Ye Old Mule

Ye Old Mule

Original Text
British Library Egerton MS. 2711, fol. 25; cf. Richard Harrier, Canon (1975): 130.
1Ye old mule that think yourself so fair,
2Leave off with craft your beauty to repair,
3For it is true, without any fable,
4No man setteth more by riding in your saddle.
5Too much travail so do your train appair.
6        Ye old mule
7With false savour though you deceive th'air,
8Whoso taste you shall well perceive your lair
9Savoureth somewhat of a Kappurs stable.
10        Ye old mule
11Ye must now serve to market and to fair,
12All for the burden, for panniers a pair.
13For since gray hairs been powdered in your sable,
14The thing ye seek for, you must yourself enable
15To purchase it by payment and by prayer,
16        Ye old mule.

Notes

5] travail: hard labour.
train: those accompanying her, entourage?
appair: damage. Back to Line
7] false savour: perfume. Back to Line
9] Kappurs: colt's. Back to Line
12] panniers: baskets. Back to Line
14] The thing ye seek for: sex. Back to Line
Publication Notes
modern
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 1997.
Rhyme
aabbac aabc aabba