Parthenia's Complaint:
Or, The Forsaken Shepherdess.
The falshood of Young Men she doth discover,
By sad Example of her Faithless Lover:
And so against them all she doth inveigh,
Though injur'd by one; but which makes her say,
Happy Nymph for certain is, that can
So little value that false Creature Man.
To a New Tune much in Request, Or, Sitting beyond a River Side.
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SItting beyond a River side,
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Parthenia thus to Cloe cry'd
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Who from the fair Nymph's Eyes apace,
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Another Stream o'erflow'd her Beauteous Face,
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Ah happy Nymph, said she, that can
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So little value that false Creature Man.
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Oft she perfidiouss things would cry.
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They love, they bleed, they burn, they dye;
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But if they're absent half the day,
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Nay, if they stay but one poor hour away:
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No more they die, no more complain,
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But like unconstant Wretches live again.
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If that you do their Vows believe,
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Then you are lost without Reprieve,
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For Maids that's credulous and free,
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Are ruin'd soon by their inconstancy:
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With sugar'd words they will trappan,
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No Creature ever was so false as Man.
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The sad effects my self have try'd,
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By one that vow'd for Love he dy'd:
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My pity overcame disdain,
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And I required him with Love again:
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Which makes me say with looks so wan,
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No Creature ever was so false as Man.
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For when I thought he lov'd me most,
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He proved false unto my Cost;
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And like a fickle wretch did change
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His mind, 'mongst other Beauties for to range;
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Therefore she happy is that can
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So little value that false Creature Man.
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When I upon the flowry Plains,
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Did feed my Flocks, free from Love's Pains,
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And rested near the Crystal Streams,
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Not once affrighted with such idle Dreams,
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Then could I say; 'tis I that can
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So little value that false Creature Man.
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BUT since that Love did me ensnare,
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My heart is fill'd with Grief and Care,
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My looks are chang'd and I complain,
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Being required with such deep disdain:
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Then sure she happy is that can
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So little value that false Creature Man.
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Wild Beasts that in the Woods do range,
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Unto their Mates are not so strange;
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As men are to their Loves untrue,
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Which makes poor simple Maids so deeply rue:
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And say, she happy is, that can
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So little value that false Creature Man.
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You Birds that warble in the Grove,
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And hears the falshood of my Love:
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Bear witness of my sad complaint,
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Who am with Grief and Sorrow like to faint:
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Help me to learn, if that you can
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No more to value that false creature Man.
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The marble Rocks that do divide,
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The foaming Billows as they glide;
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Not so obdurate are in kind,
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As Men who unto falshood are inclin'd;
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Therefore she happy is, that can
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So little value that false Creature Man.
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The Gods above, will sure chastise
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Such fickle Lovers treacheries;
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And Cupid with his powerful Bow,
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Will make them all their Errors for to know;
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That they may love those Nymphs that can
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So little value that false Creature Man.
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You Virgins all who hear my moan,
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Let me not languish here alone;
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Come and assist me in my need,
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Lest that my broken Heart with Sorrow bleed.
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Help me to learn, if that you can
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No more to value that false Creature Man.
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One of a thousand you'll not find,
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That's true, and bear a faithfull Mind,
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But of your Hearts they'll you bereave,
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And then disloyally they will you leave:
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Then sure she happy is, that can
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So little value that false Creature Man.
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O that such falshood should remain
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Within that Hearr whose deep disdain,
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Hath brought me to such sad despair,
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As never for Mankind again to care:
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O let me say, if that I can
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No more I'll value that false Creature Man.
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Into some Desart I will go,
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And weary out my days in woe;
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And with the Turtle there complain,
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And never come in Mortals sight again:
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But strive by all the means I can,
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No more to value that false Creature Man.
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Then let all Virgins have a care,
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And of their Treacheries beware;
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Let my mishap your warning be,
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And trust not to their Infidelity:
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Let me advise you, if I can
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No more to value that false Creature Man.
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