The Court-Miss Converted:
OR, A Looking Glass for Ladies.
Her former errours she doth now repent,
And with unfeigned tears the same lament;
Resolving now a godly life to lead,
And in such wicked paths no more to tread,
Which may a good example be to all,
To rise from sin, if they by frailty [fall]
Tune of, Englands fair dainty Dames.
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WHen Phoebus with his Beams,
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guilded the Christial Day,
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I heard a mournful voice,
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thus to lament and say,
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You Ladies of Renown,
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give ear unto my Song;
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Because that unto you
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it chiefly doth belong.
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Of Noble Parentage
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'tis known that I was born,
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And those of low Degree,
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too much I held in scorn.
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In my fresh blooming years,
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Pride did possess my mind;
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For costly Rich attire,
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I sought alwaies to find.
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My Glass it was my Book,
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wherein I took delight;
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In it I us'd to look,
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from morning until night.
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And for to tell the truth,
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whilst I was in my prime;
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My Beauty did excell
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most Ladies of my time.
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GAllants of high Degree,
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came me for to behold;
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And oft presented me
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with Chains of beaten gold.
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Happy he thought himself,
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that could my favour gain;
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For I was nice and coy,
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to all that ever came.
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At length my beauty bright,
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was noised in the Court;
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A place of great delight,
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where Gallants do resort.
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Then was I sent for straight,
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by some of high degree,
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Who then did for me wait,
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and took delight in me.
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Such pleasure there I took,
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as did rejoyce my heart;
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All vertue I forsook,
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which did procure my smart.
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The life I there did lead,
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grieves me to think upon,
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For every day I was
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treated by many one.
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Until my Conscience it
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began for to awake;
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And put me in the mind,
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that leud life for to forsake.
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Then from those vain delights,
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I did my self withdraw;
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Resolving for to live,
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up to Gods Holy Law.
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In heart I do Repent,
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my youthful Vanities;
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Praising the Lord that sent
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his light into my eyes.
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Now from all filthy vice,
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I purpose to refrain,
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And with Repentant tears,
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to wash away my stain.
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And in my Closet I
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daily will pardon crave,
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And to the Lord will cry,
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that he my Soul will save.
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Let my Example teach
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Ladies of each degree:
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Those sins for to avoid,
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which wrought my misery.
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For Pride will have a Fall,
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and Beauty is but vain:
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Strive on the Lord to call,
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and from all vice refrain.
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I wish all sinners they,
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do keep these words in mind:
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That so therein they may
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some comfort daily find.
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