olin with six strings.]

_Corydon's Song_

A blithe and bonny country lass,
heigh ho, the bonny lass!
Sate sighing on the tender grass
and weeping said, will none come woo her.

A smicker[1] boy, a lither swain,
heigh ho, a smicker swain!
That in his love was wanton fain,
with smiling looks straight came unto her.

Whenas the wanton wench espied,
heigh ho, when she espied!
The means to make herself a bride,
she simpered smooth like Bonnybell:
The swain, that saw her squint-eyed kind,
heigh ho, squint-eyed kind!
His arms about her body twined,
and: "Fair lass, how fare ye, well?"

The country kit said: "Well, forsooth,
heigh ho, well forsooth!
But that I have a longing tooth,
a longing tooth that makes me cry."
"Alas!" said he, "what gars[2] thy grief?
heigh ho, what gars thy grief?"
"A wound," quoth she, "without relief,
I fear a maid that I shall die."
"If that be all," the shepherd said,
heigh ho, the shepherd said!
"Ile make thee wive it gentle maid,
and so recure thy malady."

Hereon they kissed with many an oath,
heigh ho, with many an oath!
And fore God Pan did plight their troth,
and to the church they hied them fast.
And God send every pretty peat,[3]
heigh ho, the pretty peat!
That fears to die of this conceit,
so kind a friend to help at last.

[Footnote 1: amorous, wanton.]

[Footnote 2: occasions.]

[Footnote 3: pet.]

Corydon having thus made them merry, as they were in the midst of
their jollity, word was brought in to Saladyne and Rosader that a
brother of theirs, one Fernandyne, was arrived, and desired to speak
with them. Gerismond overhearing this news, demanded who it was.

"It is, sir," quoth Rosader, "our middle brother, that lives a scholar
in Paris; but what fortune hath driven him to seek us out I know not."

With that Saladyne went and met his brother, whom he welcomed with all
courtesy, and Rosader gave him no less friendly entertainment; brought
he was by his two brothers into the parlor where they all sate at
dinner. Fernandyne, as one that knew as many manners as he could[1]
points of sophistry, and was as well brought up as well lettered,
saluted them all. But when he espied Gerismond, kneeling on his knee
he did him what reverence belonged to his estate, and with that burst
forth into