A New Western BALLAD,
Of a Butcher that Cuckolded the Farmer[,]
Good Husbands all be loving to your wives,
For that's the way to live contented lives;
But if you'r negligent, you may be sure
They'l ne'r want that [th]ey can elsewhere procure
Tune of, Ladies of London. This may be printed, R.P.
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A Farmer of Tanton-dean Town in the West
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had a Wife both obliging and witty;
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Acute with her tongue, and when e'er she was drest
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was thought to be wonderful pretty.
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But the good man was so lazy in bed,
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that he often neglected to touch her;
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Which made the good woman place Horns on his head
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[?] the help of a lusty young Butcher.
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One morning the Farmer by break of the day,
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got up (as his custom was) early,
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And call'd up his Servants, who hasted away
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to mow down an Acre of Barley:
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In the mean time the Butcher he came,
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and got to his Wifes bed-side, Sir,
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Where quickly he plough'd up my Country-mans Dame
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without ever being deny'd, Sir.
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SEcure they lay in the midst of their joys,
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and had what each other desired;
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Kissing and clasping and other such toys,
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till at last the poor Butcher was tired:
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She trotted so hard, he dismounted his Mare,
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which is very well worth the relating,
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How the Butcher got up on the sweat like a Bear,
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as if he'd been at a Bull-baiting.
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He kist her, and lovingly bid her good-by,
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and said that he must be returning;
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Whilst she with kind looks bid him not to deny
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to come thither again the next morning:
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The butcher reply'd, he could not refuse
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to come to so charming a Creature,
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But when he was gone, he swore first he would use
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to be hang'd before ever he'd meet her.
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The Butcher was never so set in the Stocks,
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nor ty'd up so hard to his labour;
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For he swore half the strokes would have knockt down an Ox
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that he in one hour had gave her.
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But rather than she the pastime wou[l]d lack,
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when the good man was out of the way, Sir,
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My Country-man John he came in for a snack,
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when he should have been making of Hay, Sir.
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Therefore take every man care of his Dame,
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and not think too much of his labour,
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If you do, she will still get a bit of that same,
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though she borrows it of a kind Neighbour
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But be ye loving be sure to your wife,
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and then you'l be free from the danger,
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Of living a Henpeckt and Hornified life,
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and be always at Rack and Manger.
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