The Northerne Turtle:
Wayling his unhappy fate,
In being deprived of his sweet Mate.
To a new Northerne tune, or A health to betty.
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AS I was walking all alone,
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I heard a man lamenting,
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Under a hollow bush he lay,
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but sore he did repent him [:]
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Alas quoth he, my Love is gone:
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which causeth me to wander,
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Yet merry wil I never bee,
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till I lye lulling beyond her.
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Good Lord, so soundly I could sleep,
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if that I lay lulling beyond her,
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All the night till the day were light
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and the sun did shine upon her:
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Yet early by day I wold steal away
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to keepe my Love from slander,
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Yet I will never quiet bee,
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till I lye lulling beyond her.
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My love and I, we gallantly,
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so many yeares together,
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Her love was so inclined to me,
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that now I'me loth to leave her;
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But now this wicked world is such
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that causeth me to wander:
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Yet will I never woman touch,
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till I lye lulling beyond her.
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Like to the Turtle I will mourne,
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in absence of my marrow,
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With bitter teares I cry and morne
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my joy is all but sorrow;
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My comfort is to me much care,
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whilst floods and woods I wander
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Nay, merry will I never be,
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till I lye lulling beyond her.
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O Gods that made the birds to fly,
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to love their mates so dearely,
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Yet for her sake they doe refuse,
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to sing or chirp once cheerely.
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What comfort can the world afford
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what joyes then can I render?
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Nay merry wil I never be,
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till I lye lulling beyond her.
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A pretty Dame was once my Love,
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till death made separation,
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And she to me did constant prove,
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without dissimulation:
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Yet for her sake still will I weepe
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while I on earth doe wander:
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Nay soundly will I never sleepe,
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till I lye lulling beyond her.
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Though cruell death hath cut the breath,
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of this my comely creature,
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To meet againe we have true faith,
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our change is but a feature.
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Death may indeed in bondage keepe,
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yet not our love can hinder,
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Then soundly, soundly shall I sleepe;
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when as I lay lulling beyond her.
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My dearest Deare I come to thee.
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when pleaseth death to send me,
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The grave I count my dearast home;
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ah quickely then befriend me:
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She prov'd a Hero true to me,
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and I will be a Leander,
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I never shall in quiet be,
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till I lye lulling beyond her.
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