[Tea-Table Miscellany Contents]
The Parson among the Pease.
–
ONE long Whitson holy-day,
Holy-day, holy-day, it was a jolly day,
Young Ralph, buxom Phillida,
Phillida, a welladay!
Met in the pease;
They long had community,
He lov’d her, she lov’d him,
Joyful unity, nought but opportunity
Scanting was wanting,
Their bosoms to ease.
But now fortune’s cruelty, cruelty,
You will see; for as they ly
In close hug, Sir Domine
Gemini Gomini
Chanc’d to come by,
He read prayers i’the family,
No way now to frame a lie,
They scar’d at old Homily,
Homily, Homily,
Both away fly.
–
Home, soon as he saw the sight,
Full of spite, as a kite runs the recubite,
Like a noisy Hypocrite,
Hypocrite, Hypocrite,
Mischief to say;
Save he wou’d fair Phillida,
Phillida, Phillida drest that holy-day;
But poor Ralph, ah welladay!
Welladay! welladay!
Turn’d was away.
‘Ads nigs, cries sir Domine
Gemini Gomini, shall a rogue stay,
To baulk me, as commonly,
Commonly, commonly,
Has been his way.
No, I serve the family,
They know nought to blame me by,
I read prayers and homily,
Homily, homily,
Three times a day.
