Clown's Courtship, The

Quoth John to Joan, will thou have me;     I prithee now, wilt? and I'll marry thee,     My cow, my calf, my house, my rents,     And all my lands and tenements:             Oh, say, my Joan, will not that do?             I cannot come every day to woo.     I've corn and hay in the barn hardby,     And three fat hogs pent up in the sty,     I have a mare and she is coal black,     I ride on her tail to save my back.                             Then say, etc.     I have a cheese upon the shelf,     And I cannot eat it all myself;     I've three good marks that lie in a rag,     In a nook of the chimney, instead of a bag.                             Then say, etc.     To marry I would have thy consent,     But faith I never could compliment;     I can say nought but "Hoy, gee ho!"     Words that belong to the cart and the plough.             So say, my Joan, will not that do,             I cannot come every day to woo.