The Phantastick age:
OR,
The Anatomy of Englands vanity,
In wearing the fashions
Of severall Nations,
With good exhortations,
Against transmutations.
To the tune of, O Women monstrous etc.
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AUdience audience gallants all,
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for here (as on a stage)
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Ile shew the postures, admirall
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of this Phantastick age,
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Wherein both sexes are growne strange
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and Phebe-like they often change.
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O monsters,
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Neutrall monsters
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leave these foolish toyes.
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Chamelion-like themselves they change
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to any colour seene,
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How many severall fashions strange
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have here observed beene
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Within the circuit of few yeares,
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as by experience truth appeares.
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O monsters,
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Neutrall monsters,
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leave these apish toyes.
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An English man or woman now
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Ile make excuse for neither,
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Composed are I know not how,
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of many shreds together:
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Italian, Spaniard, French, and Dutch,
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of each of these they have a touch.
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O monsters,
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Neutrall monsters,
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leave these apish toyes,
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The German and the drunken Dane,
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the Persian and Polonian:
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The Sun-burnt AEthiopian,
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the Russian and Slavonian:
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Our English imitate in cloathes,
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in drinking, drabbing, and strange oathes
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O monsters,
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Neutrall monsters,
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leave these apish toyes,
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When meeknesse bore in England sway
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and pride was not regarded,
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Then vertue bore the bell away,
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and goodnesse was rewarded
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Now our phantastick innovations,
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doe cause prodigious transmutations.
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O monsters,
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Neutrall monsters,
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leave these apish toyes.
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Our men were in precedent dayes,
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to manly actions bent.
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They did not seek their names to raise
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by cloathes, and complement.
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Now hes the man whose brave apparel
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defends him in a Taverne-quarrell.
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O monsters,
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Neutrall monsters,
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leave these apish toyes.
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Mee thinks the Taylors should not chuse
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but grow exceeding rich,
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Yet from them I heare no such newes
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though they goe thorow stitch:
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The reasons this, new cloathes are made
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before the old Bill is defraide.
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O monsters,
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Neutrall monsters, etc.
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The second part, To the same tune.
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NOw many of both sexes goe
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each after-noone to th play,
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Their rich Acoutrements to shew
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and doe even what they may,
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To note if they can any spy,
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that put them downe in bravery.
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O monsters,
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Neutrall monsters,
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leave these apish toyes.
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The women will not be at quiet,
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their minds will still be crost,
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Til Husbands, Frends, or Fathers buy it,
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what ever price it cost.
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Thus wide mouthd pride insatiately,
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devoures all thoughts of piety.
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O monsters,
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Neutrall monsters,
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leave these apish toyes
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And men that should more wisdom have
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then the frayle Female sex,
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As many fond inventions have,
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nay rather theyl annexe
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Unto the story of their shame,
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a higher style then women claime,
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O monsters, etc.
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Ungirt unblest the proverbe sayes,
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and they to prove it right,
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Have got a fashion now adayes,
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thats odious to the sight
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Of those who love civility,
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and hate this idle foppery.
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O monster.
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Neutrall monster,
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leave these Apish toyes.
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Like Frenchmen all on points they stand
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no girdles now they weare,
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To spread this fashion through the land
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The Hang-man (as I heare)
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When at foure gates hee hangd foure men
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did weare just such a Dublet then.
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O monsters etc.
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If any thing may give them light
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to see their vanity:
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In my conceit that object might
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make wise men to defie
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A fashion that is held so base,
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worne by the Hang-man in disgrace.
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O monsters etc.
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Now to conclude, with all my heart
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I wish that every one,
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Would study on some better Art
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and let vaine pride alone:
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Be as your good Fore-fathers were,
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and let not vice thus domineere.
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O monsters etc.
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What you profusely doe let fly,
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in pride, in drinke, and gaine:
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Spend in good hospitality,
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twill elevate your fame
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The prayers and praises of the poore,
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shal cloathe your minds for evermore.
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O monster,
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Neutrall monsters,
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leave these apish toyes.
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