| T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22. | | | | A Song: “As I walked forth one May morning” | | By Susanna Centlivre (1667?–1723) |
| | (From The Platonick Lady, a Comedy, Act II. 1761) |
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AS I walked forth one May morning, | |
| I heard a pretty maid sweetly sing | |
| As she sat under the cow a-milking, | |
| Shall I be married a Tuesday; | |
| I mun look smug upon Tuesday. | 5 |
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| I prithee sweetheart what makes thee to marry, | |
| Is your maidenhead grown a burden to carry? | |
| Or are you afraid that you will miscarry? | |
| I prithee now tarry till Wednesday. | |
| |
| I pray, good Sir, don’t wish me such ill, | 10 |
| I have kept it these seven years against my own will; | |
| I have made a vow, and I will it fulfill, | |
| That I will be married on Tuesday, | |
| So I mun look smug upon Tuesday. | |
| |
| On Tuesday morn it will be all my care | 15 |
| To powder my locks and to curl up my hair, | |
| And two pretty maids for to wait on me there; | |
| So I mun look smug on Tuesday, | |
| So fine and so smug on Tuesday. | |
| |
| Then two young men to the church will me bring, | 20 |
| Where my husband will give me a gray gold ring, | |
| But at night he will give me a far better thing. | |
| So I mun look smug on Tuesday, | |
| So fine and so smug on Tuesday. | | | |
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