When young and artless as the lamb, Which plays about its fondling dam, Brisk, buxom, pert, and silly; I flighted all the manly swains, And put my virgin heart in chains, For smiling smooth fac’d Willy.
But when experience came with years, Which rais’d my hopes and quell’d my fears, My heart was blythe and bonny, I turn d off every beardless youth, So gave my word, and fix’d my truth On honest sturdy Johnny.
Next at the wake I saw the ’Squire, For love I felt a new desire. Fond to outshine my mammy, I sigh’d for fringes, frogs, and beaux, For pig-tail wigs, and powder’d clothes, And silken master Sammy.
For riches next I set a flame, Old Gripus to my cottage came, And held an amorous parley. For music next I chanc’d to burn, And fondly listen’d in my turn, To warbling quivering Charley.
So now alike the fools, and wits, Fops, fidlers, foreigners and cits, All struck me by rotation. Come learn of me ye patriot fair, Nor make a single man your care, But sigh for all the nation.
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