Come on my masters, who begins? I think it is best to draw cuts and avoid contention.
_Pet_. It is a match. Look, the shortest Cut fals to _Coridon_.
_Cor_. Well then, I wil begin; for I hate contention.
_Oh the sweet contentment The country man doth find! high trolollie laliloe high trolollie lee, That quiet contemplation Possesseth all my mind_: Then care away, and wend along with me.
_For Courts are full of flattery, As hath too oft been tri'd; high trolollie lollie loe high trolollie lee, The City full of wantonness, and both are full of pride_: Then care away, and wend along with me.
_But oh the honest countryman Speaks truly from his heart, high trolollie lollie loe high trolollie lee, His pride is in his Tillage, his Horses and his Cart_: Then care away, and wend along with me.
_Our clothing is good sheep skins Gray russet for our wives, high trolollie lollie loe high trolollie lee. 'Tis warmth and not gay clothing that doth prolong our lives_: Then care away, and wend along with me,
_The ploughman, though he labor hard, Yet on the_ Holy-day, _high trolollie lollie loe high trolollie lee, No Emperor so merrily does pass his time away_: Then care away, and wend along with me.
_To recompence our Tillage, The Heavens afford us showrs; high trolollie lollie loe high trolollie lee, And for our sweet refreshments the earth affords us bowers_: Then care away, &c.
_The_ Cuckoe _and the_ Nightingale _full merrily do sing, high trolollie lollie loe high trolollie lee, And with their pleasant roundelayes bid welcome to the_ Spring: Then care away, and wend along with me.
_This is not half the happiness the Country man injoyes; high trolollie lollie loe high trolollie lee, Though others think they have as much yet he that says so lies_: Then come away, turn County man with me_.
_Pisc_. Well sung _Coridon_, this Song was sung with mettle, and it was choicely fitted to the occasion; I shall love you for it as long as I know you: I would you were a brother of the Angle, for a companion that is cheerful and free from swearing and scurrilous discourse, is worth gold. I love such mirth as does not make friends ashamed to look upon one another next morning; nor men (that cannot wel bear it) to repent the money they spend when they be warmed with drink: and take this for a rule, you may pick out such times and such companies, that you may make your selves merrier for a little then a great deal of money; for _'Tis the company and not the charge that makes the feast_: and such a companion you prove, I thank you for it.