The two Lester-sheire Lovers.
To the tune of, and yet my thinkes I love thee.
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Walking In a meddow greene,
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for recreation sake,
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To drive away some sad thoughtes
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which sorrofull did mee make,
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I spyed two lonely lovers,
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did beare ech others woe.
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To poynt a place of meeting,
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upon the meddow bro.
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Saying come my lovely sweeting,
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com sit thee downe by mee.
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It is a merry meeting
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if wee two can agree.
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If wee two can agree,
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to this I thee doe woe.
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That thou shouldst onely meete mee:
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uppon the meddow browe.
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My Father is a gentle-man,
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my Mother loves mee deere:
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She hath given mee a newetie,
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of twenty pound a yeere,
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And I have spent it all,
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nay more I will spend toe:
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So thou wilt graunt to meete mee,
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uppon the meddow broe,
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My Maister hath forwarnd mee,
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out of thy company,
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And oftentimes hath chid me:
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for staying so long with thee,
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For staying so long with thee,
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but I will stay the moe:
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So thou wilt graunt to meete mee,
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uppon the meddow broe.
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Sweet heart quoth shee I cannot,
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for opertunitie;
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A thing I cant accomplish,
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our meetng doth denie
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Els shoulds thou mee commend:
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to ride to runne or goe:
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Were it not so Ide meete thee,
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uppon the meddow bro.
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Sweete heart quoth he who feare you,
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or who dares do thee wrong,
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Dost feare thy maisters Heavie hand:
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or mistris nimble toung,
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Dost feare the tell tale servants
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tut let such matters goe.
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And prithe sweeting meete mee,
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uppon the meddow bro.
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Quoth shee you doe mistake sir,
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tis no such thing I feare,
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Therefore to urge it farther:
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I doe intreat forbeare,
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I doe not greatly care,
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for ought that they can doe.
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Annother thing doth hinder mee,
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to meete on meddow bro.
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What should the occasion then bee,
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O thou shouldst be so presise,
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[O]r what is it should cause thee:
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in love to be unwise.
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Dost thou my love despise,
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or wouldst thou love forgoe,
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I pray thee sweeting meete mee,
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uppon the meddow bro.
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The Second Part.
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I Tell thee gentle sweeting,
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Queene Venus never runne:
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So swift after Adonis,
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as I to thee would come,
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Queene Dina in her shower of gould,
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did not so willing doe.
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As I would be to meete thee.
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uppon the meddow bro.
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Qouth he as did Dame Venus,
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wouldst thou of mee make triall,
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I would not like Adonis,
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so fondly give deniall.
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No for thy sake my sweeting,
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all ill I under goe.
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So thou wouldst graunt to mett mee,
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uppon the meddow bro.
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Sir since I see you are loving,
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ile tel to you the cause,
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You know both maides and young men
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live under countries lawes.
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And should wee be but spied,
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we should have men enough:
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Where we should be derided,
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upon the meddow brow.
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If this be all you feare sweet,
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leave this alone to me.
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Ile poynt a time convenient,
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non shall our meeting see.
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Where wee will merry be,
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and talk of whats to doe
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Where a kisse or twaine ile give thee,
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uppon the meddow brooe,
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I when you have me there Sir,
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you then may doe your pleasure:
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But I will have you sweare sir,
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stile for to doe in measure.
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Wee might repent at leasure,
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should wee out of measure doe:
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I am half affraide to meete you,
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uppon the meddow brooe.
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Sweete heart I heare protest and swere
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to use you there most kinde,
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Keep promise in your meeting,
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and love mee as you find,
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I will not crosse your minde,
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what so ever I doe doe,
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So you would grant to meete mee:
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uppon the meddow brooe.
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Then heres my hand ile meete thee,
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appoynt both place and time
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Quoth he uppon the meddow brooe
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tomorrow morne betime.
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Ile meete (quoth shee) bout five a clock
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and thats the most ile doe:
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So gentle heart a kisse and part,
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and meete on meddow brow.
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Away then went these loving, twaine
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but when that they did meete:
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Let such as know the use out,
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judg how these two did greete:
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But might I spend my judgment,
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as an other man may doe.
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I doubt they plaid the wantons,
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upon the meddow brooe,
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What ere they did might I but know
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my toung should prove no ranger,
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But did they well or did they ill,
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let them oppose the daunger.
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Yet this shall be my wish for all,
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that about such busines goe.
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Heaven send all merrie meeting,
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uppon the meddow broe.
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