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EBBA 22094

Magdalene College - Pepys
Ballad XSLT Template
An Excellent New Scotch Song, Being lately Sung in a New Play, Called, A Wife for any Man.

DE'el take the War that hurry'd Willy from me, who to love me just had swoarn, they
made him Captain sure to undo me, waa is me he'll ne'er return; A thousand Loons abroad
will Fight him, he from thousands ne'er will run, day and night did I invite him to stay safe
from Sword or Gun: I us'd alluring Graces, with muckle kind Embraces, now Sighing, then
Crying, Tears droping fall, and had he my soft arms prefer'd to wars alarms, my love grows
mad, without the Man of Gad, I fear in my fit I had granted all.

Just at our parting how my hand a squeezed,
and gave to me a gentle Kiss,
And spoke so kind, in truth I was well pleased,
for I found a joy in this,
then I did beg him to quit his Commission;
least he ne'er return again:
And then how wretched wou'd be my condition,
If Willy in the Wars were slain.
I sighing oft did tell him,
What dangers might befel him,
In battle Guns rattle, thousands likewise fall:
and if my love should dee,
What will become of me,
Who here must stay lamenting e'ery day,
And if Willys kill'd, then adieu to all.

How happy's she whose love is not for fighting,
nor in the Wars oblieg'd to be,
but for to stay with her he takes delight in,
If mine did so then happy me;
but my love runs thorow many dangers,
all for Honour that empty name,
O had he to Wars but been a stranger,

Then my arms he'd ne'er refrain,
Tho' I had store of beauty,
still he cry'd twas his duty,
To hasten for Flanders, and must be gone,
But had he sweet Repose
Preferr'd to bloody blows,
He nere would fly to Flanders for to dye,
And thus for to leave me lye alone.

I washt and patcht to make me look provoking,
snares that they told me would catch the men
And on my head a huge Commode sat cocking,
which made me show as tall agen:
For a new Gown too I paid muckle money,
which with golden flowers did shine;
My Love well might think me gay and bonny,
no Scotch Lass was ere so fine.
My Petticoat I spotted,
Fringe too with thread I knotted,
Lace Shoes, silken Hose, garter'd over knee,
But oh! the fatal thought,
To Willy these are nought,
Who rid to Towns, and rifled with Dragoons,
When he silly Loon might have plunder'd me.


Printed by and for A. M. 1696.

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