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fifteen? Songs anfc Ballafce
NATIONAL BALLAD AND SONG
/foert£ Songs anb
Ballabs
PRIOR TO THE YEAR AD. 1800
EDITED BY
JOHN S. FARMER
VOLUME H
PRIVATELY PRINTED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
MDCGCXCVII
INDEX
TO VOL. II
AUTHORS, TITLES, FIRST LINES, REFRAINS
AND SOURCES
Abbot of Canterbury (Tune)..........178
Academy of Complements........34. 37. 38
"After long service and a thousand vows " (Bristol
Drollery, 1674)............. 80
Agreeable Surprise, The........... 266
Ah! Chloe! Transported I cry'd (Tune) .... 223
"Ah! my dearest, my deaiest Celide" (Pills to Purge
Melancholy, 1719).............J64
Akeroyd..................164
Alcock (B. J.)...............128
" All that have two or but one ear" (Wit and
Mirth, 1682)............... 85
"Altho' I be but a Country Lass" (Orpheus
Caledonius, 1733).............205
Amarilhs told her Swain (Tune)....... 30
Atnboyna (Dryden).............. 76
"Amo, Anias, I love a Lass " (Mr. Edwin, 1798) . 266
"Amongst the Myrtles sat my Love " (Academy of
Complements, 1650I............ 37
VI
INDEX
Amorous Dialogue between John and his Mistriss
An (Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 12)....... 65
Amyntas (Bristol Drollery, 1674)....... 80
" Andrew and Maudlin, Rebecca and Will" (Pills
to Purge Melancholy, 1707)........144
Answer to the Bonny Scot, An (Roxburgh
Ballads, ii. 13)..............102
Answer to Moggy's Misfortune, An (Roxburgh
Ballads, ii. 1. c. 1635)........... 26
"As Chloe o'er the meadows past" (Sir C. SedleY,
b. 1701).................121
"As I lay musing one night in my Bed" (Windsor
Drollery, 1672).............. 63
" As I walk'd in the Woods one evening of late"
(T. Shadwell, 1672 and 1719).....61, 177
"As I was a driving my Waggon one Day," (1730) 202
" As I was walking one May Morning " (Choice Garland,
c. 1790).................249
"As I went to Westminster Abby" (Rawlinson MS.,
c 1610-20) ................ 5
" As itt beffell on a sumers day " (Percy Folio MS.,
c. 1620-50)................ 20
"As Kate was driving home her cows" (The Rattle,
1766)..................219
Atfield (Mr.)................194
Bachelor's song, The (T. Flatman, 1674) .... 78
Ballad of Andrew and Maudlin, A (Pills to Purge
Melancholy, 1707).............144
Bancks (John)...............210
Barne (Nicol)............... 1
INDEX
vii
Bashful Maid, The (c 1720)..........196
"Beau dress'd fine met Miss divine, A" (Pills to
Purge Melancholy, 1719)..........168
" Bee not affrayd thou fayrest, thou rarest" (Percy Folio
MS., c. 1620-50).............. 16
"Behold, I pray, what's come to pass" (Roxburgh
Ballads, ii. 13).......,.......102
"Bess Black as a Charcole" (Wit and Mirth, 1682) 96
"Beza, quhy bydis thou, quhy dois thou stay"
(c. 1581)................. I
Bless'd age of Gold (Tune) ,.........228
" Blithe and bonny Country-lasse, A " (Enphues' Golden
Legacie, T. Lodge, 1612).......... 7
" Blue clouds from the skies are fled, The" (Gr. A.
Stevens, 1782)..............240
Bonny Dundee (Tune)............257
"Bonny Lad came to the Court, A" (Pills to Purge
Melancholy, 1719).............173
" Bonny Peggy Ramsey that any man may see " (Pills
to Purge Melancholy, 1707).........151
Bristol Drollery............80, 82
Burns (R.) 253,-254, 255,256,257, 258,259, 261, 262, 264
Butcher, The (The Rattle, 1766)........214
Button Hole, The (Garland)..........178
" By Moonlight on the Green " (Pills to Purge Melan-
choly, 1719)................171
"By the side of a green stagnate pool" (Stevens, i 782)
238
Capt. Digby (Tune).............. 65
Catholic Sang, Ane (1581)........... I
Cauld Kail in Aberdeen (Time). . ,......258
vm
INDEX
Chappell's Popular Music.......... 30
Choice, The.................198
Choyce Drollery............40, 42, 43
Choice Garland.............249, 251
Church (Mr.)................147
Clarke (Jeremiah)...........116, 130
Clout the Cauldron (Tune)..........256
Coachman, The (Choice Garland)........251
Cold and Raw (Tune)...........105, 168
" Cold and raw the North did blow" (Roxburgh
Ballads, ii. 374, 1685-7)..........105
"Come let's drink the night away" (Bristol Drollery,
1674)................... 82
" Come hither my own sweet duck " (Merry Drollery,
1661)................... 50
" Come, John, sit thee down I have some what to say"
(Roxbtirgh Ballads, ii. 12, 1672-86)..... 65
Comm' thro' the rye (Tune)..........262
Cooper o' Dundee, The............257
Coridon's Song (Lodge, 1612)......... 7
Country Lass, The (Orpheus Caledonius, 1733) . 205
Country Parson's Folly, The (Roxbtirgh Ballads,
ii. 73, 1685-95).....•........112
Country Sheep-Shearing, The (T. Durfey, 1719) . 162
Coy Shepherdess, The (Roxburgh Ballads, i. 85,
I64I-74)................ 3°
" Creature, for feature I neuer saw a fairer, A"
(Percy Folio MS., 1620-50)......... 11
Cupid's Victory (Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 64, 1701) 118
INDEX
IX
Dainty dames who trip along, The (Tune) . . . 240
Dancing Master, The............. 48
Daniel Cooper (Tune).............173
"Day is come, I see it rise, The " (Dryden, Amboyna,
i673)................... ?6
Derry down, down hey derry down (Refrain) 179, 214
Deuteromelia........./....... 3
Dialogue between a Town Spark and his Miss (Pills
to Purge Melancholy, 1719)........ 166
Dialogue sung by a Boy and Girl (Pills to Purge
Melancholy, 1719).............164
Dick and Kate (The Rattle)..........219
Dick the Plow-man tuni'd Doctor (Roxburgh Ballads,
ii. 125, 1685-88)..............108
" Dictates of Nature prove school knowledge weak,
The" (G. A. Stevens, Songs, 1782)......236
" Did you not promise me when you lay by me"
(Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1719)......166
"Dinner o'er, and Grace said, we'll for business
prepare" (G. A. Stevens, Songs, 1782) .... 225
Dispairing beside a clear stream (Tunc) .... 238
"Doe you meane to. ouerthrow me? "(Percy polio MS.,
c. 1620-50)................ 18
Don Quixote (T. Durfey)...........154
Down the Burn Davie (Tho.yison, Orpheus Caledonius) 208
Dryden (John)..............74, 76
Durfey (T.)........105, 154, 157, 160, 162
Past Nook of Fife (Tune)...........261
Edwin (Mr.).................266
End, The (G. A. Stevens, Songs, 1782) .... 246
X
INDEX
Epithalamium (Dryden)............ 76
Etheridge (Sir George)........... 60
Euphues' Golden Legacie (T. Lodge)...... 7
Exeter Garland (1720)............184
Fair Lass of Islington, The (Pills to Purge Melan-
choly, 1707)................140
Fall, The (Sir Charles Sedley).......121
Fine songsters too often apologies mate (Tune) . . 243
"Fine Songsters Apologies too often use" (c. 1705) 123
Fishmonger, The (Tune)...........214
Flatman (Thomas)............. 78
"Flye she sat in Shamble Row, The" (Deuteromelia,
1609)................... 3
Folly desperate folly (Tune)..........112
Fool who is wealthy is sure of a Bride, The (Tune) 246
For a little of that which Harry gave Doll{Refrain) 177
"For a' that and a' that" (b. 1796)......264
Four-legg'd Quaker, The (Wit and Mirth, 1682) . 85
Fright, The (G. A. Stevens, 1782)......223
"From twelve years old, I oft have been told"
(Wit and Mirth, 1682)........... 91
Gee ho Dobin (1730).............202
Genteel is my Damon, engaging is his air (Tune) 234
"Gie the Lass her Fairin'" (R. Burns, b. 1796) . 258
"Gin 'ere I'se in Love" (c. 1720).......194
Good Honest Trooper take "Warning (Pills to Purge
Melancholy, 1719).............173
INDEX
xi
" He that a Tinker, a Tinker, a Tinker will be"
(Choice Drollery, 1656).......... 40
"He till't and she till't" (b. 1796).......254
Highland Laddie, The (Musical Miscellany, 1729) 200
"Ho boy, hey boy" (Mr. Church, 1707) .... 147
Humburg, The (G. A. Stevens, Songs, 1782) . . 221
Ianthe the Lovely, the joy of the plain (Tune) . 232
"I fee'd a man at Martinmas" (5. 1796) .... 259
"I love thee for thy curled halre " (Choice Drollery,
1656).................. 43
"If you will give ear" (Merry Drollery, 1661) . . 56
"I'm a hole, tho' too narrow" [Button Hole
Garland, 1720-50).............178
In April "when primroses paint the sweet plain
(Tune)..................236
"In Cloe's Chamber, she and I" (J. Bancks, 1738) 210
" In harvest time I walked" (Roxburgh Ballads,
ii. 80).................. 70
In Praise of a Deformed Woman (Choice Drollery,
1656)................... 43
Insatiate LoVfer, The (Merry Drollery, 1661) . . . 50
" It is reported in the East" (Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 73)
112
" It was a man and a jolly old man " (Merry Drollery,
1661).................. 46
Jenney and Molly, and Dolly (Durfey, c. 1719) . . 162
"Joan has been Galloping" (Wit and Mirth, 1682) 84
John and his Mistriss (Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 12) . 65
John and Jone (Merry Drollery, 1661)..... 56
Xll
INDEX
Jolly Miller, The (T. Durfey, 1710)......154
Journey/nan shooe maker (Tune)........ 98
Kester Crab (Tunc).............. 7°
" Lawland Lads think they are fine, The " (Musical
Miscellany, 1729).............200
" Let him fond of fibbing invoke which he'll chuse "
(G. A. Stevens, 1782)............234
Leveridge (R.)...............153
"Like a Dog with a bottle fast ti'd to his tail"
(T. Flatman, Poems, 1674)......... 78
Little of one with t'other, A (Pills to Purge Melan-
choly, 1719)................168
Lodge (T.)................. 7
London Lasses Folly, The (Pcpys Ballads, c. 1635) 98
Love in its colours (Sub-title).........118
Love sick maiden cured, The (Sub-title).....108
Love Song, A (G. A. Stevens, 1782).....234
"Lusty young Butcher near Leadenhall dwelt, A"
(The Rattle, 1766).............214
" Lusty young Coachman his horses was driving, A"
(Choice Garland, c. 1790).........251
"Madam be cover'd, why stand you bare? " (Academy
of Complements, 1650)........... 38
"Madgie cam to my bed-stock" (b. 1796) . . . . 256
Maggie Lauder (Tune)............254
Maiden beguiled, The (Sub-title)........ 98
Maids a washing themselves, Tlie (Tune) .... 118
Maid a Bathing, The (Merry Drollery, c. 1661) . 48
INDEX
xm
"Maiden of the pure Society, A" (Choice Drollery,
1656).................. 42
"Make your honour, Miss" (Pills to Purge Melan-
choly, 1707)................149
Man who is drunk is void of all care, The (Tune) 221
Maria (G. A. Stevens. 1782).........232
Marriage a la mode (DRYDEN, 1673)..... 74
Merry Muses of Caledonia, The 253, 254, 255, 256, 25-
258, 259, 261, 262, 264
Merry Discourse between a Country Lass and a
Young Taylor (Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 80) . , . 70
Merry Drollery..........46, 48, 50, 56
Merry song for an afflicted sinner (Sub-title) . . 181
"Mida, the glory of whose bewties rayse" (c. 1682) 97
Miser, The................. 61
Mode of France, The (Percy Folio MS., 1620-50) 9
" Moggy > now rejoyce and sing " (Roxburgh Ballads,
ii. 1)................... 26
"Much Hove a charming creature " (Broadside, 1720) 196
Musical Miscellany, The...........200
"My Lady's Coachman John " (H. Purceix, c. 1705) 127
My Mother did s» before me (Tune)......219
"My wife's a wanton wee thing" (J. 1796) . . . 255
" Nan was Robin's fellow servant" (B. J. AIXOCK,
<:■ 1705).................128
No wit like to a womans (Exeter Garland, c. 1720) 184
Northern Ditty (Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 374) . . . 105
" Not long ago it chanced so " (Pepys Ballads, iii. 236)
98
"Now that Lo\e's Holiday is cone" (Pills to Ptirge
Melancholy, I/O").............130
xiv INDEX
" Nymph when as the Summer's beams, A " (Academy
of Complements, 1650)........... 34
"O can ye Labour lee, Young Man?" (b. 1796) . 259
"O gie the lass her fairin', lad" (Burns, b. 1796) . 258
"0 1 hae tint my rosy cheek" (R. Burns, b. 1796) 262
O parson, delicate parson (Refrain).......112
" Of all comforts 1 miscarry'd" (The Choice, 1729) 198
"Of jolly Rakes and pleasing Dames" (c. 1720) . . 181
" Old "Wife she sent to the miller her Daughter,
The" (T. Durfey, 1710)..........154
Old woman fitted by her Daughter, The (Sub-title) 184
O Mother, Roger, &>c. (Tune).........108
On a Tinker (Choice Drollery, 1650)...... 40
" Once, Twice, Thrice, I Julia try'd" (H. Purcell,
*• '695)................. 83
" One day, by appointment, Maria I met" (G. A.
