The ENGLISH Fortune-teller.
Being a brief direction how to shun all strife,
A brief instruction how to chuse a wife,
Whereby a man may lead a happy life.
It shews difference in womens qualities,
By colour of the hair, both face and eyes.
The Tune is, Ragged and torn, etc.
|
YOu young men that want skill in wooing
|
and if you desire to be wed,
|
Take counsel of me in your doing,
|
for fear that you should be misled.
|
Do not my kind proffer ref[u]s[e]:
|
for it never will you deceive.
|
I will shew you what woman to chuse.
|
and what better creatures youd best for to leave,
|
But chiefly Id wish you beware
|
of a wench with a rowling eye,
|
For she that Will cozen and swear
|
Will also dissemble and lye.
|
Ith first place I do you advise,
|
take one not too high nor too low,
|
But according to your own size,
|
that you may her qualities know.
|
Take one not too young nor too old,
|
nor one thats too fat nor too lean,
|
Tis a bad thing to meet with a Scold,
|
tis worse to meet with a Quean.
|
But chiefly, etc.
|
Take one that is not too proud,
|
nor one thats a dirty foul slut,
|
The one may bable too loud,
|
the other may poyson the gut:
|
Tis better to wed an honnest Maid,
|
although she be never so poor,
|
Then to wed a rich Gossip tis sad,
|
if afterwards she should turn Whore,
|
But chiefly, etc.
|
A Widow whose wealth doth surmount
|
if that you do marry for gain,
|
Shel call you to double account,
|
and your pleasure will turn to your pain.
|
Besides shes apt to be jealous[,]
|
which is the forerunner of strife.
|
As good to be hangd at the Gallows,
|
as marry with such a cross wife,
|
But chiefly, etc.
|
And now in the second place I,
|
am purposed for to recite,
|
My skill in Physiognomy,
|
wherein I will shew you a light.
|
Byth colour of Hair on the head,
|
or else by the favour or face,
|
You may know with whom for to wed,
|
and who you were best to imbrace.
|
But chiefly, etc.
|
The man that will chuse him a mate,
|
by colour of Hair or Complexion,
|
Must use many ways intricate,
|
lest he be brought under subjection.
|
He must view both her forhead and brow,
|
her Cheeks, Eyes, Nose, and Chin,
|
God Cupid those things doth allow
|
when you first to wooe her begin.
|
But chiefly, etc.
|
All is not pure gold the which glitters,
|
nor is it all Lead that looks dull.
|
Fair Venus the chief of the sisters
|
made Vulcan her Husband a Cull.
|
So many times beautifull Lasses,
|
will jeer their poor Husbands in scorn,
|
And cunningly break all their Glasses,
|
and make them drink out of the Horn,
|
But chiefly, etc.
|
She that hath her hair of bright yellow
|
and traces like wires of gold,
|
If she meet with some pretty fellow
|
her husband may chance to be Cuckold
|
And she thats by nature composd
|
of round Cherry-cheeks and red hair,
|
If she be pink-eyd and long nosd,
|
believe me it is dangerous ware,
|
But chiefly, Ide Wish you beware
|
of a Wench with a rowling eye,
|
For she that will cozen and swear,
|
will also dissemble and lye.
|
The brown hair hath witty discourse.
|
but commonly for her own ends,
|
I like her a great deal the worse
|
because shel dissemble with her friends.
|
A wench with an ash coloured face,
|
her actions are often uncivill,
|
Her tongue will her husband disgrace,
|
just like to the second she-devill.
|
But chiefly, etc.
|
The bonny Wench with the black brow,
|
oh she is a good one indeed;
|
For she will be true to her vow,
|
I would we had more of her breed.
|
And thus I have told you my mind,
|
concerning Physiognomy,
|
I mean no wrong to women-kind
|
I swear by my honesty.
|
Least I should some Female offend,
|
Ile lay by my pen and rest,
|
What ever in this Ditty is pend,
|
let young men take where they love best
|
Yet this much Ile speak in regard,
|
and Ile maintain my words in a trice,
|
Some women may well be compard,
|
to the best chance or worst of the Dice.
|
Suppose a young-man goes to Dice,
|
and do venture his goods and his store,
|
If he can throw a Sinque or a Sice,
|
the Games his own for evermore:
|
But if that his fortune be crost,
|
that he throws but a Dewce or an Ace,
|
His goods and his substance is lost,
|
and hes left in a pittiful case.
|
Suppose in like case if a Lad
|
can get him a provident wife,
|
His fortunes can ever be bad,
|
hes ma d all the dayes of his life:
|
But if that Dame fortune do frown,
|
that his wife and he cannot agree,
|
He is quite for ever cast down,
|
by wofull experience we see.
|
And now noble Young men adieu,
|
remember the words which I s[a]y:
|
This songs like to prove to be true;
|
Then buy it and bear it away.
|
|
|
|
|
|