Rocking of the cradle, or, Hushy-ba baby/The virgins frightened

The Wanton VIRGINS Frightened.

ALL you that delight in a jocular song,
⁠come listen unto me a while, Sir, Sir
I will engage you shall not tarry long,
⁠before it will make you to smile, Sir.

Near to the town there liv'd an old man,
⁠had three pretty maids to his daughters,
Of whom I shall tell such a story anon,
⁠will tickle your fancy with laughter.

The old man he had in his garden a pond,
⁠'twas very fine summer weather,
The daughters one night, they were all very fond,
⁠to go and bathe in it together.

Which they all agreed, but happ’ned to be,
⁠espy'd by a youth in the house, Sir,
Who got in the garden, and climb’d up a tree,
⁠and there lay as snug as a mouse, Sir.

The branch where he sat hung over the pond,
⁠and each puff of wind made it totter;
Pleased with the thoughts, he should sit so abscond,
⁠and see them go into the water.

when the old man was safe in his bed,
⁠the daughters to the pond repair'd, Sir;
One to the other two, laughing, she said,
⁠as high as our bubbies we'll venture.

Upon the tender green grass they sat down,
⁠and they all were of delicate feature;
⟨each⟩ pull'd off her petticoats, smock and gown,
⁠no sight could ever be sweeter.

⟨Into⟩ the pond then they a dabbling went,
⁠so clean that they needed no washing;
⟨But⟩ they were all so unluckily bent
⁠like boys they began to be bathing.

⟨If⟩ any should chance to see us says one,
⁠they'd think we were goddess's of evils,
and from the sight of us would quickly run,
⁠to avoid so many white devils.

This put the youth into such merry pin,
⁠he let go his hold through laughter;
and as it fell out, he fell tumbling in,
⁠and fear'd them all out of the water.

The old man by this time a noise had heard,
⁠and rose out of his bed in a fright, Sir,
and comes to the door with an old rusty sword,
⁠there stood in a posture to fight, Sir.

The daughters they all ran nimbly in,
⁠and over their dad they did founder;
Who cry'd out aloud, Mercy good gentlemen,
⁠and thought they were thieves come to ⟨plunder.⟩

The noise by this time the neighbourhood hears,
⁠who came with long clubs to assist him;
He said, Three bloody rogues ran up my stairs,
⁠I dare by no means to resist them.

For they all three were well clothed in buff,
⁠ he saw as they shov'd in their shoulders,
And black bandiliers hung before like a ruff,
⁠which made me believe they were soldiers.

The virgins their clothes in the garden had left,
⁠and keys of their trunks in their pockets;
To roll them in sheets, were fain to make shift,
⁠their chests they could not.get unlockst.

At last ventur'd up these valiant young men,
⁠tho' armed with courage undaunted;
But took them for spirits, and ran back again,
⁠and swore that the house it was haunted.

As they retreated, the young man they met,
⁠come shivering in at the door, Sir,
Who look'd like a rat, his clothes dripping wet,
⁠no rogue that was pump'd could look worse, Sir.

They all were amaz'd to see him come in,
⁠and asked him what was the matter?
He told them the story and where he had been,
⁠which made them to burst into laughter.

(illegible text)th the old man, O I was in a huff,
⟨And⟩ reckon'd to cut them assunder,
(illegible text)oking that they had been three soldiers in buff,
⟨And⟩ come for to rifle and plunder.

(illegible text) they're my three daughters whom I do adore,
(illegible text) frighted from private diversion;
⟨Therefore⟩ I put up my old rusty sword,
⟨For⟩ why should I be in a passion.

⟨The⟩ young maids that these lines revise,
⟨That⟩ go out and wash in the night;
⟨Beware⟩ of the boys that are hid in the trees,
⟨Lest⟩ that they surprise you with fright.