The Dame of Honour; Or, Hospitality.
Sung by Mrs.Willis, in the Opera call'd, The Kingdom of the BIRDS.
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SInce now the world's turn'd upside down,
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And all things chang'd in Nature,
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As if a doubt was newly grown
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We had the same Creator:
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Of ancient modes, and former ways,
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I'll teach you, Sirs, the manner;
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In good Queen Bess's golden days,
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When I was a Dame of Honour.
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I had a noble country seat,
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Tho' now it is come to ruin,
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Where mutton, beef, and such good meat
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In halls were daily chewing:
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Of humming beer my cellar full,
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I was a yearly donor;
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Where toping Knaves had many a pull,
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When I was a Dame of Honour.
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My men of homespun honest greys,
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Had coats and comely Badges;
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They wore no dirty ragged Lace,
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Nor ne'er complain'd for Wages:
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For gaudy fringe, and silks of the town,
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I fear'd no threatening dunner
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But wore a decent grogram gown,
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When I was a Dame of Honour.
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I never thought Cantharides
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Ingredient good in posset,
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Nor never stript me to my stays,
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To play the punk at Basset;
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In Ratafee ne'er made debauch,
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Nor reel'd like topping Gunner,
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Nor let my mercer seize my coach,
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When I was a Dame of Honour.
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I still preserv'd my maiden fame,
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In spite of oaths and lying,
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Tho' many a long-chin'd youngster came,
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And fain would be enjoying:
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My fan to guard my lips I kept,
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From Cupid's rude o'er-runner,
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And many a Roman nose I rapp'd
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When I was a Dame of Honour.
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My curling locks I never bought
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Of Beggars dirty daughters,
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Nor prompted by a wanton thought,
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Above-knee ty'd my Garters:
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I never glow'd with painted pride,
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Like punk when the Devil has won her,
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Nor prov'd a cheat to be a Bride,
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When I was a Dame of Honour.
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My neighbours still I treated round,
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And strangers that came near me,
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The poor too always welcome found,
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Whose prayers did still endear me:
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Let therefore who at Court would be,
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No churl, nor yet no fawner:
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Match in old hospitality
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Queen Bess's Dames of Honour.
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