A Good Wife, or None;
To a pleasant new Tune.
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THe glazing Torch is soon burnt out,
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the Diamonds light abides,
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The one in glory shines about,
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the other it's vertue hides:
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That spark (if any) shall be mine,
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that else gives light to none:
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For if to every one she shine:
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I had rather lye alone.
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The glow-worm in the dark gives light,
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unto the view of many,
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The Moon she shows her self by night,
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and yeilds her self to any:
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But if my love should seem to me,
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of every one so known:
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She never more should shine on me,
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I had rather lye alone.
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Ile not consume and pine away,
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as other lovers do,
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For such as wandring walk astray
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and never will prove true:
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Ile set as light by any she,
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as she by me hath done:
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And fix my love and constancy,
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or else i'le lye alone.
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A willow-Garland for my head,
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I never mean to wear,
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I need no Pillow for my bed,
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I yet am bold of care;
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A single life is without strife,
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and free from sigh and groan,
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For such contentments of my life,
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i'le choose to lye alone.
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Once did I love the fairest love,
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that ever I did see,
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But she did most unconstant prove,
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and set no love by me;
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And ever since my mind is such,
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to lend my love to none,
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Because I have been crost so much,
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i'le ever lye alone.
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The beauty of the fairest flower,
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so pleasing to the eye,
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Doth fade and wither in an hour,
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and no man sets thereby:
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So deals my fair with me,
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her joys in love are gone,
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Wherefore the wanton world shall see,
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i'le choose to lye alone.
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WEll may we picture Cupid blind,
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which roving shot his dart,
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And made my Lover most unkind,
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to steal away my heart:
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Which cannot be restor'd again,
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it is so love-sick grown,
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For she hath kill'd it with disdain,
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therefore i'le lye alone.
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Within that face I once did see,
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two Diamond eyes, whose bright,
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And glistering beams so dazled me
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that I was ravisht quite:
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And struck so blind I could not see,
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the way that I had gone,
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But from fond love i'm now set free,
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and choose to lye alone.
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This single life brings golden ease,
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no jealous thoughts offend,
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The wedded wights go where they please,
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and fear no changing friend:
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While married mates with musing mind,
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do sob, and sigh, and groan:
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Because their Turtles prove unkind,
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therefore i'le lye alone.
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What if the willow Garland be,
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appointed for my lot,
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Yet this content shall comfort me,
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false love is soon forgot:
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A second love must make amends,
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now that the first is gone,
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For Croesus kind had choice of friends,
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else still had layn alone.
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For could I now but call my choice,
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out of Diana's train,
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Who would not hear the tempters voice,
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then I might love again:
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And chuse some of more constant light
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then that which lately shone,
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My equal fancy to requite,
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or else i'le lye alone.
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For time and opportunity,
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will woe the coyest Dame,
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And overcome the chastest she,
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that bears the bravest name:
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Yea Man was made for womans good,
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not idle like the drone,
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But for to heat and stir the blood,
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and not to lye alone.
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