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EBBA 21966

Magdalene College - Pepys
Ballad XSLT Template
Poor Robin's Prophesie, or, The merry Conceited Fortune-teller.
Although the Poet makes no large Apology,
Some insight he may have into Ass-trology,
Then buy this Song, and give your Judgement of it,
And then perhaps you'll say he's a Small Prophet,
For he can tell when things will come to pass,
That you will say is strange as ever was.
Tune of, The Delights of the Bottle, etc. With Allowance, Ro. L'Estrange.

ALL you that delight for to hear a new song,
Or to see the world turn'd topsie, turvy, e're long,
Come give good attention unto these my Rhimes,
And never complain of the hardness of times,
For all will be mended, by this you may find,
And Golden days come, when the Devil is blind.

And first for the Shopkeeper, this I can tell,
That after long trusting, all things will be well,
The Gallant will pay him, what ever's his due,
And make him rejoyce when he finds it is true:
False weights, & false measures, he then will not mind,
But honest will prove, when the Devil is blind.

The Country Client that comes up to Term,
Likewise from this Subject, good news he may learn,
[?] benefit which he shall never more leese,

For Lawyers hereafter will plead without Fees:
You shall have Law freely, if you be inclin'd,
Without any charge, when the Devil is blind.

The Usurer, open his Coffers will throw,
And break all his Locks, both above and below,
He'l burn all his Parchments, and cancel his Bands,
And freely return all his Morgaged Lands;
Young heirs will be glad for to see them so kind,
But that will not be, till the Devil is blind.

The Learned Phisitian who valued his wealth,
Will now be more chary of all peoples health,
And make it his business howe're he doth thrive,
To pussle his brains for to keep men alive:
Nor Mountebank Bills in the Streets you shall find,
For they'l keep in their lies when the Devil is blind.

Your Lady of pleasure that us'd for to rant,
And Coach it about with her lusty Gallant,
Will then become modest, and find a new way
To live like a Nun in a Cloyster all day,
Her Pride, and her painting, she never will mind,
But seem like a Saint, when the Devil is blind.

Yea the Bullies themselves that did use for to rore,
And spent great estates in good wine, and a W-
Shall leave of their gameing, and fairly take up,
And scarcely will taste of the Grape half a Cup,
But leave good Canary, and Claret behind,
Small Tipple to Drink, when the Devil is blind.

The Hecks, and the Padders, who used to prey,
And venture abroad for no purchase no pay,
Shall work for their livings, and find a new trade,
And never more travel like Knights of the Blade;
Let Newgate stand empty, and then you will find,
All this will prove true, when the Devil is blind.

All Tradesmen will strive for to help one another,
And friendly will be, like to Brother and Brother,
And keep up their prizes that money may flow,
Their charge to maintain, and to pay what they owe,
Then two of a trade will agree, if you mind,
And all will be well, when the Devil is blind.

The Tapsters no more shall their Ticklers froth,
Nor Coffee men blind us with their Ninny broth;
Full measures of liquor shall pass through the Land,
And men without money the same shall command;
You'l say 'tis a wonder when this you do find,
And that you will sure when the Devil is blind.

Not onely the City shall find this welfare,
But throughout the country the same they shall share,
No cheating and couzening tricks shall be us'd,
For by such deceit we have all been abus'd;
Those men that of late with Duke Humphrey have din'd,
With plenty shall flow, when the Devil is blind.

Then let us be merry and frolick amain,
Since the golden world is returning again,
We shall be all Gallants as sure as a Gun,
When this work is finish't that's hardly begun:
Then Poets in both Pockets Guinneys shall find,
And purchase estates when the Devil is blind.

FINIS.

Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clarke.

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