The young-mans Resolution to the Maidens Request
BEING
A witty Dialogue between a Young-man and a maid.
Wherein she asks him when he intends to Marry,
And he resolves her how long he will tarry.
To the Tune of, In summer time .
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A S I was walking under a Grove,
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within my self as I supposed;
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My mind did often times remove,
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and by no means could be disclosed:
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At length by chance a friend I met,
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which caused me long time to tarry;
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And then of me she did intreat
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to tell her when I meant to marry.
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Sweet-heart, quoth I, if you would know,
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then mark these words and i'le reveal it;
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Since in your heart you bear it so,
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and in your heart you do conceal it.
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She promised to make no words,
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but of such things she would be wary:
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And thus in brief I did begin
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to tell her when I meant to marry.
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When Shrovetide falls in Easter week,
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and Christmas in the midst of July ,
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And Lawyers for no Fees will plead,
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and Taylors they deal just and truly:
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When all Deceits are quite put down,
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and Truth by all men is preferred,
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And Indigo dyes Red and Brown,
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O then my Love and I'll be marryed.
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When Saffron grows on every Tree,
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and every stream flows Milk and Honey,
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And Sugar grows in Carret-fields,
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and Usurers refuse good Money;
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When Country-men for Judges sits,
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and Lammass falls in February ,
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And Millers they their Tole forgets,
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O then my Love and I will marry.
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W Hen men & beasts i'th' Ocean flows,
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& fishes in green fields are feeding,
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When Muscle-shells i'th' streets do grow,
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and Swans upon dry Rocks are breeding:
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When Cockle-shells are Diamond Rings,
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and Glass to Pearl may be compared,
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And Gold is made of the Gray-Goose wings,
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O then my Love and I'le be marryed.
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When Summer doth not dry up Mire,
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and men on Earth do leave to flatter;
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When Bakers they do use no Fire,
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and Brewers they do use no Water:
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When Mountains are by men remov'd
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and England into France is carried,
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And all Maids prove true to their Loves,
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O then my Love and I'le be marryed.
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When Hostesses do reckon true,
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and Dutch-men leave off drinking Brandy
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When Cats do bark, and Dogs do mew,
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and Brimstone's took for Sugar-candy:
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Or when that Whitsuntide doth fall
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within the Month of January ;
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And Coblers works without an Awl,
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O then my Love and I will marry.
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When women know not how to scold,
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and maids of sweethearts ne'r are thinking
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When men i' th' fire complain of cold,
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and ships on Salisbury Plain fear sinking:
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When Horse-coursers turn honest men,
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and London unto York is carried;
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Or when you out of one can take ten,
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O then my Love and i'le be married.
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When Candlesticks do serve for Bells,
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and frying-pans are us'd for Ladles,
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Or when in the Sea they dig for Wells
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and Pottage-pots they make for Cradles:
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When Maids forget to go a Maying,
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and a man on's back an Ox can carry;
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Or when the Mice with the Cat be playing
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'tis then my Love and I will marry.
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Good sir, since you have told me when
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you are resolved for to marry,
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I wish with all my heart till then
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that for a Wife you still might tarry;
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For if all Young-men were of your mind,
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and Maids no better were preferred,
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I think it would be when the Devil is blind
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that we and our Lovers should be marryed.
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FINIS J. S:
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