The Dorset-shire DAMOSEL:OR,Young NANCY at her last Prayer.
Containing her earnest request to Ralph the Miller, to be satisfied whether he would have her or no: Concluding
with his kind Answer. To the Tune of, Fond Boy, etc. Or, Loves a sweet Passion, etc.
|
IN Dorset-shire lived a young Miller by Trade,
|
Who had courted sweet Nancy an innocent Maid,
|
Full a Twelvemonth or more he had kept her in hand;She went to him at last that she might understand
|
What he meant by his fooling and serving her so:
|
Prithee tell me, quoth she, if youll have me or no?
|
When first you come to me, How kind was you then?You would give me sweet Kisses a hundred and ten,
|
Nay, and told me that you did my Beauty adore,
|
Yet you have not been with me this two Months or more;
|
Therefore pray now resolve me before I do go,
|
Whether you do intend for to have me or no?
|
When ever I came with my Grist to your Mill
|
You would always be kissing and courting me still,I could neer be at rest and at quiet for you;I appeal to your Conscience if this be not true;
|
Therefore pray now resolve me before I do go,
|
Whether you do intend for to have me or no?
|
I Bought you a Cravat to go to a Feast,
|
One that cost Half-a-crown, or two Shillings at least,
|
And besides that I gave you three Ells of good Linnen
|
For to make you a Shirt, of my Mothers own Spinning[;]
|
Therefore prithee resolve me before I do go,
|
Whether you do intend for to have me or no?
|
Theres Roger would have me, and calls me his Dear;
|
He has got an Estate of ten Shillings a Year,
|
Besides forty good Shillings and five in a Purse,
|
Therefore dont spoyl my Fortune and hinder me thus,
|
But be pleasd to resolve me before I do go,
|
Whether you do intend for to have me or no?
|
You told me last Easter youd make me your Bride,
|
Wherefore new Knots and Favours I strait did provide,
|
Yet you neer came a near me till now June the third;
|
Ery honest Man would be as good as his Word: But I prithee resolve me before I do go,
|
Whether you do intend for to have me or no?
|
You solemnly swore when I sat on your knee
|
That you then had a love and a kindness for me,
|
And if so, Whats the reason I am not your Bride?
|
Faith these lingering Bargins I near could abide;
|
Let me now be resolved before I do go,
|
Whether you do intend for to have me or no?
|
Tis very well known I am just in my Prime,
|
And to have a kind Husband I think it high time;
|
If at Michaelmas last the good deed had been done,
|
I might had before now a young Daughter or Son;
|
Pray resolve me this Question before I do go,
|
Whether you do intend for to have me or no?
|
SWeet Nancy, my Promise I do not forget,
|
But I am not resolvd to be Marryd as yet;
|
The devouring Sword now is reigning you see,
|
And if I to the Wars should be forced from thee;
|
Then thy grief, care and sorrow will daily encrease,
|
Therefore prithee Love stay till a flourishing Peace.
|
Believe me, I swear by the Powers above,
|
That I never will leave thee for any new Love;
|
My desires is that thou wilt patiently wait,
|
Till the Land is restord to a prosperous State;
|
If I live but till then thou shalt be my sweet Bride,
|
For I love none in all the whole Nation beside.
|
|
|
|
|
|