A mad kinde of wooing,
Or, a Dialogue betweene Will the simple, and Nan the subtill,
With their loving agreement.
To the tune of the new dance at the Red Bull Play-house.
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SWeet Nancie I doe love thee deare,
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Beleeve me if thou can,
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And shall, I doe protest and sweare,
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while that thy name is Nan.
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I cannot court with eloquence,
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As many Courtiers doe:
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But I doe love intirely wench,
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and must enjoy thee too.
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Spight of friends that contends
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To separate our love:
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If thou love me as I love thee,
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my minde shall ne're remove.
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Nan.
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Peace goodman clowne you are to briefe,
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In proffering love to me:
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And if thou use such rusticke speech,
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wee two shall ne're agree:
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Dost thinke my fortunes Ile forsake,
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To marry with a clowne,
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When I have choice inough to take,
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of Gallants in the towne,
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The Eagles eye doth scorne the flie,
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Shele find a better prey:
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Therfore leave off thy dotish sute,
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away fond foole away.
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Will.
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Why prethe Nan ne're scorne my love,
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Although I be but plaine:
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Where Will doth once but set his love,
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he must not love in vaine.
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For all you speake so Scholler-like,
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And talke of Eagles eyes:
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Know I am come a wooing wench
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and not a catching flies.
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Then ne're reply nor yet deny,
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I will not be denaid:
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I would not have the world report,
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I twice did woe a maide.
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Nan.
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But twice and thrice and twenty times
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You'l wooe before you win:
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To match with ignorance 'mongst maids
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is held a sottish sin.
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Therefore Ile match if ere I match,
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One equall to my spirit:
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And such a one or else no one,
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shall my best love inherit.
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A man of wit best doth fit
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A Mayden for to take,
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Then such a man if that I can:
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my husband I will make.
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Will.
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Why Nan I hope thou dost not take,
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Thy Will to be a foole:
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Thou knowst my Father for thy sake,
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three yeeres kept me at schoole.
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And if that thou hast spirit enough,
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To yeeld to be my joy,
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I warrant I have spirit enough,
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to get a chopping boy.
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Then ne're deny, yeeld and try,
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Or try before you trust:
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Let who will seeke for to enjoy,
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for Will both will and must.
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The second part. To the same tune.
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WHy I have those that seek my love
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That are too stout to yeeld:
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And rather then they'd lose my love,
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they'd win me in the field.
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Their skill in martiall excercise,
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So much doth thine surpasse,
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That should they heare thee sue for love,
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they'd count thee but an asse,
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Then be mute thy foolish sute
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Is all but spent in vaine:
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Tis an impossibility
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thou shouldst my love obtaine.
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Will.
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Dost heare me Nan what ere he be,
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Doth challenge love of thee,
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Ile make him like to Cupid blind,
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he shall have no eyes to see.
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I thinke I have a little skill,
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My armes be strong and tuffe:
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And I will warrant they shall serve
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to baste him well enuffe:
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If he but starts to touch thy skirts,
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Or in the least offends:
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By all the hopes I have of love,
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Ile cut of his fingers ends.
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Nan.
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How should I grant to fancie thee,
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Whom others doe disdaine.
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If thou shouldst chance to marry me,
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how wouldst thou me maintaine:
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Thou knowest not how to use a wife,
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Thou art to homely bred:
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And soone I doubt to jealousie,
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thy fancie might be led:
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Many feares urge my cares,
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That I should carefull be:
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I feare I match a crabbed peece,
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if I should marry thee.
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Will.
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Nan I am plaine and cannot cog,
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Nor promise wondrous faire:
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When all my promises shall prove
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like Castles built i'th Aire:
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My true performance shall be all,
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My word shall be my deed:
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And honest Nan if I have thee,
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you shall have all you need.
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Clay hands be bold, say and hold,
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Let us make quick dispatch:
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If thou love me as I love thee,
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weele straight make up the match.
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Nan.
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Then Will here is both hand and heart,
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Ile love thee till I dye:
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The world may judge I match for love,
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and not all for the eye.
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I had rather match a lusty youth,
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Whose strength is now at full,
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Then match a small weake timbred man,
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whose strength hath had a pull.
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Maidens all both great and small,
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That hope to marry at length,
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Doe not marry for bravery:
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but unto strength adde strength.
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