Page:Buxom dame of Reading, or, The cuckold's cap (3).pdf/2

 [ 2 ] ++++++++++ ++++++++++++ THE BUXOM DAME OF READING. NEAR Reading there lived a buxom dame, The wife of a cobler, Joan was her name, She had a fine hen of a delicate ſize, The like you never beheld with your eyes - She had a red head, grey wings, yellow legs, Each Summer ſhe laid a buſhel of eggs; And Joan laſt Summer would ſet her indeed, For the was reſolv'd to have more of her breed. And as ſhe was ſetting her upon a day, A ſhepherd cane to her, and thus he did ſay: Oh! what are you doing ! the anſwer'd him then, I'm going to ſet a miraculous hen. Whythen ſays the ſhepherd to keep the eggs warm, And that they may proſper and come to no harm; You muſt ſet the eggs in a large cuckold's cap, And then all the chickens will come to good hap. 'I have ne'er a cuckold's cap, ſhepherd, ſays ſhe, But nevertheleſs I will be ruled by thee, For this very moment I'll trudge up and down, And borrow one, if there be one in the town. She went to her neighbour, and thus ſhe did ſay, Come lend me thy cuckold's cap, neighbour, I pray, I am going to ſet a miraculous hen, And when I've done with it, I'll bring it again. The neighbour's wife anſwer'd, & thus reply'd, Had I ſuch a thing you ſhould not be deny'd; Years fourteen or fifteen I have been a wife, And n'y huſband had ac'er ſuch a thing in his life.