Page:Pretty green-coat boy's garland (2).pdf/2

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The pretty Green Coat Boy's Garland

ou pretty young maids and batchelors ſweet, Draw near unto me while I ſhall relate, 'Tis a true ſtory as e'er you did hear, Therefore good people I pray you give ear,

Near Dunance in France lived near the town, A noble rich lord of fame and renown, Who wed a young lady, and by her we hear, He had a young ſon whom he lov'd moſt dear.

There was an old farmer that lived hard by, That had a young daughter both gallant and gay, So that in the country there ne'er had been bred, A fairer young creature for both white and red.

Which made all the country both far and near, Dukes lords and 'ſquires thither to repair, To court this great beauty; but all was in vain, For none of them could her favour obtain.

At length this lord's ſon among all the reſt, Came a courting to her, and he did proteſt, O pretty ſweet Jenny, pray grant me your love, Or elſe you will my deſtruction prove.

She ſaid noble lord I am both poor and low, My father he is a poor farmer you know, And he is not able to give a portion to me, Therefore to conſent I'm unwilling ſaid ſhe.

If I yeild unto you, perhaps they will ſay, This young lord has thrown himſelf quite away, Therefore noble lord we ſhall never agree, A labouring man is far better for me,

That earns his bread with the ſweet of his brow, And ſtill takes delight to follow the plow, He has better delight I'll make it appear, Than a noble lord with ten thouſand a year.