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EBBA 31004

British Library - Roxburghe
Ballad XSLT Template
The Wanton Wife of Castle-Gate:
Or, The Boat-mans Delight.
To its own proper New Tune.

FArewel both Hauk and Hound,
farewel both Shaft and Bow:
Farewel all merry pastimes
and pleasures on a row:
Farewel my best Beloved
in whom I put my trust,
For its neither grief nor sorrow
shall harbour in my breast.

When I was in my prime
and in my youthful days,
Much mirth and merry pastime
and pleasure had always:
But now my mind is changed,
and alterd very sore,
Because my best beloved
will fancy me no more.

I lovd her, and I provd her,
and I calld her my dear;
But alas my beloved
would not let me come near:
I often would have kist her,
but she always said me nay.
More as ten times have I blest her
since that she went away.

Tinkers they are Drunkards,
and Masons they are blind,
And Boat-men they make Cuckolds,
because theyr used kind.
But if you meet a bonny Lass
with black and rowling eyes,
You must kiss her and embrace her,
you may know the reason why.

You must hug her and kiss her
and strive to make her yield,
For a faint-hearted Soldier
did never gain the Field.
So strive to lay her down there
and give the thing you know,
And when that she receives it,
shel be loath to let you go.

There lives a Wife in Castle Gate.
but Ile not declare her name;
She is both brisk and buxome,
and fitted for the Game;
She can knip it, she can trip it,
as she treads along the Plain;
Till she meet some jolly Boat-man
that will turn her back again.

Her Husband is a quiet man,
and an honest man is he;
And for to wear the Horns sir
contented he must be:
He may wind them at his leisure
and do the best he can,
For his Wife will have her pleasure
with a jolly Boat-man.

At Pomfret Clock and Tower
theres Gold and Silver store;
I hope therefore to find her,
and then brave boys wel core.

Wel drink Sherry and be merry,
wel have beer and ale good store,
And drink to my Lass and thy Lass,
and all good Lasses more.

My love she is a fair one,
and a bonny one is she:
Most dearly do I love her,
her name is Mally.
Her Cheeks are like the Roses,
that blossoms fresh in June;
O shes like some new-strung Instru-ment
thats newly put in tune.

O my Mally, my honey,
O can thou fancy me?
Then let us to bed haste,
where we will merry be.
For good Gold and Silver
for thee Ile take care,
And for a large pair of Horns
for thy Husband to wear.

You young men and Batchelors
that hears this pritty Jest,
Be not of the Opinion
this couple did profess;
But be kind to your wives,
and your sweet-hearts alway:
And God will protect you
by night and by day.


Printed for Alex. Milbourn, W. Onely, T. Thackeray at the Angel in Duck-lane.

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