Sweet Lovely Joan

A story now I will relate
Concerning of a pretty maid,
Concerning of sweet lovely Joan
As she sat milking all alone.

A knight he mounted his milk-white steed,
And so merrily he did ride,
He rode, he rode, 'twas all alone,
Until he spied sweet lovely Joan,

"Good morning to you, fair pretty maid! "
"Twice good morning, Sir!" she said,
"What, are you milking all alone ?"
"Oh, yes!" replied sweet lovely Joan.

Then he pull'd out his purse of gold,
Saying, "Fair maid, all this behold,
All this I'll give for your maidenhead."
Which made her blush like roses red.

"Oh! noble knight, I pray forbear,
And don't draw me in such a snare
For tomorrow morning I am to be wed
And my love shall enjoy my maidenhead."

Oh! Then he made a solemn vow,
That he would have her whether or no;
And this he said to frighten Joan,
As she sat milking all alone.

"Give me the gold, Sir, in my hand,
And I will be at your command;
For that will be more good to me
Than twenty husbands, Sir," said she.

He look'd around him for a bed,
She mounted on his milk-white steed,
She rode, he call'd, 'twas all in vain,
She never, never once look'd back again.

She never thought herself quite safe,
Until she reach'd her true love's gate
She robb'd him of his steed and gold,
Left him his empty purse to hold.

This pleas'd her true love to the heart
To think how well she had play'd her part
"Tomorrow morning we will be wed
And I will enjoy your maidenhead."

From The Constant Lovers, Purslow
Collected from Mrs. Hall, North Waltham, Hants 1909
RG