But yet by prayer and earnest suit

I moved her at the Last;

Yet could I not enjoy the fruit

That hath so pleasing taste.

But when, but when, that motion I betrayed;
She still this answer said,

"O no! O no! O no! I will die

Ere I loose my maiden-head!"

Yet did she give me leave to touch
Her foot, her leg, her knee;

A little further was not much,

The way I went was free.

"O fye! O fye! you are to blame!" she said,

"Thus to undo a maid;

But yet, but yet, the time is so meet,
(That I am not afraid).

Not Jove himself more jovial was

When he bright Diana won;

Nor Hercules, that all men did pass,

When he with distaff spun,

Than I, than I, all fears when I had past,

And scaled the fort at Last,

And on, and on, and on the same
My signs of victory placed.

But when Aurora, goddess bright,
Appeared from the east,

And Morpheus, that drowsy wight,

Withdrawn him to his rest;

O then, O then, my joys were altered clean!

Which makes me still Complain;

For I awaked, for I awaked, for I awaked; and

Come Wanton Wenches

PERCY FOLIO MANUSCRIPT [1620-50], page 404 of Ms.

COME all you wanton wenches

That long to be in trading,
Come learn of me, loves Mistress

To keep your selves from Jadeing!
When you expose your faces,

All baites for to entrap men,

Then have a care to husband your ware,

That you prove not bankrout chapmen,

Be not at first too nice nor coy

When gamesters you are courting,
Nor forward to be sporting;

In speeches free, not in action be,
For fear of less resorting.

Let not your outward gesture
Betray your inward passion;

But seem to neglect, when most you do affect,
In a cunning scornful fashion.

Be sparing of your favors

When men's love grows most eager;
Yet keep good guard, or else all is marred.
When they your fort beleagar;

Grant but a touch or a kiss for a taste,
And seem not to be willing

Always for to be billing.

With a touch or a pinch, or a nip or a wrench,
Disappoint their hopes fulfilling.

If once you grow too lavish,

And all your wealth discover,

You cast off hope; for then with too much scope
You do dull your Eager lover.

Then order so your treasure,

And so dispend your store,

That tho' men do taste, their loves may never waste,

But they still may hope for more.

And if by chance, being wrapt in a trance,

You yield them full fruition

Won by strong opposition,

Yet nip and tear, and with pouting swear

'Twas against your disposition.

Thus seeming much displeased
With that did most content,
You whet desire, and daily add fire
To a spirit almost spent.

Be sure at the next encounter
You put your love to strive;

Yet be not rude, if need he will intrude,

So shall your trading thrive,

So shall you still be freshly wooed,

Like to a perfect maid.

And do as I have said,

Your faining seems true,

And like Venus ever new,

And your trading is not betrayed.

When Phoebus Addrest

PERCY FOLIO MANUSCRIPT [C. 1620-50], page 96 OF Ms.;

PROBABLY THE EARLIEST COPY KNOWN

WHEN Phœbus addrest himself to the west,

And set up his rest below,

Cynthia agreed in her glittering weed.

Her beauty on me to bestow;

And walking alone, attended by none,
By chance I heard one cry
"O do not, do not, kill me yet,

For I am not prepared to die!"

With that I drew near to see and to hear,
And strange did appear such a show;
The Moon it was bright, and gave such a light
As fits not each wight to know:
A man and a maid, together were laid,
And ever the maid she did cry,
"O do not, do not, kill me yet, I,
For I am not resolved to die!"

The Youth was rough, he took up her stuff,
And to blindman's buff they did go;
He kept such a coil, he gave her the foil,
So great the broil it did grow.

But she was so young, and he was so strong,
And he left her not till she did cry,

"O do not, do not, kill me yet,

For I am not resolved to die!"

With that he gave o'er, and solemnly swore
He would kill her no more that night,
But bade her adieu: full little he knew
She would tempt him to more delight.

But when they should part, it went to her heart,
And gave her more cause for to cry,

"O kill me, kill me, once again,

For now I am willing to die!"

O Nay! O Nay! Not Yet

FROM THE PERCY FOLIO MANUSCRIPT, 1620-50
A YOUNG man walking alone,
Abroad to take the air,

It was his chance for him to meet
A maiden passing fair.

Desiring her of courtesy

Awhile with him down sit;
She answered him most modestly,
"O nay! O nay! not yet!"

"Forty crowns I will give thee,
Sweetheart, in good red gold,
If that I may thy favour have,
Thy beauty to behold."
And then she spoke now readily
And with a ready wit,

"I will not sell my honesty

O nay! O nay! not yet!"

"Gold and money is but dross,
And worldly vanity;

I do esteem more of the loss
Of my virginity!

But dost thou think I am so mad,
Or of so little wit

As for to sell my honesty?

O nay! O nay! not yet!"

The way to win a woman's heart,
Is quickly to be brief,

And give her that with-in few words

That will soon ease her grief.
“O fye! O fye! away!" she'll cry,
That loves a dainty bit,

"I will not yield to Cupid's laws!
O nay! O nay! not yet!"

Blame Not a Woman

FROM THE PERCY FOLIO MANUSCript, page 446 of Ms.
BLAME not a woman although she be lewd,

And that her faults they have been known.
Although she do offend, yet in time she may amend;
Then blame her not for using of her own,

But rather give them praise, as they deserve,

When vice is banished quite, and virtue in them grown, For that's their only treasure, and for to fly vain pleasure. Then blame them not for using of their own.

There is many now a days that women will dispraise:
Out of a dru(n)ken humor when as their wits are flown,
Out of an idle brain, with speeches lewd and vain
They'll blame them still for using of her own.

But if woman should not trade, how should the world increase?
If women all were nice, what seed should then be sown?
If women all were coy, they would breed men's annoy;
Then blame them not for using of their own.

If any take offence at this my song,

I think that no good manners he hath known.

We all from women came: why should we women blame,
And for a little using of their own?

Lie Alone

FROM THE PERCY FOLIO MANUSCRIPT, PAGE 200 OF Ms.

CAN any one tell what I ail?

That I look so lean, so wan, so pale.

If I may be their Judge, I think there is none
That can any longer lie alone.

Was ever woman's case like mine
At fifteen years (I) began to pine;
So unto this plight now I am grown,
I can, nor will, no longer lie alone.

If dreams be true, then Ride I can;
I lack nothing but a man,
For 'tis only he can ease my moan.
I can, nor will, &c.

When day is come, I wish for night;

When night is come, I wish for light;
Thus all my time I sigh and moan.
I can, nor will, &c.

To woo the first, ashamed am I;

For and if he ask I will not deny;

For the case is such I must needs have one.
I can, nor will, &c.

Therefore my prayer, it shall be still

That I may have one that will work my will;

For it is only he can ease me anon,

And therefore I'll no longer lie alone.

I Dreamed My Love

FROM THE PERCY FOLIO MANUScript, 1620-50

I DREAMED my love lay in her bed:
It was my Chance to take her:
Her legs and arms abroad were spread;
She slept; I durst not wake her.

O pity it were, that one so fair
Should Crown her love with willow;
The tresses of her golden hair

Did kiss he(r) lovely pillow.

Methought her belly was a hill
Much like a mount of pleasure,
Under whose height there grows a well;
The depth no man can measure.