of money by 't he did not crave A portion but her love he aym'd at most She in his riches he in her would boast They sum'd up all for they had many ends She being rais'd she might preferre her friends They use perswasions arguments to move her With promises and how the man would love her But threatning was the burden of the song She blusht she wept and yet she held her tongue But discontented to her selfe she said In what a case am I I am afraid I shall be lost for ever I had rather Displease my selfe than move and vexe my father One I must do I shall be counted vilde If he refuse to own me for his childe Nor will he give me meanes I shall be poore And if I beg my bread from dore to dore who 'l pitty me if I this old man take His wealth can never restitution make To my afficted mind how shall I do To ease my heart and please my father too His age will shame my youth how shall I meet My old acquaintance as I walke the street Without a blush his wrinkled flesh his breath Will be to me as similies of death Oh who would match yong blood with parched dust Or marrow with dri'd bones alas I must Time bring my doome that 's all the hope I have That I shall lay him quickly in his grave So she submits and now her Fathers pleas'd The match is made the Seigniors minde is eas'd But she is griev'd her grieving is in vaine For 't is too late to ease her of her paine My Muse was charg'd I 'm loth that she should stray To bid the guests against the wedding day Nor shew th' apparrell that they did provide To fit the Bridegroome and his lovely Bride The preparation for the marriage feast What company who was the chiefest guest What mirth they rais'd yet how the Bride was sad What plate was there th' attendance that they had Nor of the Musique how they plaid and sung And bore their parts or how the bels were rung What they agreed their walking after dinner Their merrie tales or who was the beginner Nor how they supt the possets at the last How he rejoyc'd when once the day was past Or how the Bride was loat'h to go to bed She was not jealous of her maiden-head How she desired that her friends would stay How he thought long before they went away With sundry other things if I rehearse They 'ld rob me of my time and stuffe my verse Black Morpheus cover'd them old Time did place'em But Hymen being angry would not grace'em Dame Nature 's vext at those that made the match Her choler 's turn'd to craft and she does watch To do 'em a mischiefe she the marriage curst She scorn'd to come to 't though sh'was bid at first The Fates are bent against him in their rage They 'll graft his head then bring him on the stage They had been married but a little space Ere he grew jealous and he did disgrace Her in his carriage he did mind the earth And dig'd for gold she pleasure lov'd and mirth He was so harsh to her and did deny Her things convenient he was in her eye Slighted as much for he was froward mad And fear'd h 'had lost that love he never had His fire is quickly quencht but there 's a flame Of lust in her nor can he quench the same He 's growing downward she is rising still He 'd keep her in but she will have her will She cals for money but he keeps her short And sitting by her selfe being all amort Thus she complaines oh how am I distrest Vndone for ever and my mind 's opprest Had death but married me I had not seene These dayes of griese or matcht with age and spleen Oh! that my tender flesh my blood and bones Were rak'd in earth and coverd o're with stones I should be freed from this cold peice of lead That chils my flesh lyes by me in my bed Oh! who would suffer such a thing but I My temper 's hot and moist he 's cold and dry Why should I spend my youthfull dayes in sorrow Or stay death's leisure waiting for a morrow Shall I alive be pen'd up in my grave Mewd up at home to please this hide-bound slave I 'le never do 't Lycurgus made a law To break such matches and to keep in awe Such jealous fooles wise Solon did consent That woman which at home had no content Might have some other friend should freely do Without controwle what she consented to What pitie 't is these Lawes are out of date That could not chuse but be a happie State This help I have I know he is precise Though he be craftie I will be as wise I 'll be so too I 'll go to Church nay more I 'll read I 'll pray I 'll seeme to go before The strictest of them many things I 'll do Lift up mine eyes both lye and flatter too He 'll ne're distrust me then I shall be knowne I 'll get acquaintance and I 'll use mine owne Nature hath made me perfect I was borne To please my selfe and give this Churle the horne I shall have gold enough love and delight When men of worth