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I Am a maid of beauty bright,
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Who doth in pleasures take delight,
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And if I might have to my mind,
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I would no grief nor crosses find,
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I would my youthful fancy please,
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Likewise live and take my ease,
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From worldly care and labour free,
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For work will never with me agree,
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I would some Barron would marry me,
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Or some great Lord of high degree,
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That I in my gilded Coach might ride
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With Leckies running by my side,
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And when I sit me down to meat
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I would choice of musick sweet
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To charm my senses with the sound,
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Let me be with these blessings crownd.
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And in the sumptuous bed of down,
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Rocked in the arms of high renown,
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I would pass the silent night,
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And ripe the pleasure of delight,
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I will wear rich Cornets every day
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Silks and Satins fine and gay,
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Decked up with Jewels and Diamond Pearl,
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Then I should seem a tearing Girl,
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THE REPLY.
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But mark what after came to pass,
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While this youthful bonny Lass,
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Was building Castles in the air,
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A Cobler till her did appear,
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And says and thou will be my Wife,
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We'll live together a merry life,
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Although I have no estate at all
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We will work together in the stall,
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Begone you poor and handy Knave,
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Does thou imagine that I will have
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A Cobler void of common sense,
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Take up your aulls, and get you hence.
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Shall I spin shop-threed in your stall,
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Or be at such a rascals call,
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I hope I have a noble peer,
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To live in glory and splendor here.
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O Jenny, then the Cobler cryed,
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Are you addicted so to pride,
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Nay then in truth farewell, adieu,
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I hope to have as good as you.
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He turned about to go his way,
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She straight intreated him to stay,
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And says what makes you on such haste,
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For what I spoke was but in jest.
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Although I mighty things did aim,
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Yet since your love to me did come,
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I will take a Cobler, then she said,
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Ere I do longer live a maid.
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And these two lovingly agreed,
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And they were married with speed.
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Here ye may see what maids will do
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Ere they will keep their maiden-head.
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