TEH
True hearted Lover
Deceived, by an Unconstant Woman
To the Tune of, Joy to the Person of my Love.
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ONE Morning in green April's Month,
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when Flowers begin to spring;
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When winged Choristers of the Air,
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do sweetly Chirp and sing:
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My fancy was to walk abroad,
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the Fields to range and view,
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Before bright Phoebus with his beams
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dryed up the Pearly dew.
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Scarce half a Mile out of the Town,
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that I had walked then,
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Till I approach'd a shady bank,
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a pleasant Bower, when
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A Voice I heard, and creeping near,
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to listen and be sure:
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And thus his Lamentation was;
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wo worth that time I knew her.
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The God's revenge my wrongs on her,
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whom I did Love so well,
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I never thought to see this time;
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without my Love to dwell:
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Thus bitterly im sorrow there,
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he did lament and weep:
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And tho it was but early morn,
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he there fell fast a sleep.
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Straight way to this dejected Soul,
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I rose and made my way,
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And came unto the place whereas,
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He soundly Sleeping lay;
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When I was come, I knew him well,
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it was my trusty friend;
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I rais'd him then he did unfold,
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the truth unto the end.
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Quoth he thot art my friend indeed,
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to thee I will declare
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The cause of all my present woe,
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my sorrow grief and care?
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My heart within my burning breast,
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no longer can endure;
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I've lost my sences ever since
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the cursed time I knew her.
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Full many a Day and Night I sat,
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with this fair Female one
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Since I at first approached her,
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full fourteen months are gone,
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And now she to augment my grief,
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gives me to understand
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That I must never her enjoy,
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but wear the Willow wand.
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This Damosell I did love so well,
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the same she shew'd to me;
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That after many promises,
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at length she did agree;
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To consummate our happiness,
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in Marriage to be ty'd:
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In presence of our Kindred all,
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to be my lawfull Bride.
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The day approached was whereon
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we Married were to be,
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I did prepare with diligence,
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no lett there was in me;
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But then alass to my sad grief,
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before the time was spent;
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Falce hearted Nanny left me quite,
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to mourn in discontent.
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Yet once again I did presume,
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to try if she was true,
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And unto her I went again,
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my sute for to renew;
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She was most kind as I did find,
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although she told me plain,
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To rest my self content,
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for her I never should obtain.
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Then did I weep and ring my hands,
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before this Womans face;
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By laying open all my grief,
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in this my woful case.
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William (said she) leave off,
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to be so pensive and so sorry:
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If ever I do Marry you,
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i'le forfeit Heavens glory.
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Therefore what do you think of this?
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what is a Womons mind?
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As fickle and unconstant,
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more wavering then the wind:
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May not such deeds make any Man
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to run as quite Distracted?
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To understand as I do well,
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what wickedness she acted.
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My friend said I rise up I pray,
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and lye not on the Ground;
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A scrap of Counsel i'le thee give,
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to make thee safe and sound:
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Nay more then this I tell thee plain,
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take but my kind advice,
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Thou shalt perceive it as I live,
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to be as sweet as Spice.
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Then to be brief, let her alone,
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do not approach again:
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That scorching Fire in her Face,
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it will increase thy pain;
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But feign at home a sweet content,
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and thou shall quickly see,
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Thy self to be as well indeed,
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as thou did'st feign to be.
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For here if thou should spend,
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thy time as now thou hast begun,
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Thy Body, Soul and every part,
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would unto ruin run:
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Even as the Swan upon the Meanders
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banks before she die,
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So thou upon this Verdant plain,
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sings thine own Elegy.
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With that he starts upon his Feet
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and clasp't me in his Arms,
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Declaring in one single Word,
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he would not view her charms:
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But taking in good part,
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what I did unto him unfold:
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Concluding in this very point;
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true love excelleth Gold.
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Now have I shown you Gentlemen,
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what 'tis to love two well,
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And what's th' intreags of Women are,
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I hope you now can tell:
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But if you needs must be in Love,
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be to each other true;
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The which will crown your happiness,
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mean time my Muse adieu.
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