The Virgins Constancy; Or the Faithful Marriner,
Who proved most Loyal, though he seem'd a Farriner:
'Tis a gallant new Ditty 'twixt William and Kathern,
Their true loves for young ones may serve for a pattern.
To the Tune of, Amarilis.
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HArd hap had I, poor harmlesse Maid,
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Thus by the Fates to be betray'd,
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My Loyal Friend, whose constant love,
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No tortures great could e'r remove,
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Was forc'd from me for to depart,
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Yet he alone enjoys my Heart.
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My cruel friends incontinent
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Did work our woe and discontent
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Cause I was rich and he but poor,
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They hated him I know therefore,
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His Love was more than my desert,
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And he alone, etc.
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When wee engaged were by Oath,
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And plighted had a faithful Troth,
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For to be married out of hand,
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But when my Friends did understand,
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They forced him away to part,
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Yet he alone, etc.
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They keep me as a Bird in Cage,
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And make my House their hermitage,
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With Iron Barrs and Bolts so strong,
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That wee endured double wrong:
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Which did increase our woe and smart.
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But he alone, etc.
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Because the Fates had thus decree'd,
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He to the Ocean sayl'd with speed,
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Where he remaineth for my sake,
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But will no other Sweet-heart take:
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Heavens be thy guide where e'r thou art
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For he alone, etc.
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The gaping Quick-sands would devour
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My Loyal Friend each day and hour,
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But heaven protect still and defend,
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My faithful Love unto the end:
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That he may play a Lovers part,
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For he alone, etc.
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But if grim Death hath stole his Life,
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And hindred me to be his wife,
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I wish the Finis of my breath,
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To meet with him although in death:
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Yet if grim Death had spar'd his Dart,
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He shall enjoy my Love-sick heart.
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MY cruel Friends who did disturb,
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True Lovers vows with fatal curb
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Are Mortuus est, all dead, and I
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Obtain again my Liberty:
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Yet live in Prison full of smart,
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Unless my friend enjoy my Heart.
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When she had warbled forth this Song,
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How they had suffered too much wrong,
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Her Love came home, and stood to hear
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The maiden sing her solemn Queire,
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How he was supream of her heart,
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Wherefore he thus began his part.
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His Answer.
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Arise my Love, open the Door,
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And bid me welcome to the Shore,
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Now fortune frowns are turn'd to smiles
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I find her breast is full of wiles:
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Though all things frowns and angry be,
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Yet I will live and die with thee
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Thou are alone my Beauties Starre,
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In thee my joyes and blisses are,
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My thoughts lye rowling with thine eys,
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My heart must be a Sacrifice:
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Unless my dearest Love you'l be,
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For I must live and die with thee.
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I've brought thee home most costly things,
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Rare precious stones, and diamond Rings,
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Rich Taffities, and Silks so fine,
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To deck my Love, for thou are mine:
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As thou art mine, so thine Ile be,
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And ever live and die with thee.
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Maid.
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Is this the voice of my sweet Will?
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Whose faithful love is constant still,
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Then welcome home, what blisse is this
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That faithful Lovers now may kisse?
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In heart I long'd thy face to see,
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That I might live, etc.
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Man.
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I'm come again, my dearest Kate,
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Who went from the through force of hate
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But now forgetting sorrows past,
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We may enjoy true Love at last:
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The Gordion knot in fine to tye,
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In Love and Peace to Live and Die.
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