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To get this lass unto my wife,
I know not one more fitter,
In lawful love to lead our lives,
If 't were my hap to get her,
But let her choose, &c.

I am a man indifferent,

Whether she will or will not,
My sweet-heart be, for love to me,
If she does not, it skills not,
If she fancy me, I'll constant be,
This lass she is a knitter,

And I have loved her since yesterday,

But yet I cannot get her.

But let her choose, if she refuse,

And go to take another,

I'll never grieve but still will be,
The merry careless lover.

SECOND PART.

This lass she doth in Yorkshire live, There in a town called Forset, Her mind to labour she doth give, She can knit silk or worsted,

I know not well what I should say,
In speech she's sometimes bitter,
And I have her lov'd since yesterday,
And yet I cannot get her.

But let her choose if she refuse,
And go to take another,
I'll never grieve, but still will be
The merry careless lover.

Sometimes she will upon me smile,
And sometimes she is sullen,
As she doth sit, and stockings knit
Of jarsy and of woollen,

She gets the praise above the rest
To be a curious knitter,

She loves me as she doth profess,
And yet I cannot get her.
But let her choose, &c.

Her portion is not very much,
But for the same what care
So she with me will but keep touch,
And not in mind will vary;

For pelf I do not pass a straw,

Her beauty likes me better, For I have lov'd her since yesterday,

And yet I cannot get her.

r choose, &c.

I will bethink me what is best,
A way for to be taken,

Her love to gain, and her obtain,
I would not be forsaken;
Nor would I have her say me nay,
Nor give me speeches bitter,
For I have lov'd her since yesterday,
And yet I cannot get her.
But let her choose, &c,

I have her father's free consent,
That she with me should marry,
Her mother likewise is content,
And grieves that she should carry
So proud a mind, or be unkind
To me in speeches bitter;
For I bear to her a loving mind,
And yet I cannot get her,
But let her choose, &c.

With her I at a wedding was,
Where we did dance together,
She is a curious handsome lass,
And yet like wind and weather
Her mind doth change, she's kind, she's strange,
Mild, gentle, cruel, bitter,

Yet howsoere I love her dear,

And yet I cannot get her. But let her choose, &c.

Yet will I hope upon the best,
All foolish fears excluding,
And at her faithful service rest.

Thus here in brief concluding, With some dear friend to her I'll send A kind and loving letter,

And hope in time her love to gain,

And for my wife to get her.

And then I'll sing with merry cheer

This ditty and no other,

Whilst breath does last, and life be past, I'll be a faithful lover.

FINIS.

By Robert Guy,

XLI.

"THE MARRYED MAN'S LESSON:

OR,

A Disswasion from Jealousie."

To the tune of―All you that will woo a Wench.

You ou men who are married come hearken to me,

I'll teach you a lesson if wise you will be,

Then take my advice that's intended for good,
And so 'tis if it be but well understood:

"Twill cause you to shun all contention and spleen,
That daily betwixt man and woman are seen,
I speak against jealousy, that monster fierce,
And wish I could conquer the fiend with my verse,
O be not thou jealous, I prithee, dear lad,
For jealousy makes many good women bad.

If thou have a good wife then I thee advise,
To cherish her well, for she is a rare prize,
If she be indifferent between good and bad,
Good means to reform her may easily be had :
If she be so evil that there are few worse,
Imagine thy sins have deserved that curse,

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