The GOLDEN BULL:
Or, The Garland of Love's Craftiness.
In FOUR PARTS.
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COme listen, young lovers, awhile, and you'll find
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That crosses do often attend true lovers kind,
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The like in all ages never was in print,
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No doubt but this garland will give you content.
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It is of a king, since I must be plain,
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Who formerly did in the southern parts reign,
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He had no more children than one daughter bright,
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Who pleased her father, and was his delight.
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A neighbouring prince came a visit to pay,
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It being the usual custom, they say.
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Love pierced the princess so deep to the heart,
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She was so much wounded when he did depart.
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It seems to her father she ne'er told her mind,
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Nor to the young prince, tho' she was confin'd,
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To love him, for Cupid wa[s s]harp and severe.
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What afterwards happen'd you soon shall hear.
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She being so beautiful, charming and young,
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Her father said, with a deluding tongue,
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Love, I have a fancy to lie with thee;
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Tho' you are my child you have wounded me.
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While God gives me breath, and I have grace,
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I'll act a child's part, as it is my place.
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He said, I'm resolved to make you my wife,
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Or else your charms do bereave me of life,
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The lady burst out in abundance of tears,
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And said, Dear father, you are stricken in years,
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You can have but short time on earth to remain,
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'Tis Satan's temptations put this in your brain.
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Consider your end, your strength doth decay,
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Then drive the thoughts of the Devil away.
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Let not such vain fancies run in your head,
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Your soul must live when your body is dead.
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True love to you, father, I bear from my heart,
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And will be obedient in every part.
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But rather than please you I chuse for to die,
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So speak no more of it: Fie! father, fie!
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Dear child, you are like to the innocent dove.
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And so much sweetness confines me to love.
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Except you will have me your life I will take,
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And afterwards murder myself for your sake.
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PART II.
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NOW to the second part give attention, I pray,
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Which shews this lady contrived a way
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To shun her father, by nice cunning skill.
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Said she, give me your things your mind I'll fulfil.
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He said, Sweet creature, your mind you shall have,
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In any thing you shall desire or crave.
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These were four hard questions we may suppose,
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The first three were for three suits of cloaths.
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The first resembled the stars in the sky;
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The next the clouds that with the winds doth fly,
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The third a garment most beauteous rare,
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Of all the birds that fly in the air.
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The other thing which to ask I presume,
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Is a Golden Bull to stand in my room.
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I will give it to you, sweet jewel, he said,
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If possible such a thing is to be had.
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Then unto the goldsmith this lady went,
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And then she told her cunning intent,
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Before make it hollow, and fit to hold me,
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With a door and three bolts within let there be.
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When the Bull was made she appointed a day,
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With him to be joined, as most people say,
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She went to the chapple with him to be wed,
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But she had a comical trick in her head.
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When come to the chappel, her father to shun,
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She said, Excuse me, for back I must run,
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To fetch one thing I cannot do without.
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This put her father in great fear and doubt.
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He said, Dear creature, I am loth to trust
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You for to go back. She said, But I must.
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And if I return not, next time you see me
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I freely consent murdered to be.
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Her father waited two hours and more,
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And finding she came not, in a passion swore.
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Then about the court enquiry was made,
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But none knew where his daughter was fled.
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My impudent daughter has funn'd me, I see,
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The prince that was here has sent presents to me.
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Therefore to requite him, I now do approve
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To send him this Bull as a token of love.
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PART III.
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HE sent it abroad with most diligent care,
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But never thought his daughter was there,
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She carried sweatmeats for her nourishment.
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At length they arrived where the present was sent.
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The prince lik'd the present, and gave command,
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That this fine Bull in his chamber should stand,
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That he might view it each day, I declare,
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But did not dream his true love was there.
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Quite out of the bull in the night she did creep,
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And kissed the prince as he was asleep,
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And left a rich neckcloth embroider'd with gold,
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Which he on his pillow next day did behold.
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The prince had a mother, to whom he did say,
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Who did you let into my chamber, I pray?
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Son, there has been no one, I vow and protest.
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He took up the neckcloth, and laugh'd at the jest.
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What lady this is I must be satisfy'd,
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And if it's for love, I'll make her my bride.
