The Young Woman's Wish/The Green Garters

The GREEN GARTERS.

In Dublin there lives a young man, it is spoken,
He's very well known by the way of his token,
He courted six girls all friends and acquaintance,
So well as he's shown them the way to repentance.
  Fal lal, &c.

He has gone about young maids for to cozen,
He's got five with child out of the half dozen,
He's bought them green garters which they took most kindly
And under their borders he's fix'd them most finely.

Now he has plac'd them all round a large table,
Put two and two together as well's he was able;
So cunningly placed himself in the middle,
Cries, Hey, bonny lass can you read me a riddle.

The lass he lov'd best excell'd all the rest,
With the courtesy he gave her, but here lies the jest,
With the glass in his hand, he cry'd, I'm no starter,
Here's a health to the bonny lass with the green garter.

O says Miss Molly, it's me he does admire,
No says Miss Jeany, I'll make you a liar;
So stretching their legs all out in due order,
There was green garters fix'd under each border.

O says Miss Molly, that I may embrace him,
O says Miss Jeany, that I may disgrace him;
O says Miss Betty, I'm easy about him:
O says Miss Tibby, we'll all go without him.

Before that he goes, we'll strip him and vex him,
For serving us so we'll sorely perplex him;
So base a deceiver, delights for to ruin,
Poor innocent girls, and prove their undoing.

The one took his wig, the other his beaver,
The third took his coat, and call'd him deceiver:
The fourth took his vest, the fifth took his breeches,
The pox take them all for a parcel of bitches.

And now for to make an end of all jokings,
They've taken from him both his shoes & his stockings
And as they drunk round, cry'd, O cousin Arthur,
Will ye sport any more with your bonny green garter.
  Fal, lal, &c.