Love without Measure;
OR, The Young Man's Delight, and the Maidens Joy.
This young Man woo'd a Damosel fair,
And called her his Joy and Dear,
But she was coy, as Maids will be,
And said he came with Flattery:
But he did protect it was not so,
And at last brought her unto his bow:
Now they live in Love, in Peace, and Joy,
And she very fain would have a Boy.
To a rare new Tune, called, Du-Val's Delight, etc.
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LAte in the Country as I was walking,
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Viewing the Meadows so fresh and green
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There I was aware of two Lovers a talking,
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Under a bush, but could hardly be seen;
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I laid me down and I listen'd a while,
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To hear if the Man could the Maiden begulie:
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But the Maid she was crafty, witty & loyal,
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Altho' many times he put her to th' tryal
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And in the conclusion thus he did her wooe:
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My dear Love, my Joy, and my Honey,
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No tongue can express how dear I love thee,
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Thou shalt never want for love nor mony,
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If thou wilt but set thy affection on me,
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For all the fair Beauties that ever I saw,
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I still must submit and yield to thy law;
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Then unto [t]hy dearest Friend be not so cruel,
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For thou art my comfort, my joy, & my jewel,
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And so I shall count thee until I dye.
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Maid.
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The Damosel unto him straightway reply'd,
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Is it for this you hither me brought?
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Your suit at this time it must be deny'd,
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I am not a bird that's so easily caught:
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For Marriage I see is a costly name;
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Besides (quoth she) i'm too young to marry,
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This seven years I may very well tarry;
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For sorrow & troubles come fast enough on.
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A Maiden (quod she) knows but little sorrow,
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Before that in wedlock band she is ty'd:
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She has very little to buy or to borrow,
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& many times meets with a cross Man beside:
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Which is the worst grief a Woman can have,
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She'd better to be set quick in her Grave,
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Than to have a man that is pevish & froward,
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For Men now a days do prove so untoward,
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'Tis hard for a Maiden in them to put trust
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Man.
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These words my dearest that you have spoken
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Pierces the tender sick heart of mine,
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Oh let true love by you be known,
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Tho' I am the Bark, and you are the Vine,
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Altho' I am poor, and thou art rich,
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Slight me not I thee beseech:
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No Woman yet that ever was gained,
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Shall be more brave and better maintained:
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What I speak to thee I will perform.
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You say that marriage is a hard matter,
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And those that are single live best at ease;
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But with you I do scorn to cog or yet flatter,
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I will speak my mind then say what you please,
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She that is single I know she'd be wed,
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For it is an honour to obtain Marriage=bed,
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Therefore my dearest do not abhor me,
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Thy mother did yield to a man before thee,
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Then why wilt thou not do as she has done?
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Maid.
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What tho' my Mother did make adventure,
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It was a great hazard the which she did run,
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She had her fortune which God he had sent her,
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And he unto her provd a right honest Man:
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But such now a days are hard for to find,
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Men can so dissemble and turn with the wind,
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They'll speak a Maid fair & vow they love her:
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So i'm resolved a Maiden to dye.
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Some Men now a days have sweethearts adozen,
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And in the conclusion they'll marry with none,
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They make it their trade poor Girls to cozen,
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For ought I know you may be such a one:
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Your tongue is so tipt & your words are so fair,
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Your countenance plainly shews what you are;
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That you have been trading with Girls i'th' City
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And wrong'd many Maids, the more is the pitty,
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If you be a Batchellor I am mista'en.
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Man.
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Oh! you're mistaken much in this matter,
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The words you speak I know you can't prove,
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But with you I do scorn is cog or yet flatter,
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Nor never did try if any could love,
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But any but thee I vow and do swear,
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Then prithee be merry and cast away care:
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Be not so fickle, but look on me blithly,
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For I am a Lad that is lusty and lively.
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I'll hug thee and kiss thee ten times of a night,
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I'll promise no riches nor yet no great treasure,
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But all that I have thou shalt it command,
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Altho' i've but little my love's beyond measure,
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Then prithee dear grant me thy heart & hand:
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Then why should we make any longer delay,
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But unto the Church now let us away;
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The Bride Men and Maids they for us do tarry
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Therefore my dear tell me when thou'lt marry,
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If I go without thee I surely shall die.
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Maid.
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If that I thought you did not dissemble,
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I quickly should yield to what you request,
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But Mens tongues I see can run so nimble,
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'Tis hard to trust, and I do protest;
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They can so cologue, both flatter and lie,
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With fair pretences a Maiden to try,
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They'l kiss them & hug them until they've won 'em
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And then they't forsake 'em when they've undon 'em
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So 'tis good to be careful who they do trust
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Man.
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My fairest and dearest if e're I forsake thee,
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I wish that nothing may ever thrive with me.
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Come wealth or woe, no sorrow shall make me,
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Or cause me once to prove disloyal to thee:
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Then prithee look chaerful, & take a sweet kiss,
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In token of love, no harm is in this;
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Let not fickle Fortune no longer you hinder,
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From a good motion to keep us asunder,
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But let our hearts be joyned in one.
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The Maiden she hearing what he had spoken,
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She had no power to [sa]y him nay,
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But gave him a kiss in love as a token,
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As he unto Church should take her away,
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Where they was Married I after did hear;
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Now she calls him honey, he calls her dear,
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Tho' long, at last this young man did gain her,
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Now in civil habit he bravely maintains her,
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Let this be a Pattern for Lovers so true.
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