A dainty new Dialogue between Henry and Elizabeth.
Being the good Wives Vindication, and the bad Husbands Reformation.
This new composed gallant Ditty, Is to be sung in Town and City:
This Ballad is bold compriz'd and penn[']d,
To teach bad Husbands how their lives to mend:
All you good Wives, the which bad Husbands have,
For your own good, let me this favour crave;
One Penny on this Ditty to bestow,
And carry it to your Husbands for to show;
It may in time make you twice over-glad,
When as you see him good that was so bad,
The Tune is, The Tyrant.
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Bess.
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COme hither sweet Husband,
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and listen to me,
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Thou know'st I have always
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been faithful to thee:
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A Noble mind to thee,
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I ever did carry,
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Since first I come acquainted
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with my loving Harry:
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Moreover thou know'st,
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I lov'd of my Life,
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To keep thee alive,
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since thou mad'st me thy wife.
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Harry.
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Methinks Bess your tongue runs
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a little too large,
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That you should lay such
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bitter things to my charge:
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As to say that my life,
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you did preserve and save,
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Or else I had been dead,
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and so laid in my Grave:
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Pray tell me the reason,
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why you did say so,
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That people may hear it,
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before we do go.
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Bess.
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Then in the first place,
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I will tell thee my mind,
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To me and my Children,
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thou hast been unkind:
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And what should have serv'd us,
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at home to maintain,
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Thou hast in the Ale-house
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wasted in vain:
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Amongst merry fellows,
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and such as thou art,
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Whilst I sit at home,
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with a sorrowful heart.
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Harry.
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Why this of a truth Bess,
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is far and near known,
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I never spent any mans
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Goods, but mine own:
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Nor are they alive,
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that of me can say,
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That I have took from them
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one penny away:
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I never did stranger,
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nor Neighbour no wrong,
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With thought of my heart,
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or with word of my tongue.
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Bess.
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In spending thy own Goods,
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thou also spend'st mine,
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Which has done much injury,
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to thee and mine:
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Thou [hast] p[a]wn'd our best Cloaths,
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when thou money didst lack,
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The Cloak from thy shoulders,
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and the Gown from my back:
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Thou hast spent all thy money,
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thou get'st, in excess,
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In Dicing and Drinking,
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and foul Drunkenness.
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Harry.
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Indeed it is true, I have
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sometimes been Drunk,
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Amongst honest Good-fellows,
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but I never lov'd Punk:
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Though my Credit be crackt,
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and my Garments be poor,
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It came not with spending
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my means on a Whore:
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Therefore speak the best,
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and the worst that you can,
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I have been, and will be
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a true honest man.
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Bess.
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WHen as in the Counter,
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for Debt thou did'st lye,
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Thy friends all forsook thee,
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save onely I:
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Thou know'st I took pains,
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and did every day strive,
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To comfort my Harry,
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and keep him alive:
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And now let the world judge,
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between you and me,
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If I was not faithful
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and honest to thee.
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Harry.
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Why now loving Wife,
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I am forc'd to confess,
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When I was in prison,
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in woe and distress:
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Thou didst work to maintain me,
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like a true hearted Wife,
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Thou wrought'st my Redemption,
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and sav'd my Life:
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And now demand of me
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what ever thou will,
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I'le do my endeavour,
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thy mind to fulfill.
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Bess.
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Then thus I would have thee,
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wherever you be,
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Remember your Children,
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and think upon me,
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Look well to thy business,
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take heed what you spend,
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And have a care how you,
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do borrow or lend:
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At no time be idle,
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but follow thy labour,
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And so thou shalt see,
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God will bless thy endeavour.
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Harry.
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Thy counsel is good Wife,
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a course I will take,
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All kind of good fellowship,
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quite to forsake:
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If I by chance peep in
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at the Ale-house door,
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When I have spent two-pence,
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I will spend no more:
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I know that Ale-wives
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like Bees will suck Honey,
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But they shall henceforth have
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but little of my Money.
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Bess.
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Keep promise sweet Harry,
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and see to thy self,
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When poor men spend all,
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Ale-wives get the more wealth:
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But if all Good-fellows.
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will be ruled by me,
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Some Ale-wives should not go,
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so fine as they be:
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They should work for their Livings
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as other folks do,
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Both Knit, Sow, and Spin,
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and do other things too.
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Harry.
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Indeed some proud Hostesses,
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wear Gay Gold Rings,
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Their Gowns lac'd with Silver,
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and other rare things:
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Which honest pain-takers
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do travel about,
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With the Knees of their breeches,
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and elbows worn out:
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But to conclude, Betty,
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to make thee amends,
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I'le be a good Husband,
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let's kiss and be friends.
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