Too much the whole at once, but by degrees,
Your tithe we’ll take and all contrive to please.
With us arrange the hour you would be here,
And some to-day:—to-morrow more we’ll cheer;
The whole in order, and you’ll clearly see,
That softly with Fairly best agree.
Thesex inclined to follow this advice;
About
receipts however they were not nice;
The
entertainment greatly was admired,
And
pure devotion all their bosoms fired,
A
glass of cordial some apart received;
Good
cheer was given, may be well believed;
Ten
youthful dames brisk friar Fripart took,
Gay,
airy, and engaging ev’ry look,
Who
paid with pleasure all the monk could wish;
Some
had fifteen:—some twelve to taste their
dish;
Good
friar Rock had twenty for his share,
And
gave such satisfaction to the fair,
That
some, to show they never grudged the price,
And
proved their punctuality,—paid twice.
So
much indeed, that satiated with ways,
That
six long months engaged their nights and days:
They
gladly credit would have given now,
But
found the ladies would not this allow,
Believing
it most positively wrong,
To
keep whate’er might to the church belong.
No
tithe arrears were any where around,
So
zealous were the dames in duty found,
They
often in advance paid holy dues,
How
pure the monks!—how just the ladies views!
The
friars used despatch alone with those,
That
for their fascinating charms they chose,
And
sent the sempiternals to bestow,
The
tribute they had brought on those below,
For
in the refuse tithes that were their lot,
The
laicks oft pleasant pickings got.
In
short ’twas difficult to say,
What
charity was shown from day to day.
Ithappened that one night a married dame,
Desirous
to convey the monks their claim,
And
walking with her spouse just by the spot,
Where
dwelled the arch contrivers of the plot,
Good
Heavens! said she, I well remember now,
I’ve
business with a friar here, I vow;
’Twill
presently be done if you’ll but wait;
Religious
duties we must ne’er abate.
What
duties? cried the husband with surprise;
You’re
surely mad:—’tis midnight I surmise;
Confess
yourself to-morrow if required;
The
holy fathers are to bed retired.
That
makes no difference, the lady cried.—