Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
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A11095
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The bride by S.R.
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Rowlands, Samuel, 1570?-1630?
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1617
(1617)
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STC 21365.5; ESTC S2862
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12,668
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38
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elements together The one forsaking aire the other water And they that woare the finne to weare the feather Remaining changelings all the worlds time after The course of nature will be so beguilde One maide shall get another maide with childe When euery Crow shall turne to be a Parret And euery Starre out-shine the glorious Sunne And the new water works runne white and clarret That come to towne by way of Islington Woemen and men shall quite renounce each other And maides shall bee with childe like Merlins mother Grace Like Merlins mother how was that I pray For I haue heard he was a cunning man There lines not such another at this day Nor euer was since Brittans first began Tell vs the story and we well will minde it Because they say In written bookes we finde it Bride Marry this Merlins mother was welsh Lady That liued in Carnaruan beautious maide And loue of Lords and Knights shee did not way by But set all light and euery one denay'd All Gentlemen as all you knowe be there That came a wooing were no wit the neere At length it hapned that this gallant girle Which scorned all men that she euer saw Holding her selfe to be a matchlesse Pearle And such a Loadestone that could Louers draw Grew belly-full exceeding bigge and plumpe Which put her Mayden-credit in a dumpe Time running course and her full stomacke fed When consumation of fewe months expired Shee husbandlesse a mayde was brought to bed Of that rare Merlin that the world admired This to be honest all her friends did doubt iâ— Much prittle prattle was in Wales about it So that ere long the strangnes of the thing To heare that Lady Adhan had a childe Caus'd famous Arthur being Brittans King Send for her to the Court and reason milde To know how this rare matter could be done And make her finde a father for her sonne She told his Maiestie with sighes and teares That keeping beautie carefull from the Sunne Within her chamber safely shut from feares Till Phaebus horses to the West were runne The doores fast lock'd and she her selfe alone Came in a gallant stranger meere vnknowne Who euer came in courting manner to her With all the louing courage could be thought So powerfull in perswasions force to woe her That to his will constrained she was brought Although her heart did firme deniall vow Yet she was forc'd to yeeld and knew not how So oft he came quoth she priuate and strange When I shut vp my selfe in most sad humor That I began to finde an inward change Which brought me quickly to an outward tumor An 't please your highnes I was in such case That to the world I durst not show my face My foes reioyced all my friends were sad My selfe in sorrow spent both day and night No satisfaction my wrong'd honour had Was neuer maide in such perplexed plight To be with child whether I will or no And for my child no humane father know Had I bin married quoth she as I ought And with my loue the loue of man requited I had not to this woefull state bin brought In all contempt disgracefully despighted And tearmed strumpet by the rude vnciuill Who say my sonne is bastard to the diuell Wherefore I wish Ladies of my degree And all the rest inferiour sorts of maydes To rake a warning for their good by me Yeelding affection when kind men perswades And hate disdaine that vile accursed sin Least they be plagu'd for pride as I haue bin How say you to this warning wenches now That Lady Adhan giues vnto you all Were you not better marriage to allow Then in a manner for a Midwife call I thinke you were if I might iudge the cause How say you Susan speake good Doll and Grace Grace This is a story that seemes very strange And for my part it doth me full perswade My Mayden-head with some man to exchange I will not liue in danger of a mayde The world the flesh the diuell tempts vs still I le haue a husband I protest I will If I were sure none of you here would blabbe I would euen tell you of a dreame most true And if I lye count me the veriest drabbe That euer any of you saw or knewe When a friend speakes in kindnes do not wrong her For I can keepe it for my life no longer One night I haue the day of moneth set downe Because I will make serious matters sure Me thought I went a iourney out of towne And with a propper man I was made sure As sure as death me thought we were assured And all things for the businesse were procured We did agree and faith and troath did plight And he gaue me and I gaue him a Ring To doe as Mistris Bride will doe at night And I protest me thought he did the thing The thing we stand so much vpon he tooke And I vpon the matter bigge did looke Forsooth in sadnes I was bigge with childe And had a belly marry God forbid Then fell a weeping but he laught and smil'd And boldly said wee le stand to what we did Fye fye quoth I who euer stands I fall Farewell my credit maydenhead and all Thus as I cry'd and wept and wrong my hands And said deare maydes and maydenhead adue Before my face me thought my mother stands And question'd with me how this matter grew With that I start awake as we are now Yet feard my dreame had bin no dreame I vow I could not for my life tell how to take it For I was stricken in a mightie maze Therefore if marriage come I le not forsake it T is danger to liue virgin diuers wayes I would not in such feare againe be found Without a husband for a thousand pound Susan Is it euen so Grace are you come to this You that perswaded me from loue of late When you knew who sent me a Ring of his And would haue had me bin his turtle mate You cunningly did make me to forsake him Because I thinke in conscience you will take him I le trust your word another time againe That can dissemble so against your heart Wishing that I should earnestly refraine From that which thou thy selfe embracer art This is braue doing I commend you Grace But I le nere trust you more in such a case Bride I pray you here let this contention ende We being all of selfe same woman kind And each the other with aduise befriend Because I see some of you well enclin'd To take good wayes and so become good wiues I le teach you certaine rules to leade your liues You that intend the honourable life And vvould vvith ioy liue happy in the same Must note eight duties doe concerne a wife To vvhich vvith all endeuour she must frame And so in peace possesse her husbands loue And all distast from both their hearts remooue The first is that she haue domestique cares Of priuate businesse for the house vvithin Leauing her