WELL met, my brother friend, all at this highway end, So simple all alone, as you can, I pray you tell to me, what may your calling be, Are you not a servingman? HUSBANDMAN. No, no, my brother dear, what makes you to inquire Of any such a thing at my hand? Indeed I shall not feign, but I will tell you plain, I am a downright husbandman. SERVINGMAN. If a husbandman you be, then go along with me, And quickly you shall see out of hand, How in a little space I will help you to a place, Where you may be a servingman. HUSBANDMAN. Kind sir! I ‘turn you thanks for your intelligence, These things I receive at your hand; But something pray now show, that first I may plainly know The pleasures of a servingman. SERVINGMAN. Why a servingman has pleasure beyond all sort of measure, With his hawk on his fist, as he does stand; For the game that he does kill, and the meat that does him fill, Are pleasures for the servingman. HUSBANDMAN. And my pleasure’s more than that, to see my oxen fat, And a good stock of hay by them stand; My plowing and my sowing, my reaping and my mowing, Are pleasures for the husbandman. SERVINGMAN. Why it is a gallant thing to ride out with a king, With a lord, duke, or any such man; To hear the horns to blow, and see the hounds all in a row, That is pleasure for the servingman. HUSBANDMAN. But my pleasure’s more I know, to see my corn to grow, So thriving all over my land; And, therefore, I do mean, with my plowing with my team, To keep myself a husbandman. SERVINGMAN. Why the diet that we eat is the choicest of all meat, Such as pig, goose, capon, and swan; Our pastry is so fine, we drink sugar in our wine, That is living for the servingman. HUSBANDMAN. Talk not of goose nor capon, give me good beef or bacon, And good bread and cheese, now at hand; With pudding, brawn, and souse, all in a farmer’s house, That is living for the husbandman. SERVINGMAN. Why the clothing that we wear is delicate and rare, With our coat, lace, buckles, and band; Our shirts are white as milk, and our stockings they are silk, That is clothing for a servingman. HUSBANDMAN. But I value not a hair your delicate fine wear, Such as gold is laced upon; Give me a good grey coat, and in my purse a groat, That is clothing for the husbandman. SERVINGMAN.