The two Constant Lovers;
OR, A Pattern of true Love, exprest in this Dialogue between Samuel and
Sarah. To a pleasant New Tune.
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AS I by chance was walking,
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on a Summers day,
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I heard two Lovers talking,
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and thus they did say:
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With a mournful ditty,
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she began her tale,
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Which mov'd my heart with pitty,
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her for to bewail.
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Sarah.
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My Love I have desired,
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for to speak with you,
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My heart within was fired,
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until that I knew
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Whether you were living,
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in good health or no,
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My heart it was grieved,
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until that I did know.
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Samuel.
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Why, sweet heart, what ails thee
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thus for to complain?
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Let not ill befall thee,
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thou shalt me obtain:
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Though I were absented,
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from thee for a space,
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I'll not be prevented
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of thy comely face.
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Sarah.
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Samuel my own sweeting,
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I to the must tell,
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In a heavy greeting,
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what hath us befell:
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My frinds do grudge and murmer,
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and to me they say,
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That we must part asunder,
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or else they'l thee destroy.
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Samuel.
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My love be not grieved,
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though thy friends do frown,
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Thou shalt be relieved,
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none shall put thee down:
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I for thy sweet favour,
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will adventure much,
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Though thy friends and Brother,
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do against me grutch.
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Sarah.
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O my own dear sweeting,
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I am griev'd in heart,
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That I give thee such greeting,
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for to breed thy smart:
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Barnwel my own Brother,
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Captain being be,
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Swears that of all other,
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killed thou shalt be.
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Samuel.
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SArah be not fearful,
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though thy brother swear;
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Of thy life be careful,
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I no man do fear:
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What care I for Barnwel,
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though he a Captain be,
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He shall find that Samuel
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is as good as he.
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Sarah.
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O my loving Samuel,
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look where he doth go,
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'Tis my Brother Barnwel,
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now begins our woe;
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Would that we together,
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had not met this day,
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O my Judas Brother,
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will thy life betray.
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Now comes Captain Barnwel,
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to these Lovers twain,
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And made count that Samuel,
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soon he should have slain:
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But it prov'd contrary
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unto his bloody mind,
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In the sight of Sarah,
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conquest he resign'd.
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Then said he to Samuel
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pray what make you here,
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I'm with my sweet-heart Sarah,
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put her not in fear,
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Barnwel in a fury
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swore he would prevent,
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His own Sister Sarah
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of her hearts content.
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Sarah.
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O my Brother Barnwel,
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let me you intreat
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Not to wrong my Samuel,
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in your bloody heat:
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He hath ne'r offended
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you at any time,
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Let him not be condemned,
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save his life take mine.
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I, says Captain Barnwel,
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Sarah thou shalt see;
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Then he call'd to Samuel,
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come and answer me:
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I thy Death have vowed,
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e're I further go,
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Then sweet Sarah vowed,
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saying do not so.
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Samuel.
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Samuel being cheerful
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of his tyranny,
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Says, Sarah be not fearful,
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thou anon shalt see;
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Though thy Brother Barnwel,
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vow my life to spill,
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Thou shalt see that Samuel,
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hath both strength and skill.
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Now these words being spoken,
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they to Weopons go,
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Samuel gave him a token,
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with a dreadful blow:
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And withal inclosed
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with his enemy,
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Then Barnwel he supposed,
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that he himself should dye.
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Then says loving Samuel,
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are you now content,
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I, says Captain Barnwel,
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and withal consent,
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That my Sister Sarah,
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shall be made thy Wife,
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So thou wilt but spare me,
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and not take my life.
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Thus in pease they ceased,
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for the present time,
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Sarah much was eased
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of her troubled mind:
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And enjoy'd her Samuel,
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to her hearts content,
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And her Brother Barnwel,
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gave his free Consent.
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Now these Lovers twain,
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live in joy and peace,
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Pray Heaven upon them rain,
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plenty and increase:
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And all true Lovers,
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wheresoe'er they be,
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Aid them with thy favour,
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that have such constancy.
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