Limerick Rake

I am a young fellow that's easy and bold;
In Castletown Conyers[Note 1] I'm very well known.
In Newcastle West I spent many an oat[Note 2][3]
With Kitty and Judy and Mary.
My parents rebuked me for being such a rake
And for spending my time in such frolicsome ways.
I ne'er could forget the good nature of Jane,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.[Note 3]

My parents had reared me to shake and to mow,
To plow and to harrow, to reap and to sow.
My heart being too airy to drop it too low,
I set out on the high speculation.
On paper and parchment they thought me to write,
And in Euclid and grammar they opened my eyes.
And in multiplication, in truth I was bright,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.

If you chance for to go to the town of Rathkeale,
The girls all around me do flock on the square.
Now some offer me porter and others sweet cake,
And they treat me unknownst to their parents.
There's one from Askeaton and one from The Pike,[Note 4]
And another from Ardagh my heart has beguiled.
Though being from the mountains, her stockings are white
And I'd love to be tightening her garters.

Now to quarrel for riches, I ne'er was inclined;
For the greatest of misers, they must leave all behind.
But I'll purchase a cow that'll never run dry
And I'll milk her by twisting her horn.
John Damer of Shronell had plenty of gold
And Lord Devonshire's treasures are twenty times more.
But sure they're laid on their backs amidst nettles and stones,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.

The old cow could be milked without clover or grass;
She'd be pampered on barley, sweet corn, and the hops.
She'd be warm, she'd be stout, she'd be free in the paps,
And she'd milk without spancel[Note 5] or halter.
And the man that would drink it, he'd cock his caubeen,
And if anyone laughs we'll have wigs on the green.
And the feeble old hag, she'd get supple and free,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.

If I chance for to go to the market of Croom,
With a cock in my hat and my pipes in full tune,
I am welcome at once and brought up to a room,
Where Bacchus is sporting with Venus.
There's Peggy and Jane from the town of Bruree,
And Biddy from Bruff and we all on the spraoi,[Note 6]
Such a combing of locks as there was about me,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.

Now there's some say I'm foolish, there's some say I'm wise,
Though being fond of the women I think is no crime.
Sure the son of King David, he had ten thousand wives,
And his wisdom was highly regarded.
I'll till a good garden and work at my ease,
And each woman and child could partake of the same.
If there'd be war in the cabin, themselves they could blame,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.

But now for the future I think I'll get wise
And I'll marry all those women who acted so kind.
Aye, I'd marry them all on the morrow by and by,
If the clergy'd agree to the bargain.
And then when I'd be old and my soul be at rest,
All those children and wives they could keen at my wake.
Aye, they'd all gather round and they'd offer up prayers
To the Lord for the soul of their father.