AT Winchester was a Wedding, | |
| The like was never seen, | |
| Twixt lusty Ralph of Redding, | |
| And bonny black Bess of the Green: | |
| The Fiddlers were Crowding before, | 5 |
| Each Lass was as fine as a Queen; | |
| There was a Hundred and more, | |
| For all the Country came in: | |
| Brisk Robin led Rose so fair, | |
| She looked like a Lilly o’ the Vale; | 10 |
| And Ruddy Faced Harry led Mary, | |
| And Roger led bouncing Nell. | |
| |
| With Tommy came smiling Katy, | |
| He helped her over the Stile; | |
| And swore there was none so pretty, | 15 |
| In forty, and forty long Mile: | |
| Kit gave a Green-Gown to Betty, | |
| And lent her his Hand to rise; | |
| But Jenny was jeered by Watty, | |
| For looking blue under the Eyes: | 20 |
| Thus merrily Chatting all, | |
| They passed to the Bride-house along; | |
| With Johnny and pretty faced Nanny, | |
| The fairest of all the throng. | |
| |
| The Bride came out to meet ’em, | 25 |
| Afraid the Dinner was spoiled; | |
| And ushered ’em in to treat ’em, | |
| With Baked, and Roasted, and Boiled: | |
| The Lads were so frolic and jolly, | |
| For each had his Love by his side; | 30 |
| But Willy was Melancholy, | |
| For he had a Mind to the Bride: | |
| Then Philip begins her Health, | |
| And turns a Beer Glass on his Thumb; | |
| But Jenkin was reckoned for Drinking, | 35 |
| The best in Christendom. | |
| |
| And now they had Din’d, advancing | |
| Into the midst of the Hall; | |
| The Fiddlers struck up for Dancing, | |
| And Jeremy led up the Brawl: | 40 |
| But Margery kept a quarter, | |
| A Lass that was proud of her Pelf, | |
| Cause Arthur had stolen her Garter, | |
| And swore he would tie it himself: | |
| She struggled, and blushed, and frowned, | 45 |
| And ready with Anger to cry; | |
| ’Cause Arthur with tying her Garter, | |
| Had slipped his Hand too high. | |
| |
| And now for throwing the Stocking, | |
| The Bride away was led; | 50 |
| The Bridegroom got Drunk and was knocking, | |
| For Candles to light ’em to Bed: | |
| But Robin that found him Silly, | |
| Most friendly took him aside; | |
| The while that his Wife with Willy, | 55 |
| Was playing at Hoopers-hide; | |
| And now the warm Game begins, | |
| The Critical Minute was come; | |
| And chatting, and Billing, and Kissing, | |
| Went Merrily round the Room. | 60 |
| |
| Pert Stephen was kind to Betty, | |
| And blithe as a Bird in the Spring; | |
| And Tommy was so to Katy, | |
| And Wedded her with a Rush Ring: | |
| Sukey that Danc’d with the Cushion, | 65 |
| An Hour from the Room had been gone; | |
| And Barnaby knew by her Blushing, | |
| That some other Dance had been done: | |
| And thus of Fifty fair Maids, | |
| That came to the Wedding with Men; | 70 |
| Scarce Five of the Fifty was left ye, | |
| That so did return again. | |
| |
| Brisk Dolly and pretty-faced Kate | |
| This merriment they did adore; | |
| Each Lass had been pleased with her Mate, | 75 |
| As they never had been before; | |
| Nay, Susan was pleased at heart, | |
| She said it, and said it again, | |
| The young Men have played their part, | |
| And no one has cause to complain. | 80 |
| The day was in merriment spent, | |
| The Pipes and the Fiddlers they play, | |
| Before all the throng as they went; | |
| Thus they made an end of the day. | |
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