The West-Country DIALOGUE:
OR, A Pleasant Ditty between Anniseed-Robin the Miller, and his Brother Jack
the Plough-man, concerning Joan, poor Robins unkind Lover.
To the Tune of, O folly, desperate Folly, etc.
Licensed according to Order.
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Robin.
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WEll met my loving Brother Jack,
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mind what I shall say to thee,
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My Mother tells me that I lack
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a Woman to wait on me:
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She tells me I'm big enough now for a Wife,
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And therefore must alter my Batchelor's life;
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But I am afraid of care, trouble, and strife:
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O Charges, Family-charges,
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makes me afraid to wed.
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Jack.
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'Tis like you are loath to take a Bride,
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because that the Times are hard,
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Pray cast such careful thoughts aside,
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and never such things regard:
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For if you can live now when ev'rything's dear,
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Why then Brother Robin, I'll make it appear,
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In times of full Plenty much Moneys you'l clear
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O merry, prithee now marry,
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Joan is a pritty Girl.
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Robin.
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I am not sure that honest Joan,
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will marry with me I swear;
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For she to such a height is grown,
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that if I by chance come there,
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And proffer to kiss her, she'll turn her about,
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And then with her Fists she'll batter my snout,
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Till bloud from the same came trickling out:
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O marry, if I should marry,
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How will she serve me then?
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Jack.
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'Tis like you did not compliment,
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and give her a kind Embrace;
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But like some clownish Booby went
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with Hat hanging o'er your Face;
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And it may be, your Shoes and your Stockings unty'd,
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You look'd like a Lover that wanted a Bride;
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For some such like Reason she liquor'd your hide.
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O Robin, Anniseed Robin,
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is it the truth or no?
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Robin.
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Believe me as I am a Man,
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true Breeding I there exprest;
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And as you know full well I can,
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I went in Apparel drest.
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My Grandfather's Hat, and my Calve's-leather-cloaths,
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Then into her presence I merrily goes,
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And made her a Congee quite down to my Toes;
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yet Joaney angry Joaney
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kickt me about the Room.
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Jack.
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You shou'd have told her what you had,
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to bring a young Woman to;
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This would have made her Heart full glad,
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without anymore ado
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With Kisses thou should'st have said, If thou'lt be mine,
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Why then all my Capons, my Turkies, and swine,
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And everything else that I have should be thine:
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Then Robin, Anniseed-Robin,
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you wou'd have gain'd her Love.
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Robin.
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I was not wanting to declare,
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my Riches to her at Large,
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And how I was my Fathers, Heir,
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sure I could maintain a charge,
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And told her, that I had a Cow, and a Calf,
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And something likewise that would make her to laugh,
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As large, and as long as a Constables Staff:
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yet Joaney, Passionate Joaney,
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kickt me about the Floor.
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Jack.
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Go try your Fortune once again,
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and never be daunted so;
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Her love you may at length obtain,
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for Lasses are coy you know:
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But after a while they surrender and yield,
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For Love is a thing cannot be conceal'd,
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And you may be Lord of the conquering Field,
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then Robin, tickle her Robin,
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she will at last be thine.
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Robin.
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To take your Council I'll not fail,
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but to her I'll go once more,
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I'll give her Custards, Cakes and Ale,
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which I did not do before;
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I'll spend a whole Shilling, and when it is done
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If she will not love, me as sure as a Gun,
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I'll call her young Whore, and away I will run:
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so leave her, utterly leave her,
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never come there again,
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