by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
There was a maid the other day
Language: English
There was a maid the other day Sighed sore. God wot, And she said that wives might sport and play, But maidens, they might not. "Full fifteen have I lived." she said, "Since I, poor soul, was born. Oh, if I chance to die a maid, Apollo is forsworn. Oh, oh, oh for a husband!" Still this was her song. "I will have a busband, Be he old or young." An ancient suitor thither came. His head was almost gray. Though he was old, yet she was young And could no longer stay; But to her mother went this maid. And told her presently That a husband she needs must have And thus began to cry: "Oh, oh, oh for a husband!" Still this was her song. "I will have a husband, Be he old or young." She had not been a wedded wife A quarter of a year But she was weary of her life And grew into a fear; For the old man he lay by her side. Could not but sigh and groan. Did ever woman so abide? 'Twere better lie alone. "Oh, oh, oh with a husband, What a life lead I. Out upon a husband, Such a husband, fie, fie, fie!" "To be a wedded wife." she sald, "A twelve-month is too long As I have been", poor soul, she said, "That am both fair and young, When other wives may have their will, That art not like to me. I mean to go and try my skill And find some remedy. Oh, oh, oh with a husband, What a life lead I. Out upon a husband. Such a busband, fie, fie, fie!"
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , "There was a maid the other day", 17th century. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: John Versmoren
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 48
Word count: 278