Stevens, 1782)..............232
" One ev'ning alone in the grove " (G. A. Stevens,
1782)..................223
" One primrose time, a maiden brown " (G. A. STE-
VENS, 1782)................228
" One Sunday after Mass, Dormet and his Lass"
(c- *710).................153
Orpheus Calcdonius...........205, 208
Oswald (Pocket Companion)..........255
"Our bride flat, and our bride flang " (b. 1796) . 261
Packington's Pound (Tune).......... 65
" Papilio the rich, in the hurry of love " (G. A.
Stevens, 1782)..............246
INDEX
xv
Pastoral, A (G. A. Stevens, 1782).......238
Pepys Ballads...............23, 98
Percy Folio MS. (1620-50) . . . 9, II, 13, 16, 18, 20
Picture, The (G. A. Stevens, 1782)......243
Pipe of Love, The (G. A. Stevens, 1782) . . . 228
" Phillis on tie new made hay " (Roxburgh Ballads,
ii. 85)........../....... 30
Pills to Purge Melancholy (1707) 130, 135, 137, 140,
144, 147, 149, 151
Pills to Purge Melancholy' (1719) 105, 154, 157, 160,
162, 164, 166, 168, 171, 173, 177
" Poets and Painters in colours and rhyme, The"
(The Rattle, 1766).............217
Purcell (Henry)..........83, 126, 127
Push about the jorum (Tune).........253
"Put butter in my Donald's brose " (b. 1796) . . 2C4
Rattle, The (1766)..........214, 217, 219
Rawlinton MS. (1610-20)........... 5
Repentance (G. A. STETENS, 1782).......236
Robin and Nan (c. 1705)...........128
Robin Cushe (Tune)............. 26
Robinson's Schoole of Muskke (1603)..... 13
Rorum coru?n, stmt divorum, harum scarum (Refrain) 266
Roxburgh Ballads. 26, 30, 65, 70, 102, 105, 108, 112, 118
Scotchman out-ivitted by Country Damsel (Sub-title) 105
Scotch Moggy's Misfortune (Pe_pys Ballads, Hi. 288,
c- 1635).............• . • • 23
Scotch Wedding between Jockey and Jenny, The
(Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1707)......137
xvi INDEX
Sedley (Sir Charles)............121
Sentiment Song, The (G. A. Stevens, 1782) ... 225
Shadwell (T.)............... 61
" Shakum Guie has gotten a wife " (Pepys Ballads,
iii. 288)................. 23
"She Gripet at the Girtest o't" (*. 1796) .... 261
" She's so bonny and brisk" (Sir George Etheridge,
1668).................. 60
She wou'd if she Cou'd............ 60
Sing Tantararara Toast all (Tune)......225
Sir Archibald Grant's Strathspey (Tune) .... 259
Songs Comic and Satyrical, see Stevens.
Sorrowful Complaint of the Yielding Lass (Sub-title) 102
Spinning wheel, The (Tune).........102
Stevens (G. A.) 221, 223, 225, 228, 230, 232, 234,
236, 238, 240, 243, 246
Take Time by the Forelock {The Rattle, 1766) . . 217
"That living's a joke, Johnny Gay has express'd"
(G. A. Stevens, 1782)...........221
" Then Jockey wou'd a Wooing go" (Pills to Purge
Melancholy, 1707).............137
" There was a Knight and he was young " {Pills to
Purge Melancholy, 1707)..........135
"There was a Lass of Islington" (Pills to Purge
Melancholy, 1707).............140
"There's Hair On't" (b. 1796)........253
Thing, The.................123
THOMSON; see Orpheus Caledonius.......
Toast, A (G, A. Stevens, 1782)........230
Tom and Doll (T. Durfey, 1715).......157
INDEX
XVll
Too soon I left my spinning wheel (Refrain) . . 102
"'Twas but yestre'en I stinted graith" (i. 1796) . 253
" 'Twas when Summer was Rosie " (T. Durfey, 1715) 160
Tyrannical Wife, The (Merry Drollery, 1661) . . . 46
"Upon a Summer's day" (Merry Drollery, 1661) , 48
Venus Unmasked (Broadside Song, c. 1720) ... 181
Walking in a country town (Tune) ...... 13
" Walking in a meadowe greene " (Percy Folio ATS.,
1620-50)................. 13
Waterman's Dance (Tune)...........162
Westminster Whore, The (Rawlinson MS., 1610-20) 5
"Wha'll maw me now" (R. Burns, b. 1796) . . 262
What should a young Wotnan (Tune)..... 65
"What's that to me" (G. A. Stevens, 1782) . . 240
" When a woman that's Buxom a dotard does wed "
(Wit and Mirth, 1682)........... 94
" When Fanny to Woman is growing apace"
(W. Yates, 1765).............212
" When Judith had laid Holofemes in Bed " (Wit
and Mirth, 1682)............. 95
" When running life's race, we gallop apace " (G. A.
Stevens, 1782)..............230
"When the Kine had giv'n a Pail full " (T. Durfey,
!7i5)..................157
" When Trees did bud, and Fields were green"
(Thomson, Orpheus Caledonhis, 1733) .... 208
" Where's my Shepherd (my love) hey-ho" (Rox-
burgh Ballads, ii. 64)...........118
xviii
INDEX
"Whilst Alexis lay piest" (Dryden, Marriage a
la mode, 1673).............. 74
" Will youheare theMode of france" {Percy Folio MS.,
1620-50)................. 9
Willie's Intreague (Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1715) 160
Willing Maid, A Day too Young, The.....249
Willing Mida, The (c. 1682)......... 97
Windsor Drollery.............. 63
" Wishing well to good folks both on this and that"
(G. A. Stevens, 1782)...........243
Wit and Mirth.......84, 85, 91, 94, 95, 96
Woman with child that desired a son, which might
prove a preacher, A (Choice Drollery, 1656) . . 42
Women all tell me, The (Tune)........217
Yates (W.).................212
" Ye coopers and hoopers, attend to my ditty "
(b. 1796).................257
Ye Lads ivho approve (Tune).........230
"You gallants all in London, pray draw near a
while" (Exeter Garland, 1720).......184
" You maidens all of London City" (Roxhurgh
Ballads, ii. 125)..............108
Young Corydon (J. Clarke, 1700).......116
Young Dtttchwoman of Westminster co?ne off with
flying colours, The (Sub-title)........112
"Young John the Gard'ner having lately got"
{c 1705).................126
flfeerr^ Songs anb Ballabs
ANE CATHOLIC SANG
[c. 1581]
["Nicol Barne, his testimonie of Theodore Beze,
the neu pseudo-prophet and pretendit reforma-
tor of the varld, concerning his sodomitrie
bougerie with the young man Audebertus,
and adulterie with Candida, ane uther mannis
vyf, quha is his harlet zet for the present,
composit ' be himself in Latin 1581 "—Am
Pleasant Garden].
Beza, quhy bydis thou, quhy dois thou stay,
Sen Candida and Audcbert ar baith away?
Thy love is in Pareis, in Orleanis thy mirth,
Zit thou vald Vezel keip to thy girlt,
Far from Candida lust of thy cors,
Far from Audebert thy gret plea-sors.
MERR\ SONGS II.
2 ANE CATHOLIC SANG
Fair veil Vezel, veil mot ze fair
Fair veil my blethering quha du-ellis thair
I may spair Vezel, my father, and you,
Bot nather Audebert nor Candida is mu.
Then quhilk of thir prefer sould I?
Quhilk sould I vissie first or espy.
Candida may onie be deerar nor thou?
Or Audebert ony preferrit to zou?
Quhat gif I cuttit my body in tuay,
And give the ane half to Candida gay,
The uther't Audebert? zit Candida nei-die
Vald Beza have hail, scho is so gre-die.
And Audebert vald Beze have hail,
So covetous is he for to prevail :
Bot I vald so thaime baith imbrace,
To be al hail vith baith in a place,
Hir with hir cunt, him with his erss,
And I betuix with ane stif terss.
Zit th'ane sould I prefer indeid,
But 6 hou hard a thing is neid!
And sen the ane mon be preferd,
My fore-quarters sal be con-ferd.
To Audebert for bougo-rie,
The chiefest of my voluptie;
But Candida, gif sho complaine,
I sail hir cunt kiss laich agane!
"THE FLYE IN SHAMBLE ROW" 3
"THE FLYE SHE SAT IN SHAMBLE ROW"
[1609]
[From Detiteromelia, p. 2. with music].
The Flye she sat in Shamble row,
and shambled with her heeles I trow.
And then in came sir Cranion,
with legs so long and many a one.
And said loue speede Dame Flye, Dame Flye,
marry you be welcome good Sir quoth she:
The Master humble Bee hath sent me to thee,
to wit and if you will his true loue be.
But shee said nay, that may not be,
for I must haue the Butterflye:
For and a greater Lord there may not be,
But at the last consent did shee.
And there was bid to this wedding,
all Flyes in the field and Wormes creeping:
The Snaile she came crawling all ouer the plaine,
with all her ioly rrinckets at her traiae.
4 "THE FLYE IN SHAMBLE ROW
Tenne Bees there came all clad in Gold,
and all the rest did them behold:
But the Thonbud refused this sight to see,
and to a Cow-plat away flyes shee.
And where now shall this wedding be?
for and hey nonny no in an old Iue tree:
And where now shall we bake our bread ?
for and hey nonny in an old horse head.
And where now shall wee brew our Ale ?
but euen within one Walnut shale:
And also where shall we our dinner make,
but ener vpon a galde Horse backe.
For there wee shall haue good companie,
with humbling and bumbling and much melody :
When ended was this wedding day
the Bee hee took his flye away.
And laid her downe vpon the Marsh,
betweene one Marigold and one long grasse:
And there they begot good master Gnat,
and made him the heiie of all, thats flat.
THE WESTMINSTER WHORE
THE WESTMINSTER WHORE
[1610-20]
[Rawlinson MS Poet. B 35. leaf 36].
As I went to Westminster Abby
I saw a young wench on her back,
Cram;«ing in a Dildo of Tabby
Into her—till 'twas ready to crack.
"By your leave," said I, "pretty maid,
Methinks your sport is but dry."
" I can get no better," she said, " Sir,
And He tell you Xhe reason why:
" Madam P. hath a thing at her breech,
Sueks up all the scad of t#e town;
She's a dammed lasivious bitch,
And fucks for halfe a crown.
Now the Curse of a Cunt without hair,
And ten thousand poxes upon her,
Wee poor whores may go hang in dispair,
Wee're undone by the Maids of honoui."
6 THE WESTMINSTER WHORE
Then in loyalty as I was bound,
Hearing her speak in this sort,
I fuckt her thrice on the ground,
And bid her speak well of the court.
iiP*
CORIDON'S SONG 7
CORIDON'S SONG
[1612]
[From Euphues' Golden Legacie, by T. Lodge,
Sig. O iij]
A Blithe and bonny Country-lasse,
heigh ho, bonny lasse;
Sate sighing on the tender grasse,
and weeping said, will none come woo me.
A smicker boy, a lither swayne,
heigh ho, a smicker swayne,
That in his loue was wanton faine,
with smiling lookes strait came vnto her.
When as the wanton wench espide,
heigh "ho, when she espide,
The meanes to make her selfe a bride,
she simpred smooth like bonny bell,
The swayne that saw her squint eide Kind,
heigh ho, squint-eide Kinde,
His armes about her body twind,
and faire lasse, how fare yee, well?
8
CORIDON'S SONG
The countrie Kit said, well forsooth,
heigh ho, well forsooth;
But that I haue a longing tooth,
a longing tooth that makes me crie:
Alas (said he) what garres thy griefe?
heigh ho, what garres thy griefe?
A wound (quoth she) without reliefe,
I feare a maide that I shall die.
If that be all, the shepheard said,
heigh ho, the shepheard said;
He make thee wiue it gentle maide,
and so recure thy maladie:
Hereon they kist with many an oath;
heigh ho, with many an oath,
And fore god Pan did plight their troth,
and to the church they hied them fast.
And God send euery pretty peate,
heigh ho the pretty peate
That feares to die of this conceite,
so kinde a friend to helpe at last:
Then maydes shall neuer long againe,
Heigh ho, to long againe;
When they finde ease for such a paine.
Thus my roundelay is past.
THE MODE OF FRANCE
9
THE MODE OF FRANCE
[1620-50]
[Percy Folio Manuscript, page 193 of MS.].
Will you heare the Mode of france
to stopp the mouthe of those that done you? [i.e. dun
you]
neatly Leade them in a dance,
because wee are behind in mony.
If youi Lanlord chance to call
either for dyett or for rayment,
Leade him in a dance wz'thall,
& forgett itt in youi payment.
If y_o«r taylor chance to strike you
with his bill, & stay noe Leasure;
Lead him in a dance that likes you,
& in-stead of coyne take measure.
If your shoomaker come on
wz'th his last, & neatly Lead itt;
lett [t]his eu«Hasting done dun
see his owne boots neatly tread itt.
THE MODE OF FRANCE
If yoitx Landlady doe call,
needs must satisfye her pleasure;
current coin shee despises your carrant,
sheele be payd wz'th standing measure.
If yom Lawer finds you out
for fees for this devise or tother,
let him dance for all his goute,
& pay one Motion wz'th another.
Thus wee range the world about,
thus wee scape then all disasters;
then Let all the world declare
thai wee are nimble quicke paymasters.
A CREATURE FOR FEATURE n
A CREATURE FOR FEATURE
[c. 1620-50]
[Percy Folio Manuscript, page 199 of MS.].
A creature, for feature I never saw a fairer,
soe witty, soe prettye, I neuer knew a rarer;
shee soe kind, & I see blynd,
tkat I may say another day P she may Eart
" I did complaine, & I mett a swaine,
but [he] knew not how to wooe me nor doe mee,
he was soe dull conceipted.
I gaue a smile him to beguile,
I made a show to make him know,
I pincht his cheeke to make him seeke
& find some further pleasure, whose treasure
needs not to be Expected.
