Patience to Wives, by fhewing them the Bleffings that attend this great uncommon Virtue; and I have inferted it, thinking, that among my Readers, I might have fome Husbands, who would be glad of carrying fuch an excellent Song to their Wives. A Noble Marquis, As he did ride a Hunting, A fair and comely Maiden, And of a comely Grace was fhe, She fung full fweetly, With pleasant Voice melodiously, Which fet the Lord's Heart on fire. The more he look'd, the more he might, Beauty was his Heart's Delight: And to this Damfel Strait the Noble went, God fpeed, quoth he, thou famous Flower, Where Love and Virtue Dwells with fweet Content. With comely Gesture. And modest mild Behaviour, She bids him welcome then; She entertained him In faithful friendly manner, And all his Gentlemen: The Noble Marquifs In his Heart felt such a Flame, Which fet his Senfes all at Strife, Quoth Quoth he, Fair Maiden, Shew me foon what is thy Name, And of Parents poor. Nay, Griffel, thou art rich, he faid, And I will ask no more. At length fhe confented, And being both contented, They married were with speed; Her Country Ruffet Was chang'd to Silk and Velvet, And when that she Was trimly 'tired in the fame, Her Beauty fhin'd most bright, Far ftaining every other Fair and Princely Dame, That did appear in fight: Many envied here therefore, Because she was of Parents poor, Great Strife did raise : Some faid this, and fome faid that, And fome did call her Beggar's Brat, And to her Lord They would her oft difpraise. O noble Marquis, Quoth they, why didft thou wrong us, Thus bafely for to wed, Who might have gotten An honourable Lady Into your Princely Bed? Who Who will not now Your noble Iffue foon deride, Which shall hereafter be born, That are of Blood fo base Born by the Mothers fide, The which will bring them in Scorn? Put her therefore quite away, And take to you a Lady gay, Whereby your Lineage May renowned be. Thus every Day they seem'd to prate, Who all this while Took it most patiently. When that the Marquis Did fee they were bent thus, Against his lawful Wife, Whom he most dearly, Beloved as his Life; Meaning in fecret For to try her patient Heart, A hard discourteous Part, That Men might pity her Cafe ; And at last it came to pass, At one Birth she had; A Son and Daughter God had fent, Their Father's Heart full glad. Great Great Royal Feafting Was at these Children's Christening, And Princely Triumph made; Six Weeks together All Nobles that came thither, Were entertain'd and staid; And when that all the pleasant Sporting quite was done, The Marquifs a Messenger sent For his young Daughter, And his pretty smiling Son : Declaring his full Intent How that the Babes must murthered be, The Children then he faid; With that fair Griffel wept full fore, Must have his Will obey'd. She took the Babes Even from the Nurfing Ladies Between her tender Arms: She often wishes, With many forrowful Kiffes, That she might ease their Harms: A thousand times my Children dear; 'Tis long of me Your fad and woeful Mother here, For my Unworthiness; Come Come Meflenger of Death, quoth she, My Complaints express. He took the Children And to his Noble Mafter He bore them thence with speed, Who in secret sent them Unto a noble Lady, To be brought up indeed: Then to fair Griffel With a heavy Heart he goes, Where the fat mildly all alone: A pleasant Gesture, And a lovely Look she shows, As if no Grief she had known : Quoth he, My Children now are flain, What thinks fair Griffel of the fame? Sweet Griffel now Declare thy Mind to me. Sith you, my Lord, are pleas'd with it, Poor Griffel thinks this Action fit; Both I and mine At your Command will be. My Nobles murmur, Fair Griffel, at thy Honour, And I no Joy can have, "Till thou be banish'd Both from my Court and Presence, As they unjustly crave: Thou must be stripp'd Of thy brave Garments all, And as thou cam'st to me, In homely Grey, Inftead of Silk and pureft Pall, |