THE DESCRIPTION OF A WOMAN'S

AGE,

BY SIX TIMES FOURTEEN YEARS 'PRENTICESHIP,

WITH A LESSON TO THE SAME'.

14. Two first seven years, for a rod they do whine,
28. Two next as a pearl in the world they do shine.
42. Two next trim beauty beginneth to swerve,
56. Two next for matrons or drudges they serve.
70. Two next doth crave a staff for a stay,
84. Two next a bier to fetch them away.

A LESSON.

Then purchase some pelf,
By fifty and three :

Or buckle thyself,
A drudge for to be.

As Tusser had divided Man's age into apprenticeship of seven years, he probably thought it proper to pay his respects, somewhat

in a similar manner, to the ladies.

He certainly has not drawn a very flattering picture; and in allowing the reign of beauty to last only fourteen years, he has evinced too fastidious a taste. But de gustibus, &c.

283

¶ THE IŇHOLDER'S POSY (a) !.

Ar meals, my friend, who vict'leth here, and sitteth with his host,

Shall both be sure of better cheer, and 'scape with lesser cost.

But he that will attendance have, a chamber to himself, Must more regard what pains do crave, than pass of worldly pelf.

Let no man look to purchase Lynn, with pinching by the way2,

But lay before he takes his inn, to make his purse to pay.

For nothing pay and nothing pray, in inn it is the guise; Where no point gain, there no point pain, think this if you be wise.

VARIATION.

(a) Wanting; and "Certain Table Lessons," and "Table Lessons for Waiting Servants," placed last.

1 As a proof that posies or inscriptions were not confined to this country, Warton, in his History of English Poetry, refers us to a work translated from the Italian in 1584, black letter, intitled "The Welspring of wittie Conceights." Those

with which Tusser has favoured us, are all more remarkable for their good sense than for their fine poetry.

2" To purchase Lynn," by petty savings, seems to have been a pro. verbial mode of expression, used in ridicule of stinginess.

For toiling much, and spoiling much, great charge, small gains or none,

Soon sets thine host at Needham's shore, to crave the beggar's bone'.

Foreseeing this, come day or night, take up what place ye please,

Use mine as thine, let Fortune spite, and boldly take thine

ease.

1 CERTAIN TABLE LESSONS2.

1. FRIEND, eat less, and drink less, and buy thee a

knife,

Else look for a carver, not always too rife.

Some, kniveless, their daggers for bravery wear ',
That often for surfeiting, need not to fear.

"Needham's shore," is a punning proverb recorded in Ray; and signifies that waste and extravagance bring a man to want or need. Needham is a market-town of Suffolk.

The propriety of these Table Lessons is pretty obvious. They may be adopted, as far as modern

manners allow, without reserve.

3 It appears that there were braggadocios and coxcombs, formerly as well as now; and that wher knives were notlaid for the guests, as at the present period, they would use their daggers to carve with, which were harmless as to any other purpose.

2. At dinner and supper, the table doth crave,

Good fellowly neighbour, good manners (a b) to have.
Advise thee well therefore, ere tongue be too free,

Or slap sauce be noted, too saucy to be.

3. If any thing wanteth, or seemeth amiss,

To call for, or shew it, good manner it is;
But busy fault-finder, and saucy withall,
Is roister (c) like ruffian, no manner at all.

4. Some cutteth the napkin, some trenchers will nick ;
Some sheweth like folly, in many a trick:

Let such apeish body (a), so toying at meat,
Go toy with his noddy-like ape in the street.

5. Some cometh unsent for, not for thy good cheer,
But sent as a spiall, to listen and hear;

Which being once known, for a knave let him go;
For knave will be knavish, his nature is so.

¶ LESSONS FOR WAITING, SERVANTS'.

1. ONE diligent serviture, skilfull to wait',

More comelieth thy table, than other some eight,
That stand for to listen, or gazing about,

Not minding their duty, within or without,

2. Such waiter is faulty, that standeth so by,
Unmindfull of service, forgetting his eye:
If master to such give a bone for to gnaw,
He doth but his office to teach such a daw.

3. Such serviture, also, deserveth a check,

That runneth out fisking, with meat in his beck :
Such ravening puttocks for victuals so trim,
Would have a good master, to puttock with him.

4. Who daily can suffer, or else can afford,

His meat, so upsnatched, that comes from his board?
So teazed (bc) with cormorants, here and there some,
And others to want it that orderly come.

VARIATION,

(bc) tossed.

To those who keep a large retinue of useless servants, this maxim may be properly recommended. One attendant, duly qualified, will do more credit, or, in our author's

words " more comely the table," than several, who are either ignorant or inattentive to their duty. The faults of bad servants are well discriminated in the remaining stanzas,