Lyr Add: Nature's Cook (Duchess of Newcastle)

Subject: Lyr Add: NATURE'S COOK (Duchess of Newcastle)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Feb 11 - 07:57 PM

NATURE'S COOK
Duchess of Newcastle 1668

Death is the Cook of Nature; and we find,
Creatures drest several ways to please her Mind.
Some, Death doth Roast with Fevers burning hot:
And some he Boils with Dropsies in a Pot.
Some are Consum'd, for Jelly, by degrees:
And some, with Ulcers, Gravy out to squeeze.
Some, as with Herbs, h stuffs with Gouts and Pains:
Others, for tender Meat, he hangs in Chains.
Some, in the Sea, he Pickles up to keep;
Others he, as Sous'd Brawn, in Wine doth steep.
Some, with Flesh and Bones, he with the Pox chops small;
And doth a French Fricasse make withall.
Some, on Grid-ir'ns of Calentures, are broil'd;
And some are trodden down, and so quite spoil'd.
But some are Bak'd, when Smuther'd they do dye:
Some meat he doth by Hectick Fevers Frye.
In Sweat, sometimes he Stews with savoury Smell:
A Hodg-podg of Diseases he likes well.
Some Brains he dresseth with Apoplexy,
Or Sawse of Megrims, swimming plenteously:
And Tongues he dries with Smoak from Stomacks ill;
Which, as the Second Course, he sends up still.
Throats he doth Cut, Blood-Puddings for to make;
And puts them in the Guts, which Cholicks rack.
Some Hunted are, by Him, for Deer, that's Red:
And some, as Stall-fed Oxen, Knock'd o' th' Head.
Somem Sindg'd and Scall'd for Bacon, seem most rare;
When the Salt Rhume and Phlegm they Powder'd are.

From "Poems, or Several Fancies, in Verse, Written by the Thrice-Noble, Illustrious, and Excellent, the Duchess of Newcastle." - Folio, London, 1669, Page 186.

Bodleian Collection, Ballads Catalogue: 2805 c.6(4). Charles Clark, Great Totham, between 1828 and 1866.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nature's Cook
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Feb 11 - 07:58 PM

Duchess of Newcastle-