The Old Wives' Tale (play)

The Old Wives' Tale is a play by George Peele first printed in England in 1595. The play has been identified as the first English work to satirize the romantic dramas popular at the time.

Quotes

• When as the Rie reach to the chin,
  And chopcherrie chopcherrie ripe within,
  Strawberries swimming in the creame,
  And schoole boyes playing in the streame:
  Then O, then O, then O my true love said,
  Till that time come againe,
  Shee could not live a maid.
  • Scene I; anthologised as "A Summer Song", "The Impatient Maid"

• All yee that lovely lovers be,
  Pray you for me,
  Loe here we come a sowing, a sowing,
  And sowe sweete fruites of love:
  In your sweete hearts well may it proove.
  Loe heere we come a reaping, a reaping,
  To reape our harvest fruite,
  And thus we passe the yeare so long,
  And never be we mute.
  • Scene III; anthologised as "Love’s Harvesters"

• Gently dip: but not too deepe;
  For feare you make the gouldē beard to weepe.
  Faire maiden white and red,
  Combe me smoothe, and stroke my head:
  And thou shalt have some cockell bread.
  Gently dippe, but not too deepe,
  For feare thou make the gouldē beard to weep.
  Fair maide, white and redde,
  Combe me smooth, and stroke my head;
  And every haire, a sheave shall be,
  And every sheave a goulden tree.
  • Scene IX; anthologised as "A Voice speaks from the Well"