Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads ...

AND BALLADS. 183
Art thou not lowfy, nor fcabby ? quoth he :
If thou beeft, furely thou lyefl not with mee.
This caus'd the king, fuddenlye, to laugh moft heartilye,
Till the teares trickled fail downe from his eyes.
Then to their fupper were they fet orderlye,
With hot bag-puddings, and good apple-pyes
Nappy ale, good and ftale, in a browne bowle.
Which did about the board merrilye trowle.
Here, quoth the miller, good fellowe, I drinke to thee,
And to all « cuckolds, wherever they bee.' 80
I pledge thee, quoth our king, and thanke thee heartilye
For my good welcome in everye degree
And here, in like manner, I drinke to thy fonne.
Do then, quoth Richard, and quicke let it come.
Wife, quoth the miller, fetch me forth lightfoote, 85
That we of his fweetneffe a little may tafte
A fair ven'fon paftye brought ihe out prefentlye
Eate, quoth the miller, but, fir, make no wafte.
Here's dainty lightfoote, in faith, fayd the king,
I never before eate fo daintye a thing. 90
I wis, quoth Richard, no daintye at all it is,
For we doe eate of it everye day.
In what place, fayd our king, may be bought like to this?
We never pay pennye for itt, by my fay :
N 4
From
Ver. 80.. courtnalls, that courteous be. MS. and P.
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75