The Lovers Battle,
Being a sore Combat fought between Mars and Venus, at a place calle[d]
Cunney Castle, under Belly-hill.
Bold Mars like to a warrier stout great brags did make in field
But Venus she gave him the rout. and forct him for to yeild,
Then Mars drew out his Rapier strong thinking to win the day
But Venus chargd him so sore he was glad he got away.
The Tune is, The Chorals delight.
|
AS I by chance abroad was walking,
|
under a pleasant shadow tree,
|
There Mars and Venus I heard talking
|
not thinking I had been so nigh,
|
Then I drew near and sate down by them
|
They not thinking I had been so nigh them,
|
For to hear their complementing
|
And to see some jovial sport
|
How Mars fair Venus there did court.
|
Said Mars I am the god of battle
|
I and Master of the field,
|
I love to hear the Musquets rattle
|
I am well armed with lance & shield,
|
Oh I can make the World to wonder,
|
And break the bands of peace asunder,
|
I can conquer Towns and Nations,
|
Be they nere so stout or strong
|
Bold Mars can lay them all along.
|
The stoutest he which ever drew Rapier
|
if Mars do meet him in the field:
|
Though like a warrier he doth vapor
|
I care not for his sphear or sheild,
|
For I can make loud Cannons thunder
|
And I can cut his Troops asunder,
|
If my Granados I let fly sir,
|
I will make the proudest foe to yeild
|
Or else by Mars he dies in field.
|
There is no Town which in this Nation
|
no Hall, nor Tower, Castle, nor Fort,
|
But I can soon make alteration
|
if they delight with me to sport,
|
For the strongest Castle, Town or Tower
|
I can conquer in an hour
|
If close seige I once do lay toot,
|
My men will to me stoutly stand
|
And soon the same we can command.
|
BOld Mars I think you do but vapor
|
a challenge with you I will make
|
A Castle I know defies your Rapier
|
your men and you cannot it take,
|
If that you please but for to try it
|
Your men and you must dearly buy it
|
Ere you do gain the Fort or Castle,
|
You will be forct for to retreat
|
For tis three to one you will be beat.
|
Venus come show to me that favor,
|
to let me know where this castle doth stand
|
I will not rest till won I have her
|
and make her yield at my command,
|
This Castle I pray thee let me know it
|
And the ready way to go unto it,
|
And I will thank you for your pain,
|
For close siege I will lay out right
|
And I vow to storm it Day or Night.
|
The ready way unto this Castle
|
I can direct you very well,
|
For through thigh alley you must rattle
|
if I the truth to you must tell,
|
Hard by Bum-lane if you do but mind it
|
Under Belly hill there you may find it
|
This Castle is well fortifid
|
If you against it siege do lay
|
It is three to one your beat away.
|
Then in a rage Mars drew his Rap[i]er
|
and vowed this castle he would take,
|
So up thigh alley he did vapor,
|
and towards bum-lane he strait did make,
|
Under belly-hill he found a center
|
Where his lance soon did enter,
|
Clap to clap to Mars then cryd,
|
And close siege with his men he lay
|
But in the end bold Mars did loose the Day.
|
For Venus boldly did so charge him
|
with service hot in open field,
|
By her valor stout she almost scard him
|
which made him and his men to yeild,
|
How now bold Mars stout Venus cryd
|
The battle is mine who dare deny it
|
I thought bold Mars you did but vapor,
|
For no such courage I can see
|
So she kickt Mars out of her centere.
|
When Mars he see he was so beaten
|
he took his leave with Venus fair,
|
In a rage these words he fell a speaking
|
my lance is spoyld I greatly fear,
|
Farewel thigh lane where I first did enter
|
Farewel bum alley and belly hill center,
|
And farewel Venus Castle fair,
|
I never will come at thee again
|
For I have lost my labor and my pain.
|
|
|
|
|
|