| T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22. | | | | A Good Throw for Three Maidenheads | | By Martin Parker (d. 1656?) |
| | (1631. From A Pepysian Garland, 1922) | | Some say that mayden-heads are of high price, |
| But here are three maids that have lost theirs at dice. |
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THREE maids did make a meeting, | |
| With one young man of late, | |
| Where they had such a greeting, | |
| As passes Peg and Kate. | |
| They talk of many matters, | 5 |
| Not fitting to be told; | |
| Also they drank strong waters, | |
| To heat their stomachs cold. | |
| and when they had, | |
| drunk with the Lad, | 10 |
| Until they were merry all: | |
| between them three, | |
| they did agree, | |
| Into discourse to fall. | |
| |
| Concerning husbands getting, | 15 |
| The question did arise, | |
| And each of them their sitting, | |
| Some reason did devise. | |
| One was a milkmaid bonny, | |
| The other I’ll not name, | 20 |
| But she did get much money, | |
| By selling of the same, | |
| her name is Jone, | |
| as is well known, | |
| I hope ’tis no offence: | 25 |
| to tell what they, | |
| did on that day, | |
| Before they went from thence. | |
| |
| They all did love this young man | |
| And each for him did strive, | 30 |
| It seems he was a strong man, | |
| That could his work contrive. | |
| Now which of them should have him, | |
| They neither of them knew, | |
| But each of them did crave him, | 35 |
| As her own proper due. | |
| now meeting, | |
| and greeting, | |
| As maids and young men use, | |
| with them he drank, | 40 |
| his money was frank, | |
| Indeed he could not choose. | |
| |
| And either of them telling, | |
| Her mind in full to him, | |
| Meanwhile the rest were filling, | 45 |
| Their cups up to ye brim. | |
| Because in either of them, | |
| It seems he had a share, | |
| Unless he meant to scoff them, | |
| He now must choose his ware. | 50 |
| and therefore they, | |
| without delay, | |
| Being on the merry pin: | |
| with good advice, | |
| did throw the dice, | 55 |
| Who should the young man win. | |
| |
| The young man was contented, | |
| And so the dice were brought. | |
| The maids that this invented, | |
| Their lessons were well taught: | 60 |
| For the young man all lusted, | |
| And by this fine device, | |
| They severally all trusted, | |
| To win him by the dice. | |
| but hark now, | 65 |
| and mark now, | |
| The manner of their play: | |
| in their behalf, | |
| I know you’ll laugh, | |
| Before you go away. | 70 |
| |
THE SECOND PART IF any of the lasses, | |
| Do overthrow the rest, | |
| On her the verdict passes, | |
| None should with her contest, | |
| But she should have her lover, | 75 |
| Clean from the other twain, | |
| If even not above her, | |
| Then they must throw again. | |
| but of he, | |
| all them, three, | 80 |
| Did win by throwing most: | |
| their mayden-heads all, | |
| to him must fall, | |
| Without any pain or cost. | |
| |
| To this they all replied, | 85 |
| They jointly were agreed, | |
| What words had testifyed, | |
| Should be perform’d indeed. | |
| The first maid threw, tray cater ace, | |
| Which is in all but eight, | 90 |
| She hoped from all the maids in place, | |
| To win the lad by right, | |
| The second I think, | |
| threw tray deuce cinque, | |
| There’s ten (quoth she) for me. | 95 |
| the first was quell’d, | |
| for this excel’d, | |
| Full sorely vext was she. | |
| |
| The third with courage lusty, | |
| Did take the dice in hand, | 100 |
| Now dice if you be trusty, | |
| Quoth she, this cast shall stand, | |
| For I resolve for better for worse | |
| As fortune shall dispose, | |
| That either now I’ll win the horse | 105 |
| Or else the Saddle lose. | |
| she took them, | |
| and she shook them, | |
| And threw without fear or wit, | |
| tray cater sice, | 110 |
| gramercy dice, | |
| Quoth she, for that is it. | |
| |
| She thought herself most certain | |
| The young man now to have, | |
| But false deluding fortune, | 115 |
| No such great favour gave. | |
| The young man took the dice up, | |
| Quoth he now have at all, | |
| He threw sincke cater sice up, | |
| Which made her courage fall, | 120 |
| who threw the last, | |
| for ’twas surpast, | |
| How now my girls, quoth he, | |
| you must resign, | |
| for they are mine, | 125 |
| Your maiden-heads to me. | |
| |
| For I have fairly won them, | |
| As you yourselves can tell, | |
| The lots were cast upon them, | |
| Which you all liked well. | 130 |
| The maidens all confessed, | |
| That what he said was true, | |
| And that they were distressed, | |
| Should he exact his due. | |
| we hope sir, | 135 |
| some scope sir, | |
| You unto us will give. | |
| if that we pay, | |
| what’s lost by play, | |
| ’Twere pity we should live. | 140 |
| |
| Quoth he, I’ll have them all three, | |
| For they by right are mine, | |
| Or else in troth, they shall be, | |
| All painted on my sign. | |
| The sign of the one maiden-head, | 145 |
| Hath oftentimes bin seen, | |
| But I’ll have three caus ’t shall be said | |
| The like hath never been. | |
| now whether this lad, | |
| his winnings had, | 150 |
| I cannot nor will not say: | |
| but likely ’tis, | |
| he would not miss, | |
| What was won by fair play. | |
| |
| They thought they had been private | 155 |
| Where none had heard their doing | |
| But one did so contrive it, | |
| That he heard all this wooing. | |
| Thought he I have heard many hold, | |
| Their maiden-heads at high price, | 160 |
| But now hereafter it may be told, | |
| How three were won at dice. | |
| this man ere long, | |
| did cause this song, | |
| To be made on the same, | 165 |
| that maidens fair, | |
| might have a care, | |
| And play at no such game. | | | |
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