[The Shoomakers delight. Or.]
A New Dialogue betwixt a West Country Shooemaker & his Love.
Who after five years Travel for her sake
He back return'd and she amends did make,
For after he to her had told his mind
She seemed not at all to him unkind,
Young men & maids then read these lines and see
How they in love did lovingly agree.
To the Tune of, When Soll will cast no light.
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ON Midsummer day as I
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abroad was walking;
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A young man and a maid
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I heard a talking.
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Near to a shady Grove
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flowers were springing,
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And the brave Nighting-gale
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sweetly was singing.
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The youngman brisk and bold
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thus fell to woeing,
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And with his fair maid
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fain would be doing,
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With speeches meek and mild
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and kind entreating,
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Saying his heart would break
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if she forsake him.
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My joy and only dear
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pray thee believe me,
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If thou wilt be my wife
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ile never deceive thee
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No store of means I have
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I tell thee plainly,
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But i'le work day and night
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for to maintain thee.
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What I do promise thee
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shall be performed,
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By no one in the world
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thou shalt be wronged.
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Ile venture life or Limbs
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for thee my Jewell,
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Then be not thou unkind
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nor prove not cruel.
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I am not one of those
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that keeps a bragging,
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And of their house and land
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their tongues are wagging,
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My love is faithful bent
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then be contented,
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If thou wilt be my wife
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thou't ne'r repent it.
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My trade it still will hold
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this I am certain,
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A good Husband I will be
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my dearest darling,
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I am of Crispins trade
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a brave Shooemaker,
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He loved a princess dear
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and ne'r forsak't her,
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Nor I'le not thee forsake
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my dearest Betty,
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Thy smiling countenance
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shineth so pretty,
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If I five thousand pound
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had in my keeping,
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Thou shouldst it all command
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my dearest sweeting.
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So if thou canst but find
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in heart to love me,
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Speak freely now thy mind
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as it behooves thee,
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Speak freely from thy heart
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if thou wilt have me,
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And to thee i'le prove true
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as God shall save me.
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The Maids loving reply.
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My love and only dear,
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I joy to see thee.
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For when you absent were
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oh! how it did grieve me,
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Both day and night i'le swear
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I thought upon thee,
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I wondred in my heart
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what was come on thee.
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The Young man.
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These five long years my dear
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thou know'st I wander,
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In City and in Town
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like any stranger,
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And am return'd again
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once more to try thee,
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How can'st find in thy heart
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for to deny me.
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The Maid.
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Well seeing thou art returnd
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thou art welcome to me,
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By all the powers above
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i'le not forgoe thee,
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Though Father frown at me
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and mother murmour,
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All the friends that I have
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shall not part 's in sunder.
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Because I find thee plain
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in words and speeches,
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You tell me that you have
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no store of riches,
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Me to maintain my dear
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be not thou fearful,
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I have five hundred pound
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if thou will be careful.
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Therefore be not dismaid
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but be contented,
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All the friends that I have
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shall not prevent it,
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But I will be thy wife
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and will endeavour
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To lead a quiet life
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with thee forever.
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The Young man.
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Oh! how my heart with joy,
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my dear hath filled,
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Because to my request
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kindly she yielded,
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Now we will live in peace
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and love together,
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As the old Proverb goeth,
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like birds of a Feather.
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Thus you may plainly see
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that time and leisure,
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Many things brings to pass
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therefore Endeavour.
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Young men prove constant still
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maids do not dissemble,
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And then you need not fear
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for to live single.
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