The subject of this tale is taken from that entertaining colloquy of Erasmus entitled, Uxor Meulyaμos, sive Conjugium: which has been agreeably modernised by the late Mr. Spence in his little miscellaneous publication entitled "Moralities, &c., by Sir Harry Beaumont," 1753, 8vo, p. 42.

The following stanzas are extracted from an ancient poem entitled Albion's England, written by W. Warner, a celebrated poet in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, though his name and works are now equally forgotten. The reader will find some account of him in book v. song 24.

The following stanzas are printed from the author's improved edition of his work, printed in 1602, 4to; the third impression of which appeared so early as 1592, in bl. let. 4to. The edition in 1602 is in thirteen books, and so it is reprinted in 1612, 4to; yet in 1606, was published "A Continuance of Albion's England by the first Author, W. W. Lond. 4to:" this contains books xiv., xv., xvi. In Ames's Typography, is preserved the memory of another publication of this writer's, entitled Warner's Poetry, printed in 1580, 12mo, and reprinted in 1602. There is also extant under the name of Warner, "Syrix, or sevenfold Hist. pleasant, and profitable, comical, and tragical," 4to.

It is proper to premise, that the following lines were not written by the author in stanzas, but in long Alexandrines of fourteen syllables; which the narrowness of our page made it here necessary to subdivide.

IMPATIENCE chaungeth smoke to flame,
But jelousie is hell;

Some wives by patience have reduc'd
Ill husbands to live well:

As did the ladie of an earle,

5

Of whom I now shall tell.

An earle 'there was' had wedded, lov'd;

And persons might afforde)

Browne bread, whig, bacon, curds and milke

Meane while (in russet neatly clad,

With linen white as swanne,

Herselfe more white, save rosie where

The ruddy colour ranne :

Whome naked nature, not the aydes
Of arte made to excell)

The good man's daughter sturres to see
That all were feat and well.

The earle did marke her and admire

Such beautie there to dwell.

335

30

Yet fals he to their homely fare
And held him at a feast;
But as his hunger slaked, so

An amorous heat increast.

When this repast was past and thanks
And welcome too, he sayd

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Unto his host and hostesse, in

The hearing of the mayd,

"Yee know," quoth he, “that I am lord Of this, and many townes;

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I also know that you be poore,

And I can spare you pownes.

For lucre were misled;

And then the gamesome earle did wowe
The damsell for his bed.

He took her in his armes, as yet

So coyish to be kist,

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As mayds that know themselves belov'd,
And yieldingly resist.

"To checke him were to make him checke,1

She this device did frame:

When long she had been wrong'd, and sought

The foresayd meanes in vaine,

She rideth to the simple graunge

With but a slender traine.

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To check is a term in falconry, applied when a hawk stops and turns away from his proper pursuit. To check also signifies to reprove or chide. It is in this verse used in both senses.

She lighteth, entreth, greets them well,
And then did looke about her ;
The guiltie houshold knowing her,
Did wish themselves without her;

· Yet, for she looked merily,

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Thought she and who (though loth)

So poore a wench, but gold might tempt?
Sweet errors led them both.

Scarce one in twenty that had bragg'd

Of proffer'd gold denied,

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Or of such yeelding beautie baulkt,

But, tenne to one, had lied.

Thus thought she and she thus declares
Her cause of coming thether:

"My Lord, oft hunting in these partes, Through travel, night, or wether,

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"Hath often lodged in your house;

I thanke you for the same;

For why? it doth him jolly ease
To lie so neare his game.

"But, for you have not furniture
Beseeming such a guest,

I bring his owne, and come myselfe
To see his lodging drest."

130

With that two sumpters were discharg'd,
In which were hangings brave,

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Silke coverings, curtens, carpets, plate,

And al such turn should have.