| 1 |
There was a youth, and a well belovd youth,
And he was a esquire's son,
He loved the bayliff's daughter dear,
That lived in Islington. |
| 2 |
She was coy, and she would not believe
That he did love her so,
No, nor at any time she would
Any countenance to him show. |
| 3 |
But when his friends did understand
His fond and foolish mind,
They sent him up to fair London,
An apprentice for to bind. |
| 4 |
And when he had been seven long years,
And his love he had not seen,
'Many a tear have I shed for her sake
When she little thought of me.' |
| 5 |
All the maids of Islington
Went forth to sport and play;
All but the bayliff's daughter dear;
She secretly stole away. |
| 6 |
She put off her gown of gray,
And put on her puggish attire;
She's up to fair London gone,
Her true-love to require. |
| 7 |
As she went along the road,
The weather being hot and dry,
There was she aware of her true-love,
At length came riding by. |
| 8 |
She stept to him, as red as any rose,
And took him by the bridle-ring:
'I pray you, kind sir, give me one penny,
To ease my weary limb.' |
| 9 |
'I prithee, sweetheart, canst thou tell me
Where that thou wast born?'
'At Islington, kind sir,' said she,
Where I have had many a scorn.' |
| 10 |
'I prithee, sweetheart, canst thou tell me
Whether thou dost know
The bailiff's daughter of Islington?'
'She's dead, sir, long ago.' |
| 11 |
'Then will I sell my goodly steed,
My saddle and my bow;
I will into some far countrey,
Where no man doth me know.' |
| 12 |
'O stay, O stay, thou goodly youth!
She's alive, she is not dead;
Here she standeth by thy side,
And is ready to be thy bride.' |
| 13 |
'O farewel grief, and welcome joy,
Ten thousand times and more!
For now I have seen my own true-love,
That I thought I should have seen no more.' |
