- THE MERRY BEGGARS
- (from "A Jovial Crew,
or the Merry Beggars," 1652)
by: Richard Brome (c. 1590-1652)
- OME,
come away! the spring,
- By every bird that can but sing,
- Or chirp a note, doth now invite
- Us forth to taste of his delight,
- In field, in grove, on hill, in dale;
- But above all the nightingale,
- Who in her sweetness strives t'outdo
- The loudness of the hoarse cuckoo.
- "Cuckoo," cries he; "Jug, jug, jug,"
sings she;
- From bush to bush, from tree to tree:
- Why in one place then tarry we?
-
- Come away! why do we stay?
- We have no debt or rent to pay;
- No bargains or accounts to make,
- Nor land or lease to let or take:
- Or if we had, should that remore us
- When all the world's our own before us,
- And where we pass and make resort,
- It is our kingdom and our court?
- "Cuckoo," cries he; "Jug, jug, jug,"
sings she;
- From bush to bush, from tree to tree:
- Why in one place then tarry we?
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