English poem
EDWIN'S PILLS, &c, SONG
by John O'Keeffe (1747–1833)
When I was a younker, and liv'd with my dad, The neighbours all thought me a smart little lad; My mammy she call'd me a white-headed boy, Because with the girls I lik'd to toy, There was Ciss, Priss, Letty and Betty, And Doll; With Meg, Peg, Jenny and Winney, And Moll. I slatter Their clatter, So sprightly and gay; I rumble 'em, Tumble 'em— That's my way. One fine, frosty morning, a going to school, Young Moggy I met, and she call'd me a fool: Her mouth was my primer; a lesson I took; I swore it was pretty, and kissed the book. But School, Fool, Primer, Trimmer, And birch, And boys for the girls I leave in the lurch, I flatter, &c.
It's very well known I can dance a good jig, And at cudgels from Robin I won a fat pig; I can wrestle a fall, and the bar I can fling; And when o'er a flaggon, can sweetly sing: But Pig, Jig, Wicket, And Cricket, And ball, I'd give up the wrestle with Moggy a fall. I flatter, &c.