SONG LIV. On the Act for Marriages.
1
Last
Parliament Sate,
And the Speaker did prate,
A Jury of Years, to no purpose;
For Acts, and for Law,
To keep us, in awe,
They baffled, the Rules of Lycurgus.
For, when seven Years,
They had Sate Sans Peers,
(Without Wit, or Fears)
And, we look't, when Geers, should go trimmer,
They gave us, at last,
Of their Office a Cast,
And what d'ye think was't?
A Put off with a Pittyfull Primmer.
2
And, once in a Mood,
When sitting was Good,
And their Wives, they had put them, upon it
They thought, of a Knack,
To silence, the Clack,
That Men, might not tell, when th'ad done it.
When, this pass'd, they had,
They sate still, like Mad,
Till the fiery fac'd Lad
In Zeal and Uprightnesse, had told 'um
If they left not the House,
Without any Excuse,
To a better use,
He'd make it too hot, for to hold 'um.
3
So in came, of late,
As the Devil would ha'te
For seldom (they say) comes a better
Such Hebrew Jews,
If you pick, and chuse,
Not, one, of the Law knows a Letter.
And, now th'ave begun,
Such an Act th'ave Done,
And a Pattern shewn,
To marry, or Hang, take you whether,
For next trick they shew's
Will be, for to Chuse,
A New-way, to Noose,
Since both, do by fate, go together.
4
When woe, comes to woe
To the Justice we go,
And those (who have hands) are to shake 'um,
And, he that can, speaks
A. B. C. D. takes,
But Justices, the Devil take 'um!
Girles, that are Sporting,
Must stay, till fourteen,
'Ere they be Courting,
Who, would have begun at Eleven,
And Men, till Sixteen
(Was e're such trick seen?)
Stomack, it sticks in,
When They'd have fal'n to't e're, twice seven.
5
Those Youths that are Kind,
And have now a Months mind,
I'de wish, e're the Close of September
To make all Cock sure,
And firm, to Endure,
That, Each, take his Love by the member.
VVho Wivings adjourn,
And now slip their Turn,
VVere better, to Burn:
The Word, it is hard, but a True One;
If I were, well-rid,
Of the Wife, that I did
In the Old way-wed,
I'de hang e're, I'de Venture the new one.
Cho.
Oh Parliament! Parliament! pittyfull Clowns
VVhat would You be at?
It puzzles the Rules
Of the Lawes, and the Schooles,
This Question to state
Whether they were more Knaves, then you are Fools.
