"Did ye take heed of the lass we bought this of?" says he, tapping on the bread and cheese.
"I don't want the lass to fall in love with ye, I want her to be sorry for ye, David; to which end there is no manner of need that she should take you for a beauty.
And it is said of this good lass that she never made promises of the kind without fulfilling them, even though she made them in a forest and without any witness present, for she plumed herself greatly on being a lady and held it no disgrace to be in such an employment as servant in an inn, because, she said, misfortunes and ill-luck had brought her to that position.
The carrier, however, perceiving by the light of the innkeeper candle how it fared with his ladylove, quitting Don Quixote, ran to bring her the help she needed; and the innkeeper did the same but with a different intention, for his was to chastise the lass, as he believed that beyond a doubt she alone was the cause of all the harmony.
He sold more meat for one penny than we could sell for three; and he gave extra weight to whatsoever lass would buss him." And others said, "He is some prodigal who knows not the value of goods, and may be plucked by a shrewd man right closely."
"A lass and a butcher of Nottingham Agreed 'twixt them for to wed.
It was at the dawn of day in the merry Maytime, when hedgerows are green and flowers bedeck the meadows; daisies pied and yellow cuckoo buds and fair primroses all along the briery hedges; when apple buds blossom and sweet birds sing, the lark at dawn of day, the throstle cock and cuckoo; when lads and
lasses look upon each other with sweet thoughts; when busy housewives spread their linen to bleach upon the bright green grass.
if I'd had the luck to call at the stone house wi' my pack, as lies here,"--stooping and thumping the bundle emphatically with his fist,--"an' th' handsome young
lasses all stannin' out on the stone steps, it ud' ha' been summat like openin' a pack, that would.
But Rose hushed the noise by slipping into the circle, and making them dance prettily like lads and
lasses round a May-pole; while Phebe, coming in with fresh water for the flowers, began to twitter, chirp, and coo, as if all the birds of the air had come to join in the spring revel of the eight cousins.
Lammeter--that's Miss Osgood as was--died afore the
lasses was growed up; but for prosperity and everything respectable, there's no family more looked on."
'Weel,' replied John, 'dean't I say so,
lass? It's best to be neighbourly, and keep up old acquaintance loike; and what I say is, dean't quarrel if 'ee can help it.
Tha'lt be like a blush rose when tha' grows up, my little
lass, bless thee."