_He._ O Bell my wife, why dost thou flyte? Now is now, and then was then: Seek now all the world throughout, Thou kens not clowns from gentlemen: They are clad in black, green, yellow and blue, So far above their own degree. Once in my life I’ll take a view; For I’ll have a new cloak about me. cloth in grain] scarlet cloth. sigh clout] a rag for straining. _She._ King Stephen was a worthy peer; His breeches cost him but a crown; He held them sixpence all too dear, Therefore he called the tailor ‘lown.’ He was a king and wore the crown, And thou’se but of a low degree: It’s pride that puts this country down: Man, take thy old cloak about thee! _He._ Bell my wife, she loves not strife, Yet she will lead me, if she can; And to maintain an easy life I oft must yield, though I’m good-man. It’s not for a man with a woman to threap, Unless he first give o’er the plea: As we began, so will we keep, And I’ll take my old cloak about me. _29._ threap] argue. JOHN SKELTON 1460?-1529 _30._ _To Mistress Margery Wentworth_ With margerain gentle, The flower of goodlihead, Embroidered the mantle Is of your maidenhead. Plainly I cannot glose; Ye be, as I divine, The pretty primrose, The goodly columbine. _30._ margerain] marjoram. Benign, courteous, and meek, With wordes well devised; In you, who list to seek, Be virtues well comprised. With margerain gentle, The flower of goodlihead, Embroidered the mantle Is of your maidenhead. _31._ _To Mistress Margaret Hussey_ Merry Margaret As midsummer flower, Gentle as falcon Or hawk of the tower: With solace and gladness, Much mirth and no madness, All good and no badness; So joyously, So maidenly, So womanly Her demeaning In every thing, Far, far passing That I can indite, Or suffice to write Of Merry Margaret As midsummer flower, Gentle as falcon Or hawk of the tower. As patient and still And as full of good will As fair Isaphill, Coliander, Sweet pomander, Good Cassander; Steadfast of thought, Well made, well wrought, Far may be sought, Ere that ye can find So courteous, so kind As merry Margaret, This midsummer flower, Gentle as falcon Or hawk of the tower. _31._ Isaphill] Hypsipyle. coliander] coriander seed, an aromatic. pomander] a ball of perfume. Cassander] Cassandra. STEPHEN HAWES d. 1523 _32._ _The True Knight_