Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.

The Deluded Lass’s Lamentation

Roxburghe Ballads

(Anonymous; from Vol. IV)

HE.	IS she gone? let her go. I do not care,
	Though she has a dainty thing, I had my share;
	She has more land than I, by one whole acre,
	I plowed in her ground, who will may take her.
SHE.	Did you not promise me when you lay by me,	5
	That you would marry me: can you deny me?
HE.	If I did promise thee, ’twas but to try thee,
	Bring in your witness, for now I defy thee.
SHE.	Did you not swear by the powers above,
	That you would marry, if I’d grant your love?	10
HE.	Of all fair lasses I thought the bonniest,
	And would have married thee hadst thou kept honest.
SHE.	’Twas your deluding tongue made me miscarry,
	Because you promised with me for to marry.
HE.	Had not you yielded so soon to lie by me,	15
	Then to have married I had not denied thee.
SHE.	I never with man, except it were you,
	Not thinking you would have proved so untrue.
HE.	If to lie by me thou then hadst refused,
	Then I thy person sure ne’er had abused.	20
SHE.	You with the art of a vigorous lover,
	Told me you pleasure and joys could discover;
	But your false pleasure did last but a moment,
	And for that pleasure I suffer more torment.
HE.	Sweet, fair, charming Beauty you then had in store,	25
	Had virtue been added, there needed no more;
	But if you had not been as willing as I,
	You had not yielded with me for to lie.
SHE.	Your promise made me to let you lie by me,
	I thought you constant, and could not deny thee:	30
	But had I known the intent of your passion,
	Thus for to grieve there had been no occasion.
HE.	Thou fond and foolish girl, leave thy lamenting,
	When thou art wiser, then I’ll be relenting;
	When thou again art a virgin I’ll wed thee,	35
	And then with license I boldly may bed thee.
SHE.	You pleasure take to rail at my misfortune,
	Whilst my poor heart does ache to think of parting:
	But since that you are resolved to fly me;
	I hope no other lass will ere will lie by thee.	40
	Farewell, thou perjured youth, false and deceitful!
	I ne’er thought you would have proved so ungrateful;
	First by deluding words thus to deceive me,
	Having obtained your ends, scornfully leave me.
	Do but remember, now, when you came to me,	45
	Every solemn vow made to undo me;
	By your alluring charms I was invited,
	You for my present harms may be requited.
	Being the worst of men, first to defile me
	And this no sooner done, but straight revile me;	50
	From which I perfectly now do discover
	You were no more, at best, but a false lover.
	Let Lasses young and fair, that hear this story,
	Of a false lover beware, blast not your glory;
	For many young men will strive to deceive you,	55
	And when they have their will, straightway will leave you.