“The Rich Lady Gay”
Description
"It was of a rich lady she had gold in store. She was loved by the rich and was good to the poor." She meets a ploughboy and gives him a letter. Later she proposes. He says she's "too good for a poor man's wife." They marry. She takes up house-keeping.
Notes
Maybe this is related to "Cupid the Plowboy" [Laws O7]. Here is a comparison of Harry Upton's "Rich Lady Gay" on Voice05 with Greenleaf/Mansfield "Cupid the Plowboy [Laws O7]" 79, "The Plowboy" and broadside Bodleian Harding B 11(773) "Cupid, the Pretty Ploughboy":
** Rich Lady Gay:
A rich lady sees a plowboy in the fields and falls in love with him.
She tells him she has a letter for him. He reads it and says it must be for "some other much higher renowned."
Another day she meets him in the field but he says "you're too good to be a poor man's wife"
He admits he loves her.
She agrees to marry him.
They quickly go to church and are married.
She takes up housekeeping and they live happily.
** Cupid the Plowboy:
A rich lady sees a plowboy in the fields and falls in love with him.
She considers writing him a letter and thinks he'll think her bold; nevertheless, she will do it.
She rejects a wealthy suitor because she loves Cupid, who "has caused me all this pain."
He hears her complaint and says he loves her.
She agrees to marry him.
They quickly go to church and are married.
They have plenty of gold and "each other do adore."
So far I have found no broadside for "Rich Lady Gay." Apparently, neither has Steve Roud.
The motif of the rich woman enjoying wifely chores not common among the wealthy is also in "The Golden Glove" [Laws N20]. - BS
Cross references
- cf. "Cupid the Plowboy" [Laws O7] (plot)
Recordings
- Harry Upton, "The Rich Lady Gay" (on Voice05)
References
- Roud #1714
- BI, RcRiLaGa