Love in a barn. Or, Right country courtship.

LOVE in a BARN . Or , Right Country Courtship .

woman milking a cow

COME all ye brisk country girls , And London lasses too ; A merry ditty I have to tell , Which certainly is true . In Reygate liv'd a buxome las● , Both beautiful and fair , Her beauty was her portion , As hereafter you shall here . Her father was a farmer , Who did at Ryegate dwell , Just by liv'd a noble Lord , Whose name I must not tell : Whose country house at Ryegate was , In the sweet pleasant air , And this Lord he fell in love With the farmer's daughter fair . He ofentimes beheld her A - milking in the moon , And he must go to drink the m●●k From the cow while it was warm . The draught of love he drank so sweet By gazing on her charms , That the sweet creature he would oft w sh for in his arms , He said , I 've slighted ladies , Of honour , birth , and fame : Now Cupid has betray'd me To an innocent country dame . I must reveal my passion . Or for her lose my life ; If money her virtue will overcome . I soon will end the strise . Next morning he goes to her , As she a-milking were , And he began the story To the farmer's daughter fair . Thou fairest of all creatures , My heart is in love with thee ; If thou can'st love a London Lord , A Lady thou shalt be . Sir , said she , What do you mean , More fit I am , I vow , To mind my father's dairy , And feed the pigs and sow . I cannot dress up in the mode , As London lasses wear . Said he , but I will keep a maid , To wait on thee , my dear . A maid ! said the country lass , I can but laugh at that : Must I ride to the church in my short cloak , With a feather in my cap ? No , no , my dear , that is the dress My jewel thou shalt were , When thou along with me dost go To take the rural air . Then , Gaffer , said the country girl , Yet something I've to say , Among the ladies I cannot dance , Except it be the ha● . But thou can'st dance in bed , my dear , And that 's the prettiest sport . Ay , never fear , I 'll warrent thee , As well as the best at court . This was Right COUNTRY COURTSHIP , And made the Lord to smile , But his whole intention was This maiden to beguile . But the country girls are not such fools , For to be taken in , So now come here the country bite , Which she did put on him . He made her many presents Of watches , jewels , rings , The girl she was well pleas'd At sight of such fine things . The cow-house was the chamber In which they us'd to court : At length be must bef ooling Under her petticoats . She said , is this the way That courtiers come to wooe ? There 's no harm , says he , my dear . We serve the ladies so . I do not like the fashion , The country girl reply'd . I will not be a lady Until I am a bride . She finding he had store of gold , Says she , I plainly see , That he has no intention That I his bride shall be ; He shall not have my maidenhead , I solemnly do swea● , But I 'll bite him of a portion , Then wed with Ralph my dear . Next morning came the Lord , As he was us'd to do , With a pretence to drink the milk Warm sir from the cow . Then with the charming milk-maid Still fooling he would be , Says he , five hundred pounds I 'll give One night to lie with thee ; Then afterwards I will thee wed , So no barm can there be . Well , If I lose my maidenhead , It shall be in my father's barn : So now the money put me down , And treat me well with wine , Then to-night at twelve o'clock , It is the only time . He was delighted for to catch The maiden in the mind , Then unto the barn he took A bottle of rhenish wine . A gang of Gypsies us'd to lie , Sir in the barn all night , Then here this damsel soon she play'd A country crafty bite . She told unto the Gypsies How she the scheme had laid , So bid them to conceal themselves Among the corn and hay . She said , I 'll give you notice In every degree ; And if you bite this am'rous blade . Rewarded you shall b● . 'Bout twelve o'clock to her he came Just as the apointment were , When no light but what the moon Granted unto them there . Thus they sit down among the straw His arms round her he twines ; Full merrily they toss about The bottle of rhenish wine . The girl oft kiss'd the bottle , But never touch'd the wine , Until his Lordship's eyes began To twinkle very fine . He laid him down amidst the straw , And fast asleep he falls ; The fa mer's daughter then arose , And the Gypsies soon did call : Says she , Go strip you all buff , Then down by him golie , And the little gypsy at his back , I beg that you would tie . Both his hands I have made fast Not easy to be undone , Then as he rises in a fright , Like a devil he will run . Five pound she to the gypsies gave , Then home she strait did steer . The Lord began to awake , sir , In the morning fair and clear . He took a roll upon his back , The gypsy began to squeak , His hands being ty'd he then began To scramble on his feet . The gypsies all were standing up , Their coal-black hair hung down , He took them all for devils in bust , And run into the town , With the bastard sq ua●●g at his back . His wig was tag'd with straw , Sure such a sight as this No mortal ever saw . The servants were amazed When they did let him in , They took the gppsy from his back , And soon relieved him . So the child he is like to keep , For the gypsies they are gone ▪ ; Thus now he is the talk of all The women in the town But yet he is w●ll pleased With the pranks that she has play'd , He said , I am resolv'd to wed This virtuous country maid . For virtue is her portion , Of that she has her share ▪ O now this Lord has married This furmer's daughte● f●●● .