'Twas now the most beautiful time of the year, The days were now long, and the sky was now clear, And May, that fair lady of splendid renown, Had dressed herself fine, in her flowered tabby gown, When about some two hours and an half after noon, When it grew something late, though I thought it too soon, With a pitiful voice, and a most heavy heart, I tuned up my pipes to sing _'loth to depart;_' The ditty concluded, I called for my horse, And with a good pack did the jument endorse, Till he groaned and he f----d under the burden, For sorrow had made me a cumbersome lurden: And now farewell, Dove, where I've caught such brave dishes Of over-grown, golden, and silver-scaled fishes; Thy trout and thy grayling may now feed securely, I've left none behind me can take 'em so surely; Feed on then, and breed on, until the next year, But if I return I expect my arrear. By pacing and trotting betimes in the even, Ere the sun had forsaken one half of the heaven, We all at fair Congerton took up our inn, Where the sign of a king kept a King and his queen: But who do you think came to welcome me there'? No worse a man, marry, than good master mayor, With his staff of command, yet the man was not lame, But he needed it more when he went, than he came; After three or four hours of friendly potation, We took leave each of other in courteous fashion, When each one, to keep his brains fast in his head, Put on a good nightcap, and straightway to bed. Next morn, having paid for boiled, roasted, and bacon, And of sovereign hostess our leaves kindly taken, (For her king, as 'twas rumoured, by late pouring down, This morning had got a foul flaw in his crown,) We mounted again, and full soberly riding, Three miles we had rid ere we met with a biding; But there, having over-night plied the tap well, We now must needs water at a place called Holmes Chapel: 'A hay!' quoth the foremost, 'ho! who keeps the house?' Which said, out an host comes as brisk as a louse; His hair combed as sleek as a barber he'd been, A cravat with black ribbon tied under his chin; Though by what I saw in him, I straight 'gan to fear That knot would be one day slipped under his ear. Quoth he (with low conge), 'What lack you, my lord?' 'The best liquor,' quoth I, 'that the house will afford.' 'You shall straight,' quoth he; and then calls out, 'Mary? Come quickly, and bring us a quart of Canary.' 'Hold, hold, my spruce host! for i' th' morning so early, I never drink liquor but what's made of barley.' Which words were scarce out, but, which made me admire, My lordship was presently turned into 'squire: