[Sidenote: Forth to grasse with thy calues.]
27 To gras with thy calues in some medow plot nere, where neither their mothers may see them nor here. Where water is plentie and barth to sit warme, and looke well vnto them, for taking of harme.
28 Pinch neuer thy wennels of water or meat, if euer ye hope for to haue them good neat: In Sommer time dailie, in Winter in frost, if cattel lack drinke, they be vtterly lost.
29 For coueting much ouerlay not thy ground, and then shall thy cattel be lustie and sound. But pinch them of pasture, while Sommer doth last, and lift at their tailes er an Winter be past.[E323]
30 Get home with thy fewell, made readie to fet, the sooner the easier carrege to get: Or otherwise linger the carrege thereon, till (where as ye left it) a quarter be gon.
31 His firing in Sommer, let Citizen buie, least buieng in Winter make purse for to crie. For carman and collier harps both on a string, in Winter they cast to be with thee to bring.[12]
32 From Maie to mid August, an hower or two, let patch[E325] sleepe a snatch, how soeuer ye do, Though sleeping one hower refresheth his song, yet trust not hob growthed[E326] for sleeping too long.
33 The knowledge of stilling is one pretie feat, The waters be holesome, the charges not great.[E327] What timelie thou gettest, while Sommer doth last, thinke Winter will helpe thee, to spend it as fast.
34 Fine bazell desireth it may be hir lot, to growe as the gilloflower, trim in a pot, That ladies and gentils, for whom she doth serue, may helpe hir as needeth, poore life to preserue.[13]
35 Keepe oxe fro thy cow that to profit would go, least cow be deceiued by oxe dooing so: And thou recompenced for suffering the same, with want of a calfe and a cow to wax lame.
[1] "Reeding is no where so well done as in Norfolk and Suffolk.... It will bear a better slope than any other thatch."--T.R.
[3] "or, as some call it, the Tine-tare."--T.R.
[6] "I am told that 20_s._ an acre is the common Price for looking after a hop ground."--T.R.
[9] "The Proverb says, 'A Swarm in May is worth a Load of Hay.'"--T.R. 1710. Mavor says a swarm might fetch 15_s._ in his time (1812).
[10] The author of _Tusser Redivivus_ and Mavor prefer _fallow_; though M. says that all standard editions read _follow_. Cf. st. 9, above.