,

Ye underftand both good and ill,

In phyfick ye are fine:

Be mediciner to this man,

And fhew fuch cunning as ye can,

To put him out of pine.

Firft guard the ground of all his grief,

What ficknefs ye fufpeft;

THE SLAB. 69

Syne look what he lacks for relief,

Ere further he infeft.

Comfort him, exhort him,

Give him your good advice:

And pance not, norfcance not

The pearl nor the price.

THOUGH he be cumberfome, what reck?

Find out the caufe by the effed,

And working of his veins;

Yet while we grip it to the ground,

See firft what fafhion may be found

To pacific his pains.

Do what ye dow to have him hail,

And for that purpofeprefle;

Cut off the caufe, th' effeft will fail,

So all his forrows ceafe:

His fever, fhall never

From henceforth have no force:

Then urge him, to purge him,

He will not wax the worfe.

70 THE CHERRY AND

QUOTH Skill, his fenfes are fo lick,

I know no liquor worth a leek,

To quench his deadly drouth;

Except the Cherry help his heat,

Whofe fappie flockning, (harp and

Might melt into his mouth, [fweet,

And his melancholy reprove,

To mitigate his mind:

None wholfbmer for his behove,

Nor more cooling of kind.

No Ne6tar, direfter

Could all the gods him give,

Nor fend him, to mend him,

None like it, I believe.

FOR drought decays as it digefts,

Why then (quoth Reafon) nothing refts,

But how it may be had.

Moft true (quoth Skill) that is the fcope,

Yet we muft have (bme help of Hope.

Qiioth Danger, I am red,

THESLAE. 71

Hishaftinefs breeds us mif-hap,

When he is highly hors'd ;

I would we looked ere we lap.

Quoth Wit, that were not worft;

I mean now, conveen now

The council, one and all:

Begin then, call in then.

Quoth Reafon, fo I fhall.

THEN Reafon rofe with gefture grave,

Belyve conveening all the lave,

To fee what they could fay,

With filver-fcepter in his hand,

As chiftain chofen to command,

And they bent to obey.

He panced long before hefpake,

And in a iludy ftood;

Syne he began and filence brake,

Come on (quoth he) conclude,

What way now, we may now

YonCherrie come to catch:

72 THE CHERRY AND

Speak out, firs, about firs,

Have done, let us difpatch. [fcarrs,

QUOTH Courage, fcourge him firft that

Much mufing memory but marrs;

I tell you mine intent.

Quoth Wit, who will not partly pance,

In perils periflies perchance ;

O'er racklefs may repent.

Then quoth Experience, and fpake,

Sir, I have feen them baith

In bairnlinefs, and lya back,

Efcape and come to fkaith.

But what now, of that now?

Sturt follows all extreams,

Retain then, the mean then,

The fureft way it feems. [fail'd,

WHERE Tome has further'd, fome has

Where part has periflit, part prevailed,

Alike all cannot luck;

Then neither venture with the one, .

T H E S L A E. 73

Nor with the other let alone.
The Cherrie for to pluck.
Quoth Hope, for fear folk muft notfaih,
Quoth Danger, let not light.
Quoth Wit, be neither rude nor rafli*
Quoth Reafon, ye have right.
The reft then, thought beft then,
When Reafon faid it fo,
That roundly and fpundly
They fhould together go,
TO get the Cherrie all in hafte,
As for my fafety ferving maift.
Though Dread and Danger fear'd
The peril of that irkfome way,
Left that thereby I fhould decay,
Who then fo weak appear'd:
Yet Hope and Courage hard befide,
Who with them went content,
Did take in hand us for to guide
Unto our journey's end:
K

74 THE CHERRY ANEr

Empledging,and wedging

Both their two lives for mine,

Providing, the guiding

To them were granted fyne.

