The Nightingales Song; Or The Souldiers rare Musick,
and Maids Recreation.
The Song adviseth Maids to have a care,
And of a Souldiers Knap-sack to beware.
The Tune of, No, no, not I; Or, Peggy and the Souldier.
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AS I went forth
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one Sun-shining Day,
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A dainty young Couple
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were gathering May:
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The one a fair Damosel,
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of beauty most clear,
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The other a Souldier,
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as it doth appear.
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With kisses and compliments,
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to her he said,
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Good morrow sweet honey
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thou well favour'd Maid,
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I think my self happy,
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I met with you here
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As you are a Virgin,
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and I a Souldier.
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And now if you pleased be,
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I will you bring,
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Wheras you shall hear
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the sweet Nightingal sing:
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With other rare pastimes,
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my skill shall be try'd
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If you will walk with me,
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to the merry green-wood side.
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Sweet Sir (said the Damosel
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If you will do so,
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Then hand in hand with you,
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along I will go,
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It is recreation
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for maids in the Spring,
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To see Flowers grow,
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and hear Nightingals sing.
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And having thus spoken,
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together they went,
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Unto a merry green-wood,
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where some time they spent,
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In walking and talking,
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of many an odd thing,
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But yet could not hear
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the Nightingal sing.
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A dainty clear river,
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was running them by,
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A Bank of sweet Violets,
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and Primroses nigh:
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Then said the young Gallant,
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sit down by this spring,
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We'l here take out pleasure
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till the Nightingal sing.
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The Maid seem'd unwilling,
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and said she'd be gone,
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And yet she was loath
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for to leave him alone,
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At last she resolved
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her self to this thing,
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To stay till they heard,
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the sweet Nightingal sing.
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Amongst the sweet Flowers
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they straightway sat down,
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The young-man in kindness,
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gave her a green Gown,
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He also presented
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to her a Gold Ring,
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'Cause she should stay there,
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till the sweet Nightingal sing.
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And having thus done,
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he took her about the middle,
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And forth of his Knap-Sack,
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he pull'd a rare Fiddle,
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And plaid her a fit,
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made the Vallies to ring,
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Oh now, (quoth she) I hear
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the Nightingal sing.
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THen now said the Souldier
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'tis time we give ore,
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Nay prithee (quoth she) play
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me one Lesson more:
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I like boht the setting,
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and tuning the string,
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Far better than hearing
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the Nightingal sing.
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He struck up his musick,
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unto a high strain,
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And plaid the tune over
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again and again:
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Gramercy brave Souldier.
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(quoth she that did bring
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Me hither to hear the rare
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Nightingal sing.
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Their sport being ended,
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then homeward they went,
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Each one thought the time,
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to be very well spent:
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It was quoth the Damosel,
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a very rare thing.
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Whilst thou playd'st thy part,
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to hear the Nightingal sing.
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At last with a deep sigh,
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these words spake she;
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I pray thee good Souldier
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wilt thou marry me:
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Else my hasty pleasure,
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sweet Sorrows will bring,
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And I may repent I heard
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the Nightingal sing,
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Oh no, quoth the Souldier,
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I may not do so,
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Along with my Captain,
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tomorrow I must go,
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But if I come this way,
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again the next Spring,
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We'l walk once more to hear
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the sweet Nightingal sing.
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You Maids of the City,
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and Country that be
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Addicted to pleasure,
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take warning by me:
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Let no flattering Young-men,
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tempt ye to this thing.
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To go to the wood to hear
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the Nightingal sing.
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Make bargain before hand,
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for fear you miscarry,
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Know whether or no they are
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minded to marry:
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If I had been wise, and
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had done such a thing,
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I need not repent I heard
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the Nightingal sing.
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