take pleasure in my sight This hypocrite is troubled in her minde Dissembles cleanly if he will be kinde And let her go that she may comfort take Sh' has sworne to turne a Convert for his sake He 's glad these times to her he will allow He does not doubt but she 's a Convert now She 's mann'd along she 's gone he does not feare To see and to be seene but not to heare When she comes home she is so griev'd for sin She cannot tell the text but she 'll begin To change her life 't is true you may believe her She has not sinn'd enough and that doth grieve her She 's provident she 'll doe the best she can To bring her minde to go without a man She 'd seeme to go to Church but mist the dore Because her minde was bent to play the whore Her customers kept touch nor did she stay But Sermon-time a game and so away Her forward zeale did please the old mans minde Although it burn'd amisse he could not finde Out her deceit before the bells had rung She 'd still be gone and staying somewhat long At last he did mistrust and sent a spye Who being cunning with a watchfull eye Found out her tract and took her in the lurch For of a bawdy-house she made her Church This news being brought oh how this man lamented His passion stopt his mouth so discontented His griefe 's to great to be exprest with tongue Or melted into teares shame's mixt among When she came home poore whore she had no doubt That he mistrusted or had found her out She seem'd to be much taken with the preacher And for the sermons sake she prais'd the teacher She could rehearse the doctrine
man I can no whit commend him He sham'd himselfe in living like a beast While he had cash his Imps would then defend him Now he is charg'd to make the wormes a feast His lust his life that was so proud and stout How soone 't was with a rapiers point let out SECT 28. Of an old man wooing and marrying of a yong girle how they disagreed and how she turn'd a whore THere liv'd a man but where I need not tell For credit worth esteem'd of all so well That fame began to prate on 't for his life To make it sweet he wanted but a wife Death rob'd him of his first she 's in her tombe Had he another to supply her roome How happy he should be for being old He must have one to keep him from the cold Wealth 's not sufficient to cheere his age He 's newly entring on the seventh stage Of bald swift time his haire with snow was mixt But 't was at odds for there were pathes betwixt The hoary-frost had seiz'd upon his beard His face was pale and wrinkled you have heard How Northerne Boreas from the pole doth glide To shake his treasure or'e the Westerne bride The plants do tremble Winter is his guest Of all the months December suits him best So is his flesh grown chill his bones do quiver Some yong one that is warme must him deliver From his cold palsy O! how faine he 'd find One qualified agreeing to his mind He sought a while but 't was his hap at last To spy a Virgin as the stroets he past And as he lookt his heart began to melt His colour 's chang'd the passion that he felt Did warme his blood his shaking fit grow's more But alter'd quite not cold as 't was before Has Winters Sun now got such power here Or will it be thus warme but once a yeare Frost has no heat inâ—â— whence then comes this change The ayre is cold the alteration 's strange Nor was there signe of fire how comes this frost Dissolv'd so soon 't was by a walking ghost Sh 'had made him yong again if she had staid But now he 'l ne're be well till she be laid This old man bends his mind t' obtaine his ends H' has hope to have her 'cause he knows her friends He 'l go to try if he be welcome to her He 's mad for ever but his gold must woe her He wants a face he feares she will abhorre him But yet he hopes his wealth will do it for him Wealth is a Lady no one will dispise her But if she doth he knows her friends are wiser He 's gone to try I wish him good successe And all that know the man can do no lesse He speaks but little that is best at first The sight of her's enough to quench his thirst Yet he must kisse her had you seen them play You would have laught she cri'd old man away He must imbrace her O this pretious pearle Fie fio said she an old man kisse a girle Her friends approv'd on 't he has hope to speed He thinks in time the girle would be agreed Home he returnes but ere he goes againe He 'l change his visage though his habit 's plaine He 'l have it alter'd though his beard be made To grow so broad and squared like a spade It must be shav'd away and it must be Turn'd up and sharp'c just like a Roman T His cloak bag breeches too shall be cut lesse He will be suted in a comely dresse To sute the rest he weares his