The young-Mans Resolution to the Maidens Request:
BEING
A Witty Dialogue between a Young-Man and a Maid:
Wherein she asks him when he intends to Marry,
And he resolves her how long he will tarry.
To the Tune of, In Summertime.
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AS I was walking under a grove,
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within myself as I supposed;
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My mind did often times remove,
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and by no means could be disclosed:
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At lenth by chance a friend I met,
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which caused me long time to tarry,
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And then of me she did intreat,
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to tell her when I meant to marry.
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Sweet-heart, quoth I, if you would know,
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then mark these words and I'le reveal it;
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Since in your heart you bear it so,
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and in your heart you do conceal it:
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She promised to make no words,
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but of such things she would be wary.
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And thus in brief I did begin,
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to tell her when I meant to marry.
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When Shrovetide falls in Easter-week,
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and Christmas in the midst of July,
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And Lawyers for no fees will plead,
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and Taylors they deal just and truly-
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When all deceits are quite put down,
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and truth by all men is preferred,
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And Indigo dies Red and Brown,
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O then my love and i'le be marryed.
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When Saffron grows on every Tree,
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and every stream flows Milk and Honey;
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And Sugar grows in Carret-fields,
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and Usurers refuse good money:
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When Country-men for judges sits,
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and Lammas falls in February,
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And Millers they their Tole forgets,
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O then my love and I will marry,
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WHen men & beasts i'th Ocean flows,
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& fishes in green fields are feeding,
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When Muscle-shells I'th streets do grow
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and swans upon dry Rocks are breeding:
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When Cockle-shells are Diamond-Rings,
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and Glass to Pearl may be compared;
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And Gold is made of the Gray-goose-wings,
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O then my love and i'le be marryed.
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When Summer doth not dry up mire
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and men on earth do leave to flatter,
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When Bakers they do use no fire,
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and Brewers they do use no water:
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When mountains are by men remov'd
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and England into France is carried,
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And all Maids prove true to their loves,
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O then my love and i'le be marryed.
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When Hostesses do reckon true,
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and Dutch-men leave off drinking Brandy
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When Cats do bark, and Dogs do Mew,
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and Brimstone's took for Sugar-candy,
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Or when that Whitsontide doth fall,
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within the Month of January,
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And Coblers works without an Awl,
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O then my love and I will marry.
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When women know not how to scold,
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& Maids of Sweet-hearts ne'r are thinking
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When men i'th fire complain of cold,
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and ships on Salisbury-Plain fear sinking,
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When Horse-coursers turn honest men,
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and London unto York is carried;
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Or when you out of one can take ten,
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O then my love and i'le be maryed.
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When Candlesticks do serve for Bells,
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and frying-pans are us'd for Ladles,
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Or when in the Sea they dig for Wells,
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and Porridge-pots they make for Cradles
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When Maids forget to go a Maying,
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and a man on his back an Ox can carry,
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Or when the Mice with the Cat be playing
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then my love and I will marry,
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Good sir since you have told me when,
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you are resolved for to marry;
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I wish with all my heart till then,
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that for a wife you still might tarry:
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For if all Young-men were of your mind,
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and Maids no better were preferred,
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I think it would be when the Devil is blind
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that we and our lovers should be marryed
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