This winters weather itt waxeth cold,
And frost doth freese on every hill,
And Boreas blowes his blasts soe bold,
That all our cattell are like to spill;[826]
Bell my wiffe, who loves noe strife,5
She sayd unto me quietlye,
Rise up, and save cow Crumbockes liffe,
Man, put thine old cloake about thee.
He.
O Bell, why dost thou flyte[827] 'and scorne'?[828]
Thou kenst my cloak is very thin:[829]10
Itt is soe bare and overworne
A cricke[830] he theron cannot renn:[831]
Then Ile noe longer borrowe nor lend,
'For once Ile new appareld bee,[832]
To-morrow Ile to towne and spend,'15
For Ile have a new cloake about mee.
She.
Cow Crumbocke is a very good cowe,
Shee ha beene alwayes true to the payle,
Shee has helpt us to butter and cheese, I trow,
And other things shee will not fayle;20
I wold be loth to see her pine,[833]
Good husband, councell take of mee,[834]
It is not for us to go soe fine,[835]
Man, take thine old cloake about thee.
He.
My cloake it was a verry good cloake,25
Itt hath been alwayes true to the weare,
But now it is not worth a groat;[836]
I have had it four and forty yeere:
Sometime itt was of cloth in graine,[837]
'Tis now but a sigh clout[838] as you may see,30
It will neither hold out winde nor raine;
And Ile have a new cloake about mee.