“You’re in love, people say, Your actions all show it;-- New ways we shall have, When mother shall know it. “She’ll nail up the windows, And lock up the door; Leave to frolic and dance She will give us no more. “Old aunt will be sent To take us to mass, And stop all our talk With the girls as we pass. “And when we walk out, She will bid our old shrew Keep a faithful account Of what our eyes do; “And mark who goes by, If I peep through the blind, And be sure and detect us In looking behind. “Thus for your idle follies Must I suffer too, And, though nothing I’ve done, Be punished like you.” “O sister Miguela, Your chiding pray spare;-- That I’ve troubles you guess, But not what they are. “Young Pedro it is, Old Juan’s fair youth; But he’s gone to the wars, And where is his truth? “I loved him sincerely, I loved all he said; But I fear he is fickle, I fear he is fled! “He is gone of free choice, Without summons or call, And ’t is foolish to love him, Or like him at all.” “Nay, rather do thou To God pray above, Lest Pedro return, And again you should love,” Said Miguela in jest, As she answered poor Jane; “For when love has been bought At cost of such pain, “What hope is there, sister, Unless the soul part, That the passion you cherish Should yield up your heart? “Your years will increase, But so will your pains, And this you may learn From the proverb’s old strains:-- “‘If, when but a child, Love’s power you own, Pray, what will you do When you older are grown?’”[225] [225] The oldest copy of this ballad or _letra_ that I have seen is in the “Flor de Romances,” Sexta Parte, (1594, f. 27,) collected by Pedro Flores, from popular traditions, and of which a less perfect copy is given, by an oversight, in the Ninth Part of the same collection, 1597, f. 116. I have not translated the verses at the end, because they seem to be a poor gloss by a later hand and in a different measure. The ballad itself is as follows:--