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(Anonymous, c. 1620–50)
WALKING in a meadowe greene, | |
| fayre flowers for to gather, | |
| where p[r]imrose rankes did stand on bankes | |
| to welcome comers thither, | |
| I heard a voice which made a Noise, | 5 |
| which caused me to attend it, | |
| I heard a lassie say to a Ladd, | |
| “Once more, & none can mend it.” | |
| |
| They lay soe close together, | |
| they made me much to wonder; | 10 |
| I knew not which was wether, | |
| untill I saw her under. | |
| then off her came, & blusht for shame | |
| soe soone that he had endit; | |
| yet still she lyes, & to him cryes, | 15 |
| “Once More, & none can mend it.” | |
| |
| His lookes were dull & very sad, | |
| his courage she had tamed; | |
| she bade him play the lusty lad | |
| or else he quite was shamed; | 20 |
| “then stifly thrust, he hit me just, | |
| fear not, but freely spend it, | |
| & play about at in & out; | |
| once more, & none can mend it.” | |
| |
| And then he thought to venter her, | 25 |
| thinking the fit was on him; | |
| but when he came to enter her, | |
| the point turned back upon him. | |
| Yet she said, “stay! go not away | |
| although the point be bended! | 30 |
| but toot again, & hit the vaine! | |
| once more, & none can Mend it.” | |
| |
| Then in her Armes she did him fold, | |
| & oftentimes she kist him, | |
| yet still his courage was but cold | 35 |
| for all the good she wisht him; | |
| yet with her hand she made it stand | |
| so stiff she could not bend it, | |
| & then anon she cries “come on | |
| once more, & none can mend it!” | 40 |
| |
| “Adieu, adieu, sweet heart,” quoth he, | |
| “for in faith I must be gone.” | |
| “nay, then you do me wrong,” quoth she, | |
| “to leave me thus alone.” | |
| Away he went when all was spent, | 45 |
| whereat she was offended; | |
| Like a Trojan true she made a vow | |
| she would have one should mend it. | |
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