Note: This song is doggerel, being blunt and unartistically
written. Someone else must have added that last verse, which I think
is poetic and pretty, because the original author stumbles through
forced rhymes and banal, repetitive lyrics through the rest. It does illustrate that men have been boorish and sex-crazed for a long, long time.
In Sheffield Park, where I did
dwell
A brisk young
lad I loved him well
He courted me my
heart to gain
He's gone and left me full of
pain
I went upstairs to make the bed
And lay me down and nothing said
My mistress came and to me said
What is the matter with you, my maid?
O mistress, mistress, thou little know
What pain and sorrow I undergo
It's put your hand on my left breast
My fainting heart can take no rest
My mistress turned away with speed
Some help, some help, I will go seek
No help, no help, no help I crave
Young William has stolen my heart away
Then write a letter to my love with speed
Ask him the question that he can read
And bring me an answer without delay
For he has stolen my heart away
She took the letter immediately
He read it over while she stood by
But as soon as he did her question learn
Into the fire he threw it to burn
What a foolish one this girl must be
To think I love no-one but she
Man was not made for one alone
It's my delight to hear her moan
Her mistress returned without delay
And found her maid as cold as clay
Beware, young maids, don't love in vain
For love has broken her heart in twain
We'll gather green grass all for your bed
And a flowery pillow for your head
And the leaves that blow from tree to tree
Shall be the covering over thee
British Isles folk song -- original author unknown