Now woe unto the World,
And all that therein dwell,
O that I were with thee in Heaven, For here I live in Hell.
And now this Lover lives A discontented Life,
Whofe Bride was brought unto the Grave A Maiden and a Wife.
A Garland fresh and fair
Of Lillies there was made,
In fign of her Virginity, And on her Coffin laid.
Six Maidens, all in white,
Did bear her to the Ground; The Bells did ring in folemn fort, And made a doleful Sound.
In Earth they laid her then, For hungry Worms a Prey; So fhall the fairest Face alive, At length be brought to Clay.
XXXIII. The unfortunate Love of a Lancashire Gentleman, and the hard Fortune of a fair young Bride.
To the Tune of, Come follow my Love, &c.
OOK you faithful Lovers,
On my unhappy State,
See my Tears diftilling,
But poured out too late:
And buy no foolish Fancy, At too dear a Rate;
Alack for my Love I fhall dye.
My Father is a Gentleman, Well known of high Degree, And tender of my Welfare Evermore was he;
He fought for Reputation, But all the worse for me, Alack, &c.
There was a proper Maiden Of Favour sweet and fair, To whom in deep Affection I closely did repair, In Heart I dearly lov'd her, Lo, thus began my Care; Alack, &c.
For Nature had adorn'd her With Qualities divine, Prudent in her Actions,
And in Behaviour fine, Upon a sweeter Creature The Sun did never shine; Alack, &c.
Nothing wanting in her, But this the Grief of all, Of Birth she was but lowly, Of Substance very small, A fimple hired Servant, And subject to each Call. Alack, &c.
Yet she was my Pleasure, My Joy and Hearts delight, More rich than any Treasure, More Precious in my Sight; At length to one another Our Promise we did plight; Alack, &c.
And thus unto my Father The thing I did reveal, Defiring of his Favour, Nothing I did conceal,
But he my dear Affection Regarded ne'er a deal; Alack, &c.
Quoth he, Thou graceless Fellow, Thou art my only Heir;
And for thy own Preferment Hath thou no better Care? To marry with a Beggar That is both poor and bare; Alack, &c.
I charge thee on my Bleffing, That you her Sight refrain, And that into her Company You never come again : That you should be fo marryed, I take it in Disdain.
Are there fo many Gentlemen Of worshipful Degree,
That have moft honeft Daughters Of Beauty fair and free, And can none but a Beggar's Brat Content and pleasure thee? Alack, &c.
By God, that did all things create, This Vow to thee I make, If thou do not this Beggar Refuse and quite forfake, From thee thy due Inheritance I wholly mean to take; Alack, &c.
These his bitter Speeches Did fore torment my Mind, Knowing well how greatly He was to Wealth inclin'd, My Heart was flain with Sorrow, No comfort I could find; Alack, &c.
Then did I write a Letter, And fent it to my Dear,
Wherein my first Affection All changed did appear;
Which from her fair Eyes forced The pearled Water clear; Alack, &c.
For Grief unto the Meffenger One Word she could not speak Thofe doleful heavy Tidings
Her gentle Heart did break; Yet fought not by her Speeches, On me her Heart to wreak; Alack, &c.
This Deed within my Confcience Tormented me full fore,
To think upon the Promise
I made her long before, And for the true Performance How I most deeply swore; Alack, &c.
I could not be in quiet Till I to her did go, Who for my fake remained
In Sorrow, Grief and Woe,
And unto her in fecret
My full Intent to show; Alack, &c.
My Sight rejoyced greatly
Her fad perplexed Heart,
From both our Eyes on fudden The trickling Tears did start,
And in each other's Bofom We breathed forth our Smart ; Alack, &c.
Unknown unto my Father, Or any Friend befide,
Our Selves we closely married, She was my only Bride,
Yet ftill within her Service I caus'd her to abide ;
« PreviousContinue » |