second Ruffe 'T was made of Cambrick or some dainty stuffe His hat 's cut narrower and 't is nearly drest Good husbandry He meanes to keep his best Vntill the wedding Lovely he had bin To look upon had he but chang'd his skin He 's gone without his staffe he wants no prop The worst thing is being cold his nose doth drop He courts this lovely lasse with great delight She finds his drift and then she loath'd his sight At last he broke his mind to her and said I have a suit to thee I am a fraid Thou wilt deny me this is all I crave Thy love thy love O! that 's the thing I 'd have Sweet hony grant me this and I will prove So kind to thee that I 'le deserve thy love I 've wealth enough I 'le make it all thine own If I can have from thee this favourshown I shall be blest am I too old for thee I 'me not so old though as I seem to bee What 's forty yeares my wife death tooke away I griev'd so much that made my haire turne gray Thou 'lt find me yong and active never feare Be thou but kind this Diamond-ring my deare Take as a pledge come never blush but speak Thy mind in love or els my heart will break Yong men are fickle care lesse of their wives Men that are stai'd do love them as their lives Thy friends do like it well if I may find Thy liking too O! how 't will ease my mind Then he was silent but the maid repli'd Sir you mistake the mark or shoot too wide Do's gray haires dote how do you think I can Being yong and fresh affect so old a man In policy you have these words exprest To try my wit I take it but in jest Love 's out of date with you 't is rather meet You buy you coffin and your winding sheet I thank you for your love your wealth your gold Provokes me not if I may be so bold I 'le say you were not wise to set your mind ' Pon one so yong but love they say is blind If needs you 'l wive then take a marron grave Decrepid age with wealth might comfort have Cease cease your suit judge is 't a fitting thing To match cold Winter to the wanton Spring My blood 's now rising yours is in the fall You 'ld do me wrong your selfe no good at all What good wilt be to you to do me harme You 'ld have a yong one now to keep you warme I cannot think my friends will give consent To sell me to a living punishment Farewell old Father age might make you know Seing you are rich you should not look so low He hearing this it cut him to the heart But could not speak a word to case his smart His joynts did shake his eyes bewraid their lust Then to her friends went he now speak he must Alas this peevish wench doth slight my proffer My love my person wealth whatere I offer As tokens of good will are not respected The giver and the gift are both rejected Perswade her but to love me then will I Invest her to my wealth and when I dy I 'le leave her all if she refuse to give Her love to me long here I cannot live Then they well weighing of his great estate The credit that he had how fortunate She might be in the Match how they might save A sum
stronger And as the evening shadow grows still longer So custome spreds it selfe This one thing know Thou 'st age enough to match with fiends below If thou be married 't is the breach of truth Betwixt thee and the partner of thy youth Which curses will requite 't will be a blot To thee and thine for ever and thy lot Will be the like or worse such men do find Lex talionis paid home in their kind If thou art single and thy lust prove strong Prevent the worst by Marriage tarrying long May force the floods to overflow the banks Then men grow fearelesse fit for hellish pranks This sin is never single it must be Ioyn'd with anothers in adultery As though the guilty threatning to rebell Breath'd out disdaine to go alone to hell He beares the double sin though they agreed A little time to sin this shame full deed When done 't will breed them everlasting odds They 're painted roses which do turne to rods Looke on the imperfections of a whore Some in her person but sh 'as worse and more In disposition if thou hast but wit This thing alone may ' swage thy frenzy fit But if thou hast no skil or art in doubt Bring her to me I 'le help to find ' emout But if thy lust exceed in strength being great Starve it with hunger and asswage the heat With faire coole water drink nor wine nor beere Till thou hast purg'd thy soule and made all cleare Refuse no counsell let it pierce thy heart And welcome a reproofe though it seemes smart To thee 't is wholsome company with such That hate this vice and love good for there 's much Good gotten by them they 've no poison'd breath In life like such as thou wouldst have at death Give up thy selfe to Christ then thou maist say Thou' rt not thine own thou canst not go