The Maidens Nay, Or I love not you.
To a pleasant new tune.
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I Spyed a Nymph trip ore the plaine,
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I lur'd to her, she turned againe,
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I woo'd her as a young man should doe,
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but her answer was, Sir, I love not you.
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I thought she seemed in every part,
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So lovely fram'd by Natures Art,
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Her beauty soone allur'd me to woo,
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but her answer was, Sir, I love not you.
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I told her all the sweet of Love,
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And whatsoever her minde might move,
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To entertaine a Lover true,
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but her answer was, Sir, I love not you.
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I told her how I would her decke,
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Her head with gold, with pearle her necke:
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She gave a frowne, and away she flew:
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but her answer was, Sir, I love not you.
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Not me, (sweet heart) O tell me why
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Thou should'st my proffered love deny,
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To whom my heart I have vowed so true?
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but her answer was, Sir, I love not you.
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My sweet and dearest Love quoth I,
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Art thou resolv'd a Mayd to dye?
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Of such a minde I know but few:
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but her answer was, Sir, I love not you.
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This is the pleasant Maying time,
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This is the pleasant golden prime,
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But age will come, and make you to rue
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that ere you said, Sir, I love not you.
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O doe not thou my suite disdaine,
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Nor make me spend my time in vaine,
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But kindly grant a Lovers due:
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yet still she said, Sir, I love not you.
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Faire Nimph, quoth I, but grant me this,
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To enrich my lips with one poore kisse:
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I grant you that which I grant to few.
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yet still she said, Sir, I love not you.
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The young man profering then to depart,
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It griev'd this Mayden to the heart:
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For having kist, O then did she rue
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that ere she said, Sir, I love not you.
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Wherefore with speed she thought it best,
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To stay him by her kinde request,
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Whose coynesse thus had caus'd her to rue
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that ere she said, Sir, I love not you.
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But how at last she did begin,
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With gentle words to lure him in,
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The second part shall plainely show,
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she chang'd her note of I love not you.
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The Maydens Answer, Or
I love none but you.
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KInd sir, quoth she, what needs this hast?
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With that a smile on him she cast,
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Shame curb'd her tongue, but affection drew
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these words, I love no man but you.
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I feele the force of Cupids Dart,
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So deepe hath pierced my tender heart,
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Beleeve me then, for my words are true,
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you will I love Sir, and none but you.
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Doe not deny my proffered love,
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Nor thinke that I the wanton prove:
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Though women seldome use to wooe,
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yet I will love, Sir, and none but you.
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When women love, they will it hide,
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Untill their lovers they have tride:
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Tho I say nay as Maydens doe,
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you will I love, Sir, and none but you.
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Heere is quoth she, my heart and hand,
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My constant love thou shalt command;
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And I doe vow to be ever true,
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you will I love, Sir, and none but you.
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Whilst golden Titan doth display,
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His beames unto the cheerefull day;
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Whilst Spring the Winter doth ensue,
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you will I love, Sir, and none but you.
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On thee my love is fixed fast,
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On thee my love is firmely plac'd:
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For thee Ile bid the world adue,
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you will I love, Sir, and none but you.
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If Hero should Leander leave,
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Faire Lucrece Collatine deceive,
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Or Sirinx prove to Pan untrue,
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yet I love you, Sir, and none but you.
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Object no former coy reply,
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Suspect no future constancy.
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Accept my love as a tribute due,
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onely to you, Sir, and none but you.
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The young man noting well her words,
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This courteous answer then affords;
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Give me thy hand take mine in lieu,
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my love I grant here, and so doe you.
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To Church with speed then let us hye,
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In marriage bands our selves to tye,
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Where enterchanging hands and hearts,
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Ile love thee dearely till death us parts.
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Marke well my Song, you Maidens coy
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That count true love a foolish toy:
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Doe not disdaine when young men woo,
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but love them freely, as they love you.
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