Advice to the Maidens of LONDON: To Forsake Their Fantastical TOP-KNOTS; Since they are become so Common with Billings-gate Women, and the Wenches that cryes Kitchin-Stuff: Together with the Wanton Misses of the Town.
To the Tune of, Ye Ladies of London:
This may be Printed, R. P.
Now you young Females that follows the Mode,
both beautiful, brown, black, and muddy;
You must expect for to Reap what you've Sow'd,
for making of Pride all your study:
These very Lines I send to you now,
concerning your Noddles adarning,
To [...] and Top-Knots we will not allow,
and therefore take this for a warning.
Do but consider the Women of Old,
who flourished not in large Laces,
Nor in your Glistering Silver and Gold,
but with many more Modest Graces;
But now at length these things are forgot,
and Women are monstrous wicked,
Susan and Joan they will have a Top-Knot,
although they have never a Smicket.
Every Dragel'-tayl'd Country Girl,
when once she comes up to the City,
If she can get but a Ribbon- [...]al,
O then she is wondrous pritty:
Thus Al-a-mode they're willing to secur,
when e're they go trooping together,
Like a Fore-Horse of a Country Team,
deckt up in their flourishing Feather.
HEre we may see what young Damsels will do,
before they will want of their pleasure,
Nancy and Nell of the Billings-gate Crew,
they'l Mortgage their secret Crea [...]ure,
For a Top-Knot [...]esure they'l have one,
to wear on the [...] heads when they're ready,
And as they trip it to Islington,
ye scarce can know Joan from my Lady.
Kate the Cook-Maid is as fine as the rest,
behind there is no one shall leave her,
She'l have a Top-Knot to wear when she's drest,
or else it would certainly grieve her;
Her Kitchin-stuff she often will sell,
to purchase that Ranting Attire,
And when she wears it it please her well,
to thank how Young-men her admire.
But as for those that have Money to seek,
and cannot tell where they shall find it,
They their Top-Knots will take up by the week,
and pay when the Devil is blinded;
What need they care if they have their Pride,
the Al-a-mode fashions of London,
Fine Hoods and Laces, with Top-Knots beside,
without which, alas! they are undon.
Some Misses wear as much Ribbon a top,
in this their most Savoy Attire,
As if their Head was a Milliners Shop,
and she would have no one pass by her,
But what should come and handle her Ware,
and they hauing Money, she'd ease 'um,
Be [...]ng drest up in their Top Knot and Hair,
she may be sufficient to please 'um.
Seeing this Al-a-mode, wear of the Town.
by Gillians is practis [...]d so common,
It is high time that it now was said down
by every right H [...]nest Woman;
If that you will but l [...]t them alone,
O then I shall not be Offended,
[...] and Dolly will straightways be known
from those that are better descended.
FINIS.
Printed for I. Blare, at the Sign of the Looking-Glass on London-Bridge.