Page:Wandering young gentlewoman, or, The cat-skins' garland (3).pdf/2

Cat-Skins’ Garland.

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PART I.

YE Fathers and Mothers, and Children also
Come draw near unto me and soon you shall ⟨know⟩
The sense of my ditty, for I dare to say,
The like han’t been printed this many a day.

The subject which to you I am to relate,
It is of a ’Squire’s son of a vast estate,
And the first dear infant his wife to him bare
It was a young Daughter of beauty most rare.

He said to his wife, had this child been a ⟨boy⟩
’Twould have pleased me better, & encreas’d ⟨my joy⟩
If the next be of the same sort, I declare,
Of what I’m possess’d, she shall have no ⟨share.⟩

In twelve months thereafter, this woman ⟨we hear⟩
Had another Daughter of beauty most clear
And when that her husband knew ’twas a ⟨female,⟩
Into a strong bitter passion he fell.

Saying, since this is of the same sort as the ⟨first⟩
In my habitation she shall not be nurst,
Pray let it be sent into the country;
For where I am, truly, this child shall not be.

With tears his dear wife, to him thus did ⟨say,⟩
Husband, be contented. I’ll send her away;
Then unto the country with speed did it send
For to be brought up with one who was a ⟨friend.⟩

Although that her Father hated her so,
She good education on her did bestow;
And with a golden locket and robes of the ⟨best⟩
This slighted young damsel was commonly ⟨drest.⟩

And when into stature this damsel was ⟨grown⟩
And found by her Father she had no love ⟨shewn⟩
She cry’d, before I lie under his frown,
I’m fully resolv’d to range the world round.