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

136 BALLADS ancient and modern, LEGENDARIES, &c.
The wanton Wife of Bath.
Mr> AddiftM hat fronounc'd this an excellct Ballad.
See the Spectator, No. 247.
IN Bath a wanton wife did dwell.
As Chaucer he did write ;
Who did in pleafure fpend her tlays,
Andwianj a fond delight.
Upon a time fore lick flie was
And at the length did die ;
And then her foul at'heaven's gate,
Did knock moft mightily.
Jjrft Adam came unto the gate ;
" Who knocketh there ?" quoth he.
" I am the Wife of Bath," ftie faid,
" And fain would come to thee.'"
»' Thou art a Cnner," Adam faid,
"Aud-here no place fliah have;"
" And fo art thou, I trowe," quoth flie,
" Now go you rioating knave.
" I will ccme in, infpight,"fhe faid,
" Of all iuch churls as thee ;
" Tiiou wert thecaufer of our woe,
'•' Our pain and roifery :
«' And firft broke God's commandlments,
" In pleafure of thy wife." "
When Adam ieard her, tell this tale,
He ran away for life . .
Then down came Jacob at the gate,
And bide her pack to hell,
" TJiou faife deceiving knave,' 'quoth (he,
•' Thouft may'ft be there as well-
" For thou deceiv'dft thy father dear,
" And thine own brother, too."
Away flunk Jacob prefently,
And fl^aile no, more ado.
She knocks again withamight and main.
And, Lot he chides herftraight.
" How now," quoth fhe, " thou drunken afs,
•' Who bade thee here to prate ?
-" With thy two daughters thou didft lye.
" On them two baftards trot."
And thus moft tauntingly flie cafl;
Againft poor fiily Lot.
" Who calleth there," quoth Jiiditli then,
With fuch fhiill founding notes ;
"This fine minx, furely came not here,"
Quoth file, " for, cutting ihroats."
Good Lord, how Judith blulh'd for fliame,
When' flie heard her fay fo, !
.King David hearing of the fame,
He to the- gate would go,
Quoth David " whokhcclis there fo loud,
" And maketh all this llrife ?"
" You we'remore kind, good fir," ftie faid,
" Unto Uriah's wife.
♦' And when thy fervant thou didft caufe
" In battle t6 be flain ; • . , ' ■. ' '
" Thou caufedft far more ftrife than I, '
' " Who would come here fo fain."
•' The woman's mad," quoth Solomon,
" That thus doth taunt a king."
" Not half fo mad as you," fhe faid,
"I trow, in many a thing.
" Thou.Jiadft fev'n hundred wives at once,
" For whom thou didft provide ;
" And yet, god wot, three hundred whorer
" Thoti muft maintain befide :
" And they made thee forfake thy God,
" And worftiip Hocks and ftones;
" Eefides the charge thf y put thee to
" Inbreeding of young bones.
" Hadft thou not been befide thy wits,
" Thou wouldll not thus have ventur'd;
" And therefore I do- marvel much,
" Hov/ thou this place haft enter'd."
" I never heard," quoth Jonas, then,
*' So vile a'fcold as this."
" Thou whore-fon run-away, quoe, fhe,
" Thou didcft more amifs."
" They fay," quoth Thomas " womens' tongues
" Of ai|K:n-leaves are made."
" Thou unbelieving wretch," quoth file,
" All is not true that's faid;"
When Mary Magdalen h^ard her then,
She csme unto the gate.
Quoth file, " good woman, yoii muft think
■" Upon your former ftate.
" No finner enters in this place"
Qiioth Mary Magd'ien. " Then
" 'Twere ill for you, fair miftrels anine,
" She anfwer'd her again :
" Yoafor your honefty," quoth ftie,
" Had once bcen'fton'd to death ;
" Had not our Saviour Ghrift came by,
" And written on the earth.
" It was not by your occupation,
- "You are- become- divine : -
" I hope niy foul in Chrift his paff.on,
" Shall be as fafe as thine."
Up rofe the good apoftle Paul,
And ro this -wife he cry'd,
" Except thou fhilse thy fins away,
" Thou here {h.^U be denied."
-"Remember Paul, what thou haft done,
" All through a lewd drfa-e :
«' How thou didft perfecute God's church,
" With wrath as hot as fire."
Then up ftarxs Peter at the laft,
And to the gate he hies :
." Fond fool," quoth he, "knock not fo-faft, -
" Thou wearieftChrift with cries'."
" Peter," faid flie, " content thyfelf,
" For imtrcy may be won; •
" I never did deny my Chrift,
" As thou thylelf haft done."
When as our Saviour Chrift heard this,
With heavenly angels bright,
i-ie came unto this finful foul,
Who trembled at his fight.
Of him for mercy file did crave.
Ojjoth he, " thou haft refus'd
" My pvofi^er'd grace, and mercy both,
, ',',And much my name abus'd."
«' Sore have r finned. Lord, " ihe faid,
" And fpent my time in vain,
" But bring me like a wand'riiig flieeji
"Into thy flock again.
" O Lord, my Go<3, I will amend
'■My lormer wicked vice :
" The thief for one poor filly word, ,
" Paft into Paradife."
" My laws and my commandlments,"
S'aith Chrift, " were known to thee ;
" But of the fame in any wife,
" Not yet one word did ye."
*',I grant the fame, O Lord," quotli flie :
■ ' " Moft lewdly did I live :
" But yet the loving father did
" His prod'gal fon forgive."
" So I forgive thy foul," he faid,
" Through thy repenting cry ;
*' Come enter then into my joy,
•' I will not lace den/."