The Praise of a pretty Lasse:
OR,
The Young mans dissimulation:
Else hee would not disgrace
A Maiden in such fashion,
To the tune of, Banks Game.
|
YOung men and Maidens, to you Ile declare,
|
I love my Love, and she loveth me:
|
Yet to no Goddesse will I her compare,
|
And yet she is pretty indifferent faire;
|
With o my Love o, there is none doth know
|
how I doe love thee.
|
She is not blacke, nor yet is she browne,
|
I love my Love, and she loveth me:
|
But to her Portion, she hath thirty pound,
|
Besides all this, she hath an old blacke Gowne:
|
O my love o, theres none etc.
|
She is not great, nor yet very small,
|
I love my Love, and she loveth me:
|
Shes a yard and a halfe in the waste, that is all,
|
Her flesh will preserve her hard bones from a fall:
|
O my Love o, etc.
|
Her Haire is as blacke as is any Crow,
|
I love my Love, and she loveth me:
|
Her good conditions theres no man doth know,
|
For she never came where as any did grow:
|
O my Love o, etc.
|
She hath a Nose in the middst of her face,
|
I love my Love, and she loveth me:
|
And that standeth bravely unto her owne grace,
|
I dare say a better nere stood in that place:
|
O my Love o, there is none doth know
|
how I doe love thee.
|
Her Cheekes are fat, and faire for to see,
|
I love my Love, and she loveth me:
|
They with her Eyes wondrous well doe agree,
|
She is a brave bonny Lasse lovely and free:
|
O my Love o, theres none doth know
|
how I doe love thee.
|
She hath soft Lips, and sound ones they are,
|
I love my Love, and she loveth me:
|
You may kisse your fill, and neede not to spare,
|
For there is no danger of wearing thrid-bare:
|
O my Love o, etc.
|
She hath a Chin, and a chopping one,
|
I love my Love, and she loveth me:
|
She might spare half ont for her that hath none;
|
But now her long Chin, I will let that alone:
|
O my Love o, theres none etc.
|
Her Necke doth shine like a Chimney stocke,
|
I love my Love, and she loveth me:
|
When she her Casket of Pleasures unlocke,
|
I am caught as the Milier did catch his Mare Brock:
|
O my Love o, etc.
|
Her downy Breasts are swingers indeed,
|
I love my Love, and she loveth me:
|
She may carry them on her shoulders for need,
|
O shes a brave Lasse we want more of her breed;
|
With o my Love o, there is none doth know
|
how I doe love thee.
|
|
|
|
|
The second Part, To the same tune.
|
HEr shoulders I think, they are a whole yard square,
|
I love my Love & shee loveth me:
|
Sheel beare out her labour, you need not to fear,
|
Give me such a Lasse that is able to beare.
|
O my love O, there is none doth know
|
How I doe love thee.
|
Likewise she hath good lusty strong Armes,
|
I love my love and shee loveth me:
|
They are able to defend her body from harms,
|
To set forth her praises it me much concernes,
|
O my love O, there is none etc.
|
Her hand like a shoulder of Mutton appesres,
|
I love my Love and shee loveth me:
|
But I would not have her fiie about mine ears,
|
Tincounter my love ther is no Lasse that dares,
|
O my love O, there is none etc.
|
She hath strong post legs her body to beare,
|
I love my Love, and shee loveth me:
|
She need dread no falling, that she doth not feare
|
But if that you throw her, sheel show you a Beare
|
O my love O, there is none etc.
|
Her fine daintie Foot is of the fourteens,
|
I love my Love, and she loveth me:
|
And I can tell you that completely it seemes,
|
I must speak her praises, cause love is betweens,
|
O my love O, there is none etc.
|
If I should marry with one that were proud,
|
I love my Love and she loveth me:
|
Shee would desire more then can wel be alowd,
|
From such haughty creatures my selfe I will shrowd,
|
O my love O, there is none etc.
|
And if I should marry with one that is faire,
|
I love my Love, and shee loveth me:
|
Perhaps Cornuting might fall to my share,
|
And so she might work me unto much dispare,
|
O my love O, there is none doth know
|
how I doe love thee.
|
And if I should chance to wed one that is small,
|
I love my Love, and shee loveth me:
|
Then shee is not able to doe ought at all,
|
And yet sheel be apt to scold and to brall,
|
O my love O, there is none etc.
|
If I should chance for to marry a scold,
|
I love my Love, and shee loveth me:
|
Then I must alwayes by her be controld,
|
And then my libertie would be quite sold,
|
O my love O, there is none etc.
|
Well, I my choise of the first meane to keepe,
|
I love my Love, and shee loveth me:
|
For shee will be quiet when she is asleepe,
|
And our affections are setled deepe:
|
O my love O, there is none etc.
|
Thus to conclude, you that heare my Song,
|
I love my Love, and she loveth me:
|
When I am wedded Ile praise my wives tong,
|
But then it never shall doe me once wrong.
|
With O my Love o, there is none doth know
|
How I doe love thee.
|
|
|
|
|