THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON. And when he had been seven long yeares, Then all the maids of Islington Went forth to sport and playe, All but the bayliffes daughter deare; 179 15 20 She pulled off her gowne of greene, And put on ragged attire, And to faire London she would go Her true love to enquire. And as she went along the high road, 1 25 She sat her downe upon a green bank, And her true love came riding byé. She started up, with a colour soe redd, 30 One penny, one penny, kind sir, she sayd, Before I give you one penny, sweet-heart, Where I have had many a scorne. 35 I prythee, I prythee, sweet-heart, then tell to mee, If she be dead, then take my horse, 40 Where noe man shall me knowe. O staye, O staye, thou goodlye youthe, 45 She is here alive, she is not dead, And readye to be thy bride. O farewell griefe, and welcome joye, Ten thousand times therefore; 50 For nowe I have founde mine owne true love, IX. THE WILLOW TREE. A PASTORAL DIALOGUE. From the small black-letter collection, intitled, "The Golden Garland of princely Delights," collated with two other copies, and corrected by conjecture. WILLY. How now, shepherde, what meanes that? Why that willowe in thy hat? Why thy scarffes of red and yellowe Turn'd to branches of greene willowe? CUDDY. 'They are chang'd, and so am I; Sorrowes live, but pleasures die : Phillis hath forsaken mee, Which makes me weare the willowe-tree. WILLY. Phillis! shee that lov'd thee long? Is shee the lass hath done thee wrong? Shee that lov'd thee long and best, 10 CUDDY. CUDDY. Shee that long true love profest, For she a new love loves, not mee; Which makes me wear the willowe-tree. WILLY. Come then, shepherde, let us joine, 15 For the maid I thought most true Mee hath also bid adieu. 20 CUDDY. Thy hard happ doth mine appease, And still must weare the willowe-tree. -is given (with corrections) from the editor's ancient folio MS. collated with two printed copies in black-letter; one in the British Museum, the other in the Pepys Collection. Its old title is, "A lamentable "ballad of the Lady's fall." To the tune of "In Pescod "Time, &c."-The ballad here referred to is preserved in the MUSES LIBRARY, 8vo. p. 281. It is an allegory or vision, intitled, "THE SHEPHERD'S SLUMBER," and opens with some pretty rural images, viz. "In pescod time when hound to horn "I went to gather strawberries MARKE well my heavy dolefull tale, You loyall lovers all, And heedfully beare in your brest A gallant ladyes fall. Long was she wooed, ere shee was wonne, To lead a wedded life, But folly wrought her overthrowe Before shee was a wife. 5 Too |