O, never, O, never will I hear an orphan cry, Nor yet a gentle virgin until the day I die; You wandering Jews that travel the wide world round, May knock at the door where truth is to be found. Often against the Turks and Infidels we fight, To let the wandering world know we’re in the right, For in heaven there’s a lodge, and St. Peter keeps the door, And none can enter in but those that are pure. St. Peter he opened, and so we entered in, Into the holy seat secure, which is all free from sin; St. Peter he opened, and so we entered there, And the glory of the temple no man can compare. GOD SPEED THE PLOW, AND BLESS THE CORN-MOW. A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE HUSBANDMAN AND SERVINGMAN. The tune is, _I am the Duke of Norfolk_. [THIS ancient dialogue, though in a somewhat altered form (see the ensuing poem), has long been used at country merry-makings. It is transcribed from a black-letter copy in the third volume of the Roxburgh collection, apparently one of the imprints of Peter Brooksby, which would make the composition at least as old as the close of the fifteenth century. There are several dialogues of a similar character.] ARGUMENT. The servingman the plowman would invite To leave his calling and to take delight; But he to that by no means will agree, Lest he thereby should come to beggary. He makes it plain appear a country life Doth far excel: and so they end the strife. * * * * * MY noble friends give ear, if mirth you love to hear, I’ll tell you as fast as I can, A story very true, then mark what doth ensue, Concerning of a husbandman. A servingman did meet a husbandman in the street, And thus unto him began: SERVINGMAN. I pray you tell to me of what calling you be, Or if you be a servingman? HUSBANDMAN. Quoth he, my brother dear, the coast I mean to clear, And the truth you shall understand: I do no one disdain, but this I tell you plain, I am an honest husbandman. SERVINGMAN. If a husbandman you be, then come along with me, I’ll help you as soon as I can Unto a gallant place, where in a little space, You shall be a servingman. HUSBANDMAN. Sir, for your diligence I give you many thanks, These things I receive at your hand; I pray you to me show, whereby that I might know, What pleasures hath a servingman? SERVINGMAN. A servingman hath pleasure, which passeth time and measure, When the hawk on his fist doth stand; His hood, and his verrils brave, and other things, we have, Which yield joy to a servingman. HUSBANDMAN.