THE WINCHESTER WEDDING by THOMAS D'URFEY

At @3Winchester@1 was a Wedding,
The like was never seen,
Twixt lusty @3Ralph@1 of @3Redding@1,
And bonny black @3Bess@1 of the @3Green@1:
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 @3Robin@1 led @3Rose@1 so fair,
She look'd like a Lilly o' th' Vale;
And Ruddy Fac'd @3Harry@1 led @3Mary@1,
And @3Roger@1 led bouncing @3Nell@1.

With @3Tommy@1 came smiling @3Katy@1,
He help'd her over the Stile;
And swore there was none so pretty,
In forty, and forty long Mile:
@3Kit@1 gave a Green-Gown to @3Betty@1,
And lent her his Hand to rise;
But @3Jenny@1 was jeer'd by @3Watty@1,
For looking blue under the Eyes:
Thus merrily Chatting all,
They pass'd to the @3Bride-house@1 along;
With @3Johnny@1 and pretty fac'd @3Nanny@1,
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 @3Bak'd@1, and @3Roasted@1, and @3Boil'd@1:
The Lads were so frolick and jolly,
For each had his Love by his side;
But @3Willy@1 was Melancholy,
For he had a Mind to the Bride:
Then @3Philip@1 begins her Health,
And turns a Beer Glass on his Thumb;
But @3Jenkin@1 was reckon'd for Drinking,
The best in @3Christendom@1.

And now they had Din'd, advancing
Into the midst of the @3Hall;@1
The Fidlers struck up for Dancing,
And @3Jeremy@1 led up the @3Brawl:@1
But @3Margery@1 kept a quarter,
A Lass that was proud of her Pelf,
Cause @3Arthur@1 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 @3Arthur@1 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 @3Robin@1 that found him Silly,
Most friendly took him aside;
The while that his @3Wife@1 with @3Willy@1,
Was playing at @3Hoopers-hide@1:
And now the warm @3Game@1 begins,
The @3Critical Minute@1 was come;
And chatting, and Billing, and Kissing,
Went merrily round the Room.

Pert @3Stephen@1 was kind to @3Betty@1,
And blith as a Bird in the Spring;
And @3Tommy@1 was so to @3Katy@1,
And Wedded her with a @3Rush Ring@1:
@3Sukey@1 that Danc'd with the @3Cushion@1,
An Hour from the Room had been gone;
And @3Barnaby@1 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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