FIT THE FIFTH

Now in cometh another rabble:
First one with a ladle,
Another with a cradle,
And with a side-saddle:
And there began a fabble,
A clattering and a babble
Of foolish Philly
That had a foal with Willy,
With " Jast you!" and " Gup gilly!"
She could not lie stilly.

Then came in a jennet
And swore, " By Saint Bennet,
I drank not this sennight
A draught to my pay!
Elinour, I thee pray,
Of thine ale let us essay,
And have here a pilch of gray:
I wear skinn─ùs of coney,
That causeth I look so dony!"

Another then did hitch her,
And brought a pottle-pitcher,
A tunnel and a bottle,
But she had lost the stopple:
She cut off her shoe-sole,
And stopped therewith the hole.

Among─ù all the blommer
Another brought a skommer,
A frying-pan, and a slicer:
Elinour made the pric─ù
For good ale each wit.

Then start in mad Kit
That had little wit:
She seemed somedele sick
And brought a penny chick
To Dame Elinour
For a draught of liquor.

Then Margery Milkduck
Her kirtle she did uptuck
An inch above her knee,
Her legs that ye might see;
But they were sturdy and stubbed,
Mighty pestles and clubbed,
As fair and as white
As the foot of a kite.
She was somewhat foul,
Crooken-necked like an owl;
And yet she brought her fees,
A cantle of Essex cheese,
Was well a foot thick
Full of maggots quick:
It was huge and great,
And mighty strong meat
For the devil to eat:
It was tart and pungete!

Another set of sluts:
Some brought walnuts,
Some apples, some pears,
Some brought their clipping shears,
Some brought this and that,
Some brought I wot ne'er what;
Some brought their husband's hat,
Some puddings and links,
Some tripes that stinks.
But of all this throng
One came them among,
She seemed half a leech
And began to preach
Of the Tuesday in the week
When the mare doth kick;
Of the virtue of an unset leek,
Of her husband's breek;
With the feathers of a quail
She could to Bordeaux sail;
And with good ale barm─ù
She could make a charm─ù
To help withal a stitch:
She seemed to be a witch.
Another brought two goslings
That were noughty frostlings;
She brought them in a wallet,
She was a comely callet:
The goslings were untied;
Elinour began to chide,
" They be wretchocks thou hast brought,
They are sheer shaking nought!"