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EBBA 36199

Chetham's Library - Halliwell-Phillipps
Ballad XSLT Template
Venus, with her train of Gossips, or the City wife, the best procurer.

Bright Venus one day, in a good merry mood,
Proclaim'd an unneighbourly chat;
And the first that appear'd, was a jolly old Bawd;
Suffocated almost; with her fat:
She drank Ratafia, & the devil & all;
Then canted & pray'd like a Saint.
In one hand, she held the Virgins down-fall;
In the other, a pot of nice paint.

The next was a sullen, & a prudish maukes,
Who hates all the coquetish leers;
Rehearses each day, all that her neighbour talkes,
With taunting, or scoffing & jeers:
Lampoons upon all her acquaintance does write,
Yet pollitickly she did say:
The man, whom she granted ye favour ore night,
Shou'd be one who'd not tell it next day.

The next that appear'd, was a Country trull,
With a kennel of Beaus at her tail;
Just arriv'd from her Fathers old Country hall,
And as wild, as one broke out of Goal:
With Custards, & Cheesecakes, & sweetned Cream,
She treated her amorous sparks;
But coy, to receive their addresses did seem,
Not knowing of Cupids darts.

A Citizens Daughter, the next did advance,
Her face cover'd over with tears;
Who only had learnt to read Novels, & dance,
Tho' upwards of sixteen years:
She's come unto Venus to know her doom,
Since Dadd had receiv'd a hard fate;
Her Virginity now to Market is come,
To be purchas'd at quality rate.

The fifth, was a topping great Marchants Spouse,
Came rustling in Silks from her Coach;
She seem'd to demand the best place in the house,
Being handsom, & sound as a Roach;
But Venus desir'd, she'd please for to wait,
While Officers came from their post;
For fellows in red, with no brains in their pate,
Those Ladies encourage the most.

Brisk Betty the Chambermaid tripping came in,
A counting her ill gotten Pelf;
With a list of the sparks, she had caught in a gin,
That served her Lady by stealth:
To Venus she's come, and does humbly pray,
Some Country Esquire to gain;
Because she was lately turned away,
For quenching the Butlers flame.

The last that appear'd was a Citizens Dame,
Had drawn a Cull in, for a Cloak;
Her aspect was bright; in the height of her game,
Full of rapertee, & of joak:
She swore that her Cuckold, was gon out of town,
And ere she departed from thence;
She'd new tip his horns against he came home,
And find Gallants, for every Wench.


Flute.
Cross Sculp.

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