Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/388

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370

TIME'S ALTERATIONS.

Now pride hath banished all,
Unto our land's reproach,
When he whose means are small
Maintains both horse and coach;
Instead of an hundred men,
The coach allows but two;
This was not thought on then,
When this old cap was new.

Good hospitality
Was cherished then of many;
Now poor men starve and die,
And are not helped by any,
For charity waxeth cold,
And love is found in few;
This was not in time of old,
When this old cap was new.

Where'er you travelled then,
You might meet on the way
Brave knights and gentlemen,
Clad in their country grey,
That courteous would appear,
And kindly welcome you:
No Puritans then were,
When this old cap was new.

Our ladies, in those days,
In civil habit went;
Broadcloth was then worth praise,
And gave the best content:
French fashions then were scorned,
Fond fangles then none knew,
Then modesty women adorned,
When this old cap was new.

A man might then behold,
At Christmas, in each hall,
Good fires to curb the cold,
And meat for great and small:
Then neighbours were friendly bidden,
And all had welcome true,
The poor from the gates were not chidden
When this old cap was new.