Volume Ii Part 54 (2/2)

Be she young, or be she old, For her beauty she must be sold.

But fare thee well, my lady gay, And I'll call back some other day.

Come back! come back! take the fairest you see.

The fairest one that I can see Is bonnie Jeanie [or Maggie, &c.], so come to me.

Here's your daughter, safe and sound, In every pocket a thousand pound, On every finger a gay gold ring, So, pray, take your daughter back again.

-_People's Friend_, quoted in review of ”Arbroath: Past and Present.”

XXI. We are three suitors come from Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane she is too young To be beguiled by flattering tongue.

Let her be young, or let her be old, For her beauty she must be sold.

Return, return, your coat is white, And take the fairest in your sight.

Here's your daughter safe and sound, And in her pocket five hundred pound, On her finger a gay gold ring, Fit to walk with any king.

-Dublin (Mrs. Lincoln).

XXII. Here comes a poor duke out of Spain, He comes to court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane is yet too young, She has a false and flattering tongue.

Let her be young, or let her be old, Her beauty is gone, she must be sold.

Fare thee well, my lady gay, I'll call again another day.

Turn back, turn back, you ugly wight, And clean your spurs till they s.h.i.+ne bright.

My spurs they s.h.i.+ne as bright as snow, And fit for any king to show; So fare thee well, my lady gay, I'll call again another day.

Turn back, turn back, you ugly wight, And choose the fairest one you like.

The fairest one that I can see, Is you, dear --, so come with me.

-_Notes and Queries_ (1852), vol. vi. 242.

XXIII. Here comes three knights all out of Spain, We have come to court your daughter Jane.

Our daughter Jane she is too young, She has not learned the Spanish tongue.

Whether she be young or old, 'Tis for her beauty she must be sold.

Turn back, turn back, ye Spanish knights, And rub your spurs till they are bright.

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