THE American Mock-Bird, OR SONGSTER's DELIGHT, SONG CCXVII

Come all you young Lovers who wan with Despair, Compose idle Sonnets, and sigh for the Fair; Who puff up their Pride by enchanting their Charms, And tell them 'tis Heaven to lie in their Arms; Be wise by Example, take Pattern my me, For let what will happen by Jove I'll be free, By Jove I'll be free. For let what will happen, by Jove I'll be free.

Young Daphne I saw, in the Net I was caught, I ly'd and I flatter'd as Custom had taught; I press'd her to Bliss, which she granted full soon, But the Date of my Passion expir'd with the Moon, She vow'd she was ruin'd, I said it might be, I'm sorry, my dear, but by Jove I'll be free, By Jove I'll be free.

The next was young Phillis as bright as the Morn, The Love that I proffer'd she treated with Scorn; I laugh'd at her Folly, and told her my Mind, That none can be handsome, but such as are kind; Her Pride and Ill nature was lost upon me, For in Spite of fair Faces, by Jove I'll be free, By Jove I'll be free, &c.

Let others call Marriage the Harbour of Joys, Calm Peace I delight in, and fly from all Noise; Some chuse to be hamper'd, 'tis sure a strange Rage, And like Birds they sing best, when they're put in a Cage: Confinement's the Devil, 'twas ne'er made for me, Let who will be Bond-slaves, by Jove I'll be free. By Jove I'll be free, &c.

Then let the brisk Bumper run over the Glass, In a Toast to the young and the beautiful I ass; Who yielding and easy, prescribes no dull Rule, Nor thinks it a Wonder a Lover shou'd cool. Be wise by Example, take Pattern by me, For let what will happen, by Jove I'll be free, By Jove I'll be free. For let what will happen, by Jove I'll be free.