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EBBA 35431

Houghton Library - 25242.67
Ballad XSLT Template
A Young Man put to his shifts:
OR,
The Ranting Young Mans Resolution.
Wherein is show'd how young Wenches he doth please,
And of their heavy burdens he doth them ease;
With cunning tricks their fancies up doth feed,
And they him relieve when he doth stand in need.
To the Tune of, Cupids Trappan.

OF late did I hear a young damsel complain,
and rail much against a young man,
His cause and his state i'le now vindicate,
and hold battle with Cupids, trapan, brave boys
and hold, etc.

Surely she thinks, that I am stark mad,
to wed every Girl I do see,
No let her stay a while for I can make a fool,
of twenty far better then she, etc.

For if I court a Maid she will get nothing by 't,
for so soon as her money is gone,
And I have got her Kings and other fine things,
then the Devil may take her for John. etc.

[I] can give them fair words but little good deeds
any girl of me shall find,
And if I see she will do 't then I put her to 't,
but straight I can turn with the wind, etc.

He's but a fool that will fawn of a Maid,
although she seem never so coy,
Make tho' you'd be gone she'l bid you come on,
if you tell her you'l git her a boy, brave boys,
if, etc.

But if she don't find thou canst stir up her blood,
she will laugh and jear thee to thy face,
But if she perceives thou canst do her some good,
then thy body she strait will imbrace, etc.

As for my own part I value it not a pin
I care not what Girl doth it know,
But the coyest Lass I can easily win,
and bring her unto my own bow, etc.

I drink of the best, and live at hearts ease
for Money I take little care,
I can humor young wenches & have what I please,
be it never so fine and so rare, etc.

I Count him a noddy that can't win a Maid
to buckle to bow and to bend,
And if he stands in need to do a good deed,
and to give him some money in hand, brave boys,
and to, etc.

Though Maidens do seem coy on 't they long till they ha 't
either Mary Sue Bridget or Nan,
If they were put to their choice for to lye alone,
they had rather to lye with a man, etc.

For daily and hourly full often it is seen,
what Maiden 'tis will lye alone,
If she han't a husband when she is fifteen,
she thinks she shall never have none, etc.

So it doth appear how hasty they are,
the fruits of Love for to tast,
It makes their great belly the truth for to tell ye,
they've been clipping a man about 'th wast, etc.

Theirs choice of young Damsels I have at com-mand
that with money my pockets do see,
And it I want a bout they will not stand out,
to help a good turn in my need, etc.

If I cheat a young damsel the fault's none of mine
to her self she better may look.
For if I lay my bait by day or by night,
be sure I take her of my hook, etc.

And when I have caught her be sure she's my own
for little we two do imbrace,
But before we go to church, I leave her i 'th lurch
thus I cheat her unto her own face, etc.

I'le never be bound when I may live free,
nor i'le never be tide to a wife,
Theirs sope fire & candle a child for to dandle,
which makes a man weary on's life, etc.

So I get but the child let who will it keep,
for my part I do not mean to keep none,
So I have but the sport let them provide fort,
for so soon as i've done I am gone.

For if I should keep all the Children I get,
I should have a great many lives,
I will take a halter and cut my own throat,
before ile have so many wives, etc.

For a Gentlemans life I live as I be,
and am free from both care and sorrow,
If never a penny I have over night,
be sure I have some the next morrow, etc.

So young men i'le leave you make use of your time
for so long as my Codpise do hold,
I am sure of this let it hit or miss,
I shall want neither silver nor gold, brave boys,
I shall want neither silver nor gold.


Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passinger.

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