EBBA 21175
Magdalene College - Pepys
Ballad XSLT Template
The Constant Couple, OR,
The Glory of True Love.
The Youngman prov'd in the Tryal just
The Maid wae fearful of him to trust,
He told her plainly she should be his Wife
And he with her could live a happy life.
She told him she was loath to yield
But he in time at last did win the field
They made no more ado ner further strife.
But went tot'h Church and joyned Man and Wife.
The Tune of, Bonny Currant ; or, Digbys farwel , or Packington' s Pound . This may be printed R. L. S.
|
O F late I did walk in a pleasant fair day
|
a dainty young couple I spied on the way
|
A gallant young youth and a Maiden so fair
|
They walk'd in the Field to take the fresh Air,
|
And unto the Maiden the Youngman did say
|
il'e ask you a question do not say me nay,
|
For if you deny me it will danger my Life
|
For I am resolv'd to make thee my Wife.
|
I'le dress the like Flora in a rich Array
|
in Gallant Attire ta wear every day
|
Thou shall have thy pleasure both evening & morn
|
with Rings and with Jewels thy self to adorn
|
And all gallant attire thou shalt have my dear
|
that's fit for any Lady in London to wear;
|
If thou yield thy self to me & make no more strife
|
For to be my Bride and my loving sweet Wife.
|
If thou canst but love me in heart and in mind
|
a right honest Man thou of me shalt find
|
Thou shalt have thy pleasure thy joy and delight
|
Ile wait in thy Person by day and by night
|
Thou shalt never want money nor gold I do swear
|
nor nothing too good I will think for my dear,
|
I'le maintain thee so bravely all of thy life,
|
If thou be my true Love and my Loving wife.
|
Thy Aprons of Silk and thy stockings the same
|
thou shalt have no cause thy dear Husband to blame
|
I will thee allow and will never think much
|
or what thou desires I never will grutch
|
Thy Servants to attend thoo to be at thy command
|
shall always be ready to be at thy hand;
|
Come kiss me dear Love now & make no more strife
|
And tell me in one word if thou wilt be my Wife.
|
G Ood friend I do see that your love is most true
|
that I do admire these speeches of you
|
Your wit is so quick and your Tongue is so nimble
|
that I'm half afraid with me you dissemble
|
If I should believe what all youngmen do say
|
I might be undone and be soon made a Prey
|
Therefore I'le see further time spent of my Life,
|
Before I will yield to be any Mans Wife.
|
Some Youngmen are false and unstablesh in Love
|
not one Man in twenty a maiden can prove
|
There's many false hearted and are so unjust
|
its a very hard matter a youngman to trust
|
They'l sweer & dissemble to bring a maid to their bow
|
and seek to undo her and away they will go
|
But if your words but prove true I do spake without strife
|
I could be well pleased for to be your Wife.
|
My dainty sweet Nancy my love is most true
|
and thee I do fancy I love none but you
|
I'le be as good as my word to the every way
|
my estate will maintain thee most gallant & gay
|
For Cupid hath wounded me sore to the Heart
|
I am so linkt unto thee we never will part
|
I'le never be false to thee on my Life
|
If thou be but willing for to be my Wife,
|
With that they together sate down on the Plain,
|
he saluted her kindly and kist her again
|
He gave a Token her which pleas'd her tot'h life
|
she took it most kindly and made no more strife
|
But they was contracted thereupon the same
|
he married her with speed to keep a good name
|
She rejoyceth most greatly he had eas'd all her gri[ef]
|
That he prov'd to honest to make her his Wife.
|
Now all you brave Youngsters & Maidens consider
|
when you go to marry to love one another
|
For these two where Lovers most faithful, and tr[ue]
|
with most dear affection I tell unto you
|
Let every one do now the like I do say
|
then God he will bless you by night and by d[ay]
|
The maid & the Youngman was content to the lif[e]
|
She got her a Husband and he got him a Wife,
|
They was most truehearted and constant I sware
|
I wish that true love may always endure
|
It is not for a Youngman to pleasure his Lass,
|
it's a brave thing when a maiden a youngman ca[n] tru[st]
|
This Youngman was constant unto this fair Mai[d]
|
they wedded and boded and bravely was lead
|
God send them both well all the dayes of their life
|
That he prove a good Husband and she a good wif[e.]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Printed for J. Conyers , at the Black-Raven the first shop in Fetter-Lane next Holborn .
|
View Raw XML