The Mad-Mans Morrice.
Wherin you shall finde
His trouble and grief, and discontent of his minde,
A warning to yong men to have a care,
How they in love intangled are.
To a pleasant new Tune.
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HEard you not lately of a man,
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That went beside his wits,
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And naked through the streets he ran,
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Wrapt in his frantick fits?
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My honest neighbours it is I,
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Hark how the people flout me:
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See where the mad man comes they cry,
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With all the Boyes about me.
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Into a pond stark nakd I ran
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And cast my clothes away Sir,
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Without the help of any man
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Made shift to run away Sir,
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How I got out, I have forgot,
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I do not well remember,
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Or whether it was cold or hot,
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In June, or in December,
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Tom Bedlams but a Sage to me,
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I speak in sober sadnesse,
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For more strange visions do I see,
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Then he in all his madnesse.
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When first this chance to me befell,
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About the market walkt I,
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With Capons feathers in my cap,
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And to my self thus talkt I.
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Did you not see my Love of late,
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Like Titan in her glory?
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Do you not know she is my mate,
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And I must write her story,
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With pen of gold on silver leafe,
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I will so much befriend her;
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For why, I am of this belief,
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None can so well commend her.
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Saw you not Angels in her eys,
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While that she was a speaking,
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Smelt you not smels like Paradise,
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Between two Rubies breaking?
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Is not her hair more pure then gold,
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Or finest Spiders spinning?
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Me thinks, in her I do behold,
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My joys and woes beginning.
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Is not a dimple in her cheek,
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Each eye a star thats starting,
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Is not all grace installd in her,
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Each step all joys imparting?
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Me thinks I see her in a Cloud,
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With graces round about her:
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To them I cry and call alowd
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I cannot live without her.
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The second part to the same tune.
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THen raging towards the Skie I rore,
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Thinking to catch her hand,
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O then to love I call and cry,
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To let me by her stand,
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I look behind and there I see
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My shadow me beguile,
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And wish she were as neer to mee,
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Which makes my worship smile.
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There is no creature can compare
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With my beloved Nancy.
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Thus I build castles in the aire,
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This is the fruits of fancy:
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My thoughts mount high above the Skie,
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Of none I stand in aw,
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Although my body here do lie
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Upon a pad of straw.
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I was as good a harmlesse youth
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Before base Cupid caught me,
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Or his own mother with her charms
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Into this cage had brought me,
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Stript and whipt now must I be
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In Bedlam bound with chains:
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Good people all, now you may see
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What love hath for his pains.
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When I was yong as others are
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With Gallants did I flourish,
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O then was I the properest Lad
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That was in all the Parish!
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The bracelets which I usd to weare
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About my arme so tender
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Are turned now to iron plates,
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About my body slender.
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My silken Sutes do now decay,
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My caps of gold are vanisht,
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And all my friends do wear away,
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As I from them were banisht,
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My silver cups are turnd to earth,
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Im jeerd by every Clown,
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I was a better man by birth,
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Till Fortune cast me down.
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Im out of frame and temper too,
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Though I am somthing cheerfull,
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Oh this can love and fancy do,
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If that you be not carefull!
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O set a watch before your eyes,
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Lest they betray your heart,
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And make you slaves to vanities,
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To act a mad mans part.
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Declare this to each mothers sonne,
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Unto each honest Lad,
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Let them not do as I have done,
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Lest they like me grow mad,
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If Cupid strike, be sure of this,
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Let reason rule affection,
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So shalt thou never do amisse,
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By reasons good direction.
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I have no more to say to you,
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My keeper now doth chide me,
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Now must I bid you all adew,
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God knows what will betide me,
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To picking straws now must I go,
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My time in Bedlam spending,
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Good folks you your beginning know
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But do not know your ending.
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