Shall I? Shall I? No No- Tobias Bowne (Lon) 1684
[From a broadside by Tobias Bowne printed by Phillip Brooksby at the Harp & Ball in Pye corner, London c. 1684.
R. Matteson 2017]
"Shall I? Shall I? No No"
Pretty Betty, now come to me,
thou hast set my Heart on fire,
Thy denyal will undo me,
grant me then what I desire:
Prithee try me, don't deny me
lest it prove my overthrow,
Never dally, shall I? shall I?
still she answered, No, no, no.
In the Fields they went a walking,
he this Maid did sweetly court,
But the subject of his talking
tended still to Venus sport:
He persuaded, she delay'd it,
and would not be deluded so;
Come let's dally, shall I? shall I?
but she answered No no no.
He bestow'd on her sweet kisses,
hoping thereby to obtain
And to tast true Lovers blisses,
Which he long time sought in vain
With sighs, & sobs, & deadly throbs,
he strove the Damzels mind to know
Come let's dally, shall I? shall I?
still she answered No no no.
To the Tavern then he took her,
feasting her with costly Wine;
In the Face did often look her,
swearing that she was divine:
She told the Youth it was untruth,
I would not have you flatter so:
Come let's dally, shall I? shall I?
but she answered No no no.
With fair Words he did intreat her
to him for to condescend;
As his passion waxed greater
he her Beauty did commend:
She denied it and defy'd it,
vowing it should ne'r be so:
Come let's dally, shall I? shall I?
but she answered No no no.
Thus he spent his time in Wooing
but found no encouragement,
His fingers itch'd for to be doing,
and she perceived his intent;
She still at tryal gave denyal,
but Maidens often times do so:
Come let's dally, shall I? shall I?
but she answered No no no.
He continued still to wooe her,
but she made him this Reply:
That his aim was to undo her,
and would know his reason why.
He protested that she jested,
his design was nothing so;
Come lets dally, shall I? shall I?
but she answered No no no.
But on hopes the Youngster builded,
hoping she at last would yield;
And at length the Damzel yielded,
with his Charms he won the field:
In the shade down her he layed,
he himself lay smiling by;
Come let's dally, shall I? shall I?
then she answered Ay, ay, ay.
Then they fell to sweet imbraces,
Lovers you know what I mean,
So close did joyn their blushing faces
you could not put a straw between,
In amorous chains there he remains
till he for breath did panting lye;
Come let's dally, shall I? shall I?
then she answered Ay ay ay.
She who stoutly first deny'd him,
by his Complements was won;
And she vowd when she had try'd him
that the job was neatly done.
Maids beware, and have a care
of flattering youths, who oft do try,
And will dally Shall I? shall I?
till you cry out Ay ay ay.