T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
A Good Throw for Three Maidenheads
By Martin Parker (d. 1656?)(1631. From A Pepysian Garland, 1922)
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THREE maids did make a meeting, | |
With one young man of late, | |
Where they had such a greeting, | |
As passes Peg and Kate. | |
They talk of many matters, | 5 |
Not fitting to be told; | |
Also they drank strong waters, | |
To heat their stomachs cold. | |
and when they had, | |
drunk with the Lad, | 10 |
Until they were merry all: | |
between them three, | |
they did agree, | |
Into discourse to fall. | |
Concerning husbands getting, | 15 |
The question did arise, | |
And each of them their sitting, | |
Some reason did devise. | |
One was a milkmaid bonny, | |
The other I’ll not name, | 20 |
But she did get much money, | |
By selling of the same, | |
her name is Jone, | |
as is well known, | |
I hope ’tis no offence: | 25 |
to tell what they, | |
did on that day, | |
Before they went from thence. | |
They all did love this young man | |
And each for him did strive, | 30 |
It seems he was a strong man, | |
That could his work contrive. | |
Now which of them should have him, | |
They neither of them knew, | |
But each of them did crave him, | 35 |
As her own proper due. | |
now meeting, | |
and greeting, | |
As maids and young men use, | |
with them he drank, | 40 |
his money was frank, | |
Indeed he could not choose. | |
And either of them telling, | |
Her mind in full to him, | |
Meanwhile the rest were filling, | 45 |
Their cups up to ye brim. | |
Because in either of them, | |
It seems he had a share, | |
Unless he meant to scoff them, | |
He now must choose his ware. | 50 |
and therefore they, | |
without delay, | |
Being on the merry pin: | |
with good advice, | |
did throw the dice, | 55 |
Who should the young man win. | |
The young man was contented, | |
And so the dice were brought. | |
The maids that this invented, | |
Their lessons were well taught: | 60 |
For the young man all lusted, | |
And by this fine device, | |
They severally all trusted, | |
To win him by the dice. | |
but hark now, | 65 |
and mark now, | |
The manner of their play: | |
in their behalf, | |
I know you’ll laugh, | |
Before you go away. | 70 |
THE SECOND PART IF any of the lasses, | |
Do overthrow the rest, | |
On her the verdict passes, | |
None should with her contest, | |
But she should have her lover, | 75 |
Clean from the other twain, | |
If even not above her, | |
Then they must throw again. | |
but of he, | |
all them, three, | 80 |
Did win by throwing most: | |
their mayden-heads all, | |
to him must fall, | |
Without any pain or cost. | |
To this they all replied, | 85 |
They jointly were agreed, | |
What words had testifyed, | |
Should be perform’d indeed. | |
The first maid threw, tray cater ace, | |
Which is in all but eight, | 90 |
She hoped from all the maids in place, | |
To win the lad by right, | |
The second I think, | |
threw tray deuce cinque, | |
There’s ten (quoth she) for me. | 95 |
the first was quell’d, | |
for this excel’d, | |
Full sorely vext was she. | |
The third with courage lusty, | |
Did take the dice in hand, | 100 |
Now dice if you be trusty, | |
Quoth she, this cast shall stand, | |
For I resolve for better for worse | |
As fortune shall dispose, | |
That either now I’ll win the horse | 105 |
Or else the Saddle lose. | |
she took them, | |
and she shook them, | |
And threw without fear or wit, | |
tray cater sice, | 110 |
gramercy dice, | |
Quoth she, for that is it. | |
She thought herself most certain | |
The young man now to have, | |
But false deluding fortune, | 115 |
No such great favour gave. | |
The young man took the dice up, | |
Quoth he now have at all, | |
He threw sincke cater sice up, | |
Which made her courage fall, | 120 |
who threw the last, | |
for ’twas surpast, | |
How now my girls, quoth he, | |
you must resign, | |
for they are mine, | 125 |
Your maiden-heads to me. | |
For I have fairly won them, | |
As you yourselves can tell, | |
The lots were cast upon them, | |
Which you all liked well. | 130 |
The maidens all confessed, | |
That what he said was true, | |
And that they were distressed, | |
Should he exact his due. | |
we hope sir, | 135 |
some scope sir, | |
You unto us will give. | |
if that we pay, | |
what’s lost by play, | |
’Twere pity we should live. | 140 |
Quoth he, I’ll have them all three, | |
For they by right are mine, | |
Or else in troth, they shall be, | |
All painted on my sign. | |
The sign of the one maiden-head, | 145 |
Hath oftentimes bin seen, | |
But I’ll have three caus ’t shall be said | |
The like hath never been. | |
now whether this lad, | |
his winnings had, | 150 |
I cannot nor will not say: | |
but likely ’tis, | |
he would not miss, | |
What was won by fair play. | |
They thought they had been private | 155 |
Where none had heard their doing | |
But one did so contrive it, | |
That he heard all this wooing. | |
Thought he I have heard many hold, | |
Their maiden-heads at high price, | 160 |
But now hereafter it may be told, | |
How three were won at dice. | |
this man ere long, | |
did cause this song, | |
To be made on the same, | 165 |
that maidens fair, | |
might have a care, | |
And play at no such game. | |