John's Earnest Request.
OR,
Betty's compassionate Love extended to him in a time of Distress,
Late in the Night when all was fast,
John came in [both cold] and wet;
And after some few Words were past,
Her Lover in she let.
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COme open the Door sweet Betty,
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For 'tis a cold Winters Night,
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It Rains and it Blows, and it Thunders,
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And the Moon it does give no Light:
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It is all for the Love of sweet Betty,
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that here I have lost my way;
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Sweet let me lye behide thee,
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until it is break of Day.
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I dare not come down sweet Johnny,
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not I dare not let you in,
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For fear of my Fathers Anger,
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and the rest of my other Kin:
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For my Father he is awake,
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and my Mother she will us hear;
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Therefore be gone sweet Johnny,
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my Joy and only Dear.
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If that thou dost love me, show it,
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and do not in Anger frown,
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Thy Parents they need not know it,
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if thou wilt come softly down;
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The prithee now don't deny me,
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But come at thy Lovers call;
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For what tho' I would lye by thee,
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I'll do thee no harm at all.
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Alas I am loath to venter,
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for is that they should awake,
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As soon as the door you enter
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a Racket i'm sure they'l make,
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You know that old Folks are froward,
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and jealaus of handsome Men,
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And should we be overpower'd,
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in what a case were we then.
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I'll shelter my Dear from danger,
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should any Outrage begin,
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Thou knowest that i am no stranger,
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then prithee Love let me in:
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Long time in the Cold i've tarry'd,
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oh pitty thy true Love John,
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Tomorrow we will be married,
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as i am an honest Man.
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This is a fair pleasant Story,
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which almost my Heart has won,
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But if you should blast my Glory,
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and leave me when all is done,
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My Father would surely chide me,
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my Mother would scold and brawl,
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And all the young Maids deride me,
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oh this is the worst of all.
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Thy Johnny will ne'er deceive thee,
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but love thee as dear as my Life,
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Nor will I oae hour leave thee
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untill thou art made my Wife;
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Let me not stand any longer,
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for why dear Betty behold:
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The Storm grow stronger and stronger,
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and I am both wet and cold.
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It was about midnight hour,
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when John he did thus complain;
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Poor heart she had not the power,
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to let him stand in the Rain.
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Without any longer dodging,
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she open'd the door with speed,
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And let him into her Lodging,
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good Man he had ne'er mare need,
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It being cold Winter Whether,
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they strait did hurry to Bed,
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And there they cuddl'd together,
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and John got her Maiden-head,
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She was of a curteous Carriage,
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by which young Jonny was won,
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Next day they were joyn'd in Marriage,
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and was not this honestly done.
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