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I must see her fancy who comes in my room;
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But if it's a harlot death is her doom.
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At night she crept softly, and kiss'd him, 'tis said,
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And a velvet cap she laid at his head.
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His heart was ravish'd so at her charms,
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That presently he took her up in his arms.
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With the fright she her joints could not hold,
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And begged pardon for being so bold.
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His answer was, I give pardon to thee,
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But I desire to know who you be.
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She told her name, and whose daughter she were,
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And how love caused her to come there.
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He said, Dear love, as you ventur'd for me,
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To cross the ocean, my bride you shall be.
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No doubt that the couple had joy that night.
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Next morning the prince said, as soon as 'twas light,
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Keep fast in the bull, where secure you may be.
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When I give three knocks, love, come out to me.
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So then he a ring from his finger did take,
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And said, Sweet jewel, take this for my sake.
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I must take a progress; dearest, do not mourn,
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If God gives me leave I'll quickly return.
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PART IV.
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SO then to his mother he went, and did say,
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Let no one go into my chamber, I pray.
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If I find that any go into my room,
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Then death, without mercy, shall be their doom.
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The mother said, Son, I'll keep it secure,
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That no one shall go into it be sure.
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He went to his hunting with a chearful mind.
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But now you will a sad tragedy find.
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Three ladies came, and desired to view
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Her son's Golden Bull, and made much ado.
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The old lady, thinking no harm there could be,
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Admitted them up, this fine bull to see.
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Soon as they came in, and saw the sight,
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They said, In this bull he may well delight.
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The workman that made it had nice crafty skill.
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Come let us go down, now we've had our will.
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To kick it, said one, resolved I be,
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The rest had a mind, so they kick'd it all three.
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Thinking it was the prince gave three knocks there,
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This beautiful lady came forth, I declare.
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Said they, we have waited to see the best sight,
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For in this base harlot the prince does delight,
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Therefore she shall die like a harlot in grain.
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So they all disputed how she should be slain.
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The first said, To hang her with speed it is fie.
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The second said, No, let us drown her for it
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But the last of the three this answer return'd
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If I had my will then she should be burn[']d.
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The other said, No, that must not be done,
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For under the window a river doth run.
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So they toss'd her out, and she swam to a tree,
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Where she lived three days, and none did her see.
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The suit of the clouds this lady had on,
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A maid came for water, and swift did return.
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Her master said, Why does thy colour change?
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Said she, There's a sight that's wondrous strange.
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The gentleman ran with such speed as might be
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Where he saw the lady sit under a tree.
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He went with a boat, took her in his arms,
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And he was ravish'd with her fine charms.
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The gentleman to her these words did express,
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Dear lady, how came you in this distress,
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She told him her sorrows from first to last,
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Saying, Now I hope all my troubles are past.
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Fair lady, your sorrows have not been a few,
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The prince is sick; I suppose 'tis for you.
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What is he come home! that well pleases me:
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In a few days his bride I shall be.
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Take this diamond-ring, and go to him, I pray,
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The prince doth know it, I dare to say.
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Then into his chamber he straitway did go,
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Saying, What is the cause of your languishing so
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love is the cause of my anguish and pain:
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A lady I lov'd, but I fear she is slain.
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Therefore no physicians my life can save.
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I'll follow my jewel to the silent grave.
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Then straitway he cast the ring in his view,
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Which made him cry, Who gave it you?
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Dear prince, the lady is at my house now.
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He started up, saying, I am well, I vow.
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So then to his mother the prince did go,
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Somebody has been in my chamber, I know,
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Then straitway she gave an account who they wer[e]
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The prince sent for them, who came, I declare,
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Then unto the prince they for pardon did crave.
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He said, what you chuse you surely shall have:
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One hanged, one drowned, and one burnt, shall [e
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And this was the sorrowful end of all three.
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The prince and the princess with joy were crown
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The music play'd, and trumpets did sound,
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In triumph they wedded, it was a joyful day,
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Then was the time to drive sorrow away.
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The next news she heard her father was dead
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And then of that country queen she was made,
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Then they had both nations to rule and defend,
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And so let my tragical comedy end.
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