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Though fence, well kept, is one good point,
And tilth well done, in season due ;
Yet needing salve, in time t'anoint,
Is all in all, and needfull true :
As for the rest,

Thus think I best,

As friend doth guest,

With hand in hand to lead thee forth,

TO CERES camp, there to behold
A thousand things, as richly worth,
As any pearl is worthy gold.

This introduction was first added to the edition of 1580. It is wanting in that of 1573, which, on the whole, however, is an excellent edition.

To keep touch, is a proverbial form of expression for being punctual to engagements, particularly of a pecuniary nature.

Ceres, Goddess of Husbandry.

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What look ye for more in my book?

Points needfull and meet to be known?
Then daily be suer' to look,

To save to be suer thine own.

THE COMMODITIES OF HUSBANDRY.

Let house have to fill her,
Let land have to till her.

No dwellers, what profiteth house for to stand?
What goodness, unoccupied, bringeth the land?
No labour, no bread,

No husbandry used, how soon shall we sterve?
House-keeping neglected, what comfort to serve.
Ill father, no gift,

No knowledge, no thrift,

The father an unthrift, what hope for the son?
The ruler unskilfull, how quickly undone ?

Suer for sure, fier for fire, tion for tion, &c. are frequent expedients with our author, to eke out his lines. Indeed, these and similar words and terminations were often used as dissyllables by the old English poets. If we except, however, the early standard editions of Tusser, sure and fire are invariably printed, by which the line is made to limp. Though the

affectation of aitches for aches, in order to perfect the measure, is ridiculous or contemptible, an author ought not to be made responsible for faults which he has not committed.

2 In "The Commodities of Husbandry," we have some brief but impressive maxims, which highly deserve attention and regard.

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CHAP. VII.

As true as thy faith,

This riddle thus saith.

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I SEEM but a drudge, yet I pass any king,
To such as can use me, great wealth I do bring.
Since ADAM first lived, I never did die ;
When NOE was a shipman, there also was I.
The earth to sustain me, the sea for my fish',
Be ready to pleasure me, as I would wish.
What hath any life, but I help to preserve?
What wight without me, but is ready to sterve?
In woodland, in champion, city, or town,

If long I be absent, what falleth not down ?

If long I be present, what goodness can want?

Though things, at my coming, were never so scant.
So many as love me, and use me aright,

With treasure and pleasure I richly requite.
Great kings 1 do succour, else wrong it would go,
The KING of all kings hath appointed it so.

This riddle would be of no difficult solution, even without the marginal explanation. In line 5 the

author means that the sea is his fishpond. See Ed, 1573.

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