XIX.

A LOVER OF LATE.

Printed, with a few slight corrections, from the Editor's folio MS.

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[This song is printed, Hales and Furnivall's edition of the MS. vol. iii. p. 389.]

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A lover of late was I, For Cupid would have it soe, The boy that hath never an eye, As every man doth know: I sighed and sobbed, and cryed, alas! 5 For her that laught, and called me ass.

Then knew not I what to doe, When I saw itt was in vaine[390] A lady soe coy to wooe, Who gave me the asse soe plaine:[391] 10 Yet would I her asse freelye bee, Soe shee would helpe, and beare with mee.

An' I were as faire as shee,[392] Or shee were as kind as I,[393] What payre cold have made, as wee, 15 Soe prettye a sympathye: I was as kind as she was faire, But for all this wee cold not paire.

Paire with her that will for mee, With her I will never paire; 20 That cunningly can be coy, For being a little faire. The asse Ile leave to her disdaine; And now I am myselfe againe.

FOOTNOTES:

[390] [Ver. 8. when I see itt was vaine.]

[391] [V. 10. and gave.]

[392] [V. 13. faine, MS.]

[393] [V. 14. and shee, MS.]