A Sweet Pretty Maiden Sat under a Tree
A young maiden expresses her desire for marriage, lamenting her difficult home life with her crabby father and cross mother. She yearns for a husband, believing he could not be worse than her current situation. Young Johnny, overhearing her, approaches with a proposal, offering a simple life with a cottage and a horse, promising a harmonious relationship devoid of conflict. He assures her that their union would be filled with joy and companionship. However, the maiden hesitates, questioning whether marriage would truly alleviate her troubles. She contemplates the constraints that come with matrimony, fearing it would limit her freedom and silence her voice. She expresses her intention to escape her home life by working in service for a year, rejecting Johnny's offer and asserting her desire to remain independent. The dialogue highlights the tension between the allure of romantic partnership and the desire for personal autonomy.
By Sabine Baring-Gould · First published 1895 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Folk Literature · 275 words
First lines
H. F. S. [Music]
1. A sweet pretty maiden sat under a tree, She sighed and said, 'Oh! that I married might be, My daddy is so crabbed and my mammy is so cross, That a husband for certain could never be worse.'
2. Young Johnny he heard what the damsel did say. He came to her side, and said smiling, 'Today I have a little cottage and I have a little horse I have a pleasant temper that will not grow worse.
3. 'If you will be mine, and to that will agree, We'll travel together in sweet amity. There never will be wrangle, there never can be strife, Between a good husband and his pretty wife.'
What this Textopian page supports
A Sweet Pretty Maiden Sat under a Tree is listed on Textopian as a poem by Sabine Baring-Gould, dated 1895 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Sabine Baring-Gould
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Folk Literature, Drama, Humor
- Length: 275 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Sweet Pretty Maiden Sat under a Tree by Sabine Baring-Gould
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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- How does this poem by Sabine Baring-Gould fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse and employs rhyme, characteristic of poetic forms.
- Romance — The central theme revolves around love and marriage, highlighting the interactions between the maiden and Johnny.
- Folk Literature — The narrative reflects traditional themes and characters often found in folk tales and songs.
- Drama — The dialogue-driven format suggests elements of dramatic storytelling.
Tags
romance · marriage · freedom · love · young love · folk song · poetry · narrative · cottage · nature · conflict · family