The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #162550 Message #3894936
Posted By: Richie
20-Dec-17 - 12:34 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Madam, I Have Come To Court You
Subject: RE: Origins: Madam, I Have Come To Court You
Hi,
The earliest version in the UK I've found so far is the Lincolnshire version collected by Carpenter from E. Andrew-Elsham-Brigg that dates to circa 1880 although it was collected c. 1934:
[LADY]: I am a lady bright and fair,
Me fortunes is me charms,
I was thrown away so scornfully
All from me lover's arms.
He promised for to marry me,
Which you will understand,
He listed for a soldier
And went to some foreign land.
SERGEANT: Madam, I've got gold and silver,
Madam, I've got house and land,
Madam, I've got worlds of treasure,
They are all at thy command (All will be at thy command)
LADY: What care I for thee gold or silver,
What care I for thee house and land,
What care I for thee worldly riches,
All I want is a nice young man.
FOOL: That's me, my dear!
LADY: Old man you are deceitful
As any of the rest.
But I shall have the young man
Which I do love the best.
Richie