715. POVERTY THE GREATEST PACK.
To mortal men great loads allotted be,
But of all packs, no pack like poverty.
716. A BUCOLIC, OR DISCOURSE OF NEATHERDS.
1. Come, blitheful neatherds, let us lay
A wager who the best shall play,
Of thee or I, the roundelay
That fits the business of the day.
Chor. And Lalage the judge shall be,
To give the prize to thee, or me.
2. Content, begin, and I will bet
A heifer smooth, and black as jet,
In every part alike complete,
And wanton as a kid as yet.
Chor. And Lalage, with cow-like eyes,
Shall be disposeress of the prize.
1. Against thy heifer, I will here
Lay to thy stake a lusty steer
With gilded horns, and burnish'd clear.
Chor. Why, then, begin, and let us hear
The soft, the sweet, the mellow note
That gently purls from either's oat.
2. The stakes are laid: let's now apply
Each one to make his melody.