The little Barly-Corne.
Whose Properties and Vertues here,
Shall plainly to the world appeare:
To make you merry all the yeere.
To the tune of Stingo.
COme, and doe not musing stand,
if thou the truth discerne,
But take a full cup in thy hand,
and thus begin to learne,
Not of the earth, nor of the ayre,
at euening or at morne,
But iouiall boyes your Christmas kéep
with the little Barly-Corne.
It is the cunningst Alchymist,
that ere was in the Land,
Twill change your mettle when it list,
in turning of a hand,
Your blushing Gold to Siluer wan,
your Siluer into Brasse,
Twill turne a Taylor to a man,
and a man into an asle.
Twill make a poore man rich to hang
a signe before his doore,
And those that doe the Pitcher bang,
though rich twill make them poore;
Twill make the silliest poorest Snake,
the Kings great Porter scorne,
Twill make the stoutest Lubber weak,
this little Barly-Corne.
It hath more shifts then Lambe ere had,
or Hocus Pocus too,
It will good fellowes shew more sport,
then Bankes his horse could doe:
Twill play you faire aboue the boord,
vnlesse you take good héed,
And fell you though you were a Lord,
and iustifie the deed.
It lends more yéeres vnto old age,
than ere was lent by nature,
It makes the Poets fancy rage,
more than Castalian water:
Twill make a Huntsman chase a Fo [...],
and neuer winde his horne,
Twill chéere a Tinker in the stockes,
this little Barly-Corne.
It is the only Will oth'wispe,
which leades men from the way,
Twil make the tongue-ti'd Lawyer lisp
and nought but (hie vp) say,
Twill make the Steward droope & stoop,
his Bils he then will scorne,
And at each post cast his reckning vp,
this little Barly-Corne.
Twill make a man grow iealous soone,
whose pretty Wife goes trim,
And raile at the deceiuing Moone,
for making hornes at him:
Twill make the Maidens trimly dance,
and take it in no scorne,
And helpe them to a friend by chance;
this little Barly-Corne.
It is the neatest Seruingman,
to entertaine a friend,
It will doe more than money can,
all iarring suits to end:
There's life in it, and it is here,
'tis here within this cup,
Then take your liquor doe not spare,
but cleare carouse it vp.
The second part of the little Barly-Corne, That cheareth the heart both euening and morne.
To the same Tune.
IF sicknesse come, this Physick take,
it from your heart will set it,
If feare incroach, take more of it,
your heart will soone forget it,
Apollo and the Muses nine,
doe take it in no scorne,
There's no such stuffe to passe the time
as the little Barly-Corne.
Twill make a wéeping Widdow laugh,
and soone incline to pleasure:
Twill make an old man leaue his staffe
and dance a youthfull measure;
And though your clothes be nere so bad,
all ragged, rent, and torne,
Against the cold you may be clad,
with the little Barly-Corne.
Twill make a Coward not to shrinke,
but be as stout as may be;
Twill make a man that he shall thinke,
that Ione's as good as my Lady:
It will inrich the palest face,
and with Rubies it adorne,
Yet you shall thinke it no disgrace,
this little Barly-Corne.
Twill make your Gossips merry,
when they their liquour see,
Hey we shall nere be weary,
swéet Gossip here's to thee;
Twill make the Country Yeoman,
the Courtier for to scorne,
And talke of Law-suits ore a Can,
with this little Barly-Corne.
It makes a man that write cannot,
to make you large Indentures,
When as he réeleth home at night,
vpon the Watch he ventures,
He cares not for the Candlelight,
that shineth in the horne,
Yet he will stumble the way aright,
this little Barly-Corne.
Twill make a Mizer prodigall,
and shew himselfe kind hearted,
Twill make him neuer grieue at all,
that from his Coyne hath parted,
Twill make the Shepheard to mistake
his Shéepe before a storme:
Twill make the Poet to excell,
this little Barly-Corne.
It will make young Lads to call
most fréely for their liquor,
Twill make a young Lasse take a fall,
and rise againe the quicker:
Twill make a man that he
shall sléepe all night profoundly,
And make a man what ere he be,
goe about his businesse roundly.
Thus the Barly-Corne hath power,
euen for to change our nature,
And make a Shrew within an houre,
proue a kind-hearted creature:
And therefore here I say againe,
let no man tak't in scorne,
That I the vertues doe proclaime,
of the little Barly-Corne.
Printed at London for E. B.