The Brown Girl's Garland, British Musenm, 11621. c. 3
(10), n.d., before 1788.
| 1 |
'I am as brown as brown can be,
My eyes as black as a sloe;
I am as brisk as a nightingale,
And as wilde as any doe. |
| 2 |
'My love has sent me a love-letter,
Not far from yonder town,
That he could not fancy me,
Because I was so brown. |
| 3 |
'I sent him his letter back again,
For his love I valu'd not,
Whether that he could fancy me
Or whether he could not. |
| 4 |
'He sent me his letter back again,
That he lay dangerous sick,
That I might then go speedily
To give him up his faith.' |
| 5 |
Now you shall hear what love she had
Then for this love-sick man;
She was a whole long summer's day
In a mile a going on. |
| 6 |
When she came to her love's bed-side,
Where he lay dangerous sick,
She could not for laughing stand
Upright upon her feet. |
| 7 |
She had a white wand all in her hand,
And smoothd it all on his breast;
'In faith and troth come pardon me,
I hope your soul's at rest. |
| 8 |
'I'll do as much for my true-love
As other maidens may;
I'll dance and sing on my love's grave
A whole twelvemonth and a day.' |
