T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Bonny Lass: Or, the Buttoned Smock
Anonymous(From Pills to Purge Melancholy, c. 1720) |
SIT you merry Gallants, | |
| For I can tell you News, | |
| Of a Fashion called the Buttoned Smock, | |
| The which our Wenches use: | |
| Because that in the City, | 5 |
| In troth it is great pity; | |
| Our Gallants hold it much in scorn, | |
| They should put down the City: | |
| But is not this a bouncing Wench, | |
| And is not this a Bonny; | 10 |
| In troth she wears a Holland Smock, | |
| If that she weareth any. | |
| A bonny Lass in a Country Town, | |
| Unto her Commendation; | |
| She scorns a Holland Smock | 15 |
| Made after the old Fashion: | |
| But she will have it Holland fine, | |
| As fine as may be wore; | |
| Hemmed and stitched with Naples Silk, | |
| And buttoned down before: But is not, etc. | 20 |
| Our Gallants of the City, | |
| New Fashions do devise; | |
| And wear such new found fangle things, | |
| Which country Folk despise; | |
| As for the Buttoned Smock, | 25 |
| None can hold it in scorn; | |
| Nor none can think the Fashion ill, | |
| It is so closely worn: | |
| Although it may be felt, | |
| It’s seldom to be seen; | 30 |
| It passeth all the Fashions yet, | |
| That heretofore hath been. But is not, etc. | |
| Our Wenches of the City, | |
| That gains the Silver rare; | |
| Sometimes they wear a Canvas Smock, | 35 |
| That’s torn or worn Thread-bare: | |
| Perhaps a Smock of Lockrum, | |
| That dirty, foul, or black: | |
| Or else a Smock of Canvas coarse, | |
| As hard as any Sack. But is not, etc. | 40 |
| But she that wears the Holland Smock, | |
| I commend her still that did it; | |
| To wear her under Parts so fine, | |
| The more ’tis for her Credit: | |
| For some will have the out-side fine, | 45 |
| To make the braver show; | |
| But she will have her Holland Smock | |
| That’s Buttoned down below. But is not, etc. | |
| But if that I should take in hand, | |
| Her Person to commend; | 50 |
| I should vouchsafe a long Discourse, | |
| The which I could not end: | |
| For her Virtues they are many, | |
| Her person likewise such; | |
| But only in particular, | 55 |
| Some part of them I’ll touch. But is not, etc. | |
| Those Fools that still are doing, | |
| With none but costly Dames; | |
| With tediousness of wooing, | |
| Makes cold their hottest flames: | 60 |
| Give me the Country Lass, | |
| That trips it o’er the Field; | |
| And ope’s her Forest at the first, | |
| And is not Coy to yield. But is not, etc. | |
| Who when she dons her Vesture, | 65 |
| She makes the Spring her Glass; | |
| And with her Comely gesture, | |
| Doth all the Meadows pass: | |
| Who knows no other cunning, | |
| But when she feels it come; | 70 |
| To gripe your Back, if you be slack, | |
| And thrust your Weapon home. But is not, etc. | |
| ’Tis not their boasting humour, | |
| Their painted looks nor state; | |
| Nor smells of the Perfumer, | 75 |
| The Creature doth create: | |
| Shall make me unto these, | |
| Such slavish service owe; | |
| Give me the Wench that freely takes, | |
| And freely doth bestow. But is not, etc. | 80 |
| Who far from all beguiling, | |
| Doth not her Beauty Mask; | |
| But all the while lie smiling, | |
| While you are at your task: | |
| Who in the midst of Pleasure, | 85 |
| Will beyond active strain; | |
| And for your Pranks, will con you thanks, | |
| And curtsey for your pain. But is not, etc. | |