“A Gage of Ben Rom-Bouse” [Notes]
[By MIDDLETON and DEKKER in “The Roaring Girl” V, 1. Sung by Moll-Cut-purse and Tearcat a bullying rogue.]
Moll. Come you rogue, sing with me:—
A gage of ben Rom-bouse,[1]
In a bousing-ken of Rom-vile[2]
Tearcat. Is benar than a Caster,[3] Peck, pennam, lap, or popler,[4] Which we mill in deuse a vile.[5]
Moll. Oh, I wud lib all the lightmans,[6]
Oh, I woud lib all the darkemans,[7]
By the Salomon, under the Ruffemans[8]
By the Salomon in the Hartmans[9]
Tearcat. And scoure the queer cramp ring[10]
And couch till a palliard dock’d my dell,[11]
So my bousy nab might skew rome bouse well[12]
Avast to the pad, let us bing;[13]
Avast to the pad, let us bing.
[1 A pot of strong ale (or wine)] [2 London ale-house] [3 better than a cloak] [4 meat, bread, drink, or porridge] [5 steal on the country-side.] [6 lie all day] [7 night] [8 By the mass! in the woods] [9 stocks] [10 in fetters] [11 Notes] [12 addle-pate may swill strong drink] [13 Let us be off on the road.]