The Debtford Frollick;
OR,
A Hue and Cry after the Shag-Breeches.
Young Women all, both great and small,
That handleth Pot or Pail,
Forsome I hear, and greatly fear.
Do oft play with their layl.
Tune of, The fair One let me in.
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ONe night when blustering winds blew
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and dusky was the Sky
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Tho' I was feeble weak and old,
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a watching then went I:
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But cruel fate did prove unkind.
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my grief did then begin;
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And quite contrary to my mind,
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a stranger he got in.
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Two Keys unto my door I had,
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as I did think it fit.
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But now it makes me almost mad
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I had so little wit;
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For when a watching I was gone
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my sorrow did begin;
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A wanton and a lascivious man
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unknown to me got in.
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Into the bed straightway he went,
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and hugg'd my loving Wife,
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Who us'd to give me hearts content,
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I lov'd her as my life,
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And grieve to think she should commit
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so foul and grosse a sin,
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And let him do what was not fit,
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when she had let him in.
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AS they in sweet imbraces lay
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I chanced to return,
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And spoil'd the Game which they did play,
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for which my wife did mourn
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She told me she was wondrous ill,
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and thus she did begin
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With shrieks & groans she made her moans
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cause she had let him in.
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I willing was to go to bed
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and off my breeches threw
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She told me she was almost dead,
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and knew not what to do:
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Dear love (quoth she) a Cordial get,
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my pains, my pains afresh begin:
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I little thought she was so naught
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to let another in.
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Away went I most willingly
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for my dear Spouses sake,
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A pair of breeches on put I
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which proved a mistake;
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I to the Apothecaries went
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thinking her love to win.
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A Cordial brave I ask'd to have,
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not think[i]ng who got in.
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A Cordial was prepar'd for me
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then thus I did reply:
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At present I cannot pay thee,
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but yet assuredly
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Tomorrow I will come and pay:
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my Pocket I felt in,
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And there behold was store of Gold
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the youngster had brought in.
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The Apothecary he did view
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the Breeches I had on,
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And them he said full well he knew
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then him I star'd upon
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How I by these Shag-Breeches came
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to pause then did begin
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At last thought I assuredly
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she let some Gallant in.
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Away went I most furiously
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this trick to think upon,
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But when I came with grief and shame
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the youngster he was gone
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I had his Watch and money too,
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and I the horns did win;
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But I am mad and monstruous sad
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that she had let him in.
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Take warning, all both great and small
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in women ne'r confide,
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For some pretend to their lives end
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they constant will abide
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Past all relief unto my grief,
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I know they are prone to sin
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And when you'r gone some other men
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sometimes may happen in.
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