The BUNTER's WEDDING.
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GOO people attend, I'll discover,
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A wedding that happen'd of late,
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[I] cannot tell why we should smother,
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The weddings of poor more than great,
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['Twixt] Ben of the Borough, so pretty,
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[Who carr]ies a basket 'tis said,
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[And daint]ty plump Kent-street fair Kitty,
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[A coney] wool cutter by trade.
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[The g]uests were all quickly invited,
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[Ben o]rder'd the dinner by noon,
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[And] Kitty was highly delighted,
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[They] obey'd the glad summons so soon;
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[An o]x cheek was order'd for dinner,
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With plenty of porter and gin,
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Ben swore on the oath of a sinner,
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Nothing should be wanting in him.
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Joe the sandman and Bessy the bunter,
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We hear from St[.] Gile's did prance,
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Dick the fidler and Sally the mumper,
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Brought Levi the Jew for to dance.
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Tom the chaunter he quickly was present,
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And squinting black Molly likewise,
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And Billy the dustman quite pleasant,
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With Nell with no nose and fore eyes.
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Ned the drover was also invited,
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Unto this gay wedding to come,
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From Smithfield he posted delighted,
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Before that the market was done;
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And Fanny the pretty matchmaker,
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A sister to Bunting Bess,
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She wished the devil might take her,
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If she was not one of the guests,
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Dolly the ragwoman's daughter,
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From Tyburn road she did stride,
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And Jenny the quilter came after.
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Whose nose it stood all of one side,
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There was Roger the chimney sweeper,
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No foot he would gather that day
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But because he would look the compleater,
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His foot bad and brush threw away.
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There was bandy-legg'd sheep's head Susan
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We hear from Field lane did hie
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And draggle tail Pat with no shoes on,
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Who pins and laces doth cry;
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Ralph the the grinder he set by his barrow.
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So soon as he heard of the news,
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And swore he would be there tomorrow,
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Altho' he'd no heels to his shoes.
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Sam the grubber he having had warning
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His wallet and broom down did lay,
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And early attended next morning,
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The bride for to give away,
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And Peggy the mop yarn spinner,
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Her cards and her wheels set aside,
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And swore as she was a sinner,
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She'd go and attire the bride,
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Nan the tub-woman out of Whitechapel,
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Was also invited to go,
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And as she was kin to the couple,
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She swore she the stocking would throw.
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So having all gather'd together,
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As they appointed to meet,
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And being all birds of a feather,
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They presently flock[']d to the fleet,
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But when at Fleet-bridge they arrived.
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The bridegroom was handing his bride,
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The barkers they all to them drived,
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Do you want a parson? they cry'd;
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But as they down Fleet-ditch did prance sir
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What house shall we go to? says Ben;
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Then Kitty in raptures made answer,
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Let[']s go to the Hand and the Pen.
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Then into the house they did bundle,
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The landlady shew[']d them a room,
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The landlord roar'd out like thunder,
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The parson shall wait on you soon;
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Then in came so eager to fasten,
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He staid not to fasten his hose,
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A fat belly'd ruddy-fac'd painted,
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That brandy had painted his nose.
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But before he this couple did fasten,
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He looked all round on the men,
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My fee's half a crown, says the parson,
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I freely will give it says Ben;
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Then Hymen he presently follow'd,
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And the happy knot being ty'd,
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The guests they hooped and hollow'd,
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All joys to the bridegroom and bride.
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Like malt horses home they all pranced,
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The bride she look'd not like the same,
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And thus thro' the city they danced,
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But when to the Borough they came;
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The bride to look buxom endeavor[']d,
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The bridegroom as brisk as an eel,
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With their marrow bones and cleavers,
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The butchers they rung 'em a peal.
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And as they were homewards advancing,
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A dancing and singing of songs,
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The rough music met them all prancing,
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With frying pans, shovels and tongs;
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Tin cannisters, salt boxes plenty.
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With trotter bones beat by the boys,
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And they being most hollow and empty,
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They made a most racketing noise.
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Bowls, gridirons platters and ladles
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And pokers tin kettles did bruise
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The noise none to bear it were able
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The warming pan beat with old shoes;
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such a ratt[l]ing racketing uproar
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Had you but have heard it no doubt
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All hell was broke loose you'd have swore
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And the devils running about.
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The mob they all hollow'd and shouted
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The streets as they pass'd along,
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The people to see how they scouted,
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Together in clusters did throng;
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All the rattling they made they were able,
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And they were ushered in,
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But ere they all sat down to table,
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They each had a glass of old gin.
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Dinner being decently ended,
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The table was cleared with speed,
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And thus they to be merry intended;
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So straight did to dancing proceed;
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But Harry the nightman so jolly,
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With madness he almost cry'd,
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And all the night sat melancholy,
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For he had a mind to the bride,
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Bob the brickmaker now being merry,
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Tho' to foot it first he was loath,
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He told them he'd tip them Bob Perry,
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But they swore they[']d have Newgate broth,
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Tom the chanter he tript thom a trilly,
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That never before was in print,
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While the dustman they call smutty Billy,
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Gnaw'd the head of black Moll that did squint
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Jack the coal heaver thought himself slighted,
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They carried the rig on so quiet,
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And swore as he was not invited,
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He'd go there and kick up a riot;
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Then hectoring, bouncing, and swearing,
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So boldly he enter'd the house,
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But when he saw Joey the sandman.
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The cull was as still as a mouse.
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Bess the bunter sung Murdock O'Blaney,
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The chorus it made the house ring,
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Nell with no nose cry'd you'll shame me
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If such bawdy songs you do sing;
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Drunken Levi the Jew was abuseful
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And would have got trimm'd as tis said;
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Had not his pomatum been useful
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As Kitty the bride was a maid.
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Joe the sandman then talk'd of a Nailor;
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Away the coal heaver did slink,
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Quite faint hearted worse than a taylor;
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Lest Joey should give him a clink;
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But being all got drunk together,
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Ben pray'd them all night for to stay;
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So coupled them in his long feathers,
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And parted good friends the next day.
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