[Where Helen Lyes.]
To an Excellent new sweet Tune, I would I were where Helen lyes.
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MY sweetest sweet and fairest fair,
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of birth and worth beyond compare
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Thou art the causer of my care
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since first I loved thee:
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I would I were where Helen lyes.
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where Helen lyes, where Helen lyes,
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For night and day on me she cryes,
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in land where ever she be.
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Thy face is full of blesse[d]ness,
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thy lips is full of comliness,
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Thy countenance is loveliness:
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with heart. O i pitie me;
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I would I were, etc.
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Pitie and vertue they do meet,
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which makes thy body so compleat,
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The love of thee my only sweet
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can only comfort me.
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I would I were, etc.
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Yet GOD hath given to me a mind,
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the which to thee shal prove as kind,
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As any one that thou shalt find,
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of high or low degree.
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I would I were, etc.
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Yet nevertheless I am content,
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and never a whit my love repent;
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But think the time it was well spent
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though I disdained be.
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I would I were, etc.
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Yet Venus loved a shepherds swain,
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whose name is called Ordemain,
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And Rosmount an inferior man,
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why may not thou love me?
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I would I were, etc.
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[W]hat contemplation be to me,
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the height of my felicitie?
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[S]hal I adore a Deitie,
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can no wayes passed be?
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[I] would I were, etc.
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[S]hal I continue still to love,
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whom neither tears nor sighs can move?
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[S]uch constancie will fullie prove
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no truth but flatterie,
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[I] would I were, etc.
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[T]he shaldest river makes most dine,
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the deepest pool, the deadest lin,
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[T]he richest man least truth within,
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though he preferred be.
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[I] would I were, etc.
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The Eagle and the Cock a match,
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cannot stop the Butterflie to catch,
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Nor can the Hare feed with the Ratch,
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no more canst thou love me.
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[I] would I were etc.
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[B]ut here I swear I'le be as true
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as any one shal favour you
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[T]he love I love I'le never rue
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untill the day I die.
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[I] would I were, etc.
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My heart with thee thou hast in eye,
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with thee to live and also dye,
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[I] love thee for thy constancy,
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and evermore shall do,
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[I] would I were, etc.
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No accident can have the force,
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to change my love or yet it cross,
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Nor can the world with its dross,
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hinner my love from you.
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[I] would I were, etc.
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O Helen fair, without compare,
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let not [nor] dispare, nor killing care,
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My pure heart tear but one word maire,
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and say thou pities me.
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I would I were, etc.
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O Helen Sweet, and most compleat,
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my captive sp'rit pyne at thy feet,
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O think not fit thus for to treat,
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thy prisoner with crueltie.
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I would I were, etc.
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O Helen brave this still I crave,
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on thy poor slave some pity have
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O do him save who's near his grave,
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and dies for love of thee,
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I would I were, etc.
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O Helen best discreet, modest,
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who is possest with thee is blest:
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With happiness[s] thou art increst,
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Oh, if I wer[e] with thee.
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I would I were, etc.
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O Helen wise, do not dispise
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the humble cryes of him who dyes,
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Look where he lyes and bid him rise,
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and live and hope for thee.
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I would I were, etc.
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O Helen great in my conceit,
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my ridged fate I must regra[te,]
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Rigour abate, do not him hate,
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who loves thee till he die.
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I would I were, etc.
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O Helen co[y,] my love my joy,
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[do not employ the] winged boy,
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[Me to destroy, or to annoy]
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that [heart, who sighs] for thee.
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I would I [we]re, etc.
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O Helen chaste, my wounds bleed fast
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my life doth waste, and makes hast great,
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Thou wilt at last when time is past,
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repent thy cruelty.
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I would I were, etc.
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O Helen fai[re,] O Helen sweet,
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O Helen [bra]ve, O Helen best,
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O Helen wise, O Helen great,
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O Helen coy and Chaste.
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I would I were, etc.
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Think on the place where we have been
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imbracing of my love Helen,
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At Venus game hath been right keen
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but now I them deny.
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I would I were, etc.
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O Helen rare, O Helen fair,
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I'le wear a Garland of thy hair,
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Shal cover me for evermair,
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untill the day I die.
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I would I were, etc.
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O that I were where I would be,
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even in beneath you green wood tree,
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And my own Deary on my knee,
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so well as we should gree.
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I would I were where Helen lyes
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where Helen lyes, where Helen lyes
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For night and day on me she cryes
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in land where ever she be
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