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EBBA 30203

British Library - Roxburghe
Ballad XSLT Template
A pleasant new Northerne Song.
called the two York-shire Lovers,
To a pleasant new Court tune, Or, the tune of Willy.

WHen Willy once he stayed,
To fetch home a lamb that straied,
under a hill side,
a bonny Lasse he spide,
Of whom he was well apaied.

Her cheekes like Cherries growing.
Her lips like Rose-buds blowing,
her eyes blacke and cleare,
as the Sloe upon the breere,
Or the worme in the hedge lies glowing

Her waste so small and slender,
Her skin so soft and tender,
he sighd and he said,
that she was a faire Maid,
And his love to her hed render.

The wind did seeme to play,
With her tresses as she lay,
betwixt hope and feare,
He was in despaire,
To give her the time of the day.

Yet resolvd to court this Minion,
There stept in a new opinion:
this timorous Clowne,
thought Phaebe had come downe,
To speake with her loved Endimion.

His errand quite forgotten,
He leand to a tree was rotten,
he swore by the Masse,
there was never such a Lasse,
His heart with a shaft was shotten.

Then boldly he stept unto her,
His eyes shot affection through her,
he cast away fea[r]es,
and pricking up his eares,
Thus Willy began to wooe her.

Good day (quoth he) my honny,
Thou dearer to me than money,
Ile lose my little Lambe,
And gladly give the Damme,
To lig with a Lasse so bonny.

Now list to what Ile tell thee,
Theres none in shape doth excell thee,
so thou wilt wed me,
none happier than thee;
Nor better day ere befell me.

Of Nuts Ile give thee plenty,
And red side Apples twenty,
my butter Ile leese,
to make thee summer Cheese,
And Creame to make Egge pies dainty.

My Lambs new gowns shal beare thee,
No daglockes shall ere come neere thee,
the Poultry of the Towne
shall cackle without Downe,
Ere Ile want a soft bed to cheere thee.

My Bagpipes mirth shall make thee,
Each morne with a Song Ile wake thee
at night Ile not faile,
to tell a merry tale,
And make thy sad thoughts forsake thee.

The second part. To the same tune.

WHite Lillies shall pave the Closes,
Each brier shall blush with Roses,
the grasse greene and sweet,
shall kisse thy tender feet.
And the Medows shall yeeld thee posies.

With shady bowers set ore thee,
With thousand contents Ile store thee,
while by some cleere brooke,
with my little Dog and hooke,
Ile bring my fine Ewes before thee.

While thus he was close set at her,
(Quoth she) I suspect the matter,
for an houres sport,
like the false alluring Court,
The Country has learned to flatter.

Therefore leave off thy wooing,
I love not such short doing,
and come unto the matter,
I love not for to flatter,
True affection hates long suing.

But if your love will prove steddy,
Till Hymen had made him ready,
then surfet all night,
in a captive Maids delight,
Which yet but ayre hath fed ye.

Quoth he I love none above thee,
For chastity I prove thee,
as constant Ile prove,
as the Mate unto the Dove,
Nay, thogh thou wert dead, Ile love thee

And all contents Ile give thee,
So that thou wilt live with me:
my life and all Ile loose,
ere I my Love abuse,
And all my rich kith unto me.

As Willy thus was talking,
The Shepherds eyes were walking,
each legge and each limbe,
so tricked so trim,
She thought it no time of balking.

Her heart with love was taken,
God Cupid did her awaken,
and cast a cheerefull eye,
upon him by and by,
To shew he was not forsaken.

His lips to hers he laid,
She never a word gaine-said:
thus joyning their hands,
they tyed the Nuptiall bands,
Which never till death decaid.

Such happy joy God send me,
When I to wed intend me,
and to each faithfull Lover:
where they be one or other,
I heartily commend thee.


FINIS.
London printed for John Wright.

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