Crazy Jane (n.d.)/The Light of the Moon

THE LIGHT OF THE MOON.

It happened on a summer's evening,
In the merry month of May
Just as I had quit my weaving,
Through the groves I chance to stray.
And there I met with lovely Sally,
Blooming like a rose in June;
But I did not wait long time to dally,
Until I kiss'd my love by the light of the moon.

Thou fairest of the soft creation,
While I enjoy these happy hours,
Be not shy unto me, Sally,
For I have thee in my power;
Then I clasp'd her in my arms,
Like unto the flowers in bloom:
I did not wait long time to dally,
Until I kiss’d my love by the light of the moon.

Then I led her to a bed of roses,
While she cried, young man forbear,
Do not hurt me, she cry'd Johnny,
Or I will tear you by the hair
For don’t you see my cloth's a tearing,
My handsome cap and new baloon;

The more she grumbled the more I press’d her,
And I kiss’d her well by the light of the moon.

Then I lifted her by the hand,
While she gave a heavy sigh,
She cried, do not leave me, Johnny,
Do not leave me, or I will die.
For other maids they will despise me,
And say I play’d the wanton soon,
Do not leave me here a-pining,
Condoling my hard fate by the light of the moon.

When six long months was past and over,
Sally's waist began to swell,
For a long time she kept it secret,
O poor girl she durst not tell.
But when her father came to know it,
O sore he rag'd both morn and noon;
The reason you may plainly guess it,
Rearing the child by the light of the moon.

But it happened on a summer’s evening,
⟨I⟩ met her father all alone;
⟨H⟩e cried out O cruel Johnny,
You've left my (illegible text) all undone;
But if you promise to marry Sally,
While you both are in your bloom,

Five hundred pounds I will quickly pay thee,
And the half of my land by the light of the moon.

Immediately I married Sally,
Early by the morning dew,
And I made him pay down her portion,
On the table every pound
I did not tarry for to count it,
Or to look it o'er again,
But I swept it into my wife’s apron,
A pretty earn’d penny by the light of the moon.