The Couragious Plow-man, or, The Citizens Misfortune.
Being an incouragement to all Plow-men, to exercise themselves in their Youth with a Cudgel, that they may the better know how to handle a sharper weapon, if need require.
I shall not stand the Subject to repeat,
Because the Verses do it so compleat,
To hear how meekly the Citizens came off,
I think it cannot chuse but make you laugh;
The Parties here I must forbear to name,
For fear the Author chance to bear the blame.
To the Tune of,
Dick and
Nan, Or,
The Tyrant.
THere was a brave Citizen
walkt forth of late,
From
London toth' Country
to chuse him a mate;
His Eloquent Complements
and his success
To you in these Verses
I'll plainly express.
He then was attired
handsom and neat,
In a Sute and a Cloak
and a Beaver compleat;
In his pockets he had
twenty pieees of Gold,
Which he had provided
to make himself bold.
He then took his journey
to
Nottingham Town,
And there he alighted
and brank at the
Crown;
Whereas a young Damosel
appeared in his sight,
Which caused the Young-man
to tarry all night.
Citizen.
With Eloquent spéeches
he thus did begin;
Fair Lady could I but
your favour now win:
If you grant me your love
that's the thing I des;ire,
By reason my heart with love
is set on fire.
Maid.
'Tis strange quoth the Maiden
love should be so hot;
Such love I'm perswaded
will soon be forgot;
But I wish that the heat thereof
might be asswag'd,
For I to another am
deeply in
[...]ag'd.
Citizen.
There's no man on earth that
shall sever us twain;
If thou wilt but yield for
to love me again.
And I for thy sake now
will venture my life
My reason I purpose
to make thee my wife.
Plow-man.
Then came in a Plow-man
and heard him say so:
'Tis well spoken (quoth he)
but I know what I know;
To tell you the truth Sir,
the Girl is mine,
And if thou canst win her
then she shall be thine.
Let us take two weapons
and go into the field,
And never give out until.
one of us yield;
It shall not be spoken
upon an Ale-bench,
That a Plow-man was fearful
to fight for a Wench.
Citizen.
Art thou so audacious
to dare me to fight?
I'll make thee an example
before it be night:
Thou art but a Bumpkin
bred at the Plow-tail,
And ne'r used no weapon
but only thy Flail.
Therefore be thou trudging
and stand not to prate,
Lest I with this Flaggon,
knock thee on the pate;
Except thou art willing
to stand to thy words,
Then our controversie
we'll end with our Swords.
All things then provided
this Combate began,
They both try'd their valours
which was the best man;
They fought half an hour
as people do say,
Yet none knew which would
be beaten that day.
The Plow-man most bravely
himself did behave,
By tracing the ground, that
himself he did save;
At last he with fury
laid on such a stroke,
With the strength of his arm,
that his weapon it broke.
He then clos'd within him
and gave him the fall;
Oh now quoth the Plow-man,
you shall pay for all:
I'll make you acknowledge
before you depart,
That a Plow-man will fight
ere he'll lose his Sweet-heart.
O hold thy hand Plow-man,
pe
[...]cavi I cry,
O let me not here in
a strange Country die;
Take my gold, cloak, and rapier
and all that I have,
The Damosel's thy own
if my life thou wilt save.
The Plow-man obtained
the conquest that day,
And twenty Gold pieces
he carried away:
He furnisht his pockets,
his back and his side,
and gained him a Damosel
to make him a Bride.
The Cockney with sorrow
lamented his loss,
And home he returned
but by wéeping Cross:
His mother these Verses
at leisure may read,
And give him good counsel
to take beter heed.
Concluding my Ditty
I thus make an end,
I wish some honest Plow-man
would now stand my friend,
And give me some liquor
for I am very dry,
If I tell you the truth
then I tell no lie.
Whoop Cockney, where's your twenty Pound?
Finis.
London, Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clark