Volume 3 — DIALOGUE IN VERSE.[670]

JACK. Seest thou not yon farmer's son? He hath stoln my love from me, alas! What shall I do? I am undone; My heart will ne'er be as it was. O, but he gives her gay gold rings, And tufted gloves [for] holiday, And many other goodly things, That hath stolen my love away. FRIEND. Let him give her gay gold rings Or tufted gloves, were they ne'er so [gay];10 [F]or were her lovers lords or kings, They should not carry the wench away. [JACK.] But 'a dances wonders well, And with his dances stole her love from me: Yet she wont to say I bore the bell For dancing and for courtesy. DICK.[671] Fie, lusty younker, what do you here, Not dancing on the green to-day? For Pierce, the farmer's son, I fear, Is like to carry your wench away.20 [JACK.] Good Dick, bid them all come hither, And tell Pierce from me beside, That, if he thinks to have the wench, Here he stands shall lie with the bride. DICK.[672] Fie, Nan, why use thy old lover so, For any other new-come guest? Thou long time his love did know; Why shouldst thou not use him best? [NAN.] Bonny Dick, I will not forsake My bonny Rowland for any gold:30 If he can dance as well as Pierce, He shall have my heart in hold. PIERCE. Why, then, my hearts, let's to this gear; And by dancing I may won My Nan, whose love I hold so dear As any realm under the sun. GENTLEMAN.[673] Then, gentles, ere I speed from hence I will be so bold to dance A turn or two without offence; For, as I was walking along by chance,40 I was told you did agree. [FRIEND.] 'Tis true, good sir; and this is she Hopes your worship comes not to crave her; For she hath lovers two or three, And he that dances best must have her. GENTLEMAN. How say you, sweet, will you dance with me? And you [shall] have both land and [hill]; My love shall want nor gold nor fee. [NAN.] I thank you, sir, for your good will; But one of these my love must be:50 I'm but a homely country maid, And far unfit for your degree; [To dance with you I am afraid.] FRIEND. Take her, good sir, by the hand, As she is fairest; were she fairer, By this dance, you shall understand, He that can win her is like to wear her. FOOL. And saw you not [my] Nan to-day, My mother's maid have you not seen? My pretty Nan is gone away60 To seek her love upon the green. [I cannot see her 'mong so many:] She shall have me, if she have any. NAN.[674] Welcome, sweet-heart, and welcome here, Welcome, my [true] love, now to me. This is my love [and my darling dear], And that my husband [soon] must be. And, boy, when thou com'st home thou'lt see Thou art as welcome home as he. GENTLEMAN. Why, how now, sweet Nan! I hope you jest.70 NAN.[675] No, by my troth, I love the fool the best: And, if you be jealous, God give you good-night! I fear you're a gelding, you caper so light. GENTLEMAN. I thought she had jested and meant but a fable, But now do I see she hath play'[d] with his bable.[676] I wish all my friends by me to take heed, That a fool come not near you when you mean to speed.