Hodge of the mill, or, An old woman clothed in grey/Sorrow and Care

SORROW and CARE.

TO friend, and to foe,
and to all that I know,
That to marriage state do prepare ;
Remember your days,
in their several ways,
Are troubled with sorrow and care.

For he that doth look,
In the marry'd man’s book,
And reads but the items all over
Shall find them to come,
At length to a sum,
Shall empty purse, pocket, and coffer.

In the pastimes of love,
When their labours do prove,
And the kitchen beginneth to kick ;
For this and for that
And I know not for what,
The woman must have, or be sick,

There's items set down
For a loose-body gown,
in her longing you must not deceive her :
For a bodkin, a ring,
And the other fine thing,
For a cornet and lace to a beaver.

Deliver’d and well,
Who is it can tell?
But while the child’s at the nipple,
There’s item for wine,
’Mongst gossips so fine,
And sugar to sweeten the tipple.

I here’s item, I hope
For starch and for soap,
There's item for fire and for candle ;
For better, for worse,
There’s item for nurse,
by to dress and to dandle.

When swadled in lap,
There’s item for pap,
And item for pot, pan, and ladle ;
A coral with bells
Which custom compels,
And item a crown for a cradle.
With twenty odd knacks,
Which the little one lacks ;
And thus doth the pleasure betray thee :
Yet thus is the sport,
In country and court,
Then let not the charges dismay thee.