The Invincible
PRIDE of Women:
OR,
The London Tradesman's Lamentation,
For the Prodigality of his Wife, whith doth daily pillage his Purse.
To the Tune of the Spinning-Wheel. Licensed according to Order.
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I Have a Wife, the more's my Care,
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who like a gaudy Peacock goes,
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In Top-knots, Patches, Powder'd Hair,
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besides she is the worst of shrows;
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This fills my heart with grief and care
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To think I must this burthen bear.
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It is her forecast to Contrive,
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to rise about the hour of Noon,
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And if she's Trimm'd and Rigg'd by five
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why this I count is very soon;
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Then goes she to a Ball or Play
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To pass the pleasant night away.
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And when she home returns again,
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conducted by a Bully Spark,
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If that I in the least Complain,
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she does my words and actions mark;
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And does likewise my Gullet tear,
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Then Roars like Thunder in the Air.
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I never had a Groat with her
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most solemnly I here declare,
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Yet she's as proud as Lucifer
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and cannot study what to wear
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In sumptuous Robes she still appears,
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While I am forc'd to hide my Ears.
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The lofty Topknots on her Crown,
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with which she sails abroad withal,
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Makes me with Care alas! look down,
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as having now no hope at all,
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That ever I shall happy be
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In such a flaunting Wife as she.
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In debt with ev'ry Shop shop she runs
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for to appear in gaudy Pride,
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And when the Millener she duns,
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I then am forc'd my Head to hide
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Dear friends, this proud imperious Wife
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She makes me weary of my Life.
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Sometimes with words both kind and mild
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I let her know my wretched state,
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For which I streightways am Revil'd:
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says she, I will appear more Great
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Than any Merchant's London Dame,
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Tho' thou art ruin'd for the same.
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'Tis true she is both fair and young
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and speaks Italian Greek and Dutch,
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Besides she hath the scolding Tongue,
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which is, in faith, a Tongue too much;
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I dare not speak nor look awry,
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For fear of her severity.
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My worldly glory, joy and bliss,
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is turn'd to sorrow grief and care
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He that has such a Wife as this
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needs no more torment I declare;
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To buy those Trinkets which they lack
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Both Stock and Credit goes to Rack.
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There's many more as well as I,
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in famous London-City fair
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Whose Wives with Prodigality
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doth fill their Husbands Hearts with care;
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I pity those with all my Heart
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Since I with them do bear a Part.
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