The Love-sick Maid quickly Revived,
Within the prime time of the Spring,
Within a Meadow she did sing;
And solemnly these words she said,
I fear that I shall dye a maid:
But her Sweetheart in Ambush lay,
And heard the words that she did say;
As in this Ditty you may hear
If that you please but to give ear.
Tune is, What shall I do, shall I dye for love, etc. Or, the Hay-makers.
|
AS I was walking forth of late,
|
within the Meadows gay,
|
It was in the prime time of the spring,
|
in the merry Month of May
|
I heard a Maiden sweetly sing,
|
some Young man pitty me,
|
O what shall I do shall I dy a Maid
|
and never married be.
|
Full twenty years of age am I,
|
yea almost twenty one,
|
Which makes me cry, what luck have I
|
so long to lye alone:
|
When younger maids they sweet-hearts have
|
as dayly I do see,
|
what shall I do, shall I dy a maid
|
and never married be.
|
My Mantua Gown is of pure Silk
|
made of the neatest fashion,
|
My smock is Cambrick, white as Milk
|
as any in the Nation:
|
My petticoats are made so short,
|
young men my Legs may see,
|
O what shall I do, shall I dy a Maid
|
and never married be.
|
To Markets and Fairs I do repair
|
as other Maidens do,
|
To see what young man will be there,
|
my person for to Wooe,
|
Yet all in vain, I come again,
|
for none doth pitty me,
|
Which makes me afraid, I shall dy a maid
|
and never married be.
|
I go to Church as Maidens do,
|
and for small Devotion sake,
|
But to see what true-Love I can find
|
my Husband for to make:
|
I often wish, but dare not speak,
|
my blushing hinders me
|
Which makes me afraid I shall dy a maid
|
and never marryed be.
|
What if my Portion be but small,
|
I much of him will make,
|
And if such Fortune to me fall
|
great pains with him ile take,
|
A constant wife, while I have life,
|
he still shall find of me,
|
For loath I am to dye a maid,
|
but fain would married be.
|
This Youngman he in Ambush lay,
|
And heard this Maid what she did say;
|
How she complaind most civily,
|
For fear a Maiden she should dye.
|
Till at the last blind Cupid he
|
Did wound his heart with her Beauty:
|
therefore to end up all the strife,
|
He wood and wed her for his wife.
|
I Hearing of this Maidens moan,
|
as in the Bush I lay,
|
Delighting in her merry tone,
|
I to my self did say,
|
Thy beauty bright dazles my sight,
|
if thy heart and tongue agree,
|
It shall never be said, thou shalt dye a maid,
|
if thou canst fancy me.
|
Then boldly I stept unto this Maid,
|
and took her by the hand,
|
And unto her these words did say
|
Lady at your Command,
|
My Service and my person both,
|
is ready here you see,
|
It ner shall be said, thou dyd a maid,
|
if you can fancy me.
|
Thy Portion be it great or small,
|
for that I do not care,
|
True Love and Fancy passes all,
|
nothing with it can compare,
|
Therefore grant me thy love my dear
|
the like Ile do to thee,
|
It ner shall be said, thou didst a maid,
|
if thou canst fancy me.
|
Then with a smile this Maid replyd,
|
I see I am betrayd,
|
But yet your Suit is not denyd,
|
fulfill what you have said:
|
Then of my love you need not f[e]a[r],
|
if constant you will be,
|
Then to your promise hive a care,
|
with speed to marry me,
|
So to conclude, away they went,
|
and married was that day,
|
Their Parents giving their consent,
|
did Solemnize the day:
|
Where now they live in sweet content,
|
and lovingly agree,
|
A civil pattern for all maids,
|
that fain would married be.
|
And so farewel you Maidens all,
|
living in Town or City,
|
I speak to you both great and small,
|
which hears this merry ditty:
|
If twenty years be come and gone,
|
then mark what here is said,
|
Be constant to your first true Love,
|
for fear you dye a maid.
|
|
|
|
|
|