Dialogue In Verse

_Jack._ Seest thou not yon farmer's son?

    He hath stoln my love from me, alas!

  What shall I do?  I am undone;

    My heart will ne'er be as it was.

  O, but he gives her gay gold rings,

    And tufted gloves [for] holiday,

  And many other goodly things,

    That hath stoln my love away.

_Friend._ Let him give her gay gold rings

    Or tufted gloves, were they ne'er so [gay];

  [F]or were her lovers lords or kings,

    They should not carry the wench away.

_Jack._ But 'a dances wonders well,

    And with his dances stole her love from me:

  Yet she wont to say, I bore the bell

    For dancing and for courtesy.

_Dick._ Fie, lusty younker, what do you here,

    Not dancing on the green to-day?

  For Pierce, the farmer's son, I fear,

    Is like to carry your wench away.

_Jack._ Good Dick, bid them all come hither,

    And tell Pierce from me beside,

  That, if he thinks to have the wench,

    Here he stands shall lie with the bride.

_Dick._ Fie, Nan, why use thy old lover so,

    For any other new-come guest?

  Thou long time his love did know;

    Why shouldst thou not use him best?

_Nan._ Bonny Dick, I will not forsake

    My bonny Rowland for any gold:

  If he can dance as well as Pierce,

    He shall have my heart in hold.

_Pierce._ Why, then, my hearts, let's to this gear;

    And by dancing I may won

  My Nan, whose love I hold so dear

    As any realm under the sun.

_Gentleman._ Then, gentles, ere I speed from hence,

    I will be so bold to dance

  A turn or two without offence;

    For, as I was walking along by chance,

  I was told you did agree.

_Friend._ 'Tis true, good sir; and this is she

    Hopes your worship comes not to crave her;

  For she hath lovers two or three,

    And he that dances best must have her.

_Gentleman._ How say you, sweet, will you dance with me?

    And you [shall] have both land and [hill];

  My love shall want nor gold nor fee.

_Nan._ I thank you, sir, for your good will;

  But one of these my love must be:

    I'm but a homely country maid,

  And far unfit for your degree;

    [To dance with you I am afraid.]

_Friend._ Take her, good sir, by the hand,

    As she is fairest: were she fairer,

  By this dance, you shall understand,

    He that can win her is like to wear her.

_Fool._ And saw you not [my] Nan to-day,

    My mother's maid have you not seen?

  My pretty Nan is gone away

    To seek her love upon the green.

  [I cannot see her 'mong so many:]

  She shall have me, if she have any.

_Nan._ Welcome, sweetheart, and welcome here,

    Welcome, my [true] love, now to me.

  This is my love [and my darling dear],

    And that my husband [soon] must be.

  And, boy, when thou com'st home, thou'lt see

  Thou art as welcome home as he.

_Gentleman._ Why, how now, sweet Nan!  I hope you jest.

_Nan._ No, by my troth, I love the fool the best:

  And, if you be jealous, God give you good-night!

  I fear you're a gelding, you caper so light.

_Gentleman._ I thought she had jested and meant but a fable,

  But now do I see she hath play['d] with his bable.

  I wish all my friends by me to take heed,

  That a fool come not near you when you mean to speed.