THEN Dread and Danger did appeal,,

Alledging it could not be well,

Nor yet would they agree:

But faid, they fhould found their retreat,

Becaufe they thought them no ways

Conductors unto me, [meet

Nor to no man in mine eftate,

With ficknefs fore oppreft,

For they took ay the neareft gate

Omitting oft thebeft:

The neareft, perquiereft ?£•..

Is always to them baith,

Where they, fir, may fay, fir,

Whatracksthem of their ikaith.

BUT as for us two, now we fwear*

By Him before whom we appear*

THE SLAE. 75

Our full intent is now,

To have you whole, and always was,

That purpofe for to bring to pafs,

So is not theirs I trow.

Then Hope and Courage did atteft

The gods at both thefe parts,

If they wrought not for all the beft

Of me with upright hearts:

Our chiftain, then lifting

His fcepter, did enjoyn

No more there,, uproar there,

And fo their ftrife was done.

Rebuking Dread and Danger fore,

Suppofe they meant well evermore,

To me as they had fworn;

Becaufe their neighbours they abus'd,

In fo far as they had accused

Them, as ye heard beforn.

Did he not elfe(quoth he) confent,

The Cherrie for topow?

K2

76 THE CHERRY AND

Quoth Danger, \ve are well content,

But yet the manner how,

We fliall now? even all now

Get this man with us there;

It reft is, and beft is,

Your counfel fhall declare. {now

WELL laid, (quoth Hope and Courage)

We thereto will accord with you,

And fhall abide by them:

Likeas before we do fubmiu

So we repeat the famine yet,

We mind not to reclaim.

Whom we (hall chufe to guide the way,

We fhall him follow ftraight,

And further this man, what we may,

Becaufe we have foheght:

Promitting, but flitting,

To do the thing we can,

To qafe both, and pleafe both,

This fillie fick;lie

THE SLAE. r-HT "77

WHEN Reafon heard this, then (quoth
I fee your chiefeft flay to be, he)

That we have nam'd no guide:
The worthy council hath therefore,
Thought fit, that Wit fhould go before,
For perils to provide.
Quoth Wit, there is but one of three,
Which I fhall to you fhow,
Whereof the firft two cannot be,
For any thingl know.
The way here, foftay here
Is, that wTe cannot clirn,
Ev'n o'er now, we four. now- j
That will be hard for him*
THE next, if we go down about,
While that this bend of craigs run out,
The ftrcam is there fp ftafk,
And alfo pafleth wading deep,
And broader far, than we.do.w leap,
Jt fhould be idle wark:

* V""

78 THE CHERRY AND

It grows ay broader than the fea,
Syne o'er the lin it came;
The running dead doth fignifie
The deepnefs of the fame.
I leave now, to dy ve now,
How that it fwiftly flides,
As fleeping and creeping,
But nature fo provides.
OUR way then lies about the lin,
Where by a warren we (hall win,
It is fo ftreight and plain;
The water alfo is fo lhald,
We fhall it pafs even as we wald,
With pleafure and but pain.
For, as we fee the mifchief grow
Oft of a fecklefs thing:
So likewife doth this river flow
Forth of a petty fpring;
Whofe throat,, fir, I wot, fir,
Ye may flop with your nieve?

THE SLAB. 79

As you, fir, I trow, fir

Experience, can prieve.

THAT (quoth Experience) I can,

All that ye faid, fince ye began,

I know to be of truth.

Quoth Skill, the famen I approve,

Quoth Reafon, then let us remove,

And fleep no more in lleuth.

Wit and Experience (quoth he)

Shall come before apace ;

The man fhall come with Skill and me

Into the fecond place.

Attour now, you four npw

Shall come into a band,

Proceeding, and leading

Each other by the hand.

AS Reafon ordain'd, all obey'd;

None was o'er rafh, none was afraid,

Our counfel was fo wife, / ib

As of our journey Wit did note.

