We have not been able to find anything about the origin of this song. Neither Mr. Chappell nor any other song-learned person we have referred to knows it. It seems a notice, on the one hand, to men that a girl's refusal does not always mean a real No, and on the other hand, a warning to girls to beware lest love or waggish inclination tempt them beyond the bounds of prudence. How oft, alas, are they but flies that do play with the candle, and perish, while that burns on its allotted space, with no lessening of its brilliance in the eyes of men!-F. 12 MEN that more to the yard1 northe church are oft enclined, take young mayds now & then att lurch But to try their mind; younge maids now adayes are soe coy, thé will not when they are in loue, But for feare I2 oft say noe, when perhapps they wold but they're fayne doe if itt wold not proue. If for a time for feare they bee wyllye and seeme coy, there is one that perhapps may beguile yee, the blind boy; so coy they say no. Yet Cupid will pierce their hearts. 1? MS. yord.-F. 2 for they.-F. E heele strike home when he please; to the quicke heele shoot his shaft without delay; then theyle sigh & lament when, alas, their owne kind hart cannott say Nay. The small fly that playeth with the candle such young maids as doe loue for to dandle once, may mourne. lett flyes burne, & maids mourne, for in vaine you do perswade them from their folly; Nature binds all their kinds now & then to play the waggs though the seeme holy. ffins. 4 IT Panche.1 [Page 238 of MS.] was a younge man that dwelt in a towne, a Iollye husband2 was hee, but he wold eate more at one sett dinner 3 soe great a stomacke had hee, his wiffe did him provide ten meales a day, his hungar4 to lay, Panche is a great glutton, and his wife gives him ten meals a day. 12 His wiffe had a sister neere at hand, decket тр in a gowne of gray; shee loued a young man, & marryed thé weere & to the wedding went they, her brothers & sisters each one. Her sister marries, Panche gets angry, says his wife has some plot to cuckold him. To the wedding he will go. His wife says, then he must stop eating when he winks at him. 32 36 "good husband," then sayd shee, "at the wedding there will bee then stay you at home, my dere, "ffor if yo[u] come there, you vtterlye shame [page 239] yor selfe & me besides, 40 Quoth he, "thou drabb! thou filthy Queane! thy councell likes me not! belike some match is made betwixt some knaue & thee 44 to make me a scorne, my head for to horne! 48 52 to the wedding that I will goe!' "Good husband," quoth shee, "Misdoubt not of me! I speake it for the best! yet doe as you will, your mind to fulfill; but let me this request, that when vnorderlye 2 I see you feeding there, when I doe winke, I wold haue you thinke its time for to forbeare." take heed &c. 1 Giles.-P. 2 i.c. disorderly.-P. 56 60 The man was content; to the wedding he went; great cheare was there prepared ; the Bridsgroome father & mother both sate there with good regard. furst to the table was brough[t] a course of furmitree, & Panche had a dish, a galland1 I-wiss, that fitted his appetye"; 64 & quicklye he slapt vp all. 68 f Hee learned3 on his wiffe, & drew out his kniffe ; to a legg of Mutton fell hee; he slapt it vp breefe, with a surloyne of beefe, 72 or the rest were out of their take heede &c. porrage. Panche agrees; goes to the wedding; eats, 1. a gallon and nearly clears the table. Then did he spye his wiffe for to winke1; therfore he, to 5 mend the matter, 76 he cast vp againe the Meate he had eaten, 5A long upright stroke is between these words in the MS.-F. 6 tane. |