University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Poetical Entertainer

Or, Tales, Satyrs, Dialogues, And Intrigues, &c. Serious and Comical. All digested into such Verse as most agreeable to the several Subjects. To be publish'd as often as occasion shall offer [by Edward Ward]

collapse sectionI. 
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
collapse sectionII. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
collapse sectionIII. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse sectionIV. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse sectionV. 
  
  
  
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

But John, who fancy'd that he spy'd
Some Hopes when he my Lady ey'd,
And that her Curtesies and Smiles
Were Female Shoing-Horns and Wiles,
Made use of with a kind intent,
To give his Love encouragement,
Thought himself now cocksure of what
He greatly wanted to be at,
In case he could but frame or find
An opportunity to's Mind:
He therefore thought there was no better
A Method, than to write a Letter;
Accordingly he sat him down,
First scratch'd his Ears and then his Crown,

6

And next in ample Form set forth
His Passion and my Lady's Worth,
Declaring that he soon must dye,
Unless her Honour would comply,
T'extinguish, by her kind embrace,
The Flames sh'ad kindled with her Face.
This Letter, by her trusty Maid,
Was to my Lady's Hand convey'd,
Who reading o'er the lushious Lines,
And finding Frier John's Designs,
Paus'd like a Woman of Discretion,
'Twixt Fear and Female Inclination,
As if she wish'd it no Offence,
To pleasure his Concupiscence;
But dread of Damning and of Shame,
At last prevailing o'er the Dame,
So fortify'd her vertuous Breast,
Against her Lovers bold Request,
That she determin'd to disclose
The Frier's Letter to her Spouse,

7

Not knowing but the same might be
A Trick to try her Chastity;
Accordingly toth' Knight she flies,
Feigning a very deep surprize,
And laid before him, in a Passion,
The Frier's bold Solicitation,
Backing the same with all the shews
Of detestation she could use,
And such Resentments that might fire
The Knight, and raise his Fury higher.
No sooner had her Spouse perus'd
The Letter but it so confus'd
His Thoughts, that he the Priory curs'd,
Where such Ingratitude was nurs'd,
And vow'd to be reveng'd upon
That lustful Polecat Frier John,
Repenting what he'd built and given
To Rogues, more fit for Hell than Heaven.
The Knight, whose jealous Indignation
Was now past all pacification,

8

Enjoin'd his Wife to send the Frier
An Answer to his Heart's desire,
Appointing him a certain Night
To Feast and Revel in Delight,
Pretending that her Spouse must be
Then absent of necessity,
And that about the Hour of Eight,
Herself at the Back-door would wait,
To lead him up a private Way
Into the Chamber where she lay,
That he might cool his am'rous Fire,
And gratify his fond Desire.
This joyful News so work'd upon
The Fancy of young Frier John,
That he could think of nothing less
Than her soft Lips and kind Embrace,
And all those Pleasures and Delights
With which young Lovers bless their Nights;
Therefore, that he might be more ready
To entertain so fair a Lady,

9

He fed till he could eat no longer,
That's brawny Back might be the stronger;
And drank like any thirsty Farmer,
To make his odious Lust the warmer;
New shav'd his Noddle, wash'd his Feet
And other Parts with Herbs most sweet;
Perfum'd his Night-Cap and his Shirt,
Bought fine on purpose for the Sport,
Lest courser should offensive be
Toth' tender Skin of Quality.
So common Punks, tho' foul within,
And poor withal, delight to sin
In costly Linen soft and clean.