Foure pence halfe penney Farthing:
OR,
A Woman will have the Oddes.
To the tune of Bessy Bell, or a Health to Betty.
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O Ne Morning bright, (for my delight)
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Into the Fields I walked,
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There did I see
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A Lad, and hee
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with a faire Maiden talked.
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It seem'd to me, they could not agree,
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About some pretty bargaine,
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He offer'd a groat,
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But still her note
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was foure pence halfe penney farthing.
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Whats that thought I, that he would buy
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at such a little value,
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And as much I mus'd
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Wherefore he us'd
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that summe of which I tell you,
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The price was small, but that's not all.
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The rest is worth regarding,
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for nothing she,
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would doe, till he,
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gave foure pence halfe penney farthing.
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Quoth he faire Maid, let me perswade,
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you to unfold a reason,
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Why you request,
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Bove all the rest
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that price now at this season,
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Quoth she, good Sir, I doe preferre,
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My humour, before the bargaine:
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by all the gods,
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Ile have the ods,
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just foure pence halfe penney farthing.
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I made an oath, which I am loth
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to violate, I tell you.
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Though't be more worth,
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If' t'were set forth
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the Jewell which I tell you,
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The number three, best liketh me,
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Therefore I aske according,
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three pieces of you,
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as 'tis my due,
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that's foure pence halfe penney farthing.
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When this yong Lad, received had,
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to his demand, an answer:
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He laught outright,
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As well he might,
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for he, nor his great Grandser,
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The like nere heard, it well appear'd,
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She knew how to make her bargin.
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he drew his purse,
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and did disburse,
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just foure pence halfe penney farthing.
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When he had paid, the pretty Maid.
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and gave what she desired,
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To have the same,
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For which he came,
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he eagerly required,
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But ere they could, doe what they would,
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I (who had unaware bin,
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and heard and seene,
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what past betweene,
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for foure pence halfe penney farthing.
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The second part, To the same tune.
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U Nto them stept, by which I kept
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the yongster from his pleasure,
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The best ont'was,
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The witty Lasse.
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before had got his Treasure,
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She swore to me, that never she,
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Would have perform'd the bargin,
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her meaning was,
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to make him an Asse,
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for foure pence halfe penney farthing.
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And truely I, thinke verily,
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in that she did dissemble:
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Poore Fellow hee,
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At sight of mee,
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began to quake and tremble.
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His sword I found, upon the ground,
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With which I did reward him,
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with a knocke or twaine,
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twas all his gaine,
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for foure pence halfe penney farthing.
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When I had beate him with's own weapon,
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and might have run him thorow,
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To 'th Alehouse we,
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Did goe all three,
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to drinke away all sorrow.
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The honest Lasse, most willing was,
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To call her whole reward in.
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and freely spent,
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with merriment,
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her foure pence halfe penney farthing.
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And he likewise, was not precise,
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but, (as it seemed) willing,
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To call for drinke,
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As much I thinke
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as came unto a shilling.
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I would have paid but he denaid,
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And thus I got by'th bargin,
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good sport and drinke,
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which makes me thinke
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of foure pence halfe penney farthing.
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But ere they went, I, to prevent
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their meeting againe together,
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Sent her away,
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And made him stay,
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I'me sure he met not with her.
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If she be nought, as't may be thought,
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Jove send her a Whores rewarding,
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but good or bad,
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she guld the Lad
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of foure pence halfe penney farthing.
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The to'ther day, upon the way,
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it was my chance to meet her.
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She blushed red,
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And nothing sed,
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but I began to greet her.
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Now now sweet Lasse, can you thus passe
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By me without regarding.
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though you have forgot,
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yet I have not.
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the foure pence halfe penney farthing.
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Kind Sir (quoth she) I well doe see,
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you have not it forgotten,
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Quoth I, I protest,
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This may be a Jest,
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when we are dead and rotten,
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She whent her way, and since that day,
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I thought it might be a rare thing:
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to cause this Jest,
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thus t' be exprest
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of foure pence halfe penney farthing.
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