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EBBA 34697

Houghton Library - Huth EBB65H
Ballad XSLT Template
The Souldier his Salutation to the wary Wench of Worcester.
Who kindly intreats her to grant him a kisse,
Also her Deniall, in answer to this.
To a pleasant Scottish Tune, calld Lowdens Delight.

FAir Venus, I admire
the power of thy Son,
No sooner to give fire
but straight the day is won.
Hel undertake the God of war to tame,
If against his bosome right he aime,
Folly were it to resist the flame
wherein I fry
Sweet Lady pitty
My mournful Ditty
do not deny
To kisse thy captive Souldier
Or else for grief I dye.

Ile change my coat and colours,
to go along with thee:
No more of Mars his followers
henceforwards will I be
I am ever bound to be thy slave
Till thou grants to me the thing I crave
Tis thy favour I desire to have
then cure my pain
Oh now or never,
Else captive ever
shall I remain,
My heart is deeply wounded
But yet I am not slain.

How canst thou chuse but fancy
a Souldier so compleat?
whose fortunes may advance thee
and make thy honour great
I pray thee do not then so cruel prove,
For my heart I cannot yet remove,
More thou hates, the more Im bound to love,
thine I am still
Oh fie on Cupid,
Which made me stupid
for want of skill
I now must be contented,
To serve thee at thy will.

In truth I know no reason
but I may be so bold
To kisse that lovely Prison
which keeps my heart in hold.
More cruel than a Gaoler would she be
That denies me of my liberty.
If a kisse or two would set me free
or ease my smart
Do not absent thee
Nor thus torment me,
since that thou art
The Prison and the Keeper,
Of my imprisoned heart.

The second part, to the same Tune.

COme, come, do not refuse it,
but let us now imbrace
For once and do not use it
none sees us in this place,
Its in thy power, with a smile or frown
For to raise me up or cast me down:
Let thy penalty on me be known,
be it weal or woe
Come kill or cure
What I endure
no man doth know.
And then farewel forever,
My friend, or cruel foe.

Farewel, there is no duty
nor service due to me
Then tel her not of beauty
where none is placd you see.
Do not then on Cupid thus complain
Unto her that cannot ease thy pain,
Neither will I be of Venus train
I am afraid
Thou dost but flatter
Faith no such matter,
shall me perswade
I will not kisse a Souldier
Lest that I be betraid

Change not thy coat nor colours
to tarry hear with me
Good Souldiers by their Valours,
will first approved be
Never say thou art a slave of mine
Nor anything I have of thine,
Rather shalt thou dig the grave of mine
here in this place
Ere thou shalt wooe me
So to undo me,
fie it is base
To bring poor Country Lasses
Unto such foul disgrace.

In London you have plenty,
why would you come away?
I warrant you theres twenty
would never say you nay.
If to them thou wilt not constant be,
When another thou dost chance to see,
Thy affection soon will glance from me
and further range
Men once removers,
Then constant Lovers
it is most strange.
To find a faithful Souldier
Not subject unto change.

Why calst thou me thy prison
or Gaolor which am none?
If that be all the reason
I pray thee now be gone.
For there is no harbour in my breast
To be granted to so bold a guest
Neither will I yeeld to thy request
therefore in vain
Is thy intrusion
By no delusion
thou shalt obtain
From me thy fond desire
My honour so to stain.

Go, go or else forbear me
faith I will never yeeld,
Thy captain hel cashier thee
haste haste into the field.
Least thy absence breed thee more dis-grace
By thy doting on a maiden face
For the losing of thy Souldiers place
would be a shame
Haste now or never
Else Coward ever
theyl thee proclaim.
To loose so great an honour
By following Venus Game.


FINIS.

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