A young

man

met a maiden,

and offered

her 40

crowns

to enjoy her.

She said, "Not yet.

Gold is dross

to my virginity."

℗ nay: O nay: not : yett.

8

12

16

20

24

[Page 460 of MS.]

A: yong man walking alone,
abroad to take the ayre,

itt was his chance ffor him to meete

a maiden pasing ffaire. desiring her of curtesiye

awhile with him downe sitt; shee answered him most modestlye, "O nay! O nay! not yett!"

Forty crownes I will giue thee, sweete hart, in good red gold, if that I may thy ffauour haue, thy bewtye to behold." & then she spoke now readilye & with a ready witt, "I will not sell my honestye!

O nay! O nay! not yett!

but if that time & lesure serue,

infaith shee shall not neede to sterue;

ffor well I know shee doth deserue
to tast vpon sweet Nectair,
the ffoode wheron the gods do ffeede,
& all they gods they haue decreede.
but shee shall haue itt att her neede!
hey hoe my harte is wearye!

Some say, 'if I come nye her,
my liffe must pay the hyer;'
but if I scape ffrom ffyer,

then let them doe their worst;
for water, I am sure,

while grinding doth endure,
will come like hawke to lure,
or else the Miller is curst.

[page 461]

beest dothe that is chafed [heated]." Palsgrave. "To pant and be out of breath, or lill out the tongue, as a dog that is weary." Florio, p. 15; in Halliwell's Gloss.-F.

28

32

looke in the dam, & you may spye
heere is soe much that some runs by;
there neuer came a yeere soe drye

cold keepe this Mill ffrom grindinge.
yett shee no common Miller is ;

shee does not grind eche plowmans gris1;
she needs not, vnless shee list,

Her mill has plenty of water.

but ffor sweet recreation.

ffinis.

1 Grist, Corn ground, or fit for grinding; Meal, Flower. Phillips.-F.