Page:Merry piper, or, The popish fryar & boy.pdf/12

 'From head to foot in every part
 * 'he had not one free place.

'Where haft thou been the woman cry'd,
 * 'thou art in inch a trim?

'With Jack the devil, he reply'd,
 * 'but none can conquer him.

'She at her husband then did scold,
 * 'and cry'd, your cursed son

'Deals with the devil, for behold
 * 'what the young elf has done.

'The 'Squire cry'd, what has he done,
 * 'speak now before I go;

'Can I believe that Jack my son,
 * 'could flea the fryar so.

'The fryar cry'd, he did by chance,
 * 'a cunning plot contrive;

'Amongst the thorns he made me dance,
 * 'till I was flean alive

'A pipe he has that sounds so sweet,
 * 'that when the same he blew,

'I could not stand still on my feet,
 * 'but caper'd through and through.

'The 'Squire cry'd, if thou had'st died,
 * 'in such a dancing mood,

'Then had it been a cruel sin,
 * 'the boy was something rude.

'Jack bringing home the cows at night,
 * 'his father straight did call,

'for him to go with all his might,
 * 'before him in the hall.

'What is the cause of this complaint?
 * 'tell me and do not lie;

'Here you have almost kill'd a saint;
 * 'Jack made him this reply.'

A fit of mirth I play'd indeed,
 * and he was pleas'd to dance;

He might have taken better heed,
 * and not in briars prance.