"And why," that hapleffe ladye cried, 66 Happye, tho' poore, I then had liv’d. "Ambition never won my mynde, 66 For many "Alas! like mee, here once confin'd its victim I have knowne; "Their houres of peace for ever flowne. "Because by bloode to kyngs ally'd "Ah me! how cruel the pretence! "My name offends the ear of pryde; "My being borne--is my offence. "Torne from my friends, from all the joyes, "That virtuous freedom can afford; "But more my bleeding bofom fighes, "Torne from my love-my wedded lorde. "Alas, deare youthe! and muft wee parte, "And fhall I fee my love no more, "Save when, to soothe my wounded hearte, "Beneath my tow'r thy wispers foare? "When the flill nighte, with darksom shade, "Enrapts thefe dreary walls arounde, Anxious, I liften for thy treade, "O'erjoy'd, I heare thy dear voice sounde, "But who can tell the pangs fo keene "That fuch ill-fated lovers knowe, " Where tow'res and bars arife betweene, "Darke fpies above and guardes belowe? "In vaine for mee the fun doth rife! "In vaine to mee the moone doth fhyne! "The fmyling earthe ne'er chears my eyes, "Here doom'd in mifery to pin3. "And as I heare the waves arife, "And as I heare the bleake wyndes roare, "Still fill as fafle will heave my fighes, "And ftill foe fafle my teares mull poure." Now came her lorde with lover's speede,. Th' aflonifh'd lady rofe with fpeede, And faw her lover fland belowe;"The bleffing that foe much I neede, "Oh, how can't thou on me beltowe ?" "Oh, I have brib'd the par.ial fates--"Defcend this ladder, love, to ince "On yonder ftream a fhip ow it ́s, "To waft us o'er the briny fea.” Faire Arabella heard the tale, And thrice for joye fhee turn'd and figh'd; 66 "Lorde Seymour, well I knowe thy hearte, "If ought of harme fhould hap to thee. "For know, fhoulde wee in flighte be ta'en, "Th' offended crowne would have thy lyfe"Staye, left thy zeale should be our bane,— "And breake the hearte of thy poor wyfe." Oh then lord Seymour waxed pale, And thrice for griefe hee figh'd full fore: "And nowe mufle all my projects faile, "And all my hopes of bliss bee o'er ? "Too cruel maid! to let fond feare "Thus dafh the hope that ne'er'l returne! "Oh come, my love-nor wanton tear "The hearte that aye for thee doth burne. "Dear wyfe, no more our hopes withftande, "Defcend-or wee fhall meete no more" Then nimbly drew her lilly hande, And downe the trembling faire hee bore. And nowe adowne the Thame's faire ftreame, That lady joyful fail'd awaye, While flatt'ring hope, with filver dreame, Her bofom footh'd the live long daye. And now fhee cry'd, "Adieu to woe! "Smoothe as the gentle ftreame I fee, "My future houres in peace fhall flowe, "Enrich'd with love and libertye. "And tho' I fee the waves arife, "And tho' I hear the rude windes roare, "Yet ftill no more fhall heave my fighes, "Nor down my cheekes the falt teares poure." But nowe the florme began to low're, In vain was fpreade the fwelling faile, For tyranny would still prevaile, And ftrive to chaine the free-borne minde. The hapless ladye to regaine, Arm'd fhips spreade all the ocean o'er; And they have ta'en that hapleffe fayre, And to the drearye tow're have borne; Nor heede the pangs of keene despaire, With which her breaking hearte is torne. There lowe shee layes absorb'd in griefe; There doom'd her future life to weare, And as fhe heares the waves arife, And as fhce heares the bleak windes roar, As faft doe heave her heartfelt fighs, And ftill fo faft her falt teares poure. |