Whan sopperes paste we’lle drenche youre ale soe stronge, 85
Tyde lyfe, tyde death.

CELMONDE.

Ye Mynstrelles, chaunt your songe.

Mynstrelles Songe, bie a Manne and Womanne.

MANNE.

Tourne thee to thie Shepsterr[30] swayne;
Bryghte sonne has ne droncke the dewe
From the floures of yellowe hue;
Tourne thee, Alyce, backe agayne. 90

  WOMANNE.

    No, bestoikerre[31], I wylle goe,
    Softlie tryppynge o’ere the mees[32],
    Lyche the sylver-footed doe,
    Seekeynge shelterr yn grene trees.

  MANNE.

    See the moss-growne daisey’d banke, 95
    Pereynge ynne the streme belowe;
    Here we’lle sytte, yn dewie danke;
    Tourne thee, Alyce, do notte goe.

  WOMANNE.

    I’ve hearde erste mie grandame saie,
    Yonge damoyselles schulde ne bee, 100
    Inne the swotie moonthe of Maie,
    Wythe yonge menne bie the grene wode tree.

  MANNE.

    Sytte thee, Alyce, sytte, and harke,
    Howe the ouzle[33] chauntes hys noate,
    The chelandree[34], greie morn larke, 105
    Chauntynge from theyre lyttel throate;

  WOMANNE.

    I heare them from eche grene wode tree,
    Chauntynge owte so blatauntlie[35],
    Tellynge lecturnyes[36] to mee,
    Myscheefe ys whanne you are nygh. 110

  MANNE.

    See alonge the mees so grene
    Pied daisies, kynge-coppes swote;
    Alle wee see, bie non bee scene,
    Nete botte shepe settes here a fote.

  WOMANNE.

    Shepster swayne, you tare mie gratche[37]. 115
    Oute uponne ye! lette me goe. 
    Leave mee swythe, or I’lle alatche. 
    Robynne, thys youre dame shall knowe.

  MANNE.

    See! the crokynge brionie
    Rounde the popler twyste hys spraie; 120
    Rounde the oake the greene ivie
    Florryschethe and lyveth aie.

    Lette us seate us bie thys tree,
    Laughe, and synge to lovynge ayres;
    Comme, and doe notte coyen bee; 125
    Nature made all thynges bie payres. 
    Drooried cattes wylle after kynde;
    Gentle doves wylle kyss and coe.

  WOMANNE.

    Botte manne, hee moste bee ywrynde,
    Tylle syr preeste make on of two. 130

    Tempte mee ne to the foule thynge;
    I wylle no mannes lemanne be;
    Tyll syr preeste hys songe doethe synge,
    Thou shalt neere fynde aught of mee.

  MANNE.