JOE

When Serjeant Belswagger, that masculine brute,
One day had been drinking, to swear a recruit,
He kiss'd you, I saw him, or else may I die,
And you, cruel Maudlin, ne'er once cry'd O fie!

Again, when the squire had come home from the chase,
You receiv'd him, O gods, with a smile on your face,
Henceforth, then, my sheep harum skarum may run,
For Maudlin is faithless, and I am undone.

MAUDLIN

Ah, Joe! you're a good one; one day in my place —
My husband at home — I was forced to send Grace:
I know for a truth, which you cannot gainsay,
You touzled her well on a cock of new hay.

Nay, swore you'd be hers — and, what is worse yet,
That you only lov'd me just for what you could get;
As for charms then I ne'er will believe I have one,
For Joey is faithless, and I am undone.

JOE .

Will you know then the truth on't? I touz'd her I own,
Though I rather by half would have left it alone;
But I did it to see if you jealous would prove,
For that, people say, is a sure sign of love.

MAUDLIN .

And for me, if the squire said soft things in my ear,
Suffer'd it, thinking he'd call for strong beer;
And as to the serjeant, 'tis always a rule,
One had better be kiss'd, than be teaz'd — by a fool.

I lock'd up all my treasure,
I journey'd many a mile,
And by my grief did measure
The passing time the while.

II.

My business done and over,
I hasten'd back amain,
Like an expecting lover,
To view it once again.

III.

But this delight was stifled,
As it began to dawn:
I found the casket rifled,
And all my treasure gone.