IV
He. My cloak it was a very good cloak,
It hath been always true to the wear;
But now it is not worth a groat:
I have had it four and forty year’.
Sometime it was of cloth in grain[1304]:
’Tis now but a sigh clout[1305], as you may see:
It will neither hold out wind nor rain;
And I’ll have a new cloak about me.
V
She. It is four and forty years ago
Sine the one of us the other did ken;
And we have had, betwixt us two,
Of children either nine or ten:
We have brought them up to women and men:
In the fear of God I trow they be:
And why wilt thou thyself misken?
Man, take thine old cloak about thee!
VI
He. O Bell my wife, why dost thou flyte?
Now is now, and then was then:
Seek now all the world throughout,
Thou kens not clowns from gentlemen:
They are clad in black, green, yellow and blue,
So far above their own degree.
Once in my life I’ll take a view;
For I’ll have a new cloak about me.
VII
She. King Stephen was a worthy peer;
His breeches cost him but a crown;
He held them sixpence all too dear,
Therefore he called the tailor ‘lown.’
He was a king and wore the crown,
And thou’se but of a low degree:
It’s pride that puts this country down:
Man, take thy old cloak about thee!
VIII
He. Bell my wife, she loves not strife,
Yet she will lead me, if she can:
And to maintain an easy life
I oft must yield, though I’m good-man.
It’s not for a man with a woman to threap[1306],
Unless he first give o’er the plea:
As we began, so will we keep,
And I’ll take my old cloak about me.