Three things there be that prosper up apace | a | ||||
And flourish, whilst they grow asunder far; | b | ||||
But on a day, they meet all in one place, | a | ||||
And when they meet, they one another mar. | b | ||||
5 |
And they be these: the wood, the weed, the wag. | c | |||
The wood is that which makes the gallow tree; | d | ||||
The weed is that which strings the hangman's bag; | c | ||||
The wag, my pretty knave, betokeneth thee. | d | ||||
Mark well, dear boy, whilst these assemble not, | e | ||||
10 |
Green springs the tree, hemp grows, the wag is wild; | f | |||
But when they meet, it makes the timber rot, | e | ||||
It frets the halter, and it chokes the child. | f | ||||
Then bless thee, and beware, and let us pray | g | ||||
We part not with thee at this meeting day. | g | ||||
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