I am called Telemachus, there as I dwell. MATER. Telemachus, lie down upright on the ground, And stir not once for a thousand pound. TELEMACHUS. I am ready here prest To do all your request. [_Then he must lay him down with his belly upward, and she must bless him from above to beneath, saying as followeth_: MATER. The cowherd of Comerton[601] with his crooked spade Cause from thee the worms soon to vade! And jolly Jack Tumbler, that juggleth with a horn, Grant that thy worms soon be all-to torn! Good grandsire Abraham, godmother to Eve, Grant that this[602] worms no longer this child grieve! All the court of conscience in Cuckoldshire: Tinkers and taborers, tipplers, taverners: Tittifills, triflers, turners and trumpers: Tempters, traitors, travellers and thumpers: Thriftless, thievish, thick and thereto thin: The malady of this worms cause for to blin! The virtue of the tail of Isaac's cow, That before Adam in paradise did low! Also the joist of Moses' rod, In the Mount of Calvary that spake with God: _Facies ad faciem_, turning tail to tail, Cause all these worms quickly to fail! The bottom of the ship of Noe, And also the leg of the horse of Troy: The piece of the tongue of Balaam's ass, The chawbone[603] of the ox that at Christ's birth was, The eye-tooth of the dog that went on pilgrimage With young Tobias, these worms soon may suage! The butterfly of Bromwicham that was born blind, The blast of the bottle that blowed Aeolus' wind, The buttock of the bitter[604] bought at Buckingham, The body of the bear that with Bevis came, The backster[605] of Bal[d]ockbury with her baking peel,[606] Child, fro thy worms, I pray, may soon thee heal The tapper of Tavistock and the tapster's pot! The tooth of the titmouse, the turd of the goat, In the Tower of Tennis-balls toasted by the fire, The table of Tantalus turned trim in the mire, The tomb of Tom Threadbare that thrust Tib through the smoke, Make all thy worms, child, to come forth at thy dock! Shem, Cam,[607] and Japhet, and Coll the miller's mare, The five stones of David that made Goliath stare, The wing with which St Michael did fly to his mount, The counters wherewith Cherubim did cherry-stones count, The hawk with which Asuerus[608] killed the wild boar, Help that these worms, my child, hurt thee no more! The maw of the moor-cock that made Maud to mow, When Martlemas at Morton mourned for the snow: The spear of Spanish spilbery sprent with spiteful spots, The lights of the laverock laid at London lots, The shinbone of St Samuel shining so as the sun, Grant, child, of the worms that soon thy pains be done! Mother Brice of Oxford and great Gib of Hinksey, Also Maud of Thrutton[609] and Mabel of Chertsey, And all other witches that walk in Dimmings Dale,[610] Clittering and clattering there your pots with ale, Incline your ears, and hear this my petition, And grant this child of health to have fruition! The blessing that Jordan to his godson gave,