The Dorset-shire DAMOSEL:
OR,
Young NANCY at her last Prayer.
Containing her earnest request to Ralph the Miller, to be satisfied whether he would have her or no: Concluding
with his kind Answer. To the Tun[e] of, Fond Boy, etc. Or, Love's a sweet Passion, etc.
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IN Dorset-shire lived a young Miller by Trade,
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Who had courted sweet Nancy an innocent Maid,
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Full a Twelvemonth or more he had kept her in hand;
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She went to him at last that she might understand
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What he means by his fooling and serving her so:
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Prithee tell me, quoth she, if you'll have me or no?
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When first you come to me, How kind was you then?
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You would give me sweet Kisses a hundred and ten,
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Nay, and told me that you did my Beauty adore,
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Yet you have not been with me this two Months or more;
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Therefore pray now resolve me before I do go,
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Whether you do intend for to have me or no?
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Whenever I came with my Grist to your Mill
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You would always be kissing and courting me still,
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I could ne'er be at rest and at quiet for you;
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I appeal to your Conscience if this be not true;
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Therefore pray now resol[v]e me before I do go,
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Whether you do intend for to have me or no?
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I Bought you a Cravat to go to a Feast,
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One that cost Half-a-crown, or two Shillings at least,
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And besides that I gave you three Ells of good Linnen
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For to make you a Shirt, of my Mother's own Spinning;
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Therefore prithee resolve me before I do go,
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Whether you do intend for to have me or no?
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There's Roger would have me, and calls me his Dear;
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He has got an Estate of ten Shillings a Year,
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Besides forty good Shillings and five in a Purse,
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Therefore don't spoyl my Fortune and hinder me thus,
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But be pleas'd to resolve me before I do go,
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Whether you do intend for to have me or no?
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You told me last Easter you'd make me your Bride,
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Wherefore new Knots and Favours I strait did provide,
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Yet you ne'er came a near me till now June the third;
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E'ry honest Man would be as good as his Word:
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But I prithee resolve me before I do go,
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Whether you do intend for to have me or no?
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You solemnly swore when I sat on your knee
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That you then had a love and a kindness for me,
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And if so, What's the reason I am not your Bride?
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Faith these lingering Bargins I near could abide;
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Let me now be resolved before I do go,
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Whether you do intend for to have me or no?
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'Tis very well known I am just in my Prime,
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And to have a kind Husband I think it high time;
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If at Michaelmas last the good deed had been done,
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I might had before now a young Daughter or Son;
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Pray resolve me this Question before I do go,
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Whether you do intend for to have me or no?
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The Young Man's Answer.
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SWeet Nancy, my Promise I do not forget,
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But I am not resolv'd to be Marry'd as yet;
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The devouring Sword now is reigning you see,
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And if I to the Wars should be forced from thee;
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Then thy grief, care and sorrow will daily encrease,
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Therefore prithee Love stay till a flourishing Peace.
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Believe me, I swear by the Powers above,
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That I never will leave thee for any new Love;
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My desires is that thou wilt patiently wait,
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Till the Land is restor'd to a prosperous State;
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If I live but till then thou shalt be my sweet Bride,
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For I love none in all the whole Nation beside.
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