“TELL me, Jenny, tell me roundly, | |
| When you will your heart surrender; | |
| Faith and troth I’ll love you soundly, | |
| ’Tis I that was the first Pretender. | |
| Ne’er say nay, nor delay, | 5 |
| Here’s my heart, and here’s my hand too; | |
| All that’s mine shall be thine, | |
| Body and goods at your command too.” | |
| |
| “Ah! how many maids,” quoth Jenny, | |
| “Have you promised to be true to? | 10 |
| Fie! I think the devil’s in you | |
| To kiss a body so as you do! | |
| What d’ye do? let me go, | |
| I can’t abide such foolish doing; | |
| Get you gone, you naughty man, | 15 |
| Fie! Is this your way of wooing?” | |
| |
| “Prithee Jenny, don’t deny me; | |
| Whence this coyness? Why these blushes? | |
| Sure you use them but to try me, | |
| And they suit not with your wishes: | 20 |
| Do not frown, but sit down | |
| On this primrose bed, my sweeting, | |
| And, my love, this shall prove | |
| To thee and me a happy meeting.” | |
| |
| “How many maids that have believed | 25 |
| This,” quoth Jenny, “as your meaning? | |
| Have you heretofore deceived? | |
| Yet you think it is no sinning. | |
| Fie! I say, stand away! | |
| Naughty man, I hate such fooling! | 30 |
| Fie! O sad! I think you’re mad | |
| To rumple a body thus with pulling.” | |
| |
| “’Tis unkind you thus deny me, | |
| When I tell you that I love ye; | |
| Sit you down, and do but try me, | 35 |
| And you better will approve me. | |
| Come, my Jenny, best of any, | |
| In your true-love’s arms I’ll place you; | |
| Sigh not thus, but let’s buss, | |
| Love and Hymen both shall grace you.” | 40 |
| |
| “This,” quoth Jenny, “is but your saying, | |
| You men are false, ’tis often proved so; | |
| Poor maids you long to be betraying; | |
| Oh! fie! I won’t be loved so. | |
| What d’ye do? let me go; | 45 |
| Fie! naughty man! fie! let me loose: | |
| Oh! bless me, how you press me, | |
| I think you’re wild to hug one thus.” | |
| |
| “In your eyes I see a yielding, | |
| I prithee do not thus dissemble; | 50 |
| Nor your heart with doubt be shielding, | |
| But the Queen of Love resemble, | |
| See, my arms wait your charms; | |
| And I must have no denial; | |
| Say not nay, nor delay, | 55 |
| But of my passion make a trial.” | |
| |
| “What is it you would be doing? | |
| Pish, I can no longer tarry; | |
| Nay, forbear, is this your wooing? | |
| Avads, I would not till I marry! | 60 |
| Nay, I won’t! pray now, don’t! | |
| Oh me! fie! nay ’tis evil! | |
| Oh! What’s this? I profess | |
| You grow more and more uncivil.” | |
| |
| “The God of Love gives commission, | 65 |
| And these pleasant shades invite us; | |
| Nay, you must grant my kind petition, | |
| Since to love all things incite us. | |
| My dear heart, do not start, | |
| Joys attend you, transports seize you; | 70 |
| Still to you I’ll be true, | |
| In your arms, thus ever please you.” | |
| |
| “Oh! you hurt me; nay, forbear now; | |
| What d’ye do? you have betrayed me; | |
| Oh, I’m ruined!—and I fear now | 75 |
| You’re about for to un-maid me. | |
| Take your course, use your force, | |
| Kill me, kill me, if you please; | |
| Nay, I’ll die willingly, | |
| In this sweet death I find such ease.” | 80 |
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