A Pleasant Song made by a Souldier, whose bringing up had been dainty, and partly
by those affections of his unbridled youth, is now beaten with his own Rod: and
therefore termeth this his Repentance, or the fall of Folly.
To an Excellent new [T]une, called, Culino.
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IN Summer time when Phoebus raise,
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did chear each mortal mans delights,
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Increasing of the cheerful days,
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and cutting off the darksome nights.
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When nature brought forth every thing,
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by just return of April showers
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To make the pleasant branches spring,
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with sundry sorts of herbs and flowers.
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It was my chance to walk abroad,
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to view Dame Natures new come brood
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The pretty Birds did lay on load,
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with sugred tunes in every wood.
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The gallant nightingale did set
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her speckled brest against a Bryer,
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Whose mourful tunes bewail (as yet)
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her Brother Thecis false desire.
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The Serpents having cast their coats,
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lay listening how the birds did sing,
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The pretty Birds with sugred ntoes,
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did welcome in the pleasant Spring.
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I drew me to the Green-wood side,
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to hear this Country Harmony;
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Whereas e're long I had espy'd
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a woful man in misery.
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He lay along upon the ground,
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and to the Heavens he cast his eye,
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The bordring hills and dales resound,
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the ecchoes of his piteous cry.
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He wailing sore, and sighing said,
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O heavens what endless grief have I,
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Why are my sorrows thus delaid,
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come therefore death and let me dye.
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When nature first had made my frame,
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and set me lose when she had done,
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Steps Fortune in that fickle Dame,
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to end what nature had begun.
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She set my foot upon her knee,
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and blest my tender age with store,
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But in the end she did agree,
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to mar what she had made before:
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I could no sooner creep alone,
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but she forsook her fostered child,
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I had no Lands to live upon,
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but trac'd abroad the world so wild.
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At length I fell in company,
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with gallant youths of Mars his train,
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I spent my life in jeoperdy,
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and got my labour for my pain.
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I watched on the sieged walls,
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in thunder, lighting, rain, and snow,
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And oft being shot with poudred balls,
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whose costly marks are yet to show.
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When all my kindred took their rest
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at home in many a stately bed,
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the ground and pavement was my nest,
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my Flask a pillow for my head.
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My meat was such as I could get,
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of roots and herbs of sundry sorts,
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Which did content my hungry mind,
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although my commons were but short.
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My powder serv'd to salt my meat,
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my murrion for a guilded Cup,
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Whereas such drink as I could get
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in Spring or Ditch I drank it up.
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My Rapier always by my side
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my piece lay charg'd with match & light
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That many a month I did abide,
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to ward all day and watch by night.
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I lived in this glorious vain,
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until my Limbs grew stiff and lame;
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And thus I got me home again,
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regarding no such costly fame.
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When I came home I made a proof,
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what friends would do if need should be
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My nearest Kinsfolks lookt aloof,
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as though they had forgotten me.
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And as the Owl by chattering charms,
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is wondred at of other Birds,
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So they came wondring at my harms,
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and yield me no relief but words.
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Thus do I want while they have store,
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that am their equal every way,
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Though fortune lent them somwhat more
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else had I been as good as they.
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Come gently Death and end my grief
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ye pretty Birds ring forth my knell,
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Let Robin Red-breast be the chief,
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to bury me and so farewel.
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Let no good Souldier be dismaid,
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to fight in field with courage bold,
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Yet mark the words that I have said,
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trust not to friends when thou art old.
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The Souldiers Farewel to his love.
Being a Dialogue betwixt Thomas and Margaret.
To a pleasant new Tune.
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Thomas.
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Margaret my sweetest, Margaret I must go,
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Margaret.
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Most dear to me, that never may be so:
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T. Ah, Fortune wills it, I cannot it deny,
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M. then know my love your Margaret must dye.
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T. Not for the gold my Love that Croesus had,
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Would I once see thy sweetest looks so sad,
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M. Nor for all that the which my eye did see,
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Would I depart my sweetest Love from thee.
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T. The King commands, & I must to the wars
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M. Ther's others more enough may end that jars
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T. But I for one commanded am to go,
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And for my life I dare not once say no.
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M. Ah marry me, and you shall stay at home,
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Full thirty weeks you know that I have gone,
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T. There's time enough another for to take
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He'l love thee well, and not thy child forsake.
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M. And have I doted on thy sweetest face?
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and dost infringe that which thou suedst in chase
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Thy faith I mean but I will wend with thee,
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T. It is too far for Peg to go with me.
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M. I'le go with thee my Love both night and day
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I'le bear thy sword, i'le run and lead the way.
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T. But we must ride, how will you follow then,
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Amongst a Troop of us thats Armed men?
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M. Ile bear the Lance, i'le guide thy stirrop too,
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Ile rub the horse, and more then that ile do,
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T. But Margarets fingers they are all too fine,
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To wait on me when she doth see me dine.
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Margaret.
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Ile see you dine, ile wait still at your back,
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Ile give you wine, or any thing you lack.
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Thomas.
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But you I repine when you shall see me have
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A dainty wench that is both fine and brave.
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M. Ile love your wench my sweetest, I do vow,
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I'le watch time when she may pleasure you.
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T. But you will grieve to see my sleep in bed,
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And you must wait still in anothers stead.
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M. I'le watch my love to se you sleep in rest,
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And when you sleep then I shall think me blest.
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T. The time will come you must delivered be,
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If in the Camp it will discredit me.
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M. Ile go from you before the time shall be,
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When all is well my love again ile see.
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T. All will not serve for Margaret must not go,
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Then do resolve my Love, what else to do.
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M. If nought will serve why then sweet love adieu
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I needs must die, and yet in dying true.
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T. Nay stay my love, for I love Margaret well,
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And here I vow with Margaret to dwell.
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M. Give me your hand, your Margaret livs again
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T. Here is my hand, ile never breed thy pain.
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M. I'le kiss my Love in token it is so.
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T. We will be wed, come Margaret let us go.
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FINIS.
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