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Rh An auncient crone, yclepd by housewives , All this devisd for trim Oeconomie; But certes, ever from her birth bereft Of elegance, ill fitts her title high: Coarse were her looks, yet smoothe her courtesie, Hoyden her shapes, but grave was her attyre, And ever fixt on trifles was her eye; And still she plodden round the kitchen fyre, To save the smallest crombe her pleasure and desyre.

Bow-bent with eld, her steps were soft and slow, Fast at her side a bounch of keys yhong, Dull Care sat brooding on her jealous brow, Sagacious proverbs dropping from her tongue: Yet sparing though she beene her guestes emong, Ought by herselfe that she mote gormandise, The foul curmudgeon would have that ere long, And hardly could her witt her gust suffice; Albee in varied stream, still was it Covetise.