Advice to Batchelors, OR, The Married Mans Lamentation.
Take heed you that unmarried are,
how you do make your choice;
But if a good Wife you do find,
'twill make your heart rejoyce,
Tune of, Hey Boys up go we; Busie Fame; Martellus; or, Jenny Gin.
YOu Batchelors that single are,
may lead a happy life;
For married men are full of care,
and Women oft breed strife:
As by my late unhappy match,
you here may plainly see;
A loving Man and froward Wife
will never well agree.
Beautys a thing that wins mens hearts
and reason so bewitches;
That Men oft let the weaker sort,
like fools, to wear the Breeches:
And I my self too late lament
my Apish foolery;
For it I speak an hasty word,
then, hey Boys, slap goes she.
I in the morning up must get,
or else there is no quiet;
And get her some delicious bit,
for she doth love good Dyet:
I ask her why she'I be profuse?
she crys, what's that to me?
And if another word I use,
then hey Boys, slap goes she.
She'l make me rise out of my Bid
to let another in;
And if I ask the reason why,
a Quarrel doth begin;
She'l haul me up and down the house,
the like you ne'r bid see,
I must be silent as a Mouse,
or, hey Boys slap goes she,
If I but for my breakfast ask,
then doth she laugh and jeer;
Perhaps give me a hard dry crust,
and strong four-shilling Beer;
She tells me that is good enough
for such a Rogue as me;
And if I do but seem to pout,
then, hey Boys, slap goes she.
She oftentimes doth tell me plain,
that I do wear the Horns;
Sure e'ry Man doth this disdain,
and wisemen meerly scorns:
But since 'tis my unhappy fate,
how can it helped be?
But it I chance thereof to prate,
then, hey Boys, slap goes she.
The Pots and Dishes I must wash,
and scowre the Irons too;
Nay, and must wash the childrens clouts
believe me this is true:
But those that did the Children get,
should slave as well [...]
And if I chance to ver or fret,
then, hey Boys, slap goes she.
This is a strange and dismal life,
that I poor Man do lead;
And when I do consider well,
it makes my heart to bleed:
But if it goes against the grain,
I must contented be;
If in the least I do complain,
then, hey Boys, slap goes she.
Oh that I were a single Man,
as I was heretofore;
Or if I were a Widdower,
I ne'r would Marry more:
For I do to my sorrow know,
and to my grief I see,
When she says I, and I say no,
then hey Boys slap goes she.
A thousand times I wish in vain,
I ne'r had been begot;
Then had I been a happy Man,
now Cuckold, Fool, and Sot:
But once again you Batchelors,
take warning now by me:
For 'tis a curse to be a Slave,
and yet a Curkold be.
FINIS.
Printed for J. Deacon. at the Angel