The Hartford-shire Damosel in great Distress.
This Country Girl is troubled in her mind,
Because young-men to her will not be kind,
She sighs and sobs, and loudly doth cry,
It is for a Sweet-heart I surely shall dye;
O young men come quickly, this is her song:
If you don't ease me, I shall not live long.
The Tune is, My Father gave me House and Land.
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YOu pritty Damsels fair and young,
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my care I pray you pitty:
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I'le in brief declare how I have wrong,
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if you'l listen to my ditty:
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I've liv'd a Maid this twenty year,
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now my heart with love is laden:
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I vow and swear it makes me fear
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that I shall dye a Maiden,
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For I look West, North, East, and South,
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because so long I've tarried:
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The mark apace grows out of my mouth,
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and I fear I shall never be Married.
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When as I was fifteen, as be some of you,
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I had Suitors a great many;
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But I was very coy and stout,
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and never would love any:
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I woo'd was by an honest young-man,
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rather than his life he would have me;
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But with mocks and jears I paid him agen,
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for all the rich gifts that he gave me:
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But now I look, etc.
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Jeffery, James, also honest John,
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all lusty young Lads and nimble;
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But I mockt and jeer'd them every one,
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and told them they did dissemble:
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I was not so scornful, but now i'm as kind
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I would not stand long for to prove him:
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If he were a broom-man he'd please my mind
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I'de kiss him, and dearly i'de love him.
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For I look West, North, East, and South,
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because so long I have tarried;
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The mark apace grows out of my mouth,
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and I fear I shall never be married.
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SUrely I shant live if I hant a Man,
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for with love I am so tosticated,
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That truth for to say, I may curse the Day
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that e're my first suitor I hated:
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For my poor head is come to that pass,
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I cant remember the work in beginning,
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For insteed of the Dishes the Table I wash,
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and care when I should be a spining:
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This makes me look, etc.
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When I go to bed in hopes for rest,
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and when as I should be sleeping:
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To think on a Man my hearts so opprest,
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I cannot chuse but fall a weeping:
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At Wakes or at Fairs where Lovers do meet,
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I like a Drone do follow after;
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To see them imbrace with kisses so sweet,
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Oh how my lips then they do water.
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This makes me look, etc.
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To see the brave comforts some maidens enjoy
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when they sing to their loves sweet sonnet,
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Or a married to how a young boy,
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It makes me e'n mad to think on it:
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I that have tender'd the service of love,
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for my scornful tricks I am hated;
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But if young-men once my mind would but prove,
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I unto them soon would relate it.
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But still I look, etc.
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They quickly should find that I would be kind,
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and not stand long complementing;
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If it were John or Will, his mind i'de fulfill,
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and seek by all means to content him:
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If I had a Husband as some women have,
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I never would seek to displease him;
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Although I were homely yet he should go brave
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of his troubles i'de seek for ease him:
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Yet I must look, etc.
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Tho Money be scant, yet he should not want,
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I'de toyl, I'de work and I'd labour;
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Toth' Ale-house I after him never would haunt
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but to please him I'de do my endeavoer,
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I would not abuse him in thought word or deed
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but kiss him and call him my Honey:
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I'de strivfe for to help him to what he did need,
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he should carry Purse and the Money:
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But still I look, etc.
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Young maidens be sure don't slight y'r first love
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although there come never so many:
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Make much of him, and on him approve,
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for fear you should never get any,
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For you little do think the trouble I'm in,
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since the time my love and I parted:
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For this I dare say by night and day,
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that he was a Man loyal-hearted;
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It makes me look, etc.
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Was I not a fool then with him to part,
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for he loved me more dear than my Brother,
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And his tongue I dare say agreed with's heart
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I never shall have such another:
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If I had a hundred pound in good Gold,
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or as much more were at my disposing:
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I would give it all, and ne'r be controul'd,
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to lodg but one night in his bosome:
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Yet I must look, etc.
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But now 'tis too late to call him again,
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since that so much I him slighted;
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I might a made more on him, that's very plain
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then with love he would me requited:
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But when the Steed's stolen then lock the door,
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while he was with me I never did mind him
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But now he's gone I shall ne'r see him more,
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nor I know not where for to find him:
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This makes me look, etc.
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All you pritty Girls that are fair and young,
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Ide wish you no longer to tarry,
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Don't do as Ive done, yourselves for to wrong
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but with speed make hast to mary:
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For I am crost, my Love I have lost,
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and others from me are quite departed;
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It makes me to weep when as I should sleep,
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and Im sure shall ne'r be light hearted.
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Still I look West, North, East, and South,
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because so long I have taried;
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The mark apace grows out of my mouth,
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and I fear I shall never be maried.
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