Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MISS BETTY'S SINGING-BIRD, by JOHN WINSTANLEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MISS BETTY'S SINGING-BIRD, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A pretty song, this coming spring
Last Line: To girls, if good, this coming spring.
Subject(s): Spring


A PRETTY song, this coming spring,
A little chanting bird will sing;
The bird you've heard old women say
Comes often down the chimney-way,
Then flies or hops the house around,
Where tricks and pranks are to be found;
The same which does all stories tell,
When little girls do ill or well;
When they're obstrep'rous or loquacious,
Contrump'rous, boist'rous or audacious;
With what is given 'em discontent,
Or say things of their own invent;
Fling off their caps and cloaks i' th' street,
Beat little children that they meet;
Call Aunt a sow or ugly witch,
Cic'ly a hussy, slut or b—h,
Scratch, bite and pinch, or pull her quoif,
And lead her a most dreadful life;
Saunter an hour or two to school;
And when they come there play the fool,
The ramping hoyden or Miss Bumkin,
The girls they sit by ever thumping;
Call masters bastard or such name,
And ev'ry little miss defame;
When Aunt can scarce on them prevail
To wear a gown not rattle-tail,
Yet never want a daggled tail;
When they have got a knack of crying,
Their stays a-lacing or hair tying;
Go oft to bed with weeping eyes,
Yet sigh and slobber when they rise;
When raisins, sugar-plums nor figs
Will bribe them not to pull off wigs;
For which, their bawling and their yelping,
They surely get full many a skelping,
Are locked in vault, or hole o' th' stairs,
To sigh, and fret, and melt in tears,
To bawl and roar, and not let out
Till many a tear is dropped about,
And after to their mistress sent
For further flogging punishment;
Which chastisements, if proving vain,
They never more must go again
To Lecoudre or Delamain,
But carried be, from city far,
To Jerrico or Mullingar.
These, and perhaps a bolder thing,
This little prating bird will sing
Of naughty girls this coming spring.
But, if they're modest, mild and witty
And do things innocent and pretty;
Observing always what they're bid,
Never deserving to be chid,
Discreet and good, they will be then
By ladies loved, admired by men;
Indulged in ev'ry harmless way,
And suffered now and then to play;
Have all the finest, nicest clothes,
Rich ribbons, laces, stockings, shoes,
Gold snuffbox, watch and diamond pendant,
And cross with jewels at the end on't;
Oft coach abroad, to take the air
At park and strand, when weather's fair;
Go now and then on holidays
To concerts, puppet-shows and plays;
Be always fine, most nicely dressed,
In what's most curious, rich and best.
All these this pretty bird will sing;
All these and more will surely bring
To girls, if good, this coming spring.





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