JENNY, I'M NOT JESTING
(SONGS AND BALLADS OF IRELAND)

Ah, Jenny, I'm not jesting
Believe what I'm protesting,
And Yield what I'm requesting
These seven years through.
"Ah, Lawrence, I may grieve you,
Yet if I can't relieve you,
Sure, why should I deceive you
With words untrue!
But, since you must be courtin'.
There's Rosy and her fortune;
'Tis rumoured your (sic)consortin'
With her of late.
Or there's your cousin Kitty,
So charming and so witty,
She'd wed you out of pity,
Kind Kate."

"Fie! Jenny, since I knew you,
Of all the lads that woo you,
None's been so faithful to you,
If truth were told.
Even when yourself was dartin'
Fond looks at fickle Martin,
Till off the thief went startin'
For Sheela's gold."
"And if you've known me longest,
Why should your love be stongest,
And his that's now the youngest,
For that be worst?"
"Fie, Jenny, quickest kindled
Is always soonest dwindled:
And the the swiftest spindled
Snaps first."

"If that's your wisdom, Larry,
The longer I can tarry,
The luckier I shall marry,
At long, long last."
"I've known of girls amusing
Their minds, the men refusing,
Till none wre left for choosing
At long, long last."
"Well, since it seem that marriage
Is still the safest carriage
And all the world disparage
The spinster lone;
Since you might still forsake me,
I think I'll let you take me,
Yes! Larry, you may make me
Your own!"

Ian - this is second hand information for me; I am transcribing from a scanned page - and evidently title page and index are missing (this book is OLD and FRAGILE). Probably pre-1900 if not older.