T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Scotch Lasss Lamentation for Loss of Her Maidenhead
Anonymous(From Collection of Old Ballads, 1723) |
THERE lived a Lass in our Town, | |
Her name was Moggy Lawder, | |
And She would fain have plaid the Loon, | |
But durst not tell her Father; | |
Now She’s forgot her Father’s fear, | 5 |
And on the same did venture, | |
And afterwards as you shall hear | |
A Lad did oft frequent her. | |
Now Moggy Lawder on a Day, | |
A Barber Lad did meet her, | 10 |
Both Joy and Heart to her did say, | |
And kindly he did treat her: | |
My dear let me get thee with Bearn, | |
And I shall be its Father, | |
And you’ll be Mother of the same, | 15 |
My bonny Moggy Lawder. | |
Sweet-heart to him she says indeed. | |
And so did fall a weeping, | |
I’m wearied with my Maidenhead | |
While I have it in keeping: | 20 |
But if thou’lt true and trusty be, | |
As I am Moggy Lawder, | |
I then will give it unto thee, | |
But do not tell my Father. | |
For if my Father hear the same, | 25 |
Right fore he will abuse me, | |
But I think long to try the Game, | |
Therefore I’ll not refuse thee: | |
But first protest to marry me, | |
To be my Baby’s Father, | 30 |
And be a Husband unto me, | |
Bonny Moggy Lawder. | |
My Dear, says he, indeed I am, | |
Unto my Trade a Shaver, | |
And there is not a living Man, | 35 |
Can call me a Deceiver; | |
Yea surely I will marry thee, | |
And be thy Baby’s Father, | |
And thou shalt be a Wife to me, | |
My bonny Moggy Lawder. | 40 |
And then to her he gave a Kiss, | |
Saying, Dear, how shall I please thee, | |
Be sure I will do more than this, | |
And of thy Troubles ease thee: | |
And all along upon her Back, | 45 |
He laid poor Moggy Lawder, | |
Gave her a Scope upon her dope, | |
She durst not tell her Father. | |
With Kisses and Embraces then, | |
In Peace and Love they parted, | 50 |
And did appoint another time, | |
To meet there loving hearted: | |
And with a merry Heart’s content, | |
With what the Lad had gave her, | |
Rejoicing homeward as she went | 55 |
She sung the jolly Shaver. | |
But now the Seed that late was sown, | |
Is become a springing, | |
And she is melancholy grown, | |
And has left off her singing: | 60 |
And often in her Heart could wish, | |
That she had been at Calder, | |
For Edinborough is filled with, | |
The talk of Moggy Lawder. | |
And now the Word is spread abroad, | 65 |
That she with Bearn has proved, | |
The Barber Lad has ta’en the Road, | |
And left the Lass he loved: | |
And to another Nation’s gone, | |
And left his Moggy Lawder, | 70 |
Right sad in heart not knowing where, | |
To find her Child a Father. | |
All you young Maids that marry would, | |
See that you be more coy, | |
Throw not your Maidenhead away, | 75 |
Lest it should you annoy: | |
And in the end you be beguiled, | |
As was Moggy Lawder, | |
First marry then you may be sure, | |
Your Child shall have a Father. | 80 |