The Contented Wife, with the Husband's Answer/The Happy Marriage

by Anonymous

For other versions of this work, see The Happy Marriage (Unknown).

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.

To these words I spoke she answered and said,
O how can you flatter a poor harmless maid,
For your tongue it runs so nimble,
It makes my heart to tremble,
And I fear you disemble my poor heart to break.

Of all my sweethearts I have had nine or ten,
Yet never a one can I fancy of them,
But if I should believe you,
And you should deceive me,
And scornfully leave me, Oh! where am I then?

These words I speak is by the Powers above,
The rocks and the mountains shall sooner remove,
And the sea shall flame on fire,
If from my love I do retire,
And there's nothing I desire, but innocent love.

If innocent love is all your request,
And you are in earnest, I thought you were in jest,
I'll adore you with pleasure,
With kisses out of measure,
With joy, peace and pleasure, we both shall be blest.

This couple they're married and live very happy,
Enjoying one another with pleasures so canty,
The rocks they shall melt,
And the mountains shall move,
If ever I prove false to the woman I love.