The brisk young widow
Language: English
In Chester town there liv'd A brisk young widow. For beauty and fine clothes None could excel her. She was proper stout and tall, Her fingers long and small, She's a comely dame withall, She's a brisk young widow. A lover soon there came, A brisk young farmer, With his hat turn'd up all round, Seeking to gain her. "My dear, for love of you This wide world I'd go through If you will but prove true You shall wed a farmer." Says she: "I'm not for you Nor no such fellow. I'm for a lively lad With lands and riches, 'Tis not your hogs and yowes Can maintain furbelows, My silk and satin clothes Are all my glory". "O madam, don't be coy For all your glory, For fear of another day And another story. If the world on you should frown Your top-knot must come down To a Lindsey-woolsey gown. Where is then your glory?" At last there came that way A sooty collier, With his hat bent down all round, And soon he did gain her: Whereat the farmer swore, "The widow's mazed, I'm sure. I'll never court no more A brisk young widow!"
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976), "The brisk young widow" [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Ted Perry
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 40
Word count: 197