The Northerne Turtle:
Wayling his unhappy fate,
In being deprived of his sweet Mate.
To a new Northern 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 will I never be,
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till I lye lulling beyond her.
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Good Lord so soundly could I sleep
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if that I lay lulling beyond her,
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All the night, till day were light,
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and the Sun did shine upon her:
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Yet early by day I would steale away,
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to keepe my love from slander,
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Yet I will never merry be,
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till I lye lulling beyond her.
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My love and I will gallantly
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so many yeares together,
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Her love was so inclined to mee,
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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 mourne,
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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 make the foules 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 will 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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with out 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 had 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 sleep,
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when as I lye lulling beyond her.
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My dearest Deare I come to thee,
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when't pleaseth death to send me,
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The grave I count my dearest home,
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oh quickly 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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