Cold and Raw the North did blow, Bleak in the Morning early; All the Trees were hid in Snow, Dagl'd by Winter yearly: When come Riding over the Knough, I met with a Farmer's Daughter; Rosie Cheeks and bonny Brow, Good faith made my Mouth to water. Down I vail'd my Bonnet low, Meaning to shew my breeding; She return'd a graceful bow, A Village far exceeding: I ask'd her where she went so soon, And long'd to begin a Parly; She told me unto the next Market Town, A purpose to sell her Barly. In this purse, sweet Soul, said I, Twenty pounds lie fairly; Seek no farther one to buy, For I'se take all thy Barly: Twenty more shall buy Delight, Thy Person I Love so dearly; If thou wouldst stay with me all Night, And go home in the Morning early. If Twenty pound could buy the Globe, Quoth she, this I'd not do, Sir; Or were my Kin as poor as @3Job@1, I wo'd not raise 'em so, Sir: For should I be to Night your friend, We'st get a young Kid together; And you'd be gone ere the nine Months end, And where should I find a Father? I told her I had Wedded been, Fourteen years and longer; Or else I choose her for my Queen, And tie the Knot much stronger: She bid me then no farther rome, But manage my Wedlock fairly; And keep Purse for poor Spouse at home, For some other shall have her Barly. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...STANZAS IN MEMORY OF THE AUTHOR OF OBERMANN by MATTHEW ARNOLD AUGURIES OF INNOCENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE THE JOYS OF THE ROAD by BLISS CARMAN SHADOWS IN THE WATER by THOMAS TRAHERNE THE REFORMER by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER A SONNET WRITTEN BY A NYMPH IN HER OWN BLOOD by CLAUDIO ACHILLINI |