XXII. THE SPANISH LADY's LOVE. This beautiful old ballad most probably took its rife from one of thofe defcents made on the Spanish coafts in the time of queen Elizabeth; and in all likelihood from that which is celebrated in the foregoing ballad. It is printed from an ancient black-letter copy, corrected in part by the Editor's folio MS. WILL you hear a Spanish lady, How she wooed an English man? Garments gay as rich as may be Decked with jewels fhe had on. Of a comely countenance and grace was she, As his prisoner there he kept her, Cupid's bands did tye them faster By the liking of an eye. In his courteous company was all her joy, 3 10 But at last there came commandment For to fet the ladies free, With their jewels ftill adorned, None to do them injury. Then faid this lady mild, Full woe is me, Gallant captain, fhew fome pity To a ladye in distresse; Leave me not within this city, For to dye in heavinesse : Thou haft fet this prefent day my body free, "How fhould't thou, fair lady, love me, 15 20 25 All the harm I wifhe to thee, most courteous knight, God grant the fame upon my head may fully light. 30 Bleffed be the time and feafon, That you came on Spanish ground; If you may our foes be termed, Gentle foes we have you found : With our city, you have won our hearts each one, 35 Then to your country bear away, that is your own. "Reft "Reft you ftill, moft gallant lady; Rest you still, and weep no more; Of fair lovers there are plenty, Spain doth yield you wonderous flore." Spaniards fraught with jealoufy we oft do find, 40 But Englishmen throughout the world are counted kind. Leave me not unto a Spaniard, Thou alone enjoyft my heart; I am lovely, young, and tender, Still to ferve thee day and night my mind is preft; I'll quickly change myself, if it be fo, 45 50 Any fuch without offence." And like a page will follow thee, where'er thou go, "I have neither gold nor filver 55 To maintain thee in this cafe, And to travel is great charges, As you know in every place." 59 My chains and jewels every one fhall be thy own, 500, MS. " On "On the feas are many dangers, Many ftorms do there arife, And force tears from watery eyes.” Well in troth I fhall endure extremity, For I could find in heart to lose my life for thee. "Courteous ladye, leave this fancy, Here comes all that breeds the ftrife; I in England have already A fweet woman to my wife; I will not falfify my vow for gold nor gain, Nor yet for all the fairest dames that live in Spain." O how happy is that woman That enjoys fo true a friend! Of my fuit I make an end : On my knees I pardon crave for my offence, 65 70 75 Which did from love and true affection first commence. Commend me to thy lovely lady, Bear to her this chain of gold; 80 And these bracelets for a token; Grieving that I was fo bold: All my jewels in like fort bear thou with thee, 2 t I will I will spend my days in prayer, In a nunnery will I shroud mee Far from any companye: But ere my prayers have an end, be sure of this, Thus farewell, most gallant captain! Farewell too my heart's content! Count not Spanish ladies wanton, Though to thee my love was bent: Joy and true prosperity goe still with thee! 85 96 95 XXIII. ARGENTILE AND CURAN, -Is extracted from an ancient hiftorical poem in XIII Books, intitled ALBION'S ENGLAND by WILLIAM WARNER: "An author (Jays a former editor) only unhappy in "the choice of his fubject, and measure of his verfe. His poem is an epitome of the British history, and written "with great learning, fenfe, and spirit. In fome places fine to an extraordinary degree, as I think will eminently appear "in the enfuing episode [of Argentile and Curan]. A tale 'full of beautiful incidents, in the romantictafte, extremely af"fecting, rich in ornament, wonderfully various in ftyle; and |