With bleeding heart he goes agen
To mark the maiden's groans;
And plainly hears, within the den,
How the herself bemoans,

Again he to his lady hies

With all the hafte he may: She into furious paffion flies, And orders him away.

Still back again does he return
To hear her tender cries;

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The virgin now had ceas'd to mourn;
Which fill'd him with furprize.

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In grief, and horror, and affright,

He liftens at the walls;

But finding all was filent quite,

He to his lady calls.

Too fure, O lady, now quoth he,

Your cruelty hath sped:

Make haft, for shame, and come and fee;

I fear the virgin's dead.

She starts to hear her fudden fate,
And does with torches run:
But all her hafte was now too late,

For death his worst had done,

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The

The door being open'd ftrait they found
The virgin ftretch'd along:

Two dreadful snakes had wrapt her round,
Which her to death had stung.

One round her legs, her thighs, her waft

Had twin'd his fatal wreath:

The other close her neck embrac'd,
And stopt her gentle breath.

The fnakes, being from her body thruft,
Their bellies were fo fill'd,

That with excess of blood they burst,

Thus with their prey were kill'd.

The wicked lady at this fight,
With horror ftrait ran mad;

So raving dy'd as was moft right,
Cause the no pity had.

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VII.

THE ASPIRING SHEPHERD.

From the Editor's ancient folio Manufcript.

HE is a foole that bafelye dallies,

Where eche peasant mates with him: Shall I haunt the thronged vallies

Having noble hills to climbe.

No, no, those clownes, be fcar'd with frownes,
Shall never my esteeme obtaine;
And fuch as you, fond fools, adieu !
Ye feeke to captive me in vaine.

I doe fcorne to vow a dutye,

Where eche luftfull ladd may woe: Give me her whose fun-like' beautye Buzzards dare not gaze unto.

Shee it is, affords my bliffe,

For whom I will refuse no paine : And fuch as you, fond fools, adieu! Ye feeke to captive me in vaine.

Ver. 11. feemlye. MS.

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VIII. CON.

VIII.

CONSTANT PENELOPE.

The ladies are indebted for the following notable documents to the Pepys collection, where the original is preferved in blackletter, intitled and is, "A looking-glafs for ladies, or a mirrour " for married women. Tune Queen Dido, or Troy town."

HEN Greeks, and Trojans fell at ftrife,

WHE

And lords in armour bright were feen;

When many a gallant loft his life

About fair Hellen, beauties queen;

Ulyffes, general so free,

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Did leave his dear Penelope.

When the this wofull news did hear,
That he would to the warrs of Troy;
For grief the shed full many a tear,

At parting from her only joy ;
Her ladies all about her came,
To comfort up this Grecian dame.

Ulyffes, with a heavy heart,

Unto her then did mildly fay,

The time is come that we must part,
My honour calls me hence away;
Yet in my abfence, deareft, be

My conftant wife, Penelope.

Let me no longer live, fhe fayd,

Then to my lord I true remain;
My honour shall not be betray'd
Until I fee my love again :
For ever I will constant prove,
As is the loyal turtle-dove.

Thus did they part with heavy chear,
And to the ships his way he took;
Her tender eyes dropt many a tear,

Still cafting many a longing look:

She faw him on the furges glide,

And unto Neptune thus fhe cry'd.

Thou god, whofe power is in the deep,

And ruleft in the ocean main,

My loving lord in safety keep

Till he return to me again :

That I his perfon may behold,

To me more precious far than gold.

Then ftraight the ships with nimble fails
Were all convey'd out of her fight:

Her cruel fate fhe then bewails,

Since she had loft her hearts delight: Now fhall my practice be, quoth the, True vertue and humility.

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My