The two Loving Sisters:
Wherein the one to the other doth shew,
How Cupid in a Dreame did her wooe.
To a pleasant new Tune.
|
IT was my chance not long agoe,
|
abroad as I was walking,
|
I heard two loving Sisters,
|
that secretly were talking;
|
The youngest to the eldest said,
|
why doest thou not marry?
|
In faith (quoth she) Ile tell to thee,
|
I meane not long to tarry.
|
When I was fifteene yeeres of age,
|
then had I suiters many,
|
But like a wanton wily wench,
|
I would not sport with any:
|
Till at the last, sleeping fast,
|
Cupid came unto me,
|
And like a Lad that had beene mad,
|
he swore that he would woo me.
|
Then he lay downe by my side,
|
and laid his armes upon me:
|
But I being twixt sleepe and wake,
|
did strive to thrust him from me.
|
But then he so kissed me,
|
as I was kissed never;
|
If he had nere left kissing me,
|
I should have slept for ever.
|
Then he hugd and tugd me so,
|
I could not get him from me,
|
But I with all the strength I had,
|
did thrust him who came on me:
|
For Cupid like a Suiter bold,
|
did use both time and leasure,
|
And in the circle of his armes,
|
enchanted me with pleasure.
|
Then me thought the world run round,
|
when Phoebus fell a skipping,
|
And all the Nymphs and Goddesses,
|
came round about to strip him,
|
Neptune lowred, & would have powred
|
his Ocean cup upon us,
|
But Boreas with his blustring blast,
|
did strive to thrust him from us.
|
Then limping Vulcan he came in,
|
like one that had beene jealous;
|
Venus followd after him,
|
and swore shed blow the bellowes.
|
Mars calld Cupid Jackanapes,
|
and swore he would him smother;
|
Quoth Cupid then, did I say so,
|
when thou didst love my Mother?
|
Me thought that Orphaeus with his Lute
|
stood at my bed side playing,
|
And Pan too with his oaten Flute,
|
did keepe his Flocke from straying:
|
And while that they did sweetly play,
|
in such a trance they laid me,
|
That to the pleasant Fields below,
|
I thought they had conveyd me.
|
Then Juno and great Jupiter,
|
came marching with Apollo,
|
Saturne came with Mercury,
|
and all began to hollow:
|
Cupid ran and hid himselfe,
|
and so of joyes bereft me:
|
Then suddenly I did awake,
|
and all these fancies left me.
|
|
|
|
|
The second part. To the same Tune.
|
WEll Sister, I have heard your dreame,
|
which much good doth intend thee:
|
For I thinke Cupid now doth meane,
|
with a husband to befriend thee;
|
And to entice you unto love,
|
which you held in derision,
|
Hath sent you this same Dreame, which may
|
be called Pleasures Vision.
|
Then Sister, I would have thee use
|
thy Suiters well hereafter:
|
And though our Father he be rich,
|
and thou his eldest Daughter,
|
Yet I doe know you are in love,
|
for tis in vaine to hide it:
|
O fie on this dissembling looke,
|
I never could abide it.
|
Make use of time, it will away,
|
for beauty soone decayeth,
|
And shee is out of date, they say,
|
that untill twenty stayeth.
|
Then let us not be coy againe,
|
these squemish trickes undoe us,
|
But kindly let us entertaine,
|
our Suiters when they wooe us
|
This peevishnesse doth but prolong,
|
our Maiden griefe and sorrow;
|
And we are older by a day,
|
when wee doe rise tomorrow:
|
Then why should we in modesty,
|
our owne desires thus smother,
|
Faith I doe love a proper man,
|
and so too did my Mother.
|
Cupid is a waggish Boy,
|
and by your dreame he shewed,
|
That married couples happy be,
|
that are with love indewed;
|
But she that dyeth here a Maid,
|
and coyly doth dissemble,
|
Shall afterward lead Apes about,
|
which makes my heart to tremble.
|
Although that I doe counsell you,
|
who are my eldest Sister;
|
Yet if my tongue belye my heart,
|
I wish that it may blister:
|
For I confesse, that when I first
|
to fifteene yeeres attained,
|
To thinke that I had staid so long,
|
I oftentimes complained.
|
The eldest Sister hearing this,
|
unto her soone replyed;
|
Good Sister, I your counsell like,
|
which shall not be denyed,
|
For though that I have alwayes beene
|
so coy in outward carriage,
|
Yet being eldest, as tis fit,
|
I will take place in marriage.
|
The other Sister then replyed,
|
quoth she, though I am younger,
|
Yet will I not in love give place,
|
for my desires are stronger:
|
And therefore since that both of us,
|
against our wills have tarried,
|
Like loving Sisters let us both,
|
upon one day be married.
|
|
|
|
|