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EBBA 32916

National Library of Scotland - Crawford
Ballad XSLT Template
The Country-mans care in choosing a Wife:
OR, A young Batchelor hard to be pleased.
A Wife hel have, yet will be sure to chuse
One that he loves, the rest he doth refuse;
And many sorts of Maids, he by hath past,
Being all unfit for him; until at last
Upon a Farmers Daughter he doth pitch,
Thats a good Huswife, vertuous, neat, and rich.
Tune of, Ile have one I love, etc. Or, The Yellow-haird Laddy.

I Am a brisk Youngster,
and fain would be Wed;
And have a good Wife
for to please me in Bed;
But I fear that in chusing,
they should me beguile:
Then ile have one I love,
though I live the less while.

Ile not have a Girl that
is bred at the Court;
For fear she be given
to wanton and sport;
On every Gallant
shes apt for to smile;
Then ile have, etc.

A Citizens Daughter
I dare not to take:
The steps of her Mother
shel never forsake:
Shel make me look out,
you may see them a mile:
Then ile have, etc.

No maker of Buttons,
nor yet of Bone-lace;
Shall ere be my love,
though I dye on the place;
Although they do mince it,
and simper and smile;
Yet ile have one I love,
though I live the less while.

MY Hostesses Daughter,
she must be denyd;
Because that I fear
she hath often been tryd;
Be sure she would fit me
at Hedge, or at Stile,
But ile have one I love,
though I live the less while.

She that hath much Suitors,
ands loath to be won;
And many a Young-man
she perhaps hath undone.
It is not her cunning
that shall me beguile:
For ile have, etc.

A Wench thats imperious,
and strives for to rule;
If that I should take her,
youd count me a Fool:
She woud make my Noddle
as sore as a Bile;
But ile have, etc.

And she that is proud,
and hath nought to begin;
I would not for such a one
give a Sleeves Pin;
As soon as a better,
my Bed shel defile;
Then ile have, etc.

Ile not have a Cook-Maid,
for she is too black;
And when she doth sweat,
her Smock sticks to her Back:
Shel scold, and shel brawl,
you may hear her a mile:
But ile have, etc.

The Lass that is fair,
to be sure she is proud;
And she that is little,
you know she is loud;
Against a good Husband,
theyr apt to revile;
Then ile have, etc.

But now for to tell you
the depth of my mind;
A Rich Farmers Daughter,
I have in the Wind;
For her I will Ride,
if it be forty mile;
And ile have, etc.

Tis she is my Betty,
my Dear and delight;
Who hath my affection,
by day and by night:
To her I will go,
and ile make her to smile;
For ile have my own Love,
though I live the less while.


FINIS.

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