Now woe unto the World,
And all that therein dwell,
O that I were with thee in Heaven,
For here I live in Hell.
And now this Lover lives
A discontented Life,
Whofe Bride was brought unto the Grave
A Maiden and a Wife.
A Garland fresh and fair
Of Lillies there was made,
In fign of her Virginity,
And on her Coffin laid.
Six Maidens, all in white,
Did bear her to the Ground; The Bells did ring in folemn fort, And made a doleful Sound.
In Earth they laid her then,
For hungry Worms a Prey;
So fhall the fairest Face alive,
At length be brought to Clay.
XXXIII. The unfortunate Love of a Lancashire Gentleman, and the hard Fortune of a fair young Bride.
To the Tune of, Come follow my Love, &c.
OOK you faithful Lovers,
On my unhappy State,
See my Tears diftilling,
But poured out too late:
And buy no foolish Fancy,
At too dear a Rate;
Alack for my Love I fhall dye.
My Father is a Gentleman,
Well known of high Degree,
And tender of my Welfare
Evermore was he;
He fought for Reputation,
But all the worse for me,
Alack, &c.
There was a proper Maiden
Of Favour sweet and fair,
To whom in deep Affection
I closely did repair,
In Heart I dearly lov'd her,
Lo, thus began my Care;
Alack, &c.
For Nature had adorn'd her
With Qualities divine,
Prudent in her Actions,
And in Behaviour fine,
Upon a sweeter Creature
The Sun did never shine;
Alack, &c.
Nothing wanting in her,
But this the Grief of all,
Of Birth she was but lowly,
Of Substance very small,
A fimple hired Servant,
And subject to each Call.
Alack, &c.
Yet she was my Pleasure,
My Joy and Hearts delight,
More rich than any Treasure,
More Precious in my Sight;
At length to one another
Our Promise we did plight;
Alack, &c.
And thus unto my Father
The thing I did reveal,
Defiring of his Favour,
Nothing I did conceal,
But he my dear Affection
Regarded ne'er a deal;
Alack, &c.
Quoth he, Thou graceless Fellow,
Thou art my only Heir;
And for thy own Preferment
Hath thou no better Care?
To marry with a Beggar
That is both poor and bare;
Alack, &c.
I charge thee on my Bleffing,
That you her Sight refrain,
And that into her Company
You never come again :
That you should be fo marryed,
I take it in Disdain.
Are there fo many Gentlemen
Of worshipful Degree,
That have moft honeft Daughters
Of Beauty fair and free,
And can none but a Beggar's Brat
Content and pleasure thee?
Alack, &c.
By God, that did all things create,
This Vow to thee I make,
If thou do not this Beggar
Refuse and quite forfake,
From thee thy due Inheritance
I wholly mean to take;
Alack, &c.
These his bitter Speeches
Did fore torment my Mind,
Knowing well how greatly
He was to Wealth inclin'd,
My Heart was flain with Sorrow,
No comfort I could find;
Alack, &c.
Then did I write a Letter,
And fent it to my Dear,
Wherein my first Affection
All changed did appear;
Which from her fair Eyes forced
The pearled Water clear;
Alack, &c.
For Grief unto the Meffenger
One Word she could not speak
Thofe doleful heavy Tidings
Her gentle Heart did break;
Yet fought not by her Speeches,
On me her Heart to wreak;
Alack, &c.
This Deed within my Confcience
Tormented me full fore,
To think upon the Promise
I made her long before,
And for the true Performance
How I most deeply swore;
Alack, &c.
I could not be in quiet
Till I to her did go,
Who for my fake remained
In Sorrow, Grief and Woe,
And unto her in fecret
My full Intent to show;
Alack, &c.
My Sight rejoyced greatly
Her fad perplexed Heart,
From both our Eyes on fudden
The trickling Tears did start,
And in each other's Bofom
We breathed forth our Smart ;
Alack, &c.
Unknown unto my Father,
Or any Friend befide,
Our Selves we closely married,
She was my only Bride,
Yet ftill within her Service
I caus'd her to abide ;
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