Candidate. I do, Father.
Clerk. Amen.
The Landlord then sings, or says, as follows:—
Silence! O, yes! you are my son!
Full to your old father turn, sir;
This is an oath you may take as you run,
So lay your hand thus on the horn, sir.
Here the Candidate places his right hand on the horn.
You shall spend not with cheaters or cozeners your life,
Nor waste it on profligate beauty;
And when you are wedded be kind to your wife,
And true to all petticoat duty.
The Candidate says ‘I will,’ and kisses the horn in obedience to the command of the Clerk, who exclaims in a loud and solemn tone, ‘Kiss the horn, sir!’
And while you thus solemnly swear to be kind,
And shield and protect from disaster,
This part of your oath you must bear it in mind,
That you, and not she, is the master.
Clerk. ‘Kiss the horn, sir!’
You shall pledge no man first when a woman is near,
For neither ’tis proper nor right, sir;
Nor, unless you prefer it, drink small for strong beer,
Nor eat brown bread when you can get white, sir.