Page:Comical history of the collier's wedding.pdf/21

 21 And all's ccncluded with a ſhout.

Old Beſſy next was taken in,

She curl'd her noſe, and cock'd her chin,

Then held her coats on either ſide,

And kneeld and cry'd, up with the bride;

Come, piper, ſays the good old woman,

Play me, the joyful days are coming,

I'll dance for joy, upon my life,

For now my daughter's made a wife.

The old wife did what limbs could do,

Well danc'd old Beſſy, cry'd the crew,

The goody laugh'd, and ſhew'd her teeth,

And ſaid, ſirs. I have no breath,

I once was thought right good at this,

So kneeld, and mumbl'd up his kiſs.

And thus the day in pleaſure flies,

Till ſhining Phoebus quit the ſkies,

The gladſome day doth now approach,

The barrels found no more at broach,

There's but a pipe for ev'ry one,

The dear tobacco's almoſt gone,

The candles in their ſockets wink,

Now ſweat, now drop, then die and ſtink;

Intoxicating fumes ariſe,

They reel and rub their drowſy eyes,

Dead drunk, ſome tumble on the floor,

And ſwim in what they drank before,

Hik-up, cries one, reach me your hand,

The houſe turns round I cannot ſtand;

So now the drunken ſenſeleſs crew,

Break pipes, ſpill drink, piſs, ſhite and ſpew,

The ſleepy hens now mount their bulk,