The Canterbury tales and Faerie queene &c., &c., &c., ed. for popular perusal with current illustrations and explanatory notes, by D. Laing Purves.

MOTHEMHfUBBERD'S TALE; 591
Hear, then, my pain and inward agony. Even as new occasion appears?
Thus many years I now have spent and worn, Or shall we tie ourselves for certain years
In mean regard, and basest fortune's scorn, To any service, or to any place?
Doing my country service as I might, For it behoves, ere that into the race
No less, I dare say, than the proudest wight; We enter, to resolve first hereupon."
And still I hoped to be up advanc'd " Now surely, brother," said the Fox anon;
For my good parts; but still it has mischanc'd. " Ye have this matter motionid in season:
Now therefore that no longer hope I see, For ev'ry thing that is begun with reason
But froward fortune still to follow me, Will come by ready means unto his end;
And losels 1 lifted high, where I did look, But things miscounselled must needs miswend.6
I mean to turn the next leaf of the book. Thus therefore I advise upon the case,
Yet, ere that any way I do betake, That not to any certain trade or place,
I mean my gossip privy first to make." Nor any man, we should ourselves apply;
" Ah! my dear gossip," answer'd then the Ape, For why should he that is at liberty
"Deeply do your sad words my wits.awhape,2 Make himself bond? since thenwe are free-born,
Both for because your grief doth great appear, Let us all servile base subjection scorn;
And eke because myself am touched near: And, as we be sons of the world so wide,
For I likewise have wasted'much good time, Let us our father's heritage divide;
Still waiting to preferment up to climb, And challenge to ourselves our portions due
Whilst others always have before me stept, Of all the patrimony, which a few
And from my beard the fat away have-swept; Now hold in hugger-mugger 7 in their hand,
That now unto despair I gin to grow, And all the rest do rob of good and land.
And mean for better wind about to throw. For now a few have all, and all have naught;
Therefore to me, my trusty friend, aread' Yet'all be brethren alike dearly bought:
Thy counsel; two is better than one head." There is no right in this partiti6n,
"Certes," said he, " I mean me to disguise Nor was it so by instituti6n
In some strange habit, after uncouth wise, Ordain'ed first, nor by the law of Nature,
Or like a pilgrim, or a limiter,4 But that she gave like blessing to each creature,
Or like a gipsy, or a juggeler, As well of worldly livelod 8 as of life,
And so to wander to the worlde's end, That there might be no difference nor strife,
To seek my fortune where I may it mend: Nor aught call'd mine or thine: thrice happythen
For worse than that I have I cannot meet. Was the condition of mortal men.
Wide is the world, I wot, and ev'ry street That was the golden age of Saturn old,
Is full of fortunes and adventures strange, But this might better be the world of gold;
Continually subject unto change. For without gold now nothing will be got,
Say, my fair brother now, if this device Therefore (if please you) this shall be our plot:
Doth like you, or may you to like entice." We will not be of any occupation;
"Surely," said th' Ape, "it likes me wondrous Let such vile vassals, born to base vocation,
well; Drudge in the world, and for their living droil,9
And, would ye not poor fellowship expel, Which have no wit to live withouten toil.
Myself would offer you t' accompany But we will walk about the world at pleasure,
In this adventure's chaineful jeopardy: Like two free men, and make our ease our treaFor to wax old at home in idleness: sure.
Is disadventurous, and quite fortuneless; Free men some beggars call, but they befree;
Abroad, where change is, good may gotten be." And they which call them so more beggars be:
The Fox was glad, and quickly did agree: For they do swink 10 and sweat to feed the other,
So both resolv'd, the morrow next ensuing, Who live like lords of that which they do gather,
So soon as day appear'd to people's viewing, And yet do never thank them for the same,
On their intended journey to proceed; But as their due by nature do it claim.
And over night, whatso thereto did need, Such will we fashion both ourselves to be,
Each did prepare, in readiness to be. Lords of the world; and so will wander free
The morrow next, so soon as one might see Where so us listeth, uncontroll'd of any:
Light out of heaven's windows forth to look, Hard is our hap, if we (amongst so many)
Both their habiliments unto them took, Light not on some that may our state amend;
And put themselves (a God's name) on their Seldom but some good cometh ere the end."
way; Well seem'd the Ape to like this ordinance:
When as the Ape, beginning well to weigh Yet, well considering of the circumstance,
This hard adventure, thus began t' advise: As pausing in great doubt, a while he stay'd,
"Now read,5 Sir Reynold, as ye be right wise, And afterwards with grave advisement said;
What course ye ween is best for us to take, "I cannot, my lief 1 brother, like but well
That for ourselves we may-a living make. The purpose of the complot which ye tell:
Whether shall we profess some trade or skill? For well I wot (compar'd to all the rest
Or shall we vary our device at will, Of each degree) that beggars' life is best;
1 Base, worthless persons. 5 Tell. 6 Go wrong.
2 Confound. 3 Declare. 7 Secretly. 8 Livelihood, means of living.
4 A friar licensed-to beg within a certain district. 9 Work slavishly. o1 Toil. l1 Dear.