A most pleasant Dialogue:
OR
A merry greeting betweene two lovers,
How Will and Nan did fall at strife,
And at the last made man and wife.
To the tune of Lusina.
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GOod morrow faire Nansie, whither so fast,
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I pray sweet, whither are you walking?
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Stand backe, Jack-sauce, I like not your cast,
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I scorne with Coxcombs to be talking.
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No rustick Clowne within the Towne,
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shall disturb me, stop, stay, or hinder,
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To talke with such a foole as thee:
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no man shall thinke my wits so slender.
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Thou knowst I am a Gentleman borne,
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and come of no small reputation:
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My fame will never be out worne,
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whilst English men injoy this Nation.
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In foraigne Lands I have beene proved
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to be the leader of the battel,
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Of Captaines knights and Lords beloved,
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when thundering Drums and Cannons rattle.
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I heard indeed thou hast beene prest,
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and know the cause of it, beleeve me:
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Onely to get a man releast,
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for which he 20. shillings gave thee:
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But being come into the place,
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whilst others bravely shewed their cunning,
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Thou like a Coward didst hide thy face,
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and glad wert thou for to be running.
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I have 3. hundred pounds a yeere,
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which shall be thine, if thou canst fansie,
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And love thy friend as may appeare,
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all shall redound to my sweet Nansie.
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My birth also thou dost wellknow,
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my Parentage doth grace our meeting:
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Grant me thy love, and thou shalt be
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the Mistris of my wealth, my sweeting.
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As for thy wealth, keepe to thy selfe,
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for feare heere-after thou shouldst want it:
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I knew a foole bestowed his pelfe,
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and in small time he did recant it.
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But for thy birth, I thinke on earth
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the like was not by one nor other,
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Long 7. yeeres together, through wind & weather,
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thou wast borne at the backe of thy mother.
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When I lived with my friends at home,
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I went in silke and rich arayment,
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With Gallants I in Tavernes roard,
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ten pound at once in ready payment
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I did disburse out of my purse,
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unto the Vintner for good licker,
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And so my Father allowed me to doe,
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to make my wits and spirits quicker.
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The second part, to the same tune.
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MUch like unto a ruffian, rude,
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thou didst 'mongst Puncks & Panders wander,
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And commpany keptst with Strumpets lude,
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as flockes of Geese keepe with the Gander.
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To Tom of Bedlam wouldst thou skip,
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all this is truth which I doe tell yet,
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And eate the meate out of his scrip,
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so glad wert thou to fill thy belly.
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Why Nan, me thinkes thou shouldst not chide,
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nor put thy will to these disgraces:
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Many faire Lasses I have denyed,
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which sought to win me with imbraces.
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Winny the witty and Parnell the pritty,
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and Sis of the City have sought unto me.
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Besse, Joane, and Isabell: Sue, Alce & bonny Nell,
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thought of me passing well, & Kate did woo me.
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Since thou so many loves hast had,
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and every one of them doe forsake thee,
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Ile show thee how thou maist soone be a Dad,
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if thou with speed away be take thee.
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Goe to Pickt-hatch, there is bouncsing Kate,
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that for a good husband is like to miscarry,
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If thou goest unto her, and soundly dost woo her,
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shee'd make thee a Dad the first day thou dost marry.
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Wilt please you to the Taverne goe,
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and take a pint of Sack or Clarret:
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Fine Suger cakes weele have also,
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what-ever it cost I will pay for it.
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The good Sack-bowle shall merrily trowle.
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in Nectar shall your health goe roundly,
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Then well-come lucke; my dainty duck,
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may sit and see her selfe pledg'd soundly.
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Thou boystrous Clowne, give over thy sute,
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and leave thy fabling complication:
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Speake wiser words, or else be mute,
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twill be more for thy commendation,
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Thy jolly red nose doth well disclose,
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and shew thee to be a man of mettle:
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Thou'lt sit in a house, to drinke and carouse,
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till thy nose looke like a Copper-kettle.
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All these strange speeches which here are past,
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shall never make me misdoubt my Nanny:
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I trust to injoy thy favour at last,
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the words in derision thou hast given me many
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I for thy sake will under take,
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to swim the Ocean like Leander.
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Be thou to me like Penelope,
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which in affection did never wander.
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Then heeres my hand, sweet, Will at command
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my heart also shall still procure,
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Like faithful Hero to thee Ile stand,
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like dame Venus will I indure,
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To keepe my Joy from direfull annoy,
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Ile leave my life to doe thee pleasure.
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Take all thy selfe, my only sweet boy,
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my Jewels, Rings, my gold and treasure.
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Thankes gentle mistris of my heart,
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my brest hath now given over panting:
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To Church let us goe act the part,
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which yet betwixt us two is wanting.
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In Nuptiall bands give hearts and hand -
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which never can be separated.
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Great Cresus gold twice overtold:
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could never be so highly rated.
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