CUDDY. Shee that long true love profeft, She hath robb'd my heart of reft: WILLY. Come then, fhepherde, let us joine, CUDDY. Thy hard happ doth mine appease, Yet, Phillis, ftill I pine for thee, And ftill muft weare the willowe-tree. 15 20 X. THE LADY's FALL. From the editor's ancient folio MS, collated with two printed copies in black letter; one in the British Museum, the other in the Pepys collection. Its old title is, "A lamentable "ballad of the Lady's fall. To the tune of, In Pefcod "Time, &c. MA ARKE well my heavy dolefull tale, And heedfully beare in your breft, A gallant ladyes fall. Long was the woo'd, ere fhe was wonne, To lead a wedded life, But folly wrought her overthrowe Before thee was a wife. Too foone, alas! shee gave confent And yeelded to his will, 19 Though he protested to be true, And faithfull to her ftill, Shee felt her body altered quite, Her bright hue waxed pale, Her lovelye cheeks chang'd color white, Soe that with many a forrowful figh, With greeved hart, perceiv'd herselfe To have conceiv'd with childe. 20 Shee Shee kept it from her parents fight As close as clofe might bee, And foe put on her filken gowne None might her fwelling fee. Unto her lover fecretly Her greefe fhee did bewray, And walking with him hand in hand, By love brought to thy bowe, But none thereof doth knowe. The little babe springs in my wombe To heare its fathers voyce, Lett it not be a bastard call'd, 25 30 35 Sith I made thee my choyce : Come, come, my love, perform thy vowe And wed me out of hand; O leave me not in this extreme, Thinke on thy former promises, To mee thou madeft thy moane. And marry me with speede; 40 45 Or Or with thy rapyer end my life, Alacke! my dearest love, quoth hee, My greatest joye on earthe, Which waye can I convay Without a fudden death? thee hence, Thy friends are all of hye degree, And I of meane estate; 50 60 And take the harme on mee: Soe fhall I fcape dishonor quite; And if I fhould be flaine What could they fay, but that true love And feare not any further harme; My felfe will foe devife, That I will ryde away with thee Unknowne of mortal eyes: Disguised like fome pretty page, Ile meete thee in the darke, And all alone Ile come to thee, Hard by my fathers parke. 65 70 And And there, quoth hee, Ile meete my deare Att length the wished day was come, For her true lover ftayd: Come ryding ore the plaine, She hop'd it was her owne true love; But all her hopes were vaine. 80 85 Then did shee weepe and fore bewayle Her most unhappy fate; 90 Then did fhee fpeake thefe woefull words, As fuccourlefs fhee fate: O falfe, forfworne, and faithleffe man, 95 Haft thou forgott thy promise past, And haft thou now forfaken mee In this my great distresse, Το 2 |