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But I'm his poor fhepherd, as you may fee,

And am come to beg pardon for him' and for me.

Derry down, &c.

The king he turn'd him about and did smile,
Saying, thou shalt be the abbot the other while.
Ono, my grace, there is no fuch need,

For I can neither write nor read.

Derry down, &c.

Then four pounds a week will I give unto thee,
For this merry true jest thou haft told unto me;

And tell the old abbot when thou comeft home,

Thou haft brought him a pardon from good King John.

Derry down, &c.

BALLAD XVII.

THE SCOTCHMAN

OUTWITTED BY THE

COL

FARMERS DAUGHTER.

OLD and raw the North did blow,
Bleak in the morning early,

All the hills were hid with fnow,
Cover'd with winter yearly;
As I was riding o'er the flough,
I met with a farmers daughter,
Rofy cheeks, and a bonny brow,
Good faith my mouth did water.

Down

Down I vail'd my bonnet low,
Meaning to fhow my breeding;
She return'd a graceful bow,
Her vifage far exceeding :

I afk'd her where fhe was going so foon,
And long'd to hold a parley;

She told me, to the next market-town,
On purpose to fell her barley.

In this purfe, fweet foul, faid I,
Twenty pounds lies fairly,

Seek no further one to buy,

For Ife take all thy barley:
Twenty pound more fhall purchase delight,
Thy perfon I love fo dearly,

If thou wilt lig with me all night,

And gang home in the morning early.

If forty pound would buy the globe,
This thing I would not do, fir,
Or were my friends as poor as Job,
I'd never raife 'em fo, fir;

For fhould you prove one night my friend,
Wefe get a young kid together,
And you'd be gone ere nine months end,
Then where fhould I find the father?

Pray, what would my parents fay,
If I should be fo filly

To give my maidenhead away,
And lofe my true love Billy?

Oh,

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Oh, this would bring me to difgrace,
And therefor I fay you nay, fir:
And if that you would me embrace,
First marry, and then you may, fir.

I told her, I had wedded been
Fourteen years, and longer,

Elfe I'd choose her for my queen,
And tie the knot more stronger.
She bid me then no farther come,
But manage my wedlock fairly,
And keep my purfe for poor fpoufe at home,
For fome other should buy her barley.

Then, as fwift as any roe,

She rode away and left me;
After her I could not go,

Of joy the quite bereft me :
Thus I myself did disappoint,
For fhe did leave me fairly;
My words knock'd all things out of joint,
I loft both maid and barley.

Riding down a narrow lane,

Some two or three hours after,
There I chanc'd to meet again

This farmers bonny daughter :
Although it was both raw and cold,

I ftay'd to hold a parley,

And fhow'd once more my purfe of gold,
When as he had fold her barley.

Love, faid I, pray do not frown,

But let us change embraces,
I'll buy thee a fine filken gown,
With ribbons, gloves, and laces,
A ring and bodkin, muff and fan,
No lady shall have neater;
For, as I am an honest man,
I ne'er faw a fweeter creature.

Then I took her by the hand,
And faid, My dearest jewel,

Why should'st thou thus difputing stand?
I prithee be not cruel.

She found my mind was wholly bent

To pleasure my fond defire,

Therefor fhe feemed to confent,

But I wish I had never come nigh her.

Sir, said she, what shall I do,

If I commit this evil,

And yield myself in love with you?
I hope you will prove civil.
You talk of ribbons, gloves, and rings,

And likewise gold and treasure;
Oh, let me firft enjoy those things,
And then you fhall have your pleasure.

Sure thy will shall be obey'd,

Said I, my own dear honey. Then intò her lap I laid

Full forty pounds in money;

VOL. II.

U

We'll

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We'll to the market-town this day,

And straightway end this quarrel,
And deck thee like a lady gay,
In flourishing rich apparel.

All my gold and filver there
To her I did deliver;
On the road we did repair,
Out-coming to a river,

Whose waters are both deep and wide,
Such rivers I ne'er see many,

She leap'd her mare on the other fide,
And left me not one penny.

Then my heart was funk full low,
With grief and care furrounded,
After her I could not go,

For fear of being drowned.
She turn'd about, and faid, Behold,
I am not for your devotion;
But, fir, I thank you for your gold,
"Twill ferve to enlarge my portion.

I began to ftamp and stare,

To fee what she had acted;
With my hands I tore my hair,
Like one that was distracted:
Give me my money, then I cried,
Good faith I did but lend it.

But she full faft away did ride,

And vow'd fhe did not intend it.

BAL

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