THE QUAKERS ANSWER, To the Quakers Wedding, November, 8. 1671.
O Times! O Manners! Both indeed are Strange:
But wither did the Ry'mers ManÂners range?
Wee, I confess, took one anothers Word,
But when will be such Publique Rites afford?
In this, I doubt, he deem'd our Deeds amiss,
'Cause, with the Publick he still private is.
'Twas a good Meeting, I presume, for him,
To make his Brains in Sack and Claret swim:
Well, I perceive since it did so Advance thee,
The Quakers Wine can raise the Poets Fancie.
We had good store of Offalls for the Poor·
And what are Poets? People think no more.
Know we have Linnen too; And sure a Shirt,
If thou a Poet be? wou'd do no hurt.
If we cou'd see Thee to the Justice packt,
Wee'd judge there were great Justice in the act.
Thou talk'st of Banes, and Whipping-Posts severe;
Wee shou'd not Cry, if we cou'd find Thee there:
But Laugh to hear thee for thy self there Plead,
And see the Whipper too, Hand over Head.
Thou talk'st of Couples such as ne're were known;
Westminster-Weddings! Didst thou mean thine own?
Fond Libertine, in thine own wrong and room!
VVhere thou wer't neither Parson, nor yet Groom.
Thou Babblest like a Brute, what thou hast se'd,
As one acquainted with a Brothel-Bed.
Thou maist indeed abate thy worldly Cares:
VVho having many Children, need'st no Heirs.
For, if thou canst not leave 'um an Estate
They'r almost bad as Illegitimate.
VVee should have had e'ne guests enough, if wee
Nor Jew nor Gentile had, but only Thee.
And out of doubt, thou didst thy self Invite,
For who of Thee wou'd hope of Proselyte!
And for Thy sake, for ought that I can tell,
That Thunder, Lightning, and that Tempest fell.
Too Greedy too of what they might have had,
'Twas such as Thee that the Confusion made.
It was thy Self, if there were any Cheat?
For We got Nothing, but Thou gott'st our Meat.
Thou seest I am no Quaker of that Sort,
That for their Lust, their Loves in Corners Court.
And to their Faith no longer will be Debtor,
Than till they see another they like Better.
I take her to my Wife till my Decease
And call the World to be my VVitnesses.
LONDON, Printed for Dorman Newman at the Kings-Armes in the Poultry, 1671.