The BEGGARS Song,
Both in City and Country.
Shewing the Contentedness of their Lives, the little Care they take, and how
Merrily they Live, To the Tune of,
Oh, how they did Firk it, Caper and Jerk it, under the Green-wood Tree.
This may be Printed, R.P.
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IN Summer time when Men make Hay
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we walk into the Fields,
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And spend our time in seeing what,
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dame Nature unto us yields:
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If we do spy something we like,
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we pluck and do not spare,
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Till we are fully satisfy'd,
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and every one takes a share.
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And when we meet with Water clear,
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we use it for our Drink,
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There's none who lives so Merry Lives,
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as we I verily think:
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For we do pass from Town to Town,
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but for a time we stay,
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Least the Magistrates hear of us,
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and Whip us thence away.
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When we pass by an Orchard brave,
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we think it is no Sin;
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Some of that dainty Fruit to pluck,
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if that we can get in:
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Sometimes a Mastiff Dog comes out,
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and frights us very sore,
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And if that we do get from him,
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we never come there no more.
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Sometimes we pass hard by a Barn door,
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where little fat Piggs do feed,
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We cut the Throat of one of them,
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to serve us at our need:
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And then we go to another Town,
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where we may have it drest,
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And then to please the Landlady,
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we give her of the best.
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Sometimes we meet with Geese and Hens,
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and sometimes with a fat Duck,
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When they are kill'd we sit under some Hedge,
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and then their Feathers pluck:
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And then we walk to another Town,
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and do as we did with the Pigg,
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We Laugh and Sing most Merrily,
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to think on this pleasant Jigg.
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There is no Lord within this Land,
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lives half so merry as we,
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We take no care for Meat nor Drink,
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for what we get is free:
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Sometimes we lye within a Barn,
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or under a thick Hedge,
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And when we can fair Water get,
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we do each other Pledge.
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Thus we spend the Summer time,
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in Mirth and Jollitty,
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And when we come to fair London,
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then Mumpers we will be:
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For we are so Lazy we cannot Work,
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there is other ways to gain,
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Sometimes we are Blind, or else we are Deaf,
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or else we feign to be Lame.
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When we unto our good Houses do go,
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we get good pieces of Meat,
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Which we do put within a clean Bag,
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to keep it clean and sweet:
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And as we pass from Door to Door,
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we do some Farthings take,
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And they will serve to quench our Thirst,
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when we a Resting make.
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When we have Travelled all the day,
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and then come home at night,
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We can our Wives and Children Treat,
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with joy and great Delight;
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And then we do our Farthings send,
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to the Ale-house for Strong Beer,
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So do we live, and Merry are,
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with this our dainty Chear.
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Our Wives they do take care for Rent,
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by Spinning, or such work,
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While we do Ramble all the day,
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and in some Corners lurk;
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To get a Farthing here and there,
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as Providence doth give,
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The House-keeper doth take more care,
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then we do for to Live.
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Thus have you here the Beggars Life,
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the little Care they have,
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They do not study for their Back,
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to keep it fine and brave;
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For that would spoil their Begging Trade,
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no pitty would any take;
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They then might Travel all the day
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and not a good Market make.
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