T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Winchester Wedding
AnonymousOr, Ralph of Redding, and Black Bess of the Green (From Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1719) |
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. | |