The Buxom dame of Reading, or, The cuckold's cap/A Winter Piece

A WINTER PIECE.

WHen the trees were all bare not a leaf to be ſeen,
⁠and the meadows their beauty had loſt:
When all nature diſrob'd of her mantle of green,
⁠and the rivers bound up by the froſt.

When the peaſant inactive ſtands ſhivering with cold,
⁠as the black winds northerly blow:
Then innocent lambs ſeud away to their fold,
⁠with their fleeces all covered with ſnow.

⟨In⟩ the yard where the cattle are ſolder'd with ſtraw,
⁠and they ſend forth their breath with a ſtream,
And the neat looking derry-maid ſees ſhe muſt thaw,
⁠flakes of ice ſhe beholds on the cream.

There the ſweet country maiden as freſh as a roſe,
⁠ſhe careleſsly ſlips and then ſlides;
Then the ruſtics laughs loud, if by falling ſhe ſhows,
⁠all the charms which her modeſty hides.

When the lads and the laſſes in company join,
⁠and ſet round the embers, they chat;
⟨Talk⟩ of witches and fairies, that ride on the wind,
⁠and of Ghoſts all they're all in a fweat.

When the birds to the barn door come hovering for food,
⁠and they earneſtly drop from their ſpray;
Then the poor frighted have in vain walks the wood,
⁠leaſt her foot-ſteps her courſe ſhould betray.

⟨Heaven⟩ grant in that ſeaſon it may be my lot,
⁠with the maid whom I love and admire,
While the ice ſickles hing from the eves of my cot,
⁠may we live therein ſafely retired.

⟨In⟩ peace and in pleaſure, and free from all care,
⁠may we live, and each other admire;
⟨And⟩ thus in due ſeaſon when ſickneſs falls out,
⁠then each of each other, may tak cure.