1.
There was a maid the other day
Sighed sore, God wot!
And she sa͞id* that wives might sport and play,
But maidens, they might not.
‘Full fifteen have I lived’, she sa͞id,
‘Since I, poor soul, was born.
Oh, if I chance to die a maid,
Apollo is forsworn.’
Chorus I:
‖: ‘Oh! oh! oh! for a husband’, :‖
Still this was her song,
‘I will ‖: hāve a husband, :‖
Be he old or yọung.’
2.
An ancient suitor thither came,
His head was almost grey.
Though he was old, yet she was yọung
And could no longer stay;
But to her mother went this maid,
And told her presentlȳ
That a husband she needs must hāve
And thus began to cry:
Chorus I
3.
She had not been a wedded wife
A quarter of a year,
But she was wearȳ of her life
And grew into a fear;
For the old man he lay by her side,
Could not but sigh and groan.
Did ever woman so abide?
’T were better lie alone.
Chorus II:
‖: ‘Oh! oh! oh! with a husband, :‖
What a life lead I.
Out upon a husband, such a husband,
A husband, fie, fie, fie!’
4.
‘To be a wedded wife’, she sa͞id,
‘A twelve month is too long;
As I have been’, poor soul, she sa͞id,
‘That am both fair and yọung,
When other wives may hāve their will,
That art not like to me.
I mean to go and try my skill
And find some remedȳ.’
Chorus II
* For an explanation of the marks added to the letters, see Linguistic notes: English.