[_Then the dancers without the hall sing this wise, and they within answer, or else they may say it for need_.[24]]
Peace, sirs, peace now! peace, sirs, all!
Silence, I say, be you among, For we be disposed to sing a song.
Come in, then, boldly among this presence, For here ye shall have good audience. Time to pass with goodly sport, Our sprites to revive and comfort, To pipe, to sing, To dance, to spring, With pleasure and delight, Following Sensual Appetite, To pipe, &c.
IGN. I can you thank; that is done well; It is pity ye had not a minstrel For to augment your solace. SEN. As for minstrel, it maketh no force, Ye shall see me dance a course Without a minstrel, be it better or worse; Follow all: I will lead a trace. HU. Now have among you, by this light! IGN. That is well said, by God Almight! Make room, sirs, and give them place.
[_Then he singeth this song and danceth withal, and evermore maketh countenance according to the matter; and all the others answer likewise_.]
Dance we, dance we, prance we, prance we, So merrily let us dance ey, so merrily, &c. And I can dance it gingerly, and I, &c. And I can foot it by and by, and I, &c. And I can prank it properly, And I can countenance comely,[25] And I can croak it courtesly, And I can leap it lustily, And I can turn it trimly, And I can frisk it freshly, And I can look it lordly. IGN. I can thee thank, Sensual Appetite! That is the best dance without a pipe, That I saw this seven year.[26] HU. This dance would do mich better yet, If we had a kit or taberet, But alas! there is none here. SEN. Then let us go to the tavern again, There shall we be sure of one or twain Of minstrels, that can well play. IGN. Then go, I pray ye, by and by, And purvey some minstrel ready, And he and I will follow shortly, As fast as ever we may. HU. Therewith I am right well content. SEN. Then will I go incontinent, And prepare every thing That is metely to be done; And for lack of minstrels, the mean season, Now will we begin to sing. Now we will here begin to sing, For dance can we no more, For minstrels here be all lacking; To the tavern we will therefore.
HU. Now if that Sensual Appetite can find Any good minstrels after his mind, Doubt not we shall have good sport. IGN. And so shall we have for a surety; But what shall we do now, tell me, The meanwhile for our comfort? HU. Then let us some lusty ballad sing. IGN. Nay, sir, by the Heaven King! For methinketh it serveth for nothing, All such peevish prick-eared song! HU. Peace, man, prick-song may not be despised, For therewith God is well pleased, Honoured, praised, and served, In the church ofttimes among. IGN. Is God well pleased, trow'st thou, thereby? Nay, nay, for there is no reason why, For is it not as good to say plainly, Give me a spade, As give me a spa, ve, va, ve, va, ve, vade? But if thou wilt have a song that is good, I have one of Robin Hood, The best that ever was made. HU. Then, a' fellowship, let us hear it. IGN. But there is a burden, thou must bear it, Or else it will not be. HU. Then begin and care not to ... Down, down, down, &c. IGN. Robin Hood in Barnsdale stood,[27] And leant him till a maple thistle; Then came our lady and sweet Saint Andrew. Sleepest thou, wakest thou, Geffrey Coke? A hundred winter the water was deep, I can not tell you how broad. He took a goose neck in his hand, And over the water he went. He start up to a thistle top, And cut him down a hollen club. He stroke the wren between the horns, That fire sprang out of the pig's tail. Jack boy, is thy bow i-broke? Or hath any man done the wriguldy wrag? He plucked muscles out of a willow, And put them into his satchel! Wilkin was an archer good, And well could handle a spade; He took his bent bow in his hand, And set him down by the fire. He took with him sixty bows and ten, A piece of beef, another of bacon. Of all the birds in merry England So merrily pipes the merry bottle![28]