An easie way to Tame a SHREW.
OR THE
Young Plow-man's Frollick.
He that a Shrew would gladly Tame,
Example take here by the same;
As in this Ditty you may find,
Fair words doth please a Womans mind:
And all good Wives where e're you be,
Pray listen well to this Ditty;
To please you all I know not how,
But yet I say, God speed the Plow.
To a Delightful New Tune; Or, The Collier of Croydon had Coles to sell.
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BE merry all you that be here,
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here present in this place,
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And with a Song I will you please,
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as God shall give me Grace;
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Then give ear a little space.
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A Young-man lived in our Country,
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which of late did set up Plow,
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He wanted strength to Till his ground,
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he had but Horses two:
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Alack what could he do?
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He got up early in the morning,
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because he fain would thrive,
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He went but fairly with his Draught,
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and he hir'd a Boy to drive;
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You shall hear more believe.
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Then an aged man came riding by,
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of him he did not dream,
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He did commend his Plowing well,
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with such a slender Team;
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For he wanted but a Beam.
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I have a Horse, the old man said,
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so furious and void of fear,
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No work nor beating can him tame,
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for he breaks all our Gears,
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Attend all you that hear.
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I can him tame, the young man said,
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if you will sell him me,
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The old man reply'd, the grief is small,
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then soon they did agree;
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His proof I fain would see.
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He tyed this Horse up two or three days,
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to tame his sturdy fit,
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He gave him gentle words enough,
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but meat never a bit;
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Thus he did try his wit.
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And then he brings him forth to work,
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and in the midst he goes,
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He takes a bottle of his best Hay,
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and he hangs it before his Nose;
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He drew then you may suppose.
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And as he drew he gave him some,
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so brought him to good frame,
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The aged man within few days,
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did come to see the same;
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What said he when he came?
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Thou sure hast done a mighty feat,
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for I could never bring
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Him to Saddle nor to draw,
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thou hast conquer'd like a King;
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I but hunger did the thing.
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The second part, to the same Tune.
SHEWING,
How the Old Man married his Daughter to this Young-man.
And how the Young-man dealt with his Cross-grain'd Wife,
Yet after liv'd a sweet Contented Life.
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I have a daughter, the old man said,
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my Heir and only child,
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But in condition she is a Shrew,
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both sturdy, stout, and wild;
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Her nature is not mild.
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If thou'lt but please to marry her,
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her Portion is not small,
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Five hundred pound I thee will give,
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and when I dye she shall have all;
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Whatever doth befall.
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Ile see your daughter, the young-man said,
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if I can but favour find,
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I make no doubt to bring it about,
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to win her to my mind;
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And i'le to her prove kind.
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But when he to this Damosel came,
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as plainly doth appear,
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She liked him, and lov'd him so,
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they quickly marryed were;
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What followed you shall hear.
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Next morning early he got up,
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and for to go to the Plow,
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Then with speeches fair, he did prepare,
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to tell her what to do;
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Then he came his Wife unto.
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Then he brought unto her Chamber door
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a Wheel, and Flax to Spin,
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And said, good Wife, with our own hands
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our living we must win;
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Oh in time he did begin.
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I will not work at all, quoth she,
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my portion is so great,
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Nay, you must work good wife, he said,
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or nothing you must eat;
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This was his subtile feat.
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No meat at all she had that day,
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for out she could not get,
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He lock'd the door and went to Plow,
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and left her there to fret;
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But she did not dye o'th Pet.
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At night when he came home from Plow,
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he proffered her a Kiss,
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Nay Churl said she, away be gone,
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I will tell my Parents this;
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Then he thought all was amiss.
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Next morning her Wheel she took in hand
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and spun up eight good Lease,
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And said, kind Husband, by all means,
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I will seek your mind to please,
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Oh then she found better ease.
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But when her Parents they did come,
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to see how they did agree,
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They found her busie at her work,
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and singing merrily;
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They wondred that to see.
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My Husband loves me well, said she,
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I have any thing I crave,
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But I must work as well as he,
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or nothing I must have;
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I must either gain or save.
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We be hungry daughter, they said,
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will you give us some meat?
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Nay you must work before, said she,
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or nothing you must eat;
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She had learn'd the subtile feat.
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But when her husband he came home,
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and found her Parents there,
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He made them welcome heartily,
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he laugh'd and made good Cheer;
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Oh then they merry were.
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Thus you have heard the tameing of a shrew
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by gentle means, and how
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Then all good wives, while you have lives
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help to maintain the Plow;
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And it will you means allow.
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