From Christ Church MS. K. 3. 43-5.
(Music by Thomas Ford.)
YET1 if his majesty our sovereign lord
Should of his own accord
Friendly himself invite,
And say " I'll be your guest to morrow night,"
How should we stir ourselves, call and command
All hands to work ! " Let no man idle stand.
Set me fine Spanish tables in the hall,
See they be fitted all ;
Let there be room to eat,
And order taken that there want no meat.
See every sconce and candlestick made bright,
That without tapers they may give a light.
Look to the presence : are the carpets spread,
The dais 2 o'er the head,
The cushions in the chairs,
And all the candles lighted on the stairs ?
Perfume the chambers, and in any case
Let each man give attendance in his place."
Thus if the king were coming would we do,
And 'twere good reason too ;
For 'tis a duteous thing
To show all honour to an earthly king,
And after all our travail and our cost,
So he be pleased, to think no labour lost.
1 These verses seem to have been taken from some longer poem.
2 MS. "dazie.
