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A FREINDE OF MINE.

The man said the place was made only for lovers to embrace,

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and took his girl by the middle.

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:

36

:

She caught hold of him,

1

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“Insooth," then did this youngman say,

“I thinke this ffragrant place
was only made for louers true

eche others to inbrace."
hee tooke her by the middle small,

good sooth I doe not mocke -
not meaning to doe any thing

but to pull vpp her : smo : 1 blocke
wheron shee sate, poore silly soule,

to rest her weary bones.
this maid shee was noe whitt affraiyd,
but shee caught him ffast by the : stones :

thumbes;
wheratt he vext & greiued was,

soe that his fflesh did wrinkle ;
this maid shee was noe whitt affrayd,
but caught him fast hold by the : pintle :

pimple
which hee had on his chin likwise ;-

but lett the pimple passe;

there is no man heare but he may supposse 44 shee weere a merry lasse.

he boldly ventured, being tall,

yet in his speech bu[t] blunt, hee neuer ceast, but tooke

vpp

all,
& cacht her by the Cun: plumpe.
And red rose lipps he kisst full sweete:

quoth shee, “I craue no sucour.”

which made him to haue a mighty mind 52 to clipp, kisse, & to : ffuck : plucke her

into his armes. “nay! soft!" quoth shee,

“what needeth all this doing ? ffor if

you

wilbe ruled by me,
56 you shall vse small time in wooinge.

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These and the similar colons following are those of the MS.-F.

But if you'd win a woman, be quick,

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They way to win a womans hart,

is quicklye to be breiffe,
& giue her that with-in ffew words

that will soone ease her greiffe.
“O ffye ! O ffye ! away

y!” sheele

crye,
that loues a dainty bitt,
“I will not yeelde to Cupids lawes !
0 nay! 0 nay! not yett !”

ffinis.

and don't mind her refusal.

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