"I stayd him, & praide him, & pmffered him a
favour;
he kist mee, & wisht me to beare w«'th his be-
hauior ;
but hie tro lolly lolly, le silly willy cold not doe.
all content w?th him was spent
12 A CREATURE FOR FEATURE
when he had dipt & ldst me, & mist me,
& cold not . . kisse . . [line cut off by the binder]
then thought I, & thought noe lye,
pisrhapps his pipe is not yett ripe;
yett an hower may haue the power
to make itt grow in full Length & full strength;
but fooles are led in blindnesse.
" But woe mee, & woe mee! alas, I cold not raise!
itt wold not, nor cold not, doe all I cold to please.
his inke was run, his pen was done.
Iacke! art thou dead ? hold vp thy head!
I will litter thee & water thee,
& feed thee wzth my neet,
& better, if thou wilt lye besyd me.
but all in vaine I did complaine,
his Iacke was tyrd, heed not be hyred
for all my prayers & all my teares."
WALKING IN A MEADOW GREN 13
WALKING IN A MEADOW GREN
[1620-50]
[Pen-" Folio Manuscript, page 93 of MS. Tune,
' Walking in a countty town (Robinson's School*
of Musicke, 1603) ]'.
Walking in a meadowe greene,
fayre flowers for to gather,
where p[r]imrose rankes did stand on bankes
to welcome comers thither,
I hard a voice w/«'eh made a Noise,
w/Hch caused me to attend it,
I heard a lasse say to a Ladd,
" once more, & none can mend it."
They lay soe close together,
they made me much to wonder;
I knew not w/«'ch was wether,
vntill I saw her vnder.
then off he came, & blusht foi shame
soc soone that he had endit;
yet still shee lyes, & to him ciyes,
" Once More, & none can mend it."
H WALKING IN A MEADOW GREN
His lookes were dull & verry sadd,
his courage shee had tamed;
shee bad him play the lusty lad
or else he quite was shamed;
" then stifly thrust, hee hit me iust,
ffearc not, but freely spend it,
& play about at in & out;
once more, & none can mend it."
And then he thought to venter her,
thinking the ffitt was on him;
but when he came to enter her,
the poynt tumd backe vpon him.
Yet shee said, "stay! goe not away
although the point be bended!
but toot againe, & hit the vaine!
once more, & none can Mend it."
Then in her Amies shee did him fold,
& oftentimes shee kist him,
yett still his courage was but cold
for all the good shee wisht him;
yett wz'th her hand shee made it stand
soe stiffe shee cold not bend it,
& then anon shee cryes " come on
once, more, & none can mend it!"
" Adew, adew, sweet hart," q?«>th hee,
" for in faith I must be gone."
WALKING IN A MEADOW GREN 15
"nay, then you doe me wronge," qtwth shee,
" to leaue me thus alone."
Away he went when all was spent,
wherat shee was offended;
Like a troian true she made a vow
shee wold have one shold mend it.
i6
BE NOT AFRAYD
BE NOT AFRAYD
[c. 1620-50]
[Percy Folio Manuscript, page 194 of MS.].
" Bee not affrayd thou fayrest, thou rarest
that ewer was made! deny me not a kisse;
then thou shalt see the Measure of pleasure
that I will haue from thee, what hurts there in
this?
Then lets imbrace, & lett pleasure be free,
the world shall neere take notice how delightfull
[we be.]
" I see that spyes, both peeping & creeping,
in eche comer lyes to hinder all our Ioyes;
but Cupidd shall see, & find them, & blind them
thatt hindrance wilbe to the getting of Boyes.
Then lets, &c.
[Dame Nature, . .
faire creature] " Venus, Iupiter, faire nature, Dame
creature,
Made thee for delight, but yett for none but I;
Then lets imbrace, & riffle & trifle,
BE NOT AFRAYD
17
leaue a Iewell in the place, but keeptt till you
d[ye.]
Then Lets, &c.
"Nay pish! nay fye! youle venter to enter!
a trespas soe high, youle wist were vndone; [Wuh 'twere]
should any spie, theyle wonder, looke yonder;
but youle not fly the place you haue begunn.
Then Lets, &c.
" Now you haue enioyed the Measure of pleasure,
indeed I['m] destroyed if you speake of it againe;
for women doe proue neclected, reiected,
when freedome of love is known to other men.
Now you haue enioyed me, & all things be free,
in faith youle vndoe me if a teltale you bee.
" Then heeres my hart! He euer endeuer
that wee will neu?r part till death assignes the
time.
were itt not you, beleeue me it wold greeue m[e]
to doo what I doo; that loue shold be a crime;
but it is a fault of soe sweet a degree,
that sure I am p^rswaded, court nor country be
fr[ee.]"
MERRY SONGS II.
18 DOE YOU MEANE
DOE YOU MEANE
[c. 1620-50]
[Percy Folio Manuscript, page 197 of MS.].
Doe you meane to ou«throw me?
out! alas! I am betraid!
what! is this the loue you show mee ?
to vndo a sillye Maide.
alas! I dye! my hart doth breake!
I dare not crye, I cannot speake!
■what! all alone? nay then I finde
men are to strong for women kind.
Out vpon the maid thai put mee
in this roome to be alone!
yett she was noe foole to shut mee
where I shold be seen of None.
harke! harke! alac! what Noyce is that?
o, now I see itt is the Catt.
come gentle pus, thow wilt not tell;
if all doe soe thou shalt not tell.
Seely foole! why doubts thou tellinge
where thou didst not doubt to trust?
DOE YOU MEANE
if thy belly fall a swellinge,
theres noe helpe, but out itt must.
alas the spite! alas the shame!
for then I quite Loose my good name;
but yett the worst of Maids disgract,
I am not first nor shalbe last.
Once againe to try yo«r forces,
thus I dare thee to the feild;
time is lost thai time diuorces
from the pleasures loue doth yeeld.
Ah ha! fyee, fye! itt comes yett still!
itt comes, I, I! doe what you will!
my breath doth passe, my blood doth trickle ?
was euer lasse in such a pickle?
20 AS IT BEFFELL ON A DAY
AS IT BEFFELL ON A DAY
\c. 1620-50]
[Percy Folio Manuscript, page 443 of MS.].
As itt beffell on a sumers day,
when Phebus in his glorye,
he was suited in his best array,—
as heere records my storye,—
2 London damsells fforth they wold ryde,
they were decked in their pompe & their pryde,
they said they wold goe ffarr & wyde
but they wold goe gather Codlyngs.
Sisters they were, exceeding ffine,
& macheless in their bewtye;
happy was the wight cold giue them wine
to expresse his Ioue and dutye.
soe fine, soe ffeate, so sweet, soe neate, so delicate;
O, itt wold doe you good ffor to heare them prate!
but yett intruth they haue a ffault,
to fill their belly ffull of Codlings.
Then to an orchard straight they went,
intending ffor to enter.
AS IT BEFFELL ON AD AY 21
the younger wz'th a bold attempt
ffirst did intend to enter:
" nay, softly! " quoth, the Elder wench,
" I pray thee lett vs goe ffrom hence;
ffor heare I am in some suspence
///at heare I shall not gett no Codlings."
" Art thou soe ffond ? canst thou not see
what good Lucke doth abode vs?
yonder lyes a youngman vnder a tree
that wz'th his ffruite can loade vs.
then to the Orchard straight wee will stray;
weele devise wz'th him to sport & to play;
& then He warrant you wz'thout delay
heele frill our belly mill of codlings."
Then shee did leape ouer the ditch
as light as any ffether;
her sisteT after her did Leape,
now begins to ffeare no whether.
wz'th a merry hart & a ioyffull cheere,
setting aside all care & ffeare,
seeing her sister scape soe cleere,
shee wold not Loose her share o Codlings;
Then shee did leape ouer the dich
as light as any arrow;
& in her leape, "ahI ah!" shee cryes,
ffeeling her smocke was narrowe,
22 AS IT BEFFELL ON A DAY
as maydens doe thai newly wedd
being taken ffrom her true louers bedd;
& wz'th a sigh her may den-head
were worne away w/th eating Codlings.
Her sister, on the Other side where shee attended,
bidd her haue a care, her smocke was too wyde.
w/'th what shee was offended;
w«th thai a nettle stonge her by the knee;
" a pox of all strait smockes! " q»oth shee.
seeing itt wold no better bee,
shee Layd her downe to gether Codlings.
SCOTCH MOGGY'S MISFORTUNE 23
SCOTCH MOGGY'S MISFORTUNE
TOGETHER WITH HER CHEARFUL HOp[e]s, THAT
Shakum Guie will bury his wife, and then
make Moggy a happy mother
I'- l635]
[Pepys Ballads, iii. 288].
Shakum Guie has gotten a wife,
And he is aweary of his life:
The day will come that she will dye,
And Shakum Guie will marry me:
Ha, ha, Robin, quoth she,
Ha, ha, Robin, quoth she,
Ha, ha, ha, Robin quoth she,
Kind Robin loves me.
My father left me a good stock,
Full forty weathers in a flock,
With geese, ducks, hens, and a fighting cock
Kind Robin, for thee:
Ha, ha, Robin, quoth she, &c.
24 SCOTCH MOGGY'S MISFORTUNE
My mother sent me to the well,
Better she had gone her sell.
Robin gard my belly swell,
Kind Robin, he loves me;
Ha, ha, Robin, quoth she, &c.
Robin he chast me about the stack,
Robin laid me on my back,
Robin he made my rump to crack,
Kind Robin loves me,
Ha, ha, Robin, quoth she, &c.
Robin he took me by the tale,
Over the ditch he made me fall;
Robin ruffled my falale,
Kind Robin loves me;
Ha, ha, Robin, quoth she, &c.
My Mammy she gave unto me
Forty marks as thou shalt see,
And I will give it aw to thee,
Kind Robin, quoth she,
Ha, ha, Robin, quoth she, &c.
Ginn I was married to a laird,
I should neither spin nor card,
But fill the cup, serve to laird,
The day that I was married;
Ha, ha, Robin, quoth she, &c.
SCOTCH MOGGY'S MISFORTUNE 25
Robin, Robin, let me be,
Till I have got my nurses fee
And I will drink it aw with thee,
In geud Scotch yale and brandy,
Ha, ha, Robin, quoth she, &c.
Robin is o'er the water gane,
It will be long ere he come home;
On Saturday we'll give up our names,
And Sunday we'll be married;
Ha, ha, Robin, quoth she, &c,
26 ANSWER TO MOGGY'S MISFORTUNE
AN
ANSWER TO MOGGY'S MISFORTUNE:
OR
THE KIND AND COURTEOUS COURTSHIP OF Shakum
Gay, AFTER THE FUNERAL OF HIS CROSS AND
FROWARD WIFE; WHICH PROVED THE TWO
LOVERS HAPPY CONCLUSION
V- 1635]
\Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 1; tune, Robin Cushe\.
Moggy, now rejoyce and sing,
Ise present thee with a Ring,
Nay, and joyfull News I bring,
my wife is dead and bury'd:
Therefore let's be jolly,
Drive hence Melancholly,
This night let us dally,
next day we'll be marry'd.
ANSWER TO MOGGY'S MISFORTUNE 27
To thy Shakum be not coy,
Thou'st have got a pretty Toy,
Which I'd willingly enjoy,
and therefore sit down by me:
In my Arms I'll teaze thee,
Likewise kiss and squeeze thee,
Ise am sure 'twill please thee:
prithee do but try me.
Ise have muckle Gold in store,
What canst thou desire more?
We shall live and ne'er be poor,
but always blithe and bonny :
Drink good Sack and Sherry,
Always brisk and merry,
Never, never weary,
of my dearest Honey.
My Grandsire he is stiff and old,
Likewise I know his Bloud is cold,
And will e'er long be laid in Mold,
as being dead and bury'd :
Then Ise have his Riches,
Gray Coat, Leathern Breeches,
Oh how my Fingers Itches,
Dearest, to be Marry'd!
Once I led a weary Life,
With a cross and froward Wife,
28 ANSWER TO MOGGY'S MISFORTUNE
Which created Care and Strife,
with her I was offended:
Now the Fates betide her,
No such Scold beside her,
Now a Grave does hide her,
and my Plague is ended.
For she's clearly fled away,
And has left her Shakum Gay,
Long I wish'd to see this day,
but ne'er before could find it:
Now, since she is buryed,
We will not defer it,
But with speed be Marryed
and with this Kiss I bind it.
Shakum Gay, she then reply'd,
Ise will freely be your Bride,
And lig closely by your side,
'tis my will and pleasure:
Ne'er will Ise forsake t[hee]
But in Wedlock take t[hee],
And resolve to make thee
Laird of all my Treasure.
Farewel Rock and farewel Reel,
Thrice farewel my Spinning-Wheel,
Let them gang unto the Deel,
Ise freely can refuse them;
ANSWER TO MOGGY'S MISFORTUNE zg
Having time and leisure,
Likewise Gold and Treasure,
Here Ise take my pleasure,
and no more will use them.
Mil]
THE COY SHEPHERDESS
THE COY SHEPHERDESS:
OR
PHILLIS AND AMINTAS
[1641-74]
Fair Phillis in a wanton posture lyes,
Not thinking to be seen by mortall eyes
Till accidentally Amintas came,
And see her lie, which made her blush for shame ;
He cast herself down by her on the Hay,
And won her love before he went away.
[Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 85; tune, Phillis on the
nei>j-made Hay; or, Amarillis (told her
swaint)—see Chappell's Popular Music, p.
254
Phillis on the new made hay
On a pleasant Summer's day
[posture] She in a wanton pasture lay
thinking no Shephard nigh her
Till Amintas came that way
and threw himself down by her.
At the first she was amaz'd
And with blushes on him gaz'd
Her beauty bright did him invite
her shape he did admire,
THE COY SHEPHERDESS 31
Her wanton dress could do no less,
then set his heart on fire.
