Rural RECREATIONS:
OR,
The Young-Men and Maids Merriment at their Dancing round a
Country MAY-POLE.
To an Excellent new Tune. Licensed accorcing to Order.
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JOne to the Maypole away let's run,
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The time is swift and will be gone.
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There go the Lasses away to the Green,
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Where there Beauties may be seen.
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Nan, Doll, Kate and Moll,
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Brave Lasses have Lads to attend'em,
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Hodge, Nick, Tom, Dick,
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Brave Dancers, who can amend 'em.
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Did you not see the Lord of the May
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Walk along in his rich Array?
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There goes the Lass that is only his,
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See, how they meet, and how they Kiss!
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Come Will, run Gill,
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Or dost thou list to loose thy labour?
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Kit Crowd, scrape aloud,
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Tickle her Tom with a Pipe and a Tabor.
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Lately I went to a Masque at the Court,
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Where I see the Dances of every sort;
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There they did Dance with time and measure,
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But none like the Country Dances for pleasure,
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There they did Dance, just as in France,
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Not like the English lofty manner:
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and every she, must furnished be
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With a feather'd knack when she sweats for to fan her.
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But when we Dance, and do happen to sweat,
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Have a Napkin in hand for to wipe of the wet,
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And with our dories do Jig it about,
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Not like the Court that are often out.
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If the Tabor do Play, we thump it away,
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And turn and meet our Lasses to kiss 'em,
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nay, they will be, ready as we,
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That hardly at any time can miss 'em.
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Bridget as fair as the blushing Rose,
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With loving Roger freely goes.
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Lord of the May he shall never be,
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For I can Dance as well as he:
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sweet Joan, 'tis well known,
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We have danc'd for many a wager,
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Bridget now, shall allow
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Joan the most expert, I engage her.
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Pipe and Fidler, strike up amain,
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Let us have a chearful strain:
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That the young Lasses may dance around,
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Who are with pleasant Garlands Crown'd:
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Nan, Prue, smirking Sue,
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O how these Lasses did Jigg it and Caper
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Said John, well done Nan,
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It is but in vain for Robin to Vapour.
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Uds-zook's, young Jone she does now out-vie,
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The rest of all the Company:
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For this pleasant Dance which I have seen,
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I'll give her a fair Gown of Green.
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Pigs-nies, how I prize
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Every glance of thy amorous Beauty,
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sweet Face. we'll Embrace:
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It is no more than a true Lovers Duty.
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And if we hold on as we begin,
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Jone thee and I the Garland shall win,
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Nay, if thou livest till another Day,
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I'll make thee Lady of the May.
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Dance about, in and out,
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Turn and kiss, and then for a Greeting;
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now Jone, we have done,
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Fare thee well till the next merry meeting.
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FINIS.
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