%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 English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 03/08/2016 34992

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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

1 Tan Tivee Crossed Couple, The; Tantara Rara Tantivy Tantivy 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 variation] Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 1 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. ?-? P. Brooksby, J. Deacon, J. Blare, / and J. Back

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol Americas animals/ nature Bible/ biblical figures buildings/ architecture catastrophe children class clothing/ appearance country/ nation crime death economics/ commerce entertainments family Featured folklore gender holidays/ seasons infidelity labor/ craft law London love maritime marriage military/ war monstrosity mythology/ Classical news nobility/ court politics/ government procreation punishment race/ ethnicity religious concepts religious figures religious groups royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgar humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 3/8/2016 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America marriage sex/ sexuality Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 3/8/2016 2:10:06 PM XBallad Levinson-Emley, Rachel Created XML Version of Ballad 3/8/2016 2:10:06 PM Transcription Supervisor Palmer, Megan Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/8/2016 2:10:06 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Adkison, Katie Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/8/2016 2:10:06 PM Transcriptionist Two Bell, Erik Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/8/2016 2:10:06 PM Transcriptionist One McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/10/2015 Checker Rachel LevinsonEmley Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/29/2016 Checker Katie Adkison Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 12/11/2014 Bibliographer Kristen McCants Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 11/12/2015 Checker Erik Bell Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
<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 Longing-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 rend="bold">Tan Tivee.</hi></hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="6" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Licensed according to Order.</hi></seg>
AS I through a Meadow one morning 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'l 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 e're 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 dotes on the Charms of her Eyes, and daily endeavours to please her, Nay, every Morning before he doth rise, he'l hugg her, nay, kiss her, and squeeze her: Now when she doth find him thus frolick 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 doth grow, abroad he will carefully lead her: And then whatsoever she'll covet or 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.