Give me the Willow-Garland;
Or, The Maidens Former Fear [,] and Latter Comfort.
At first she for a Husband made great moan,
But at the last she found a loving one.
To a dainty new Tune, called, Give me the Willow Garland.
|
A S I walked forth
|
in the merry month of June ,
|
To hear the Nightingale
|
sing her best tune:
|
I spy'd a young Maid,
|
which sighed and said,
|
My time I have wasted in vain,
|
Much love I have spent,
|
which makes me repent,
|
On them that holds me in disdain:
|
Take pitty, quoth she,
|
some gentle body,
|
Give me the Willow-garland,
|
for none will have me.
|
I am in my conscience
|
full sixteen years old,
|
Yet still go unmarried,
|
which makes my heart cold:
|
there's many you see,
|
that's younger than me,
|
that suckles sweet babes at the breast
|
that lives at their ease,
|
and carries the Keys
|
Of many fair Cupboard and Chest:
|
Take pitty, etc.
|
Some men will give handkerchiefs,
|
some will give gloves,
|
And some will give Bodkins,
|
to purchase maids loves:
|
but I like a friend
|
my money did lend,
|
And never did ask it again:
|
And them that receives,
|
in whom I believed,
|
Have put me to sorrow and pain:
|
Take pitty, etc.
|
When William at first
|
came a wooing me,
|
Good Lord then how jocond
|
and frollick was he?
|
he clip'd me, he kis'd me,
|
he hug'd me in his arms,
|
He promis'd to make me his wife:
|
but he was mistaken,
|
and I am forsaken,
|
Which causes much sorrow & strife:
|
Take pitty, quoth she,
|
some gentle body,
|
Give me the w[i]l[l][ow]-garland,
|
for none will have me.
|
T He next that came to me,
|
was smirking fine Thomas ,
|
And like sweet William ,
|
did make me a promise,
|
but when this young Lad,
|
his will of me had,
|
He gave me a Judas-like kiss,
|
so parted away,
|
the truth tis to say,
|
I ne'r saw him from that time to this
|
Take pitty, etc.
|
Then John the brave Gallant,
|
with a Sword by his side,
|
Came to me, and told me,
|
he'd make me his bride:
|
but in this brave youth,
|
I found but small truth,
|
Although he did vow and protest,
|
to me to prove true,
|
yet he bad me adieu,
|
And prov'd quite as bad as the rest,
|
Take pitty, etc.
|
There was Richard and Robert ,
|
came both on one day,
|
But they like the others
|
soon vanish[']d away:
|
And since that time,
|
whilst spring was in prime,
|
I have had of suitors great plenty,
|
I dare to be bold,
|
if they were all told,
|
That they were at least 3 & twenty:
|
Take pitty, etc.
|
Now seeing that fortune
|
hath me so much crost,
|
That all my old Sweet-hearts
|
are quite gone and lost,
|
my self Ile commend
|
to God Cupid my Friend,
|
And to him will heartily pray,
|
to send me a Love
|
that constant will prove,
|
And never to straggle away:
|
Take pitty, etc.
|
There's nothing at all
|
that belongs to a man,
|
But in a short warning
|
well fit him I can:
|
I have Silver and Gold
|
which my Father never told,
|
I have very good cloaths to my back
|
I have House and Land,
|
and good goods at command,
|
'Tis only a Husband I lack.
|
Take pitty, etc.
|
You see how my Visage,
|
is grown pale and wan,
|
You well may perceive
|
'tis for want of a man:
|
My Pulses do beat,
|
and my body does sweat,
|
And my sences are all at great strife
|
my belly doth ake,
|
and my heart-strings will break,
|
If I cannot be made a wife.
|
And therefore, quoth she, some gentle body,
|
Make me a willow Garland,
|
or else marry me.
|
At last came a young man
|
of courage most bold,
|
Saying, sweet heart, I care not
|
for Silver nor Gold:
|
but if thou wilt prove
|
like the Turtle-Dove,
|
Right faithful and true to thy friend;
|
then will I be thine,
|
and thou shalt be mine,
|
And i'le love thee unto my lives end.
|
Your Servant, quoth she,
|
my Ture-Love, quoth he,
|
Clap hands on the bargain,
|
and so we'l agree.
|
And now this young woman
|
is eas'd of her pain,
|
For she never after
|
was known to complain;
|
He made her his wife,
|
And she lives a brave life,
|
Attyred in garments most brave,
|
And all things at will
|
her mind to fulfill,
|
At every command she'l now have,
|
Her Husband is kind,
|
they are both of a mind,
|
According as Nature,
|
and Love doth them bind.
|
Farewell now, quoth she,
|
to the green Willow-tree,
|
I have got a Husband
|
that well pleaseth me.
|
|
|
|
|
|