The DUMPS.
21
Now plain I ken[1] whence Love his rise begun.
Sure he was born some bloody butcher's son, 90
Bred up in shambles, where our younglings slain,
Erst taught him mischief and to sport with pain.
The father only silly sheep annoys,
The son, the sillier shepherdess destroys.
Does son or father greater mischief do? 95
The fire is cruel, so the son is too.
My plaint, ye lasses, with this burthen aid,
'Tis hard so true a damsel dies a maid.
Farewel, ye woods, ye meads, ye streams that flow;[2]
A sudden death shall rid me of my woe, 100
This penknife keen my windpipe shall divide.———
What, shall I fall as squeaking pigs have dy'd?
No ——— To some Tree this carcase I'll suspend ———
But worrying curs find such untimely end!
I'll speed me to the pond, where the high stool 10
On the long plank hangs o'er the muddy pool,
That stool, the dread of ev'ry scolding Quean ———
Yet, sure a lover should not dye so mean!
Sure he was born some bloody butcher's son, 90
Bred up in shambles, where our younglings slain,
Erst taught him mischief and to sport with pain.
The father only silly sheep annoys,
The son, the sillier shepherdess destroys.
Does son or father greater mischief do? 95
The fire is cruel, so the son is too.
My plaint, ye lasses, with this burthen aid,
'Tis hard so true a damsel dies a maid.
Farewel, ye woods, ye meads, ye streams that flow;[2]
A sudden death shall rid me of my woe, 100
This penknife keen my windpipe shall divide.———
What, shall I fall as squeaking pigs have dy'd?
No ——— To some Tree this carcase I'll suspend ———
But worrying curs find such untimely end!
I'll speed me to the pond, where the high stool 10
On the long plank hangs o'er the muddy pool,
That stool, the dread of ev'ry scolding Quean ———
Yet, sure a lover should not dye so mean!
- ↑ Line 89. To Ken, scire Chaucero, to ken; and kende notus. A. S. cunnan. Goth. kunnan. Germanis kennen. Danis kiende. Islandis kunna. Belgis kennen. This word is of general use, but not very common, though not unknown to the vulgar. Ken for prospicere is well known, and used to discover by the eye. Ray. F.R S.
Nunc scio quid sit Amor, &c
Crudelis mater magis an puer improbus ille?
Improbus ille puer, crudelis tu quoque mater.
Virg. - ↑ 99.vivite Sylvæ.
Præceps aerii specula de montis in undas
Virg.Deferar.
There
