The Subtle Damsel:
OR,
Good Counsel for MAIDS.
Wherein she shews to every Maiden fair,
To take heed of false young Men wherever they are:
For Frummety Dick doth love well the Kettle,
And Porrige-Pot Will is a Man of great Mettle.
To the Tune of, The foolish Husband.
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I Once had a Servant,
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as other Maids have,
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That pretended to love me,
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but he proved a Knave:
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He thought by his Tricks
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to overcome me,
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But I was as cunning
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and crafty as he.
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His Tongue was so tipt
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with Temptations, that I
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Out of his presence or sight
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could not lye;
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He call'd me his honey,
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his duck and his dear;
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But now his Words to me
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he doth them forswear.
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But now I am free from him,
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I'm glad in my Heart;
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I's never be said, I will mourn
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when we part:
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But unto all Maids now
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the Truth I will show
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To take heed of false young Men
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wherever they go.
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I' th' first place take heed,
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and beware what I say,
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For when you are bound,
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they'll force you to obey:
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Ne'er trust a Man
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that hath a red Nose,
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Before he'll want his Liquor,
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he'll pawn your best Cloaths.
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There's Dick came and Harry,
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both Robin and Will,
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Have showed themselves Clowns,
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and so they'll be still:
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For Peter at dancing,
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he put them all down;
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But John kist the best of all
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Men in the Town.
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But though I did promise him
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and count him the best,
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Yet he can Dissemble
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as well as the rest:
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From Eighteen to Thirty
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these young Men I mind,
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Loves a Wench in a corner,
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if they can them find.
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For this I'm resolved,
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and so I say still,
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There's not One amongst Twenty
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but he doth prove ill;
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Search every City
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and Town you shan't see
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A Man that proves constant
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and faithful to be.
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Though John of good Mettle,
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and counted so civil,
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At a Frummety Kettle
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he'll fight with the Devil:
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Or at Long-spoon and Custard
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he's a right honest Man:
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But I have forsook him,
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then love him who can.
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There's Bob a good Fellow,
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to give him his due:
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Such a young Man again
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I think there is but few:
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Yet with one Disease he is
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troubled I smell,
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If he meet with a Wench,
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he can't kiss her but tell.
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Also came the Taylor,
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and the Weaver I discern,
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The one is for Shreds,
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the other's for Yarn:
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These two boon Companion
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work hard I do see,
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And they're striving which of them
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the best Thief will be.
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Last Valentines Day
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I met with my Dear,
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He took me by the Hand,
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and lead me to the Fair:
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He gave me fine Fairings,
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to kiss me was bold;
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But at last I do give him
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the Dog for to hold.
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His eloquent Speeches
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could do him no good,
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I can give him fair Words,
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and then leave i' th' mud:
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He talkt of deep Learning,
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but I did him tell
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That he went to School
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in some bottomless Well.
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The World nowadays
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it is come to that pass,
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That every Boy now
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doth look for a Lass:
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There's Bacon-fac'd Harry,
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as short as my Thumb,
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All Arse and no Body. Sing
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Come Pudding come.
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These young Men and more of them
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which I could name,
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To wrong pretty Maidens
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they think it no Shame:
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But what shou'd we speak on 't?
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it oft has been try'd,
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That honest young Men
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they cannot abide.
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Thus Maids have I told you
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some part of my Mind,
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How 'tis very hard a good
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Husband to find.
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Though my Love hath left me,
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to grieve I ne'er shall:
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If the rest prove no better,
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Old Nick take them all.
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