EBBA 36108

Manchester Central Library - Blackletter Ballads

Ballad XSLT Template

[Fortune, since thou bidst mee chuse]

Fortune, since thou bidst mee chuse

Of what, I have most to use of all thy store

First I wish to bee well fed

And keepe a table richly spread, Ile aske noe more

Ilse aske noe more

For my dwellings to have care

Princely howses to prepare

With a back dore

For private uses and for freinds

For choyce delights & speciall ends, Ile aske noe more

Ile aske noe more

Next a neate and sumptuous bedd

Wheare in it a faire lady layd, grant thou therfore

A modest vertuous wife be shee

To keepe mee honest if it may be, Ile aske noe more

Ile aske noe more

Melancholly to prevent

And remove all discontent encrease my store

With some odd thousands every day

To drive my museinge thoughts away, Ile aske no mor[e]

Ile aske noe more

But when aige shall sence deprive

And I can noe longer live, I then implore

When I the world & it leaves mee

A blessed Saint in heaven to be, Ile aske noe more

Ile aske noe more

But when to heaven I shall ascend

One thinge more I may allow, to keepe the dore

That soe I may let in my freind

And all my foes away may send, Ile aske noe more

Ile aske noe more