80 THE CHERRY AND

We found it true i'ri ev'ry }ot,
God blefs our enterprife.
Forev'ri as we came to the tree^
Which, as ye heard me tell,
Could not be clum, there fuddenly
The fruit for ripenefs fell:
Which tafting, and halting;
I found my felf reliev'd
Of cares all, and fnares all,
Which mind and body griev'd.
PRAISE be to God my Lord therefore,
Who did mine health to me reftore,
Being fo long time pin'd:
Yea blefTed be his Holy name,
Who did, from death to life, reclaim
Me, who wasfo unkind.
All nations, alfo magnifie
This everliving Lord;
Let me with you, and yon with me,
To laud him ay accord; i

T H E S L A E.

Whofe love ay, we prove ay,
To us above all things.
And kifs him, and blifs him,
Whofe glore eternal rings.

FINIS.

A SONNET TO'THE

[ o-.v ,y /oKbd
BLESSED TRINITY.

O Up R E A M Eflence, Beginner unbegun,

Ay Trinal One, and undivided Three,

Eternal Word, that vi&ory hath won

O'er death, o'er hell, triumphing on the tree.

Foreknowledge, Wifdom,and all-feeing Eye;

Jehovah, Alpha, and Omega all,

Like unto none, and none like unto thee;

Unmov'd, moving the rounds about the ball,

Container uncontain'd ; Is, Was, and Shall

Be fempiternal, merciful and juft;

Creator uncreated, now I call,

Teach me thy truth, flnce into thee I truft ;

Increafe, confirm, and kindle from above

My faith, my hope, but by the leave my love.

LAMENTATION. 83

l^fiJ ucrH oo

T'VE finn'd, father, be merciful to nie^x* JxrJ:

I am not worthy to be cafl'd thy child j
That ftubbornly fo long have gone aftray1,
Not as thy fon, but as a prod'gal wild :
My filly foul, with fin, isfo defil'd,. -m u
That fatan thinks to catch it as a prey :
Lord, grant me grace, that he may be beguiPd,
Peccavi, pater, miferere mei,

I'm abas'd, Lord, how dare I be fo bold,
Before thy holy prefence to appear ?
Or hazard once the heavens to behold,
Who am not worthy that the earth mould bear ;
Yet damn me not whom thou haft bought fo dear,
Sed falvurame fac, dulcis fili Dei.
For, out of Luke, this lefTon we may lear ;
Peccavi, pater, miferere mei.

" ^J '„'.:.:?.''. "-", '. ' • /'':': •••:"•: \

If thou , O Lord, with rigour would revengc,-
What flem before thee faultlefs (hall be found ?

Or who is he, his conscience can him cleanfe,
To fin and fatan from his birth's not bound r?

La

g^ LAMENTATION.

Yet of meer grace thou tak'ft away the ground,
And fent thy Son our penalty to pay,
To fave us from the hideous hell's hound:
Peccavi, pater, miferere mei.

I hope for mercy, tho* my fins be huge ;
I grant my guilt, and groan to thee for grace :
Though I would flee, where mould I find refuge?
In heav'n ? O Lord, there is thy dwelling place;
The Earth, thy foot-ftool ; and to hell, alace !
Down to the dead ; for all muft thee obey ;
Therefore I cry, while I have time and ipace,
Peccavi, pater, miferere mei.

O gracious God, my guiltinefs forgive,
In finners death fince thou doft not delight,
But rather would they mould convert and live,
As witnefTeth prophets in holy write :
I pray thee, Lord, thy promife to perfite
Jn me, that I may with the Pfalmift fay,
I will thy praife and wondrous works indite.

Therefore, dear father, be merciful to nje,

LAMENTATION. %

Though I do Hide, let me not fleepin flouthy j o*t
Me to revive from (in, let grace begin :
Make, Lord, my tongue the trumpet of thy truth,
And fend my verfe fuch wings as are divine ;
Since thou haft granted me fo good ingihe,
To praife thy name with gallant ftile and gay,
Let me no more fo trim a talent tine': , ' •
Peccavi, pater, miferere mei.

