A lusty young Smith at his vice stood a filing,
His hammer laid by but his forge still a-glow;
When to him a buxom young damsel came smiling,
And ask'd if to work at her forge he would go.
With a jingle bang, jingle bang, jingle bang, jingle,
With a jingle bang, jingle bang, jingle hi-ho.
"I will," said the smith, and they went off together
Along to the young damsel's forge they did go,
They stripped to go to't, ‘twas hot work and hot weather,
She kindled a fire and soon made him glow.
Her husband, she said, no good work could afford her
His strength and his tools were worn out long ago;
The smith said, "well mine are in very good order,
And now I am ready my skill for to show."
Red-hot grew his iron, as both did desire,
And he was too wise not to strike while ‘twas so,
Quoth she, "What I get I get out of the fire,
So prithee strike home and redouble the blow."
Six times did his iron by vigorous heating
Grow soft in the forge in a minute or so,
And often ‘twas hardened still beating and beating,
But the more it was softened it hardened more slow.
The smith then would go; quoth the dame full of sorrow:
"Oh what would I give could my husband do so?
Good lad with your hammer come hither tomorrow,
But pray can't you use it once more ere you go?"