Then Amintas mildly said,
Phillis, be not now afraid
But entertain, thy shepherd swain,
now we are met together,
Then I shall prize thy sparkling eyes
that did invite me hither.
I have rang'd the Plains about
For to find my Phillis out
My flocks I left, of joys bereft,
whilst I for thee did languish;
Tis in thy will my heart to fill
with joy, or else with anguish.
Then fair Phillis frowning said,
My privacy thou hast betraid;
Therefore be gone, let me alone,
do not disturb my pleasure,
Nor do not move thy sute of love,
but leave me to my leasure.
Never yet did Shepheards Swain
On this smooth Sicilian plain
Once dare to move my deep disdain
by such like bold intrusion,
Then cease thy suit, 'tis but in vain
I scorn such fond delusion.
2,2 THE COY SHEPHERDESS
When Amintas see her frown
Hoping still his joys to crown
Quoth he my dear, as I am here
I like not this behavior;
Tis lovers' bliss, to toy and kiss
it wins a Maidens favor.
Let us like the Ivy twine
And our loves in one combine
Grim Pluto loved Proserpine
her beauty did him fetter;
When thou art mine, & I am thine,
I'le please thee ten times better.
Fye for shame fond boy, she said,
Im resolv'd to live a Maid,
Thou art too young, to do me wrong
be not so bold to venture,
Whilst he poor youth, to speak the truth,
still aimed at the center.
Phiilis blusht as red as blood
When his mind she understood
His bold intent for to prevent,
she us'd her best endeavor,
His resolution it was bent
for he was loath to leave her.
Hotly he persued the Game,
Whilst his heart was on a flame
THE COY SHEFHERDESS 33
She cry'd Pish nay fye for shame
;n faith you shall not do it
But the youth her overcame
and eagerly fell to it.
Thus she strived all in vain
Whilst she felt a pleasing pain,
Yet he by no means would refrain
but kindly did imbrace her,
He kist his love and told her plain
he never would disgrace her.
In great rage she flung away
Tumbling ore the new-made hay
Whilst he ashamd & breathless lay
although he then displeas'd her;
He rally'd and renewd the fray,
and manfully appeas'd her.
Thus they spent this christal day
in such wanton sports and play,
Amintas there, imbrac'd his Dear,
and bid her be lighthearted ;
But night being" come they hasted home,
and kindly kist and parted.
MERRY SONGS II. \
34 "A NYMPH WHEN SUMMER'S BEAMS"
"A NYMPH
WHEN AS THE SUMMER'S BEAMS"
[1650]
[From Academy of Complements, p. 197I
A Nymph when as the Summers beams
made hot the colder air,
Into a fountains Chrystal streams,
to bath her did repair :
And by degrees she boldly did at length
those parts unhide:
Which to be bashful, nature made
so curious to be spyed.
Oft downward would she cast her head,
and blushing look away;
Then twist her arms, and twine her thighs,
as fearfull to betray
Her self unto her fearfull self:
thus frighted she at last,
Into the fountains swiftest streams,
her purest body cast.
" A NYMPH WHEN SUMMER'S BEAMS " 35
The waves did proudly bear her up,
and as she waded in the silver-brook,
Seem'd not to cleanse her as she sworn,
but from her purifying took.
And underneath the Chrystal streams,
As she did gliding pass,
She seemed like a Lilly fair,
that's sunk into a glasse.
And as she did her dainty arms
in sundry sort display,
Oftimes she would Narassus-like
With her own shadow play.
Oft would she lie upon her back:
With legs and arms both spred,
And imitate those wanton joyes,
that women use in bed.
Women their modesty forget
and often lay aside;
This Nymph, that thought her self unseen,
Was by a Shepheard spy'd:
Who ravisht with the sight he saw,
no longer staid to woo her,
But flung away his hook and scrip,
and boldly stept unto her.
She screeking dived, thought to have hid
her self, but all in vain,
36 "A NYMPH WHEN SUMMER'S BEAMS "
The Waters to preserve her life,
did bear her up again;
The Shepherd caught her in his armes,
and laid her on the brink,
And what he did without delay,
you know, or else may think.
"AMONGST THE MYRTLES" 37
" AMONGST THE MYRTLES SAT MY LOVE"
[1650]
[From The Academy of Complements, p. 198].
Amongst the Myrtles sate my Love
With a more downy skin,
And tender breast then Venus Dove,
And clearer from all sin.
For her I pluckt the Mary-gold,
Whose leaves shut with the evening dew,
I said to her, rise and behold,
What pretty riddle this doth shew,
Those leaves shut in like to a cloistered Nun,
Will open when the[y] feel the radiant Sun.
What mean you by this riddle, Sir, she said.
I pray expound it then; I thus began;
Know, maids are made for men, and men for maids,
Which said, she chang'd her colour, and look'd wan.
Since you the riddle, Sir, so plain have told,
Be you my Sun I'l be your Mary-gold.
38 „ MADAM BE COVERED
"MADAM BE COVERED, WHY STAND
YOU BARE?"
[1650]
[From The Academy of Complements, p. 228].
Madam be cover'd, why stand you bare,
It fits not with your female sex,
We know you carry worthy ware,
Which found may be without Index.
These bare signes do but bid us look
For unknown stuffe in your two leav'd book.
Spartan Ladies some there be
Which to their suitors naked stood,
And you your bare brests let us see,
Which tells you[r] hidden parts are good.
Thus wanton Venus drew on Mars,
A bare breast shews an open----
They hang forth signs at common Inns,
That strangers may know where to lodge,
And you shew forth your naked twins,
And use them as a Brothel-badge;
These wanton signs direct men gratis
The high way to your nunquam salts.
" MADAM BE COVERED " 39
Diana being naked seen
Did hornifie Acteons crest,
And the fair stript Hebrew Queene
Her husbands fore-head finely drest;
Shut up then Madam, flye mens scorns
For open breasts breed secret horns.
The Persian Matrons when their men
Before the Medes did flye, and fall,
For to encourage them again,
Shew'd them their bellies bare; and all.
You with your fair breasts would, belike,
Move even a heartlesse man to strike.
Our grandam Eve before the Fall,
Went naked, and sham'd not awhit,
You not to one, but, unto all,
Shew both your hills and naked pit:
Very well read in Rhetoricks school,
You shew us but a part for th' whole.
The mask you wear upon youi face,
Upon your breasts would better shew,
By nature that's a naked place,
Then Madam use your Mask below,
Lest that some gazing fellow venter,
And so descend, to loves low center.
4o
ON A TINKER
ON A TINKER
[1656]
[From Choyce Drollery, p. 52].
He that a Tinker, a Tinker, a Tinker will be,
Let him leave other Loves, and come follow me.
Though he travells all the day,
Yet he comes home still at night,
And dallies, dallies with his Doxie,
And dreames of delight.
His pot and his tost in the morning he takes,
And all the day long good musick he makes;
He wanders up and down to Wakes & to
Fairs,
He casts his cap, and casts his cap at the Court
and its cares;
And when to town the Tinker doth come,
Oh, how the wanton wenches run,
Some bring him basons, and some bring him
bowles,
All maids desire him to stop up their holes,
Prinkum Prankum is a fine dance, strong Ale is
good in the winter,
ON A TINKER
41
And he that thrums a wench upon a brpss pot,
The child may prove a Tinker.
With tink goes the hammer, the skellit and the
scummer.
Come bring me thy copper Kettle,
For the Tinker, the Tinker, the merry merry
Tinker
Oh, he's the man of mettle.
I
A WOMAN WITH CHILD
A WOMAN WITH CHILD THAT DESIRED
A SON, WHICH MIGHT PROVE
A PREACHER
[1656]
[From Choyce Drollery, p. 44].
A Maiden of the pure Society,
Pray'd with a passing piety
That since a learned man had o're-reacht hei,
The child she went withall should prove [a] Preacher.
The time being come and all the dangers past,
The Goodwife askt the Midwife
What God had sent at last.
Who answer'd her half in a laughter,
Quoth she the Son is prov'd a Daughter.
But be content, if God doth blesse the Baby,
She has a Pulpit where a Preacher may be.
IN PRAISE OF A WOMAN 43
IN PRAISE OF A DEFORMED WOMAN
[1656]
[From Choyce Drollery, p. 49].
I love thee for thy curled haire,
As red as any Fox,
Our forefathers did still commend
The lovely golden locks.
Venus her self, might comelier be,
Yet hath no such variety.
I love thee for thy squinting eyes,
It breeds no jealousie,
For when thou do'st on others look,
Methinks thou look'st on me,
Venus her self, &°c.
I love thee for thy copper nose,
Thy fortune's ne're the worse,
It shews the mettal in thy face
Thou should'st have in thy purse,
Venus her self, &*c.
I love thee for thy Chessenut skin,
Thy inside's white to me,
44 IN PRAISE OF A WOMAN
That colour should be most approv'd,
That will least changed be.
Venus her self, Qfc.
I love thee for thy splay mouth,
For on that amorous close
There's room on either side to kisse,
And ne'er offend the nose.
Venus her self, Qfc.
I love thee for thy rotten gummes,
In good time it may hap,
When other wives are costly fed,
lie keep thy chaps on pap.
Venus her self, &c.
I love thee for thy blobber lips,
'Tis good thrift I suppose,
They're dripping-pans unto thy eyes,
And save-alls to thy nose.
Venus her self, Qfc.
I love thee for thy huncht back,
'Tis bow'd although not broken,
For I believe the Gods did send
Me to thee for a Token.
Venus her self, &*c.
I love thee for thy pudding wast,
If a Taylor thou do'st lack,
IN PRAISE OF A WOMAN
45
Thou need'st not send to France for one,
He fit thee with a sack.
Venus her self, &"c.
I love thee for thy lusty thighes
For tressels thou maist boast,
Sweet-heart thou hast a water-mill,
And these are the mill-posts.
Venus her self, £?c.
I love thee for thy splay feet,
They're fooles that thee deride,
Women are alwaies most esteem'd,
When their feet are most wide.
Venus her self, &c.
46 THE TYRANNICAL WIFE
THE TYRANNICAL WIFE
[1661]
[From Merry Drollery, p. 222].
It was a man and a jolly old man,
Come love me whereas I lay,
And he would marry a fair young wife
The clean contrary way.
He woo'd her for to wed, to wed,
Come love me whereas I lay,
But even she kickt him out of the bed
The clean contrary way.
Then for her dinner she looked due,
Come love me whereas I lay,
He had better a gone on his head to Rome
The clean contrary way.
She proved a gallant huswife soon,
Come love me whereas I lay,
She was every morning up by noon
The clean contrary way.
THE TYRANNICAL WIFE 47
She made him go wash and wring,
Come love me whereas I lay,
And every day to dance and sing
The clean contrary way.
She made him do a worse thing than this,
Come love me whereas I lay,
To father a child was none of his,
The clean contrary way.
Hard by a bush, and under a brier,
Come love me whereas I lay,
I saw a holy Nun lye under a Frier
The clean contrary way.
To end my Song I think it long,
Come love me whereas I lay,
Come give me some drink and I'll begone
The clean contrary way.
48 THE MAID A BATHING
THE MAID A BATHING
[c. 1661]
[Meny Drolleiy Compleat, p. 148; music "'n
Dancing Master, 1650-65].
Upon a Summers day,
'Bout middle of the mom,
I spy'd a Lass that lay
Stark nak'd as she was born;
'Twas by a running Pool,
Within a meddow green,
And there she lay to cool,
Not thinking to be seen.
Then did she by degiees
Wash every pait in rank,
Her Arms, her breasts, her thighs,
Her Belly, and her Flank;
Her legs she opened wide,
My eyes I let down steal,
Untill that I espy'd
Dame natures privy Seal.
THE MAID A BATHING
I stript me to the skin,
And boldly stept unto her,
Thinking her love to win,
I thus began to wooe her:
Sweet heart be not so coy,
Time's sweet in pleasure spent,
She frown'd, and cry'd, away,
Yet, smiling, gave consent.
Then blushing, down she slid,
Seeming to be amazed,
But heaving up her head,
Again she on me gazed;
I seeing that, lay down,
And boldly 'gan to kiss,
And she did smile, and frown,
And so fell to our bliss.
Then lay she on the ground
As though she had been sped,
As women in a swoon,
Yield up, and yet not dead:
So did this lively maid,
When hot blood fill'd her vein,
And coming to herself she said,
I thank you for your pain.
<##
MERR\ S.)NGS II,
go THE INSATIATE LOVER
THE INSATIATE LOVER
[1661]
[From Meny Drollery, p. 247J.
Come hither my own sweet duck,
And sit upon my knee,
That I and thou may truck
For thy Commodity,
If thou wilt be my honey,
Then I will be thine own,
Thou shalt not want for money
If thou wilt make it known;
With hey ho my honey,
My heart shall never rue,
For I have been spending money
And amongst the jovial Crew.
I prethee leave thy scorning,
Which our true love beguiles,
Thy eyes are bright as morning,
The sun shines in thy smiles,
Thy gesture is so prudent,
Thy language is so free,
THE INSATIATE LOVER 5t
That he is the best Student
Which can study thee;
With hey ho my honey, &c.
The Merchant would refuse
His Indies and his Gold
If he thy love might chuse,
And have thy love in hold:
Thy beauty yields more pleasure
Than rich men keep in store,
And he that hath such treasure
Never can be poor:
With hey ho my honey, &c.
The Lawyer would forsake
His wit and pleading strong:
The Ruler and Judge would take
Thy part wer't right or wrong;
Should men thy beauty see
Amongst the learned throngs,
Thy very eyes would be
Too hard for all their tongues;
With hey ho my honey, &c.
Thy kisses to thy friend
The Surgeon's skill out-strips,
For nothing can transcend
The balsome of thy Lips,
There is such vital power
THE INSATIATE LOVER
Contained in thy breath,
That at the latter hour
'Twould raise a man from death;
With hey ho my honey, &c.
