The Two Constant Lovers:
Or, A Pattern of true love exprest in this Dialogue between Samuel and Sarah.
To a pleasant New Tune.
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AS I by chance was walking,
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on a Summers day:
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I heard two Lovers talking,
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and thus they did say:
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With a mournful ditty,
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she began her tale,
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Which movd my heart with pitty
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her for to bewail.
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My Love I have desired
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for to speak with you,
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My heart within was fixed,
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until that I knew:
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Whether you were living
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in good health or no:
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My heart it was Grieved
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until that I did know.
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What, sweet-heart, what ails thee
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thus for to complain?
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Let not ill befall thee
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thou shalt me obtain:
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Though I were absented
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from thee for a space:
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Ile not be prevented
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of thy comely face.
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Samuel my own sweeting
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I to thee must tell,
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In a heavy Greeting
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what hath us befell:
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My friends do grudge and murmer
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and to me they say,
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That we must part asunder,
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or else theyl thee destroy.
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My Love be not grieved,
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though thy friends did frown,
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Thou shalt be Relieved,
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none shall put thee down:
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I for thy sweet favor
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will adventure much,
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Though thy friends and brother
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do against me Grutch.
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O my own dear sweeting,
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I am Grievd in heart,
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That I give thee such Greeting
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for to breed my smart:
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Barnwel my own brother,
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Captain being he,
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Swears that of all others
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killed thou shalt be.
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SArah be not fearful,
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though thy brother swear,
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Of thy Life be careful,
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I no man do fear:
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What care I for Barnwel,
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though he a Captain be:
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He shall find that Samuel
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is as good as he.
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O my Loving Samuel
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look where he doth go,
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Tis my brother Barnwel,
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now begins our woe:
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Would that we together
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had not met this day,
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For my Judas brother
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will thy Life betray.
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Now comes Captain Barnwel
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to these Lovers twain,
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And made count that Samuel
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he should soon have slain:
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But it proved contrary
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to his bloody mind,
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In the sight of Sarah
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conquest he Resignd.
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Then said he to Samuel,
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what do you make here?
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Im with my sweet-heart Sarah,
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put her not in fear:
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Barnwel in a fury
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swore he would prevent,
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His own Sister Sarah
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of her hearts content.
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O my brother barnwel
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let me you intreat,
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Not to wrong my Samuel
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in your bloody heat:
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He hath ner offended
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you at any time,
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Let him not be condemned,
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save his Life, take mine.
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I says Captain barnwel,
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Sarah thou shalt see;
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Then he cald to Samuel
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come and answer me:
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I thy death have vowed
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ere I further go,
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Then sweet Sarah bowed,
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saying, do not so.
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Samuel being heedful
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of his tyranny,
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Says, Sarah be not fearful
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thou anon shalt see:
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Though thy brother barnwel
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vow my life to spill,
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Thou shalt see that Samuel
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hath both strength and skill.
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Now these Words being spoken
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they to Weapons go:
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Samuel gave him a token
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with a dreadful blow,
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And withal inclosed
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with his Enemy:
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Then barnwel he supposed
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that himself should dye.
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Then says Loving Samuel
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are you now content,
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I says Captain barnwel
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and withal consent,
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That my sister Sarah
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shall be made thy Wife,
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So thou wilt but spare me,
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and not take my Life.
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Thus in peace they ceased
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for the present time,
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Sarah much was eased
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of her troubled mind:
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And injoyd her Samuel
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to her hearts content,
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And her brother barnwel
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gave his free consent.
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Now these Lovers twain
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live in joy and peace,
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Pray Heaven upon them rain,
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plenty and increase:
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And all true Lovers
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wheresoever they be,
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Aid them with thy favor
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that have such constancy.
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