The Housholders New-yeeres Gift, containing a pleasant Dialogue be-
twixt the Husband and his Wife, pleasant to be regarded.
To the tune of, where is my true-love.
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GRieve no more, sweet Husband,
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to grieve it is in vaine,
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Little it availeth
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to grieve or else complaine:
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Then shew thy need to no man,
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for it doth breed disdaine:
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Now comes a good new yeare.
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H. Alacke and alas for woe,
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how can I chuse,
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The world is growne so cruell,
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that friendship few doe use:
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Flattery gets credit,
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plaine troth is overthrowne:
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O Lord send a good new yeere.
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W. The world it is deceitfull,
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then trust it not, my deare:
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But take this comfort to thee
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thy saddest thoughts to cheare:
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The Lord will never leave them,
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where true love doth appeare:
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And God send a merry new yeare.
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H. What comfort can I take, Wife,
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when sorrow is so great:
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Misery on all sides
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doth us alwayes threat:
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When labour is too little
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to finde us bread and meat:
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O Lord send a good new yeare.
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Scarcitie is planted
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in Village and in towne,
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We see our neighbours children
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goe begging up and downe,
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Few persons doe relieve them;
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but all at them doe frowne:
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O Lord send a good new yeare.
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W. Greedinesse is causer,
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good husband, of this ill,
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Pride that madding monster,
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kind charitie doth kill:
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Lord Jesus soone amend it,
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according to thy will:
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And send us a merry new yeare.
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H. Corne in every Market
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so deare we dayly see:
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Wee pay more for a bushell,
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then wee were wont for three:
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This cuts the hearts of poore men,
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and this undoeth me:
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O Lord send a good new yeare.
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W. Why husband, this hath caused
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so many at this day,
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To pinch their pretty bellies
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within their garments gay:
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And all they thinke too little,
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upon themselves to lay:
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Good Lord send a merry new yeere.
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H. Sweet wife, a thousand sorrowes
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doe yet torment my minde,
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To thinke for all my labour
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how I am still behinde:
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And for the same no remedy
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alacke, that I can finde:
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Good Lord send a merry new yeere.
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W. Take courage, gentle Husband,
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and hearken what I say,
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After freezing January
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commeth pleasant May:
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There is no storme so cruell,
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but comes as faire a day:
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Good Lord send a merry new yeere.
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H. Gentle Wife, I tell thee,
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my very heart is done
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The worlds great calamitie,
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no way can I shunne:
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For still in debt and danger,
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more and more I runne:
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Good Lord send a merry new yeere.
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W. Be content, sweet Husband,
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and hearken unto mee:
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The Lord is still as mercifull
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as he was wont to bee.
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Goe thou and ply thy labour,
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and I will worke with thee:
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God Lord send a merry new yeere.
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I will not be idle,
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but I will Card and Spin:
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I will save together
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that thou bringest in:
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No man for debt is hanged,
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then passe thou not a pin:
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And God send a merry new yeere.
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H. Deare Wife, thy gentle speeche;
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revive me at the heart,
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To see thee take my poverty
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in such a gentle part:
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If God doe ever raise me,
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thou shalt h[a]ve thy desert:
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And God send a merry new yeere.
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W. Poverty (sweet Husband)
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oft time hath been blamed:
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But poverty with honesty
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never yet was shamed:
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The rich man discontented,
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may bee a poore man calld:
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But God send a merry new yeere.
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What thou wantst in riches,
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I will supply in love,
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Thou shalt be my honey,
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and I thy Turtle Dove:
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Thou art my beloved,
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no sorrow shall remove:
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And God send a merry new yeere.
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