He cannot eat and he cannot sleep—
⁠(Hey, but his face is a sight for to see!)
Daily he goes for to wail—for to weep—
⁠(Hey, but he's wretched as a youth can be!)
She's very thin and she's very pale—
⁠(Hey, but she sickens as the days go by!)
Daily she goes for to weep-for to wail—
⁠(Hey, but I think that little maid will die!)
⁠Poor little maid!
⁠Poor little man!
⁠Poor little maid!
⁠Poor little man!
Now tell me pray, and tell me true,

What in the world should the ${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \end{matrix}}\right.}}$	young man maiden	${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}}$ do?

If I were the youth I should offer her my name—
⁠(Hey, but her face is a sight for to see!)
If were the maid I should fan his honest flame—
⁠(Hey, but he's bashful as a youth can be!)
If I were the youth I should speak to her to-day—
⁠(Hey, but she sickens as the days go by!)
If I were the maid I should meet the lad half way—
⁠(For I really do believe that timid youth will die!)
⁠Poor little man!
⁠Poor little maid!
⁠Poor little man!
⁠Poor little maid!

I thank you, ${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \end{matrix}}\right.}}$	miss, sir,	${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}}$ for your counsel true;
I'll tell that ${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \end{matrix}}\right.}}$	youth maid	${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}}$ what ${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \end{matrix}}\right.}}$	he she	${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}}$ ought to do!