The Maids Revenge upon Cupid and Venus.
Shewing how Cupid with his dart
Did wound and almost kill her heart:
But she recovering of her pain
Revengd her self on him again:
And how Vulcan the Black-Smith he did prove
False to the Lass that did him love:
And many other matters rare
Within this Ditty spoken of are.
To the Tune of Loves Tyde, or, Flora Farewel.
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YOu Maids and Widows all a row,
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My mind Ide have you for to know
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How Cupid he hath conquered me,
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And crost me in my jolity;
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I was a Damsel fair and bright,
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That was beloved of many a wight,
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But afterwards it made me rue,
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To see that men prove so untrue.
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When I was fifteen years of age,
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Came Cupid in a fiery rage,
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And with his poysoned wounding dart,
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Shot through my skin, & peirct my heart,
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And having toucht me to the quick
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I thereupon fell dangerous sick.
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And ever since that time I rue
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To see that young men, proves untrue.
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Then Suters every day I had
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To comfort me, and make me glad,
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I entertaind them willingly
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In hope to have a remedy,
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First came a Taylor fine and brave,
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Who proved at last a cunning knave
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He for to win my love did sue
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Whose flattering tongue did make me rue.
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He clipt, he kist, be courted me,
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And said he would my husband be.
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He gave to me a gay gold ring
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In hope to have a better thing,
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He would have had my Maiden-head
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Before that I to him was wed,
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And had not I been very wise,
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The knave had plaid his Master prize.
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A bonny Weaver he came next
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To ease my mind that was perplext;
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With complements he did me greet,
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And honey sugered kisses sweet,
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Perfumed gloves, and ribbons brave,
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As tokens of his love he gave:
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And for to speak of him the truth
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He was a very comly youth.
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He wooed me, and I gave consent,
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To be his wife was my intent,
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But cruel death did end his life,
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Before that I was made his wife,
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O had he lived I had been blest,
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But being dead I am distrest.
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I must go seek a lover new,
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Which was the thing that ma[d]e me rue.
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The second part to the same tune.
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A Glover he came next of all,
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A proper man both streight and tall,
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And said that I should be his bride,
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What fortune ever did betide;
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But like a false dissembler he
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Forswore himself and forsook me:
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Which made my heart to melt and rue
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To see false men prove so untrue.
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Vulcan the Black-Smith that boon blade,
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Counted the best of all his trade;
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He told me many a fluant tale,
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And feasted me with Cakes and Ale,
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Tokens of love he did me give,
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And I did verily beleeve,
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That he had been a lover true
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But like a knave he made me rue
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When first he came into the place
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He in his arms did me imbrace;
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With solemn oaths he did protest
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That of all Girls he loved me best,
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But [t]he vilde wretch did me forsake
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Another Sweet-heart for to take,
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Which makes me sigh, lament, and weep,
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Because some Black-Smiths no faith can keep.
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And since that he from me was gone,
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Sweet-hearts I have had many a one;
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But I will no more deceived be
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By any such like knaves as he.
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When young mens tongues do run most nimble,
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Their hearts do most of all dissemble:
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And like the Proverb used of old
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The hottest love is soonest cold.
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Therefore Ile set my heart at rest
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A single life becomes me best,
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No false dissembling cogging man
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Shall do me wrong do what he can.
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Ile break all Cupids darts in twain,
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And loose my self from Venus chain.
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Ile make great Jupiter to thunder
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And tear the Cyclops quite asunder.
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Great Neptune shall forsake, the Seas
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And Caron in his boat be drownd,
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Before that I at any time
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Will to a flattering knave be bound:
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Shall I be bound that may be free?
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Shall reason rule my raging mind?
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Shall I love him that loves not me,
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No though I wink I am not blind.
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Yet let no one my words mistake,
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Though I against false love do speak;
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I do not say but some men are
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Of qualities both rich and rare:
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Some men are honest, sure, and just
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Faithful to all that doth them trust.
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Constant in actions, and in love,
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As true as is the turtle dove.
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When such a man I chance to see
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To him I fain would married be,
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And to him prove a loving wife
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So long as heaven affords me life.
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But to conclude, and end my Song,
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[I]n which I mean no creature wrong.
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Young men and maids I speak to you
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Change not an old love for a new.
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