Astronomers would not
Lye gazing in the skies
Had they thy beauty got,
No Stars shine like thine eyes:
For he that may importune
Thy love to an embrace,
Can read no better fortune
Then what is in thy face.
With he) ho my honey, &c.
The Souldier would throw down
His Pistols and Carbine,
And freely would be bound
To wear no arms but thine:
If thou wert but engaged
To meet him in the field,
Though never so much inraged
Thou couldest make him yield,
With hey ho my honey, &c.
The seamen would reject
To sayl upon the Sea,
And his good ship neglect
To be aboard of thee:
THE INSATIATE LOVER 53
When thou liest on thy pillows
He surely could not fail
To make thy brest his billows,
And to hoyst up sayl;
With hey ho my honey, &c.
The greatest Kings alive
Would wish thou wert their own,
And every one would strive
To make thy Lap their Throne,
For thou hast all the merit
That love and liking brings;
Besides a noble spirit,
Which may conquer Kings;
With hey ho my honey, &c.
Were Rosamond on earth
I surely would abhor her,
Though ne'r so great by birth
I should not change thee for her;
Though Kings and Queens are gallant,
And bear a royal sway,
The poor man hath his Talent,
And loves as well as they,
With hey ho my honey, &c.
Then prethee come and kiss me,
And say thou art mine own,
I vow I would not miss thee
54 THE INSATIATE LOVER
Not for a Princes Throne;
Let love and I perswade thee
My gentle suit to hear:
If thou wilt be my Lady,
Then I will be thy dear;
With hey ho my honey, &c.
I never will deceive thee,
But ever will be true,
Till death I shall not leave-thee,
Or change thee for a new;
We'll live as mild as may be,
If thou wilt but agree,
And get a pretty baby
With a face like thee,
With hey ho my honey, &c.
Let these perswasions move thee
Kindly to comply,
There's no man that can love thee
With so much zeal as I;
Do thou but yield me pleasure,
And take from me this pain,
I'll give thee all the Treasure
Horse and man can gain;
With hey ho my honey, &c.
I'll fight in forty duels
To obtain thy grace,
THE INSATIATE LOVER 55
I'll give thee precious jewels
Shall adom thy face;
E'r thou for want of money
Be to destruction hurl'd,
For to support my honey
I'll plunder all the world;
With hey ho my honey, &c.
That smile doth shew consenting,
Then prethee let's be gone,
There shall be no repenting
When the deed is done;
My bloud and my affection,
My spirits strongly move,
Then let us for this action
Fly to yonder grove,
With hey ho my honey, &c.
Let us lye down by those bushes
That are grown so high,
Where I will hide thy blushes;
Here's no standers by
This seventh day of July,
Upon this bank we'll lye,
Would all were, that love truly,
As close as thou and I;
With hey ho[,] my honey, &c.
56 JOHN AND JONE
JOHN AND JONE
[1661]
[From Merry Drollerie, ii. 46].
If you will give ear,
And hearken a while what I shall tell,
I think I must come near,
Or else you cannot hear me well:
It was a maid, as I heard say,
That in her Masters Chamber lay,
For maidens must it not refuse,
In Yeomans houses they it use
In a truckle bed to lye,
Or in a bed that stands thereby,
Her Master and her Dame
Would have the maid do the same.
This maid she could not sleep
When as she heard the bedstead crack,
When Captain Standish stout
Made his Dame cry out you hurt my back,
Fye she said you do me wrong,
You lye so sure my breast upon.
JOHN AND JONE 57
But you are such another man,
You'd have me do more than I can;
Fie Master, then quoth honest Joane,
I pray you let my Dame alone;
Fie, quoth she, what a coyl you keep,
I cannot take no rest nor sleep.
This was enough to make
A Maiden sick and full of pain,
For she did fling and kick,
And swore she'd tear her smock in twain;
But now to let you understand,
They kept a man whose name was John,
To whom this Maiden went anon,
And unto him she made her moan:
Tell me John, tell me the same,
What doth my Master to my Dame?
Tell me John, and do not lye,
What ailes my Dame to squeak and cry?
Quoth John, your Master he
Doth give your Dame a steel at night,
And though she find such fault,
It is her only hearts delight:
And you Jane, for your part,
You would have one with all your heart;
Yes indeed, quoth honest Jone,
Therefore to thee I make my moan;
But John if I may be so bold,
58 JOHN AND JONE
Where is there any to be sold ?
At London then quoth honest John,
Next market day I'll bring thee one.
What is the price quoth Jone,
If I should chance to stand in need?
Why twenty shillings, then quoth John
For twenty shillings you may speed;
The Maid then went unto her Chest,
And fetch'd him twenty shillings just:
There John, quoth she, here is the Coyn,
And prethee have me in thy mind,
And, honest John, out of my store
I'll give thee two odd shillings more.
To market then went John,
When he had the money in his purse,
He domineer'd and swore,
And was as stout as any horse:
Some he spent in Wine and Beer,
And some in Cakes and other good Cheer,
And some he carried home again
To serve his turn another time;
O John, quoth she, thou't welcome home;
God-a-mercy, quoth he, gentle Jone;
But prethee John, now let me feel,
Hast thou brought me home a steel ?
Yes that I have, quoth John,
JOHN AND JONE
And then he took her by the hand,
He led her straight into a room
Where she could see nor Sun nor Moon,
The door to him he straight did clap,
He put the steel into her lap,
And then the Maid began to feel,
Cods foot, quoth she, 'tis- a goodey steel:
But tel me, John, and do not lye,
What makes these two things hang here by?
O Jone to let thee understand
They're the two odd shillings thou putst in
my hand
[If I had known so much before
I wou'd have given thee two shillings more.]
6o " SHE'S SO BONNY AND BRISK "
"SHE'S SO BONNY AND BRISK"
[1668]
[From " She wou'd if she Cou'd, iii. 3, by Sir Geo
Etherege].
She's so bonny and brisk,
How she'd curvet and frisk,
If a Man were once mounted upon her!
Let me have but a leap,
"Where 'tis wholesom and cheap,
And a fig for your Person of Honour.
"AS I WALK'D IN THE WOODS" 61
AS I WALK'D IN THE WOODS
[1672]'
[By T. Shadwell in The Miser, ii. 2].
As I walk'd in the woods one evening of late,
A Lass was deploring her hapless estate,
She sigh'd, and she sob'd, Ah wretched she said;
Will no youth come to succour a languishing Maid ?
Shall I still sigh and cry, and look pale and wan,
And languish for ever for want of a man ?
At first when I saw a young man in the place,
My colour would' fade, and then flush in my face,
My breath would grow^short, and I shiver'd all o're;
I thought 'twas an Ague, but Alas it was more,
For e're since I've sigh'd, and do what I can,
I find I must languish for want of a man.
When in bed all the night I weep on my Pillow,
To see others happy, while I wear the Willow;
I revenge myselfe on the innocent sheet,
Where in rage I have oftentimes made my Teeth
meet:
62 "AS I WALK'D IN THE WOODS"
But all this won't serve, let me do what I can,
I find I must languish for want of a man.
Now all my fresh colour deserted my face,
And let a pale greenness succeed in the place,
I pine and grow faint, and refuse all my meat,
And nothing but Chalk, Litne, or Oatmeal, can eat:
But in my despair I'le die if I can,
And languish no longer for want of a man.
"AS I LAY MUSING ONE NIGHT" 63
'AS I LAY MUSING ONE NIGHT"
L1672]
[From Windsor Drollery, p. 22].
As I lay musing one night in my Bed,
After I weary was with sleep,
A day 'gan peep,
Many odd fancies came into my head:
Women were first that came into my mind.
For we do daily find
They molest most our rest,
Cruel be they, or kind.
Next thing which my fancy did propound,
Was, what a maiden-head would prove,
Which men so love;
Since it is never lost till it be found:
And then the Finder, if he be wise,
Ought not to boast his prize;
'Cause that it never yet
Was seen by mortal eyes.
64 "AS I LAY MUSING ONE NIGHT
Then why a Cuckold should suffer such scorn,
For what's another's fault, not his,
Appears amiss:
If right, the women should wear the horn:
And if each Cuckold his horns should wear,
I should shrewdly fear,
It would be strange to see
Men without horns appear.
Fourthly, a reason would gladly be known,
Why women we kind-hearted see,
Should Carted be,
For making use of what is but their own:
If they may have their legs for to go,
And their fingers to sow,
Why not that thing for what
It was ordain'd also?
AN AMOROUS DIALOGUE 65
AN AMOROUS DIALOGUE BETWEEN
JOHN AND HIS MISTRISS:
BEING A COMPLEAT AND TRUE RELATION OF SOME
MERRY PASSAGES BETWEEN THE MISTRIS AND
HER APPRENTICE, WHO PLEASED HER SO
WELL, THAT SHE REWARDED HIM
WITH FIFTY BROADPIECES FOR
HIS PAINS.
Here by this dialogue you may discern,
While old cats nibble cheese, the young ones learn.
[1572-76]
[Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 12 : tune, Packington's Pound ;
or, Whet should a young woman; or, Cap-
tain Digby\.
Come, John, sit thee down I have some what to say,
In my mind I have kept it this many a day,
Your master you know is a Fool, and a Sot,
And minds nothing else but the Pipe and the Pot.
Till twelve or till one he will never come home,
And then he's so drunk that he lies like a Mome:
Such usage as this would make any one mad,
But a Woman will have it if 'tis to be had.
MERRY SONGS II. e
66 AN AMOROUS DIALOGUE
'Tis true forsooth mistris, the case is but hard,
That a woman should be of her pleasure debar'd:
But 'tis the sad fate of a thousand beside,
Or else the whole City is fouly beli'd:
There is not a man among twenty that thrives,
Not ten in fifteen that do lie with their Wives:
Yet still you had better be merry than sad,
And take it ivherever it is to be had.
But John, 'tis-a difficult matter to find,
A man that is trusty and constantly kind:
An Inns-of-Court Gallant he cringes and bows,
He's presently known by his Oaths and his Vows,
And though both his cloaths and his speeches be
gay,
Yet he loves you but onely a night and away:
Stick wage as this would make any one mad,
Yet a looman will have it, if 'tis to be had.
What think you of one that belongs to the Court,
They say they are youthful, and given to sport:
He'l present you with bracelets, and jewels, & Rings,
With stones that are precious, & twenty fine things;
Or if you are not for the Court nor the Town,
What think you forsooth of a man with a Gown ?
You must have a gallant, a good or a bad,
And take it where ever it is to be had.
AN AMOROUS DIALOGUE 67
THE SECOND PART, TO THE SAME TUNE
No John I confess that not any of these,
Had ever the power my fancy to please;
I like no such blades for a trick that I know,
For as soon as they've trod they are given to crow;
Plain dealing is best, and I like a man well,
That when he has kiss'd will be hang'd ere he'l tell:
My meaning is honest, and thou art the Lad,
Then give it and take it where 'tis to be had.
Alas! my dear mistris, it never can be,
That you can affect such a fellow as me:
Yet heaven forbid, since I am but your man,
I should ever refuse to do all I can;
But then if my master should know what we've
done,
We both shou'd be blown up as sure as a Gun:
For after oh? joys, he would make us sad,
For taking it where it ought not to be had.
But how shou'd he know it thou scrupulous
Elf,
Do'st think I'me so silly to tell him my self?
If we are but so wise our own counsel to keep,
We may laugh and lye down while the sot is
asleep:
Some hundreds I know in the city that use
68 AN AMOROUS DIALOGUE
To give to their men what their masters refuse:
The man is the master, the Prentice the Dad,
For women must take it where 'tis to be had.
Some Prentices use it, forsooth, I allow,
But I am a Novice and cannot tell how:
However, I hope that I shall not be blam'd,
For to tell you the truth I am somwhat asham'd;
I know how to carry your Bible to Church,
But to play with my mistris I'me left in the lurch:
Yet if you can shew me the way good or bad,
I'le promise you all that there is to be had.
You quickly may learn it, my Johnny, for... Thus,
Before you proceed we begin with a buss;
And then you must clasp me about with your arm;
Nay, fear me not Johnny I'le do thee no harm;
Now I sigh, now I tremble, now backwards I lye,
And now dear Johnny, ah now I must dye:
Oh! who can resist such a mettlesome Lad,
And refuse such a pleasure when 'tis to be had.
Alas, pritty mistry the pleasure is such,
We never can give one another too much:
If this be the business the way is so plain,
I think I can easily find it again:
'Twas thus we began; and... Thus we lye down,
And thus — Oh thus! that we fell in a swoun:
Such sport to refuse who was ever so mad,
I'le take it where ever it is to be had.
AN AMOROUS DIALOGUE 69
Now, Johnny you talk like an ignorant mome,
You can have such pleasures no where but at
home,
Here's fifty broad pieces for what you have done,
But see that you never a gadding do run :
For no new imployment then trouble your brains,
For here when you work you'l be paid for your
pains:
But skou'd you deceive me no woman so sad,
To lose all the pleasure that once she has had.
A mistris so noble I never will leave,
'Twere a sin and a shame such a friend to deceive;
For my Master's shop no more will I care,
'Tis pleasanter handling my mistrisses ware:
A fig for Indentures, for now I am made
Free of a Gentiler and pleasanter trade:
I hnoiv when I'me zvell, 1 was never so mad,
To forsake a good thing when 'tis to be had.
A MERRY DISCOURSE
A MERRY DISCOURSE BETWEEN A
COUNTRY LASS AND A YOUNG
TAYLOR:
SHEWING
How the Taylor lost his plight and pleasure,
His yard not being, by the Standard, Measure.
[1672-75]
[Roxburgh Ballads, ii 80; tune, Kester Crab].
In harvest-time I walked
hard by a corn-close side;
I hearing people talk,
I looked about, and spy'd
A young man and a maid,
together they did lye;
When you hear it told,
YouJl laugh full heartily.
