They asken that, and talken this, "Lo here is Coz, and here is Mifs. But, as he glozeth with Speeches foote, The Ducke sore tickleth his Erse roote: Fore-piece and buttons all-to-brest, Forth thrust a white neck, and red crest. Te-he, cry'd Ladies; Clerke nought spake: Miss star'd; and gray Ducke cryeth Quaake. " O Moder, Moder, (quoth the daughter) "Be thilke same thing Maids longer a'ter? " Bette is to pyne on coals and chalke, " Then trust on Mon, whose yerde can talke.

15

20

IN

II.

SPENSER,

The ALLEY.

I.

N ev'ry Town where Thamis rolls his Tyde,
A narrow Pass there is, with Houses low;

Where ever and anon, the Stream is ey'd,
And many a Boat soft fliding to and fro.

There oft are heard the notes of Infant Woe, s

The short thick Sob, loud Scream, and shriller

Squall :

How can ye, Mothers, vex your children fo? Some play, fome eat, some cack against the wall,

And as they crouchen low, for bread and butter call.

II.

And on the broken pavement, here and there, I Doth many a stinking sprat and herring lie;

A brandy and tobacco shop is near,

And hens, and dogs, and hogs are feeding by; And here a failor's jacket hangs to dry,

15

At ev'ry door are fun-burnt matrons seen,
Mending old nets to catch the scaly fry;
Now finging shrill, and scolding eft between;
Scolds answer foul-mouth'd fcolds; bad neighbour-

hood I ween.

III.

The snappish cur, (the passengers annoy)
Close at my heel with yelping treble flies; 20
The whimp'ring girl, and hoarfer-screaming boy,
Join to the yelping treble, shrilling cries;

The scolding Quean to louder notes doth rise,
And her full pipes those shrilling cries confound;
To her full pipes the grunting hog replies;
The grunting hogs alarm the neighbours round,
And curs, girls, boys, and scolds, in the deep base

are drown'd.

IV.

Hard by a Sty, beneath a roof of thatch,

Dwelt Obloquy, who in her early days

Baskets of fish at Billinsgate did watch,
Cod, whiting, oyster, mackrel, sprat, or plaice:
There learn'd she speech from tongues that never

30

Slander befide her, like a Mag-pie, chatters,
With Envy, (spitting Cat) dread foe to peace;
Like a curs'd Cur, Malice before her clatters, 35
And vexing ev'ry wight, tears clothes and all to tat-

ters.

i

V.

Her dugs were mark'd by ev'ry Collier's hand,
Her mouth was black as bull-dogs at the stall :
She scratched, bit, and spar'd ne lace ne band,
And bitch and rogue her answer was to all; 40
Nay, e'en the parts of shame by name would call :
Yea, when she passed by or lane or nook,
Would greet the man who turn'd him to the Wall,
And by his hand obscene the porter took,

Nor ever did askance like modest Virgin look. 45

VI.

Such place hath Deptford, navy-building town,
Woolwich and Wapping, smelling strong of pitch;
Such Lambeth, envy of each band and gown,
And Twick'nam fuch, which fairer scenes enrich,
Grots, statues, urns, and Jo---n's Dog and Bitch,
VOL. II.

R

Ne village is without, on either side,

All up the filver Thames, or all adown;

Ne Richmond's self, from whose tall front are

ey'd

Vales, spires, meandring streams, and Windfor's tow'ry pride.