Page:Lyrics from the Song-Books of the Elizabethan Age (1896).djvu/227

Rh From Christ Church MS. K. 3. 43-5.

(Music by Thomas Ford.) ET1 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.