stance,

MEDITATION IN WINTER.

I.

Into thir' dark and drublie2 days,
When sable all the heaven arrays,

When misty vapours clouds the skies,
Nature all courage me denies
Of songs, balladis, and of plays.

II.

When that the night does lengthen hours,
With wind, with hail, and heavy showers,
My dule spreit 3 does lurk forschoir; 4
My heart for languor does forloir.5
For lack of Summer with his flowers.

III.

I wake, I turn; sleep may I nought;
I vexed am with heavy thought;

This world all o'er I cast about:
And aye the mair I am in doubt,
The mair that I remeid have sought.

IV.

I am assayed on every side.
Despair says aye, In time provide,
And get something whereon to leif;"
Or, with great trouble and mischief,
Thou shall into this court abide."

V.

Then Patience says,
Be not aghast ;
Hold hope and truth within thee fast;
And let Fortune work forth her rage;
When that no reason may assuage,

Fullest of science and of knowledging,
To us be mirrors in your governance ! 9
And in our darkness be lamps of shining!
Or then infrustrar is all your long learning; Till that her glass be run and past."
Gif to your saws "your deedis contrar be,
Your maist12 accuser is your own cunning:13
A perilous sickness is vain prosperity.

VI.

And Prudence in my ear says aye,
Why would thou hold what will away?
Or crave that thou may have no space
Thou tending to another place
A journey going every day?"

And with thy neighbours gladly lend Take thou example, and spend with

Though all the werk' that ever had livand No man has courage for to write,
wight
What pleasance is in love perfite,
Were only thine,2 no more thy part does That has in feigned love delight: