Well met, well met, my friend, all on the highway riding,
Though freely together here we stand.
I pray do tell to me of what calling this shall be
And art thou not a servingman?

Oh no, my brother dear, what makes you to inquire
Of any such thing from my hand?
�� Indeed I will not feign but I will tell you plain:
I am a downright husbandman. ��

Well, if a husbandman you be, will go walk with me,
Though freely together here we stand.
For in a very short space I may take you to a place
Where you may he a servingman.

Now still I'm diligence, I give thee many thanks,
But naught do I require from thine hand.
�� But I pray now to me show wherefor that I may know
The pleasures of a servingman. ��

Well, isn't it a nice thing to ride out with a king,
With lords, dukes or any such men;
For to hear the horn to blow and see the hounds all in a row,
That's pleasures of a servingman.

But my pleasure's more than that, to see my oxen fat
And a good stock of hay by them stand;
�� With my plowing and my sowing, my reaping and my mowing,
That's pleasures of an husbandman. ��

But then we do wear the finest of grandure,
My coat is trim with fur all around;
Our shirts are white as milk and my stockings made of silk:
That's clothing for a servingman.

As to thy grandure give I the coat I wear
Some bushes to ramble among;
�� Give to me a good greatcoat and in my purse a grout,
That's clothing for an husbandman. ��

But then we do eat the most delicate fine meat
Of goose, and of capon, and of swan;
Our pastry's made so fine, we drink sugar in our wine,
That's diet for a servingman.

While you eat ducks and capons, give I my beans and bacon,
And a good drop of ale now and then;
�� For in a farmer's house you will find both brawn and souse,
That's a living for an husbandman. ��

Kind sir, I must confess although it causes me distress
To grant to you the uppermost hand;
Although it is most painful, it is altogether gainful
And I wish I'd been a husbandman.

So now, good people all, both be you great and small,
All know the king of our land;
�� And let us, whatsoever, to do our best endeavor,
For to maintain an husbandman. ��