The Knight and the Beggar-Wench.
Which doth a wanton prank unfold,
In as merry a story as ever was told.
The Tune is, The Kings Delight , or Turn Coat .
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I Met with a jovial Beggar,
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And into the Fields I led her,
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and I laid her upon the ground;
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Her face did not invite mee,
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Nor her smock did much delight me
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but I think the young whore was sound;
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With Ladies both fresh and gay
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I often did sport and play,
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yet a Beggar I'le take
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for varieties sake,
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She'l please as me as well as they.
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I have a good Wife, as fair,
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As ever drew English aire
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her pleasure is past compare,
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Her cherry lips, cheeks, and eyes,
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Her belly, her breast, and thighs,
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might any but I suffice,
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With her I so often play
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And weary my time away
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That a fouler to mee,
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Would be fairer than she,
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Varity wins the day,
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This Beggar I shall describe,
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Without any hope of bribe,
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was one of the maundring tribe
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Shee had a fine foot and leg,
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As nimble as Doe or Stag,
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and then she began to beg,
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So soon as my Horse she sees
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She fell down upon her knees,
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The whore had a sack
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That hung at her back
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Well furnish'd with Bread and Cheese.
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She struck me into a dump
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the jade was both young and plump,
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with a round and a ranting Rump;
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Her feature had so much force,
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It raised in me remorse
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and drew me quite off my Horse,
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But when I began to wooe
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She told me she would not doe,
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Quoth I pretty Mort,
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Let me shew you some sport
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Shee kist mee, and answered no.
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[M Y Horse] to a twig I ty'd,
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[The be]ggar-wench then [rep]ly'd,
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[good Mast]er get up and ride,
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[Yes so] I will straight (thought I)
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[With] that I drew something nigh
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[sh]e strugled and cry'd fy, fy,
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[I am] but a Beggar by breed,
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[Qu]oth I let mee do this deed,
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For he that will scorn
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A Beggar-wench born
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May want a good turn at need.
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Then into her Arms I claps,
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Quoth she now I'm in your traps,
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what shall I do with my scraps?
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Throw them in the bush said I,
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No, no, she did streight reply
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there's Pig, and Pudding and Pie
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We begg for better or worse,
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My blessings I will not curse,
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Why then quo I,
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Go run presently,
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And throw it 'thwart my horse.
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She then (in a merry veyne)
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Did trip to me back again,
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to put me out of my pain,
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She dazelled so my sight.
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That neither by day or night,
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I ever had such delight,
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So close to mee now she clings,
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And flutters abroad her wings,
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but my bashful jade
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Asham'd of the trade
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Brake loose and away she flings.
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I rise and away ran I
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The Beggar wench then did cry,
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my Pig and my Pudding Pie
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I ran and I cursed and swore,
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Until I came to my door,
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but the Horse was got home before
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I bad the wench stay behind,
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And told her I would be kind,
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But when I came home,
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I look'd like a Mome,
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I wish'd that I had been blind.
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My Wife and my neigbours all
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Did laugh, ye might hear 'em bawl
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from Temple-Bar to White-hall ,
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my sweet hearts provant was found
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Which lay in the wallet bound,
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and scatter'd about the ground,
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The sight of my wife did daunt,
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and make my heart prick and pant
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Sir Thomas quoth she,
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(And spake merrily,
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Where got you this good provant,
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Thought I, it is best to bear up,
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Although of this venemous Cup
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I take but a sorrowful sup,
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In the twinckling of ones eyes,
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I thought of a thousand lyes,
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but nere a one would suffice;
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I many things had in doubt,
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Yet could not wel bring e'm about,
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As I went to begin
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The wench came in,
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And so came the story out.
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My Lady did laugh out-right,
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As if she had much delight,
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But I found it not so at night,
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I gave the poor wench a peece,
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But wisht she had been in Greece
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to tell such a tale as this
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My Madam doth make it slight,
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But I have got nothing by't,
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for when she wants her wish
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it is thrown in my dish,
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I'd better been hang'd out-right.
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FINIS.
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