University of Virginia Library

The Wood-mans walke.

Through a faire Forrest as I went
vpon a Sommers day,
I met a Wood-man queint and gent,
yet in strange aray.
I meruail'd much at his disguise,
whom I did know so well:
But thus in tearmes both graue and wise,
his minde he gan to tell.
Friend, muse not at this fond aray,
but list a while to me:
For it hath holpe me to suruay
what I shall shew to thee.
Long liu'd I in this Forrest faire,
till wearie of my weale:
Abroade in walks I would repaire,
as now I will reueale.
My first dayes walke was to the Court,
where Beautie fed mine eyes:
Yet sound I that the Courtly sport,
did maske in she disguise.
For falshood sate in fairest lookes,
and friend to friend was coy:
Court-fauour fill'd but empty bookes,
and there I found no ioy.
Desert went naked in the cold,
when crouching craft was fed:
Sweet words were cheapely bought and sold,
but none that stood in sted,
Wit was imployed for each mans owne,
plaine meaning came too short:
All these deuises seene and knowne,
made me forsake the Court.
Vnto the Citty next I went,
in hope of better hap:
Where liberally I launch'd and spent,
as set on Fortunes lap.
The little stock I had in store,
me thought would nere be done:
Friends flockt about me more and more,
as quickly lost as wone.
For when I spent, they then were kinde,
but when my purse did faile:
The formost man came last behinde,
thus loue with wealth doth quaile.
Once more for footing yet I stroue,
although the world did frowne:
But they before that held me vp,
together troad me downe.
And least once more I should arise,
they sought my quite decay:
Then got I into this disguise,
and thence I stole away.
And in my minde (me thought) I saide,
Lord blesse me from the Cittie:
Where simplenes is thus betraide,
and no remorce or pittie.
Yet would I not giue ouer so,
but once more trie my fate:
And to the Country then I goe,
to liue in quiet state.
There did appeare no subtile showes,
but yea and nay went smoothly:
But Lord how Country-folks can glose,
when they speake most soothly.
More craft was in a buttond cap,
and in an old wiues rayle:
Then in my life it was my hap,
to see on Downe or Dale.
There was no open forgerie,
but vnder-handed gleaning:
Which they call Country pollicie,
but hath a worser meaning.
Some good bold-face beares out the wrong,
because he gaines thereby:
The poore mans back is crackt ere long,
yet there he lets him lye.
And no degree among them all,
but had such close intending:
That I vpon my knees did fall,
and prayed for their amending.
Back to the vvoods I got againe,
in minde perplexed sore:
Where I found ease of all this paine,
and meane to stray no more.
There, Citty, Court, nor Country too,
can any way annoy me:
But as a vvood-man ought to doo,
I freely may imploy me.
There liue I quietly alone,
and none to trip my talke:
Wherefore when I am dead and gone,
think on the Wood-mans walke.