This Simon's wife had plenty of fatting hogs and pigs, With geese, ducks, hens, and turkies, that laid great store of eggs: Both Sheep and such like cattel, fine ews and pritty lambs, Which up and down the forrest did feed, and suck their dams; She put trust to her Husband to look unto them all, To keep them safe from danger; now mark what did befal: He did his best endeavour to shun all sorts of strife, And yet through strange misfortune he could not please his Wife. One morning she sent him to field to keep her sheep, And charg'd him to be watchful, and take heed he did not sleep: A piece of bread and butter she gave him in his hand, Whereby she made him promise to do as she did command. But see what happened to him, when he came to the field, He fell asleep, while foxes three of his lambs had killed: This bred a great dissention and rais'd a world of strife, Till _Simon_ for his fault had beg'd pardon of his Wife. Another day she sent him her ducks and geese to tend, And charg'd him on her blessing, he should no more offend: Her goslins and her chickens with him she put in trust, Who took a stick and told them, for they were twenty just: But a woful chance befel to poor _Simon_ before night, For seven of his chickens were took prisoners by the kite: This vexed him, and it made him half weary of his life, For he knew not what answer to make unto his Wife. Next morning when that _Simon_ was sent to milk the cow, Another strange mishap there was done to him by the sow; For whilst that he was driving the little pigs away, The sow came into the dairy-house and swill'd up all the whey; The cheese out of the cheese fat she did both tear and hawl, And so threw down the cream-pot, and made an end of all: Wherewith she burst her belly, and so she lost her life, And poor _Simon_ knew not what answer to make unto his wife. When's Wife came in the dairy-house, and saw what there was done, A strong and fierce encounter she presently begun; She pull'd him by the ears, and she wrung him by the nose, And she kickt him on the belly, while the tears ran down his hose. And she vow'd to be revenged before the morrow day, For all the brood of chickens, which the kite had carried away: Poor _Simon_ stood amazed, being weary of his life, For he good Man was tired with his unruly Wife.