The Mad Man's Morice; or,
A Warning for young-men to have a care,
How they in love intangled are:
Wherein by experience you shall find,
His trouble and grief with discontent of mind.
To a pleasant new tune.
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HEard you not lately of a Man,
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that went besides his wits,
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And naked through the streets he ran,
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wrapt in his frantick fits?
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My honest neighbours it is I,
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hark hew the people flout me,
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See where the mad man comes, they cry,
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with all the boys about me.
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Into a pond stark naked I ran,
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and cast away my Cloaths Sir,
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Without the help of any man,
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made shift to get away Sir:
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How I got out I have forgot,
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I do not well remember,
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Or whether it was cold or hot,
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in June or in December.
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Tom Bedlam's but a stage to me,
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I speak in sober sadness.
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For more strange visions do I see,
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then he in all his madness,
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When first to me this chance befel,
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about the Market walkt I,
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With Capons feathers in my cap,
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and to myself thus talkt I:
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Did you not see my love of late,
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like Titan in her glory?
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Did you not know she was my mate,
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and I must write her story?
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With Pen of Gold on Silver Leaf,
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I will so much befriend her,
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For why, I am of that belief,
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done can so well commend her.
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Saw you not Angels in her eyes,
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whilst that she was a speaking?
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Smelt you not smells like Paradise,
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between two rubies breaking:
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Is not her hair more pure then gold,
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of finest spiders spinning?
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Methinks in her I do behold,
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my joys and woes beginning.
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Is not a dimple in her Cheek
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each eye a star that's starring
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Is not all graces instal[']d in her,
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each step all joys imparting:
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Methinks I see her in a cloud,
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with graces round about her;
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To them I call and cry aloud,
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I connot live without her.
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Then raging towards the sky I rove,
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thinking to catch her hand,
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O then to Jove I call and cry,
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to let her by me stand:
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I look[']t behind and there I saw
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my shaddow, me beguile,
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I wish she were as near to me,
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which makes my worship smile.
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There is no creature can compare,
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with my beloved Nancy;
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Thus I build Castles in the Air,
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this is the fruit of fancy:
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My thoughts mount high above the sky
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of none I stand in awe,
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Although my body here doth lye
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upon a Pad of Straw.
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I was as good a harmless youth,
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before base Cupid caught me:
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Or his own mother with her charms
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into this case hath brought me:
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Stript and whipt now must I be,
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in Bedlam bound in chains
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Good People now you all may see
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what love hath for his pains,
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When I was young as others are,
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with Gallants did I flourish,
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O then I was the properest Lad
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that was in all the Parish:
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The Bracelet which I us'd to wear,
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about my arms so tender,
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Are turned into Iron plates
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about my body slender,
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My silken suits do now decay,
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my cups of Gold are vanished,
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And all my friends do wear away,
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as I from them were banished:
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My silver cups are turn'd to earth,
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jeer'd of every Clown;
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I was a better man by birth,
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till fortune cast me down.
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I am out of frame and temper too,
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though I am somewhat chearful,
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O this can love and fancy do,
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if that you be not careful:
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O set a watch before your eyes,
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least they betray your heart:
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And make your slaves to vanities,
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to act a mad mans part.
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Declare this to each Mothers Son,
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unto each honest Lad:
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Let them not do as I have done,
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lest they like me grow mad:
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If Cupid strike, be sure of this,
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let reason rule affection,
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So shalt thou never do amiss,
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by reasons good direction.
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I have no more to say to you,
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my keepers now doth chide me,
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Now must I bid you all adieu,
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God knows what will betide me:
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To picking straws now must I go:
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my time in Bedlam spending,
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Good folks you your beginning know,
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but do not know your ending.
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