Maid milking her cow/The Loving and United Valentine

The Loving and United Valentine.

ALL in the month of February,
when the trees do bud and spring,
And little lambs do skip like fairies,
⁠birds-do couple, build and sing,
All things on earth that do draw breath,
⁠in love together they do join,
Why should not I my fortune try,
⁠and chafe me out some Valentine.

Thanks to kind features, I have my wishes,
⁠since that I have met my dear,
Your fair face and lovely kisses,
⁠your fair face doth my heart cheer,
My dearth, love and turtle dove,
⁠O let my arms about thee twine,
For thou art she that first I see,
⁠good-morrow my fair Valentine.

O no, kind Sir, you are mistaken,
⁠you must chase other maid,
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.

For your affection kind Sir, I thank you,
⁠for it is more than I deserve,
For I will be no longer cruel,
⁠but will a lover’s heart preserve;
‘Tis modesty makes maids deny,
⁠and from these words I do decline,
So banish pain, take heart again,
⁠and I will be your Valentine.