Nursery Rhyme. CCCCLXVI. Love And Matrimony.

THE KEYS OF CANTERBURY.

    Oh, madam, I will give you the keys of Canterbury,
    To set all the bells ringing when we shall be merry,
    If you will but walk abroad with me,
    If you will but walk with me.

    Sir, I'll not accept of the keys of Canterbury,
    To set all the bells ringing when we shall be merry;
    Neither will I walk abroad with thee,
    Neither will I talk with thee!

    Oh, madam, I will give you a fine carved comb,
    To comb out your ringlets when I am from home,
    If you will but walk with me, & c.
    Sir, I'll not accept, & c.

    Oh, madam, I will give you a pair of shoes of cork,[*]
    One made in London, the other made in York,
    If you will but walk with me, & c.
    Sir, I'll not accept, & c.

    Madam, I will give you a sweet silver bell,[+]
    To ring up your maidens when you are not well,
    If you will but walk with me, & c.
    Sir, I'll not accept, & c.

    Oh, my man John, what can the matter be?
    I love the lady and the lady loves not me!
    Neither will she walk abroad with me,
    Neither will she talk with me.

    Oh, master dear, do not despair,
    The lady she shall be, shall be your only dear,
    And she will walk and talk with thee,
    And she will walk with thee!

    Oh, madam, I will give you the keys of my chest,
    To count my gold and silver when I am gone to rest,
    If you will but walk abroad with me,
    If you will but talk with me.

    Oh, sir, I will accept of the keys of your chest,
    To count your gold and silver when you are gone to rest,
    And I will walk abroad with thee,
    And I will talk with thee!

Unknown

The identity of this poet is not known. Their works, which are often of significant historical or cultural value, have been attributed to 'Unknown'. This designation is commonly used when the creator of works, ranging from ancient texts to more modern writings, remains anonymous or uncredited. Despite the lack of personal details, the impact and importance of these works endure, offering insight into the eras and cultures from which they originated.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. VI. Historical

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. DXXX. Natural History.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Ermine

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. CIV. Proverbs.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

English

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Nursery Rhyme. CCCCLXXIX. Love And Matrimony.

    "Madam, I am come to court you,
    If your favour I can gain."
    "Ah, Ah!" said she, "you are a bold fellow,
    If I e'er see your face again!"

    "Madam, I have rings and diamonds,
    Madam, I have houses and land,
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    "I care not for rings and diamonds,
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    I care not for a world of treasure,
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    "Madam, you think much of beauty,
    Beauty hasteneth to decay,
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Nursery Rhyme. CCCCLXVII. Love And Matrimony.

    He.    If you with me will go, my love,
                    You shall see a pretty show, my love,
                            Let dame say what she will:
                    If you will have me, my love,
                    I will have thee, my love,
                            So let the milk-pail stand still.

    She.    Since you have said so, my love,
                    Longer I will go, my love,
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Nursery Rhyme. CCCCLXXXVII. Love And Matrimony.

    There was a little pretty lad,
        And he lived by himself,
    And all the meat he got
        He put upon a shelf.

    The rats and the mice
        Did lead him such a life,
    That he went to Ireland
        To get himself a wife.

    The lanes they were so broad,
        And the fields they were so narrow,
    He couldn't get his wife home
        Without a wheelbarrow.

    The wheelbarrow broke,
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    The deuce take the wheelbarrow,
        That spared my wife's neck.

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Nursery Rhyme. CCCCLXIX. Love And Matrimony.

    Master I have, and I am his man,
    Gallop a dreary dun;
    Master I have, and I am his man,
    And I'll get a wife as fast as I can;
    With a heighly gaily gamberally,
        Higgledy piggledy, niggledy, niggledy,
        Gallop a dreary dun.

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Nursery Rhyme. CXXX. Songs.

    Oh, where are you going,
        My pretty maiden fair,
    With your red rosy cheeks,
        And your coal-black hair?
    I'm going a-milking,
        Kind sir, says she;
    And it's dabbling in the dew,
        Where you'll find me.

    May I go with you,
        My pretty maiden fair, &c.
    Oh, you may go with me,
        Kind sir, says she, &c.

    If I should chance to kiss you,
        My pretty maiden fair, &c.
    The wind may take it off again,
        Kind sir, says she, &c.

    And what is your father,
        My pretty maiden fair, &c.
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        Kind sir, says she, &c.

    And what is your mother,
        My pretty maiden fair, &c.
  ...

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Nursery Rhyme. CCCCLV. Love And Matrimony.

    "John, come sell thy fiddle,
        And buy thy wife a gown."
    "No, I'll not sell my fiddle,
        For ne'er a wife in town."

Unknown