| |
I
THERE was a youth, and a well-belovèd youth, | |
| And he was an esquire’s son, | |
| He loved the bailiff’s daughter dear, | |
| That lived in Islington.’ | |
| |
II
But she was coy, and she would not believe | 5 |
| That he did love her so, | |
| No, nor at any time she would | |
| Any countenance to him show. | |
| |
III
But when his friends did understand | |
| His fond and foolish mind, | 10 |
| They sent him up to fair London, | |
| An apprentice for to bind. | |
| |
IV
And when he had been seven long years, | |
| And his love he had not seen; | |
| ‘Many a tear have I shed for her sake | 15 |
| When she little thought of me.’ | |
| |
V
All the maids of Islington | |
| Went forth to sport and play; | |
| All but the bailiff’s daughter dear; | |
| She secretly stole away. | 20 |
| |
VI
She put off her gown of gray, | |
| And put on her puggish attire; | |
| She’s up to fair London gone, | |
| Her true-love to require. | |
| |
VII
As she went along the road, | 25 |
| The weather being hot and dry, | |
| There was she aware of her true-love, | |
| At length came riding by. | |
| |
VIII
She stept to him, as red as any rose, | |
| And took him by the bridle-ring: | 30 |
| ‘I pray you, kind sir, give me one penny, | |
| To ease my weary limb.’— | |
| |
IX
‘I prithee, sweetheart, canst thou tell me | |
| Where that thou wast born?’— | |
| ‘At Islington, kind sir,’ said she, | 35 |
| ‘Where I have had many a scorn.’— | |
| |
X
‘I prithee, sweetheart, canst thou tell me | |
| Whether thou dost know | |
| The bailiff’s daughter of Islington?’— | |
| ‘She’s dead, sir, long ago.’— | 40 |
| |
XI
‘Then will I sell my goodly steed, | |
| My saddle and my bow; | |
| I will into some far countrey, | |
| Where no man doth me know.’— | |
| |
XII
‘Oh stay, O stay, thou goodly youth! | 45 |
| She’s alive, she is not dead; | |
| Here she standeth by thy side, | |
| And is ready to be thy bride.’— | |
| |
XIII
‘O farewell grief, and welcome joy, | |
| Ten thousand times and o’er! | 50 |
| For now I have seen my own true-love, | |
| That I thought I should have seen no more.’ | |
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