Robin and Kate: or,
A bad husband converted by a good wife, in a dialogue betweene Robin and Kate.
To the tune of Blew Cap.
FArre in the North Countrey (as I haue heard tell)
there lines a blithe couple cau'd Robbin and Kate:
This Robbin doth loue nappy liquor so well,
that hée'll be at th'Alehouse both early and late
The wife to her husband
i'th morning doth say,
I prethée swéet Robin
at home with me stay,
Thou wastest thy time,
and spendest thy chinke,
Turne backe agen Robin,
and ga not to drinke
Man.
I prethee swéet honey be patient and quiet,
I'me sure thou want'st nothing thats fit for thy state,
Thou lackst neither money, apparell, nor diet,
if any thou dost, doe but speake and thou'st ha'te:
Thou hast all the good
that a wife can desire,
Tha'st seruants to 'tend thée,
and I pay their hire:
Then for my good-fellowship
doe not thou prate,
For I must and I will
have my humour sweet Kate.
Wife.
Tis chiefly thy company that I doe want,
besides, though we now haue sufficient to liue,
Yet if thou the Alehoule thus dayly doe haunt,
we may become fitter to take than to giue:
Swéet husband consider
and take my aduice,
Let not thy companions
thus lewdly intice
Thy heart from thy Kate,
but vpon my words thinke,
Turne back agen Robin,
and ga not to drinke.
Out, out, hold thy twattle and doe not thus preach,
Ile not be ruld by thée whateuer thou say,
Séeke not by perswastons my minde to ouer-reach,
for Ile to the Ale-house as fast as I may▪
If thither thou follow,
thou welcome shalt be,
So thou wilt be quiet
and pleasant with me,
Stay here or ga with me,
tis both of a rate,
But I must, and I will
have my humour sweet Kate.
Wife.
Waes me bonny Robin, that ere I was marrids,
vnto sike a husband that séekes my vndoing,
I wou'd with my mother at home I had tarryde,
or thought vpon this when thou first cam'st a wooing▪
I thinke in my conscience,
(and I haue cause why,)
That thou lou'st some other,
farre better than I:
Thou hat'st to stay with me,
then what may I thinke,
Turne back agen Robin
and ga not to drinke.
Man.
Nay now I finde Kate whereabout thy shooe wrings,
by this I perceiue that of me thou art iealous,
But I for my part neuer dreame of sike things,
I séek not for wenches, but honest good fellowes:
A pipe of Tabacco,
a Pot or a Iugg,
These are the swéet honies
that I kisse and hugg:
All wenching delights
are with me out of date,
But I must and I will
have my humour sweet Kate.
The second part
To the same tune.
Wife
I Prethée my ioy doe not take at the worst
the words that I speake in the heat of affection,
No euill conceit in my bosome is nurst,
I de haue thee be rul'd by my louing direction:
It thinke thou art honest
to me in thy heart,
But company ill
may draw thee apart:
To wastefull expences
thy minde doe not linke:
Turne back agen Robin,
and ga not to drinke.
Man.
Gude wife be perswaded, and let me alone,
forall thy vaine prattle will proue but mere folly,
I tell thee my heart will be cold as a stone,
if I stay at home I shall be melancholy
Ile make my selfe merry
as long as I'ue store
Tush Kate neuer thinke on't
wee'st neuer be poore:
Shall I stay at home
on thy fancy to waite,
No I must and I will
have my humor sweet Kate.
Wife.
Why Robin when first thou didst marry with me,
thou thoughtst thy self best whē thou [...]idst with me lō gest,
How comes the case thus to be alter'd with thée,
true loue by much usage will grow to be strongest:
But now thou art weary
of my company,
And canst not be merry,
I prethée Loue why?
Thou giu'st me occasion
strange matters to thinke,
Turne backe agen Robin,
and ga not to drinck.
Man.
Oh who wou'd be troubled thus with a foole,
I prethée swéet-heart take one word for thy learning,
I scorne that my wife ouer me should beare rule:
why Kate, doe I sp [...]nd any thing of thy earning?
I loue thée as well
as I did the first day,
And yet when I list
I will goe or Ile stay,
To be at command
of my wife, I doe hate,
For I must and I will,
haue my humor sweet Kate.
Wife
Alas my deare Lui [...] thou mistakest me much,
I doe not command thee, thats not my intention,
For my humble duty vnto thee is such,
that one word of anger to thée Ile not mention
Examine thy heart,
and thou shalt vnderstand
I giue thee good counsell,
I doe not command:
Then with due discretion,
vpon my words thinke,
Turne backe agen Robin,
and ga not to drinke.
Man.
Ah now my sweet Kate I perceiue very well,
thy words doe procéed from a hearty affection,
Now all my delight in thy bosome▪ shall dwell,
Ile euer be orderd by thy direction
My former ill husbandry,
I will repent,
And in thy swéet company,
rest well content:
Strong Liquor no more,
shall impaire my estate,
Now Ile stay at home
with my bonny sweet Kate.
M. P.
FINIS.
London Printed for Thomas L [...]