The fetching home of May: or, A pretty new ditty wherein is made knowne, how each lasse doth strive for to have a green gowne. To the tune of, Roome for company, &c.
Page 538
The fetching home of May: OR,
The fetching home of May: OR,
A pretty new Ditty wherein is made knowne,
How each Lasse doth strive for to have a greene Gowne.
To the Tune of, Roome for Company, &c.
[illustration]
[illustration]
NOw Pan leaves piping,
The Gods have done feasting,
there's never a goddesse a hunting to day:
Mortalls doe marvell at Coridons jesting,
that lends them assisting to entertaine May.
The Lads and the Lasses,
With scarfes on their faces,
So lively it passes,
trips over the downes:
Much mirth and sport they make
Running at Barley-breake,
Good lack what paines they take
for their greene Gownes.
Fine Iohn and Gillian,
Henry with Franses,
Meg with Mary, and Robin with Will:
George and Margery set all the dances,
for they were reported to have the best skil.
Sisle and Nanne
The fairest of many,
That came last of any
from out of the Towne,
Quickly got in among
The middest of the throng,
Thus they so much did long
for the greene Gowne.
Blanch and Betaris
Both of a Family,
came very lasely lagging behind:
Anes and Anibell noted their policie,
Cupid is cunning allthough he be blind:
Winny the witty
That came from the Citie,
With Parnell the pretty,
and Besse the browne:
Clim Ione and Isabell,
Su Alse and bonny Nell,
Liked of their journeys well,
for the greene Gowne.
But wanton Deborah
Whispered to Dorrity,
that she should wink upon Richard & Sim,
Now minsing Maudlin shewd her autority,
and in the quarrell did venter a limme:
Sibill was sickly
And could not come quickly,
And therefore was lickely
to fall in a swound.
There was none would tarry
For Hugh nor for Harry,
Lest Christian should carry
away the greene Gowne.
Thus all the Youngsters
Had reach'd the gréene Meddowes,
where they apointed to gather their May,
Som in the Sunshine, & som in the shadows,
singled in couples did fall to their play.
Constant Penelope
Faith, Hope and Charity,
Looked very modestly,
yet they safe downe:
Prudens prevented
What Rachell repented,
And Cate was contented
to take the greene Gowne.
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The second part,
To the same tune.
[illustration]
THis Maying so pleased,
Most of the fine Lasses,
that they much desired to fetch in May flowers,
For to strew the windows & such like places,
besides they'l have May bows fit for shady Rowers.
But most of all they goe
To find where love doth growe,
Each young man knowes 'tis so,
else hée's Clowne:
For 'tis an old saying
There is great joying,
When Maids goe a Maying,
they'll have a greene Gowne.
Maidens and young men goe
As 'tis an order old
for to drink merrily, and eat spiced Cakes,
The Lads & the Lasses their customs wil hold
for they wil goe walk i'th fields like loving Mates:
Em calls for Mary,
And Ruth calls for Sarah,
Iddy calls for Hary
to man them along:
Martin calls Marcy,
Dick calls for Debary,
Then they goe lovingly
all in a throng.
The bright Apollo
Was all the while péeping,
to sée if his Daphne had bin in the throng,
And missing her hastily downward was crée∣ping,
for that's imagined they tarri'd too lōg
Then all the troope mourned
And homeward returned,
For Cynthia scorned
to smils or to frowne:
Thus did they gather May
All the long Summers day,
And went at night away,
each with a greene Gowne.
Bright Venus still glisters,
Out shining of Luna,
Saturne was present, as right did require,
And he called Iupiter with his Quéen Iuno,
to sée how Dame Venus did burn in desire:
Now Iove sent Mercury
To Vulcan hastily,
Because he should descry
Dame Venus down:
Vulkan came running,
On Mars he stood frowning,
Yet for all his cunning,
Venus had a greene Gowne.
Cupid shootes Arrowes
At Venus her Darlings,
for they are nearest unto him by kind:
Diana he hits not nor cā he pierce worldlings
for they have strong armour his darts to defend:
The one hath chastity,
And Cupid doth defie,
The others cruelty,
makes him a clowne:
But leaving this I sée,
From Cupid few are frée,
And ther's much courtesie
in a greene Gowne.
FINIS.
