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(Anonymous. 1685; from Pt. III)
ALL you that desire to hear of a jest, | |
| Come listen awhile, and it shall be exprest; | |
| It is of a Miller that lived very near, | |
| The like of this ditty you never did hear, | |
| A handsome young Damsel she came to his mill, | 5 |
| To have her corn ground with a ready good will, | |
| As soon as he saw her fair beauty so bright, | |
| He caused this young Damsel to tarry all night. | |
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| Said he, my dear jewel, it will be near morn, | |
| Before my man Lawrence can grind my dear’s corn, | 10 |
| And therefore if thou wilt be ruled by me, | |
| At home in my parlour thy lodging shall be, | |
| For I am enflamed with thy amorous charms, | |
| And therefore this night thou shalt sleep in my arms, | |
| I swear it, and therefore it needs must be so, | 15 |
| It is but in vain for to answer me no. | |
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| At this the young Damsel so blushing did stand, | |
| But straightways the master took her by the hand, | |
| And leading her home to young Gillian his wife, | |
| Said he, my sweet honey, the joy of my life, | 20 |
| Be kind to this maid, for her father I know, | |
| And let her lie here in the parlour below, | |
| Stout Lawrence my servant, and I, we shall stay | |
| All night in the mill till the dawning of day. | |
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| To what he desired she straightways agreed, | 25 |
| And then to the mill he did hasten with speed, | |
| He ready was there to leap out of his skin, | |
| To think of the bed which he meant to lie in; | |
| Now when he was gone, the maid told his intent | |
| To Gillian, and they a new project invent, | 30 |
| By which they well fitted this crafty young blade; | |
| The miller by Lawrence a cuckold was made. | |
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| The maid and his wife they changed bed for that night, | |
| So that when the miller came for his delight, | |
| Straightway to the parlour bed he did repair, | 35 |
| Instead of the Damsel, wife Gillian was there, | |
| Which he did imagine had been the young lass, | |
| When after some hours in pleasure they past, | |
| He rose, and returned to the mill like one wild, | |
| For fear he hath got the young Damsel with child. | 40 |
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| Then to his man Lawrence the miller did say, | |
| I have a young damsel both bonny and gay, | |
| Her eyes are like diamonds, her cheeks sweet and fair, | |
| They may with the Rose and the Lily compare, | |
| Her lips they are like the rich coral for red, | 45 |
| This lass is at home in my parlour in bed, | |
| And if you go home you may freely enjoy | |
| With her the sweet pleasure, for she is not coy. | |
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| His master’s kind proffer he did not refuse, | |
| But was brisk and airy, and pleased with the news, | 50 |
| But said, to yourself much beholding I am, | |
| And for a requital I’ll give you my ram; | |
| This done, lusty Lawrence, away home he goes, | |
| And stript of his coat, breeches, likewise shoes and hose, | |
| And went into bed with young Gillian his dame; | 55 |
| Yet Lawrence for that was not worthy of blame. | |
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| He little imagined his dame was in bed, | |
| And therefore his heart was the freer from dread, | |
| The minutes in pastime and pleasure they spent, | |
| Unknown to them both, she enjoyed true content, | 60 |
| Now after a while he his dame had embraced, | |
| He rose and returned to the mill in all haste, | |
| Telling his master of all the delight, | |
| Which he had enjoyed with that damsel this night. | |
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| Next morning the maid to the mill did repair, | 65 |
| The miller and Lawrence his servant was there, | |
| His master then whispered this word in her ear, | |
| “How like you to lie with a miller, my dear?” | |
| At this the young damsel then laughing out right; | |
| And said, I changed beds with young Gillian last night: | 70 |
| If you enjoyed any it was your sweet wife, | |
| For my part, I ne’er lay with a man in my life. | |
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| At this he began for to rave, stamp and stare, | |
| Both scratching his elbows and pulling his hair, | |
| And like one distracted about he did run, | 75 |
| And often times crying, Ha! what have I done, | |
| Was ever poor miller so finely betrayed, | |
| By Lawrence, my man, I am a cuckold made. | |
| The Damsel she laughed and was pleased in her mind, | |
| And said he was very well served in his kind. | 80 |
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