| |
| THERE 1 was a youth, and a well-beloved youth, | |
| And he was a squire’s son: | |
| He loved the bailiff’s daughter dear, | |
| That lived in Islington. | |
| |
| Yet she was coy, and she would not believe | 5 |
| That he did love her so, | |
| No, not at any time would she | |
| Any countenance to him show. | |
| |
| But when his friends did understand | |
| His fond and foolish mind, | 10 |
| They sent him up to fair London, | |
| An apprentice for to bind. | |
| |
| And when he had been seven long years, | |
| And never his love could see, | |
| ‘Many a tear have I shed for her sake | 15 |
| When she little thought of me.’ | |
| |
| Then all the maids of Islington | |
| Went forth to sport and play; | |
| All but the bayliff’s daughter dear; | |
| She secretly stole away. | 20 |
| |
| She put off her gown of grey, | |
| And put on her puggish attire; | |
| She’s up to fair London gone, | |
| Her true-love to require. | |
| |
| 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. | |
| |
| She started up, with a colour so red, | |
| Catching hold of his bridle-rein; | 30 |
| ‘One penny, one penny, kind sir,’ she said, | |
| ‘Will ease me of much pain.’ | |
| |
| ‘Before I give you one penny, sweetheart, | |
| Pray tell me where you were born?’ | |
| ‘At Islington, kind sir,’ said she, | 35 |
| ‘Where I have had many a scorn.’ | |
| |
| ‘I prithee, sweetheart, then tell to me, | |
| O, tell me whether you know | |
| The bailiff’s daughter of Islington?’ | |
| ‘She’s dead, sir, long ago.’ | 40 |
| |
| ‘If she be dead, then take my horse, | |
| My saddle and bridle also; | |
| For I will into some far countrey, | |
| Where no man shall me know.’ | |
| |
| ‘O stay, O stay, thou goodly youth! | 45 |
| She’s here alive, she is not dead; | |
| Here she standeth by thy side, | |
| And is ready to be thy bride.’ | |
| |
| ‘O farewel grief, and welcome joy, | |
| Ten thousand times and more! | 50 |
| For now I have found my own true-love, | |
| Whom I thought I should never see more.’ | |
