The Discontented Plow-man.
This man was troubled in his mind,
Because his love did prove to him unkind;
But now, she has granted his desire,
And quench'd his lovesick heart which was on fire
To the Tune of, True Love rewarded, Or, Flora Farewel.
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MY dearest Love why art thou so unkind,
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As to forsake me now, and leave me behind,
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That am tormented in my mind,
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Because my Love doth prove to me unkind.
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I wonder she should prove so unkind to me,
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That have been so constant unto she,
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Ever since that we did fall in love,
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I faithful unto her did prove.
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I never kept other maids company,
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Nor shall do till the day I dye,
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I had rather to be rack'd to death she shall find,
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Then ever for to change my mind.
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For three year we in love did live,
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Before that she did prove unkind,
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To each other we our troth did give,
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But now my love hath chang'd her mind.
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I am a Plow-man by my trade,
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And that will hold when other fade,
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Beside I have fifty pound a year,
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For to maintain my only dear.
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If that so be that I was poor,
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Then might she hate me therefore,
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But seeing that I have means in store,
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One would think she should love me the more.
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And seeing that means it will not do,
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Nor love yet melt her stony heart,
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I must bear all patiently,
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Though for a while I feel the smart.
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The Young-mans praise of his Love.
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And I will show you the reason why,
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Her person I so much adore,
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Because she is the Phenix of the world,
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Which makes me love her still the more.
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HEr eyes doth like the Diamond shine,
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Which doth pierce this sick heart of mine;
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And her hair is like the threads of gold,
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Which is both lovely to behold.
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Her cheeks are like the Roses red,
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Laid down with pure white and blew,
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Her person is most lovely to behold,
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These words I spake are very true.
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Her teeth are like the Ivery white,
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And her breath is sweeter then Muscadine,
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Her lips that are both soft and fine,
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I wish they were inclin[']d with mine.
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Her breasts like two Pillows lye,
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More brighter then white Ivory,
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Which makes me love her continually,
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And so I shall do till the day I dye.
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Her fingers they are long and small,
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Her body is both proper and tall,
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Her leggs and feet are so compleat,
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And in every part most meet.
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And now I have set forth her praise,
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No more then what is her due in every ways,
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And if she comes not to ease my misery,
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Then for the love of her I shall dye.
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The Maids kind reply to the young-man.
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HOld up thy head my dearest love,
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I am coming to ease thy misery,
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The reason I did unconstant prove,
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It was but to try thy constancy.
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When thou didst walk the streets too and fro,
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Thou saidst I was so strange I would not thee know,
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It was but they constancy for to prove,
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And try whether or no thou didst me love.
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I know it is three year and above,
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Since we together did fall in love,
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The vows and promises made between thee & I,
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I will keep them until I die.
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Thou sayst thou art a Plow-man brave,
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I am likewise a Dary-maid,
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And for thy means thou hast in store,
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Thy love I value ten times more.
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And now my love thou knowst my mind,
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when we are married prove not to me unkind,
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And therefore now without delay,
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Let us appoint our wedding-day.
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The Young-mans Conclusion.
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Ten thousand tha[n]ks I give to thee my dear,
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That thou art come my lovesick heart to chear,
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Ile be to thee both loving and kind,
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Nothing but death shall change my mind.
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And now my dear to end [a]ll sorrow,
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Our wedding-day shall be tomorrow,
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Thy bride-men on thee shall attend,
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and lead thee to the Church both hand in hand.
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The bells shall ring and musick play,
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For to pass the time away,
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And when that day in mirth is spent,
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The night we'l pass away with much content.
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Young maidens wherever you be.
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Come take this councel now of me,
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To them that you do vow to love,
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Look to it, and see that you do constant prove.
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As by this coppy you may see.
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Though for a while she did try his constancy,
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Now they do live in love and unity,
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And I wish them many years of joy.
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