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EBBA 32974

National Library of Scotland - Crawford
Ballad XSLT Template
The Down-right Country-Man; OR,
The Faithful Dairy-Maid.
But mind how Country Lads do boast,
whilst Londoners are blamd,
And Country Lasses praised most,
while ours are Wags proclaimd.
The Tune is, Hey Boys up go we: Or, Busie Fame.

I Am a down-right Country-man,
both faithful I and true,
Ile live and dye so if I can,
this I declare to you:
I study as I am at Plow,
to shun all false deceit,
And you may plain discover now,
I am no London Cheat.

Your London Cheats do go most fine,
like Lords in their attire,
To swill their guts with Spanish Wine,
it is their hearts desire:
But it is very common, they
do with the Vintners meet,
Theyl get o th score then run away,
just like a London Cheat.

They oft pretend to be in Love,
and ready for to dye,
Yea, vow to be just like the Dove,
but know no Constancy:

Like Villains they, the wag do play,
with every Lass they meet.
They plump them up then run away,
this is a London Cheat.

There is not one in the Twenty but
he wears his Sword by his side,
But walks with many an empty Gut,
and ner will leave his Pride:
But when his brain is full of Wine
hel stagger in the street,
And then picks up a Concubine,
to pox the London Cheat.

Then he for half a Crown will have,
that which may make him rue,
A painted Whore both fiine and brave,
perhaps the French-man too:
Thus he with his unwholsome flesh,
will be most brisk and sweet,
But see him once out of his dress,
hes like a London Cheat.

BUt London City oft affords,
Females as bad as Men,
Who though they Hector with their Swords
there is not one in ten,
But has some pretty little Miss,
to serve him at his need,
And every minute lends a Kiss,
this is a Whore indeed.

Theyl vow for ever to be true,
to them they do affect,
When Honesty is bid adieu,
what can you then expect?
No faith nor troth is minded, when
fools take so little heed,
For Whores do often clap their Men,
O these are Whores indeed.

Let honest men take so much care,
that do inhabit London,
Of such false Girls to have a care,
for fear they may be undone:
How many hundreds may be spoyld,
if they do not take heed,
They who are so by Girls beguild,
do meet with Whores indeed.

Why then give me the Country Lass;
who honest is and true,
And yet may kiss upon the Grass,
but nothing farther do:

She scorneth that her deed,
should any mischief breed,
She takes delight in what is right,
and honest is indeed.

See by the coulors of their Cheeks,
they well and wholsome are,
While London Girls look green as Leeks,
The Country Girls look fair:
Then old and young I pray beware,
in Marrying take good heed,
Least you are brought into a snare
by cursed Jades indeed.

See how the Rose and Lilly fair,
upon their Cheeks do grow,
Mind how their breath perfume the ayr,
wherever they do go:
And what they touch imediately,
fresh Odours on them breed,
They patterns are of constancy,
rare Country Girls indeed.

Mind but the Girl that Milks the Cow,
how sweetly she doth sing,
She never knits an angry Brow,
but welcomes in the Spring,
And then among the Butter flowers,
she trips along the Mead,
To pass away the tedious hours,
shes fair and Chaste indeed.


Printed for P. Brooksby, at the Golden-Ball, near the Hospital-gate, in West-Smithfield.

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