I had better have kept her

"Till fatter she had been, For now I confess

She's a little too lean, Sing oh poor Colly, &c.

First in comes the tanner
With his sword by his side,
And he bids me five shillings
For my poor cow's hide.
Sing oh poor Colly, &c.

Then in comes the tallow-chandler, Whose brains were but shallow, And he bids me two and sixpence For my cow's tallow.

Sing oh poor Colly,

Colly my cow,

For Colly will give me

No more milk now.

Then in comes the huntsman

So early in the morn,

He bid me a penny
For my cow's horn.

Sing oh poor Colly, &c.

Then in comes the tripe-woman,

So fine and so neat,

She bid me three half-pence,
For my cow's feet.
Sing oh poor Colly, &c.

Then in comes the butcher,
That nimble-tongu'd youth,
Who said she was carrion,

But he spoke not the truth.
Sing oh poor Colly, &c.

This cow had a skin

Was as soft as the silk,

And three times a day

My poor cow would give milk. Sing oh poor Colly, &c.

She every year

A fine calf did me bring, Which fetcht me a pound, For it came in the spring. Sing oh poor Colly, &c.

But now I have kill'd her,
I can't her recall,
I will sell my poor Colly,
Hide, horns and all.
Sing oh poor Colly, &c.

The butcher shall have her,

Though he gives but a pound, And he knows in his heart, That my Colly was sound. Sing oh poor Colly, &c,

And when he has bought her,
Let him sell all together,

The flesh for to eat,

And the hide for leather. Sing oh poor Colly, &c.

Some say I'm a cuckold,

But I'll swear I am none, For how can it be

Now my horns are gone. Sing oh poor Colly,

Colly my cow,

For Colly will give me

No more milk now.

LXX.

"TAKE TIME WHILE "TIS OFFERED:

For Tom has broke his word with his sweeting,
And lost a good wife for an houres meeting,
Another good fellow has gotten the lasse,

And Tom may go shake his long eares like an asse.”

To the tune of-Within the North Country.

WHEN Titan's fiery steeds

Were lodged in the west,

And every beast and feathered fowl

Betook themselves to rest.

Abroad I walked then'

To take the evening's air,

Hard by a gentle gliding stream

I saw a damsel fair.

Sweet Tom, quoth she, make haste,
Why dost thou stay so long?
If thou dost not thy promise keep,
Alas! thou dost me wrong!

Thou know'st I ventured have
To meet thee here to night,

Why then wilt thou for my true love,
Me churlishly requite?

If that my mother knew

That I this time was missing,

To meet with thee she'd swear that I

Should never have her blessing.

Yet is my love so fixt,

Though I were sure to die,

I would be sure to meet with thee,
Love lends me wings to fly.

But now I well perceive,

When maids love young men best,

They use them like their servile slaves,
And thus I am opprest.

At first they woo and pray,

And many oaths they swear,

Untill like birds they have them caught,

Into their crafty snare.

Then will they be reject,

And scorn us to our face,

Thus for our kindness oft we are

Rewarded with disgrace.