Volume 5 — The Gelding the Devil. Set by Mr. Tho. Wroth.

[Listen]

I Met with the Devil in the shape of a Ram, Then over and over the Sow-gelder came; I rose and halter’d him fast by the Horns, And pick’d out his Stones, as you would pick out Corns; Maa, quoth the Devil, with that out he slunk, And left us a Carkass of Mutton that stunk. I chanc’d to ride forth a Mile and a half, Where I heard he did live in disguise of a Calf; I bound him and Gelt him e’er he did any evil, For he was at the best but a young sucking Devil: Maa, yet he cries, and forth he did steal, And this was sold after for excellent Veal. Some half a Year after in the Form of a Pig, I met with the Rogue, and he look’d very big; I caught at his Leg, laid him down on a Log, E’er a Man could Fart twice, I made him a Hog: Huh, huh quoth the Devil, and gave such a Jerk, That a Jew was Converted and eat of that Pork. In Woman’s attire I met him most fine, At first sight I thought him some Angel divine; But viewing his crab Face I fell to my Trade, I made him forswear ever acting a Maid: Meaw, quoth the Devil, and so ran away, Hid himself in a Fryer’s old Weeds as they say. I walked along and it was my good chance, To meet with a Black-coat that was in a Trance; I speedily grip’d him and whip’d off his Cods, ’Twixt his Head and his Breech, I left little odds: O, quoth the Devil, and so away ran, Thou oft will be curst by many a Woman.