The Victorious Wife:
OR,
The Hen-peckt Husband.
The Husband here is Subject made,
and now the Wife bears sway:
But since that she has got this Trade,
she'll govern every day.
To the Tune of, The Journey-man Shoo-maker; or, Billy and Molly.
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GOod people stay and hark a while,
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and listen to my Ditty;
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A story here I will relate
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was done in London Citty;
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Of man and Wife, who did contend
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and had up various Speeches,
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But mark what fell out in the end,
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the soon fought for the Breeches.
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One night the man was full of Wine,
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that he began to hecter,
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And sadly he his Wife revil'd,
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which cruelly did vex Her.
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Now she began to be afraid
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least there should be a bawling;
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But as it seems she's not dismaid,
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for down she knockt him sprawling.
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At this he swore and vow'd revenge
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e're that he was much Older,
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Whereat she kickt him out of doors,
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and then did act the the Scolder;
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At which he made a hideous Cry,
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as if they had been killing;
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And up he gat immediately,
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but could not stand for reeling.
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O then quoth he she's devilish curst,
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and in it takes a pride Sir:
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And I must stand with Cap in hand,
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or else she'l tan my hide Sir:
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And that which plagues me worse than this
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I'me forc't to make the Fire,
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And if I do the least amiss,
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a cudgel pays my Hire.
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Now the neighbours thronging came,
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and said they did not Flatter;
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But very much they they did him blame,
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and cry'd it was no Matter:
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Quoth he I now the Horns have won,
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I ne're was so abused;
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Assuredly I'm quite undone
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the Devil was ne're so used.
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Forthwith to bed he then did goe,
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where presently he dreamed,
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That he had found a heap of Gold,
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for so to him it seemed:
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But for to mark the place he would,
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and forthwith he did Crack Sir,
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And when he rise to seek his Gold;
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a T----rd there was Alack Sir.
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Now this did make him f[ret] [?]
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cause he was so deceived
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Straight way he bounc't about the [room?]
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seeing himself betreaved;
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And down he ran unto hid wife
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and fouly fell upon her,
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He swore that he would end her life,
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if that she strove much longer.
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But his courage soon was cool'd,
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for shhe trumpt him roundly,
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And she did make the ladle walk
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about his bones most soundly,
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At last he on his knees did fall,
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and granted her the better,
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And if she would forgive him all
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he'd ever be her debtor.
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Now young-men all both great and small
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take heed how that you marry,
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For Women are deceitful ones,
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and apt for to miscarry:
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If once they do the victor win
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they'l play with you the Devil,
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Therefore in time be sure begin
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for to prevent that Evil.
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FINIS.
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