T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Scotch Lass’s Lamentation for Loss of Her Maidenhead
Anonymous(From Collection of Old Ballads, 1723) |
THERE lived a Lass in our Town, | |
| Her name was Moggy Lawder, | |
| And She would fain have plaid the Loon, | |
| But durst not tell her Father; | |
| Now She’s forgot her Father’s fear, | 5 |
| And on the same did venture, | |
| And afterwards as you shall hear | |
| A Lad did oft frequent her. | |
| Now Moggy Lawder on a Day, | |
| A Barber Lad did meet her, | 10 |
| Both Joy and Heart to her did say, | |
| And kindly he did treat her: | |
| My dear let me get thee with Bearn, | |
| And I shall be its Father, | |
| And you’ll be Mother of the same, | 15 |
| My bonny Moggy Lawder. | |
| Sweet-heart to him she says indeed. | |
| And so did fall a weeping, | |
| I’m wearied with my Maidenhead | |
| While I have it in keeping: | 20 |
| But if thou’lt true and trusty be, | |
| As I am Moggy Lawder, | |
| I then will give it unto thee, | |
| But do not tell my Father. | |
| For if my Father hear the same, | 25 |
| Right fore he will abuse me, | |
| But I think long to try the Game, | |
| Therefore I’ll not refuse thee: | |
| But first protest to marry me, | |
| To be my Baby’s Father, | 30 |
| And be a Husband unto me, | |
| Bonny Moggy Lawder. | |
| My Dear, says he, indeed I am, | |
| Unto my Trade a Shaver, | |
| And there is not a living Man, | 35 |
| Can call me a Deceiver; | |
| Yea surely I will marry thee, | |
| And be thy Baby’s Father, | |
| And thou shalt be a Wife to me, | |
| My bonny Moggy Lawder. | 40 |
| And then to her he gave a Kiss, | |
| Saying, Dear, how shall I please thee, | |
| Be sure I will do more than this, | |
| And of thy Troubles ease thee: | |
| And all along upon her Back, | 45 |
| He laid poor Moggy Lawder, | |
| Gave her a Scope upon her dope, | |
| She durst not tell her Father. | |
| With Kisses and Embraces then, | |
| In Peace and Love they parted, | 50 |
| And did appoint another time, | |
| To meet there loving hearted: | |
| And with a merry Heart’s content, | |
| With what the Lad had gave her, | |
| Rejoicing homeward as she went | 55 |
| She sung the jolly Shaver. | |
| But now the Seed that late was sown, | |
| Is become a springing, | |
| And she is melancholy grown, | |
| And has left off her singing: | 60 |
| And often in her Heart could wish, | |
| That she had been at Calder, | |
| For Edinborough is filled with, | |
| The talk of Moggy Lawder. | |
| And now the Word is spread abroad, | 65 |
| That she with Bearn has proved, | |
| The Barber Lad has ta’en the Road, | |
| And left the Lass he loved: | |
| And to another Nation’s gone, | |
| And left his Moggy Lawder, | 70 |
| Right sad in heart not knowing where, | |
| To find her Child a Father. | |
| All you young Maids that marry would, | |
| See that you be more coy, | |
| Throw not your Maidenhead away, | 75 |
| Lest it should you annoy: | |
| And in the end you be beguiled, | |
| As was Moggy Lawder, | |
| First marry then you may be sure, | |
| Your Child shall have a Father. | 80 |