She was as buxsome a Lass
as any in our Town;
She will not let you pass,
but she'l call you to sit down.
A MERRY DISCOURSE 71
A Taylor passing by,
she hit him on the heele:
You are very welcome Sir,
to sit you down and feele.
What money's in my purse,
at your command shall be,
If you will go along
to Marson zvake with me.
He hearing her say so,
and seeing her to smile,
Was charmed with her, so
he sate him down a while.
And having groped her purse,
and taken all her money,
He grop'd again, and mist,
And caught her by the Coney.
Where am I now ? (quoth he)
another I have found;
Its not the same, (quoth he)
tor this is tufted round.
If it be tufted round, (quoth she)
there is good reason for't;
There in such treasure lyes
will make a Taylor sport.
A MERRY DISCOURSE
He hearing her say so,
being a frollicksome Lad,
Was -willing for to know
more of the fringed bag.
With that he eagerly
to feel put forth his hand;
Nay, hold good Sir, said she,
go not before you stand.
Except you take your Yard,
the depth of it to measure,
You'I find the Purse so deep,
You'l hardly come to th'treasure.
He hearing her say so,
it put him to a stand;
She seeing him dismaid,
she took his Yard in hand:
Is this your Yard, quoth she,
is this your Taylor's measure?
It is too short for me,
it is not Standard-Measure.
The Taylor being abashed,
she told him that it was
More fitter for a man
than such a penny Ass.
A MERRY DISCOURSE
She bids him now be gone,
since he could make no sport,
And said, thou art too dull
to enter such a fort.
She looking fiercely at him,
she said, thou sneaking fool,
Go straight away to Vulcan,
and let him mend thy tool:
And tell him that Dame Venus
at him is almost mad,
For sending to her School
such an unfit Lad.
You Taylors that attempt
fringed bags to measure,
Be sure your Yards be sealed,
and [of] full Standard-Measure.
74 "WHIL'ST ALEXIS LAY PREST "
"WHIL'ST ALEXIS LAY PREST"
[1673]
[By Dryden in Marriage-a-la-mode, iv. 2].
Whil'st Alexis lay prest
In her Arms he lov'd best,
"With his hands round her neck,
And his head on her breast,
He found the fierce pleasure too hasty to stay,
And his soul in the tempest just flying away.
When Ccelia saw this,
With a sigh, and a kiss,
She cry'd, Oh my dear, I am robb'd of my
bliss;
'Tis unkind to your Love, and unfaithfully done,
To leave me behind you, and die all alone.
The Youth, though in haste,
And breathing his last,
In pity dy'd slowly, while she dy'd more fast;
Till at length she cry'd, Now, my dear let us go,
Now die, my Alexis, and I will die too.
"WHII/ST ALEXIS LAY PREST" 75
Thus intranc'd they did lie,
Till Alexis did try
To recover new breath, that again he might die:
Then often they di'd; but the more they did so,
The Nymph di'd more quick, and the Shepherd
more slow.
76 EPITHALAMIUM
EPITHALAMIUM
[1673]
[By Dryden in Amboyna, iii. 1].
The day is come, I see it rise,
Betwixt the Bride's and Bridegroom's Eyes,
That Golden day they wish'd so long,
Love pick'd it out amidst the throng;
He destin'd to himself this Sun,
And took the Reins and drove him on;
In his own Beams he drest him bright,
Yet bid him bring a better night.
The day you wish'd arriv'd at last,
You wish as much that it were past,
One minute more and night will hide,
The Bridegroom and the blushing Bride.
The Virgin now to Bed do's goe :
Take care oh Youth, she rise not soe;
She pants and trembles at her doom,
And fears and wishes thou woul'dst come.
The Bridegroom comes, He comes apace
With Love and Fury m his Face;
EPITHALAMIUM
She shrinks away, He close pursues,
And Prayers and Threats, at once do's use,
She softly sighing begs delay,
And with her hand puts his away,
Now out aloud for help she cryes,
And now dispairing shuts her Eyes.
78 THE BACHELOR'S SONG
THE BACHELOR'S SONG
1.1674]
[By Thomas Flatman, Poems and Songs, p. 63].
Like a Dog with a bottle fast ti'd to his tail,
Like Vermin in a trap, or a Thief in a Jail,
Or like a Tory in a Bog,
Or an Ape with a Clog:
Such is the man, who when he might go free,
Does his liberty lose,
For a Matrimony noose,
And sels himself into Captivity;
The Dog he do's howl, when his bottle do's
jog.
The Vermin, the Theif, and the Tory in vain
Of the trap, of the Jail, of the Quagmire com-
plain.
But welfare poor Pug ! for he playes with his Clog;
And tho' he would be rid on't rather than his
life,
Yet he luggs it and he hug's it as a man does
his wife.
THE BACHELOR'S SONG
THE SECOND PART
How happy a thing were a wedding,
and a bedding,
If a man might purchase a wife
For a twelve month, and a day:
But to live with her all a mans life,
For ever and for ay,
Till she grow as grey as a Cat,
Good faith Mr. Parson, I thank you for that.
8o
AMYNTAS
AMYNTAS
[i 674l
[From Bristol Drollery, p. 99].
After long service, and a thousand vows
To her glad Lover, she more kindness shews:
Oft had Amyntas with her tresses plai'd,
When the Sun's vigour drove 'em to a shade;
And many a time h' had given her a green Gown;
And oft he kist her when he had her down.
With signs and motions he to her made known
What fain he wou'd have done, then with a frown
She wou'd forbid him, till the minute came
That she no longer cou'd conceal her flame.
The Am'rous Shepherd forward to espie
Loves yielding motions triumph in her eye.
With eager transport, strait himself addrest,
To taste the pleasure of so rich a feast,
When with resistance, and a seeming flight,
As 'twere t'increase her Lovers appetite;
Unto a place where flowers thicker grew,
Out of his arms, as swift as air she flew:
Daphne ne'r run so light and fast as she,
AMYNTAS
81
When from the God's she fled, and tum'd t'a
Tree.
The Youth pursu'd, nor needs he run amain,
Since she intended to be overta'ne.
He drop't no Apple, nor no golden ball,
To stay her flight, for she her self did fall.
Where, 'mongst the Flowers, like Flora's self she
lay,
To gain more breath, that she might los't in
play:
She pluckt a Flower, and at Amynlas threw,
When he addrest to crop a flower too.
Then a faint strife she seemed to renew,
She smil'd, she frown'd, she wou'd, and wou'd
not doe.
At length o'recome, she suffers with a sigh,
Her ravish'd Lover use his Victory:
And gave him leave to punish her delay,
With double vigour in the Am'rous fray.
And then, alas! soon ended the delight,
For too much Love had hastn'ed its flight;
And ev'ry ravisht sense too soon awake,
Rap't up in bliss it did but now partake:
Which left the Lovers in a state to prove,
Long were the pains, but short the joyes of Love.
MhRRY SONGS II.
6
82 "COME, LET'S DRINK"
" COME, LET'S DRINK THE NIGHT AWAY "
[i674]
[From Bristol Drollery, p. 26].
Come, let's drink the night away,
Let the married sleep it out,
(After a short minutes play
At the Sport) we'l drink about.
Fill the Glass up, when 'tis out,
Those are pleasures are but vain,
Whil'st they empty at a bout
What they cant recruit again.
Every minute we will sport us,
And in no fond Amours burn,
Let the Lasses woo and court us,
E're we do them a good turn.
Yet to make up our delight,
Wee'l have Wine and Wenches too,
At the one to pass a night,
And sometimes give these their due.
•' I JULIA TRY'D " 83
"ONCE, TWICE, THRICE, I JULIA TRY'D"
[*• 1695]
[A Broadside Catch with music by H. Purcell].
Once, Twice, Thrice I Julia try'd,
The Scornful Puss as oft deny'd,
And since, and since, I can no better, better thrive,
I'll cringe to ne'er a Bitch alive,
So kiss my arse, so kiss my arse, so kiss my arse,
So kiss my arse disdainful Sow,
Good Claret, good Claret is my mistress now.
84 "JOAN HAS BEEN GALLOPING
"JOAN HAS BEEN GALLOPING"
[1682]
[From Wit and Mirth, p. 119].
Joan has been Galloping, Galloping, Galloping,
Joan has been Galloping all the Town o're,
'Till her Bumfiddle, Bumfiddle, Bumfiddle,
Untill her Bumfiddle was wonderous sore;
Without e're a Saddle upon her old Jade,
To fetch her good Man from the Alehouse Trade.
THE FOUR-LEGG'D QUAKER 85
THE FOUR-LEGG'D QUAKER
[1682]
[From Wit and Mirth, p. 81].
All that have two or but one ear,
(I dare not tell ye half)
You of an Essex Colt shall hear
Will shame the very Calf.
In Horsley Fields near Colchester
A Quaker would turn Trooper;
He caught a Foal and mounted her
(O base!) below the Crupper.
Help, Lords and Commons, once more help,
O send us Knives and Daggers!
For if the Quakers be not gelt
Your Troopes will have the Staggers.
Ralph Green (it was this Varlet's name)
Of Colchester you'll swear,
From thence the Four-legg'd Elder came,
was ever such a Pair!
But though 'twas foul 'tween Swash and fane,
yet this is ten times worse,
86 THE FOUR-LEGG'D QUAKER
For then a Dog did play the Man,
but Man now play'd the Horse.
Help, Lords and Commons, &c.
The owner of the Colt was nigh,
(observing their Embrace)
And drawing nearer did espie
The Quaker's sorrell Face:
My Foal is ravish'd (then he cryes,
and fiercely at him ran),
Thou Rogue, I'll have the halter'd twice,
as Horse and eke as Man!
Help, Lords and Commons, &c.
Ah, Devil, do'st thou tremble? now
'tis sore against thy will;
For Mares and preaching Ladies know
Thou hast a Colts tooth still:
But mine's not guilty of this Fact,
she was by thee compelled;
Poor thing, whom no man ever backt
thou wickedly has Bellied.
Help, Lords and Commons, &c.
O Friend (said Green, with sighs and groans)
let this thy wrath appease!
(And gave him then eight new half-Crowns
to make him hold his peace)
The Man reply'd, though I for this
THE FOUR-LEGG'D QUAKER
conceal thy Hugger Mugger,
Do'st think it lawfull for a Piece
a silly Foal to Bugger?
Help, Lords and Commons, &c.
The Master saw his Colt defil'd
which vext his soul with doubt;
For if his Filly prov'd with Child
he knew all would come out:
Then he afresh began to rave,
(for all his Money taking)
Neighbours, said he, I took this Knave,
i'th very act of Quaking.
Help, Lords and Commons, &c.
Then to the Pinfold (Gaol I mean)
they dragg'd him by the Mane,
They cail'd him Beast, they call'd her Q
as if she had been Jane
O stone him,(all the women cry'd),
nay Geld him (which is worse),
Who scorn'd us all and took a Bride
that's Daughter to a Horse!
Help, Lords and Commons, &c.
The Colt was silent all this while,
and therefore 'twas no Rape,
The virgin Foal he did beguile,
and so intends to scape:
88 THE FOUR-LEGG'D QUAKER
For though he got her in a Ditch
where she could not revolt,
Yet he had no Scott'sh Spurr nor Switch
to ride the willing Colt.
Help, Lords and Commons, &c.
O Essex, Essex, England's pride,
go bum this long-tail'd Quean,
For though the Thames runs by thy side,
it cannot wash the clean!
'Tis not thy Bleating Sonn's complaints,
hold forth such wanton courses,
Thy Oysters hint the very Saints
to horn the very Horses.
Help, Lords and Commons, &c.
Though they salute not in the Street
(because they are our Masters)
'Tis now reveal'd why Quakers meet
in Meadows, woods, and Pastures.
But Hors-men, Mare-men, all and some
who Man and Beast perplex,
Not only from East-Horsly come,
but from West-Middle-Sex.
Help, Lords and Commons, &c.
This was not Green the Feltmaker,
nor willow Green the Baker,
Nor George the Sea-GREEN Manner,
THE FOUR-LEGG'D QUAKER 89
but Ralph the Grass-GREEN Quaker.
Had Green the Sow-gelder but known,
and done his office duly,
Though Ralph was Green when he came on,
he had come off most blewly.
Help, Lords and Commons, &c.
Alass you by Man's flesh came
The Foul disease to Naples,
And now we fear the very same
is brake into our Stables;
For death has stolen so many Steeds
from Prince and Peer and Carrier,
That this new Murrain rather need's
a * Farrar than a Farrier. * Physician u
the Earl of
Help, Lords and Commons, &c. Pembroke who
* is MO Quaker
nor Quacker.
Nay if this Green within the Walls
of Colchester left forces,
Those Cavaliers were Caniballs,
eating his humane Horses!
But some make man their second coarse,
(in cool blood will not spare)
Who butcher Men and favour Horse
will couple with a Mare.
Help, Lords and Commons, &c.
This Centaur, unquoth Other thing,
will make a dreadfull Breach:
Qo THE FOUR-LEGG'D QUAKER
* a new Sect Yet though an Ass may Speak or * Sing
of Young Men °
and Women 5 ]et not Horses Preach!
who pray, eat
and sing ex But Bridle such wild Colts who can
tempore.
when they'll obey no Summons,
For things begot 'tween Mare and Man
are neither Lords nor Commons.
Help, Lords and Commons, &c.
O Elders, Independents too
though all your Powers combin'd,
Quakers will grow too strong for you
now Horse and Man are joyn'd:
While Cavaliers, poor foolish Rogues,
know only Maids Affairs,
She-Presbyters can deal with Dogs,
and Quaking Men with Mares.
Help, Lords and Commons, &c.
Now as when Milan Town was rear'd,
a Monstrous Sow untam'd,
With black half Hair half Wool appear'd,
'twas Mediolanum nam'd:
Colchester must have recourse
to some such four legg'd Sister,
For sure as Horsley comes from Horse
from Colt 'twas call'd Colchester.
