T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Robin and Nan
By B. J. Alcock, Jr.(A Broadside Song with music; c. 1705) |
NAN was Robin’s fellow servant, | |
She could milk, and he could plow; | |
Robin’s love for Nan was fervent, | |
But the damsel would not trow. | |
In the field or in the meadow, | 5 |
Where so e’er she daily went, | |
Robin follow’d like her shadow, | |
All to give his passion vent. | |
See fair maid each living creature, | |
(Only stubborn-hearted thou); | 10 |
Do as all are taught by nature, | |
And to love’s dominion bow, | |
Long his passion Nan resisted, | |
And had always kept her hold, | |
Had not fortune once assisted; | 15 |
Fortune often helps the bold. | |
Nan would go to bed as usual, | |
Just as Robin went that way; | |
When her door made stout refusal, | |
Dame forgot and took the key; | 20 |
Robin, proud of this occasion, | |
All his former hopes to crown, | |
Brought the maid, by fair persuasion, | |
On his threshold to sit down. | |
Now, said he, my charming blowsy, | 25 |
Let us love and banish fear; | |
Dame, you know, is always drowsy, | |
We may talk and she not hear. | |
Thus one lucky minute doing | |
All the mighty work of love, | 30 |
Ever after, without wooing, | |
Bob and Nan went hand and glove. | |