The English Fortune-Teller.
Being a brief direction how to shun all strife,
A brief instruction how to chuse a wife;
Whereby a man may lead a happy life:
It shews difference in womens qualities,
By colour of their hair, both face and eyes,
The Tune is, Ragged and Torn. etc.
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YOu young-men that want skill in wooing
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and if you desire to be wed,
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Take counsell of me in your doing
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for fear that you should be misled,
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Do not my kind proffer refuse,
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for it will never you deceive:
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I will shew what women to chuse,
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and what creature you'd best for to leave,
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But chiefly i'd wish you beware,
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of a wench with a rowling eye:
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For she that will cozen and swear,
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will also dissemble and lie.
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I'th first place I do you advise,
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take one not too high nor too low,
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But according to your own size,
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that you may her qualities know,
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Take one not too young nor too old,
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nor one that's too fat nor to lean;
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'Tis a bad thing to meet with a scold,
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a worse thing to meet with a Quean.
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But chiefly, etc.
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Take one that is not too proud,
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nor one that's a dirty foul slut,
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The one may babble too loud,
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the other may poison the gut,
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'Tis better to wed an honest maid.
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although she be never so poor,
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Then to wed a rich Gossip 'tis said,
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if afterwards she should turn whore.
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But if chiefly, etc.
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A widoow whose wealth doth surmount,
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if that you do marry for gain,
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Shee'l call you to double account,
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and your pleasures will turn to your pain:
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Besides she is apt to be jealous,
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which is the fore-runner of strife:
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As good to be hang'd at the Gallows,
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as marry with such a cross wife.
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But chiefly, etc.
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And now in the second place I
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am purposed for to recite,
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My skill in Physiognomy,
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wherein I will shew you a light:
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By'th colour of hair on the head,
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or else by the favor or face,
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You may know with whom for to wed;
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and who you were best to imbrace.
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But chiefly, etc.
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The man that will chuse him a mate,
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by color of Hair or complexion,
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Must chuse many ways intricate,
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lest he be brought under subjection,
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He must view both her fore-head and brow,
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her Cheeks, Eyes, Nose, and her Chin.
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GOod Cupid those things doth allow,
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when you first to woo her begin.
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But chiefly, etc.
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All is not gold which Glitters,
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nor is it all lead that looks dull.
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Fair Venus the chief of the Sisters,
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made Vulcan her husband a Gull,
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So many times beautifull Lasses,
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will jeer their poor husbands in scorn,
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And cunningly break all their Glasses,
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and make them drink out of the Horn.
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But chiefly, etc.
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She that hath her hair of bright yellow,
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and traces the wyers of Gold,
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If she meet with some pretty fellow,
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her husband may chance to be Cuckold;
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And she that by nature's compos'd,
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of round Cherry Cheeks and red hair,
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If she be pink-ey'd and long nos'd,
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believe me tis dangerous ware.
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But chiefly, etc.
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The brown hair with witty discourse,
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but commonly for her own ends;
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I like her a great deal the worse,
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because shee'l dissemble with her friends.
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A Wench with an ash coloured face,
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her actions are often uncivil;
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Her tongue will her husband disgrace,
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just like the second She-devil.
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But chiefly, etc.
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The bonny Wench with the black-brow,
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oh she is a good one indeed:
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For she will be true to her vow:
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I would we had more of her breed:
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And thus I have told you my mind,
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concerning Physiognomy,
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I mean no wrong to womenkind,
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I swear by my honesty.
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Lest I should some female offend,
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I'le lay by my pen and rest,
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Whatever in this Ditty is pen'd,
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let young men take where they love best.
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Yet thus much i'le speak, in regard,
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and i'le maintain my words in a trice.
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Some women may well be compar'd,
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to the best chance or worst of the Dice,
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Suppose a young-man goes to Dice,
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and do venture his goods and his store,
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If he can throw Cinque or a Size,
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the games his own for evermore:
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But if that his fortune be crost,
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that he throws but a Dewce or an Ace,
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His goods and his substance is lost,
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and hee's left in a pitiful case.
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Suppose in like case, if a Lad,
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can get him a provident wife,
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His fortune can never be bad,
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he's made all the dayes of his life:
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But if that same fortune do frown,
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that his wife and he cannot agree,
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He is quite forever cast down,
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by wofull experience we see.
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And now noble Young men adieu,
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remember the words which I say:
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This songs like to prove to be true,
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then buy it and bear it away.
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