Page:Merry may the maid be.pdf/4

 4 It happened once on a Saturday's night,

When late in the ale-house I tarried:

And as coming home I heard a great noise,

I stood to listen what it was,

A woman cries out, is there no laws:

O that I cannot be unmarried.

You rogue, I brought you a portion you know,

and for this to be served by a villian,

You work all the week, and on Saturday's night,

brings me nothing home but a shilling.

A shilling I have three children to feed,

which is not enough to find them in bread,

She up with the piss-pot and threw't at his head,

saying, O that I ne'er had been married.

She sat herself down for to rest her a while,

and thus she begun for to prattle,

A lecture she gave him again I declare,

which made his poor head for to rattle.

Begone to your whores, I solemnly swear,

if you stay any longer; I'll cut off your ears,

And I'll certainly spoil all the rest of your wares,

saying, O that I ne'er had been married.

You impudent jade to rail against whores,

pray where is your gallant the taylor,