When linnet-like confinèd, I With shriller throat shall sing The sweetness, mercy, majesty, And glories of my king: When I shall voice aloud how good He is, how great should be,-- Enlargèd winds that curl the flood Know no such liberty.
Stone walls do not a prison make, Nor iron bars a cage; Minds innocent and quiet take That for a hermitage: If I have freedom in my love, And in my soul am free,-- Angels alone that soar above Enjoy such liberty.
Tell me not, sweet, I am unkind,-- That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.
True, a new mistress now I chase, The first foe in the field; And with a stronger faith embrace A sword, a horse, a shield.
Yet this inconstancy is such As you, too, shall adore; I could not love thee, dear, so much, Loved I not honour more.
Ye gentlemen of England That live at home at ease, Ah! little do ye think upon The dangers of the seas. Give ear unto the mariners, And they will plainly show All the cares and the fears When the stormy winds do blow. When the stormy winds do blow.
If enemies oppose us When England is at war With any foreign nation, We fear not wound or scar; Our roaring guns shall teach 'em Our valour for to know, Whilst they reel on the keel, And the stormy winds do blow. And the stormy winds do blow.
Then courage, all brave mariners, And never be dismay'd; While we have bold adventurers, We ne'er shall want a trade: Our merchants will employ us To fetch them wealth, we know; Then be bold--work for gold, When the stormy winds do blow. When the stormy winds do blow.
Come follow, follow me, You, fairy elves that be: Which circle on the greene, Come follow Mab your queene. Hand in hand let's dance around, For this place is fairye ground.
When mortals are at rest, And snoring in their nest; Unheard, and unespy'd, Through key-holes we do glide; Over tables, stools, and shelves, We trip it with our fairy elves.
And, if the house be foul With platter, dish, or bowl, Upstairs we nimbly creep, And find the sluts asleep; There we pinch their armes and thighes; None escapes, nor none espies.
But if the house be swept, And from uncleanness kept, We praise the household maid, And duely she is paid: For we use before we goe To drop a tester in her shoe.