Robin and Kate: or,
A bad husband converted by a good wife, in a dialogue betweene
Robin and Kate. To the tune of Blew Cap.
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FArre in the North Countrey (as I have heard tell)
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there lives a blithe couple caud Robbin and Kate:
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This Robbin doth love nappy liquor so well,
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that heell be at th Alehouse both early and late
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The wife to her husband
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ith morning doth say,
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I prethee sweet Robin
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at home with me stay,
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Thou wastest thy time,
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and spendest thy chinke,
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Turne backe agen Robin,
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and ga not to drinke
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Man.
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I prethee sweet honey be patient and quiet,
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Ime sure thou wantst nothing thats fit for thy state,
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Thou lackst neither money, apparell, nor diet,
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if any thou dost, doe but speake and thoust hate:
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Thou hast all the good
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that a wife can desire,
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Thast servants to tend thee,
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and I pay their hire: Then for my good-fellowship
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doe not thou prate,
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For I must and I will
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have my humour sweet Kate.
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Wife.
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Tis chiefly thy company that I doe want,
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besides, though we now have sufficient to live,
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Yet if thou the Alehouse thus dayly doe haunt,
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we may become fitter to take than to give: Sweet husband consider
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and take my advice,
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Let not thy companions
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thus lewdly intice
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Thy heart from thy Kate,
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but upon my words thinke,
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Turne back agen Robin,
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and ga not to drinke.
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Out, out, hold thy twattle and doe not thus preach,
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Ile not be ruld by thee whatever thou say,
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Seeke not by perswasions my minde to over-reach,
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for Ile to the Ale-house as fast as I may:
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If thither thou follow,
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thou welcome shalt be,
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So thou wilt be quiet
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and pleasant with me,
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Stay here or ga with me,
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tis both of a rate,
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But I must, and I will
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have my humour sweet Kate.
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Wife.
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Waes me bonny Robin, that ere I was marride,
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unto sike a husband that seekes my undoing,
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I woud with my mother at home I had tarryde,
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or thought upon this when thou first camst a wooing:
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I thinke in my conscience,
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(and I have cause why,)
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That thou lovst some other,
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farre better than I: Thou hatst to stay with me,
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then what may I thinke,
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Turne back agen Robin
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and ga not to drinke.
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Man.
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Nay now I finde Kate whereabout thy shooe wrings,
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by this I perceive that of me thou art jealous,
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But I for my part never dreame of sike things,
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I seek not for wenches, but honest good fellowes:
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A pipe of Tobacco,
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a Pot or a Jugg,
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These are the sweet honies
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that I kisse and hugg:
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All wenching delights
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are with me out of date,
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But I must and I will
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have my humour sweet Kate.
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The second part To the same tune.
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Wife
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I Prethee my joy doe not take at the worst
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the words that I speake in the heat of affection,
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No evill conceit in my bosome is nurst,
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Ide have thee be ruld by my loving direction:
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I think thou art honest
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to me in thy heart,
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But company ill
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may draw thee apart: To wastefull expences
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thy minde doe not linke:
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Turne back agen Robin,
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and ga not to drinke.
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Man.
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Gude wife be perswaded, and let me alone,
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for all thy vaine prattle will prove but mere folly,
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I tell thee my heart will be cold as a stone,
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if I stay at home I shall be melancholy
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Ile make my selfe merry
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as long as Ive store
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Tush Kate never thinke ont
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weest never be poore: Shall I stay at home
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on thy fancy to waite,
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No I must and I will
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have my humor sweet Kate.
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Wife.
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Why Robin when first thou didst marry with me,
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thou thoughtst thy self best when thou staidst with me longest,
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How comes the case thus to be alterd with thee,
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true love by much usage will grow to be strongest:
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But now thou art weary
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of my company,
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And canst not be merry,
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I prethee Love why? Thou givst me occasion
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strange matters to thinke,
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Turne backe agen Robin.
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and ga not to drinck.
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Man.
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Oh who woud be troubled thus with a foole,
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I prethee sweet-heart take one word for thy learning,
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I scorne that my wife over me should beare rule: why Kate, doe I sp[e]nd any thing of thy earning?
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I love thee as well
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as I did the first day,
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And yet when I list
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I will goe or Ile stay,
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To be at command
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of my wife, I doe hate,
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For I must and I will,
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have my humor sweet Kate.
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Wife
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Alas my deare Luis thou mistskest me much,
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I doe not command thee, thats not my intention,
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For my humble duty unto thee is such,
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that one word of anger to thee Ile not mention
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Examine thy heart,
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and thou shalt understand
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I give thee good counseil,
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I doe not command: Then with due discretion.
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upon my words thinke,
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Turne backe agen Robin,
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and ga not to drinke.
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Man.
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Ah now my sweet Kate I perceive very well,
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thy words doe proceed from a hearty affection,
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Now all my delight in thy bosome shall dwell,
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Ile ever be orderd by thy direction
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My former ill husbandry,
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I will repent,
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And in thy sweet company,
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rest well content:
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Strong Liquor no more,
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shall impaire my estate.
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Now Ile stay at home
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with my bonny sweet Kate.
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