1: There was a youth and a well bred youth,
He was a squire’s son;
And he fell in love with the bailiff’s daughter dear,
That lived in Islington.
2: But she was coy and never would
On him her heart bestow;
Till he was sent up to London town,
Because he loved her so.
3: It’s when his parents came for to know,
His fond and foolish mind;
They sent him away up to London town,
An apprentice there to bind.
4: And when he had served his seven long years,
And ne’er his love could see;
“Oh a many tears have I shed for her sake,
And she's little thought of me.”
5: Then all the maids of Islington,
Went forth to sport and play;
All but that bailiff’s daughter dear:
She secretly stole away.
6: She pullèd off her gown of green,
And put on mean attire;
And straight to London she did go,
Her true love to enquire.
7: And as she went along the road,
The weather being fine and dry;
She sat her down on a mossy bank,
And her true love came a-riding by.
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8: Shed steppèd up to his horse’s head,
Took hold of the bridle rein;
And she said, “Kind sir would you let me ride a mile,
For to ease my weary pain?”
9: He says, “Fair maid whence came you from,
Or where were you bred and born?”
“In fair Islington, kind sir,” said she,
“Where I’ve had manys the scorn.”
10: “I prithee sweetheart tell to me,
Oh tell me whether you know;
The bailiff’s daughter of that place?”
“She died, sir, long ago.”
11: “If she be dead then take my horse,
My saddle and bridle also;
And I will away to some foreign land,
Where no man shall me know.”
12: “Oh no, kind sir, do not do so,
For she is by your side;
She is here alive, she is not dead,
And ready to be thy bride.”
13: “Oh farewell to father and farewell to mother,
Farewell to friend and foe;
For now I’ll enjoy my own true love,
Whom I thought was dead so long ago.”
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