EBBA 37508
British Library - Bagford
Ballad XSLT Template
The Maidens Answer
TO THE
Young-Mans Request.
The Young man he desires to know
When this fair maid did mean to marry
To whom she cry'd, and soon reply'd
She fearful was for to miscarry.
Tune, Then my Love and I will marry.
|
A Damsel fair compleat and fine
|
In a silent Grove stood musing
|
She seem'd to Marriage to incline
|
And yet she often was refusing,
|
A young man then by chance came by
|
And ask'd her why so long she tarried,
|
To whom she straightway did reply
|
Ile tell you when I will be married.
|
When young men be no more deceitful
|
Being put unto the tryal,
|
Who do use to prove ungrateful
|
And to loving Maids disloyal,
|
When all things shall be right and square
|
And Sack be turned into Clarret
|
When Horses breed without a Mare
|
O then my Love and Ile be married.
|
When blind men do Stargazers turn
|
And fish forsake the brackish Ocean,
|
When Cooks and Smiths no fire do burn
|
And young men shall despise a Portion
|
When whores and Baudes all honest grow
|
and nothing more shall be miscarried
|
When strawberries on Oaks do grow
|
O then my Love and ile be married.
|
When Tinkers quite forsake their Trulls
|
And by themselves the Countrey travel
|
When watermen shall use no Skulls
|
And hen-peck'd men not carry gravel
|
When scolding wives all quiet be
|
And silence is by them preferred
|
When Guinnies grow on every tree
|
O then, etc.
|
When Pismires swallow mighty Whales
|
And Oaken trees creep underground too
|
When wantons play not with their tails
|
And Pocky whores shall all be sound too
|
When Brokers they shall Conscience use
|
And Porters shall no burthens carry
|
When Tally-men profit refuse
|
O then etc.
|
When Coaches no more run on wheeles
|
And Carriers quite leave their waggons
|
When Cooks make Apple pies of Eeles
|
And drunken sots deny their flaggons
|
When hungry men shall meat refuse
|
And Gentry water Tankards carry
|
When maids wear Boots instead of shooes
|
O then my Love and I will marry.
|
When Brewers they shall use no Mault
|
Nor Brasiers make no Pans nor Kettles
|
When Cripples they no more shall hault
|
And men grow fat that eat no victuals,
|
When Usurers shall Gold despise
|
And men on backs their horses carry
|
When Changling fools be counted wise
|
O then my Love and I will marry.
|
When Thieves their pilfring all give ore
|
And vow that they will honest grow too
|
When ships shall sail upon the shore
|
It will be very strange you know too.
|
When all the world shall be content
|
And womens minds shall never vary
|
When Pearls grow on the Monument
|
O then etc.
|
When Lyars nothing speak but truth
|
And Robbers they use Tripe for Leather
|
When wantonness is left by youth
|
And June shall fall in Frosty weather:
|
When birds shall fly that have no wings
|
And hasty folk with patience tarry
|
When Muskadine runs out of Springs
|
O then my etc.
|
When all these things shall come to pass
|
Then will I alter my condition
|
For I see many a handsome Lass
|
Whose tears in eye, show'd their contrition.
|
Wishing ten thousand times in vain
|
That single they had longer tarried,
|
Perhaps like them I may complain
|
Though I no hast have to be married.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Printed for J. Blare at the Looking-glass on London Bridge.
|
View Raw XML