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He told her he'd make her as fine as a queen,
Her clothes should be silver, her cap gold beatin.
She says, linsey woolsey and bone-lace will serve,
And rather than please you I'd venture to starve.
And rather than please you, etc.

He told her he'd give her a pad to ride out,
A coach, if she lik'd it, to visit about.
She thank'd him, & said, she could very well walk,
Should she have a coach how the neighbours would talk.
Should she have a couch, etc.

He said, for the neighbours he'd make it his care,
That not ev'n the Parson on Sunday should dare,
To find fault with her conduct, or offer to blame,
Her manner of living, or blast her good name.
Her manner of living, or blast her, etc.

She told him in short, he must e'en be content,
That cursed gold should not gain her consent,
Her heart was anothers, and so should remain,
She scorn'd to be false for the lucre of gain.
She scorn'd to be false, etc.

Text divider from 'The Contented Wife, with the Husband's Answer', a chapbook printed in Glasgow in 1802

THE HAPPY MARRIAGE.

As I was a walking one morning so fair,
So Green was the fields, and cool was the air,
There did I discover
Pretty Nancy my lover,
And I for to woo her was pleas'd for to say,

O fairest of creatures that ever was seen,
You're the pride of my heart, the flow'r of the green,
With garlands made of roses,
And sweet pretty posies,
What nature composes I'll crown you my Queen.