Page:Works of Sir John Suckling.djvu/50

At Course-a-Park, without all doubt,
He should have first been taken out20
By all the maids i' th' town:
Though lusty Roger there had been,
Or little George upon the Green,
Or Vincent of the Crown.

But wot you what? the youth was going25
To make an end of all his wooing;
The parson for him staid:
Yet by his leave (for all his haste)
He did not so much wish all past
(Perchance) as did the maid.30

The maid—and thereby hangs a tale;
For such a maid no Whitson-ale
Could ever yet produce:
No grape, that's kindly ripe, could be
So round, so plump, so soft as she,35
Nor half so full of juice.

Her finger was so small, the ring
Would not stay on, which they did bring;
It was too wide a peck:
And to say truth (for out it must)40
It lookt like the great collar (just)
About our young colt's neck.

Her feet beneath her petticoat,
Like little mice, stole in and out,
As if they fear'd the light:45
But O, she dances such a way!
No sun upon an Easter-day
Is half so fine a sight.

He would have kist her once or twice;
But she would not, she was so nice,50
She would not do 't in sight:
And then she lookt as who should say,
'I will do what I list to-day.
And you shall do 't at night.'

Her cheeks so rare a white was on,55
No daisy makes comparison
(Who sees them is undone);
For streaks of red were mingled there,
Such as are on a Katherne pear
(The side that's next the sun).60