Luckily the mill metaphor ballads are quite prolific so I've already typed up a good number. One worth a look is 'Grist Ground At Last etc.' in Pepys Vol 3 p110, repeated in Roxburghe Ballads, Volume 8 p622. When she gets to the Mill in the second verse the mill will not go round (windmill in this case) 3 She takes the matter in hand as loath of any delay Whilst the Miller amazed did stand, she thus unto him did say; Come hoist up the Canvas with speed, and I'l make the Stones go round The Cogs from Cobwebs once freed, my grist will quickly be ground. 4 Then strait the sailes were drawn up, expos'd to the weather and wind; When as the Miller a top, the weather-vein right did find; Yet found the motion but small, which made him begin to misdoubt, that he should do nothing at all for Molly began to pout. 5 But urging her grist to be ground, the fault she long searcht to know And the Vice of the Mill she found, for why? the Stones were too low; Then gently she moved the Beam and setl'd them in their place, When rond the sailes did skim, and her grist was ground apace. Also check out an oral song 'The Miller and the Lass' There's a version on the Take 6 site EFDSS. This stanza from a Sharp version Come sit you down, my sweet pretty dear, I cannot grind your corn I fear, My stones is high and my water low, I cannot grind for the mill won't go.
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