Page:Comical history of the collier's wedding.pdf/12

 12 It only raiſes fleſh and blood,

Creates deſire in ev'ry vein,

And makes things riſe and fall again,

Long-wiſh'd for now is come at laſt,

The day appears the bride is dreſd,

The muſic makes the village ring,

The children ſhout the old wives ſing,

Tom comes in triumph o'er the plain,

With collier lads, a jolly train;

They ſmoke along the duſty way,

Whips cracks for joy, the horſes play,

The bridegroom rides in ſtate before,

Midſt clouds of duſt the bagpipes roar,

The echo's borne on wings of air,

Make all the Benwell folk prepare,

Like ſtreamers in the painted ſky,

At every breaſt the favoure fly,

The blithſome, buckſome, country maids,

With knots of ribbons at their head,

And pirners flutt'ring in the wind,

That fan before, and toſs behind,

Came there from each adjacent place,

Strength in their limbs, health in their face

To do their honours to the bride,

and eat and drink, and dance beſide.

Now all prepared and ready ſtand,

With fans and poſies in their hand.

But hark ! a diſtant noiſe they hear,

And ſome fore-riders do appear,

Proclaim with an exalted voice,

The bridegoom near they all rejoice,

Loud ſhouts and acclamations riſe,