1.
I have a house and land in Kent,
And if you’ll love me, love me now:
Twopence halfpenny is my rent,
I cannot come every day to woo.
Two-pence half-penny is his rent,
He cannot come every day to woo.
2.
Ich am my vather’s eldest zon,
My mother eke doth love me well,
For ich can bravely clout my shoon,
And ich ful well can ring a bell.
For he can bravely clout his shoon,
And he full well can ring a bell.
3.
My vather he gave me a hog,
My mother she gave me a zow,
I have a Godvather dwells there by,
And he on me bestowed a plow.
He has a Godvather dwells there by,
And he on him bestowed a plow.
4.
One time I gave thee a paper of pine,
Anoder time a tawdry lace:
And if thou wilt not grant me love,
In truth, ich die bevore thy face.
And if thou wilt not grant his love,
In truth, he’ll die bevore thy face.
5.
Ich have been twice our Whitsun Lord,
Ich have had ladies many vare,
And eke thou hast my heart in hold,
And in my mind zeems passing rare.
And eke thou hast his heart in hold,
And in his mind seems passing rare.
6.
Ich will put on my best white slop,
And ich will wear my yellow hose,
And on my head a good gray hat,
And in’t ich stick a lovely rose.
And on his head a good gray hat,
And in’t he’ll stick a lovely rose.
7.
Wherefore cease off, make no delay,
And if you’ll love me, love me now,
Or else ich zeek zome oder where,
For I cannot come every day to woo.
Or else he’ll zeek zome oder where,
For he cannot come every day to woo.