Jeremiah Prats letter to his Brother, and his Brother's Answer.
|
TELL me J------ry, tell to me,
|
How do the W---s and you agree,
|
Since they have had the Tydings come,
|
That thou hast got a lovely Son, fal la.
|
What have they got to say of him?
|
Have they no way to bring it in,
|
To make him out a Bastard born,
|
And that his Father wears a Horn? fal la.
|
Do not they say thy Son and Heir,
|
Was begot by a Bricklayer,
|
Brought in a Warming-Pan to Town,
|
And so you thought it was your own, fal la.
|
Do not they think his lovely Face
|
Would to their Function be a Disgrace,
|
And chuse the Bastard of a Clown
|
Before they would one of their own? fal la.
|
Heavens from their power him defend,
|
Take this Advice now from a Friend,
|
Learn him to fence well that he may
|
Defend himself another Day.
|
The Brother's ANSWER.
|
DEar Friend, I'll tell you what I hear
|
They do think of my Baby dear,
|
They think he like his Father will
|
Be banisht from his Freedom still, fal, etc.
|
But let them all say what they can,
|
I'll own him as I am a Man,
|
And love and cherish my dear Wife,
|
And not imprison her for Life, fal la.
|
If I'm a C---------d I'll be content
|
All further Strife for to prevent,
|
My Horns I'll hide when home I come.
|
Who dare a Bastard call my Son? fal la.
|
Suppose I a Farmer am by Trade,
|
My Wife may be a buxom Jade,
|
If I find I hornify'd must be,
|
Yet I'll give her her Liberty. fal la.
|
Suppose when I go out to Hoe,
|
She does receive a Friend or so,
|
Must I go tell the World the same,
|
And then in Prison put my Dame?
|
Suppose unto some Foreign Part
|
My Friends send for me to ease my Heart;
|
Must I go tell them all my Mourn,
|
And then my Eldest Son disown, fal la.
|
Bu I am happy in a Wife,
|
That is the Comfort of my Life,
|
And my sweet Baby it adore,
|
And I hope he will pay his Father's Score.
|
|
|
|
|
|