The Maidens Nay, Or, I love not you.
To a pleasant new Tune.
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I Spied a Nymph trip over the plain,
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I lurd to her, she turned again,
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I wood her as a young man should do,
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but her answer was, Sir, I love not you.
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I thought she seemed in every part
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So lovely framd by Natures Art,
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Her beauty soon allured me to wooe,
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but her answer was, sir, I love not you.
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I told her all the sweet of love,
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And whatsoever her mind might move,
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To entertain a Lover true,
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but her answer was, sir, I love not you.
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I told her how I would her deck,
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Her head with gold, with pearls her neck
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She gave a frown, and away she flew,
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but her answer was, sir, I love not you.
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Not me (sweet-heart) O tell me why?
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Thou shouldst my proffered love deny:
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To whom my heart I have vowed so true,
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but her answer was, sir, I love not you.
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My sweet and dearest love, quoth I,
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Art thou resolvd a Maid to die?
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Of such a mind I know but few,
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but her answer, was, sir, I love not you.
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This is the pleasant Maying time,
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This is the pleasant golden prime,
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But age will come and make you to rue,
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that ere you said, sir, I love not you.
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O do not thou my suit disdain,
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Nor make me spend my time in vain,
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But kindly grant a Lovers due:
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yet still she said, sir, I love not you.
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Fair Nymph, quoth I, but grant me this,
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To enrich my lips with one poor kiss,
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I grant you that which I grant but few,
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yet still she said, sir, I love not you.
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The young man proffering then to depart
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It grievd this Maiden then to the heart:
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For having kist, O then did she rue,
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that ere she said, Sir, I love not you.
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Wherefore with speed she thought it best,
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To stay him by her kind request:
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Whose coyness thus hath causd her to rue
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that ere she said, Sir, I love not you.
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But now at last she did begin
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With gentle words to lure him in:
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The second part shall plainly shew,
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she changd her note of, I love not you.
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The second part to the same Tune.
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KInd sir, quoth she, what needs this hast,
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With that a smile on him she cast,
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Shame curbd her long, but affection drew
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these word, I love no man but you.
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I feel the force of Cupids dart
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So deep hath piercd my tender heart:
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Believe me then for my words are true,
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you will I love, sir, and none but you.
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Do not deny my proffered love,
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Nor think that I the wanton prove:
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Though women seldom use to wooe,
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yet I will love, Sir, and none but you.
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When women love they will it hide,
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Until their Lover they have tryd:
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Though I say nay, as maidens do,
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you will I love, Sir, and none but you.
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Here is, quoth she, my heart and hand,
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My constant love thou shalt command:
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And I do vow to be ever true,
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you will I love, sir, and none but you.
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Whilst golden Titan doth display
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His beams unto the chearful day,
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Whilst Spring the Winter doth ensue,
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you will I love, Sir, and none but you.
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On thee my love is fixed fast,
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On thee my love is firmly placd,
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For thee Ile bid the world adieu,
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you will I love, Sir, and none but you.
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If Hero should Leander leave,
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Fair Lucrece Collatine deceive,
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Or Syrinx prove to Pan untrue,
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yet I love you, Sir, and none but you.
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Object no former coy reply,
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Suspect no future constancy:
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Accept my love as a tribute due
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onely to you, Sir, and to none but you.
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The young man noting well her words,
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This courteous answer then affords:
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Give me thy hand, take mine in lieu:
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my love I grant here, and so do you.
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To Church with speed then let us hye,
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In marriage bands our selves to tye:
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Where enterchanging hands and hearts,
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Ile love thee deerly till death us parts.
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Mark well my Song you Maidens coy,
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That count true love a foolish toy:
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Do not disdain when young men wooe,
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but love them freely as they love you.
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