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EBBA 30607

British Library - Roxburghe
Ballad XSLT Template
The Doting Old DAD,
OR,
The Unequal Match betwixt a Rich Muckworm of Fourscore and Ten, and
a Young Lass scarce Nineteen.
When Dads thus Old, whose Blood is cold,
young Damsels seeks to Wed;
For their neglect, they may expect
Horns grafted on their Head.
To the Tune of, All Trades. This may be Printed, R.P.

THere was a young Damsel of late,
was Wood by a Dad very Old,
He had a right worthy Estate,
besides store of Silver and Gold:
His Service he profferd her then,
yet he was as pale as a Ghost,
He being full Fourscore and Ten,
and she was but Nineteen at most:
But ever when he drew nigh,
the Damsel would straight reply;
Ile never have you, for what can you do?
O fie upon Fumblers, fie.

Although I am wrinckled and Lean,
yet I will be loving to thee,
And deck thee as fine as a Queen,
if thou wilt be Marryd to me:
Both Silver and Gold I have store,
and yet though thy Portion is small,
If I had a thousand times more,
yet you shoud be Mistris of all:
But ever when he drew nigh,
the Damsel would straight Reply,
Ile never have you, for what can you do? O fie upon Fumblers, fie.

I tell thee my amorous Girl,
if that thou wilt be but my Bride,
Ile give thee Rich Jewels and Pearl,
and twenty new Nick-knacks beside:
A Tower and Top-knot so fine,
a Mask and a delicate Fan;
O tell me now wilt thou be mine,
endeavour to love an Old Man:
But ever when he, etc.

He profferd her still to advance her,
but thus with Discretion, said she,
You[]re Old enough to be my Grandsir,
and therefore no Husband for me:
For when I behold your bald Pate,
and stragling Hairs white and gray,
O then at a sorrowful rate,
I weeping and sighing, shall say:O what a hard Fortune have I,
though Marryd, a Maiden must dye;
The more is my grief, I see no relief,
O fie upon Fumblers, fie.

Now hearing the Damsels intent,
and finding he could not prevail,
Away to her Mother he went,
and told her a pittiful Tale:Your Daughter she is in a rage,
and all my kind proffers wont heed,
Besides, she despises my Age,
which ought to be Honourd indeed:
For when to her I draw nigh,
she makes this strange Reply;
Ile never have you, for what can you do? O fie upon Fumblers, fie.

She straight for her Daughter did send,
before the Old Man went away,
In duty she straight did attend,
to hear what her Mother would say:
My Daughter, you well understand,
that he has good Treasure enuff,
In Money, nay, Cattel and Land,
with abundance of good Houshold-stuff:
Then Daughter tell me but why,
you will not freely comply?
Said she, he is Old, his Blood it is cold,
O fie upon Fumblers, fie.

Her Mother did hear her therefore[,]
she straightway did call her asid[e,]
You know he has Riches great sto[re,]
and therefore you must be his B[ride:]
And as for the pleasure of Youth,
if he cant get Daughter or So[n,]
Believe me, Ide have you, in tru[th,]
do ene as your Mother has don[e:]
For when my Old Dad would deny,
to yield me a daily supply,
I still had a Friend my Will to attend
for fie upon Fumblers, fie.

Thus you may your sorrows reliev[e,]
although an Old Fumblers Wif[e,]
It is easie to make him believe
you love him as dear as your life[:]
You need not his Jealousie dread,
if that you will make but each nig[ht]
A Cordial, and put him to Bed,
then kiss with a Gallant all night[:]
For Daughter, I cannot deny,
but Wives may want a supply,
Which if it be so, abroad we must go,
for fie upon Fumblers, fie.

The Damsel she gave her Consent,
and they the next morning was [Wed,]
The day was in Merriment spent,
at length they did hurry to Bed:And then said the Feeble Old Man,
thy Fancy Ide willingly feed,
But can do no more than I can,
accept of the Will for the Deed.
In Bed he Grunting doth lye,
which makes her often Reply,
I still am a Maid, and shall be, she said,
O fie upon fumblers, fie.


FINIS.
Printed for P. Brooksby, at the Sign [of]
the Golden -Ball, near the Hospital
Gate, in West -Smithfield,.

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