Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 Excerpt: ... doth this tale approve That I am well seen in the art of love. For I, intending no love, but to mock, Yet could no lover of all the whole flock Circumstance of love disclose more nor better Than did I, the substance being no greater. And, by this tale afore, ye all may see Although a lover as well loved be As love can devise him for pleasant speed, Yet two displeasures--jealousy and dread--Is mixed with love; whereby love is a drink meet sweet. To give babes for worms, for it drinketh bitter And, as for this babe, our lover, in whose head By a frantic worm his opinion is bred, After one draught of this medicine ministered Into his brain by my brain appointed, Reason shall so temper his opinion That he shall see it not worth an onion. And if he have any other thing to lay I have to convince him every way. And since my part now doth thus well appear, Be ye, my partners, now all of good cheer--But, silence, every man, upon a pain, For Master Woodcock is now come again. The Lover Loved entereth. Lover Loved. The old saying saith, he that seeketh shall find; Which, after long seeking, true have I found. But, for such a finding myself to bind, To such a seeking as I was now bound, I would rather seek to lose twenty pound. Howbeit I have sought so far to my pain That at the last I have found and brought twain. The Lover not Loved, and Loved not Loving entereth. Neither Lover nor Loved. Come they ahorseback? Lover Loved. Nay, they come a-foot, mist. Which thou might see here, but for this great Neither Lover nor Loved. By Jys! and yet see I, thou blind bald coot! That one of those twain might ride if he list. Lover Loved. How? Neither Lover nor Loved. Marry! for he leadeth a nag on his fist--Mistress, ye are welcome, and welcome ye be! Loved not Loving. Nay, welco...