astray To joyne with harlots for thy soul 's bespoken The marriage day is set his love 's the token Of thy eternal good Hee 'le ever keep Thee from those vermine that about thee creep Here 's profit pleasure everlasting gaine Which with consent wil banish all thy paine View heavens glory fixing still thine eyes With confidence to pierce the lofty skyes And look beyond thy sense and silence reason Note well the beauty take the blessed season To raise thy heart see what reward those find That were not foyl'd with lust or womankind But when thou look'st take this advise of mine Thinc eyes thy heart thy ends must be Divine Then turne thine eyes tow'ards hel where thou maist see The plagues the torments and the misery That hel-hounds do indure and that will make Thy raging lust grow tame thy heart wil ake To think the swallowing of a blasted pleasure Should gender wrath endlesse in weight and measure The potion's mingled those that drink that cup Their streames of lust will soon be dryed up Their dainty pallats thirst th' insatiate whore With roaring Tom shall act that sin no more Their moystur's gone but there 's the greater fire Mixe stil with brimstone that 's the whorish hire There are no beauties no nor light to see Except t' be shame and sins deformitie They dwell with devils and their inward room Is burning hell their prison and their tomb What if thou shouldst when none of these will take Destroy a member some for heavens sake Have done as much 't is better thou shouldst cast One part away than lose thy selfe at last Mistake me not I doe not prompt thee to it If former meanes prevaile thou maist not doe it To save his soule who is 't that would not use A certaine cure pray here my pen excuse There 's nothing else except time dos afford Fresh remedies being ancient he is stor'd With cures both old and new the sinner old Will leave his lust or that him 'cause he 's cold For physick helps those that professe that Art Can shew thee which will calme thy boyling heart If that should misse I think this will not faile Live like a begging Fryar in a jayle Stone wals and iron grates are very good To temper thee and qualifie thy blood But if it be a woman she must shun Her liberty work hard not like a Nun To stitch a gorget but to turne a mill Or draw a wheelbarrow though against her will There are appointed places 'mong the rest If I may judge the Bridewels are the best And let the whip lye always in her sight Let blew-cote beadles lock her up at night And call her early up let time be inch't And of her labour let her not be pinch't There 's one thing more which I am loth to name 'T will strange Iust but 't will preferre thy shame Probatum est 't is nothing but a rope Made fast and loose 't is all the hangmans hope Thy hope thy pleasure with thy life will end 'T is then too late to say thou wilt amend The hangman's still in haste the carmans pay Will not availe to tarry halfe a day The Priest will pray but he is never long He has it ready when he holds his tongue The pangs of death come on thee when thy face Is cover'd ore oh what a fearefull cale Art thou in then the men in post will ride But when they come and find thee dead fast tyde Vnto a halters end the people gone To Gregory and thy grave thou' rt left alone But where abides thy soule ' las who can know I feare 't will be confin'd to dwell below Remember what I say read o're this book Perhaps thou maist in reading love to looke Vpon thine own estate learne to be wise 'T is sharp but wholsome 't will not blast thine eyes If 't will but turne thy heart 't will quit the cost Or strengthen any 't is not labour lost The guiltlesse and the convert shall for mee Go uncontroll'd Then let my Muse passe free Read it with patience take what is thy due I he are the whispring of a bawdy crue I needs must answer them Or they 'l abuse My harmlesse meaning and my free-borne Muse. SECT 56. The supposed railing objections imprecations of the filthy brood against the Author and the Book A Bawdy knot being met having found The Nights Search trenching in their common ground Began to grumble first the Bawd did speak â— A busie foole whose brains are sunk or weak Hath writ a book 't was principally made To shame us all and overthrow our trade I heard a gallant speak as if it came Post with a whip in Tom a' Bedlams name 'T is arm'd with fury every line spits fire I wish a halter were the Authours hire Pand. I 've bought the book I heard 't was new come out I have it here to put you out of doubt He rails he frets with biting jeers in scoffe Keeps much ado yet comes but poorly off He writes of whipping pillering and carting Burning curses hanging too at parting Bawd Let