The cunning Age.
OR
A re-married Woman repenting her Marriage,
Rehearsing her Husbands dishonest carriage.
Being a pleasant Dialogue between a re-married Woman, a Widdow, and a young Wife.
To the Tune of The Wiuing Age.
Widdow.
Good morrow, kind Gossip, why whither so fast?
I pray stay a while, I know ther's no haste,
And let's chat a while o [...] some things that are past;
I heare say y'are marrie [...] since I saw you last;
O this is a hasty Age,
O this is a hasty Age.
Mar. Woman.
'Tis true, I am marry'd, which hath beene my bane,
But if that I were now a Widdow againe,
I so would continue; but griefe is in vaine,
I must be contented to sing this sa [...] straine,
Oh fie on this coozening Age,
Oh fie on this &c.
Wid.
Oh, doe you so quickly your bargaine repent
And yet you th [...]ught long e're about it you went?
If marriage bring trouble in time Ile preuent
All future vnquietnesse, and be content
To shun such a coozening Age,
To shun &c.
Mar. Wo.
Oh, woe is me, Gossip that e're I was borne,
I marry'd a Boy, that now holds me in scorne,
He romes among Whoores bo [...] [...]u [...]ning and morne,
While I sit at home, like a creature forlorne.
Oh, this is a coozening Age,
Oh, &c.
Wid.
Oh, who would imagine that such a young Lad,
That scarce was worth twelue pence with al that he had,
Should wed a rich woman, and vse her so bad?
I trust I shall neuer be so doting mad,
[...]o match in this coozening Age, &c.
Mar. Wo.
The griefe that I suffer can hardly be told,
Among Whores and Knaues he consumeth my gold,
And if I reprooue him, he tels me I scold,
I dare not dispose of mine owne as I would.
Oh fie on this doting Age,
Oh fie on this doting Age.
Wid.
Well, by your example I warning will take,
With no S [...]ip-iacke boy a match I will make;
Two Sutors I haue, but I both will forsake,
For some that are fond, as they brew let them bake;
I'le take heed of this cunning Age,
I'le take heed of this cunning Age.
Mar. Wo.
Well, doe so, good Gossip, and so Fare you well,
[...] [...]oo [...]ly new husband will curse me to hell:
[...] Iohn, (God be with him) my neighbours can tell,
[...]id n [...]uer in's life gi [...]e me mouthfull of ill.
Oh fie on this doting Age,
Oh fie on this doting Age.
Wid.
There is an old Prouerbe. that oft hath bin try'd,
Set a Beggar on horse-back, to'th Gallowes heel [...]ide,
So, [...] a young Boy, hee's so poft vp with pride,
They'l marry rich Widdowes, to scoffe and [...].
Oh this is a coozening Age,
O this is a coozening Age.
FINIS.
John Cart.
The Second Part. To the same Tune.
Married Woman.
BUt stay, who comes yonder? 'tis well y• I tarry'd:
My kinswoman Katherin, [...] lately was mary'd,
Shee had better gone to the Church to be bury'd,
With her [...], [...], things are otherwise carryd,
She curseth this coozening Age,
She curseth this coozening Age.
Young Wife.
What Cousin and neighbour, are you met together?
'Tis well that I hapned so luckily hither,
I long haue desired to talke with you either;
Come, stand not i'th street, let's go trauel somwhither
Oh fie on this coozening Age,
Oh fie on this &c.
Both to the young Wife.
Well, how dost thou like of thy Husband, good Kate?
We heare of a certaine th'art marry'd of late
With a wealthy old widdower, to better thy state,
Who loues thee as deare as the Tur [...]le his ma [...]e:
That's rare in this cooz [...]ning Age,
That's rare &c.
Yong Wife.
Oh woe's me, Cousin that euer 'twas done,
A beggarly slaue my aff [...]ction hath wonne;
He [...] of his riches, whereof he had none,
But fiue little Children, foure Girles, and a Sonne,
Oh fie on this coozennig Age,
Oh fie on this &c.
When he came awooing he borrow'd a Cloake,
[...] [...] his fingers, my loue to prouoke;
[...] [...] a word of his Children he spoke,
But now we are marry'd, I find that hee's broke,
Oh fie on this coozening Age,
Oh fie on this &c.
Besides, hee's so ielous, that if I but looke
On any Yong-man, hee'l be sworne on a booke,
That I make him Cuckold by hooke or by crooke;
This doting suspition no woman can brooke
Oh fie on this doting Age, &c.
Mar. Wom.
It seemes then, good Kate, we are both alike sped.
Ill fortune had we, with such Husbands to wed:
For if all be true that heere thou hast sed,
I would either we, or our Husbands were dead.
Oh fie on this coozening Age,
Oh fie on this coozening Age.
Wid.
Your speeches will make me still willing to tarry,
Sith UUiddowes and Batchelors both doe miscarry
Yet 'tis said in London, that when we doe bu [...]y
Our Husbands, next moneth we are ready to marry
Oh this is a lying Age,
Oh this is &c.
Nay more, to abash vs, the Poets o'th times,
Doe blazon vs forth in their Ballads and Rimes,
UUith [...] [...] satyricall lines,
As thoug [...] we [...]a [...] [...]e some notorious crimes.
Oh this is a scandalous Age.
Oh this is &c.
I [...]woul [...] [...] Poet could get in my clutch [...]s,
He were [...] [...] ballads against y• [...] [...]
There is [...] [...] [...] that sorely vs [...],
The [...] [...], [...] [...] vpon Crutches,
Doth roare out the Wiuing Age,
Doth [...]oare out &c.
But 'tis no great matter let Knaues say their word,
[...]n [...] swe [...]l with [...] enuy vntill they doe burst.
I [...] you so long, I shall make you be curst,
I could fin [...] in [...]eart to stay still, if you durst:
Oh now comes the parting Age,
Oh now comes the parting Age.
FINIS.