My fp'rit to fpeak, let thy fp'rit, Lord,infpire,
Help, Holy Ghoft, and be mineheav'nly mufe;
Fly down on me with forked tongues of fire,
As on th'apoftles, with thy fear me infufe;
All vice expel, teach me fin to refufe,
And all my filthy afFeclions, I theepray;
Thy fervent love on me pour night and day,
Peccavi, pater, miferere mei.

Stoup,ftubborn ftomack, that's been ay foftout,
Stoup, filthy flefh,and carion made of clay;
Stoup, hardned heart, before thy Lord, and lout ;
Stoup, ftoup in time, defer not day by day :
Thou wots not when, that thou muft pafsaway

- ,

'&& .;i ;£:AME N T A'TI'O N.

To the great glore,;wherethou muft be foray;
Confefs thy fins^ and think no fliame to fay,
Peccavi, pater, miferere mei.

O Great Jehovah, to thee all glore be giv'n,
Whofhapt my foul to thyfinjilitude;
And to thy Son, whom thou fent'ft down from heav'n,
When I was loft, He bought me with his blood ;
And to the Holy Ghoft, my guider good,
Whp muft confirm my faith in the right way ;
In me cor mundum crea, I conclude,

O Heav'nly Father, be merciful to me.

THE

SOLSEQJJIUM.

.;,, -.'vVf j,

T" IK E as the dumb Solfequium, with care o'ercome,

Dothforrow, when the fun goes out of fight;

Hangs down her head, and droops as dead, and will

not fpread ;

But lurks her leaves, through langour, all the night,
Till foolifli Phaeton arife, with whip in hand,
To clear the chriftal skies, and light the land,
Birds, in their bow'r, waits on that hour,

THE SOLSE CLtf I U M. 8?

And to their king a glad good- morrow gives :
From thence that flow'r likes not to low'r,
But laugh on Phoebus, op'ning out her leaves.

So ftandft with me, except I be, where I may fee
My lamp of light, my lady, and my love :
When fhe departs, ten thoufand darts, in fundry airts,'
Thirle through my heavy heart, but reft or roove.
My countenance declares my inward grief,
And hope almoft defpairs to find relief: rrw
I die, I dwine, pain doth me pine,
I loath on ev'ry thing I look, alas !
While Titan mine, upon me mine,
That I revive through favour of her grace.

Fra fhe appear, into her fphere, begins to clear
The dawning of my long defired day,
When Courage cryes on Hope to rife, frae (he efpies
The noifome night of abfence went away :
No wo can we awake, nor yet impefh,
But on thy (lately ftalk I flowrifh frefli :
I fpring, I fprout, my leaves break out,
My colour changes in anheartfome hew;
No more I lout; but (land up (lout,

88 THE SOLSEQ^UIUM.

As glad of her on whom I only grew.

O happy day! go not away, Apollo ftay
The cart from going down into the weft,
Of me thou makes thy Zodiack, that I may take
My pleafure to behold whom I love heft,
Her prefence me reftores from death to rife,
Her abfence aifo mores to cut my breath,
I wifli in vain thee to remain,
Since Primum Mobile doth fay me nay ;
At leaft thy wain hafte fo again,
Farewell with patience perforce till day.

PSAL. XXXVI.

DECLINA A MALO, ET FAG BONUM,

T EA v E fin, ere fin leave thee, do good,

and both without delay ;

Lefs fit he will to morrow be,

who is not fit today.

[NON TARDES CONVERT! AD DEUM] 89

HlS MORNING MUSE.

T E T dread of pain for fin in aftertime ;

Let fhame to fee thy (elf enfnared fo ;
Let grief conceiv'd for foul accur fed crime ;
Let hate of fin, the worker of thy wo ;
With dread, with fliame, with grief, with hate enforce,
To dew thy cheeks with tears to deep remorfe,

So hate of fin (hall make god's love to grow ;
So grief (hall harbour hope within thine heart}
So dread (hall caufe the flood of joy to flow;
So fliame (hall fend fweet folace to thy fmart ;
So love, fo hope, fo joy, fo folace (weet,
Shall make my foul in heav'nly blifs fo fleet*

Wo, where no hate doth no fuch love allure !
Wo, where fuch grief makes no fuch hope proceed !
Wo, where fuch dread doth not fuch joy procure!
Wo, where fuch shame doth not fuch folace breed!
Wo, where no hate, no grief, no dread, no shame,
No love, no hope, no joy, no folace frame !

