Be here any maids? I suppose here be some;
Sure they will not let young men stand on the cold stone!
Sing hey, O, maids! come trole back the pin,
And the fairest maid in the house let us all in.
Come, butler, come, bring us a bowl of the best;
I hope your souls in heaven will rest;
But if you do bring us a bowl of the small,
Then, down fall butler, and bowl and all.
Robert Southwell
CAROL IN PRAISE OF THE HOLLY AND IVY
(Holly and Ivy Made a Great Party)
Holly and Ivy made a great party,
Who should have the mastery
In lands where they go.
Then spake Holly, “I am fierce and jolly,
I will have the mastery
In lands where we go.”
Then spake Ivy, “I am loud and proud,
And I will have the mastery
In lands where we go.”
Then spake Holly, and bent him down on his knee,
“I pray thee, gentle Ivy,
Essay me no villany
In the lands where we go.”