The Contented Cuckold, or Patience upon force is a Medicine for a Mad Man.  

You bachelors both young and old  
give ear unto this ditty,  
A story here I will unfold  
in mirth I hope it will fit ye,  
A bachelor of threesscore years  
a Damsel young did marry   

Now he complains she doth him wrong  
and basely doth miscarry:  
Near Worksworth Town in Derbyshire  
this couple they do dwell,  
With patience pray this ditty hear  
and then I bid farewell.   
To the Tune, She cannot hold her Legs together.  
 

YOu young Men all to you I call  
whether you live in Town or City,  
A Warning take by this my fall  
which I shall declare in this my ditty  
When as you do a Wooing go  
pray have a care you be not scorned,  

For if fortune say it must be so  
you soon may come for to be horned.    

A Bachelor full threescore years  
I lived long in joy and pleasure,  
I was quite bid of grief and cares  
I had house & Land & store of Treasure,  
I did provide Money to hid,  
at last blind Cupid he me Wounded,  

With a dart of Love but now I can prove  
my heart with grief is almost drown did.    

Then to Cupid's Court I did resort  
and there I met with Venus' Sister,  
Full threescore pound a true report  
I gave for maly would God I had missed her  
To make her gay I slung away  
full ten pound more to buy her clothing  

Still my Estate goes to decay  
for to Cuckold me she counts it nothing.    

All Derbyshire could not compare  
with pretty maly for Wit and beauty  
I thought she was a Jewel rare  
which made me dote in love and duty  
With a Forehead high and Rolling eye  
which signifies that she loves sporting,  

She scorns with me ●ow for to lie  
but to. etc.    
 
 

A Young Man living in the Town  
has stolen from me her love & duty,  
No comfort I get but a frown  
not scarce a look upon her beauty:  
For all her delight both day and night  
is in his company for sporting  

The boys cry Cockoo in my sight  
for to Cuckold me she counts it nothing.    

My aged looks she doth disdain  
with taunts and fears I now am scorned  
My bed likewise she doth refrain  
by Dick it is I must be horned,  
Thus Marry she abuseth me  
which makes my friends to fear & scoff me  

And the boys cry Cuckoo in my sight  
because Dick doth make a Cuckold of me    

My means they Wast both night and day  
most wilfully without all measure  
My Goods and Cattle is their prey  
they seek all means to Waste my treasure  
While they do Sing my hands I Wring  
which makes my friends to fear & scoff me  

And the boys, etc.    

Now may I sigh lament and mourn  
I do confess it was my folly,  
Now I may I sit like an idle drone  
or like one struck in a Melancholy,  
While Mary and Dick doth play the trick  
of Put In, Or else get of me,  

In house or barn if weather warm  
there Dick must make a Cuckold of me.    

Thus night and day they spend away  
their time in this unlawful carriage,  
Which makes me cry as well I may,  
to curse the day and time of Marriage  
My Garments bare and my White Hair  
and my Foreman with her is scorned,  

The boys cries Cuckoo to my face  
and says that Dick my head has horned    

You Bachelors and married men  
whether you live in Town or City,  
Let me entreat you once again  
to read this harmless ditty,  
No harm at all is in this Wall  
For all poor Robin now is scorned,  

Pray do not fear at Robin here  
you know not who may next be horned.    

Now the Proverb old I think upon  
says a Cuckold is a good man's fellow  
My time is spent I must be gone  
come fills a cup of Ale that's mellow  
For Malipiero and Dick will play the trick  
of Put In, Or else get of me,  

In house or barn etc.    

Now to conclude and make an end  
hoping I have no Man offended,  
Nor yet done wrong to any friend  
he that thinks so pray let him mend it,  
For Mary and Dick will play the trick  
of Put In, Or else get of me,  

And the boys cry Cuckoo to my face  
because Dick doth make a Cuckold of me.    
T. R.  
Finis.   

Printed for Thomas Passenger at the three bibles on London-bridge.