Thefe tydings be more gladder to me than to be made a
Yf I were fure they fholde endure: but it is often fene, Whan men wyll breke promyfe, they fpeke the wordes on the fplene :
Ye fhape fome wyle, me to begyle, and ftele from me, I wene :
Than were the cafe worfe than it was, and I more wo
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde I love but you
Ye fhall nat nede further to drede; I will not dyfparage You, (God defende !) fyth you defcend of. fo grete a lynage.
Nowe understande, to Weftmarlande, which is myne herytage,
I wyll you bringe; and with a rynge, by way of ma
I wyll you take, and lady make, as fhortely as I can : Thus have ye won an erlys fon, and not a banyshed
Here may ye fe, that women be, in love, meke, kynde, and stable :
Late never man reprove them than,
But, rather, pray God, that we may to them be comfortable,
Which fometyme proved fuch as he loved, yf they be charytable.
Forfoth, men wolde that women holde be meke to
Moche more ought they to God obey, and serve but hym alone.
Upon the Model of the NUT-BROWN MAID.
THOU, to whofe eyes I bend, at whofe command (Though low my voice, though artless be my hand)
I take the fprightly reed, and fing, and play;
Careless of what the cenfuring world may fay:
Bright Cloe, object of my conftant vow,
Wilt thou a while unbend thy ferious brow?
Wilt thou with pleasure hear thy lover's ftrains,
And with one heavenly fmile o'erpay his pains?
No longer fhall the Nut-brown Maid be old;
Though fince her youth three hundred years have roll'd:
At thy defire, she shall again be rais'd ;
And her reviving charms in lafling verfe be prais'd.
No longer man of woman shall complain,
That he may love, and not be lov'd again:
That we in vain the fickle fex purfue,
Who change the conftant lover for the new.
Whatever has been writ, whatever faid,
Of female paffion feign'd, or faith decay'd:
Henceforth fhall in my verfe refuted stand,
Be faid to winds, or writ upon the fand.
And, while my notes to future times proclaim
Unconquer'd love and ever-during flame;
O faireft of the fex! be thou my Mufe:
Deign on my work thy influence to diffuse.
Let me partake the bleffings I rehearse,
And grant me, Love, the juft reward of verse!
As Beauty's potent queen, with every grace
That once was Emma's, has adorn'd thy face;
And as her fon has to my bosom dealt
That conftant flame, which faithful Henry felt;
O let the story with thy life agree:
Let men once more the bright example fee;
What Emma was to him, be thou to me.
Nor fend me by thy frown from her I love,
Diftant and fad, a banish'd man to rove.
But oh! with pity long-intreated crown
My pains and hopes; and, when thou fay'ft that one
Of all mankind thou lov'ft, oh! think on me alone.
WHERE beauteous Ifis and her husband Tame
With mingled waves for ever flow the fame,
In times of yore an ancient baron liv'd;
Great gifts beftow'd, and great refpect receiv'd.
When dreadful Edward with fuccefsful care
Led his free Britons to the Gallic war;
This lord had headed his appointed bands,
In firm allegiance to his king's commands;
And (all due honours faithfully discharg'd)
Had brought back his paternal coat enlarg'd
With a new mark, the witness of his toil,
And no inglorious part of foreign fpoil.
From the loud camp retir'd and noify court,
In honourable cafe and rural sport,
The remnant of his days he fafely past;
Nor found they lagg'd too flow, nor flew too fast.
He made his wifh with his eftate comply,
Joyful to live, yet not afraid to die.
One child he had, a daughter chafte and fair,
His age's comfort, and his fortune's heir.
They call'd her Emma; for the beauteous dame,
Who gave the Virgin birth, had borne the name:
The name th' indulgent father doubly lov'd;
For in the child the mother's charms improv'd.
Yet as, when little round his knees the play'd,
He call'd her oft' in fport his Nut-brown Maid,
The friends and tenants took the fondling word
(As ftill they pleafe, who imitate their lord);
Ufage confirm'd what fancy had begun ;
The mutual terms around the lands were known;
And Emma and the Nut-brown Maid were one.
As with her ftature, ftill her charms increas'd;
Through all the ifle her beauty was confefs'd.
Oh! what perfections must that Virgin fhare,
Who fairest is esteem'd, where all are fair!
From diftant fhires repair the noble youth,
And find report for once had leffen'd truth.
By wonder firft, and then by paffion mov'd,
They came; they faw; they marvel'd; and they lov'd. By public praifes, and by fecret fighs,
Each own'd the general power of Emma's eyes.
In tilts and tournaments the valiant ftrove,
By glorious deeds to purchase Emma's love.
In gentle verfe the witty told their flame,
And grac'd their choiceft fongs with Emma's name.
In vain they combated, in vain they writ:
Ufelefs their ftrength, and impotent their wit.
Great Venus only muft direct the dart,
Which elfe will never reach the fair-one's heart,
Spight of th' attempts of force, and foft effects of art.
Great Venus muft prefer the happy one :
In Henry's caufe her favour must be shown:
And Emma, of mankind, muft love but him alone.
While thefe in public to the caftle came,
And by their grandeur juftified their flame;
More fecret ways the careful Henry takes;
His fquires, his arms, and equipage forfakes:
In borrow'd name and falfe attire array'd,
Oft' he finds means to fee the beauteous maid.
When Emma hunts, in huntfman's habit dreft,
Henry on foot pursues the bounding beast.
In his right hand his beechen pole he bears :
And graceful at his fide his horn he wears.
Still to the glade, where she has bent her way,
With knowing skill he drives the future prey;
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