The Famous Flower of Serving-men;
OR,
The LADY turned to be a SERVING-MAN.
Her love being slain, her father dead,
Her bower rob'd, her servants fled;
She dress'd herself in man's attire,
She trimm'd her locks, she cut her hair,
And thereupon she changed her name,
From fair Alice, to sweet William.
To the Tune of, FLORA's Farewell; or Summer Time.
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YOU beauteous Ladies great and small,
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I write to you, one and all,
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whereby that you may understand
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what I have suffer'd in this land.
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I was by birth a lady fair,
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my Fathers chief and only Heir:
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but when my good old Father dy'd,
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then I was made a young Knight's bride.
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But when my love built me a bower,
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bedeck'd with many a fragrant flower;
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a braver bower you never did see,
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than my true love did build for me.
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But there came thieves late in the night,
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that rob'd my bower and slew my knight,
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and after that my Knight was slain,
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I could no longer there remain.
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My servants all from me did fly,
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in the midst of my sad extremity:
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and left me by myself alone,
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with heart more cold than any stone.
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Yet though my heart was full of care,
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Heav'n suffered me not to despair;
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wherefore in haste I chang'd my name,
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from fair Alice to sweet William.
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And therewithal I cut my hair,
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and drest myself in man's attire;
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with doublet, hose, and beaver hat,
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and a gold band about my neck.
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A Silver rapier by my side,
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so like a gallant I did ride;
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the thing that I delighted on,
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it was to be a serving-man.
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Thus in my sumptuous man's array,
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I bravely rode along the way:
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and at the last it chanced so,
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I unto the King's Court did go.
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Then to the King I bowed full low,
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my love and duty for to show,
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and so much favour I did crave,
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that I servant's-place might have.
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Stand up brave youth the King reply'd
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thy service shall not be deny'd;
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but tell me first what thou can'st do,
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thou shalt be fitted thereunto.
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Wilt thou be usher of my hall,
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to wait upon my Nobles all?
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wilt thou be taster of my wine,
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to wait upon me when I dine;
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Or wilt thou be my Chamberlain,
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to make my bed so soft and fine?
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or wilt thou be one of my guards?
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and I will give the great reward.
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Sweet William with a smiling face,
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said to the King, if it please your grace,
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to shew such favour unto me,
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I your Chamberlain would be.
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The King did then the Nobles call,
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to ask the council of them all:
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who gave consent sweet William he,
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the King's own Chamberlain should be.
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Now mark what strange things came to pass,
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as the King one day a hunting was,
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with all his Lords and Noble Train,
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sweet William did at home remain.
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Sweet William had no Company then,
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at home with him but an old man;
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and when he saw that the house was clear,
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he took a Lute which he had there.
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Upon the Lute sweet William play'd,
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and to the same he sung and said,
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With a pleasant and most noble voice,
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Which made the old man to rejoice.
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father was as brave a lord,
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"As ever Europe did afford;
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"My mother was a lady bright,
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"My husband was a gallant knight.
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I myself a lady gay,
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"Bedeck'd with glorious rich Array;
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"The bravest Lady in the land,
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"Had no more pleasures at command.
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had my music every day,
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"Harmonious Lessons for to play,
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"I had my virgins fair and free,
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"Continually to wait on me.
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now, alas! my husband's dead,
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"And all my friends are from me fled;
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"My former joys are past and gone,
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"For now I am a serving man.
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At last the king from hunting came,
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And presently upon the same,
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He called for the good old man,
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And thus to speak he thus began.
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What news what news old man quoth he,
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What news hast thou to tell to me,
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Brave news the old man then did say,
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Sweet William is a lady gay.
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If this be true thou tellest to me,
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I'll make thee lord of high degree:
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But if thy words do prove a lie,
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Thou shalt be hang'd up instantly.
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But when the King the truth had found,
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His Joys did more and more abound:
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According as the old man did say,
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Sweet William is a Lady gay.
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Therefore the King without delay,
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Put on his glorious rich array,
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Upon her head a crown of gold,
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Which was most famous to behold.
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And then for fear of further strife,
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He took sweet William for his wife;
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The like before was never seen,
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A serving man to be a Queen.
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