The Shepherd's SON:
OR,
The Faithless Nurse.
Containing a Royal Frolick between King Edward the Fourth, and his Nobles, at
Westminster; as you shall find in this following Ditty, taken from ancient Writings, for the Satis-
faction of the World. To the Tune of, The Royal Forrester.
Licens'd according to Order.
|
I Come not to sing you a sonnet of lies,
|
Which every fanciful Man can divise,
|
Nor any strange rodemantadoes in tune,
|
Concerning the wonderful world in the moon.
|
No, no, I will tell you a story of truth,
|
King Edward the fourth in his flourishing youth,
|
He many a fancy was pleased to try;
|
Here's one you shall hear, if you please to draw nigh:
|
Behold, he was one of the frolicksome Kings,
|
Who often discours'd of the causes of things;
|
Amongst his true Nobles of honour and worth,
|
Said he, should we take a young Boy from the birth,
|
And keep him in silence for twice seven years,
|
Where never no language may sound in his ears,
|
To teach him to speak any words more or less;
|
I wonder how then he himself wou'd express?
|
Said one of the Nobles, He'll blate like a sheep;
|
Another reply'd, that true silence he'd keep:
|
With that, said King Edward we'll bring up one mute,
|
And so by that means we shall end the dispute.
|
And if I shall live while the time's at an end,
|
To him I will prove an infallable Friend;
|
For then to a Tutor or school he shall go,
|
Good learning upon him I'll freely bestow.
|
The Son of a Shepherd they soon did procure,
|
And likewise a Nurse, who was free to endure
|
The silence of living, to pleasure the King;
|
And vow'd to be faithful in everything.
|
King Edward near Windsor a place did provide,
|
A cradle, and all things convenient beside,
|
To cherish the Infant out of his own purse,
|
And none was to enter but Madam the Nurse.
|
She was not confin'd, but had freedom to go
|
Abroad in the Town, for an hour or so;
|
But ever when back to the Child she did come,
|
She must be more silent, tha none that was dumb.
|
No manner of words in the least must she spake,
|
When out of the cradle the Child she did take;
|
Or when at the breast it was sucking it's fill,
|
Because of the absolute tryal of skill.
|
The King he enjoyn'd her the same to observe,
|
Said he, If the least from your duty you swerve,
|
Then during my reign, I will keep you confin'd,
|
And therefore your business consider and mind.
|
But if you are faithful, and true to your trust,
|
Here's forty broad pieces I'll give you at first;
|
Besides I will settle one hundred a year
|
Upon you, and therefore go on without fear.
|
She vow'd to the King she wou'd never neglect,
|
Performing her duty in ev'ry respect;
|
Therefore with the Infant she strait did repair,
|
To keep it according to promise with care.
|
This silence the Nurse did observe for a while,
|
But as the Child grew, it was subject to smile,
|
And cooe in her lap, as the same she undrest;
|
O then with sad sorrow she'd beat on her breast.
|
The trickling tears from her eyes they wou'd fall,
|
To think that she must not say nothing at all
|
To please the young Infant, yet nevertheless,
|
Sometimes in sad sorrow, these words she express:
|
King Edward has many a foolish thing done,
|
And this, I declare, amongst others is one:
|
This did she repeat as it sat on her knee,
|
At length the Child got it as perfect as she.
|
Now, now when the time was expir'd, we find
|
The Child it came into his Majesty's mind;
|
Who sent for him then on a Festival-day,
|
Amongst all his Nobles, both gallant and gay.
|
When into their presence the Youth he was brought,
|
All knowing right well he was not to be taught;
|
With longing desires they waited awhile,
|
At length he did make the whole company smile.
|
He nev'r see so many before in his days,
|
Quoth he, when his voice he began for to raise,
|
King Edward has many a foolish thing done,
|
And this, I declare, amongst others is one.
|
The Nobles they laught, and the King with the rest,
|
He cou'd not forbear, but must smile at the jest;
|
But oh, the poor Nurse, with a trembling fear,
|
She cry'd out, My ruine, my ruine is near.
|
The King he look'd then with a terrible frown,
|
And said, By my honoured Scepter and Crown,
|
You ought to be punisht according to law,
|
Because that my word did not keep you in awe.
|
The Nobles then present her pardon obtain'd,
|
And so for the time that his Majesty reign'd,
|
She lived in plenty near Westminster-hall,
|
Not far from the sign of the Lion and Ball.
|
The King of the Youth took particular care,
|
To bless him with learning, no cost he did spare;
|
And when all was done, as in writings we hear,
|
He settled upon him three hundred a year.
|
|
|
|
|
|