True Love Indeed.
Being the Courtship of William ------ of Portsmouth, to his
Sweet-Heart Betty.
To the Tune of, The Scotch Haymakers.
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COme hither, my dear Betty, and sit thou down by me,
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thou art the fairest Creature that ever I did see;
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all the things that I will have, nothing of you I crave,
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if that thou wilt but love me I will maintain you brave:
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for thou art my jewel, my joy and delight:
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And I will ever love thee, tho' People may us spight:
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if thou'l be true to me, I will be true to thee,
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My dearest Betty, fair & pretty, that thy friends shall see.
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Sweet William 'tis beneath you to marry a poor maid,
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And you a great Rich Grocer, and have a mighty trade:
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when that we marri'd be, you then will say to me,
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I might have had a Lady, or one of high Degree:
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indeed Sir, my Parents are all very Poor,
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And I think a Poorer maiden you never saw before,
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And therefore Sir said she, I pray now pardon me
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You may have a Fortune of a certain nearer your degree.
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Sweet Betty 'tis not for treasure I ever marry shall,
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I have a trade already to maintain us withal;
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if that thou'lt marri'd be, my dearest love, to me,
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I do not care for wealth, nor any one of High Degree:
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and if that you will not have me, I do declare,
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My Trade will soon decay, and I fall into Despair,
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if thou'll be true to me, I will be true to thee,
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my dearest Betty, fair and pretty, I love none but thee.
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Kind William now I pray you your loving Suit forbear,
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we see how many maidens are drawn into the snare,
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For your Parents they will frown, & think to run me down
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Because I am but poor, and you of great renown.
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for it they unto me should prove unkind,
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And in a little space that you should alter your mind,
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such things there often be, as many people see,
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and that's the Reason for this season I shall not agree.
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I prithee don't deny me Betty, nor strive to break my heart,
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For indeed, I should be Ruined, if that we should part,
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Come sit thee down my Dear, these things Love never fear,
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There is no Creature, in that Nature shall abuse my Dear:
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sweet Betty I have asked my friends consent,
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And they indeed do tell me they are very well very content,
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so let us both agree, next week to marry'd be,
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my dearest Jewel be not cruel, I'll be true to thee.
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Your words have been so winning I cannot you deny,
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Should you prove false to me with sorrow I shall cry;
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But if you do prove true, there will be none like you,
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So brisk and rare none can compare, my Dearest that is true:
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So now I am Resolved to alter my life,
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and to change my condition, and be a marri'd wife,
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sweet William then said she, with you I wi[l]l agree,
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I never saw a man like thee, so pleasing unto me.
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So then they both concluded, and to the Church did go,
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Sweet William and fair Betty they made a dainty shew.
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The best of the City were in all th[e]ir Garments rare,
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But none like Betty, fair and pritty, amongst them could compare,
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For they were admired by Rich and Poor,
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Declaring such a Couple they never saw before,
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And now they Marri'd be as all people may see,
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And thus sweet Betty, fair and pritty, & william do agree.
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