The Spanish Virgin; Or, The Effects of Jealousie.
Being a sad and lamentable story of a young and beautiful Gentlewoman, who waited on a cruel
Lady, that was jealous that her Lord lay with her; whereupon she took this revenge upon
this Maid, who was innocent of any such action. Her Lord being gone a journey, she caused her
to be put into a dark dungeon, which had not been opened for many years, which was haunt-
ed with great Snakes, Adders and Toads; the Snakes immediately seized on her and kill'd her,
at which sight the Lady run mad and dyed, being a just reward of her cruel jealousie.
To the Tune of, Chievy Chase; Or, Aim not too high.
|
ALL tender hearts that ake to hear,
|
of those that suffer wrong,
|
All you that never shed a tear,
|
give ear unto my song.
|
Oh jealousie thou art nurst in hell,
|
Depart from hence and therein dwell.
|
Fair Isabella's Tragedy,
|
of this comes short by far,
|
My Pen to write it doth deny,
|
yet I must not forbear.
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
A cruel Lady once of Spain,
|
who was of high degree,
|
Did of unkindnesses complain,
|
betwixt her Lord and she.
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
She told her Lord he loved her not,
|
such was her jealousie,
|
Whose flames at length did burn so hot
|
they to revenge did flee,
|
Oh jealousie[,] etc[.]
|
A Gentlewoman that was fair,
|
did on this Lady wait,
|
with most brave dames she might com-pare,
|
she was for love a bait.
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
This Lady did suspect that she
|
with her beloved Lord,
|
Had too much familiarity,
|
which rise to high discord,
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
Her Gentlewoman innocent
|
in wronging of her bed,
|
Desir'd her to give consent
|
she for herself might plead.
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
This Lady being with rage possest,
|
her Lord from home being gone,
|
Her fury quickly she exprest,
|
the like was never known.
|
Oh jealousie thou art nurst in hell,
|
Depart from hence and therein dwell[.]
|
SHe calls her servant presently,
|
and bids him open wide,
|
Her Dungeon deep this Maid should lye
|
therein until she dy'd.
|
Oh jealousie thou art nurst in hell,
|
Depart from hence and therein dwell.
|
And by the story it now appears,
|
the like was never seen,
|
This Dungeon not for many years,
|
had ever opened been,
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
Great Adders, Snakes, & Toads therein
|
as afterwards was known,
|
Long in this loathsom place had been,
|
so monstrous they were grown.
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
Amongst this ravenous poisonous crew,
|
this fair one innocent,
|
Was cast her murderers to view,
|
who straight did her torment.
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
She was no sooner entered in,
|
but there she quickly heard,
|
The Toads to croak, and Snakes hissing
|
then grievously she fear'd;
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
Then from their holes those vipers creep
|
and fiercely her assail,
|
Which made her sorely for to weep,
|
and her sad doom bewail,
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
With her fair hands she strives in vain,
|
her body to defend,
|
With shrieks & cries she doth complain,
|
but all was to no end:
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
A servant hearkened at the door,
|
and heard this doleful noise:
|
His Ladies mercy he doth implore,
|
but she'l not hear his voice.
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
Away with sorrow he goes again,
|
to hear those dreadful groans,
|
He plainly hears within the Den,
|
how she herself bemoans;
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
Again he to his Lady goes
|
and to her makes his prayers,
|
This cruel Lady slights her woes,
|
and kicks him down the stairs;
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
Then back again he doth return
|
to try if he could hear
|
This Virgin innocent to mourn,
|
which put him in great fear.
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
He could not hear no noise at all,
|
which did him sore affright,
|
Unto his Lady he did call,
|
at twelve a clock i'th night;
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
O cruel Lady now, quoth he,
|
your ends you sure have had,
|
Make hast for shame, come down and see,
|
I fear the Virgins dead.
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
She starts to hear this sudden fate,
|
and does with Torches run,
|
Unto the Dungeon, but oh! too late,
|
for death his worst had done.
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
The door was opened, where they found,
|
the Virgin laid along,
|
with four great snakes upon the ground,
|
who her to death had stung.
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
One did her legs and thighs embrace,
|
and round her neck another,
|
One round her wast, one on her face,
|
all which her breath did smother;
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
The Snakes being from her body thrust,
|
their bellies were so fill'd,
|
That they with her warm blood did burst
|
so all of them were kill'd.
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
The wicked Lady at this sight,
|
first trembled, then run mad,
|
And so she dy'd, which was her right,
|
she no pitty had;
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
Let me advise good people all,
|
of jealousie to beware,
|
It causes many a one to fall,
|
it is the devils snare.
|
Oh jealousie, etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|