The Two Constant Lovers; Or,
The Prentice obtain'd his Master Daughter
By True Love and Loyalty.
The Father thought to separate
his Prentice from his Daughter;
But their affections was too great,
then listen what comes after.
To the Tune of, As I walkt forth to take the Ayr, etc.
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COme listen to me, my true Love,
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since that I have great cause to weep,
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For thinking of my own true Love,
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I neither night nor day can sleep.
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Neither neight nor day can sleep, dear heart
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but constantly do sigh and grieve;
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Had I the World, with it I'de part,
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since I had rather dye than live.
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But what if I was dead, Sweet-heart,
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and far enough from thee was gone;
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It might make you sigh, lament and grieve
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For I'm sure you could not hear my moan
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The Maids Answer to the Prentice.
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[A]way from me, fond Prentice Boy,
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and do not now stand prating here;
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You know I am your Masters joy,
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your time's not out above two year.
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Thou art my only joy, dear heart,
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and one that I do love so dear,
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My love to thee shall ne'r depart,
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If I was yet to serve full seven year.
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If I had seven Year to serve, my Jo,
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and thou wert at New-Castle upon Tine;
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Upon my bare feet would I go,
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to see the true lover of mine.
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If that my Father did but know
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the love that you do bear to me;
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Of a certain he will be your Foe,
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and that might sure your ruine be.
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But the old Man over-heard them both,
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as it was his chance for to come by;
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Saying you must be parted, yet I'm loath,
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to hear my Daughter sigh and cry.
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TO London the Old Man sent the Maid,
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and there a while for to remain:
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And the Prentice at home must be staid,
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till the Daughter did return again.
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The Prentices Letter to his Sweet-heart at
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London.
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Now thou from me art gone, dear heart,
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I never can enjoy no ease;
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Yet my love from thee shall not depart,
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and I will strive our friends to please.
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But I fear our friends will not be pleas'd,
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but will cast a disliking eye;
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Yet my love to thee shall never cease,
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till all the brackish Seas be dry.
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Till all the Seas be dry, dear heart,
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and Stones do melt against the Sun;
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My love from thee shall ne'r depart,
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till these things are perform'd and done.
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The white Swan shall turn black, I say,
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the Mountains all remov'd shall be;
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If my love from thee shall go astray,
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so long as life remains in me.
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The Maids Letter from London to the Prentice
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Now I am gone away from thee,
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yet I'll stay but a little while;
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And I will come again to thee,
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if that it was five hundred Mile.
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If it was five hundred Miles, my Dear,
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which I think it is too far for thee,
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But if it was ten times as far,
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still I would do as much for thee.
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Dear heart, just like the Turtle-Dove
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which is sitting upon yonders Tree,
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And waiting for her own true Love,
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just even so do I for thee.
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O then this Young-man tore his hair,
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and bitterly he did lament:
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'Cause he could not enjoy his Dear,
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her absence caus'd his discontent.
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Her Father understanding then
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that Letters past between them both:
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Sent for his Daughter home agen,
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and was resolv'd to know the truth.
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Now welcome home, my Daughter dear,
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thrice welcome home art thee:
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Then bespoke the Prentice with good cheer
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ten thousand times welcome to me.
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Her Father hearing him say so,
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straightways he gave them his consent:
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And then they to the Church did go,
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and marry'd was to their content.
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And now let this a Pattern be,
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unto all Young Men and Maids:
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Then hereafter you shall not see
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so many go to the Elizium Shades.
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FINIS.
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