A Pedlar
John Dowland’s Second Book of
Songs or Airs, 1600
FINE knacks for ladies! cheap, choice, brave, and new,
Good pennyworths—but money cannot move:
I keep a fair but for the Fair to view—
A beggar may be liberal of love.
Though all my wares be trash, the heart is true,
The heart is true.
Great gifts are guiles and look for gifts again;
My trifles come as treasures from my mind:
It is a precious jewel to be plain;
Sometimes in shell the orient’st pearls we find:—
Of others take a sheaf, of me a grain!
Of me a grain!
Hey nonny no!
Christ Church MS.
HEY nonny no!
Men are fools that wish to die!
Is’t not fine to dance and sing
When the bells of death do ring?
Is’t not fine to swim in wine,
And turn upon the toe,
And sing hey nonny no!
When the winds blow and the seas flow?
Hey nonny no!