The parson for him staid; Yet, by his leave (for all his haste,) The maid, (and thereby hangs a tale; Her finger was so small, the ring It was too wide a peck: And to say truth, for out it must, Her feet beneath her petticoat As if they fear'd the light: No sun upon an Easter day Is half so fine a sight! He would have kiss'd her once or twice, But she would not, she was so nice, She would not do't in sight: And then she look'd as who should say, "I will do what I list to-day, "And you shall do't at night." Her cheeks so rare a white was on, (Who sees them is undone;) For streaks of red were mingled there, Her lips were red, and one was thin, Her mouth so small when she does speak, Thou'dst swear her teeth her words did break, That they might passage get; But she so handled still the matter, They came as good as ours, or better, If wishing should be any sin, She look'd that day so purely; It would have spoil'd him surely. Passion, oh me! how I run on! I trow, besides the bride. The business of the kitchen's great, For it is fit that men should eat, Nor was it there denied. Just in the nick the cook knock'd thrice, And all the waiters in a trice His summons did obey: Each serving man, with dish in hand, When all the meat was on the table, What man of knife or teeth was able To stay to be intreated? And this the very reason was, Before the parson could say grace The company was seated.* * In the first edition of Suckling's works the three preceding stanzas were differently arranged. The order adopted above, Now hats fly off, and youths carouse, Healths first go round, and then the house, O' th' sudden up they rise and dance; Thus several ways the time did pass, By this time all were stol'n aside But yet 'twas thought he guess'd her mind, Above an hour or so. When in he came, Dick, there she lay, which the sense indeed seems to require, is justified by a copy in "Witt's Recreations," 1654, and has been followed by the later editors. ('Twas time, I trow, to part.) Kisses were now the only stay, Which soon she gave, as who would say, "Good boy! with all my heart." But just as heavens would have, to cross it, At length the candle's out, and now But I believe it was no more Than thou and I have done before With Bridget and with Nell. |