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Intro
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There was a youth, and a well belov'd youth,
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And he was a esquire's son,
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He loved the bailiff's daughter dear,
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That lived in Islington.
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She was coy, and she would not believe
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That he did love her so,
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No, nor at any time she would
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Any countenance to him show.
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But when his friends did understand,
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His fond and foolish mind,
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They sent him up to fair London,
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An apprentice for to bind.
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And when he had been seven long years,
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And his love he had not seen,
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Many a tear have I shed for her sake,
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When she little thought of me.
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All the maids of Islington
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Went forth to sport and play;
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All but the bailiff's daughter dear;
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She secretly stole away.
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She put off her gown of gray,
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And put on her puggish attire;
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She's up to fair London gone,
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Her true-love to require.
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As she went along the road,
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The weather being hot and dry,
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There was she aware of her true-love,
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At length come riding by.
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She stept to him, as red as any rose,
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And took him by the bridle ring;
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'I pray you, kind sir, give me one penny,
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To ease my weary limb.'
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'I prithee, sweetheart, canst thou tell me
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Where that thou wast born?'
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'At Islington, kind sir,' said she,
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'where I have had many a scorn.'
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'I prithee, sweetheart, canst thou tell me
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Whether thou dost know
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The bailiff's daughter of Islington?'
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'She's dead, sir, long ago.'
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'Then will I sell my goodly steed,
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My saddle and my bow;
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I will into some far country,
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Where no man doth me know.'
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'O stay, O stay, thou goodly youth!
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She's alive, she is not dead;
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Here she standeth by thy side,
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And is ready to be thy bride.'