A Messe of good Fellows:
OR,
The generous spark who roundly,
doth call, and sayes for his part,
Tush, we have and shall have abundance,
come fill us the other od quart.
To the tune of, Ragged and torne.
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WEll met my joviall blades,
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Tom, Anthony, Dick, & James
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We have been all merry Comrades,
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as all our acquaintance proclaims:
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Now sith we are all met here,
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Weel be merry before we goe,
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For paying lets never feare,
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our credit is good we know.
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Heres 4 or five shillings good round ones
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ile spend them before we part,
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Tush, we have & shal have abundance
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come fill us the other od quart.
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Weel laugh and make good sport,
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and cry a fig for care,
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What though our means grows short,
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the world has enough to spare:
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When either of us was borne,
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we had as much wealth about us
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As those that are rich (Ile be sworne)
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why then should they jeer and flout us?
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& though they have since got ground ons
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it doth not much grieve my heart:
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Tush, we have etc.
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Lets sing and make a noise,
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as best the time befits,
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Wee shew our selves merry good boyes,
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when the world is beside her wits:
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The Usurer with all his bags,
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is not so content in mind,
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As honest good fellows in rags,
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that are to each other kind.
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Our hearts are all perfect & sound ones,
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we scorn from our friends to start,
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Tush, we have and shall have abundance;
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come fill us the other od quart.
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The Mizer doth daily plod
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how he may his riches increase,
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He maketh his gold his God,
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but we live at better hearts ease:
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Let fortune frowne or smile,
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we do not for that much passe,
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The world shall not us beguile,
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with her prospective glasse,
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If poverty seeke to wound us,
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weel curet with the Vintners art,
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Tush, we have etc.
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He that doth injoy his health,
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and a competent means withall,
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What need he to pine for wealth,
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but take what to him doth befall?
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A contented mind is worth gold,
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it is but a folly to strive,
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We all were at first of one mould,
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yet all are not borne to thrive,
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Then let no ill thoughts confound us,
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let every one bear a good heart,
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Tush, we have and shall have abundance,
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come fill us the other od quart.
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The second part, To the same tune.
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WE scorn to spend mony on queanes,
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though sometimes we hunt the fox,
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For he that so wasteth his meanes,
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at last will be paid with a p----------
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No surgeon nor any Physitian,
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for mony their aid shall lend us,
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When drinking hath changd our condi-tion
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a hair oth old dog will mend us.
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Grim sorrow can never wound us,
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which maketh curmudgeans to smart,
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Tush, we have, and shall have abundance,
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Come fill us the tother odd quart.
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Tis better far to be poore,
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and have a contented mind,
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Then to have abundance of store,
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and with it no rest can find:
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The covetous man is not rich,
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he never is satisfide,
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His mony doth him bewitch,
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he thinks upon nothing beside:
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Such puddles shall never drowne us,
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weel be well content with our part,
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Tush, we have etc.
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Some idle companions there be,
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that rather then they will worke,
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Upon such good fellows as we,
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the Rascals will live by the shirk,
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At last they are tane in the nick,
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(for cheating can nere come to good)
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And then they are taught a fine trick,
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to look through a peece of wood:
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And oftentimes when they are found thus
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with pain they do follow the cart
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Tush, we have etc.
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He that hath a generous mind,
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will take any laudable course,
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What fortune to him hath assignd,
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he takes it for better for worse:
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And to recreate his senses,
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when labour hath tane off the edge,
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They weigh not a little expences,
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each other like us they will pledge.
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Let our hearts be true and sound ones,
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tho fortune our meanings doth thwart,
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Tush, we have, etc.
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Such merry vagaries weel play,
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when liquor hath captivd our wits,
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We thinke not how hard the next day
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we must work for these mad mery fits:
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Yet weel neyther quarrell nor chide,
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as fools in these humours do use,
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Such folly wee cannot abide,
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if any way we can chuse.
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And if any man seek to wrong us,
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weel one take anothers part.
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Tush we have, etc.
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But amongst all our mery cheare,
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twere pity of all our lives,
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If all the while wee are here,
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wee neglect to drink to our wives.
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Faith that was remembred well,
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tis better at last then never,
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Though my share doe the rest excell,
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it shall go about howsoever.
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Now lest too much liquor shold drown us
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lets know whats oth score & depart,
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Tush we have, and shall have abundance,
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come give us the other odd quart.
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