Help, Lords and Commons, &c.
»I OFT HAVE BEEN TOLD
"FROM TWELVE YEARS OLD,
I OFT HAVE BEEN TOLD"
[1682]
[Wit and Mirth, p. 18].
From Twelve years old, I oft have been told,
A Pudding it was a delicate bit;
I can Remember my Mother has said,
What a Delight she had to be Fed
With a Pudding.
Thirteen being past, I long'd for to taste,
What Nature or Art, could make it so sweet;
For many gay Lasses, about my Age,
Perpetually speak on't, that puts me in a rage
For a Pudding.
Now at Fifteen, I often have seen,
Most Maids to admire it so;
That their Humour and Pride is to say,
O what a Delight they have for to play
With a Pudding.
02 " FROM TWELVE YEARS OLD "
When I am among, some Wives that are young
Who think they shall never give it due praise;
It is sweet, It is good, It is pleasant still,
They cry, they think they shall ne'er have their fill
Of a Pudding.
The greater sort of the Town and the Court,
When met, their Tongues being tipp'd with Wine;
How merry and Jocund their Tattles do run,
To tell how they ended, and how they begun
With a Pudding.
Some Ancient Wives, who most of their Lives,
Have daily tasted of the like Food;
Now for want of Supplies, do Swear and Grumble,
That still they're able enough to Mumble
A Pudding.
Now, now I find, Cat will to kind,
Since all my Heart, and Blood is on fire;
I am resolv'd whatever comes on't,
My Fancy no longer shall suffer the want
Of a Pudding.
For I'll to John, who says he has one,
That's cramm'd as close as a Cracker or Squib;
Who ever is telling me when we do meet,
Of the wishing desires and sweetness they get
In a Pudding.
"I OFT HAVE BEEN TOLD
I thought at first, it never would burst,
It was as hard as Grissel or Bone;
But by the Rowling and Trawling about,
How kindly and sweetly the Marrow flew out
Of his Pudding.
Well, since I ne'er was fed with such geer,
Until my John did prove so kind;
I made a request to prepare again,
That I might continue in Love with the strain
Of his Pudding.
Then straight he brought, what I little thought,
Could ever have been in its foimer plight;
He Rumbl'd and Jumbl'd me o'er, and o'er,
Till I found he had almost wasted the store
Of his Pudding.
Then the other Mess, I begg'd him to dress,
Which by my Assistance was brought to pass;
But by his dulness and moving so slow,
I quickly perceiv'd the stuffing grew low
In his Pudding.
Tho' he grew cold, my Stomach did hold,
With Vigour to relish the other bit;
But all he could do, could not furnish again,
For he swore he had left little more than the Skin
Of his Pudding.
94 " WHEN A WOMAN THAT'S BUXOM "
" WHEN A WOMAN THAT'S BUXOM "
[1682]
[From Wit and Mirth, p. 122].
When a woman that's Buxom a dotard does wed,
'Tis a madness to think she'l be ty'd to his bed;
For who can resist a Gallant that's young,
And a man A-la-mode in his Garb and his
Tongue;
His looks have such Charms and h;s Language
such force,
That the drowsie Mechanick's a Cuckold of Course.
« WHEN JUDITH LAID ETC." 95
"WHEN JUDITH LAID HOLOFERNES
IN BED"
[1682]
[From Wit and Mirth, p. 118].
When Judith had laid Holofernes in Bed,
She pull'd out his Falchion, and cut off his
Head;
The Reason is plain, he'd have made her his
Whore;
So she cut off his Head, as I told you before,
as I told you before.
96 "BESS BLACK AS A CHARCOLE"
"BESS BLACK AS A CHARCOLE"
[1682]
[From Wit and Mirth, p. 116].
Bess Black as a Charcole,
Was found in a dark hole,
With Kit, at the Cat and the Fiddle;
But what they did there,
None safely can swear,
Yet Gentlemen Riddle my Riddle.
'Troth I would be loth,
Were I put on my oath,
To swear Kit with Bess did ingender ;
Yet it would tempt a man,
Bridle all that he can,
His present wishes do tender.
But it was found at last,
E're twelve-months were past,
That Christopher, Bess had ore master'd;
For betwixt either Thigh
He Quartered so nigh,
She brought him a Jolly brown Bastard.
THE WILLING M1DA
97
THE WILLING MIDA
[c. 1682]
[From MS. in the British Museum].
Mida, the glory of whose bewties rayse rays
Gain'd heauens high wounder, and earthes best
praise,
She, Thirsis met, both faire and louely too;
He likt hir well, but knewe not howe to woe.
They, arme in arme, into the garden walked,
Where endelesse riddles all the day they taulked;
Hir speech and motion wisely had an ende,
Yet knewe he not whereto they did attende.
She, greiued to see his youth noe better taught,
To gather him a posy he hir besaught:
With that, hir light save gowne she then vpp tuckt,
And " May " for him, and " Tyme " for hir, she
pluckt.
Which, when she brought, he took hir by the
middle,
And kist her oft, but could not leade the liddle:
"Oh, foole!" quothe shee, and so buist into
laughter,
Blusht, rami away, and scorn'd him euer after.
MERRY SONGS II. 7
98 THE LONDON LASSES FOLLY
THE LONDON LASSES FOLLY;
OE
THE MAIDEN BEGUIL'D
The maiden wild she was beguil'd
to lose her maidenhead,
And when that he had got his will,
away from her he fled.
[c. 1685]
[Pepys Ballads, iii. 236 (Ballad Society Rep. iii.
351); tune, The Jomneyman Shooe maker].
Not long ago it chanced so,
abroad as I was walking,
A damsel fair I soon espy'd,
and to her-self was talking :
"Ah! woe is me, poor wretch," quoth she,
that had not forcast rather,
For now am I grown big with beam,
but I do not know the father.
" One night when I lay in my bed
to sleep, as it was needful,
THE LONDON LASSES FOLLY 99
And having but a careless head,
and being much unheedful,
A young-man came, but not his name
by him I could not gather,
That night I'me suie, I prov'd with beam,
but I do not know the father.
"He made no stay, but whipt away,
when he had had his pleasure,
O that night's work hath me undone!
I may repent at leisure;
Now will I ramble up and down
to find out this young shaver,
For, if he live in London-town,
my child shall have a father.
" I think no Carpenter was he,
no Shipwright, nor no Saylor,
I rather think it for to be
Some lusty jovial Taylor:
Or if he were a Glover good,
a Black-smith or a Weaver,
My meaning may be understood,
my child should have a father.
" Or if he were a Butcher bold,
a Baker, or a Brewer,
No secret place my friend shall hold,
but I will find him sure;
ioo THE LONDON LASSES FOLLY
Or if he were a Serving-man,
a Royster, or a Shaver,
I'le find my gallant, if I can,
my child shall have a father.
" But if I can by no means find
the man that I adorn Sir,
Fie rest myself content in mind,
until my child is born Sir;
And when he comes to 7 yeai's old,
I by my child shall gather,
For he will be of qualities
like unto his right father.
" For if a Fleming got my child,
he will eat all the butter;
Or if he be a Spaniard wild,
he'll keep a deadly clutter:
Or if he be an Irish Teague,
my child will ride the hobby;
Or if he be a Welsh-man like,
Cetts-plues he loves Cows-bobby.
" Or if he be a Scotch-mans son,
he will begin a quarrel;
Or if he be of French-mans bone,
he'll pawn his best apparel:
Or if he be a Souldier's son,
I buy him a hat and feather,
[Cow's bobby =
toasted cheese].
THE LONDON LASSES FOLLY 101
And with a drum 111 send my son
to seek out his right father."
When she had finish'd all her talk
from thence she soon departed,
And then another way did walk,
both blith and merry hearted;
But then I cannot now surmise,
or any way can gather,
Or which way then she could devise
to find out her child's father.
102 ANSWER TO THE BONNY SCOT
AN ANSWER TO THE BONNY SCOT;
OR
THE SORROWFULL COMPLAINT OF
THE YIELDING LASS
In care and grief without Relief,
this yielding Lass was left;
In this Distress and Heaviness
she was of Hopes bereft.
[c. 1685-88]
[Roxbwgh Ballads, ii. 13; tune, The Spinning
Wheel].
Behold, I pray, what's come to pass,
when twenty Weeks was come and gone,
This bonny youthful yielding Lass,
did sigh, and bitterly take on,
Saying, My Giief I may reveal,
Too soon I left my Spinning-wheel.
With honey words, both soft and sweet,
alas! he has deluded me,
ANSWER TO THE BONNY SCOT 103
My Heart within my Breast does beat,
to see my woful Destiny;
My Virgin Treasure he did steal,
Too soon 1 left my Spinning-wheel.
Each Complement I did believe,
so serpent-like he did betray,
That had there been a second Eve,
she hardly could have said him nay:
The sad effects of this I feel,
Too soon I left my Spinning-ivheel.
He utter'd not one word of Truth,
but with Delusions led me on,
And cropt the Rose-bud of my Youth,
so that my splendid Glory's gone :
My wounded Heart no one can heal,
Too soon I left my Spinning-wheel.
I am a Damsel now defil'd,
and am exposed to open shame,
For here I find myself with Child,
and have no Father for the same,
My very Tears do's'Giief reveal,
Too soon 1 left my Sptnning-ivheel.
For my young Scot sad moan I make,
whose Beauty did my favour win;
I find him like a painted Snake,
io4 ANSWER TO THE BONNY SCOT
that's fair without, and false within:
His cruel Sting I yet do feel,
Too soon I left my Spinning-wheel.
He came with a most noble Grace,
so sweet so charming, fair and trim,
That I no sooner see his Face,
but streight I did consent to him;
Such flames of Love I then did feel,
Which made me leave my Spinning-wheel.
My love no favour will allow,
he's gone and yields me no relief;
For that small dram of Pleasure, now
I feel a hundred weight of Grief:
My Sorrows I cannot reveal,
Too soon 1 left my Spinning-wheel.
Some Gallants most deceitful are,
as by Experience I may say,
They'll call a Damsel charming Fair,
until their Hearts they do betray:
In grief I may this truth reveal,
Too soon I left my Spinning-wheel.
<rjgp5?
THE NORTHERN DITTY 105
THE NORTHERN DITTY
OR
SCOTCH MAN OUT-WITTED BY THE COUNTRY DAMSEI.
[1685-87]
[Roxburgh Ballands, ii. 374; words by T. Durfey;
tune, Cold and Raiv the North did blow;
music in Pills to Purge Melancholy (1719), ii].
Cold and Raw the North did blow,
bleak in the morning early;
All the Trees were hid with Snow,
cover'd with Winters yearly:
As I came riding o'er the Slough,
I met with a Farmer's Daughter;
Rosie Cheeks and bonny Brow,
geud faith made my mouth to water.
Down I vail'd my Bonnet low,
meaning to shew my breeding,
She return'd a graceful bow,
her Visage far exceeding;
io6 THE NORTHERN DITTY
I ask'd her where she went so soon,
and long'd to begin a Parley;
She told me unto the next Market-Town,
a purpose to sell her Barley.
In this Purse, sweet Soul, said I,
twenty pound lies fairly,
Seek no farther one to buy,
for I'se take all thy Barley: -
Twenty more shall purchase delight,
thy Person I Love so dearly,
If thou wilt lig by me all night,
And gang home in the morning early.
If Forty pound would buy the Globe,
this I'de not do Sir;
Or were my Friends as poor as Job,
I'd never raise 'em so Sir:
For shou'd you prove to Night my Friend,
we'se get a young Kid together,
And you'd be gone ere nine Months end,
and where should I find the Father?
Pray what would my Parents say,
if I should be so silly,
To give my Maidenhead away
and lose my true Love Billy ?
Oh, this would bring me to Disgrace,
and therefore I say you nay, Sir;
THE NORTHERN DITTY
107
And if that me you would Embrace,
first Marry, and then you may Sir.
I told her I had Wedded been,
fourteen years and longer,
Else I'd chuse her for my Queen,
and tye the Knot yet stronger.
She bid me then no farther rome,
but manage my Wedlock fairly,
And keep my Purse for poor Spouse at home,
for some other shall have her Barley.
Then as swift as any Roe,
she rode away and left me;
After her I could not go,
of Joy she quite bereft me :
Thus I myself did disapoint
for she did leave me fairly
My words knock'd all things out of joint,
I lost both the maid and barley.
io8 DICK THE PLOW-MAN
DICK THE PLOW-MAN TURN'D DOCTOR;
OR
THE LOVE SICK MAIDEN CURED
SHEWING HOW A COUNTRY MAID IN KENT
FELL IN LOVE WITH HER FELLOW SERVANT
DICK THE PLOWMAN", AND HOW HE CURED
HER OF HER SICK DISTEMPER, ETC.
[1685-88]
[Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 125; tune, 0 mother,
Roger].
You Maidens all of London City,
pray come nigh and lend an ear;
And th'event of this my Ditty,
to you all I'le make appear:
'Tis such a one will make you smile,
make you smile, make you smile,
Then pray Maidens stay a while,
Some to hear't would come a Mile,
But your hopes, I'll not beguile,
Nor your expectation spoil.
DICK THE PLOW-MAN
Near Rochester in Kent there lived
a brave Lass whose name was Bess,
Such a Prank you ne'r did hear of,
as to you I will express:
'Tis such a one will make you smile,
make you smile, make you smile,
Then pray Maidens stay a while,
Some to hear't would come a Mile;
But your hopes I'll not beguile,
Nor your expectation spoil.
Now this maid was brisk and merry,
and had all things to content;
Hold! I do forget to tell ye,
there was something that ill went.
To be short, Sir, this is it,
this is it, this is it,
That this Maid was very sick;
Very, very, very sick:
Sick indeed, but pray for what,
Oh! for something Dick has got.
