Classic Poem

A pretty fair maid all in the garden,
A gay young soldier came riding by,
He stepped up to this honored lady,
Saying, "Oh, kind miss, don't you fancy me?"

"You are not a man of noble honor,
You're not the man that I took you to be,
You are not a man of noble honor,
Or you wouldn't impose upon a poor girl like me.

"I have a true love in the army,
He has been gone these seven years long;
And seven more years I'll wait upon him--
No man on earth shall enjoy me."

"Perhaps he's in some watercourse drownded,
Perhaps he's on some battlefield slain,
Perhaps he's stolen some fair girl and married,
If that's the case, you'll never see him again."

"Perhaps he's in some watercourse drownded,
Perhaps he's on some battlefield slain,
Perhaps he's stolen some fair girl and married--
I'll love the girl that married him."

He took his hands all out of his pockets,
And rings and diamonds two or three,
He took out a ring that was broken between them,
She saw it and fell down at his feet.

He picked her up, he did embrace her
And kisses gave her two or three,
Saying, "I am your poor single soldier,
I have just returned for to marry thee."