68.

1 Though danger be mickle, and fauour so fickle, Yet dutie doth tickle my fansie to wright: Concerning how prettie, how fine and how nettie, Good huswife should iettie,[1] from morning to night. 2 Not minding[2] by writing, to kindle a spiting, But shew by enditing, as afterward told: How husbandrie easeth, to huswiferie pleaseth, And manie purse greaseth with siluer and gold. 3 For husbandrie wéepeth, where huswiferie sléepeth, And hardly he créepeth, vp ladder to thrift: That wanteth to bold him, thrifts ladder to hold him, Before it be told him, he falles without shift. 4 Least many should feare me, and others forsweare me, Of troth I doo beare me vpright as ye sée: Full minded to looue all, and not to reprooue all, But onely to mooue all, good huswiues to bée. 5 For if I should mind some, or descant behind some, And missing to find some, displease so I mought: Or if I should blend them, and so to offend them, What stur I should send them I stand in a dought. 6 Though harmles ye[3] make it and some doo well take it, If others forsake it, what pleasure were that? Naught else but to paine me, and nothing to gaine me, But make them disdaine me I wot ner for what. 7 Least some make a triall, as clocke by the diall, Some stand to deniall, some murmur and grudge: Giue iudgement I pray you, for iustlie so may you, So fansie, so say you, I make you my iudge. 8 In time, ye shall try me, by troth, ye shall spy me, So finde, so set by me, according to skill: How euer trée groweth, the fruit the trée showeth,[E425] Your Ladiship knoweth, my hart and good will. 9 Thogh fortune doth measure, and I doo lacke treasure, Yet if I may pleasure your Honour with this: Then will me to mend it, or mend er ye send it, Or any where lend it, if ought be amis. Your Ladiships Seruant, Thomas Tusser.