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7

The Medley of Lovers.

I'll sing you a song of a very simple story,
The theme must be of love, and fair Maria's glory;
Since Adam's time, I guess, from clod up to the 'squire,
Bishops, methodists, and all sects, a pretty girl admire:

(Speaking).
To be sure, that is as natural as light—and certainly a good wife is the greatest blessing a man can have—and even a bad one is—hold—I had better not say too much about that—so I'll sing

Loddi iddy toddi iddy toddi iddy eh, fal lal de oddi iddy tol lol de ra.
John Bumpkin was the first to secure the lovely lass—
John bow'd and star'd, and scratch'd his head, and look'd as lively as an ass;
I'm come to wed thee, lass—if you my tale won't listen to,
An old maid I hope you'll die, and terribly be wizen'd too.

(Speaking).
Come, thou may as well ha'me—thou shal't want for nought—

“Oh, Betty, for shame, I'm sure you're to blame,
“I'm wasting away like a candle;
“In my heart there's a hole, it burns like a coal,
“I'm as thin as a water pump handle:”

And if you won't ha' me, I must sing—

loddi iddy, &c.
Philly Whiffle was the next, with a monstrous frizzle'd head,
With a tippet round his neck—oh, dear a' me! I vow to gad!
With pointed toe, and coat held up, as the maccaroni trade is,
A puff of wind might blow him through, tho' a favorite of the ladies.

(Speaking).
My dear Miss, I want to have some serious conversation with you. When we are married, I shall take all the domestic concerns off your hands. I shall dress the children, comb the lap-dogs, and get up the small linen myself. “Well, Mr. Whifflle, and when we are married, what do you mean to do with me?” Do, Miss—we'll sing—

loddi iddy, &c.
Friend Broadbrim was the next—his heart was kept a bumping,
Like a rat-trap, for a mouse, that to and fro is jumping;
8

By yea and nay he vow'd never to deceive her,
Though he no bow cou'd make, nor ever doff his beaver.

(Speaking with a snuffle).
Yea, verily, damsel—

“Tho' 'twas folly's vain garments thou shin'st so good in,
“Yea, silk hose and pumps on the pavement thou stood in,
“Has stirr'd up my blood as you'd stir up a pudding,”

Consent to be bone of my bone, and we'll sing—

loddi iddy, &c.
Hark forward! tallio! the 'squire next in came
From hunting—oh, what sport!—to present to her the game;
What maiden cou'd refuse? a hunter so bewitches!

(Spoken).
Besides, it's so very genteel To spend all the winter long in boots and leather breeches.

(Speaking).
Hoicks! What do you think of me for a husband? I'm a tight fellow—sound wind and limb! “What, Sir, do you speak to me as if I were a horse?” What, you're skittish, are you? but if you won't go in a snafflle, we must put you in a curb, and then you may sing—

loddi iddi, &c.
Simon Simple was the next, whom the methodists converted—
Resolv'd to have some fun, the girl with others flirted;
Jack Bowling, from the wars, beat the enemy, od rot 'em!
Return'd just in the nick, and kick'd poor Simon's bottom.

(Speaking simply).
I don't care—I am meek and humble, and must take buffets. They say as how my head's turn'd, because I makes sarments, and exposes 'em extrumpery. Ah, you may laugh; but you'll go to the devil for all that. Oh! if you had heard us at our last love feast! every one of us singing—

loddi, &c.
The Sailor, then, steer'd up—smite my timbers, lass,
I've been fighting for you, girl, in every tack and pass;
Her hand she gave him, then, and thus she did declare,
I am your's for ever, Jack—the brave deserve the fair.

(Speaking)
And shew me a braver set of fellows than our English Seamen—only remember their conduct—how they've bang'd the Spaniards—belabor'd the Dutch—and made the French sing—

loddi iddy, &c.
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