( 7 )
For young men are given to flatter,
and so much to me you’ve said
Pray do not stay me on the way,
with those few lines which you have join'd,
Let me alone, let me be gone,
chuse you some other Valentine.
If kind Fate may be believed,
when on you I first set fight,
Surely I did love, believe me,
and you are my beauty bright;
Oft have ' wish’d for to be bless’d,
in your fair presence to be join’d,
And in my mind, maids should be kind,
and loving to their Valentine.
To me, kind Sir. you are a stranger,
maids must look before they leap,
And in strange hands there is great danger,
snakes under flowers often creep;
I often had men’s words are wind,
the fun doth set to brighter shine,
After a calm there comes a storm,
and then no more sweet Valentine.
But if I from my promise alter,
let then nothing with me thrive,
No, nor nothing with me thrive,
whilst that I remain alive:
Pains I'll not spare but I'll take care,
for to maintain you neat and fine,
And of the best that can be drest,
then thou shalt eat, sweet Valentine.
