The two Lester-sheire Louers.
To the tune of, and yet my thinkes I loue thee.
VValking In a meadow greene,
for recreation sake,
To driue away some sad thoughtes
which sorrofull did mee make,
I spyed two lonely louers,
did beare ech others woe.
To poynt a place of meeting,
vpon the meddow bro.
Saying come my louely sweeting,
com at thee downe by mée.
It is a merry meeting
if wee two can agrée.
If wee two can agree,
to this I thee doe woe,
That thou shouldst onely méete mée:
vppon the meddow browe.
My Father is a gentle-man,
my Mother loues mee deere:
She hath giuen mée a newetie,
of twenty pound a yéere,
And I haue spent it all.
nay more I will spend toe
So thou wilt graunt to meete mee,
vppon the meddow broe.
My Maister hath forwarnd mee,
out of thy company,
And oftentimes hath chid me:
for staying so long with thée,
For staying so long with thee,
but I will stay the moe:
So thou wilt graunt to méete mee,
vppon the meddow broe.
Sweet heart quoth shee I cannot,
for opertunitie:
A thing I can't accomplish,
our meetng doth denie
Els shoulds thou mee commend:
to ride to runne or goe:
Were it not so I'de méete thée,
vppon the meddow bro.
Swéete heart quoth he who feare you,
or who dares do thée wrong,
Dost feare thy maisters Heauie hand:
or mistris nimble toung,
Dost feare the tell tale seruants
but let such matters goe.
And prithe sweeting méete mee,
vppon the meddow bro.
Quoth shee you doe mistake sir,
t'is no such thing I feare,
Therefore to vrge it farther:
I doe intreat forbeare,
I doe not greatly care,
for ought that they can doe.
Annother thing doth hinder mée,
to méete on meddow bro.
What should the occasion then bee,
O thou shouldst be so presise,
[...]r what is it should cause thée:
in loue to be vnwise.
Most thou my loue despise,
or wouldst thou loue forgoe,
I pray thee swéeting méete mee,
vppon the meddow bro.
The Second Part.
I Tell thee gentle sweeting,
Queene Venus neuer runne:
So swift after Adonis.
as I to thee would come,
Queene Dina in her shower of gould;
did not so willing doe,
As I would be to meete thee.
vppon the meddow bro,
Qouth he as did Dame Venus▪
wouldst thou of mee make triall,
I would not like Adonis,
so fondly giue deniall.
No for thy sake my sweeting,
all ill I vnder goe.
So thou wouldst graunt to mett mee,
vppon the meddow bro.
Sir since I sée you are louing,
i'le tel to you the cause,
You know both maides and young men
liue vnder countries lawes.
And should wee be but spied,
we should haue men enough:
Where we should be derided,
vpon the meddow brow.
If this be all you feare sweet,
leaue this alone to me,
I'le poynt a time conuenient,
non shall our meeting see.
Where wee will merry be,
and talk of whats to doe
Where a kisse or twaine i'le giue thee,
vppon the meddow brooe,
I when you haue me there Sir,
you then may doe your pleasure:
But I will haue you sweare sir,
stile for to doe in measure.
Wee might repent at leasure.
should wee out of measure doe:
I am half affraide to meete you,
vppon the meddow brooe.
Sweete heart I heare protest and swere
to vse you there most kinde,
Keep promise in your meeting,
and loue mee as you find,
I will not crosse your minde,
what so euer I doe doe,
So you would grant to meete mee:
vppon the meddow brooe.
Then heres my hand i'le meete thee,
appoynt both place and time
Quoth he vppon the meddow brooe
to morrow morne betime.
I'le meete (quoth shee) bout fiue a clock
and thats the most i'le doe:
So gentle heart a kisse and part,
and méete on meddow brow.
Away then went these louing, twaine
but when that they did meete:
Let such as know the vse out,
iudg how these two did gréete:
But might I spend my iudgment,
as an other man may doe.
I doubt they plaid the wantons,
vpon the meddow brooe,
What ere they did might I but know
my toung should proue no ranger,
But did they well or did they ill,
let them oppose the daunger.
Yet this shall be my wish for all,
that about such busines goe.
Heauen send all merrie meeting,
vppon the meddow broe.
FINIS
At London Printed for Iohn Trundle.