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EBBA 30452

British Library - Roxburghe
Ballad XSLT Template
The Cuckcoo of the Times.
Since Cuckcoo is but what mans born to, certain
The faults not in the Woman, but his Fortune:
The Cuckcoo therefore hopes to please your mind,
And says it comprehends evn all Mankind.
To the Tune of, The Wandring Jews Chronicle.

TOM Tinkers Wife Joan Ruggles sat,
Under a Hedge doing you know what,
mark that which doth ensue;
A Bird upon an Oaken Spray,
It was no Chattering Pye, nor Jay,
Sung merrily Cuckoo.

I was as Ages will Record,
In former times a great Earls Bird,
that Lord that could not doo;
Who though unfit for Cupids Laws,
Was Stallion to the good old Cause,
Which makes me sing Cuckoo.

Although he could not frisk and Jerk,
He got a thousand Bearns oth Kirk,
fine werk that he did brew;
Yet he was Cuckold in his Mate,
By Bradshaw and Crumwel ith State,
When England Sung Cuckoo.

You Buxome Dames of Sanguin breed,
That must have Morsels at your need,
take heed what ere you doe;
whilst youth bewitch you, old ones watch you
Beware or they will catch you, catch you,
Who hate my Song Cuckoo.

The Second Part, to the same Tune.

The Shop-keeper that trades for gain,
And Merchant who doth cross the Main,
great wealth he doth persue;
The one ith shop, though something strange
The other whilst hes at the Change,
May Sing with me Cuckoo.

Souldiers of Fortune and Renown,
Whose valour does their actions crown,
this fate sometimes persue,
Phisitians too that live at ease,
Can find no cure for this Disease,
But Sing with me Cuckoo.

Both rich and poor, both high and low,
All sorts the Cuckoos Note do know,
Gentry and Commons too,
The Country Lad that goes to Plow,
May find the Antlers on his Brow,
That makes him Sing Cuckoo.

Red Letter men they did design
Both Church and State to undermine,
damd Plots they did persue;
But thanks to God by happy fate,
Themselves blew up, and not the State,
Theyl Sing with me Cuckoo.

Another sort as bad or worse,
Gaze in your face and pick your Purse,
yet theyl cry Whore first too;
On others they would lay the blame,
Whilst they are doing of the same,
Yet they may Sing Cuckoo.

Jove hath his Eagles in the Skies,
Juno hath her Peacock deckt with Eyes,
gay Toys, give them their due;
Venus her Doves, Minervas Foul,
Is the King Harrys Groat-facd Owl,
And I the poor Cuckoo.

Bacchus Canary, old Pan the Lark,
Pluto his Ravens that shriek ith dark,
but mark what doth ensue;
Of all these Fowls none bears the Bell,
For Sprightly Notes like Philomel,
And I who Sing Cuckoo.

A Lawyer he did throw a Stone,
Quoth he, I hate thy Ugly Tone,
be gone, and then cryd Shoo;
Thou breakst the City peace, go pack,
Ile clap a Warrant on thy back,
But still she Sung Cuckoo.

Luna they say is Populus,
And we a Moon, as they to us,
if thus, and it be true,
Why should the Court make Citts the scorn[s,]
Since all things here below wears Horns
All Nations Sing Cuckoo.

Neptune is Hornd by th Delian Knight,
Who plays at Put with Amphetrite,
each night the Trick they do;
Mars Cuckolds Vulcan Mamon Mars,
Monys the Nervs and Horns of Wars,
The Souldier Sings Cuckoo.

A brisk young Lady she took pitty,
Approving of her merry Ditty,
twas witty and twas true;
Dwell with me Tell-troth of the Age,
Ile keep thee in a Golden Cage,
Where thou shalt Sing Cuckoo.


FINIS.
Printed for P. [Brooksby at the Golden Ball, near]
the Hosp[ital-Gate in West-Smithfield.]

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