Cor. I wil sing a Song if anyboby wil sing another; else, to be plain with you, I wil sing none: I am none of those that sing for meat, but for company; I say, 'Tis merry in Hall when men sing all.
Pisc. I'l promise you I'l sing a Song that was lately made at my request by Mr. William Basse, one that has made the choice Songs of the Hunter in his carrere, and of Tom of Bedlam, and many others of note; and this that I wil sing is in praise of Angling.
Cor. And then mine shall be the praise of a Country mans life: What will the rest sing of?
Pet. I wil promise you I wil sing another Song in praise of Angling, to-morrow night, for we wil not part till then, but fish to morrow, and sup together, and the next day every man leave fishing, and fall to his business.
Viat. 'Tis a match, and I wil provide you a Song or a Ketch against then too, that shal give some addition of mirth to the company; for we wil be merrie.
Pisc. 'Tis a match my masters; lets ev'n say Grace, and turn to the fire, drink the other cup to wet our whistles, and so sing away all sad thoughts.
Come on my masters, who begins? I think it is best to draw cuts and avoid contention.
Pet. It is a match. Look, the shortest Cut fals to Coridon.
Cor. Well then, I wil begin; for I hate contention.
CORIDONS Song.
Oh the sweet contentment
The country man doth find!
high trolollie laliloe
high trolollie lee,
That quiet contemplation
Possesseth all my mind:
Then care away,
and wend along with me.
For Courts are full of flattery,
As hath too oft been tri'd;
high trolollie lollie loe
high trolollie lee,
The City full of wantonness,
and both are full of pride:
Then care away,
and wend along with me.
But oh the honest countryman
Speaks truly from his heart,
high trolollie lollie loe
high trolollie lee,
His pride is in his Tillage,
his Horses and his Cart:
Then care away,
and wend along with me.
Our clothing is good sheep skins
Gray russet for our wives,
high trolollie lollie loe
high trolollie lee.
'Tis warmth and not gay clothing
that doth prolong our lives:
Then care away,
and wend along with me,
The ploughman, though he labor hard,
Yet on the Holy-day,
high trolollie lollie loe
high trolollie lee,
No Emperor so merrily
does pass his time away:
Then care away,
and wend along with me.
To recompence our Tillage,
The Heavens afford us showrs;
high trolollie lollie loe
high trolollie lee,
And for our sweet refreshments
the earth affords us bowers:
Then care away, &c.
The Cuckoe and the Nightingale
full merrily do sing,
high trolollie lollie loe
high trolollie lee,
And with their pleasant roundelayes
bid welcome to the Spring:
Then care away,
and wend along with me.
This is not half the happiness
the Country man injoyes;
high trolollie lollie loe
high trolollie lee,
Though others think they have as much
yet he that says so lies:
Then come away, turn
County man with me.