The Patient Hushand, and the Scoulding Wife,
Shewing how he doth complain of hard fortune he had to marry such a cross-graind Quean as she was
and he wishes all young men to be advised to look before they leap.
You Batchellors where ere you be
This Counsell here now take of me
Chuse not a wife thats too percise
For fear she should pluck out your eyes.
To the Tune of, Bonny bonny bird.
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ALl you gallants in City or Town
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come listen a while to my song
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To you ile relate with seeking a mate
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how that I my self a done wrong brave boys
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how that I my self a done wrong.
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When as I was single as some of you be
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I was beloved like other young men,
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I livd at my ease and I did what I please
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and the world it went well with me then brave boys
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and the world it went well with me then
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[I] could kiss a young Maid and shed never seem coy
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and sometimes she would kiss me again,
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[A]nd perhaps at the last I could get her a boy
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[Oh] the world it went well with me then, etc.
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Thus bravely I livd without any controul
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and had silver good store lying by,
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I could sing & be merry drink White wine & sherry
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then who but sweet William and I, etc.
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Yet I could not be content but a wooing id go
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to get me a Wife of my own,
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I got one at the last but she proves a shrew
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and sets horns where there never was none brave boys
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and, etc.
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I married in hast but at leasure repent
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I would be so foold by a wife;
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Shel pout and shel lower shel frown and look sower
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then I dare not stir for my life brave boys
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then, etc.
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When I went to Church I was led by two Maids
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and the Musick did play gallantly,
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My Wife she did dance and her spirits advance
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and she skipt up and down like a fly, brave boys
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and she, etc.
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But ere wed been married one month to an end
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to search my Pockets she strait ways began,
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She took me by the ears, and she [se]nt me to fears
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oh the world it went ill with me then, etc.
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She turnd me about and she gave me a rout
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such a one as I nere had before,
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Her hands were so quick my si[d] she did lick
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and did beat me till I did roar, etc.
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The more I did pray that these storms they might cease
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the longer I think they did ,
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The more I did pray that we migh[t] live in peace
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the more mischief she sti[l]l did devise, etc.
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If that in an Ale-house I chanse for to
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then presently comes all my fea[r]s,
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Im sure to have blows also bitter Oaths,
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If I be not wrung by the ears, etc.
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One day wed a bout, and I held her toot
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till with the Ladle she broke all my nose,
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Nay worse then all this, my self I bepist,
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and in truth I befowld both my hose, etc.
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Surely thers no man that liveth on earth
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that hath such a cross wife as she,
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Which makes me to swear, young men have a care
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for the case it is alterd with me, etc.
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Thrice happy is he that hath a good wife
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but far betters that young man
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That settel[s] himself to live a single life
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then would I was unmarried again, etc.
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For these [M]ai[d]s are so false a man cant them trust
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and so much they are given to lies,
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If a man he dont please them at every turn
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then theyr ready to pluck out his eyes, etc.
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Theyl kick fling & throw, theyl fret & theyl frown
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as if they was going mad you woud swear
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And some Girls on their bellies more means will consume
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in one week then theyl get in a year, etc.
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The[r]efore honest young men had need to beware
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for my part my own ruine ive brought,
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And of flattering Damsels to have a great care
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for wits never good till tis bought, etc.
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For n[o]w by experience I plainly do find
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what troubles some men do uphoord
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That hath a cross wife hes nere sure of his life:
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to live quiet in bed nor at board, etc.
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If she hant her humour in every thing
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then his head with the Ladle shel greet,
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And at night I suppose if he dont Jostle close
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then shel kick him out at the beds feet, etc.
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So Batchellors all now my leave Ile take
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this counsell is good for all honest young men
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If I was shut of this quean you know what I mean
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oh the world wou[]d go well with me than, brave boys
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oh the world woud go well with me then.
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