Then pack hence,

Hie thee hence,

Or with nettles I'll thee whip,

For thy sin

Thou shalt win

Scourges that will make thee skip.

XXIX.

"A pleasant ditty of a mayden's vow,

That faine would marry and yet knew not how."

[From a black letter copy by H. G. id est, Henry Gosson.]

THERE
HERE was a lusty youthful lad

That lov'd a country lass,

And many a sweet discourse they had

As they alone did pass.

This young man he was apt to woo,
And well himself could carry,
The maid was kind, of yielding mind,
But yet she would not marry.

This young's man's heart was set on fire,
And still he did invent,

How he might compass his desire,

And frustrate her intent.

For still this maid said as before,
From all thy hopes I'll bar thee,
Therefore begone, let me alone,
In sooth I will not marry.

This answer much dismayed him,
And troubled so his mind,

That he thereat lookt pale and grim,
And no content could find,
This maiden she was nothing mov'd,
Nor from her words would vary,
But constantly she did reply,
I'll never yield to marry.

My love, quoth he, is so entire,
And firm to thee, my dear,
Whose love again I much desire
With many a weeping tear,
Therefore sweet-heart be not unkind,
Nor say that thou wilt tarry,
But let me prove thy constant love,
And then consent to marry.

Didst thou but know the inward grief

I suffer for thy love;

Thy flinty heart would yield relief,
Or more obdurate prove :

My legs are grown so weak, that they

My body scarce can carry, Then yield relief to ease my grief,

And give consent to marry.

No, no, quoth she, thy flatt'ring tongue
Shall ne'er obtain his suit,

Thy tempting words have done me wrong,
Therefore I pray. be mute:
For I am fully purposed

Henceforth to be more wary;
Therefore away, make no delay,
For in sooth I will not marry.

He asked her the reason why
She would reject him so :
She would not wed, she did reply,
For friend nor yet for foe:

Quoth she, my years are yet but green,
I am young enough to tarry
This twelve-month's day, therefore away,

'Tis time enough to marry.

Quoth he, it makes me half despair,

And troubleth my mind,

That one so comely and so fair,

Should ere prove so unkind : Therefore sweet-heart tell me the cause, That thou so much doth vary, From all the minds of women-kind, As to refuse to marry.

SECOND PART.

Didst thou but know the sweet delights,
That marriage doth afford.

And how fair ladies, lords, and knights,
In marriage bed accord;

Thou would'st not fondly make reply,
Th' art young enough to tarry,
But be content, and give consent
Without delay to marry.

He that says love is vanity,

Shall ne'er persuade me to it,

Nor yet deny a courtesy,
If any one will do it :

For I have made a vow, quoth she,
And sworn by great King Harry,
That till I have the thing I crave,
I will not yield to marry.

If I had known the cause, quoth he,
Why thou didst make denial,
I quickly would have proffer'd thee
A sweet contending trial:

Which would have made thee soon consent,

Though thou wert ne'er so wary,

And never more say as before,

I'll never yield to marry.