Upsoars the prize! The youth, with joy unfeign'd, COME TO THE MAY-POLE! The name of the author of the following is unknown. It first appeared in Westminster Drollery; a choice collection of the newest songs and poems.' London, 1672. It has long been a great favourite with the rustic population of England, and the words of it are said to be still sold in Seven Dials. COME, Lasses and Lads, get leave of your Dads, And the fiddler's standing by. For Willy shall dance with Jane, And Johnny has got his Joan, To trip it, trip it, trip it, trip it, Strike up, says Wat: agreed, says Matt, And I prithee, fiddler, play; Content, says Hodge, and so says Madge, For this is a holiday. Then every lad did doff His hat unto his lass, And every girl did curtsey, curtsey, Curtsey on the grass. Begin, says Hal: ay, ay, says Mall, To foot it round about, And every girl did jet it, jet it, You're out, says Dick,-not I, says Nick, The fiddler then began To play the tune again, And every girl did trip it, trip it, Trip it to the men. Let's kiss, says Jane,-content, says Nan, And so says every she; How many says Batt,-why three, says Matt, For that's a maiden's fee. The men, instead of three, Did give them half a score ; The maids in kindness, kindness, kindness, Gave 'em as many more. Then, after an hour, they went to a bower, And kisses too,—until they were due The lasses held the stakes. The girls did then begin To quarrel with the men, And bade them take their kisses back, Now there they did stay the whole of the day, With dancing and play, without any pay, From morning until night. They told the fiddler then They'd pay him for his play, Then each a twopence, twopence, twopence, Gave him, and went away. Good-night, says Harry,-good-night, says Mary; Good-night, says Sue to her sweetheart Hugh; Good-night says every one. Some walk'd, and some did run ; Some loiter'd on the way, And bound themselves by kisses twelve To meet the next holiday. WANTED A GOVERNESS. A GOVERNESS wanted-well fitted to fill With everything, too, that's correct and ostensible : Morals of pure unexceptionability; Manners well formed, and of strictest gentility. The pupils are five-ages, six to sixteen— All as promising girls as ever were seen— And besides (though 'tis scarcely worth while to put that in) The lady must teach all the several branches She's expected to speak the French tongue like a native, The Polish mazurka, and best gallopades ; Grammar, and satin stitch, netting, geography, That her charges' young limbs may be pliant to any call. Their health, play, and studies, and moral condition, Must be superintended without intermission; |