Gentle ladies, good in nature (Anonymous)
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- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2022-08-11). Score information: A4, 7 pages, 280 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.
General Information
Title: Gentle ladies, good in nature
Composer: Anonymous
Lyricist: Anonymous
Number of voices: 5vv Voicing: SSTTB
Genre: Secular, Glee
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella
First published: 1775
Description: Glee in the form of a comic dialogue, published in both London and Philadelphia. Neither edition named the composer.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Gentle ladies, good in nature,
Pray relieve a fellow creature.
We have nothing now to give you,
'Tis the parish must relieve you.
When pale want and hunger cry,
Can such tender hearts deny?
Shame to take the beggar's calling,
Sloth in tatters, children squalling.
We are sorry thus to tease you,
But 'tis hard to starve and please you.
We've not halfpence for so many;
Beg not longer, here's a penny.
What cruel shocks we undergo;
'Twould starve a cat to feed them so.
Get employment.
We are willing.
Come poor fellows, here's a shilling,
Bless your honours, ev'ry one.
Cease your canting and be gone.