I would I were where HELEN lyes, To its own Proper Tune.
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MY sweetest Sweet and fairest Fair,
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of Birth and Worth beyond compare,
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Thou art the Causer of my Care
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since first I loved thee:
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I would I were where Helen lyes,
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where Helen lyes, where Helen lyes,
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For night and day on me she cryes
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in Land where eer she be.
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Thy Face is full of Blessedness,
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thy Lips are full of Comeliness,
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Thy Countenance is Loveliness,
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with Heart, O pity me!
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I would I were, etc.
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Pity and Vertue they do meet,
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which makes thy Body so compleat,
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The Love of thee my only Sweet
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can only comfort me.
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I would I were, etc
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Yet GOD hath givn to me a Mind,
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the which to thee shall prove as kind,
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As any one that thou shalt find,
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of high or low Degree,
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I would I were, etc.
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Yet neer theless I am content,
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and neer a whit my Love repent;
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But think the time it was well spent
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though I disdained be,
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I would I were, etc.
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Yet Venus lovd a Shepherds Swain,
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whose name is called Ordemain,
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And Rosmond an inferior Man,
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why may not thou love me?
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I would I were, etc.
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Shall Contemplation be to me.
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the Height of my Felicitie?
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Shall I adore a Deitie,
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can no ways passed be?
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I would I were, etc.
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Shall I continue still to love,
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whom neither Tears nor Sighs can move,
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Such Constancie will fully prove
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no Truth but flattery.
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I would I were, etc.
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The shaldest River makes most Din,
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the deepest Pool the deadest Lin,
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The richest Man least Truth within,
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though he preferred be.
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I would I were, etc.
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The Eagle and the Cock a Match,
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cant stoop the Butterflie to catch.
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Nor can the Hare feed with the Ratch,
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no more canst thou love me.
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I would I were, etc.
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But here Ill swear Ill be as true,
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as any one shall favour you,
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The Love I love Ill never rue,
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until the day I die.
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I would I were, etc.
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My Heart to thee thou hast in Tye,
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with thee to live, and also dye,
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I love thee for thy Constancy,
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and evermore shall do,
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I would I were, etc.
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No Accident can have the Force,
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to change my Love, or yet it cross,
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Nor can the World with its Dross,
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hinder my Love from you.
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I would I were, etc.
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O Helen fair, without compare,
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let not Despair, nor killing Care,
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My pure Heart tare, but one word mair,
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and say, thou pities me!
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I would I were, etc.
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O Helen Sweet and most compleat,
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my captive Sprit pines at thy Feet,
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O think not fit thus for to treat,
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thy Prisner cruellie!
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I would I were, etc.
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O Helen brave this still I crave,
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on thy poor Slave some Pitie have,
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O do him save whos near his Grave,
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and pines for Love of thee!
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I would I were, etc,
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O Helen best, discreet, modest,
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who is possest with thee, is blest:
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With Happiness thou art increast,
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Oh if I were with thee!
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I would I were, etc.
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O Helen wise, do not despise
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the humble Cryes of him that dyes:
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Look where he lyes, and bid him rise,
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and live, and hope for thee.
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I would I were, etc.
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O Helen great in my conceit,
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my rigid Fate I must regret
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Rigour abate, do not him hate,
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who loves thee till he die!
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I would I were, etc.
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O Helen coy, my Love my Joy;
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do not employ the winged Boy,
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Me to destroy, or to annoy
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that Heart, who sighs for thee!
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I would I were, etc.
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O Helen chaste, my Wounds bleed fast
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my Life doth waste, and makes great haste,
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Thou wilt at last when time is past,
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repent thy Cruelty.
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I would I were, etc.
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O Helen fair, O Helen sweet,
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O Helen brave, O Helen best,
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O Helen wise, O Helen great,
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O Helen coie and chast:
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I would I were, etc.
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Think on the Place where we have been,
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imbracing of my Love Helen
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At Venus Game hath been right keen,
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but now I them deny.
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I would I were, etc.
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O Helen rare, O Helen fair,
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Ill wear a Garland of thy Hair
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Shall cover me for evermaire,
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until the day I die.
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I would I were, etc.
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O that I were where I would be
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even beneath yon green wood Tree,
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And my own Deary on my knee
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so well as we should gree.
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I would I were where Helen lyes,
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where Helen lyes, where Helen lyes,
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For night and day on me she cryes,
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in Land where eer she be.
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