Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.

A Ballad of All the Trades

Anonymous

(From Pills to Purge Melancholy, c. 1707) OH the Miller, the dusty, musty Miller,
The Miller, that beareth on his Back;
He never goes to Measure Meal,
But his Maid, but his Maid, but his Maid holds ope the sack.
O the Baker, the bonny, bonny Baker,	5
The Baker that is so full of Sin;
He never heats his Oven hot,
But he thrusts, but he thrusts, but he thrusts his Maiden in.
O the Brewer, the lusty, lusty Brewer,
The Brewer that Brews Ale and Beer;	10
He never heats his Liquor hot,
But he takes, but he takes, but he takes his Maid by the Geer.
O the Butcher, the bloody, bloody Butcher,
The Butcher that sells both Beef and Bone;
He never grinds his Slaught’ring Knife,	15
But his Maid, but his Maid, but his Maid must turn his Stone.
O the Weaver, the wicked, wicked Weaver,
That followeth a weary Trade;
He never shoots his Shuttle right,
But he shoots, but he shoots, but he shoots first at his Maid.	20
O the Barber, the neat and nimble Barber,
Whose Trade is ne’er the worse;
He never goes to Wash and Shave,
But he trims, but he trims, but he trims his Maiden first.
O the Taylor, the fine and frisking Taylor,	25
The Taylor that gives so good regard;
He never goes to measure Lace,
But his Maid, but his Maid, but his Maid holds out his Yard.
O the Blacksmith, the lusty, lusty Blacksmith,
The best of all good Fellows;	30
He never heats his Iron hot,
But his Maid, but his Maid, but his Maid must blow the Bellows.
O the Tanner, the Merry, Merry Tanner,
The Tanner that draws good Hides into Leather;
He never strips himself to work,	35
But his Maid, but his Maid, but his Maid and he’s together.
O the Tinker, the sturdy, sturdy Tinker,
The Tinker that deals all in Mettle;
He never clencheth home a Nail,
But his Trull, but his Trull, but his Trull holds up the Kettle.	40