Page:Barnes (1879) Poems of rural life in the Dorset dialect (combined).djvu/333

Rh Then, if my bit o’ brook that do wind so vur round, &emsp;Wer but his, why, he’d straïghten his bed, An’ the wold stunpole woak that do stan’ in my ground, &emsp;Shoudden long sheäde the grass wi’ his head. But if I do vind jaÿ where the leaves be a-shook &emsp;On the limbs, wi’ their sheädes on the grass, Or below, in the bow o’ the withy-bound nook, &emsp;That the rock-washèn water do pass, Then wi’ they jaÿs a-vled an’ zome goold in their stead, &emsp;&emsp;I should paÿ vor my money, An’ only zell honey to buy zome’hat sweet.

No, be my lot good work, wi’ the lungs well in plaÿ, &emsp;An’ good rest when the body do tire, Vor the mind a good conscience, wi’ hope or wi’ jaÿ, &emsp;Vor the body, good lewth, an’ good vire, There’s noo good o’ goold, but to buy what ’ull meäke &emsp;Vor our happiness here among men; An’ who would gi’e happiness up vor the seäke &emsp;O’ zome money to buy it ageän? Vor ’twould seem to the eyes ov a man that is wise, &emsp;&emsp;Lik’ money vor money, Or zellèn woone’s honey to buy zome’hat sweet.

2. I do veel vor ye, Thomas, vor I be a-feär’d &emsp;You’ve a-lost your wold meäre then, by what I’ve a-heärd.

1. Ees, my meäre is a-gone, an’ the cart’s in the shed &emsp;Wi’ his wheelbonds a-rustèn, an’ I’m out o’ bread; &emsp;Vor what be my han’s vor to eärn me a croust, &emsp;Wi’ noo meäre’s vower legs vor to trample the doust.

2. Well, how did it happen? He veil vrom the brim &emsp;Ov a cliff, as the teäle is, an’ broke ev’ry lim’.