THE
Coy Maids Repentance;
OR,
The Old Maids Wish:
Notwithstanding her often good Proffers in Marriage , and her present
Resolution .
Tune of, The Buff-Coat hath no Fellow. This may be Printed, R. P.
|
W Hen I was Young and handsome too,
|
I had of Sutors plenty,
|
I tell the truth and do not lye,
|
I had not less than twenty:
|
But I was coy unto them all,
|
which now full sore doth grieve me,
|
If the worst of them should come again,
|
I'de marry you may believe me,
|
I thought myself as fine a Lass
|
as was in all the City;
|
My M[a]ntua and my Top-knot on,
|
me thought I looked pritty:
|
My Night-trayl laced very fine,
|
was put upon my Shoulders,
|
I did conceit within my thoughs,
|
I ravisht the beholders.
|
The Young Men they cou[r]ted me,
|
I seemed to them coy,
|
Yet for to go abroad with them,
|
it was my only joy:
|
Their gifts and treats so pleased me,
|
and calling me their Jewel,
|
It caused me sometime to think,
|
I would no more be cruel.
|
The next day came another man,
|
and he began to Wooe me;
|
Quoth he, let me have thy dear Love,
|
or else it will undoe me:
|
But I seem coy as formerly,
|
and said I would not marry;
|
Oh now if he could come again,
|
I would no longer tarry.
|
I do lament the time I lost,
|
whilst I some Suitors had,
|
The Devil take this Pride. said I,
|
for sure that made me mad:
|
For had I had an humble mind,
|
I need not so long have tarried,
|
But now my note will ever be,
|
oh when shall I be Marry'd.
|
But I may wish, and wish again,
|
I would I had been wiser;
|
I'me now content to Wed with one,
|
though he were a very Miser:
|
To nurse him and to wait on him,
|
I know 'twill be but my Duty,
|
Because I have o'reslipt my time,
|
when I had Youth and Beauty.
|
I did not think old Age would come,
|
so fast and soon upon me,
|
My hollow Eyes and wrinkled Brows,
|
in faith doth quite disgrace me:
|
My Teeth fall out, and mouth falls in,
|
there's neither Will nor Harry ,
|
Nor Roger , nor Tom , nor Nick, nor Sam ,
|
will ever with me marry.
|
I wish some Blind-man would me Wed,
|
I studdy would to please him,
|
He could not see me day nor night,
|
his Baggs sometimes I'de peep in:
|
And I would surely store my self,
|
with Clothing and with Money,
|
I'de carry myself so well to him,
|
he should call me his Dear Honey:
|
What I shall say unto you now,
|
I pray you well to mark,
|
I should be as good unto the old Man,
|
as a Lady in the dark;
|
He could not see my hollow Eyes,
|
Nor yet no other Feature,
|
I should seem as great a Beauty to him,
|
as ever was any Creature.
|
I have o'reslipt my Youthful time,
|
and now have a mind to Marry,
|
I could be content with any one,
|
his Name that I might carry:
|
For I am weary of my own,
|
Young Maidens do so jeer me,
|
Because I am not a wedded Wife,
|
which very much doth grieve me.
|
Fair Maidens all be ruled by me,
|
to Young Men be not slighting,
|
Nor for your Love let none dispair,
|
lest they go forth to fighting:
|
Use well your time, and while you may,
|
a deserving Man go Marry,
|
Else when you are old as I am now,
|
you must for ever tarry.
|
|
FINIS.
|
|
|
|