The Couragious Plow-man, or, The Citizens Misfortune.
Being an incouragement to all Plow-men, to exercise themselves in their Youth with a Cudgel,
that they may the better know how to handle a sharper weapon, if need require.
I shall not stand the Subject to repeat,
Because the Verses do it so compleat,
To hear how meekly the Citizens came off,
I think it cannot chuse but make you laugh;
The Parties here I must forbear to name,
For fear the Author chance to bear the blame.
To the Tune of, Dick and Nan, Or, The Tyrant.
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THere was a brave Citizen
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walkt forth of late,
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From London to th Country
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to chuse him a mate;
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His Eloquent Complements
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and his success
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To you in these Verses
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Ill plainly express.
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He then was attired
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handsom and neat,
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In a Sute and a Cloak
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and a Beaver compleat;
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In his pockets he had
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twenty pieces of Gold,
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Which he had provided
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to make himself bold.
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He then took his journey
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to Nottingham Town,
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And there he alighted
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and drank at the Crown;
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Whereas a young Damosel
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appeared in his sight,
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Which caused the Young-man
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to tarry all night.
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Citizen.
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With Eloquent speeches
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he thus did begin;
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Fair Lady could I but
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your favour now win:If you grant me your love
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thats the thing I desire,
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By reason my heart with love
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is set on fire.
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Maid.
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Tis strange quoth the Maiden
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love should be so hot;
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Such love Im perswaded
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will soon be forgot;
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But I wish that the heat thereof
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might be asswagd,
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For I to another am
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deeply ingagd.
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Citizen.
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Theres no man on earth that
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shall sever us twain;
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If thou wilt but yield for
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to love me again.
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And I for thy sake now
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will venture my life
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By reason I purpose
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to make thee my wife.
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Plow-man.
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Then came in a Plow-man
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and heard him say so:Tis well spoken (quoth he)
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but I know what I know;
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To tell you the truth Sir,
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the Girl is mine,
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And if thou canst win her
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then she shall be thine.
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Let us take two weapons
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and go into the field,
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And never give out until.
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one of us yield;
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It shall not be spoken
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upon an Ale-bench,
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That a Plow-man was fearful
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to fight for a Wench.
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Citizen.
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Art thou so audacious
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to dare me to fight?
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Ill make thee an example
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before it be night:
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Thou art but a Bumpkin
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bred at the Plow-tail,
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And ner used no weapon
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but only thy Flail.
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Therefore be thou trudging
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and stand not to prate,
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Lest I with this Flaggon,
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knock thee on the pate;
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Except thou art willing
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to stand to thy words,
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Then our controversie
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well end with our Swords.
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All things then provided
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this Combate began,
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They both tryd their valours
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which was the best man;
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They fought half an hour
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as people do say,
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Yet none knew which would
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be beaten that day.
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The Plow-man most bravely
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himself did behave,
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By tracing the ground, that
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himself he did save;
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At last he with fury
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laid on such a stroke,
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With the strength of his arm,
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that his weapon it broke.
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He then closd within him
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and gave him the fall;
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Oh now quoth the Plow-man,
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you shall pay for all:Ill make you acknowledge
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before you depart,
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That a Plow-man will fight
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ere hell lose his Sweet-heart.
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O hold thy hand Plow-man,
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peccavi I cry,
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O let me not here in
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a strange Country die;
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Take my gold, cloak, and rapier
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and all that I have,
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The Damosels thy own
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if my life thou wilt save.
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The Plow-man obtained
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the conquest that day,
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And twenty Gold pieces
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he carried away:He furnisht his pockets,
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his back and his side,
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and gained him a Damosel
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to make him a Bride.
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The Cockney with sorrow
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lamented his loss,
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And home he returned
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but by weeping Cross:His mother these Verses
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at leisure may read,
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And give him good counsel
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to take beter heed.
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Concluding my Ditty
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I thus make an end,
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I wish some honest Plow-man
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would now stand my friend,
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And give me some liquor
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for I am very dry,
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If I tell you the truth
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then I tell no lie.
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