The Handsom' Woman- F.G. Baylay (Linc) 1899
[From Ebsworth's "Publications of the Ballad Society- Volume 37 - Page 851, dated 1899. In a footnote Ebsworth includes this version in dialect under "The Lincolnshire Handsome Woman" as supplied by Hubert Roberts, of Boston. The last stanza "He took a pail" etc. has been added on as has the end of stanza 2 which was changed from "if one favour that you crave" to "tho' I nev'r see you afore." The date would seem to be around 1875 or earlier. Ebsworth notes follow.
R. Matteson 2017]
852 The Lincolnshire Handsome Woman.
P. 655.—Before returning to 'The Norfolk Lass," let a word be said for a sensible Lincolnshire ' Handsome Woman,' not hitherto in print, who lived in view of 'Boston Stump.' Her history has come down to us in dialogue, among the rustics. It was taken orally by Colonel F. G. Baylay, R.A.(Royal Artillery; Woolwich), and communicated to the Editor by his friend Hubert Roberts, of Boston. (In the second stanza the text is corrupt: we cannot accept "if one favour that you crave," without rhyme or reason; we insert a substitute in brackets.)
The wooer comes to the point, but at first fails to tempt her. "What care I for rings or jewels? What care I for your house or land? What care I for your gold or silver? All I want is an 'andsom' man: An 'andsom' may," etc. Presumably he is not one, for handsome men think too much of their own looks to value feminine beauty supremely. This man can argue and convince, although he be neither young nor handsome.
"The Handsom' Woman"
[He] "Yonder stan's a hansum woman, who she is I dunnot kuaw,
But I'll go court hur fur hur beauty, whether she answers me aye or no.
Aye or no: aye or no: whether she answers me Aye or No."
[She.] "Come sit you down, you 're kindly welcome, [tho' I nev'r see you afore];
Come sit you down, you 're kindly welcome, if that I nev'r shou'd see you no more.
See you no more, see you no more; if that I never should see you no more.''
[HE.] "Madam, I've got rings and jewels; Madam, I've got house and land;
Madam, I've got gold and silver: all shall be at your command.
At your command, at your command, all shall be at your command."
[She.] "What care I for rings or jewels? What care I for your house or land?
What care I for your gold or silver? All I want is an 'andsom' man.
An 'andsom' man, an 'andsom' man, all I want is an 'andsom' man.''
[He.] "A handsome man will not maintain you, neither will his money flow;
I'm the man that's got the money, money as makes the mare to go.
The mare to go, the mare to go; money as makes the mare to go."
[She.] "Wonst I laid my head up' a young man's pillow, and I thought it had been my home;
But now I'm forced for to wear the grey willow, all for the sake of that false young man!
That false young man! (bis), all for the sake of that fain young man."
[HE.] "The ripest apple will soon grow rotten, the heart of a young man will soon grow cold;
The thoughts of a young man will soon be forgotten; so pray, young woman,
oh! don't be bold. Don't be bold; don't be bold; so pray, young woman, oh! don't be bold."
[woman has the last word, as usual:]
"He took a pail, and I took a pail, and a-milking he went wi' me;
I said nout, and he said nout; but, ma faith! I think he'll ha' me."
This is the finale. Hubert Roberts, of Boston, is a safe authority to follow on old books and Lincolnshire customs: he writes, "To take her pail and go with a girl milking is considered almost equal to a proposal of marriage."