The songs of Joseph Mather

Hague says to Beet, let's go ride the gray horse,
Come along then says Jack, tho' it is to my loss
Ball's supper'd up, and old Samuel's in bed,
Smiling Kate to entice us has drest up her head,
Jem looks asquint,—to see powder in it,
Mammy to back it is commonly ready,
Rivals who sit spending all their wit,
Turn out and fight for the grand cock-tail lady.

Thus sung old Samuel, inspired by his cup,
The head of my daughter deserves blowing up;
Blow up her head,—with powder o'er spread,
Her lappit caps and perfuming pomatum,
Her bonnet balloon I wish at the moon;
I say blow them up, for I mortally hate 'em.

Beet cry'd, it's wrong for a Derbyshire wench
To be powder'd and puff'd in the mode of the French,
Cow-leather manners to strut in stuff shoes
Is a notable crime, as you'll find in the news.
At her swing glass her time she doth pass,
And kicks at the wholesome advice of her daddy,
The lin'-and-wool wheel may go the d---l,
These are the scorns of the grand cock-tail lady.

On Sunday night I beheld smiling Kate,
Come shining along with a wonderful pate;
Greatly amazed at the sight I did stop,
I thought on her head was a spring table top,
Beat better skill'd,—with laughter was fill'd,
Seeing me struck with a head so unsteady,
Replied it's a hat,—what think you of that,
Fool's pennies bought for the grand cock-tail-lady.

All thro' West-bar, strange enquiries were made
Who had darken'd their windows and doors with her head;
Some people said it was really a shame,
But the greater part wished it had been in a flame.
Old Triggy cry'd, yonder's beggarly pride,
Mounted on horse-back riding so heady;
She is running quick to get to old Nick:
Ride forward Kate, thou'rt the grand cock-tail-lady.

Warrants are granted in order to search
For the sounding board stole out of Ecclesfield church;
Sacrilege sure is a crime double dy'd
Yet 'tis here the result of this new fashioned pride;
Fixed on a skull, deck'd with my arms full
Of ribbons and gauzes, I beheld it already;
Tell Stringer, the clerk, he'll not miss his mark
If he searches the house of the grand cock-tail-lady.

Three Rotherham girls I o'ertook on the road,
Who were wishing for hats that are now a-la-mode;
One said with ribbons and gauze I declare
I'll go deck our new tea-board, and shine at the fair;
The next answered brief, our round table leaf
I'll dress in like manner, and make it more shady;
The third (more untow'rd) the church sounding board
She vow'd she'd steal to be like the grand cock-tail lady.

University of Virginia Library

SONG XXXV. THE COCK-TAIL LADY.