There was a young lady of Niger
Who smiled as she rode on a Tiger;
They came back from the ride
With the lady inside,
And the smile on the face of the Tiger.* * * * *
There was a young maid who said, “Why
Can’t I look in my ear with my eye?
If I give my mind to it,
I ’m sure I can do it—...
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-
My story ’s ended,
My spoon is bended:
If you don’t like it,
Go to the next door
And get it mended.
16th Century. -
“which shall it be? Which shall it be?”
I looked at John—John looked at me
(Dear, patient John, who loves me yet
As well as though my locks were jet);
And when I found that I must speak,
My voice seemed strangely low and weak:
“Tell me again what Robert said,”
And then I, listening, bent my head.
“This is his letter: ‘I will give... -
Oh, yes, we mean all kind words that we say
To old friends and to new;
Yet doth this truth grow clearer day by day:
We love but few.We love! we love! What easy words to say,
And sweet to hear,
When sunrise splendor brightens all the way,
And, far and near,Are breath of flowers and carolling of...
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Sent by a Yorkish Lover to His Lancastrian Mistress
IF this fair rose offend thy sight,
Placed in thy bosom bare,
’T will blush to find itself less white,
And turn Lancastrian there.But if thy ruby lip it spy,
As kiss it thou mayest deign,
With envy pale ’t will lose its dye,
And Yorkish turn again. -
Love not me for comely grace,
For my pleasing eye or face,
Nor for any outward part,
No, nor for my constant heart;
For those may fail or turn to ill,
So thou and I shall sever;
Keep therefore a true woman’s eye,
And love me still, but know not why.
So hast thou the same reason still
To dote upon me ever. -
Attributed to “A. W.”
How Cupid Made a Nymph Wound Herself with His ArrowIT chanced of late a shepherd’s swain,
That went to seek a strayed sheep,
Within a thicket on the plain,
Espied a dainty Nymph asleep.Her golden hair o’erspread her face,
Her careless arms abroad were cast,
Her quiver had her pillow’s place,
Her... -
Some say that kissing ’s a sin;
But I think it ’s nane ava,
For kissing has wonn’d in this warld
Since ever that there was twa.O, if it wasna lawfu’
Lawyers wadna allow it;
If it wasna holy,
Ministers wadna do it.If it wasna modest,
Maidens wadna tak’ it;
If it wasna plenty,
Puir folk... -
There was a youthe, and a well-beloved youthe,
And he was a squire’s son;
He loved the bayliffes daughter deare,
That lived in Islington.Yet she was coye, and would not believe
That he did love her soe,
Noe nor at any time would she
Any countenance to him showe.But when his friendes did understand
His fond... -
“where are you going, my pretty maid?”
“I am going a-milking, sir,” she said.
“May I go with you, my pretty maid?”
“You ’re kindly welcome, sir,” she said.
“What is your father, my pretty maid?”
“My father ’s a farmer, sir,” she said.
“What is your fortune, my pretty maid?”
“My face is my fortune, sir,” she said.
“Then I won’t...