FOOTNOTES:
[388] Ver. 125. these ... babes. P.P.
[389] [Ritson has the following note (Ancient Songs, 1829, vol. ii. P. 155): "the voyage, A.D. 1588. See the Catalogue of the Harl. MSS. No. 167 (15). Dr. Percy, not knowing that the text alludes to a particular event, has altered it to a voyage.">[
XIX.
A LOVER OF LATE.
Printed, with a few slight corrections, from the Editor's folio MS.
[This song is printed, Hales and Furnivall's edition of the MS. vol. iii. p. 389.]
A lover of late was I,
For Cupid would have it soe,
The boy that hath never an eye,
As every man doth know:
I sighed and sobbed, and cryed, alas! 5
For her that laught, and called me ass.
Then knew not I what to doe,
When I saw itt was in vaine[390]
A lady soe coy to wooe,
Who gave me the asse soe plaine:[391] 10
Yet would I her asse freelye bee,
Soe shee would helpe, and beare with mee.
An' I were as faire as shee,[392]
Or shee were as kind as I,[393]
What payre cold have made, as wee, 15
Soe prettye a sympathye:
I was as kind as she was faire,
But for all this wee cold not paire.
Paire with her that will for mee,
With her I will never paire; 20
That cunningly can be coy,
For being a little faire.
The asse Ile leave to her disdaine;
And now I am myselfe againe.