University of Virginia Library

Cant. 2.

Comes, where the old man pacde his steede,
There people wondred oft,
To see this Iade of such a breede,
Curuet, praunce, leape aloft.
He cals to know the lowest price:
It was fiue hundred Francks.
Too deare sayes he, the old man wise,
Sayd so it should, and thanks:
As chapmen in their bargaines sticke
To rise and fall, so hee
Offerd and went, comes backe as quicke;
At last they did agree:
The money tenderd, vp he gets,
To try the paced Steed;
Who vp o'th sodaine, hence he iets,
In pace of posting speed:
Thus galloping, the old man sithes,
“My saddle's on (sayes hee)
“I am vndone, ore-gone vniths,
“Som epower preseruer bee.”
Home comes my Taylor to his Stable,
Who to 'th Manger tyes
This Horse with Ropes, while he was able
Beats his backe and thighes.
“Thou art my seruant now (sayes hee)
“To ride, to run, and go;
“And I will vse thee cruelly:
“Had I before done so,
“I had not thus bin backt and rid,
“By him Ile ouer ride.”
The Boy thus heard how he was chid,
Thus to himselfe he cride,
“Forgetfull Father, I am wrong'd,
“Thy necligence is cause;
“Now shall my torment be prolong'd,
“And here my shape must pause,
“Vnlesse some one vngirt my backe,
“This shape will euer bee:
“Thus my confused shame and wracke,
“Is (Father) come by thee.”
Nor Hay or Prouender was giuen,
Nor Water for to drinke:
Thus Pin'd, with Want, all was vneuen,
The Boy transform'd, doth thinke:
Art out went Art in what was done,
His Maisters skill was stronger,
And he by learning ouercome,
Was now approou'd the younger.
The Taylor had two tender Babes,
A little Sonne and Daughter;
Who often saw their Father's rage,
And what would happen after:
Consider'd in their infant thoughts,
Vnles the Horse had food,
The stately Steede would come to nought;
And that were not so good.
One after noone came there to play,
At last they thus bethought 'om
The Horse was dry, and knew the way
To 'th water; where they brought 'om:
The Iade shoke often, by the mane,
His Girts ganne to vnlose;
The Saddle that did fall off cleane,
As he to 'th Riuer goes:
The litle one stayes there to keepe it,
While the other leades
The Steed to 'th water; doth beweepe it,
And it euer dreades,
“It will be lost, alas (sayes he)
“Then are we both vndone:
“Our Father missing it, will be
“In anger ouercome.”
While thus they doubtfully do plead
The falling of the Saddle,
The subtile Steed doth stand in dread,
T'wil cause a further brabble:
And now, or neuer, must he get
His libertie to goe,
Either by force, by present wit,
Or liue in endles woe:
He rubs his head against his legge,
And euer and anone,
Whinnies aloude, as if he begges
The children to be gone:
But being by the Riuer side,
The Bridle new slipt off,
Like to a little Fishe, doth slide
Into the Streame, and laugh
To see the young-ones cry aloude;
And what a mone they make
For him, who now was nothing proude
This shape to vndertake.