"What might that pair of shoes betide,
That lately stood by thy bedside?"

"If pair of shoes stood ever there,
That pair of shoes my slippers were."

"Those children small, how came they, say,
The other day in thy bed that lay?"

"No children small I ween were they,
But pups with which I'm wont to play."

"How happ'd this morn that baby scream.
Which from thy chamber broke my dream?"

"O babes in that guise seldom squall,
My maid cried for her keys so small."

"What might that splendid cradle mean,
Which hidden here I oft have seen?"

"It was no cradle met thine eyes,
But my silk woof about that lies.

"Brother if thou hast questions more,
I've other answers still in store."

When women for answers are at stop,
There'll be in the main no water drop.

EPIGRAMS

1.

There's no living, my boy, without plenty of gold,
But gold to obtain you must ever be bold.
The Diver will never who feareth the shark
Bring up precious pearls from the sea caverns dark.

2.

O think not you'll change what on high is designed,
Though you lift up your hands and to heaven you shout;
The Angel will grieve not, who governs the wind,
Though a gust should the lamp of the widow blow out.

3.

Load not thyself with gold, O mortal man, for know
No strength thou'lt have for loads when summon'd hence away.
Avoid excess of meat, it maketh gross, I trow,
And gross thou must not be when summon'd hence away;
For through the narrow gate thou'lt find it hard to go
Of death, if thou art gross when summon'd hence away.

* * * * *

LONDON:
Printed for THOMAS J. WISE, Hampstead, N.W.
_Edition limited to Thirty Copies_.

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