True LOVE rewarded with Loyalty
Or, Mirth and Joy after Sorrow and Sadness.
Enter'd in the Stamp-Office, according to Act of Parliament.
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AS I walk'd forth to take the Air,
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One Morning musing all alone,
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I heard a young Man full of care,
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Thus to himself did make great moan.
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My dearest Dear and I must part,
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So sad and heavy is my Heart;
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It doth increase my Misery,
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My Love that I must part from thee.
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But no leave of my Love I'll take,
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I will but wander for her sake,
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And like Leander I will prove,
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True and constant to my Love.
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For dost thou think I'll vow and swear,
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And not my Promises fulfill?
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Then deal with me as I deserve,
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If I be not thy true Love still.
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My Lands and Livings are but small,
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For to Maintain my Love withal;
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But with my labour and my Pain,
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My dearest Dear I will maintain.
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Thy Friends do owe to me a grudge,
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Because to thee I bear good-will:
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But stand thou up in my defence,
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And I will be thy True-love still.
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If I had Gold and Silver store
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As much as ever Crassus won,
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'Twere too little for my Love,
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Considering what for me she's done.
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Now hand in Hand with thee I'll go,
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Through mirth, through melody and woe
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Nay thro' the World I'll go with thee,
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What e'er betides to my Body.
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The pale-fac'd Moon shall lose her light,
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The glorious Sun shall darken'd be,
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And Stars shall from the Heavens fall,
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My love, e'er I prove false to thee.
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There shall no Grass grow on the plain,
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Nor blossom bud upon the Tree,
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All Fruit shall have a deadly Wound,
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My Love, e'er I prove false to thee.
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The swiftest River shall run Back,
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The Wind shall drive the Water-mill,
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And the brightest Day shall turn to Night,
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If I be not thy true Love still.
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Thus he did languish all alone,
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And sore he was oppress'd with Grief,
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At last his Love did hear his Moan,
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[A]nd straight she came to his Relief.
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The Maid's ANSWER.
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MY dearest, why dost thou complain,
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And grieve thy Heart since I am true,
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Fear not that I will thee disdain,
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I'll never change for thee a new.
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Thou shalt not part from me, my Dear,
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Nor wander in an unknown Land;
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A part of all thy Grief i'll bear,
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And always be at thy Command.
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As true as ever Hero was,
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To her Leander I will prove;
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Were it to cross the Hellespont,
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I would not fear to find my Love.
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Thy Oaths and Vows I do believe,
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And plainly I thy love do see;
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it my very Heart doth grieve,
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That thou should so lament for me.
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What tho' my Friends do at thee frown,
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And will not yield i should thee love,
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Fear not, since i will be thy own,
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And constant ever i will prove.
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The Lambs shall with the Lions play,
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The tim'rous Hare the Hounds pursue,
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The Element shall pass away,
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E'er i to thee will prove untrue.
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No Snow shall lie upon the Alps,
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Nor Flames break out from AEtna's Hill,
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The wild Beasts shall forsake their Walks,
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if i be not thy True Love still.
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Therefore, my Dear, let sorrow cease,
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i'm come for to embrace my own,
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Which will my former Joys encrease,
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For thee i Love, and thee alone.
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The Conclusion.
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When he had heard her sweet reply,
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His dying Spirits did revive,
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Quoth he, For love i will not die,
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i am the happinest Man alive.
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Blest be the Time that my true Love,
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Did hither come to chear my Heart,
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Her Constancy i now do prove,
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Nothing but Death shall us two part.
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Great Joy there was when they did meet,
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And loving Compliments did pass:
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And many times with Kisses sweet,
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He did embrace his amorous Lass.
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Let all young Lovers that do hear,
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This Song, be faithfull to their choice;
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Then each one may enjoy their Dear,
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Which true Lovers doth much rejoice.
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