The Spanish LADY's LOVE
To an English SAILOR.
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WILL you hear of a Spanish lady,
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How she woo'd an Englishman?
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Garments gay and rich as may be,
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Deck'd with jewels she had on.
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Of a comely countenance,
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And grace was she;
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By birth and parentage
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Of high degree.
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As his pris'ner there he kept her,
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In his hands her life did lie;
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Cupid's bands did them faster,
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By the liking of an eye.
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In his courteous company
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Was all her joy;
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To favour him in any thing
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She was not coy.
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But at length their came commandment
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For to set all ladies free,
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With their jewels still adorned,
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None to do them injury.
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Then said this lady mild,
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Full woe is me!
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Oh! let me still enjoy
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My kind captivity.
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Gallant captain, take some pity
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On a woman in distress;
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Leave me not within this city
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For to die in heaviness.
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They have set, this present day,
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My body free;
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But my heart in prison still
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Remains with thee.
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Why should'st thou, fair lady, love me?
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Whom thou know'st thy country's foe.
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Thy fair words make me suspect thee,
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Serpents lurk where flowers grow.
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All the harm I wish on thee,
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Most couragious knight,
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I wish the same on me
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May fully light.
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Blessed be the time and season
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When you came on Spanish ground.
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If that you may our foes be termed
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Gentle foes we have you found.
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With our city you have won
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Our hearts each one.
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Then to your country bear away
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What is your own.
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Rest you still, you gallant lady,
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Rest you still, and weep no more.
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Of fair flowers you have plenty,
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Spain doth yield you wond'rous store.
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Spaniards fraught with jealousy
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We most often find,
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But Englishman throughout the world
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Are counted kind.
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Leave me not under a Spaniard;
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Thou alone enjoy'st my heart;
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I am loving young, and tender,
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Love is likewise my desert.
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Still to court thee day and night
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My mind is prest,
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The wife of every Englishman
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Is surely blest.
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It would be a shame, great lady,
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For to bear a woman hence:
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English Solciers never carry
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Any such without offence.
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I will quickly change myself,
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And if it be so,
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And like a page will follow thee,
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Wheresoe'er you go.
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I have neither gold nor silver,
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For to maintain you in this case,
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And to travel is great charges,
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Which you know, in ev'ry place.
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My chains and jewels ev'ry one
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Shall be thy own.
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And eke ten thousand pounds in gold
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Which lies unknown.
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On the seas are many dangers,
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Many storms do there arise,
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Which will be to the ladies fatal,
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And force the tears from their eyes.
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Well, in troth, I shall endure
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The utmost extremity;
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For I could find in my heart to lose
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My life for thee.
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Courteous lady, leave this folly,
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Here comes all that breeds this strife,
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I in England have already
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A sweet woman to my wife.
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I will not falsify my vow,
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For gold nor gain,
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Nor yet for all the fairest dames
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Which are in Spain.
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Oh! how happy is that woman
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Who enjoys so true a friend?
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Many days I pray God send her,
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Thus of my suit I make an end.
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On my knees I do pardon crave
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For this, my offence;
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Which love and true affection
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Did the first commence.
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Comment me to that gallant lady,
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Bear to her this chain of gold,
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With these bracelets, for a token
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Grieving that I was so bold.
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All these jewels in like sort
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Take thou with thee;
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For they are fitting for thy wife,
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But not for me.
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I will spend my days in prayer,
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Love and all his laws defy:
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In a nunnery I will shroud me,
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Far from any company.
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But ere my prayers have an end,
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Be thou sure of this,
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To pray for thee and thy lady
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I will not miss.
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Thus farewel, thou gallant captain,
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Farewel to my heart's content.
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Count no Spanish lady wanton,
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Tho' on thee my heart was bent
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All joy and prosperity
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Remain with thee.
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The like thereof fall to thy share,
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Most gallant lady.
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