The Fryer Well-fitted:
OR,
A Pretty Jest that once befel,
How a Maid put a Fryer to cool in the Well.
To a merry new Tune.
Licens'd and Enter'd aceording to Order.
|
AS I lay musing all alone,
|
fa, la, la, la, la,
|
A pretty jest I thought upon,
|
fa, la, la, la, la,
|
Then listen awhile, and I will you tell,
|
Of a Fryer that lov'd a bonny Lass well,
|
fa, la, la, la, la,
|
fa, la, la, lang-tree-down-dilly.
|
He came to the Maid when she went to bed,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Desiring to have her Maiden-head,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
But she denyed his Desire,
|
And told him, that she feared Hell-fire;
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Tush, (quoth the Fryer) thou needst not doubt,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
If thou wert in Hell, I could sing thee out;
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Then, (quoth the Maid) thou shalt have thy Request
|
The Fryer was glad as a Fox in his nest,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
But one thing (quoth she) I do desire,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Before you have what you require,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Before that you shall do the thing,
|
An Angel of Money thou shalt me bring,
|
fa, la, etc
|
Tush, (quoth the Fryer) we shall agree,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
No Money shall part my Love and me,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Before that I will see thee lack,
|
I'll pawn my grey Gown from my Back,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
The Maid bethought her of a Wile,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
How she the Fryar might beguile,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
While he was gone, the truth to tell,
|
She hung a Cloth before the Well;
|
fa, la, etc.
|
The Fryer came as his Covenant was,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
With Money to his bonny Lass,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Good Morrow, fair Maid, Good Morrow, quoth he
|
Here is the Money I promised thee;
|
fa, la, etc.
|
She thankt the Man, and she took the Money,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Now let us go too't, (quoth he) sweet Honey,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Oh stay, (quoth she) some Respite make,
|
My Father comes he will me take;
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Alas, (quoth the Fryer) where shall I run,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
To hide me till that he be gone?
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Behind the Cloth run thou (quoth she)
|
And there my Father cannot thee see;
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Behind the Cloth the Fryer crept,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
And into the Well on sudden he leapt,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Alas, (quoth he) I am in the Well;
|
No matter, (quoth she) if thou wert in Hell;
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Thou say'st thou could'st sing me out of Hell,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Now prithee sing thyself out of the Well,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
The Fryer sung on with a pitiful sound,
|
Oh help he out, or I shall be drown'd;
|
fa, la, etc.
|
I trow (quoth she) your courage is cool'd;
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Quoth the Fryer, I never was so fool'd,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
I never was served so before;
|
Then take heed (quoth she) thou com'st no more
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Quoth he, For St. Franciss sake,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
On his Disciple some Pitty take,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Quoth she, St. Francis never taught
|
His Scholars to tempt young Maids to naught,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
The Fryer did intreat her still,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
That she should help him out of the Well,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
She heard him make such pitious Moan,
|
She help him out, and bid him be gone;
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Quoth he, Shall I have my Money again,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Which thou from me hast before-hand tane?
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Good Sir, (said she) there's no such matter,
|
I'll make you pay for fouling my Water;
|
fa, la, etc.
|
The Fryer went along the Street,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Drapping wet, like a new-wash'd Sheep,
|
fa, la, etc.
|
Both Old and Young commended the Maid,
|
That such a witty Prank had plaid;
|
fa, la, la, la, la,
|
fa, la, la, lang-tree down-dily.
|
|
|
|
|
|