NELL's humble Petition:
OR,
The Maidens kind and courteous Courtship to honest John the Joyner,
whose Love she earnestly desired.
To the Tune of I marry thank ye too. Licensed according to order.
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T Here was an Old Maid of late,
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who did in a Service dwell,
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It was not far from Billingsgate ,
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her Name it was bouncing Nell .
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I solemnly do engage,
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if I have not lost my skill,
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That she is Forty years of Age,
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and yet is unmarried still.
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There was a young man hard by,
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the which was both tall and trim,
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And though he never her came nigh,
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yet she was in love with him.
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The maiden she often cry'd,
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Oh do not my Love refuse,
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I very fain wou'd be your Bride,
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and you're the Man I chuse.
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Why Nelly , he cry'd, thou art Old,
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thy wrinkl'd Brow I see,
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They Limbs is stiff, thy Bloud is cold,
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thou art not a Wife for me.
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Why Johnny , I know 'tis truth,
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yet you may be happy still,
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For what I want to blooming Youth,
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is added in perfect Skill.
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My Love I'll to the impart,
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I know thou art an honest man,
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If you can't love me with all your Heart,
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yet love me as well as you can.
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Thy Charms I must needs adore,
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for thou hast a tempting Eye,
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Thy Skin is like the Tawny-Moor,
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and thy Nose it stands all awry.
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Why do you a Maid deride?
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Why is your Affections cold?
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A Fig for Beauty, John , she cry'd,
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I have a long Bag of Gold.
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And Cupid has kiss'd my Heart,
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and now I must have a man,
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And if you can't love me with all your Heart,
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yet love me as well as you can.
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I value not Gold or Pearl,
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true Love makes amends for all,
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Give me a handsome youthful Girl,
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though she has no Coin at all.
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But Johnny , said she, you know,
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with Wealth you may happy be,
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'Tis Money make the Mare to go,
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then prithee be rul'd by me.
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Alas! I am loth to part
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with this pritty sweet smirking John ,
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And if you can't love me with all your Heart,
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yet love me as well as you can.
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Whatever I now have spoke,
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in troth thou shalt find it true,
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I'll buy thee a new Suit and Cloak,
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a delicate Beaver too.
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Be not in the least afraid,
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to marry with Nelly , when
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I vow to keep a handsome Maid,
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to pleasure thee now and then.
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He then did his mind impart,
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and spoke like an honest man,
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If he could not love her with all his Heart,
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he'd love her as well as he can.
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