Love and Constancy
OR
The true Lovers welcome home from France,
Describing of the joy and friendly greeting,
Betwixt two Lovers at their happy meeting,
By cruel Fate long time they were devided,
But to their comfort now they are united,
Which makes them to rejoyce beyond expression,
As you may finde by both their own confession.
Tune of, Digbys farewel, or the Tyrant etc. With Allowance.
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COme all loyal Lovers so courteous and free,
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come lend your attention and listen to me,
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With gladness my heart doth abound at this tide
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now I am in hopes that I shall be a bride:
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Long time I have waited with patience to see[;]
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the face of my dearest so pleasing to me,
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And now to my comefort my joyes to advance,
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My Love he is safely returnd out of France.
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Then welcome my dearest my joy ynd delight,
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no more to the Wars shalt thou go for to fight,
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My arms shall secure thee from dangers so free
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thrice welcome my true Love thou art unto me.
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Full often I wisht for to see thee again,
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whilst I with a sorrowful heart did remain,
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But now for my comfort my joyes to advance,
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My Love he is safely returnd out of France.
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SInce that thou didst leave me to languish & mourn,
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I like the chaste Turtle did wait thy return,
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The choicest of company could me not please,
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whilest thou wert in danger beyond the salt Seas,
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To listen for tydings it was my cheif care,
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and all for to hear how my Dearest did fare.
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But now to my comefort my joyes to advance,
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My Love he is safely returnd out of France.
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What maiden in England more happy can be,
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now my hearts delight is from dangers set free,
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No grief nor no sorrow shall trouble my minde,
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provided that thou will be constant and kinde,
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Ile please thee in all things that thou canst desire,
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nothing shall be wanting that thou doest require,
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For now to my comfort my joyes to advance,
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My Love he is safely return[]d out of France.
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And now my own dearest take heart and take hand
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for I am resolved to obey thy command;
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Therefore speak thy pleasure and utter thy mind,
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thou canst not be cruel when I am so kind,
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Be sure in thy answer thy love to unfold,
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which will be more welcome then silver or gold,
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Since now for my comfort my joyes to advance,
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My love he is safely returnd out of France.
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The young Mans kind Answer:
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O how it rejoyceth my heart for to hear,
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this loving kind wellcome from my dearest dear,
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No happiness greater could fall to my share,
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therefore my true meaning ile freely declare,
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To thee ile prove constant what ever betide,
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and in a short time I will make thee my bride,
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The same etc.
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For all thy past sorrow thy pain and thy grief,
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I now am come over to bring the relief,
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Ile throw in thy apron of good yellow gold,
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a hundred good pieces as ever was told,
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Besides ile maintain thee most bravely indeed,
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no one in the Parish thy garb shall exceed,
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The fame of thy thy beauty likwise ile advance,
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Since that I am safely returnd out of France.
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My sword and my armour I now will cast by,
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to live in true pleasure with thee till I dye,
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Thou shalt be my Venus with whom I will play,
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and walk in the meadows on each holy day,
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Young Ladies shall envy thy happiness now,
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that I have been constant and kept to my vow,
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Besides ile endeaver thy joys to advance,
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Since that I am safely returnd out of France.
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The young men and maidens shall frolick & play,
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and dance at our wedding the next holy-day,
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Weel have good provision of wine and good cheer,
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and like to the Queen of May thou shalt appear,
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Rare Musick ile have for to lighten thy heart,
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and for to content thee ile use my best Art,
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For now ile endeavor thy joyes to advance,
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Since that I am safely returnd out of France.
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Then come my own dearest and give me a kiss,
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now we are united I count i[t] a blis,
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And here for the present accept of this Ring,
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ere long I will please thee with a better thing,
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Ile make it my business in time to provide,
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and at our next meeting ile make thee my bride,
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For now ime resolvd thy joyes to advance,
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Since that I am safely return[]d out of France.
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