The two Constant Lovers.
OR, A Pattern of true Love, exprest in this Dialogue between Samu-
el and Sarah. To a pleasant New Tune.
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AS I by chance was walking,
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on a Summers day,
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I heard two Lovers talking,
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and thus they did say:
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With a mounrful ditty,
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she began her tale,
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which mov'd my heart with pitty
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her for to bewail.
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My Love I have desired
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for to speak with you,
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My heart within was fired,
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until that I knew
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Whether you were living,
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in good health or no,
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My heart it was grieved,
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until that I did know.
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Why, sweet-heart, what ails thee
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thus for to complain?
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Let not ill befal thee,
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thou shalt me obtain;
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Though I were absented,
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from thee for a space,
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I'le not be prevented,
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of thy [love]ly face
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Samuel my own sweeting,
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I to thee must tell,
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In a heavy greeting,
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what hath us befel:
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My friends do grudge and murmer,
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and to me they say,
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That we must part asunder,
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or else they'l thee destroy.
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My love be not grieved,
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thou thy friends so frown,
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Thou shalt be relieved,
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none shall put thee down,
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I for thy sweet favour,
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will adventure much,
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Though thy friends & Brother,
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do against me grutch.
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O my own dear-sweeting,
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I am griev'd in heart,
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That I give thee such greeting,
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for to breed thy smart:
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Barnwel my own Brother,
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Captain being he,
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Swears that of all others,
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killed thou shalt be.
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SArah be not fearful,
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though thy Brother swear,
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Of thy life be careful,
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I no man do fear:
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What care I for Barnwel,
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though he a Captain be,
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He shall find that Samuel,
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is as good as he.
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O my loving Samuel,
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look where he doth go,
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'Tis my Brother Barnwel,
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now begins our woe:
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Would that we together,
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had not met this day,
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O my Judas Brother,
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will thy life betray.
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Now comes Captain Barnwel,
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to these Lovers twain:
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And made count that Samuel,
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he should soon have slain,
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But it prov'd contrary,
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to his bloody mind,
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In the sight of Sarah,
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conquest he resign'd.
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Then said he to Samuel,
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what make you here,
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I am with my sweet-heart Sarah,
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put her not in fear,
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Barnwel in a fury,
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swore he would prevent,
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His own Sister Sarah,
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of her hearts content.
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O my Brother Barnwel:
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let me you intreat,
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Not to wrong my Samuel,
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in your bloody heat:
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He hath ne'r offended
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you at any time,
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Let him not be condemned,
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save his Life take mine.
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I says Captain Barnwel,
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Sarah thou shalt see,
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Then he calld to Samuel,
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come and answer me:
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I thy Death have vowed,
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e're I further go,
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Then sweet Sarah bowed,
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saying do not so.
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Samuel being heedful
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of his tyranny,
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Says Sarah be not fearful,
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thou anon shalt see:
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Though thy brother Barnwel,
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vow my Life to spill,
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Thou shalt see that Samuel,
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hath both strength and skill,
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Now these words being spoken,
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they to Weapons go,
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Samuel gave him a token,
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with a dreadful blow:
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And withal inclosed
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with his Enemy,
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Then Barnwel he supposed,
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that himself should dye.
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Then says loving Samuel,
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are you now content,
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I says Captain Barnwel,
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and withal consent
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That my Sister Sarah,
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shall be made thy Wife,
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So thou wilt but spare me,
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and not take my life.
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Thus in peace they ceased
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for the present time,
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Sarah much was eased
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of her troubled mind:
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And injoy'd her Samuel,
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to her hearts content,
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And her Brother Barnwel,
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gave his free Consent.
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Now these Lovers twain,
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live in joy and peace,
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Pray Heaven upon them rain
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plenty and increase:
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And all true Lovers,
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wheresoever they be,
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Aid them with thy favour,
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that have such constancy.
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FINIS.
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