THE WILTSHIRE WEDDING
[Original]
All in a misty morning,
Cloudy was the weather,
I meeting with an old man,
Was clothed all in leather,
With ne er a shirt unto his back,
But wool unto his skin;
With how do you do? and how do you do?
And how do you do agen?
The rustic was a thresher,
And on his way he hied,
And with a leather bottle,
Fast buckl'd by his side;
And with a cap of woollen,
Which cover'd cheek and chin,
With how do you do? and how do you do?
And how do you do agen?
I went a little further,
And there I met a maid,
Was going then a milking,
A milking, sir, she said:
Then I began to compliment,
And she began to sing;
With how do you do? and how do you do?
And how do you do agen?
This maid her name was Dolly,
Clothed in a gown of gray,
I being somewhat jolly,
Persuaded her to stay:
Then straight I fell to courting her,
In hopes her love to win,
With how do you do? and how do you do?
And how do you do agen?
Then having time and leisure,
I spent a vacant hour,
Telling of all my treasure,
Whilst sitting in the bower:
With many kind embraces,
I strok'd her double chin:
With how do you do? and how do you do?
And how do you do agen?
I told her I would married be,
And she should be my bride,
And long we should not tarry,
With twenty things beside:
"Til plough and sow, and reap and mow,
While thou shalt sit and spin;"
With how do you do? and how do you do?
And how do you do agen?
"Did you not know my Father?"
The damsel then reply 'd;
"His jerkin was of leather,
A bottle by his side:"
"Yes, I did meet him trudging,
As fast as he could win,"
With how do you do? and how do you do?
And how do you do agen?
"Kind sir, I have a mother,
Beside a father, still,
Those friends above all other,
You must ask their good-will:
For if I be undutiful
To them, it is a sin;"
With how do you do? and how do you do?
And how do you do agen?
Now there we left the milk-pail,
And to her mother went,
And when I was come thither,
I asked her consent,
And doft my hat, and made a leg,.
For why she was within;
With how do you do? and how do you do?
And how do you do agen?
"My husband is a thresher,
Who is her father dear,
He'll give with her his blessing,
Kind sir, you need not fear:
He is of such good nature,
That he would never lin,"
With how do you do? and how do you do?
And how do you do agen?
"For by your courteous carriage,
You seem an honest man,
You may have her in marriage,
My husband he anon
Will bid you very welcome,
Tho' he be poor and thin,"
With how do you do? and how do you do?
And how do you do agen?
Her dad came home full weary,
Alas! he could not choose;
Her mother being merry,
She told him all the news:
(lin, hinder or stop.)
Then he was mighty jovial too,
His son did soon begin,
With how do you do? and how do you do?
And how do you do agen?
Her parents being willing,
All parties was agreed;
Her portion thirty shilling,
They married were with speed;
Then Will the piper he did play,
While others dance and sing;
With how do you do? and how do you do?
And how do you do agen?
In pleasant recreation,
They pass'd away the night,
And likewise by relation,
With her he takes delight,
To walk abroad on holy-days,
To visit kiff and kin:
With how do you do? and how do you do?
And how do you do agen?
Then lusty Ralph and Robin,
With many damsels gay,
Did ride on Roan and Dobbin,
To celebrate the day:
When being met together,
Their caps they off did fling,
With how do you do? and how do you do?
And how do you do agen?