The York-shire Maids Fairing:
OR,
The forsken Maids good Counsel.
For she once had a Sweet-heart was loving and kind;
But she unto him, was scornful in Mind:
Now she counsels all Maidens to have a care.
Lest they (like to her) be left in a Snare.
Tune is, Come hither my own sweet Duck.
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A S I abroad did walk
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within a Meadow gay
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I heard a Damsel talk,
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and to her self did say,
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Though I forsaken be
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I never will despair,
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Anothers as good for me,
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then farewell grief and care,
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Take heed you Maidens fair
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of young mens flattering mone,
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I pray you have a care
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love as you may let it alone.
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A Sweet-heart late I had
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at first was wondrous kind,
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And he was as sweet a Lad
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as you can any find:
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In person proper and tall,
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as any you can spie
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But this was the worst of all,
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he was given to cog and lye.
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But now I will have a care,
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of such [?] he is gone,
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I scorn for to despair,
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but love as I may let it alone,
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I must confesse that once
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he doted on my face,
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With many a bitter groane,
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he oft did me imbrace.
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With sighs and sobs he said
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that he would marry me,
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So he my heart betray'd,
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to love him faithfully,
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But now he has plaid the knave
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and from me he is gone,
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The thing that I desire to have
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is to love as I may let it alone.
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How should a Maiden trust
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such a false dissembling knave,
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Whose actions are unjust,
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poor Maidens to deceive
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With nimble wit and tongue
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they'l tell you a thousand lies,
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Nay I think I doe not wrong
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if I say as stars in skie.
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Take heed you maidens fair,
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of young-mens flattering mone
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I wish you have a care,
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love as you may let it alone.
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F Or if they can prevail
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to have their full desire,
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Be sure they will not fail
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to kindle Venus fire.
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When you desire to have
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a joyful Wedding day
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Then like a dissembling knaves
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from you they'l flye away,
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Therefore take heed I pray
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be sure to keep your own
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You maidens all I say
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love as you may let it alone.
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This councel which I give
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was from a maiden fair
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She warn'd me whilst I live
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of young-men to beware
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For fear you be beguilde
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by a false dissemblinst tongue
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And after prove with child
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then he will from you run
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Therefore pray have a care
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be sure to keep your own
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I say you maidens fair
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love as you may let it alone.
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But yet I must confess
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there is some loyal men
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Would scorn for to transgress
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but love for love agen,
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When any such you find
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that doth most constant prove
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Then serve him in this kind
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and grant him love for love
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Till then pray have a care
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be sure to keep your own
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I say you maidens fair
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love as you may let it alone.
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You maidens great and small
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which hear this merry song
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I speak unto you all
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take heed you do no wrong
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But if your sweet hearts they
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do true and constant prove
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Then have a care I say
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you grant them love for love
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Till then pray think on this
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that is to keep your own
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Then you cannot do amiss
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love as you may let it alone.
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There is a proverb old
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which now runs in my mind
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It often hath been told
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to many Lovers kind.
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And now I tell you right,
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then mark what I shall say
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If will not when you might
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when you would shal hav nay
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Look to it you maidens fair
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be sure to hold your own
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I pray you have care
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love as you may let it alone.
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For I my self of late
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have proved this proverb true
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Like one unfortunate
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I now the same do rue
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For when my love was real
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then I did prove untrue
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A nd give him flat denial
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now sorrow is my due.
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Take heed you maidens fair, etc.
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Concluding thus I cry
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you maidens all farewell
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Beware of flattery,
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the true sound of my knell
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Nor must you scornful be
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your sweet-hearts for to try,
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Lest you repent like me
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with tears and watery eye
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Yet pray you have a care
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be sure you hold your own
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Though I live in dispair
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love as you may let it alone.
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FINIS.
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