Gosport tragedy, or, The perjured ship carpenter/Get Married As Soon As You Can

Get Married as soon as You can.

YOU virgins attend, and believe me your friend
⁠and with patience give ear to my plan,
Let it never be ſaid, you will die an old maid,
⁠but get married as ſoon as you can.

Wherever you find that your heart does incling
⁠be quick at the ſight of a man;
Let it never be ſaid, that you'll die an old maid,
⁠but get married as ſoon as you can.

For age will come no doubt, & beauty will wear out
⁠and life of itſelf's but a ſpan,
So while ye're in your prime, to love you muſt incline
⁠and get married as ſoon as you can.

Firſt chuſe out a youth, of honour and truth,
⁠and never take a fool by the hand;
With a man that has ſenſe a new life you'll commend
⁠and get married as ſoon as you can.

And you for your part to cheer your huſband's heart
⁠muſt act a prudent part to a man;
When a wife begins to ſcold, her tongue ſhe'll never hold
⁠which is ſurely little pleaſure to a man.

A rake when he's wed when he takes't in his head!
⁠to a houſe of bad ſame he will gang.
If's wife's chaſtezt home, he'll quickly ceaſe to roam
⁠and all ſuch wicked practice refrain.

I've heard of ſome miſhaps befalling wicked chaps
⁠of wives that have huſbands of their own;
Their names muſt conceal, the truth I dare not tell
⁠yet I ſwear that they dwell in this town.

Printed by J. and M. Robertfon, Saltmarket, 1801.