The HONEYMOON.
A favourite SONG,
Sung by Mrs. Wrighten, at Vauxhall.
I
Would you know, my good Friend, what a Honey-Moon is,
How long in duration, how perfect in Bliss!
A Proof may be found, and a Sample be seen,
In some Boarding-School Couple just left Gretna Green:
My Dear and my Duck
My sweetest, my Chuck,
Miss Kitty an Angel — her Billy a God!
Whips crack, Glasses jingle,
While Sighs intermingle,
And Cupid assents and goes niddity nod,
Niddity nod, niddity nod
O’er Kitty the Angel, and Billy the God.
II
Papa’s and Mama’s surly Tempers once past,
Bright Bloomsbury-square has this Couple at last;
In three Weeks Possession how Pleasures will cloy!
Neglect hurts the Lady, and Time cools the Boy;
So impatient to roam,
Ma’am you’re never at Home,
A Path so vexatious no Wife ever trod;
My Torment — my Curse —
You are bad — you are worse,
While Cupid flies off from a Quarrel so odd,
Niddity nod, niddity nod,
And Miss is no Angel, and Billy no God.
III
To Routs hies my Lady — to Gambling goes Master —
To part from each other ne’er Couple went faster,
While raking at Night, and Distraction at Noon,
Soon close all the Joys of the sweet Honey-Moon.
Bleeding hearts — aching Heads,
Sep’rate Tables and Beds,
Render Wedlock’s sweet Countenance dull as a clod.
Then hie for a Summons,
From grave Doctor’s Commons,
While Proctors and Parchments go niddity nod
Niddity nod, niddity nod,
O’ever Kitty the Angel, and Billy the God.
Published in the Derby Mercury, 26 May 1785
Mary Ann Wrighten (Mary Matthews 1751-1796) was a singer and actress who made her name at Drury Lane Theatre and Vauxhall Gardens. She divorced her husband, married Hugh Pownall and moved to America six years later. She died in Charleston of yellow fever.
Sources
A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers, and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800: W. West to Zwingman. Philip H. Highfill, Kalman A. Burnim, Edward A. Langhans. Southern Illinois University Press, 2006
