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Still as they caper'd to and fro,
and from the ground did rise
One gave the fryar such a blow,
which beat out both his eyes.
The writer from his desk did jump,
into the thickest throng,
And fell upon the step-dame's rump
and threw her all along.
Now by the fury of his fall,
her breech did roar like thunder
As if she meant to slay them all,
and rend the roof asunder.
Some danc'd with forms and some with stools,
the table they jump'd over;
Jack laugh'd to see a throng of fools
with all their garments tore.
Some girls that were great with child,
who had the laws transgress'd,
Came thither to be reconcil'd
and danc'd among the rest.
Their maiden-heads were crack'd before,
by youthful venial sins,
But now their grief is somewhat more,
for here they broke their shins,
The proctor, priest, and all the men
besought the little boy,
That he would leave off piping then
lest he should them destroy.
The little boy then reply'd,
to this I will agree;
My pipe shall soon be laid aside,
so I may but go free.
The proctor and prodigious throng
this voice they did forth send.
E'er he should suffer any wrong,
his cause they would defend.
Jack put his pipe under his belt,
so all the tribe stood still;