IN THE OLP ORTHOGRAPHY.

THE FIRST 'VsGHALME*

WEi L. is the man, & 10> «feqlo kcvit, T a 1"
1 !•/•. »t l**-5.

Be grace that €a* .0 }r iu«Ji -iui :/ ;:-i3ao3l3rra Js»t

Efchew ill counpfeairittk* go^kfis ^it^Ifio

Quba walks w# in

The wajr oJfii% c i sicol (hi v; s;i 3 ;

Kor dois begin

To fit with mokkaris in thair fchamefull faits, 0^

Butin^BBov-Aa&Lav-/ vrofl IUOO-JM! Il^ni?

Delytsarid* .

And fludys ,it.fo know -[-?. r;

Baith day and nicht.

Thatman H»ll;belyke:ta^iw W<»n (u<

That plantit by the ryning river grows>

Quhilk;firwt4oi«beir,intyra«ofaeify tj^a

Quhais leives fall never fed*, no* fiutc unlowf^

H'l^ aliens all; ten iii j J L-3-sj thi
Ay profper fall :
So fall not fail

To wicket men;; but as die calf and faa4/ i . • t«, r o( <
Quhilkdaybyday
Winds drive away:

PSCHALME XXIII. 9t

Thairforel-fef ;

The wicket in thair jugment fell no t (land, -,] {

Nor fmnerscum naemair, I -;tJ luiA

Quhome God difdains,

In the aflembly quhair

The juft remains.

For quhy ? the Lord quha beirs record, . c

He knaws the richteoas converfation ay,

But godles gaits, quhilk he fo halts,

Sail quickly perreifs, and hot dout decay.

THE TWENTY THIRD PSCHALME*
r | "HE Lord maift hie,

Iknawwillbe
An hird to me,

I cannot lang half ftrefs, nor (land in neid ;
He maks my lair,
In feildsmaift fair,
Quhair I hot cair,
Repofing at my pleafure fafely feid.
He fweitly me con voy i$
To pleifand fp rings,

Quhair naething me anoyi*,. ;ar;om «il^l»o
But plealburbringn^b! 7;.:;; ajMql ncvdohl h!-/-« !,;ik
He bring^my myud, fit to fie kynd, vxlwn ^l*l «>p

9* PS C HAL ME XXIU.

That forfs or feir of fae cannot me grieve : • ^ lisHT

He dois me leid in perfy t freid,

And for his name he will me nevir leive*

T H o c H T I wald ftray, ,2 nisi

Ilk day by day,

In deidly way, . « r. \r. '•

Zit will I notdefpair, I feir non ill;
For quhy thy gracey!: J
In eyry place, <3jk-r ipt?.:!

Dois me imbrace, :•'>* Juofi 10^' bar; t3*:bio
Thy rod and" fhiphirds cruke comfort me ftifl,
In difpyt of my foes, ^M fi

My tabill grows,
Thou balmis my head with joy,
My cup owreflowsv bntS -rjn t2bi.fM
Kyndnefs and grace, mercy and peice,';"
Sail follow me for all my wretched days,
And me convoy to endlefs joy
In hevin, quhair I fall be with thee always.

C O M P A R ISO N E.
*T^HE bramble growis, althochtit be obfcure, ] oT

Quhylis mountane cederis tholes theboufteous windi,
And myld Plebyan fpirits may leif future, •' J iwo
Qubylis michty tempefHs toIV imperial mynds.
FINIS.

PR Montgomerie, Alexander

2315 Tine cherry and the slae

1751

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