A CREATURE FOR FEATURE. "But woe mee, & woe mee! alas, I cold not raise! itt wold not, nor cold not, doe all I cold to please.1 his inke was run, his pen was done. Iacke! art thou dead? hold vp thy head! I will litter thee & water thee, & feed thee with my neet, & better, if thou wilt lye besyd me. but all in vaine I did complaine, his Iacke was tyrd, heed not be hyred teares." One stroke of a word, pared off by the binder, follows.-F. ffins. 2 MS. my.-F. Lye: alone:' [Page 200 of MS.] 8 12 16 3 that I looke soe leane, soe wan, soe pale. 5 if I may be there Iudge, I thinke there is none Was euer womans 7 case like mine? att 15 yeeres [I] began to pine; soe vnto this plight now I am growne, 9 If dreames be true, then Ride I can; for tis onlye hee can ease my moane. 10 When daye11 is come, I wish for night; 1 The Maidens Complaint. To the tune of, I can nor will, &c. The Readings in Red Ink are from The Golden Garland.-P. See Chappell's Popular Music, ii. 462, for a different "Maiden's sad Complaint for want of a Husband." -F. What do I ail? Why, I can't lie alone, and I won't. I want a man, 8 Thus at 15 years to pine; -P. none That would any longer, &c. [G.G.] 9 [This & the 4th stanza are transposed in the Gold. Garld.]—P. All that I want is but a man ; Only I for one do make this moan. For I can, &c. [G.G.]-P. 10 When it is day, I wish. [G.G.]—P. 11 There is a tag, as for s, to the e.--F. 12 And when it is dark. [G.G.]—P. 13 All the night long I, &c. [G.G.]—P. 14 Because that I too long have lain, &c. [G.G.]--P. To woe the first, ashamed am I; 2 for & if he aske I will not denye; 3 for the case is such I must needs haue one. 5 Therfore my prayer, itt shalbe still that I may haue one that will worke my will; & therfore Ile noe longer lye alone. Downe: sate the shepard. [Page 201 of MS.] DOWNE: sate the shepeard swaine soe sober & demure, wishing for his wench againe soe bonny & soe pure, with his head on hillocke lowe, & his armes a Cimbo, And all for the losse of his hinononino ! The leaves thé fell as thin 1 as water from a still; the heire vpon his head did growe as time 2 vpon a hill; his cherry cheekes as pale as snowe & all was for the loue of his hy &c. ffayre shee was to loue, as euer liked swaine; neuer such a dainty one shall none enioy againe; sett a thousand on a rowe, time forbidds that any showe euer the like to her hy &c. faire shee was, [of] comly 3 hew, her bosome like a swan; backe shee had of bending yew, her wast was but a span; A swain longed for his wench, and wept because he had lost her. She was one in a thousand. Her bosom swan-swelling, 3 of comelye.-P. |