The Dub'd Knight of the Forked Order

Twas a Lady born
of high degrée,
In her aged days
was youthful, yet she,
So youthful was
at thréescore years old,
A young Man she estéemed
more pretious then Gold:
So old, so old,
so wondrous old,
Till threescore years and ten
Old women are willing
to play with young Men.

This Lady one day
in her Parlor did walk,
Vnto her head-serving-man
she began to talk,
She told him his feature
was comely and rare,
Few men that she lookt on
might with him compare,
So old, &c.

A Lilly-white hand
fair face and a nose
Hair crisping and curled
his breath like a Rose
Streight leg and a foot
and his body tall,
But that in the middle
is the rarest of all,
So old &c.

Madam he said,
as I am alive,
Vnto an antient Lady
'tis a present revive:
It will make them merry
either at night or by day,
And clear every Vain
like the dew of May.
So old, so old,
so wondrous old,
Till threescore years and ten,
Old women are willing
to play with young Men.

Then note what I say
and obey my command,
For I'le make use of thée,
now straight out of hand,
The bargain was made
unto their own Will,
The Serving-man had
and the Lady her fill:
So old, &c.

When the Iig was ended,
the Lady threw down,
Vnto her good Serving-man,
sevenscore pound:
She gave this Gold freely,
his courage to maintain,
That he will but Ride
in the Saddle again:
So old, &c.

Then the wanton Lady
to her Knight she did hye,
And like to Ameretrix
she did reply,
That she was much alter'd,
and she had caught harm,
Why then quoth the Knight;
Lady keep thy self warm;
So old, &c.

I'le send for a Doctor
the grief for to find,
For to ease thy body,
and troubles mind;
I will have no Doctor
my grief for to ease,
But only one Man
swéet-heart if you please:
So old, &c.

Let me see this Artist,
the Knight did reply,
O quoth the Lady,
loe here he stands by;
That can give me cure
with a Syrup that he,
Brought front the Venetian
and from Italy;
So old, &c.

How came you acquainted
with your Mans rarity?
Sir, in a sad passion,
being ready to dye,
I dream'd that his judgement
was right I do find,
And his physick was healthful
to old Woman kind.
So old, &c.

And if by the vertue
thou pleasure do find,
I doubt then by Venus
that I am made blind,
I dream'd I was hunting
and pleasure did see,
But a vision mine eyes
much troubleth me,
So old, &c.

The Déer did run swiftly,
and Hounds after rang'd
And I like Action
most strangely was chang'd
I though that my lower part
séem'd like a Man.
My head like a Buck,
and Horns like a Ram,
So old, &c.

And riding on swiftly,
sweet pleasure to find,
An Oke burst my horns
& his blood made me blind,
The Huntsman did hollow,
and great shouts did make,
and forth of my dream,
I strait did awake:
So old, &c.

I told my fair Lady
of my dream so strange,
Quoth she 'tis the better
when thy Life doth change;
For the Forked Order
the evil doth expel,
And being a dub'd Knight,
thou nead'st not fear Hell.
So old, &c.

From the Poor to the Rich,
even to the Ladies Gay,
Young Women are wanton
old Women will play:
And mumble their Husbands
and jéer them to scorn,
And point them a Breaker
and give them a Horn:
So old, so old.
so wonderous old,
Till threescore years and ten,
Old Women are willing
to play with young Men.
By Abraham Miles.