Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 2

Ancient Songs, Ballads, & Dance Tunes, Sheet Music & Lyrics - online book

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	558                                   ENGLISH SONG AND BALLAD MUSIC.
	In the Douce Collection, p. 190, is " Shall I, shall I, no, no, no," &c.—Tune of The Doubting Virgin ; " commencing— "Pretty Betty, now come to me, Thou hast set my heart on fire,". and having the burden : " Never dally, shall I? shall I ? Still she answered, No, no, no." Whenever the tune of The Doubting Virgin is referred to in the Douce Collec­tion, either Mr. Douce, or some prior possessor, has pencilled against it, " 0 that I had never married," as the other name. " 0 that I had never.married" is the first line of "Woman's work is never done, or The Crown Garland of Princely Pastime and Mirth; the Woman has the worst of it, or her work is never done. To the tune of The Doubting Virgin." A copy of this is in Mr. Payne Collier's Collection: it consists of seven stanzas, the first of which is here printed with the tune:—
	In the Roxburghe Collection, i., 534, is a second ballad on the same subject:— " A WOMAN'S WOHK 18 NEVER DONE. Here is a song for maids to sing,              Which will much pleasure to them bring. Both in the winter and the spring :          Maids may sit still, go, or run, It is such a pretty-conceited thing,           But a woman's work is never done. To a delicate Northern tune, A Woman's work is never done, or The Bed's-mahing." It commences:—
	" As I was wand'ring on the way, I heard a married woman say That she had lived a sorry life • Ever since the time she was made a wife.	For why, quoth she, my labour's hard, And all my pleasures are debarr'd; Both morning, evening, night and noon, I'm sure a woman's work is never done."