Volume 5 — A SONG.
Reading edition
[Listen]
AS I was a walking under a Grove, Within my self, as I suppos’d; My Mind did oftentimes remove, And by no means could be disclosed: At length by chance a Friend I met, Which caused me long time to tarry; And thus of me she did intreat, To tell her when I meant to Marry. Sweet-heart, quoth I, if you would know, Then hear the Words, and I’ll reveal it; Since in your Mind you bear it so, And in your Heart you will conceal it: She promis’d me she’d make no Words, But of such things she would be wary; And thus in brief I did begin, To tell her when I meant to Marry. When Shrove-tide falls in Easter week, And Christmas in the midst of July; When Lawyers for no Fees will Plead, And Taylors they prove Just and Truly: When all Deceits are quite put down, And Truth by all Men is preferred; And Indigo dies Red and Brown, O then my Love and I’ll be Married. When Men and Beasts in the Ocean flow, And Fishes in green Fields are feeding; When Muscle-shells in the Streets grow, And Swans upon dry Rocks be breeding: When Cockle-shells are Diamond Rings, And Glass to Pearl may be compared; Gold is made of a Grey-goose Wings, Oh then my Love and I’ll be Married. When hostesses do reckon true, And Dutchmen leave off drinking Brandy; When Cats do bark, and Dogs do Mew, And Brimstone is took for Sugar-candy: Or when that Whitsontide do fall, Within the Month of January; And a Cobler works without an Awl, O then my, &c. When Women know not how to Scold, And Maids on Sweet-hearts ne’er are thinking; When Men in the Fire complain of Cold, And Ships on Salisbury Plain fear sinking: Or when Horse-Coursers turn honest Men, And London into York is carried; And out of One you can take Ten, Oh then, &c. When Candlesticks do serve for Bells, And Frying-pans they do use for Ladles; When in the Sea they dig for Wells, And Porridge-pots they use for Cradles: When Maids forget to go a Maying, And a Man on his Back an Ox can carry; Or when the Mice with the Cat be playing, Oh then, &c. Good Sir, since you have told me when, That you’re resolv’d for to Marry; I wish with all my Heart till then, That for a Wife you still may tarry: But if all young Men were of your mind, And Maids no better were preferred; I think it were when the D——l were blind, That we and our Lovers should be Married.
