The Vertuous Maids Resolution,
OR, The Two Honest Lovers.
Shewing what unconstant men there be,
That use deceit and flattery;
They'l cog, dissemble, swear and Lye,
A harmless Maidens Life to try;
To all such Lovers she'l be coy,
And says, her freedom's all her joy.
To a pleasant new tune, or, I am a poor and harmless maid.
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IN a melancholy passion I,
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was walking up a River side,
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A gallant Damsel I did spy,
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a Lute she had lay by her side,
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Which up she took, and did sing and play,
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That in her freedom was all her joy,
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O in my freedom's all my joy.
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I stept aside, because i'de hear,
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the full conclusion of her song,
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Her musik ravish'd so mine ear,
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as in the ground I lay along,
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Then did she most sweetly play,
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O in my freedom's all my joy.
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I am a young and harmless Maid,
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and some are pleas'd to stile me fair,
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There's no man yet hath an ambush laid,
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To catch me but I broake the snares,
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What though they count me nice and coy,
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[Y]et in my freedom's all my joy.
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Most young men have alluring words,
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poor silly Maidens to betray,
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Such complements they can afford,
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that we can hardly say them nay:
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But let them term me nice and coy,
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O in my freedoms all my joy.
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With Oaths and Protestations great,
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sometimes they seek to try their skill
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When all the while they mean deceit
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for to obtain their wanton will:
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And seek their utmost to destroy
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Our utmost and our cheifest joy.
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With amorous words and speeches fair,
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they'l promise that they ne'r will do,
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But of such youngsters i'le beware,
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for fear I afterwards should rue.
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What though they count me nice and coy
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Yet in my freedoms all my joy,
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Yet in my freedoms all my joy,
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ALluring baits also they have,
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as silver bodkins, gloves, and rings
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With girdles, scarves, and jewels brave
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and many other costly things:
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But those silver hooks shall ne'r distroy,
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For in my freedoms all my joy.
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Whatsoever they give, talk, or say,
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i'le ne'r believe them er'e the more,
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Their smoothing words shall not me betray,
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i'le stand to what I said before.
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Although they count me nice and coy, etc.
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Yet I could quickly be in love,
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if I an honest man could find,
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That would once true and constant prove
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and not be wavering like the wind,
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A little time I will be coy, etc.
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Here in this second part you'l find
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a husband pleasing to her mind,
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This vertuous Maid hath one obtain'd
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though long, at last her love was gain'd
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She saith her husband she'l obey,
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And in his love shall be her joy.
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And thus she did conclude her song,
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which having done, I up did rise,
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My heart was struck with love so strong
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her beauty dazled both my eyes,
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My freedom them she did destroy,
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For in her love was all my joy.
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When she espy'd me where I was,
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she rose and would no longer stay,
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I stept unto her then, because
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my heart sheb bore with her away.
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Fair Maid, said I, do not destroy,
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My freedom and my chiefest joy.
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She blushing then to me did say,
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I do desire no company,
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Fair Maid, said I, O say not nay,
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to him that means no flattery:
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You have my heart, O be not coy,
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In you is all my earthly joy.
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Sweet-heart, said I, few words I use,
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but what I speak is from my heart,
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I scorn your vertue to abuse,
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then grant me love e're I depart:
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Your freedom I will not destroy,
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For in your love is all my joy.
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With that she took me by the hand,
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and led me up by the River side,
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If that you true and constant prove,
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quoth she, perhaps i'le be your bride.
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Then on her Lute did sing and play,
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Be constant and i'le be thy joy.
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I then made bold to crave a kiss,
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which modestly to me she gave,
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I took it for a heavenly bliss,
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her comely gesture was so brave;
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I thought it long to see the day,
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Wherein I might my love enjoy.
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But to conclude we married were,
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I have obtain'd a vertuous wife,
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And at the last I brought to pass,
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what she to others had deny'd.
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Although at first she seemed coy,
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She calls me now her only joy.
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Young men and maids where e're you be
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that hear this song i'de with you learn
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A pattern of our civility,
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then Lovers true you may discern,
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For them that seek for to destroy,
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Your freedom, etc.
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Vertue beyond all beauty goes,
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but he that gains them both is rare;
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Only for wealth let no man chuse,
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for constant love is void of care;
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A vertutous wife will ne'r destroy,
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Your freedom but will be your joy.
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FINIS.
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