The merry Forrester.
Young men and maides, in Country or in City,
I crave your aides with me to tune this Ditty,
Both new, and true it is, no harme in this is,
But is composed of the word cald, kisses.
Yet meant by none abroad loves to be gadding,
It goes unto the tune of: With a fadding.
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O F late I chanst to be where I
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did view an object worth delighting,
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Downe in a valley I did espy
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dame Venus with Adonis fighting
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for kisses.
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And looking about a little aside,
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downe in a Thicket adorn'd with Roses,
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AEneas with Queene Dido I spide,
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where they did take their sweet reposes,
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with kisses.
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Thought I, this sexe is wondrous kind,
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when Kings will venture their chiefest treasure,
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If they can but find one, unto their mind,
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who can content them with the sweet pleasure
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of kisses.
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For Philip Mace[d]onian King
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had not beene by Paus[enna] killed,
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Had not Olympa thought of a thing,
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that he faire Cleopatra willed
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to kisse him.
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Nor lovely Hero had not come
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to that apparant eminent danger,
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If with desire she had not showne
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the Hellispont to her Leander ,
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for kisses.
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The Merchant for his Mistris sake
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doth life & limbs, and goods adventure,
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If she on his love and labours approve,
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he doubtles will in dangers enter
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for kisses.
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Of gold as drosse he but esteemes
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to gaine her love and true affection,
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For unto him, a matchlesse Jem
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and Jewell rare, his hearts election
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for kissing.
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The neat and handsome Servingman
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a clownish mind he scornes to carry,
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His master dead, his mistris than
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gives her consent with him to marry
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for kissing.
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The Country Swaine, that goes to the plowe
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at wedings thinks himselfe much graced,
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If his sweet-heart will take his part
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to dance with him, or be embraced
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with kissing.
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What Duke, what Earle, what Lord, what Knight,
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in all this Land, but loves to be doing,
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If they but meet with beauties are bright,
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but will begin there amourous woing,
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with kissing?
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The second part, to the same tune.
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I Know no Country Gentleman,
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that hath but any good fashion or breeding,
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But he will endeavour, or doe what he can,
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to have a smug Lasse thats of his own feeding,
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for kissing.
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Thus kissing is an ancient thing,
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and gives content to many a Madam
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In loving sort, City or Country:
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Eve was the first beloved of Adam ,
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for kissing.
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When friends with one another meete,
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it is a courtesie thats common,
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In house, in field, or in the streete,
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most lovingly to salute a woman
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with kissing.
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The Court thats cal'd the Commissary,
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doth punish with pennance that same pleasure,
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And yet in their woing, yongmen will be doing,
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still kindnes shewing their owne sweethearts
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with kisses.
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Kissing it gives no offence,
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nor danger brings to one or other:
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For in the vertuous sects that are,
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the sister will salute the brother
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with kissing.
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When discontent twixt man and wife,
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doth cause them one fall out with another,
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The onely meanes to make them friends,
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and silently their grieves to smoother,
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is kissing.
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The hardy Soldier stout and strong,
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that honour gaines himselfe by fighting,
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In time of peace his joyes increase,
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he in his mistris takes delight in,
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for kissing.
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The beauteous girles that portions lacke,
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oft times rich husbands kind and loving,
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Doe them respect and still affect,
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their beauties are so bright and moving
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in kissing.
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The aged man of three-score yeeres,
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oft takes to wife a girle of twenty,
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The cause whereof you may suppose,
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which make him take this girle so dainty,
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is kissing.
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And widdowes many times doo dote,
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respecting not a pin their treasure,
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But marrie with Lads have never a groat,
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because in them they finde sweet pleasure,
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in kissing.
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Thus kissing is an ancient thing,
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and gives content to many a Madam,
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Many delightfull thing it doth bring.
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Eve was the first beloved of Adam
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for kissing.
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