Go All to Coquet and Woo
Northumberland lads are handsome squads,
And female affiance must share;
If you wish to wed, betroth to bed,
One cull’d with caution and care.
I here make free—give ear to me,
The county I’ve scan’d around;
So from the mass select a lass,
Where virtue and beauties abound.
The lasses of TWEED are deft indeed,
Their garlands give such grace:
The lasses of TILL are sprightly still,
In figure, in fashion, and face.
The lasses of BREMISH look rather squeamish,
Embellish’d with elegant ease;
The lasses of ALE, for plumage prevail,
Their pomp and appendages please.
The lasses of ALWIN obey fashion’s call, when
A princess prescribes a new dress;
The lasses of REED, each hair-braids her head,
And apes alamode to excess.
The lasses of WENSBECK, like dignify’d dames deck,
And their address quite debonair;
The lasses of FOUNT, though pronounc’d paramount,
Can scarce with these comits compare.
The lasses of PONT, to decorate don’t
Soar yet in the sphere of extremes;
The lasses of ERRING, on fashions conferring,
The decent most dext’rous deem.
The lasses of TYNE, who peerlessly shine,
Are mirrors of modesty too:
The lasses of COQUET put all in their pocket,
Go all to Coquet and woo!
So take my advice, tour there in a trice,
These provident paragons view;
So splendid and pretty, so worthy, and witty,
You’ll never have reason to rue.