English Satires eBook

Print

Word

PDF

  Then to the Cheap I ’gan me drawn,[106]
  Where much people I saw for to stand;
  One offered me velvet, silk, and lawn;
  Another he taketh me by the hand,
  “Here is Paris thread, the finest in the land”;
  I never was used to such things indeed;
  And, wanting money, I might not speed.

  Then went I forth by London stone,
  Throughout all the Canwick Street;
  Drapers much cloth me offered anon;
  Then comes me one cried, “Hot sheep’s feet!”
  One cried, “Mackarel!” “Rushes green!” another ’gan greet;[107]
  One bade me buy a hood to cover my head;
  But for want of money I might not be sped.

  Then I hied me into East Cheap:
  One cries “Ribs of beef and many a pie!”
  Pewter pots they clattered on a heap;
  There was harpe, pipe, and minstrelsy:
  “Yea, by cock!” “Nay, by cock!” some began cry;
  Some sung of “Jenkin and Julian” for their meed;
  But, for lack of money, I might not speed.

  Then into Cornhill anon I yode
  Where there was much stolen gear among;
  I saw where hung my owne hood,
  That I had lost among the throng:
  To buy my own hood I thought it wrong;
  I knew it as well as I did my creed;
  But, for lack of money, I could not speed.

  The Taverner took me by the sleeve;
  “Sir,” saith he, “will you our wine assay?”
  I answered, “That cannot much me grieve;
  A penny can do no more than it may.”
  I drank a pint, and for it did pay;
  Yet, sore a-hungered from thence I yede;
  And, wanting money, I could not speed.

  Then hied I me to Billings-gate,
  And one cried, “Ho! go we hence!”
  I prayed a bargeman, for God’s sake,
  That he would spare me my expense.
  “Thou ’scap’st not here,” quoth he, “under twopence;
  I list not yet bestow any almsdeed.”
  Thus, lacking money, I could not speed.

  Then I conveyed me into Kent;
  For of the law would I meddle no more.
  Because no man to me took intent,
  I dight[108] me to do as I did before.
  Now Jesus that in Bethlehem was bore[109],
  Save London and send true lawyers their meed!
  For whoso wants money with them shall not speed.

[Footnote 97: go to law.]

[Footnote 98: crowd.]

[Footnote 99: went then.]

[Footnote 100: reward.]

[Footnote 101: striped stuff.]

[Footnote 102: exchange.]

[Footnote 103: notice.]

[Footnote 104: on the bough.]

[Footnote 105: offer.]

[Footnote 106: approach.]

[Footnote 107: call.]

[Footnote 108: set.]