Alas, my love, ye do me wrong, To cast me off discourteously: And I have loved you so long, Delighting in your company! Greensleeves, &c. I have been ready at your hand, Your love and good-will for to have. Greensleeves, &c. I bought thee kerchers to thy head, That were wrought fine and gallantly: I kept thee, both at board and bed, Which cost my purse well-favour'dly. Greensleeves, &c. I bought thee petticoats of the best, Thy smock of silk both fair and white, With gold embroider'd gorgeously: I Thy petticoat of sendall right; And this I bought thee gladly. Greensleeves, &c. Thy girdle of gold so red, With pearls bedecked sumptuously, The like no other lasses had : And yet thou wouldest not love me! Greensleeves, &c. Thy purse, and eke thy gay gilt knives, Thy crimson stockings, all of silk, With gold all wrought above the knee; Thy pumps, as white as was the milk: And yet thou wouldest not love me! Greensleeves, &c. Thy gown was of the grassy green, A thin silk. See Du Cange, voce cendalum. Thy garters fringed with the gold, And silver aglets' hanging by ; Which made thee blithe for to behold: My gayest gelding I thee gave, To ride wherever liked thee: No lady ever was so brave: And yet thou wouldest not love me! Greensleeves, &c. My men were clothed all in green, And they did ever wait on thee: All this was gallant to be seen: And yet thou wouldest not love me! Greensleeves, &c. They set thee up, they took thee down, Thy foot might not once touch the ground: For every morning, when thou rose, 'Aiglets; aiguillette, a lace with tags. To cheer thy stomach from all woes : Thou couldst desire no earthly thing, And yet thou wouldest not love me! And who did pay for all this gear, That thou did spend when pleased thee? Even I that am rejected here, And thou disdainest to love me! Greensleeves, &c. Well! I will pray to God on high, That thou my constancy mayst see, And that, yet once before I die, Greensleeves, now farewell! adieu! For I am still thy lover true : Come once again and love me! Greensleeves, &c. A Warning for Wooers that they be not over hasty, nor deceived with Women's Beauty. [From 12 stanzas. * From the same.] * * WHERE Cupid's fort hath made a way, Like all; love none; Except ye use discretion. First try, then trust; Be not deceiv'd with sinful lust. Some love for wealth, and some for hue, And flowers fair will soon decay. In age all beauty is forgotten. Some lov'th too high, and some too low; |