The Secret Lover.  
OR: The Jealous Father Beguiled.  

Love's passion is not easily kept under,  
Nor faithful Lovers to be kept asunder;  
Because you know the Proverb it is so,  
That love will creep, when as it cannot go.   
To a West-country Tune; Or, A lack for my love I must die.  
 
 

A Dainty spruce young Gallant,  
that lived in the West,  
He courted a young Lady,  
and real love professed:  
And coming one night to her,  
his mind he thus expressed;   

And sing go from my Window love go.   

What is my Love a sleeping,  
or is my Love awake?  
who knocketh there so late?  
It is your true love Lady,  
that for your sake doth wait,   

And sing go from the Window love go.   

Then open me your Father's Gate,  
and do not me deny;  
But grant to me your true love,  
or surely I shall die:  
I dare not open now the Gates,  
for fear my Father spy;   

And sing go from my window love go.   

O Dearest be not daunted,  
thou needest not to fear;  
Thy Father may be sleeping,  
our loves he shall not hear:  
Then open it without delay,  
my joy and only Dear;   

And sing go from the window go.   
 
 

MY Father be doth watch me,  
his jealousy is so:  
If he should chance to catch me,  
O then what should we do;  
Therefore I dare not venture,  
my dear to open now,   

And sing go from my window love go.   

I wish there were no Hinges,  
nor yet no Key nor Lock;  
That I might come unto my love,  
now she is in her Smock:  
O peace and be contented,  
I hear my Father knock:   

And sing go from my window go.   

O Daughter dear why are you,  
out of your Bed so late;  
O Father I am very sick,  
and in distressed state:  
Methinks I hear some body  
under pour Window prate:   

And sing go from my window go.   

O Father 'tis the Watchmen,  
this Evening passing by;  
Hark-how a faithful Lover,  
can frame a pretty lie:  
O Daughter I command you  
unto pour Bed to hie:   

And sing go from, etc.   

Dear Father I obey you,  
and quickly I am gone;  
But yet I am not willing  
to leave my Love alone:  
So soon as you are Sleeping,  
I down again will come:   

and sing go from, etc.   

And then she sent her Maiden  
unto her Chamber strait;  
And came unto her true Love,  
who at the Door did wait:  
And opened him the Wickit,   
for all it was so late:  

And sing go from, etc.   

Then softly he did enter,  
and to the Lady said:  
My Love there is no Danger,  
we cannot be betrayed:  
Let us enjoy our Pleasure,  
and never be afraid:   

And sing go from, etc.   

And thus this Faithful Couple;  
their wishes had at last,  
For all her Jealous Father,  
the sweets of love they taste:  
And when the day appeared,  
her Love away did haste:   

And sing go from my window love go.    

Printed foar Brooksby, at the Golden-ball near the Hospital-gate; in West-smithfield