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_Ancient Roundelaye for Foure Personnes._
1st. Sing we the goodfellowes roundelaye,
And I the cittern will blithele playe.
2nd. I'll sing tenor.
3rd. The treble for me.
1st. And what shalle the bass of our music be?
4th. The wintry winde as it rushes and roars
At the windowes and roofe, and the welle fast'ned doore.
2nd. But the wine and the sack, and the canary are bright,
They're the good fellowes starres that shine out thro' the nighte.
You're a knave if you quit them till morning.
1st. to 2nd. You're a knave.
4th. to 3rd. You're a knave.
3rd. to 1st. You're a knave.
_Omnes._ He's a knave who forsakes them till morn.
P.S. The point of this song consists in each singer being called a knave
in turn.