The Alewives Invitation
to Married-Men, and Batchelors.
SHEWNG
How a Good Fellow is slighted when he is brought to Poverty.
Therefore take my Counsel, & Alewives don't trust,
For when you have wasted, and spent all you have,
Then out of Doors she will you headlong thrust,
Calling you Rascal, and shirking Knave.
But so long as you have Money, come early or late,
You shall have her at Command, or else her Maid Kate.
To a New Tune; or, Digbys Farewell.
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GOod fellows come hither, 'tis to you I speak,
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Good Counsel here's for you, if you will it take,
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In thy Pockets may save thee many a Crown,
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Where ever thou walkest in City, or Town:
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It's known a Good fellow I've been many a year,
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And much have I spent in wine and strong beer:
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For so long as I had money, my kind Hostess she,
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Would cry, come when thou wilt boy, thou art welcome to me.
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For she knew, late or early, a-pace I would call,
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And whoever drink it, yet I'd pay for all;
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Which made her take delight much in my company
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But twas more for the love of my money, then me:
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And so long as my credit and stock it would hold,
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Come early or late, I might have what I would:
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For so long as I had money, my kind Hostess she,
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Would cry, Come when thou wilt, Boy, thou art welcome to me.
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But when I had wasted and consum'd my store,
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And had nothing to mortgage, or sell to make more,
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Unto my fine Hostess I then told me my tale,
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She must lend me some money, or I go to'th' Goal:
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Nay tarry, said she, I don't see it so rife,
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I'll not lend you a penny, if 'twould save your life:
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This was all the comfort that I got from she
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That always pretended my friend for to be:
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Therefore it is good to save something in store,
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Make much of a little, and 'twill encrease more;
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For the times they are hard, and money is scant,
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And by drinking there many a man comes to want:
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Then whilst you have goods, either house or yet land,
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Besure to be careful, and keep't in your hand.
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For so long as I had money, my kind Hostess she,
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Would cry, Come when thou wilt, Boy, thou art welcome to me.
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Let a Man come to to an Alehouse tho' Cloaths they be poor,
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And if that she sees you have silver good store,
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She'll bid you sit down, and you're welcome beside,
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And whatever you call for, you are not deny'd;
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But when you have wasted, and consum'd your store,
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Away with this fellow, thrust him out of door:
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For you have, etc.
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This by experience there's many finds true,
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Which makes both their backs, and their bellies to rue,
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Whilst they have a penny, or credit will go,
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They ne'er will give o'er, tho'it brings them to woe,
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But there sit & tipple whilst a drop will go down:
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Come fill us more Liquor, tho' it cost me a Crown:
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Thus his Money doth fly, and he wasteth his Pelf,
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The next day he is ready to hang himself.
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Then let me advise all Good Fellows that be,
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Once learn to be wiser in e'er degree;
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In your youthful days keep something in store,
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Lest you're forc'd when you're old, to beg at the door:
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Don't spend all thou get, to make others brave,
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When thy Wife & thy Children, ne'er a rag have.
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For so long as I had money, my kind Hostess she,
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Would cry, Come when thou wilt, Boy, thou art welcome to me.
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But when thou hast good Monty make much of t[he] sam[e],
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Don't drink it, and spend it in an unlawful Gam[e:]
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And 'tis good for all young men to be well advis'[d;]
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You see a good Husband to fortune doth rise;
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But a Spendthrift you see is regarded by none,
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His Word will not go, let him be ne'er so youn[g.]
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But while you have money, etc.
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Though a Man he has Means, he may spend all [he have,]
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Then he unto others must be a bond-slave;
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Then he sighs, and he grieves when it is too lat[e,]
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He should be such a fool to part with his Estate:
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But while he liv'd bravely, O then day and nig[ht]
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Drinking and Ranting it was his delight;
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But now all is consumed wasted and gone,
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He may look o'th bare walls, & make his sad moa[n.]
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For now he is slighted, because he's grown poo[r;]
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Nor none will him pitty, nor encrease his store,
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But mock him, and jear him, in his Poverty;
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You might have been wiser they'll to him reply:
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So he is a Fool that will rant to make others brav[e,]
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And all his life after, to live like a slave;
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But he is a Wise Man, the which doth take pains,
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And then lets his Family tast of the Gains.
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And thus all you young Men, you plainly may se[e,]
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This Song it will learn you good Husbands to b[e,]
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If thou goest to an Alehouse, and hast store of Cas[h,]
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She'll make thee welcome so long as it lasts;
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But when thy pockets are empty, & silver thou ha[st] non[e;]
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She'l look slightly on thee, tho' thou makes sad moan[:]
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But so long as you've mony, your kind Hostess sh[e,]
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Will cry, Come when thou wilt, Boy, thou a[rt] welcome to m[e.]
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