But thou good man, sith farre in sea we bee,
2 And the great waters gin apace to swell,
That now no more we can the maine-land see,
4 Haue care, I pray, to guide the cock-bote well,
Least worse on sea then vs on land befell.
6 Thereat th'old man did nought but fondly grin,
And said, his boat the way could wisely tell:
8 But his deceiptfull eyes did neuer lin,
To looke on her faire face, and marke her snowy skin.

1 "But you, good man, sith far in sea we be,

sith > since

2 And the great waters begin apace to swell,

apace > quickly

3 That now no more we can the mainland see,

That > [So that]

4 Have care, I pray, to guide the cock-boat well,

cock-boat > {Small ship's boat; with the double meaning}

5 Lest worse on sea than us on land befell." 6 Thereat the old man did naught but fondly grin,