( 22 )
And therefore pour your charity into the bason,
Brethren and Sisters eke, your coats have lace on.
Why Brethren in the Lord, what need you care
For sixpence? we'll next morn enhance our ware:
Your sixpence comes again, nay there comes more;
Thus Charity's th' encreaser of your store.
Truly well spoke, then cry'd the Master-feaster,
Since you say so, I freely give my tester:
But for the women, they gave more liberally,
For they were sure to whom they gave, and why.
Then did Elnathan blink, for he knew well Not better
than himself.
What he might give, and what he might conceal.
But now the Parson could no longer stay,
'Tis time to kiss, he cryes, and so away:
At which the Sisters, once th' alarum taken,
Made such a din as would have serv'd to waken
A snoring Brother, when he sleeps at Church;
With bagg and baggage then they 'gan to march;
And tickled with the thoughts of their delight,
One Sister to the other bids Good night.
Good night, quoth Dorcas to Priscilla; she,
Good night dear Sister Dorcas unto thee.
In these goodly good nights much time was spent,
And was it not a holy complement?
At length in steps the Parson, on his breastChristian
Liberty.
Laying his hand, A happy night of rest
Refresh thy labours, Sister; yet ere we part,
Feel in my lips the passion of my heart.
To another straight he turn'd his face, and kist her,
And then he cryes, All peace be with thee Sister.
Next her that made the Feast he kisses harder,
And in a Godly tone, cryes, God reward her:Ne're a
prophane
kiss among
all these.
And having done, he whispers in her ear,
The time when it should be, and the place where.
Thus they all part, and for that night the Priest
Enjoys his own Wife, as good as ever pist.
This seem'd a golden time, the fall of sin,
You'd think the thousand years did now begin,
When
