Poor man's counsel, or, The married man's guide/The Shady Green Tree

The SHADY GREEN TREE.

AS I was a walking one midſummer morning,
down by a ſhady green tree,
There did I behold a moſt beautiful virgin,
ſitting down under the ſhady green tree.

I ſtept up to her and ſaid my dear jewel,
you are the firſt girl that e'er wounded me,
You ſhall not want for gold or ſilver,
If you will ſet your affection on me.

She ſaid, kind Sir, you are better deſerving,
I am a poor girl of low degree,
Beſides your parents will be ſcolding,
ſo in my ſtation contented I'll be.

Talk not of friends or of any relations,
they have no portion for to give me,
As I am a young man, and you are a virgin,
married to morrow to you I'll be.

She ſat herſelf down, I ſat myſelf by her,
there did I rifle her beautiful charms;
With ſweet melting kiſſes, and kindly embraces,
we ſlept together in each others arms.

The ſpace of three hours in the green grove,
and under the ſhady green tree,
And when I awaked I found her no virgin,
married to you I never will be.

She ſaid, kind Sir, you are my undoing,
can you, O can you ſo cruel be?
How can I paſs any more for a virgin,
ſince you have had your will of me.

Come all pretty maidens, and take warning,
never truſt a young man in any degree,
When they have enjoy'd the fruit of your garden,
then they will leave you, as he has left me.