The Amorous LADY's GARLAND;
Or, The Handsome BUTCHER of St. James's Market.
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YOung men and pretty maidens,
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be pleas'd to lend any ear,
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'Tis of a charming lady
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that lov'd a young man dear;
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She was a merchant's daughter,
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of beauty fair and clear.
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And he a handsome butcher.
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this lady lov'd him dear.
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As thro' St. James's market,
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this lady she did go,
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She saw this charming butcher,
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attir'd like a beaux;
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Young Cupid let his arrow fly,
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whilst gazing thus she stood:
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The butcher being brisk and gay,
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and in a pleasant mood;
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He took her by the charming hand,
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saying, madam, what d'ye buy,
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The best of ware I have got,
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the lady did then reply,
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The meat you have is fresh and good,
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and charming to behold;
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But something else I'd have, if I
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could purchase it with gold.
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What is it? beauteous lady,
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I pray now let me hear;
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Altho' my ware it is so good,
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It is not very dear.
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The lady smil'd to hear him
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thus merrily to talk,
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And then unto St James's
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this couple soon did walk.
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And then to break her troubled mind,
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the lady did begin:
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Kind sir[,] I hope you'll pardon me,
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for love's tormenting sting.
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Has pierc'd my [t]ender heart in twain;
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tis you that I adore.
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I am a merchant's daughter bright,
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and have gold and silver store.
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And can'st thou love a butcher
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thou charming beauty bright?
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O gods! that brought this creatute
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this day unto my sight[.]
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Unite us both in happiness,
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let me enjoy the fair;
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Sweet lady come into my arms,
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and never more despair.
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With that I did presume to kiss
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her ruby lips so sweet,
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And then we promis'd each other,
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next morning we would meet.
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According to our promise
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it was likewise perform'd,
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And with happy nuptial rites,
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this lady was adorn'd.
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She had a trusty servant,
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who all the matter knew,
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Who solemnly protested,
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to us she would prove true.
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And in the dead of night
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she brought me to my dear,
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To revel in the bay of love,
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with my own charming fair.
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We kept the matter secret,
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twenty weeks were past,
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My charming creature did begin
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to thicken in the waist.
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Her mother she did spy the same,
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and told her husband dear,
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Saying, alas! she is with child,
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she's ruined I fear.
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So sending for her daughter,
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thus unto her did say,
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Tell us with whom thou hast been fooling,
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O daughter dear we pray,
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For we perceive thou art with child,
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let me the father know,
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We'll make him curse the very time
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he served our daughter so.
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My maid and I to market went,
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to them she did reply;
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You bid me buy what ware was good,
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you cannot it sieny;
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There was a handsome butcher,
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I lik'd his ware so well,
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Of it I made a hear[t]y meal,
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that made my belly swell.
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You are a handsome lady,
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her father then did say,
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And as for mrs. Betty[,]
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come quit my service, pray,
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But firs[t] go fetch the butcher,
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I'[l]l thy wages pay,
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I'll make the rogue to marry her,
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so Betty went her way.
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And going to the butcher,
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she unto him did say,
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Come throw away your knife and steel,
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this minute come away,
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And anser for the deed you have done,
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my master he does swear,
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He'll make you for to marry
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my charming Lady fair.
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He soon came to her father,
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the old man thus began,---
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I pray what sort of meat was that
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you sold my daughter, when
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You made her belly swell
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at such a dismal rate;
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Indeed young man it was not well,
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and you shall suffer for't
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Here, take the harlot quite away,
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and marry her with speed,
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One farthing of her portion,
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she shall not have indeed.
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Why then I will not have her,
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the butcher did reply;
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With that the daughter hung her head,
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and strait began to cry
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So then the mother she did say,
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dear husband now forbear,
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We will give her portion
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if that she married were.
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No, I will have the money down,
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I to church do go.
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The old man sigh'd and shook his head,
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well, since it must be so,
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Seven thousand pounds I'll give her,
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but thus it must be done,
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The minister shall come here,
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fear you from her should run.
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He having got the money,
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he fell upon his knees,
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Likewise the youthful Lady,
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saying, Fathe, if you please.
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To grant to us your blessing,
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we are already wed:
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Her aged father wept for joy,
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their grief soon vanished.
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He blest his son and daughter,
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And said, rise children dear,
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And strait he settled on them both
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five hundred pounds a year.
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So lovers all, you plainly see;
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what Cupid he can do;
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There's nothing like those lovers
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that constant are and true.
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Blame not my charming creature,
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because she courted Me;
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This being leap-year the maidens fair,
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to court indeed are free.
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