Verses by John Frederick Bryant late tobacco-pipe maker at Bristol. Together with his life, written by himself |
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WANTON BETTY.
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 | Verses by John Frederick Bryant |  |
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WANTON BETTY.
Written at Woolwich, by the Desire of Mr. Richards, Pipe-maker in that Town.
In Woolwich town does live a lass,I call her Wanton Betty;
For not an epithet beside
Would suit her half so pretty.
Her shape and features, all must own,
Are but of homely form;
But still the pert vain thing, in hopes
The silly fops to charm,
First with a floury rag does rub
Her skin, of brown complexion;
Next cleans her teeth and scurvy gums,
According to direction;
Then struts in ancient duds, reform'd
To something like the fashion,
'Till some soft shipwright, smitten, owns,
Alack! his love-sick passion.
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The graceless girl sits grinning,
Nor shortens by one single prayer
Her weekly score of sinning.
Her heart's of all devotion void,
Her wicked eyes are leering,
Her mind is too reverse employ'd
T'attend to what she's hearing.
With blink, or nod, or awkward smile,
She views each smart young fellow;
Why, wench! of all thy wanton ways
I'm quite asham'd to tell-o!
Do, prithee, stop thy mad career,
The broad way thou'rt a-going;
From me, thy friend, to lack advice
Think not thyself too knowing.
Alas! advice is thrown away
On headstrong wanton Bett;
Her mad career she still pursues;
'Tis all in vain to fret.
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If this cap fits thee, wear it:
I've seam'd it well, and sew'd it strong,
Thou canst not fairly tear it.
| Verses by John Frederick Bryant | |