COld and raw the north doth blow
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black in the morning early:
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All trees were hid with snow,
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covered with winter yearly:
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As I came riding o're the slough,
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I met with a Farmers Daughter,
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Her Rosie Cheeks & bonny Brow,
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in truth made my mouth to water.
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Down I vail'd my Bonnet low,
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meaning to show my breeding
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She returned a graceful bow,
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her visage far exceeding:
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I ask'd her where she went so soon,
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and longed to begin to parley:
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She told me to the nixt Mercat-Town
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a purpose to sell her Barley.
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In this purse, sweet soul, said I,
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twentie pound lyes fairly;
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Seek no further one to buy,
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for I'le take all the Barley:
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Twentie more shall purchase delight
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thy person I love so dearly;
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If thou wilt ligg with me all night
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and gang [?] in the morning early
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If four[?]u'd buy the Gob[?]
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[?] Sir,
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Or were my friends as poor as Job,
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Id never raise 'em so Sir.
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For should you prove tonight my friend
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we'll get a young Kid together,
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And you'd be gone or nine month end
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and where shall I find the father?
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I pray what would my parents say,
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if I should be so sillie:
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To give my Maiden-head away;
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and loss my true Love Billie:
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O! they would bring me to disgrace,
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and therefore I say you nay Sir.
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And if you would my bodie imbrace
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first Marrie, and then you may, Sir
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I told her I had wedded be[e]n,
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fourteen years and longer:
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Yet I'd chuse her for my Queen,
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and tye the knot yet stronger.
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She bid me then no further come
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but manage my wedlock fairly
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And keep my purse for my spouse at home
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for some other should have her Barly
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Then as swift as any Roe,
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she rode away and left me:
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After her I could not go,
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of joy she quite bereft me.
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Thus I my self did disappoint,
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for she did leave me fairly:
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My words knockt all things out of joint
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I lost both the Maid & the Barley.
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