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His beard was as white as snow,

All flaxen was his poll:

He is gone, he is gone,

And we cast away moan:

God ha' mercy on his soul !

II

Come o'er the bourn, Bessy, to me!

-Her boat hath a leak,

And she must not speak

Why she dares not come over to thee!

III

Sleepest or wakest thou, jolly shepherd? Thy sheep be in the corn;

And for one blast of thy minikin mouth, Thy sheep shall take no harm.

E

XLIII

THE MISANTHROPE

IMMORTAL gods, I crave no pelf;

I pray for no man but myself : Grant I may never prove so fond, To trust man on his oath or bond; Or a harlot, for her weeping;

Or a dog, that seems a-sleeping;

Or a keeper with my freedom;

Or my friends, if I should need 'em.

Amen. So fall to't :

Rich men sin, and I eat root.

XLIV

NATURE AND MAN

BLOW, blow, thou winter wind,

Thou art not so unkind

As man's ingratitude ;

Thy tooth is not so keen,

Because thou art not seen,

Although thy breath be rude.

Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:

Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly : Then, heigh-ho, the holly!

This life is most jolly.

Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
That dost not bite so nigh

As benefits forgot :
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp

As friend remember'd not.

Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:

Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly: Then, heigh-ho, the holly!

This life is most jolly.

XLV

THE WORLD'S WAY

WHY, let the stricken deer go weep,

The hart ungalléd play ;

For some must watch, while some must sleep : So runs the world away.

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