The Batchelors Song

Portrait of Thomas Flatman
Thomas Flatman 1637–1688

Like a Dog with a bottle, fast ti'd to his tail, Like Vermin in a trap, or a Thief in a Jail, Or like a Tory in a Bog, Or an Ape with a Clog: Such is the man, who when he might go free, Does his liberty loose, For a Matrimony noose, And sels himself into Captivity; The Dog he do's howl, when his bottle do's jog, The Vermin, the Theif, and the Tory in vain Of the trap, of the Jail, of the Quagmire complain. But welfare poor Pug! for he playes with his Clog; And tho' he would be rid on't rather than his life, Yet he lugg's it, and he hug's it, as a man does his wife.

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