Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE WINCHESTER WEDDING, by THOMAS D'URFEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WINCHESTER WEDDING, by                    
First Line: At winchester was a wedding
Last Line: That so did return again.
Subject(s): Wedding Song; Epithalamium


At Winchester was a Wedding,
The like was never seen,
Twixt lusty Ralph of Redding,
And bonny black Bess of the Green:
The Fidllers were Crouding before,
Each Lass was as fine as a Queen;
There was a Hundred and more,
For all the Country came in:
Brisk Robin led Rose so fair,
She look'd like a Lilly o' th' Vale;
And Ruddy Fac'd Harry led Mary,
And Roger led bouncing Nell.

With Tommy came smiling Katy,
He help'd her over the Stile;
And swore there was none so pretty,
In forty, and forty long Mile:
Kit gave a Green-Gown to Betty,
And lent her his Hand to rise;
But Jenny was jeer'd by Watty,
For looking blue under the Eyes:
Thus merrily Chatting all,
They pass'd to the Bride-house along;
With Johnny and pretty fac'd Nanny,
The fairest of all the throng.

The Bride came out to meet 'em,
Afraid the Dinner was spoil'd;
And usher'd 'em in to treat 'em,
With Bak'd, and Roasted, and Boil'd:
The Lads were so frolick and jolly,
For each had his Love by his side;
But Willy was Melancholy,
For he had a Mind to the Bride:
Then Philip begins her Health,
And turns a Beer Glass on his Thumb;
But Jenkin was reckon'd for Drinking,
The best in Christendom.

And now they had Din'd, advancing
Into the midst of the Hall;
The Fidlers struck up for Dancing,
And Jeremy led up the Brawl:
But Margery kept a quarter,
A Lass that was proud of her Pelf,
Cause Arthur had stolen her Garter,
And swore he would tie it himself:
She struggl'd, and blush'd, and frown'd,
And ready with Anger to cry;
'Cause Arthur with tying her Garter,
Had slip'd his Hand too high.

And now for throwing the Stocking,
The Bride away was led;
The Bridegroom got Drunk and was knocking,
For Candles to light 'em to Bed:
But Robin that found him Silly,
Most friendly took him aside;
The while that his Wife with Willy,
Was playing at Hoopers-hide:
And now the warm Game begins,
The Critical Minute was come;
And chatting, and Billing, and Kissing,
Went merrily round the Room.

Pert Stephen was kind to Betty,
And blith as a Bird in the Spring;
And Tommy was so to Katy,
And Wedded her with a Rush Ring:
Sukey that Danc'd with the Cushion,
An Hour from the Room had been gone;
And Barnaby knew by her Blushing,
That some other Dance had been done:
And thus of Fifty fair Maids,
That came to the Wedding with Men;
Scarce Five of the Fifty was left ye,
That so did return again.





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