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 English man?
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Garments gay, as 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 prisoner there he kept her,
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In his hands her life did lie;
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Cupid's bands did bind them faster
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By the linking of the eye:
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In his courteous company
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Was all her joy;
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To favor him in any thing
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She was not coy.
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But at length there 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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O 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 shouldst 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 courageous 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 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 wonderous store.
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Spaniards fraught with Jealousy
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We most often find
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But Englishmen 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 wise 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 soldiers 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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I 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 every place:
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My chains and Jewels every one
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Shall be all 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 or gain,
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Nor yet for all the fairest dames
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Which are in Spain.
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O how happy is that woman
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Who enjoys so kind 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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Commend 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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And not for me.
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I will spend my days in prayer,
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Love and all its laws defy.
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In a nunnery I will shroud me,
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For from any company:
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But e'er 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 thy 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 fall to thy share,
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Most gallant Lady.
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