Now Dick the Plow-man he was brisk,
and this Maid was sham'd to ask,
Yet she thought with prithee, prithee,
for to win him at the last;
But this was no perfect Cure,
perfect Cure, perfect Cure,
For her grief encreased more,
no DICK THE PLOW-MAN
More then e're it did before:
And sick she was, but pray fat what,
Oh ! for something Dick has got.
One Day when Dick was very jol'y,
and as he was driving Plow;
Then he spy'd her melancholly,
ah! says Dick, how do you now,
Ah! quoth she, I'm very sic,k,
very sick, very sick;
O, what shall I do, my Dick,
I am very, very sick,
Sick, says Dick, / pray for zvhat,
O, for something you have got.
And Dick, 'tis you can only Cure me,
prithee do't before you go;
Good now Richard, pray assure me,
whether you will, aye or no :
My dear Richard don't deny,
neither from your promise flye;
For my grievous malady,
You can cure immediately;
Then pray now Richard, give me that
I need not name it, you knoiv zvhat.
Prethee Betty how should I know,
what the thing is that you mean;
Then she sighed, and cry'd Hi-ho,
DICK THE PLOW-MAN
in
such a Fool was never seen:
I must languish here and dye,
here and dye, here and dye;
And can't have a Remedy,
For my grievous mallady ;
Was ever there so dull a Sot,
That knows not yet what he has got.
When they had understood each other,
Dick for joy did leave his Plow;
Give his Whip unto his Brother,
and he Swore he'd Cure her now.
Then unto her stiaight he goes,
and his skill to her he shows;
Brisk and blith she then became,
As anyone upon the Plain:
Noiv Maids you see zvhat Dick can do,
Then try if he can Cure you too,
ii2 THE COUNTRY PARSON'S FOLLY
THE COUNTRY PARSON'S FOLLY;
OR
THE YOUNG DUTCH WOMAN OF WEST-
MINSTER COME OFF WITH
FLYING COLOURS
[1685-95]
[Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 73 ; tune, Folly, desperate
Folly, etc.].
It is reported in the East
a Schollar of late did dwell,
Who on young Maids did love to feast,
It pleased his humour well:
But, coming to London he chanc'd to adore
A pritty Dutch Frow, which did pay his old score ;
Now this was a plague, and the devil all o'er.
0 parson, delicate patson,
How do you like the Town.
He came to a Dutch ordnary,
where he the young frow beheld,
THE COUNTRY PARSON'S FOLLY 113
And when her tempting charms he see,
he was with a rapture fill'd:
She was of the birth and the breed of the Dutch,
He pulPd out his money, altho' 'twas not much;
For why he was eager and mad for a touch.
O Parson, delicate Parson,
Why wou'd you play the fool?
Her country man a marriage read,
after the Dutch fashion too;
This done, 'tis said they went to bed,
without any more to do:
He pitch'd on a subject was hard by the rump,
And into her Pulpit he straightways did jump,
Where all the night long he her cushion did thump.
O Parson, delicate Parson,
Why wou'd you play the fool?
He gave her money the next day
to make her both neat and trim;
Silks, ribands, laces rich and gay,
in order to go with him
Down into the country, where [he] did reside;
For she was as sweet and as pleasant a bride
As ever young gallant did lye by the side.
O Parson, delicate Parson,
Why wou'd you play the fool?
MERRY SONGS II.
8
ii4 THE COUNTRY PARSON'S FOLLY
He many solemn vows did make,
when he did the money give,
That he his love would ne'er forsake,
while he had a day to live:
But yet when his pocket began to be low,
Why then from his vows he was willing to go,
And likewise a scandal on her he did throw.
O Parson, delicate Parson,
why wou'd you play the fool?
He having had his fill of her,
he call'd for his coyn again,
Making a noise and strange demur,
resolving he would Arraign
This pritty sweet creature, his joy and delpght,]
p flight] Pretending she took it away by a slight,
Which loss was sufficient to ruine him qupte]
O Parson, delicate Parson,
Why wou'd you serve her so ?
This pritty creature she was try'd
for what she had never done,
This was ill treating of a bride,
but she has the conquest won:
For when in the court at the bar she appe[ar'd,J
And that the wise jury the story had heard,
The schollar was flouted, the woman was cle[ar'd,]
0 Parson, delicate Parson,
How did you like the Game.
THE COUNTRY PARSON'S FOLLY 115
In this you have not acted well,
alas, you are much to blame:
That such a man should h'ss and tell,
O that is a burning shame;
If you had been wise, you had let her alonfe,]
And then your grand folly had never been kn[ozvn,]
But now far and near it is scatter'd and blo[wn]
O Parson, delicate Parson,
Never do so no more.
n6 YOUNG CORYDON
YOUNG CORYDON
[1700]
[A Broadside Song with music; set by Jeremiah
Clarke].
Young Coiydon and Phillis
Sat in a lovely Grove,
Contriving Crowns of Lilies,
Repeating Toys of Love—
But ?s they were a playing,
She ogled to the Swain,
It saved her plainly saying,
Let's kiss to ease our Pain.
A thousand times he kist her,
Laying her on the Green;
But as he farther prest her,
A pretty Leg was seen.
So many Beauties viewing,
His Ardour still encreas'd,
And greater Joys pursuing,
He wander'd o'er her Breast.
YOUNG CORYDON
A last Effort she trying,
His Passion to withsf rd,
Cry'd, but 'twas faintly crying,
Pray take away your Hand.
Young Coiydon grown bolder,
The Minutes would improve ;
This is the Time he told her,
To shew you how I love.
The Nymph seem'd almost dyir 5,
Dissolv'd in amorous Heat,
She kiss'd, and told him sighing,
My Dear, your Love is great.
But Phillis did recover
Much sooner than the Swain:
She, blushing, ask'd her Lover,
Shall we not kiss again?
Thus Love his Reve's keeping,
'Till Nature at a stand;
From Talk they fell to sleeping,
Holding each other's Hand.
u8 CUPID'S VICTORY
CUPID'S VICTORY OVER THE VIR-
GIN'S HEARTS;
OR
LOVE IN ITS COLOURS
When Cupid's Dart does pierce the heart
of a fair Youthful Maid,
She's forc'd to bend, and not Contend—
his Laws must be Obey'd.
[c. 1701J
[Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 64; tune, The Maids a
washing themselves^.
Where's my Shepherd (my love) hey-ho,
On yonder Mountain amidst the Snow;
I dearly love him I vow, and now
will follow, and merrily to him go:
My young Shepherd has Beauty and Charms,
And I long to find him in my arms,
I long for Night, to Embrace him a Bed,
And I long to give him my Maiden-head.
CUPID'S VICTORY
Soft and sweet are the joys of Love,
Which every Virgin does long to prove,
I will not tarry, but Marry,
and every Rival will soon remove:
Bonny Susan does muse on all night,
Upon all our joys and sweet delight,
She dreams of Kisses, Embraces, and charms,
And she starts and thinks my love in her arms.
Sweetly looks the fair Bride in Bed,
With thousand Cupids all round her head,
She softly sighs, and wishes, and kisses,
as soon as the Curtains are closely spread:
Every Bridegroom does then what he please,
And the lovely Brides their flames appease,
I need not name what young Lovers do do,
For 'tis known to every one, I and to you.
Mark how kindly she looks next clay,
More lively, lovely, more brisk and gay,
'Twould make maids long to be cooing & wooing,
to see how these wantons do sport & play:
Some new charm in his looks she espies,
And then he looks Babies in her eyes;
Then, while her fondling new pleasures does seek,
She kindly kisses and claps his cheek.
Vain it is to be nice and coy,
And let old Time all our youth destroy,
120 CUPID'S VICTORY
I like not Whining and pining,
for that which one easily mightly enjoy:
There are bonny, brisk lovers in store,
And then what can Maidens wish for more,
What need has Suwn to sigh and look pale,
When she rr'ght o're Thomas his heart prevail.
Have not Women soft charms and Arts,
By Nature given to conquer hearts,
Which never does fail, but prevail,
as often as ever they shoot their Darts;
No brisk youth can withstand a Maid's charms,
But does strangely soften in her Arms;
The Roughest Hero in all the bright field,
To a brighter Beauty will bow and yield.
Now young buxom fair Maids come here,
and learn this lesson—(to Love give ear),
The little Boy is so pritty and witty,
and pleasant and soft, that you need not fear;
Roger he shall have Cisley and Nan,
And young Kate shall kiss my Ladies' Man,
Doll shall have William, and John shall have Jone,
And thus neither Sex shall lye alone.
THE FALL
121
THE FALL
[b. 1701]
[By Sir Charles Sedley].
As Chloe o'er the meadows prst
I viewed the lovely maid:
She turned and blushed, renewed her haste,
And feared by me to be embraced—
My eyes my wish betrayed.
I trembling felt the rising flame,
The charming nymph pursued;
Daphne was not so bright a game,
Tho' great Apollo's darling dame,
Nor with such charms endued.
I followed close, the fair still flew
Along the grassy plain ;
The grass at length my rival grew,
And catched my Chloe by the shoe;
Her speed was then in vain.
But, oh! as tottering down she fell,
What did the fall reveal?
122
THE FALL
Such limbs description cannot tell;
Such charms were never in the Mall,
Nor smock did e'er conceal.
She shrieked; I turned my ravished eyes
And, burning with desire,
I helped the Queen of Love to rise;
She checked her anger and surprise,
And said, " Rash youth, retire,
" Begone, and boast what you have seen;
It shan't avail you much :
I know you like my form and mien,
Yet since so insolent you've been,
The Parts disclosed you ne'er shall touch."
THE THING
"3
THE THING
[c. 1705]
[A Broadside Song with music].
Fine Songsters Apologies too often use,
When call'd on I'm ready to Sing,
with Hums, or with Haws ne'er attempt to refuse,
and egad Sirs, I'll give you th' Thing th' Thing
and egad Sirs, I'll give you th' Thing.
Conceited, our Beaux Arm in Arm walk the Street,
In Idleness take their full swing;
Each levels his Glass, when a Lady they meet,
And if handsome they swear she's th' Thing.
Thus atSmithfield th'Jockey his Nag will commend,
What a shape, why he's fit for th' King;
He's Sound, Wind and Limb, on the word of a
Friend,
And for Spirits—He's realy th' Thing.
With smile of self Int'rest, the Landlord imparts,
Butt entire I always do bring;
Old Stings I draw that will cherish your Hearts,
And in flavour indeed 'tis th' Thing.
124
THE THING
See Jenny with Jackey to Playhouse repair,
Miss Brent to hear warble and S*ng;
Pretenders to Music they praise ev'ry Air,
With I vow and protest she's th' Thing.
The Sportsman with Joy views the Hare in full
speed,
In Extasy hears the Sky ring;
With cry of the Hounds and of each Neighing
Steed,
And in Transport he cries 'tis th' Thing.
The Prude her own Person consults in the Glass,
Admiring her Finger and Ring;
Then 'eludes that her Beauty all others surpass,
And that Man must confess she's th' Thing.
Jack Tar full of Glee to the Garden will strole,
In search Srs of something like 1—g;
There boards on Moll Jenkins, and swears by his
Soul,
She Rig'd fore and aft quite th' Thing.
The Parson well pleas'd Trims the Smoaking Sr
Loin
And slyly leers at the Pudding;
Lord bless me he cries, how nobly I Dine,
O Pudding and Beef is th' Thing.
THE THING
"5
But clasp'd in the Arms of a good natur'd Fair,
With mutual Embraces we cling;
That enjoyment alone dispells ev'ry care
Which you all must allow is th' Thing.
126 "YOUNG JOHN THE GARD'NER"
"YOUNG JOHN THE GARD'NER"
['• J705]
[A Broadside Song with music by H. Purcell].
Young John the Gard'ner having lately got,
A very Rich & fertile Garden Plot,
Bragging to Joan, quoth he, so rich a Ground
For melons, cannot in the world be found:
That's a damn'd lye quoth Joan, for I can tell,
A place that does your Garden far excell;
Where's that, says John; In my arse, quoth Joan,
For there is Store of Dung and water all the
Year.
"MY LADY'S COACHMAN, JOHN" 127
" MY LADY'S COACHMAN, JOHN"
[c. 1705]
[A Broadside Song with music by H. Purcell].
My Lady's Coachman John, be'ng 'maried to her
Maid,
Her Ladyship did hear on't, & to him thus
She said,
& to him thus she said,
I never had a wench so handsom in my Life;
I prethee therefore tell me,
I prethee therefore tell me
How got you such a wife,
John star'd her in the Face,
And answer'd very blunt,
E'en as my Lord got you,
Hews that, why by the Cunt.
128 ROBIN AND NAN
ROBIN AND NAN
0- x705]
[A Broadside Song with music; words by
B. J. Alcock junior, M. B.].
Nan was Robin's fellow servant,
She could milk, and he could plow;
Robin's love for Nan was fervent,
But the damsel would not trow.
In the field or in the meadow,
Where so e'er she daily went,
Robin follow'd like her shadow,
All to give his passion vent.
See fair maid each living creature,
(only stubborn-hearted thou);
Do as all are taught by nature,
And to love's dominion bow,
Long his passion Nan resisted,
And had always kept her hold,
Had not fortune once assisted;
Fortune often helps the boldj
ROBIN AND NAN
Nan would go to bed as usual,
Just as Robin went that way;
When her door made stout refusal,
Dame forgot and took the key;
Robin, proud of this occasion,
All his former hopes to crown,
Brought the maid, by fair persuasion,
On his threshold to sit down.
Now, said he, my charming blowsy,
Let us love and banish fear;
Dame, you know, is always drowsy,
We may talk and she not hear.
Thus one lucky minute doing
All the mighty work of love,
Ever after, without wooing,
Bob and Nan went hand and glove.
MERRY SONGS II.
130 "LOVE'S HOLIDAY IS COME"
"NOW THAT LOVE'S HOLIDAY IS COME"
[c. 1707]
[From Pills to Purge Melancholy (1707), i. 120; with
music, set by Mr. Cl
