Page:Pride and vanity of young women.pdf/2

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The Pride and Vanity of Young Women.

Ome all you young men I pray you attend,

Unto the few verses which here I have penn’d,

Concerning young women wherever they go,

With their new fashion dresses they make a fine show.

Therefore I’ll begin at the crown of their head,

And speak of the habits which they wear indeed,

The better sort goes with their necks almost bare,

Yet they are right costly in dressing their hair.

They plate up their hair and gives it a set,

With near by a hand-breadth of miniken net,

Which is fit for nothing but fancy to please,

Or to set in a window for catching of flies.

They must have fine ribbons their heads for to tye,

With top-knots and lug-knots to glitter and fly,

With rings and side ruffles so wondrous queer,

They cock up their heads like a high bridled mare.

They must have their stays to lace them about,

Tho’ they were but rushes well shew’d in a clout,

And some stuft with fegs, a fluff that’s right frail,

And some sews hemp in an old dyed sark tail.

And them that has money they have a good hap,

For they’ll have a bonnet or else a black cap,

They look as high minded with pride and disdain,

As a toad when he’s sitting below a big stane.

With their famous cloke stocking and fine leather shoon,

And white metal buckles that glances therein,

With pretty silk garters tyed below their knee.

Their coats they will kilt that the lads may them see.

And if a hail coat they chance for to have,

They’ll let it hing down to cover the lave,

And when a new gown they chance for to get,

It covers, the fault of the old ragget set.