Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Charms of melody, or, Siren medley

I
THE CHARMS OF MELODY.
107
The Seven Ages of Womaa.
" AIR — All amcng the Leaiiesfo green, 0,'
SINCE we find upon life's ilage,
Women now ot cv'ry age,
Who like men their parts muft dp,
Buiy aftrefles all through I
And who frequently difplay
Seven ages well as ihey,
Which feven ages we know— >
With your leave,
Let us give,
An abftradl
Of each aft,
So flrange", fo ftrange,
Ev'ry, ev'ry change,
You'll laugh at each comical icene, O.
Firft a puppet mifs appears,
Ever ready with her tears ;
While the goflips pouring in,
Mark the dimple and the chin,
rlow the pretty features ftrike.
Father, mother, they're fo like,
Liker never yet has been, O-
"J'hjs one ihews
Mother's nofe,
That one fpies
Mother's eyes.
All iifs, all kifs
Pretty;, pretty mifs,
"So finifh this farcical fcene, O.
Now a few years after this.
In a boarding-fchool is mifs,
Quite accomplifh'd, how fhe grow*.
Holds her head up, turns out toes ;
Able too in French to chat,
Plays and dances, and all that,
A little Cyprian queen, O !
Courtfey makes
For fome cakes.
Gives them all
To her doll ;
Oh how, oh' how
Simple, fimple now,
They call this an innocent Icene, O.
Mifs now fees a handfome lafs
In her tell-tale looking-glafs.
And begins a fwain to choofe,
Then to read fine billet-doux ;
Novels bid her always hope.
Live on love, snd then elope.
So its hey for Gretna-Green, O !
OfF they fkip.
Crack goes whip,
Dad alarm'd,
Mifs quite charm'd !
Oh hov/, oh how
Bufy, bufy now, .
Sure the third is a buftling fcene, O.
Tiladam now is fix'd for life,
And becomes a modern wife ;
Hoping fins may be forgiv'n,
Fain would fend her fpoufe to hesv'n ;
He, poor man, nov,' goes, on thorns.
Thumps his head to keep down horns.
And coughs loud to choak chagrin, O!
J'albng out.
What a rout !
Killing then,
Friends again I
Oh how, oh how
Fickle, fickle now,
&\xtt th- fourth is a pantomime fcene, O.
Now -what hopes and fears abound,
All is filence moil profound ;
News is brought — then hence defpair !
We have' got a fon and heir !
Quite elate the hulband's grown,
Being fure he's all his own —
The truth of that doth fiie know ;
All folks met,
What a fet,
Wifhing joy,
Chriften boy ;
See here, fee here,
Mother's, mother's dear.
Sure the fiftli is a pretty fweet fcene, O.
Beauty like the rofe muft fade.
Madam finds her charms decay'd;
Greylocks fain fhe'd lay afide.
And with paint her wrinkles hide ;
But in vain her art fhe tries,
.Paint and patches won't difguife.
And this oft brings on the fpleen, O;
How fhe groans-
Pains in bones — .
Full of cares —
Says her prayers —
Dear me ! dear me !
Muft it, muft it be ?
Sure the fixth is a tragical fcene, O.
The laft aft doth now appear,
The cataftrophe draws near ;
Death ftalks in, who vifits all.
Then for ftage tricks— ftart and fall !
Doftors fage exert their Ikill,
To prevent the threat'ning ill.
And their heroine to fcreen, O-
Vanifh hopes.
Trap-door opes !
Down fhe pops.
Curtain drops !
Good-bye, food-bye.
There, oh there, you lie,
And its exit poor lady this fcene, O.
The thrifty Wife.
T AM a cheerful fellow, altho' a married man,
•*• And in this age of folly purfue a faving plan.
Though wives are thought expenfive, yet who can
live alone ?
Then fince they are dear creatures, 'tis beft to have
but one.
My choice difcovers early my prudence andmytaft«;
I've a very little wife with a very little waift.
Marriage is a draught we take for better or for
worfe.
And wife he is who can prevent the draft upon his
purfe.
But evils ere much klTen'd wlien wives are well in-
clined ;
For, if they come acrofs us, they fhape them to our
mind.
When matters are well manag'd,no need to be ftrait
lac'd ;
You may with little danger increafe the little waift.
Though fpoufy *s fo difcreet, ftlll each fsfhion fhe'U
difplay : ' '
Her bolom (heaven blefs her!) is as open as the
day ;
Her garment (may I venture a nmile to beg)
Hangs loolely from her flnoulder, like a gown upon
a pes'; '
Yet, fearlul of expenfes, fhe fhortens them, though
fraall.
And, if flie j^oes on fliort'ning, there'll be no waiil
at all i