NOW as fame does report, a young duke keeps a court, | |
| One that pleases his fancy with frolicksome sport: | |
| But amongst all the rest, here is one I protest, | |
| Which will make you to smile when you hear the true jest: | |
| A poor tinker he found, lying drunk on the ground, | 5 |
| As secure in a sleep as if laid in a swound. | |
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| The duke said to his men, William, Richard, and Ben, | |
| Take him home to my palace, we ’ll sport with him then: | |
| O’er a horse he was laid, and with care soon convey’d | |
| To the palace, altho’ he was poorly arrai’d: | 10 |
| Then they stript off his cloaths, both his shirt, shoes, and hose, | |
| And they put him to bed for to take his repose. | |
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| Having pull’d off his shirt, which was all over durt, | |
| They did give him clean holland, this was no great hurt; | |
| On a bed of soft down, like a lord of renown, | 15 |
| They did lay him to sleep the drink out of his crown. | |
| In the morning when day, then admiring he lay, | |
| For to see the rich chamber both gaudy and gay. | |
| |
| Now he lay something late, in his rich bed of state, | |
| Till at last knights and squires they on him did wait; | 20 |
| And the chamberling bare, then did likewise declare, | |
| He desired to know what apparel he ’d ware; | |
| The poor tinker amaz’d, on the gentleman gaz’d, | |
| And admired how he to this honour was rais’d. | |
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| Tho’ he seem’d something mute, yet he chose a rich suit, | 25 |
| Which he straitways put on without longer dispute; | |
| With a star on his side, which the tinker offt ey’d, | |
| And it seem’d for to swell him, no little with pride; | |
| For he said to himself, Where is Joan my sweet wife? | |
| Sure she never did see me so fine in her life. | 30 |
| |
| From a convenient place, the right duke his good grace | |
| Did observe his behaviour in every case. | |
| To a garden of state, on the tinker they wait, | |
| Trumpets sounding before him: thought he, this is great: | |
| Where an hour or two, pleasant walks he did view, | 35 |
| With commanders and squires in scarlet and blew. | |
| |
| A fine dinner was drest, both for him and his guests, | |
| He was plac’d at a table above all the rest, | |
| In a rich chair or bed, lin’d with fine crimson red, | |
| With a rich golden canopy over his head: | 40 |
| As he sat at his meat, the musick play’d sweet, | |
| With the choicest of singing his joys to compleat. | |
| |
| While the tinker did dine, he had plenty of wine, | |
| Rich canary with sherry and tent superfine. | |
| Like a right honest soul, faith, he took off his bowl, | 45 |
| Till at last he began for to tumble and roul | |
| From his chair to the floor, where he sleeping did snore, | |
| Being seven times drunker than ever before. | |
| |
| Then the duke did ordain, they should strip him amain, | |
| And restore him his old leather garments again: | 50 |
| ’T was a point next the worst, yet perform it they must, | |
| And they carry’d him strait, where they found him at first; | |
| Then he slept all the night, as indeed well he might; | |
| But when he did waken, his joys took their flight. | |
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| For his glory to him so pleasant did seem, | 55 |
| That he thought it to be but a meer golden dream; | |
| Till at length he was brought to the duke, where he sought | |
| For a pardon, as fearing he had set him at nought; | |
| But his highness he said, Thou ’rt a jolly bold blade, | |
| Such a frolick before I think never was plaid. | 60 |
| |
| Then his highness bespoke him a new suit and cloak, | |
| Which he gave for the sake of this frolicksome joak; | |
| Nay, and five-hundred pound, with ten acres of ground, | |
| Thou shalt never, said he, range the counteries round, | |
| Crying old brass to mend, for I ’ll be thy good friend, | 65 |
| Nay, and Joan thy sweet wife shall my duchess attend. | |
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| Then the tinker reply’d, What! must Joan my sweet bride | |
| Be a lady in chariots of pleasure to ride? | |
| Must we have gold and land ev’ry day at command? | |
| Then I shall be a squire I well understand: | 70 |
| Well I thank your good grace, and your love I embrace, | |
| I was never before in so happy a case. | |
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