The Constant Lover.
Who his affection will not move,
Though he live not where he love.
To a Northerne tune called, Shall the absence of my Mistresse.
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YOu loyall Lovers that are distant,
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from your Sweet-hearts many a mile,
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Pray come-helpe me at this instant,
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in mirth to spend away the while,
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In singing sweetly and compleately,
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in commendation of my love,
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Resolving ever to part never,
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though I live not where I love.
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My love shee's faire and also vertuous,
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God grant to me she may prove true,
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Then there is naught but death shall part us,
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and Ile ne're change her for a new,
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And though the fates my fortunes hates,
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and me from her doe farre remove,
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Yet I doe vow still to be true,
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though etc.
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My constancy shall ne're be failing,
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whatsoe're betide me here,
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Of her vertue Ile be telling,
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be my biding farre or neere,
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And though blind fortune prove uncertaine,
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from her presence me to remove,
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Yet Ile be constant every instant,
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though etc.
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Though our bodies thus are parted,
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and asunder many a mile,
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Yet I vow to be true hearted,
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and be faithfull all the while;
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Though with mine eye I cannot spye,
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for distance great my dearest Love,
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My heart is with her altogether,
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though etc.
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When I sleepe I doe dreame on her,
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when I wake I take no rest,
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But every moment thinke upon her,
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she's so fixed in my brest,
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And though farre distance may be assistance,
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from my mind her love to move,
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Yet I will never our love dissever,
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though etc.
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To thinke upon the amarous glances,
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that have beene betwixt us twaine,
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My constancy and love advances,
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though from her presence I remaine,
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And makes the teares with groanes & feares,
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from watery eyes and heart to move,
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And sighing say both night and day,
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alas I live etc.
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The second part, to the same Tune,
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I To her will be like Leander,
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if Hero like shee'le prove to me,
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For her sake through the world Ile wander,
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no desperate danger I will flee,
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And into the Seas with little ease,
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the mountains great themselves shal move,
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Ere faith I breake, let me ne're speake,
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though etc.
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Penelope shall be unconstant,
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and Diana prove unchaste,
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Venus to Vulcan shall be constant,
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and Mars farre from her shall be plac't,
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The blinded boy no more shall joy,
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with Arrowes keene lovers so move,
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Ere false I be sweet-heart to thee,
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though etc.
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The Birds shall leave their Airy region,
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the fishes in the aire shall fly,
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All the world shall be at one religion,
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all living things shall cease to dye,
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Al things shal change to shapes most strange,
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before that I disloyall prove,
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Or any way my love decay,
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though etc.
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If you lines doe come before her,
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or doe deigne to touch her hand,
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Tell her that I doe adore her,
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above all Maidens in the land,
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Remaining still at her good will,
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and alwayes to her loyall prove,
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Tell death with dart doe strike my heart,
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though etc.
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And tell my mistresse that a Lover,
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that loves perfect image beares,
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As true as love it selfe doe love her,
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witnesse his farre fetcht sighes and teares,
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Which forth he groanes with bitter moanes,
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and from his troubled breast he moves,
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And day nor night takes no delight,
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because etc.
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So with my duty to her commended,
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her loyall servant Ile be still,
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Desiring I may be befriended,
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with love againe for my good will,
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And wish that she as true may be,
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as I to her will constant prove,
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And night and day I still will pray,
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and wish I may live where I love
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