The Lover's Tasks- Gilbert (Som) 1904 Sharp MS
[Karpeles, Sharp Collection I, No. 1C, p. 3; Sharp Ms.: CJS2/9/306 & CJS2/10/219 at the Full English Digital Archive; also Bronson I, No. 2.16, p. 17. Kloss, transcription notes follow.
R. Matteson 2018]
This is only a fragment, but interestingly the last verse includes the "butterfly's back". A very similar stanza with that particular phrase and an identical refrain had been collected by Baring-Gould in Cornwall.
"The Lover's Tasks," sent by Mr. Gilbert to Cecil Sharp, "June 2, 1904; from his collection", Karpeles, Sharp Collection I, No. 1 C, p. 3
O, can you make me a cambric shirt?
Every leaf grows many a time
Without any needle or any fine work
And you shall be a true lover of mine.
And wash it down in yonder well,
Every leaf grows many a time,
Where neither spring water nor rain ever fell.
And you shall be a true lover of mine.
And dry it off on yonder thorn,
Every leaf grows many a time,
Where there grew no leaf since Adam was born.
And you shall be a true lover of mine.
O, can you buy me an acre of land,
Every leaf grows many a time
Betwixt the salt water and the sea sand?
And you shall be a true lover of mine.
And plough it all over with a snail’s horn,
Every leaf grows many a time,
And sow it throughout with one barleycorn.
And you shall be a true lover of mine.
Then gather the crop in a no-bottom sack,
Every leaf grows many a time,
And send it to mill on a butterfly’s back.
And you shall be a true lover of mine.