%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> THE / Merry MILK-MAID: / Being, Her Longing-Desire after Matrimony: That she might be / one of the Honourable Society of Gossips. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1691 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 02/24/2009 21680

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

4.13 R188568 1 Tan Tivee, &c. The Crossed Couple; Tantara Rara Tantivy Tan Tivee, etc. AS I through a Meadow one morning did pass, / when Flowers and Blossoms were springing; it is a fine thing to be Marry'd. [with variations] date from imprint Pepys 4.13 Wing M1868 Pepys Library The Pepys ballads : facsimile volume Editor W.G. Day D.S. Brewer Cambridge [England] 1987 Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 4: 13 THE / Merry MILK-MAID: / Being, Her Longing-Desire after Matrimony: That she might be / one of the Honourable Society of Gossips. THE Merry MILK-MAID: Being Her Longing-Desire after Matrimony: That she might be one of the Honourable Society of Gossips. The Merry Milkmaid: Being Her Longing Desire after Matrimony: That She Might Be One of the Honorable Society of Gossips. 1/2 sheet oblong folio, 200 x 294 cropped right edge, uneven inking cast fleurons 1691 Printed for P. Brooksby, I. Deacon, I. Blare, / and I. Back. 1691. P. Brooksby, J. Deacon, J. Blare, J. Back Weinstein: imprint

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 Taxonomy used by Pepys to Organize Ballads in Albums A Small Promiscuous Supplement Devotion & Morality Drinking & Good Fellowship History - True & Fabulous Humour, Frollicks &c Love Pleasant Love Pleasant and Unfortunate Love Unfortunate Marriage Sea State & Times Tragedy Various Subjects Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/health alcohol animals/nature appearance Bible/biblical figures buildings/architecture catastrophe children class clothing/fashion country/nation crime death economics/trade entertainment family/procreation folklore gender historical figures & events holidays/seasons infidelity law London love maritime marriage military/war monstrosity mythology/Classical world news nobility/court politics/government punishment religious concepts religious figures religious types & sects royalty rural life servitude sex/sexuality supernatural/magic The New World travel trickery/deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgarities/crass humor Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 2/24/2009 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Love Pleasant and Unfortunate 02/24/09 Checker Rachel Mann Re-xmled 07/21/07 Checker Jessica C. Murphy Ballad checked 08/23/06 Transcriber Kris McAbee Original transcription 2006 Bibliographer Jessica C. Murphy Bibliographic SQL Database Record Updated/Created 8/24/2004 Bibliographer Liberty Stanavage Bibliographic SQL Database Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">THE</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Merry MILK-MAID:</hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Being, Her <hi rend="bold">L</hi>onging-Desire after Matrimony: That she might be</hi></seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">one of the Honourable Society of Gossips.</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="5" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To the Tune of,</hi> Tan Tivee, <hi rend="italic">etc. Licensed according to Order.</hi></seg>
AS I through a Meadow one mourning did pass, when Flowers and Blossoms were springing; I hapned to hear a young beautiful Lass, as she this new Ditty sat singing: Here's Beauty without any manner of Pride, I'd give Forty shillings I might be a Bride, To have a kind Husband to lye by my side, it is a fine thing to be Marry'd. Alass, I have used all manner of means, for tempting young Batchelors to me, For two or three Year I have been in the Teens, yet there is no Gallant will Wooe me:
My passion with Cupid is daily at strife, So that I am weary of a single Life, I wish that young Robin would make me his Wife. it is a fine thing to be Marry'd. I now am a Servant and Drudge like a slave, expos'd to all manner of Weather; But had I a Husband it then would be brave, then we might both Cuddle together: The Charms of my Beauty would surely invite, My Husband to taste of the pleasant delight, In pleasure we'll spin out the long Winters night: it is a fine thing to be Marry'd.
The Lass that is Marry'd, her Husband and she, enjoys pleasant Charms out of measure, Yet I am not certain what sport it might be, but sure it is some sort of Pleasure. But er'e it be long I m resolved to know, If any good Fellow some kindness will show, What causes this Itching, above and below: it is I dare swear to be Marry'd. The good Man he dots on the charms of her Eyss, and daily endeavours to please her, Nay, every morning before he doth rise, he'll hugg her, nay, kiss her, and squeeze her: Now when she doth find him thus Frollick and Free, In Love and Affection they both do agree, It makes her as blith as a Bird in a Tree: it is a fine thing to be Marry'd. Nay, when a young Woman is Breeding you know, the Husband with dainties will feed her: And as it to higher perfection does grow, abroad he will carefully lead her: And then whatsoever she'll covet and crave, The honest good Man he endeavours to have, Whereby he her timerous Longing may save, it is a fine thing to be Marry'd. And when the young Women do chance to Cry out, they straightways are call'd to their Labours, And then after this comes a Gossiping bout, to do as the rest of their Neighbours: They in their Apparel are Deck'd neat and fine, To prattle and likewise to tipple in Wine, Until all their Noses with Claret does shine: O, 'tis a fine thing to be Marry'd. I hope in good time it will come to my turn, to be at that sweet Recreation; All Persons must own it a weighty consern, it being for Multiplication: And therefore if now I could light of a Friend, On whom I might here for a Husband depend, I would not delay it a Week to an end: it is a fine thing to be Marry'd.
Printed for P. Brooksby, J. Deacon, J Blare, and J. Back. 1691.