A mad kinde of wooing.
Or, a Dialogue betweene Will the simple, and Nan the subtill,
With their loving agreement.
To the tune of the new dance at the Red Bull Play-house.
|
SWeet Nancie I do love thee deare,
|
Beleeve me if thou can,
|
And shall I do protest and sweare,
|
while thy name is Nan.
|
I cannot court with eloquence,
|
As many Courtiers do:
|
But I do love intirely wench,
|
and must enjoy thee too.
|
Spight of friends that contends
|
To separate our love:
|
If thou love me as I love thee,
|
my minde shall neer remove.
|
Nan.
|
Peace goodman clowne you are to brief,
|
In proffering love to me:
|
And if thou use such rusticke speech,
|
wee two shall nere agree
|
Dost think my fortunes Ile forsake,
|
To marry with a clowne,
|
When I have choice inough to take,
|
of Gallants in the towne.
|
The Eagles eye doth scorn the flie,
|
Sheele finde a better prey:
|
Therefore leave of thy dotish sute,
|
away fond foole away.
|
Will.
|
Why prethe Nan nere scorne my love,
|
Although I be but plaine:
|
Where Will doth once but set his love,
|
he must not love in vaine.
|
For all you speake so Scholler like
|
And talke of Eagles eyes:
|
Know I am come a woing wench
|
and not a catching flies.
|
Then nere reply nor yet deny,
|
I will not be denaid:
|
I would not have the world report,
|
I twice did woe a maid,
|
Nan.
|
But twice and thrice and twentie times
|
Youle wooe before you winne,
|
To match with ignorance mongst maids
|
is held a sottish sin,
|
Therefore Ile match if ere I match,
|
One equall to my spirit:
|
And such a one or else no one,
|
shall my best love inherit.
|
A man of wit best doth fit
|
A Mayden for to take,
|
Then such a man if that I can:
|
my husband I will make.
|
Will
|
Why Nan I hope thou dost not take,
|
Thy Will to be a foole:
|
Thou knowest my Father for thy sake,
|
three yeeares kept me at schoole.
|
And if that thou hast spirit enough,
|
To yeeld to be my joy,
|
I warrant I have spirit enough.
|
to get a chopping boy
|
Then nere deny, yeeld and try
|
Or try before you trust:
|
Let who will seeke for to enjoy.
|
for Will both will and must,
|
|
|
|
|
The Second Part. To the same tune.
|
WHy I have those that seek my love.
|
That are too stout to yeeld:
|
And rather then theyd lose my love,
|
theyd win me in the field,
|
Their skill in martiall exercise,
|
So much do thine surpasse,
|
That should they here thee sue for love,
|
theyd count thee but an asse,
|
Then be mute thy foolish sute
|
Is all but spent in vaine:
|
Tis an inpossibility
|
thou shouldst my love obtaine.
|
Will.
|
Dost heare me Nan what ere he be,
|
Doth challenge love of thee,
|
Ile make him like to Cupid blinde,
|
he shall have no eyes to see,
|
I think I have a little skill,
|
My armes be strong and tuffe:
|
And I will warrant they shall serve
|
to baste him well enuffe:
|
If he but starts to touch thy skirts
|
Or in the least offends:
|
By all the hopes I have of love,
|
Ile cut off his fingers ends.
|
Nan.
|
How should I grant to fancy thee,
|
Whom others do disdaine.
|
If thou shouldst chance to marry me,
|
how wouldst thou me maintaine:
|
Thou knowest not how to use a wife,
|
Thou art so homely bred:
|
And soon I doubt to jealousie,
|
thy fancie might be led:
|
Many feares urge my eares,
|
That I should carefull be:
|
I feare I match a crabbed peece,
|
if I should marry thee.
|
Will,
|
Nan I am plaine and cannot cog,
|
Nor promise wondrous faire:
|
When all my promises shall prove
|
like Castles built ith Aire:
|
My true performance shall be all,
|
My word shall be my deed:
|
And honest Nan if I have thee,
|
you shall have all you need.
|
Clap hands, be bold, say and hold,
|
Let us make quick dispatch:
|
If thou love me, as I love thee,
|
weele straight make up the match,
|
Nan.
|
Then Will here is both hand and heart,
|
Ile love thee till I die:
|
The world may judge I match for love,
|
and not all for the eye.
|
I had rather match a lusty youth.
|
Whose strength is not at full,
|
Then match a small weak timbred man,
|
whose strength hath had a pull
|
Maidens all both great and small,
|
That hope to marry at length,
|
Do not marry for bravery:
|
but unto strength adde strength.
|
|
|
|
|