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(From Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1707)
I, A TENDER young Maid have been courted by many, | |
| Of all sorts and Trades as ever was any: | |
| A spruce Haberdasher first spake me fair, | |
| But I would have nothing to do with Small ware. | |
| My Thing is my own, and I’ll keep it so still, | 5 |
| Yet other young Lasses may do what they will. | |
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| A sweet scented Courtier did give me a Kiss, | |
| And promis’d me Mountains if I would be his, | |
| But I’ll not believe him, for it is too true, | |
| Some Courtiers do promise much more than they do. | 10 |
| My thing is my own, and I’ll keep it so still, | |
| Yet other young Lasses may do what they will. | |
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| A fine Man of Law did come out of the Strand, | |
| To plead his own Cause with his Fee in his Hand; | |
| He made a brave Motion but that would not do, | 15 |
| For I did dismiss him, and Nonsuit him too. | |
| My thing is my own, and I’ll keep it so still, | |
| Yet other young Lasses may do what they will. | |
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| Next came a young Fellow, a notable Spark, | |
| (With Green Bag and Inkhorn, a Justice’s Clark) | 20 |
| He pull’d out his Warrant to make all appear, | |
| But I sent him away with a Flea in his Ear. | |
| My thing is my own, and I’ll keep it so still, | |
| Yet other young Lasses may do what they will. | |
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| A Master of Music came with an intent, | 25 |
| To give me a Lesson on my Instrument, | |
| I thank’d him for nothing, but bid him be gone, | |
| For my little Fiddle should not be played on. | |
| My thing is my own, and I’ll keep it so still, | |
| Yet other young Lasses may do what they will. | 30 |
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| An Usurer came with abundance of Cash, | |
| But I had no mind to come under his Lash, | |
| He proffered me Jewels, and great store of Gold, | |
| But I would not Mortgage my little Free-hold. | |
| My thing is my own, and I’ll keep it so still, | 35 |
| Yet other young Lasses may do what they will. | |
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| A blunt Lieutenant surprised my Placket, | |
| And fiercely began to rifle and sack it, | |
| I mustered my Spirits up and became bold, | |
| And forced my Lieutenant to quit his strong hold. | 40 |
| My thing is my own, and I’ll keep it so still, | |
| Yet other young Lasses may do what they will. | |
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| A Crafty young Bumpkin that was very rich, | |
| And used with his Bargains to go thro’ stitch, | |
| Did tender a Sum, but it would not avail, | 45 |
| That I should admit him my Tenant in tail. | |
| My Thing is my own, and I’ll keep it so still, | |
| Yet other young Lasses may do what they will. | |
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| A fine dapper Taylor, with a Yard in his Hand, | |
| Did proffer his Service to be at Command, | 50 |
| He talked of a slit I had above Knee, | |
| But I’ll have no Tailors to stitch it for me. | |
| My Thing is my own, and I’ll keep it so still, | |
| Yet other young Lasses may do what they will. | |
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| A Gentleman that did talk much of his Grounds, | 55 |
| His Horses, his Setting-Dogs, and his Grey-hounds, | |
| Put in for a Course, and used all his Art, | |
| But he mist of the Sport, for Puss would not start. | |
| My Thing is my own, and I’ll keep it so still, | |
| Yet other young Lasses may do what they will. | 60 |
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| A pretty young Squire new come to the Town, | |
| To empty his Pockets, and so to go down, | |
| Did proffer a kindness, but I would have none, | |
| The same that he used to his Mother’s Maid Joan. | |
| My Thing is my own, and I’ll keep it so still, | 65 |
| Yet other young Lasses may do what they will. | |
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| Now here I could reckon a hundred and more, | |
| Besides all the Gamesters recited before, | |
| That made their addresses in hopes of a snap | |
| But as young as I was, I understood Trap. | 70 |
| My thing is my own, and I’ll keep it so still, | |
| Until I be Married, say Men what they will. | |
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