THE TAVERNERS RANT.
To the Tune of, I am the King [&] Prince of Drunkards, etc.
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BE merry, my Hearts and call for the Quarts,
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and let not the liquor be lacking:
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We have money in store, we purpose to roar:
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whilst we put all care a packing,
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Hostess make heast and do not time waste,
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let every Man have his due:
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To save you from trouble, bring in the quarts double
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for he that made one made two.
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Then drink off your drink, and speak what ye think;
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strong drink will make men speak truly:
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He cannot be termed a drunkard confirmed:
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so long as he is not unruly.
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I'le drink and be civil, intending no evil;
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let none take offence at me:
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As I did before, I will add yet more,
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for he that made two made three.
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The greedy Curmugeon sits all the day drudging,
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with a piece of brown bread & smal beer;
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To coffer up pelff, he pineth himself,
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scarce eats a good meal in the year.
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[?]t I do not so, how ill the world go.
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so long my money is in store:
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I scorn to shrink cause fill us more drink,
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for he that made three made four.
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Why sit you so sadly, because I call madly;
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I mind not to live like a wretch,
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My reckoning I'le pay, before I go away,
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or hing me as high as the Church-
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Some men will say, this is not the way,
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he must pine in this word that would thrive
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No matter of that, I'le laugh and be fat,
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for he that made four made five.
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To all kind friends my love so extends,
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that I cannot truely express it.
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When I and they meet our company is so sweet,
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that I am unwilling to miss it,
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I hate these base slaves that their money saves,
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and these that use bad tricks,
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For with my Comerades wee'l be merry mates,
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for he that made five made six.
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Come let us drink round, till sorrow be drown'd,
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[a]nd let us sing, Hey down a derry.
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[?]ot endure to sit so demure,
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[?]here we came to be merry.
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[?]p a good heart before we depart
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[W]ith our Hostess we shall make it even,
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[?] said before wee'l add one more,
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[for] he that made six made seven.
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Sad melancholy will bring me to folly,
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that is deaths principal agent:
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ThIs course I will take, that nothing shall make
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me speak but as I imagine:
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Then with good intent my money shall be spent
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let every man have his due right:
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Hostess, go fill, why stand you so still?
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for he that made seven made eight.
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At home I confess with my honest Bess,
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I practise good husbandry still:
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In using my Calling to keep me from falling,
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my Neighbours about me can tell:
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They praise me at large for doing my Charge,
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but when to Drink I incline,
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For nothing I shrink, cause fill us more Drink,
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for he that made eight made nine.
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Whilst that we are here, cause fill us more Beer,
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my Moneys right freely I'll spend:
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Let no Man take care for paying a share;
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if need be, I'll pay for my Friend.
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Hostess make haste, and do not time waste,
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make welcome your kind Gentlemen,
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Never cease to carrouse while there's Beer in the house
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for he that made nine made ten.
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Hostess be quicker, and fill us more liquor,
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and let not attendance be missing:
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It cannot please me to see a Cup empty,
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a full Cup is well worth the kissing,
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Hostess make speed, and stand not so dead,
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we are all of our Senses bereaven,
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Ye know what I mean, make haste here again
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for he that made ten made eleven.
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With merry solace, and void of malice.
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with all our good folks that are he[re]
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No cursing, no swearing, no stamping, no [?]
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among us do seem to appear,
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When I have spent all, to my labour[?]
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for my living is to dig and to delve [?]
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Resolve to be both courteous and [?]
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for he that made eleven made tw[elve.]
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I think it is fit, and most requisite,
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we drink a good health to our wi[v]es,
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And when that is done, wee's pay and go hom[e]
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strong liquor our wit is bereaves.
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Hostess, let us know what money we owe
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Half a crown and welcome, my friend.
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Fill yet another Quart for there's money for it
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for he that made twelve made thirteen.
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