| T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22. | | | | O Nay! O Nay! Not Yet | | Anonymous |
| | (From The Percy Folio Manuscript, 1620–50) |
|
A YOUNG man walking alone, | |
| Abroad to take the air, | |
| It was his chance for him to meet | |
| A maiden passing fair. | |
| Desiring her of courtesy | 5 |
| Awhile with him down sit; | |
| She answered him most modestly, | |
| “O nay! O nay! not yet!” | |
| |
| “Forty crowns I will give thee, | |
| Sweetheart, in good red gold, | 10 |
| If that I may thy favour have, | |
| Thy beauty to behold.” | |
| And then she spoke now readily | |
| And with a ready wit, | |
| “I will not sell my honesty | 15 |
| O nay! O nay! not yet!” | |
| |
| “Gold and money is but dross, | |
| And worldly vanity; | |
| I do esteem more of the loss | |
| Of my virginity! | 20 |
| But dost thou think I am so mad, | |
| Or of so little wit | |
| As for to sell my honesty? | |
| O nay! O nay! not yet!” | |
| |
| The way to win a woman’s heart, | 25 |
| Is quickly to be brief, | |
| And give her that with-in few words | |
| That will soon ease her grief. | |
| “O fye! O fye! away!” she’ll cry, | |
| That loves a dainty bit, | 30 |
| “I will not yield to Cupid’s laws! | |
| O nay! O nay! not yet!” | | | |
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