The Shoemaker's delight. Or. A New Dialogue betwixt a West Country Shoemakers & his Love.  

Who after five years' Travel for her sake  
He back returned and she amends did make,  
For after he to her ha● told his mind  
She seemed not at all to him unkind,  
Young men & maids then read these lines and see  
How they in love did lovingly agree.   
To the Tune of, When sol will cast no light.  
 
 

ON Midsummer day as I  
abroad was walking,  
A young man and a maid  
I heard a talking.  
Near to a shady Grove  
flowers were springing,  
And the brave Nighting-gale  
sweetly was singing.   

The youngman brisk and bold  
thus fell to woeing,  
And with his fair maid  
fain would be doing,  
With speeches meek and mild  
and kind entreating,  
Saying his heart would break  
if she forsake him.   

My joy and only dear  
pray thee believe me,  
If thou wilt be my wife  
i'll never deceive thee  
No store of means I have  
I tell thee plainly.  
But i'll work day and night  
for to maintain thee.   

What I do promise thee  
shall be performed,  
By no one in the world  
thou shalt be wronged.  
I'll venture life or Limbs  
for thee my jewel,  
Then be not thou unkind  
nor prove not cruel.   

I am not one of those  
that keeps a bragging,  
And of their house and land  
their tongues are wagging.  
My love is faithful bent  
than he contented,  
If thou wilt be my wife  
thou'lt ne'er repent it.   

My trade it still will hold  
this I am certain,  
A good Husband I will be  
my dearest darling,  
I am of Crispin's trade  
a brave Shoemaker,  
He loved a princess dear  
and ne'er forsaked her,   

Nor I'll not thee forsake  
my dearest Betty,  
Thy smiling countenance  
shineth so pretty,  
If I five thousand pound  
had in my keeping,  
Thou shouldst it all command  
my dearest sweeting.   

So if thou canst but find  
in heart to love me,  
Speak freely now thy mind  
as it behoves thee,  
Speak freely from thy heart  
if thou wilt have me,  
And to thee I'll prove true  
as God shall save me.   The Maids loving reply 

My love and only dear,  
I joy to see thee.  
For when you absent were  
oh! how it did grieve me,  
Both day and night i'll swear  
I thought upon thee,  
I wondered in my heart  
what was come on thee.   The Young man. 

These five long years my dear  
thou knowst I wander  
In City and in Town  
like any stranger,  
And am returned again  
once more to try thee,  
How canst find in thy heart  
for to deny me.   The Maid. 

Well seeing thou art returned  
thou art welcome to me,  
By all the powers above,  
i'll not forgo thee,  
Though Father frown at me  
and mother murmur,  
All the friends that I have  
shall not part's in sunder.   

Because I find thee plain  
in words and speeches,  
You tell me that you have  
no store of riches,  
Me to maintain my dear  
be not thou fearful,  
I have five hundred pound  
if thou will be careful.   

Therefore be not dismayed  
but be contened,  
All the friends that I have  
shall not prevent it,  
But I will be thy wife  
and will endeavour  
To lead a quiet life  
with thee for ever,   The young man. 

Oh! how my heart with joy.  
my dear hath filled.  
Because to my request  
kindly she yielded,  
Now we will live in peace  
and love together,  
As the old Proverb goeth,  
like birds of a Feather.   

Thus you may plainly see  
that time and leisure,  
Many things brings to pass  
therefore Endeavour.  
Young men prove constant still  
maids do not dissemble,  
And then you need not fear  
for to live single.    

Printed for P. Brooksby at the Golden Ball in West Smithfield.