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(Anonymous, 1680; from Pt. III)
YOUNG men give ear to me awhile, | |
| If you to merriment are inclined, | |
| And I’ll tell you a story shall make you smile, | |
| Of late done by a woman kind; | |
| And as she went musing all alone, | 5 |
| I heard her to sigh, to sob and make moan, | |
| For a dill done, dill done, dill done done, | |
| Quoth she, I’m undone it I haven’t a dill done. | |
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| For I am a maid and a very good maid, | |
| And sixteen years of age am I, | 10 |
| And fain would I part with my Maidenhead, | |
| If any good fellow would with me lie; | |
| But none to me ever proffered such love | |
| As to lie by my side and give me a shove | |
| With his dill done, etc. | 15 |
| O happy were I, etc. | |
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| At night when I do go to bed | |
| Thinking for to take my rest, | |
| Strange fancies come into my head, | |
| I pray for that which I love best: | 20 |
| For it is a comfort, and pleasure doth bring | |
| To women that hath such a pretty fine thing, | |
| Called a will done, etc. | |
| Then happy were I, etc. | |
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| Last week I walked in the Strand, | 25 |
| I met with my sister, a handsome lass, | |
| I kindly took her by the hand, | |
| This question of her I did ask: | |
| Whether she kept still a maiden alone, | |
| Or whether her maidenhead was fled or gone, | 30 |
| For a dill done, etc. | |
| O happy were I, etc. | |
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II. Kind sister, quoth she, to tell you the truth, | |
| It has gone this twelve months day; | |
| I freely gave it to a handsome youth, | 35 |
| That used with me to sport and play: | |
| To grieve for the loss of it I never shall, | |
| If I had ten thousand I could give ’em all | |
| For a dill done, etc. | |
| O happy were I, etc. | 40 |
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| She making this answer, I bid her adieu, | |
| And told her I could no longer stay, | |
| I let go her hand, and I straight left the Strand, | |
| And to Covent-Garden I hasted away: | |
| Where lively young gallants do use to resort, | 45 |
| To pick up young lasses and show ’em fine sport | |
| With his dill done, etc. | |
| Oh, happy were I, etc. | |
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| I would I’d a sweet heart, as some maids have | |
| That little know how to pleasure a man, | 50 |
| I’d keep him frolicsome, gallant and brave, | |
| And make as much on him as any one can: | |
| Before any good thing he should lack | |
| I’d sell all my coats, and smock from my back | |
| For his dill done, etc. | 55 |
| Then happy were I, etc. | |
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| Thus young men I have declared in brief | |
| The cause of my sorrow and woe, | |
| And if any of you will yield me relief | |
| Speak cheerfully to me, say yea or no: | 60 |
| I live at the Sign of the Cup and the Can, | |
| And will be loving to any young man | |
| For his dill done, etc. | |
| And all my, etc. | |
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| Besides, young men, I have store of money, | 65 |
| Good red gold and silver bright, | |
| And he shall be master of every penny, | |
| That marries with me and yields me delight. | |
| For why t’other night I heard my dame Nancy | |
| Declare how her master did tickle her fancy | 70 |
| With his dill done, etc. | |
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| Then come to me, my bonny lad | |
| While I am in my prime, I pray | |
| And take a good bargain while it is to be had, | |
| And do not linger your time away. | 75 |
| ’Tis money, you see, makes many a man rich: | |
| Then come along, rut on the place that doth itch | |
| For a dill done, dill done, dill done done, | |
| Take all my money, and give me a dill done. | |
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