The Westminster Lovers.
Loves passion is so violent,
Beyond all opposition,
It makes poor Lovers of Lament,
Their sad distress'd condition.
To the Tune of Russels farewell.
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FAir Isabella mind me well
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for now I do declare,
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That all the world you do excell,
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methinks you are so fair:
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Then prethee grant to me my suit,
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in thee I do delight,
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If you deny, without dispute,
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Death seizes me out-right.
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Ah Thomas these are tricks of youth
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that I cannot approve,
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To tell you now the very truth,
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I fear you do not love:
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A passion onely you pretend,
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to rob me of my Bliss,
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If Love no further do extend,
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Oh what a shame is this.
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My dearest do not doubtful be,
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that I should be unkind,
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I swear to be most true to thee,
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and thou shalt surely find;
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That if you walk the flowery plain,
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this long seven years and more,
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You ne'r will find a kinder Swain,
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your vertues to adore.
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Well Thomas, since you do protest,
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your Love is so intire,
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And that you do not speak in jest,
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you set my heart on fire:
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Methinks I feel such tickling pain,
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I never knew before,
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And if you love me not again,
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sure I shall dye therefore.
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Talk not of death my nearest Love,
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I love thee as my life,
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And if thou wilt but constant prove,
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then thou shalt be my wife:
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Betwixt my arms I'le thee imbrace,
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and teach thee such a trick,
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Will make thy joys encrease a pace,
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and blisses tumble thick.
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What kind of blisses do you mean,
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methinks my heart doth burn,
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And if you should now change the scene
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I should forever mourn:
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I feel such panting in my breast,
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now I ne'r did know,
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With pains of Love I am opprest,
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sad pains I undergo.
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Well Isabella, now believe,
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my love is so entire,
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For me thou shalt no longer grieve,
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I'le coole thy burning fire:
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Thou shalt be free from care and fear,
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and like a Princess Reign,
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Yea, thou shalt be my only dear,
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the glory of the plain.
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Her colour then did come and go,
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her lips look'd wan and pale,
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Loves passion she did plainly show,
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which did so much prevail:
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She with an amorous sigh did part,
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which Thomas minded well,
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O love quoth he, this breaks my heart
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now love, my love farewell.
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When Isabella saw him faint,
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down to the ground she fell,
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And thus she made a short complaint,
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did Thomas say farewell?
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'Tis time for me now to depart,
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and to Elizium flye,
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Thus Isabella broke her heart,
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for love did Thomas dye.
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You lovers all, both great and small,
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be rul'd by my advice,
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Into such passions do not fall,
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which proves fools Paradice:
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With moderation set your love,
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your lovers to obtain,
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And if your lovers constant prove,
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quit you of all pain.
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But cruel Fortune that will change,
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did both their lives destroy,
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She smil'd at first, at last grew strange
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and did their loves annoy:
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Both in a grave these two were laid,
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that made the world admire,
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Alive, or dead, the people said,
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the Shepherd would lye by her.
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Their Parents mourned night & day,
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for their exceeding loss,
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I wish that other lovers may
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take warning by the cross:
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And not in seeming rage to go,
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or from their lovers part,
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This loving Shepherd he did so,
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which broke his lovers heart.
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