Page:Golden Treasury of English Songs and Lyrics.djvu/99

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THE MANLY HEART

Shall I, wasting in despair,Die because a woman’s fair? Or my cheeks make pale with care ’Cause another’s rosy are?Be she fairer than the day Or the flowery meads in May— If she be not so to me What care I how fair she be?
Shall my foolish heart be pined ’Cause I see a woman kind; Or a well disposéd nature Joinéd with a lovely feature? Be she meeker, kinder, than Turtle-dove or pelican,If she be not so to me What care I how kind she be?
Shall a woman’s virtues move Me to perish for her love? Or her merit’s value known Make me quite forget mine own? Be she with that goodness blest Which may gain her name of Best; If she seem not such to me. What care I how good she be?
’Cause her fortune seems too high, Shall I play the fool and die? Those that bear a noble mind Where they want of riches find, Think what with them they would do Who without them dare to woo; And unless that mind I see, What care I though great she be?
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