Beaux and belles : four songs

Oh, ribbons and laces and sweet pretty faces
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Somebody's ball dress
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I'll wear a ring and a bunch of blue ribbons,
Ribbons of blue as a token to show
That he who once loved me is never forgotten,
Although he did leave me a long time ago.
He bade me farewell on a morning in May,
Oh, cruel was the parting and fast my tears did flow,
My parents chide me sorely and bid me to forget him
Who left me to languish a long time ago.

Other young lads may bring me rings and posies,
Other young lads may come courting of me,
But I will refuse all their love knots and roses,
And ever to my dear love true and faithful I'll be.
Oh, I'll wear a ring and a bunch of blue ribbons,
Ribbons of blue as a token to show
That the one who loved me dearly is never once forgotten,
Although he did leave me a long time ago.

Come Beaux and Belles, the music swells,
The lights are softly gleaming,
The dancers rise and Beauty's eyes
With smiles are softly beaming.
Your partners choose, no time to lose,
But merrily all advance,
With a hey and a ho, away we go
To the tune of the country dance.

Curtsey to your partner,
Trip it to and fro,
Dance away so airily, fairily,
Merrily, merrily, oh!

Well dance to-night with hearts so light
And ne'er a thought of sorrow,
And if the day is dull and grey
We'll dance again to-morrow.
Your hand I beg, sweet Mistress Meg
And merrily well advance,
With a hey and a ho, away we go
To the tune of the country dance.

Curtsey to your partner, &c.