BIB Id 292272
THE Silver Key, doth bear the Sway,
Where men are good or bad;
If you have lost the silver key,
But little can be had.
If you have got the silver key,
You may good bargains buy;
But if you have lost the silver key,
You may sit down and cry.
If you have got the silver key,
Ill tend upon you strait;
But if you've lost the silver key,
There you may stand and wait.
If you have got the silver key,
A very honest man;
If not, perhaps some say a knave,
Tho' you do what you can.
If you have got the silver key,
I pray, sir, stay and dine;
But if you lost the silver key,
You are no guest of mine.
If you have got the silver key,
I love you as a friend;
But if you have lost the silver key,
My love is at an end.
If you have got the silver key,
You may have gold of me;
But if you've lost the silver key,
To lend I am not free.
If you have got the silver key,
You many friends will find;
But if you've lost the silver key,
But few there will be kind.
If you have got the silver key,
You very seldom fail;
But if you've lost the silver key,
Perhaps you go to jail.
If you have got the silver key,
Then cousins we will be;
But if you've lost the silver key,
You are no kin to me.
If you have got the silver key,
Respected then by all;
But if you have lost the silver key,
Respects for you are small.
If you have got the silver key,
I pray, sir, sit you down;
But if you lost the silver key,
Perhaps not drink in town.
If you have got the silver key,
I pray, sir, stay and drink;
But if you've lost the silver key,
May stand behind and shrink.
If you have got the silver key,
Then you may ate good cheer;
But if you've lost the silver key,
Your belly may go leer.
If you have got the silver key,
Your bed, sir, I will warm;
But if you've lost the silver key,
Perhaps lie in a barn.
If you have got the silver key,
My daughter I will spare;
But if you've lost the silver key,
Then you must not come there.
SECOND PART.
THIS Key then see you get and keep,
(Tho' some do let it ship)
If it be gone, some are undone,
The belly pays for it.
See that against next market day,
You get the silver key,
If you do not, I tell you what,
As good at home you stay.
The silver key will make you bold,
You may havewhat is sold,
The silver key, keep while you may,
It is as good as gold.
While you the silver key can bring,
You can have any thing,
While you can pay the silver key,
You're welcome as a king.
When you come to an Inn,
This key will be your friend,
The landlord, he, then will be free,
Such noble guests to tend.
But if this key be gone,
Away you may go home,
We understand fresh guests at hand,
Friend, we must have your room.
This key does seldom fail,
But quickly can prevail,
The silver key can find a way
To bring men out of jail.
When men do loose this key,
Then they make haste away,
Or what is fore, they live but poor,
If they at home do stay.
But some do purchase land,
Who better understand,
They keep this key e'en while they may,
He is a friend at hand.
This key they will not lend,
But to some worthy friend,
They know in vain they may complain,
If it their friends should spend.
But this then I will say,
Some men have lost this key,
And now so poor they suffer sore,
And no debts can they pay.
If you have got this key,
Respects for you are great,
If you have not, I dare to say,
Must hardly dare to speek.
If you have got this key,
Mny take your horse and ride;
But if you've lost this key,
May step perhaps aside.
But if you chance to spend it all,
Then into poverty you fall,
If you come there I do declare,
You will find friendship small.
Tre silver key keep while you may,
Whatever care it cost.
For you will find few will be kind,
If yo have lost this Key.
Poor