He wrang his hands, he rent his hair, And wept teenefu' muid: O traitors for this cruel deid Ze fall weip teirs o' bluid. And after Gordon he is gane, And foon i' the Gordon's foul hartis bluid, KING COPHETUA AND THE BEGGAR I MAID. Read that once in Affrica A princely wight did raine, Who had to name Cophetua, D The blinded boy, that shootes so trim, From heaven downe did hie; He drew a dart and fhot at him, Which foone did pierfe him to the quicke, Then from the window he did come, A thoufand heapes of care did runne For now he meanes to crave her love, And not this beggar wed. But Cupid had him fo in fnare, And, as he mufing thus did lye, How he might have her companye, In thee, quoth he, doth reft my life, The gods preferve your majefty The king to them his purffe did caft, That after them did hye. The king he cal'd her back againe, And unto her he gave his chaine, And faid,, With us you fhal remaine Till fuch time as we dye: For thou, quoth he, shalt be my wife, And honoured for my queene; With thee I meane to lead my life, As fhortly shall be seene: Our wedding fhall appointed be, And every thing in its degree: Come on, quoth he, and follow me, A trim one as I weene. Thus hand in hand along they walke The king with courteous comly talke The begger blufheth scarlet red, She was in fuch amaze. At laft fhe fpake with trembling voyce That you wil take me for your choyce, And my degree's fo base. And when the wedding day was come, The king commanded strait The noblemen both all and fome And thee behavde herfelf that day, She had forgot her gowne of gray, The proverbe old is come to passe, Here you may read, Cophetua, He that did lovers lookes difdaine, Difdaine no whit, O ladye deere, And thus they led a quiet life During their princely raine; And in a tombe were buried both, As writers fheweth plaine. The lords they tooke it grieviously, The ladies tooke it heavily, The commons cryed pitiously, Their death to them was paine.. |