The PRINCELY LOVERS Garland
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ONCE I read a noble volume,
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Or a history book, some call em,
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Of two lovers true indeed,
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None for love could them exceed.
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It is of a kings fair daughter,
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(pray now mark what follows after)
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And a noble prince of fame;
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To her fathers court he came.
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Where he soon observd her beauty.
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Now, quoth he, it is my duty
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For to woo both day and night,
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Since thy charming beauty bright
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Has my heart so deely wounded,
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That my senses are confounded.
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Yet to her I dare not speak,
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Because her father is so great.
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No, no, no, I dare not venture,
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Or into her presence enter.
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Fearing of her fathers rage.
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Would I were her serving-page.
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Then should I observe my duty,
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Still admiring her beauty;
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Which doth glance from her fair eyes,
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As the morning-star doth rise.
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In the private garden walking,
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He thus to himself was talking,
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From her window she did him spy,
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Then on the prince she cast an eye.
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Where young Cupid soon did hover
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Round about this princely lover,
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With his conquering bended bow,
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She was wounded with love also,
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This young princess had a brother,
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Who her love did soon discover.
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Where he soon declard the same
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Thist noble knight of fame.
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This young knight, and did enquire
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Of his noble birth and fame?
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None could tell from whence he came.
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Tho he was both son and heir
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To a king and queen so fair,
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Yet het he never understood,
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He was born of royal blood.
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And for that very same reason,
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It was counted as high treason
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For to court this princely dame,
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Where he sufferd for the same.
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Her father hearing of the story,
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Now, quoth he, Ill blast the glory.
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How dare he this thing presume?
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Nought but death shall be his doom.
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Since it lies within my power,
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Instead of love Ill him devour.
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Him by these hungry lions jaws,
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And with his body fill their maws.
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To my daughter youd be marryd,
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To a den you shall be carryd;
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Where instead of bridegrooms bed,
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Lions shall your hearts blood shed.
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YET these lions had no power
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His poor carcase to devour.
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Which from them he understood
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He was born of noble blood.
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Then came down the lions keeper,
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For to cleanse the den, and sweep her,
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Where this noble knight got hold
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Of this keeper, stout and bold.
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Where he made him for to swear
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That he never would declare,
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For his life, to any one,
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But that the lions had pickd his bone.
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Now within a short time after,
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He wrote to the kings fair daughter,
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That he was alive and well,
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Living in a lonesome cell.
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The young princess told her brother,
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He with joy then soon went thither,
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Where they soon contrivd, we hear,
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To steal her from her father dear.
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Then a ship was soon made ready,
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To convey this princely lady.
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But now comes a great surprize,
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Violent storms did soon arise.
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Where the ships was tore and shatterd,
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And these loyal lovers scatterd
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From each other, as we hear,
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Fortune proving so severe.
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On a plank then swam her brother,
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And the princess on another.
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Where in short time we understand
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They were drove unto the land.
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The poor knight in his condition
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Was taken up by one a fishing.
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To the land he was conveyd,
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And to the king he was betrayd.
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Tho you was preservd from lions,
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You shall now be bound in irons,
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Where you shall resign your breath,
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In a dungeon starvd to death.
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He being thus confind in fetters,
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To the jailor he sends letters,
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To speak with him speedily,
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He being sick and like to die.
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Then the jailor he did enter,
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Now, quoth he, pray jailor venture
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From these irons set me free.
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Store of gold Ill give to thee.
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And being greedy of the treasure.
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Soon he freed him with great pleasure.
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Being from the irons freed.
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He the jailor killd with speed.
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Once more he his freedom gained,
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And his liberty obtained,
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Yet his heart was filled with woe,
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That he must from his princess go.
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TRavelling with grief and sorrow,
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To the court of Bohemia,
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From that court he understood
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He was born of noble blood.
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Being at a great collation,
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Strait appeard an apparition
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At the table where he dind,
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With a flaming torch, we find.
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Most gracious king and queen so royal,
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Thats your son, make no denial.
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Ever since the rebellion,
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He has been missing so long.
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Im his nurse, who was disloyal.
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To murder that young prince so royal.
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My knife was three times at his throat,
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To let his royal blood run out.
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Yet I having not the power,
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Into the woods with him did scower,
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Where three years I did maintain
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The royal prince, till I was slain.
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As [th]e child and I were walking,
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To the young prince, I was talking,
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Came a lion from the wood,
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Nursd the child, and suckd my blood.
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When she had the same revealed
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Which long time had been concealed,
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Then she vanishd clear away,
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And left them all surprizd that day.
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Now this frightful apparition
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Brought good news unto the nation,
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Tongue nor pen cannot express
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The nations joys the prince possess
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Now well leave his in this nation
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To relate the great vexation
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Of that tyrant king once more,
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Of whom we rehearsd before.
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He with royal passion fretted,
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When to him it was related,
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That the knight was dead and gone,
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And the jailor dead was found.
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With revenge said to his daughter,
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In great spightful smiles and laughter,
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Madam, you would fain be wed,
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Go and take your love thats dead.
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You shall not have your desire,
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I his corps will burn with fire.
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The great princess in distress
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Ran unto the mournful hearse.
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At the hearse she met her brother
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With a dagger; she had another.
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Come, dear brother, she did cry,
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Since hes dead let us two die.
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Cruel father, prince of tyrants,
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You would fain destroy with lions;
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But his royal, blood you see
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Savd him from that tyranny.
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Since you are to me so cruel,
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His dead corps to burn with fuel.
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With my tears Im him embalm,
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And then burn within his arms.
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Strait the princess with her brother,
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Did the mournful hearse uncover,
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Where unto their joy they found
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The jailor corps; the prince was gone.
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Said the princess with discretion
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I will travel from the nation,
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For to find my dearest dear.
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Father, you are too severe.
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Strait she dressd in mans attire,
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Thro strange nations did enquire
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After this brave knight of fame.
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To his court at length she came.
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For a service she enquired.
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Her sweet charms the prince admired,
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Come, sweet youth, the prince he said,
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You shall by my waiting-page.
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A-Hunting went the prince soon after,
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With his nobles, full of laughter.
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In the middle of the sport,
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The prince left the royal court,
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The prince with his page did wander,
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Till at lenght he spyd a farmer.
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In one bed the royal pair
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Forced to take their lodging were.
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The royal prince was discontented,
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In the night he thus lamented:
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Oh! my royal love, said he,
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I wish you was along with me.
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Said the page, Dear lord and master,
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Dont lament your sad disaster.
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Her dear picture you shall see;
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For I have it here with me.
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I mean at your palace royal.
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The next day without denial,
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Returning thanks, they passd away
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To the court, without delay.
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For her picture long he waited.
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Tarrying long, at length he fretted.
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Strait he went, in a great rage,
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For to seek his servant-page.
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The young princess being ready,
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There was no page, but a lady.
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Oh! great princess most divine.
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Lovely picture, thou art mine.
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With great joy beyond expressing,
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Were this royal pair possessing.
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The great day appointed were
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For to join this happy pair.
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News was carryd to her father;
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That they both were joind together
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Tho you held him once in scorn,
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He is ace, borrinp royal sir, n.
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