Tax'd dogs' garland/The Maid of Primrose-Hill

THE MAID OF PRIMROSE-HILL.

’TWAS under Primroſe-hill there liv'd,
a ſweet pretty maid,
Not Venus could give more delight,
when you her charms ſurvey’d.
For the lillies fair, and the roſes there,
they did combine, and both entwine,
To form a beauty rare.

This one many ſuitors had,
but treated them with ſcorn,
Till William who could play and dance,
came piping oʻer the lawn;
He ſung ſo ſweet, was dreſſ‘d ſo neat,
that maidens fair, they did declare,
Their love for William great.

Sweet maid of Primroſe-hill, he cry'd,
I come a wooing here,
Then do not you my love reject,
nor treat me too ſevere.
For my heart ſo true is fix‘d on you,
I’ll constant be to only thee,
Thou flower of roſy hue.

The maid ſhe gave her head a toſs,
reply'd with ſcornful air,
I wonder that you can to me,
your fruitleſs love declare;
For ſuitors great, in land eſtate.
have offer'd me their bride to be,
So you do come too late.

Then William hung his head with grief,
and ſaid poor girl, adieu,
I'll quit your charms for wars alarms,
and glory I‘ll purſue,
For love ſhall yield to Mars the field,
the fife and drum, invite to come,
I'll poiſe the ſpear and ſhield.

Then with a ſmile ſhe call'd him back,
and ſaid, dear William ſtay,
I did but jeſt to try your love,
ſo go not now away;
Then with a kiſs, he leal‘d his bliſs,
ſhe did agree his bride to be,
And nam'd the happy day,

Then to the church he went with ſweet content
the bells rang all with joy,
Their hands were join‘d in Hymen's bands,
their bleſs will never cloy:
For they love all day, at night toy and play,
who'll ſo happy be, as he and ſhe,
For their lives are always May.