YOUNG ROGER OF THE VALLEY
Young Roger of the mill
One morning very soon,
Put on his best apparel,
New hose and clouted shoon;
And he a-wooing came
To bonny, buxom Nell.
"Adzooks!" cried he, "couldst fancy me?
For I like thee wondrous well.
"My horses I have dress'd,
And gi en them corn and hay,
Put on my best apparel;
And having come this way,
Let's sit and chat a while,
With thee, my bonny Nell;
Dear lass," cries he, "couldst fancy me?
I'se like thy person well."
"Young Roger, you re mistaken,"
The damsel then reply'd,
"I'm not in such a haste
To be a ploughman's bride;
Know I then live in hopes
To marry a farmer's son;"
"If it be so," says Hodge, "I'll go,
Sweet mistress, I have done."
"Your horses you have dress'd,
Good Hodge, I heard you say,
Put on your best apparel;
And being come this way,
Come sit and chat awhile."
"O no, indeed, not I,
I'll neither wait, nor sit, nor prate,
I've other fish to fry."
"Go, take your farmer's son,
With all my honest heart;
What tho' my name be Roger,
That goes at plough and cart?
I need not tarry long,
I soon may gain a wife:
There's buxom Joan, it is well known,
She loves me as her life."
"Pray, what of buxom Joan?
Can't I please you as well?
For she has ne'er a penny,
And I am buxom Nell;
And I have fifty shillings"
(The money made him smile):
"O then, my dear, I'll draw a chair,
And chat with thee a while."
Within the space of half-an-hour
This couple a bargain struck,
Hoping that with their money
They both would have good luck;
"To your fifty I've forty,
With which a cow we'll buy;
We'll join our hands in wedlock bands,
Then who but you and I?"