The Shooemaker Out-witted:
OR,
The Gentlecraft's Man cunningly Catch'd by a Crafty Lass of SURRY .
To the Tune of, Love's a sweet Passion: or, Fond Boy , etc.
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G Ood People I pray now attend to my moan,
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I'm an honest Shooemaker, 'tis very well known,
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Who was minded to marry my Fortune to raise;
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On the charming young Beauties I often would gaze:
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I was nice in my choosing, dear Friends, I declare,
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And at length I was marry'd, the more is my care.
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In Surry I courted a dozen or two,
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Finding them without Portions, I bid them adieu,
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For ambitious of Money I was evermore,
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Which above any Beauty I still did adore:
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Yet at length I was fitted, dear Friends, I declare,
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And am marry'd, the more is my sorrow and care.
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I knowing myself a brave Crispin by trade,
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Was unwilling my Fortune to spoil and degrade;
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For to wed a poor Servant my thoughts I did scorn,
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Since a Shooemanker's Son is a Gentleman born:
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Yet at length I was fittted, dear Friends, I declare,
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And am marry'd, the more is my sorrow and care.
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The News being spread thro' the neighbouring Towns,
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That I would take no less then two hundred Pounds
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With a Wife, and she must be a Beauty likewise,
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Rosie Checks and fair delicate sparkling Eyes:
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Yet I'faith I was fitted, dear Friends I declare,
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And I'm marry'd, the more is my sorrow and care.
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It was my hard fortune to light of a Lass,
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Who had learned her trade, she for currant did pass
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For to be one that had store of Silver and Gold,
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Yet no more then three Farthings I e'er did behold:
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Thus I faith now I am fitted, dear Friends, I declare,
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And I'm marry'd, the more is my sorrow and care.
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The thoughts of her Portion soon puft me with Pride,
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I was straightways for keeping my Gelding to ride
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Out a Hunting, and likewise have men at command,
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And was thinking of purchasing Houses and Land;
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This was building a Castles aloft in the air,
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For she had but three Farthings, dear Friends, I declare.
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I found I was cunningly catcht in a snare,
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For she had not a Garment nor Smicket to wear,
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Only what she had borrow'd to make her look gay,
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And the People came for them the very next day:
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Thus I saith I am fitted, dear Friends, I declare,
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And am marry'd, the more is my sorrow and care.
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She laughs in Derision and calls me her Fool,
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And declares that I have but a pittiful Tool;
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Therefor she swears she wll make me a hornified Knight,
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Yet if any one does that it must be for spight;
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For she is a meer Tatterdemallion I swear,
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I am marry'd, the more is my sorrow and care.
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I see my own folly, now, now, 'tis too late,
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Wou'd I had took poor Nancy , Joan , Bridget , or Kate ,
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Then with Blessings and Comforts I might have been crown'd,
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But I aim'd at a Portion of three hundred Pound,
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Therefore I am well fitted, dear Friends, I declare,
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And I'm marry'd, the more is my sorrow and care.
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You Batchelors pray now take warning by me,
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If you marry a Fortune, whoever she be,
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Get the Mony before you to wed are enclin'd,
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Or perhaps it may come when the Devil is blind;
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For I have been thus fitted, dear Friends, I declare,
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And am marry'd, the more is my sorrow and care.
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