The Master-piece of Love SONGS:
BEING
A Dialogue betwixt a bold Keeper and a Lady gay,
Who woo'd his Lord's Daughter, and carried the Day;
But soon after Marriage was forc'd for to fight
With his Lord and six Gentlemen, for his own Right;
He cut them, and hew'd them, and paid them with Blows,
And made them his Friends that before were his Foes.
To the Tune of, A Week before Easter, etc.
|
IT was a bold Keeper
|
that chased the Deer,
|
Of a stouter bold Spirit
|
you never did hear,
|
But he loved a Lady
|
of beauty most clear,
|
And now you shall hear of their Wooing.
|
Keeper.] O pity fair Lady
|
the Suit which I move,
|
For i'm deep in Affection,
|
and tossed in Love;
|
For you are the Lady,
|
the Turtle and Dove,
|
Whereon i have cast my Affection.
|
Lady.] O Keeper forbear,
|
I shall thus answer thee,
|
I am a Match for a Lord
|
of a high Degree;
|
For my Birth and yours
|
they not equal be,
|
Therefore, Keeper, forbear your Wooing.
|
Keeper.] This Repulse it maketh
|
me sadly to grieve;
|
And true 'tis, we all came
|
from Adam and Eve.
|
One loving Word to my Life
|
is a Reprieve,
|
Tho' i'm linked fast in Cupids Prison.
|
Lady.] O why should you say,
|
you're a Prisoner to me,
|
O hold, forbear, Keeper,
|
for that may not be:
|
We both may have Matches
|
fitter for each Degree:
|
Then forbear, and take this for an Answer.
|
Keeper.] No, not for an Answer
|
that i shall it take,
|
And yet this Denial
|
makes my Heart to ake;
|
And i shall lay down
|
my Life at the Stake,
|
To obtain the Favour of my Lady.
|
Lady.] It is a meer Madness
|
your Life to lay down,
|
What will People say,
|
there's an end of a Clown,
|
That pass'd many Dangers
|
till Fortune did frown,
|
And now dyed a pretended Lover.
|
Keeper.] The Name of a Clown
|
in my Heart i do scorn,
|
Being Nobly descended,
|
and a Gentleman born;
|
Yet i am a Keeper
|
that must be forlorn,
|
Except you can love me, fair Lady.
|
Lady.] Well, Keeper, I perceive
|
thou hast a good Heart,
|
Well thou art compacted
|
in every Part:
|
If my Lord did know
|
we should both suffer Smart,
|
My Father would be so offended.
|
Keeper.] Lady, if you will consent
|
to be my Bride,
|
I will gird my Sword
|
and Buckler by my Side,
|
And then to the Church
|
in private we'll ride,
|
Where we will be Married, fair Lady.
|
She then gave Consent,
|
and away they did ride,
|
The valiant bold Keeper
|
and his lovely Bride,
|
Not fearing of Danger
|
whatever betide;
|
For she was a valiant young Lady.
|
Being married, he returned
|
back speedily,
|
And riding along
|
her Father did espy:
|
Alack, quoth the Lady,
|
one or both shall dye.
|
Fear nothing, quoth the Keeper.
|
The Lord he came posting
|
so fast as he could hie,
|
And six lusty Gentlemen
|
for Company:
|
Quoth he to the Keeper,
|
Villain, thou shalt dye,
|
For deluding away my Daughter.
|
Come on, quoth the Keeper,
|
no time to prattle,
|
I see by your Swords
|
you're prepared for Battle.
|
With his Sword and Buckler
|
he made them to rattle,
|
The Lady held the Horse for the Keeper.
|
He cut them and hew'd them
|
on the Place he did stand.
|
O then, quoth the Lady,
|
bold Keeper hold thy Hand.
|
If you'll give your Daughter
|
thirty thousand in Land,
|
You shan't dye by the Hand of the Keeper.
|
Keeper, quoth the Lady,
|
too small a Portion.
|
Peace, quoth the Lord, Daughter,
|
let your Will be done:
|
I will love thy Husband,
|
and thee ever own.
|
Thus a Keeper gain'd a fair Lady.
|
|
|
|
|
|