The garland of Good Will Diuided into three parts: Containing many pleasant Songs, and prety poems, to sundry new Notes. With a Table to finde the names of all the Songs. Written by T. D. [i.e. Thomas Deloney] |
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Of the faithfull friendship that lasted betweene two faithfull friends.
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 | 2. |
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 | The garland of Good Will |  |
Of the faithfull friendship that lasted betweene two faithfull friends.
To the Tune of Flying Fame.
In
stately Rome sometimes did dwell
a man of noble Fame:
Who had a sonne of seemely shape,
Alphonso was his name:
When he was growne and come to age,
his father thought it best,
To send his sonne to Athens faire,
where wisdomes Schoole did rest.
a man of noble Fame:
Who had a sonne of seemely shape,
Alphonso was his name:
When he was growne and come to age,
his father thought it best,
To send his sonne to Athens faire,
where wisdomes Schoole did rest.
And when he was to Athens come,
good Lectures for to learne.
A place to board him with delight,
his friends did well discerne,
A noble Knight of Athens Towne,
of him did take the charge,
Who had a sonne Ganselo cald,
iust of his pitch and age.
A place to board him with delight,
his friends did well discerne,
A noble Knight of Athens Towne,
of him did take the charge,
Who had a sonne Ganselo cald,
iust of his pitch and age.
In stature and in person both,
in fauour, speech and face:
In qualitie and condition eke
they greed in euery place.
So like they were in all respects,
the one vnto the other;
They were not knowne but by their name,
of father nor of mother.
in fauour, speech and face:
In qualitie and condition eke
they greed in euery place.
So like they were in all respects,
the one vnto the other;
They were not knowne but by their name,
of father nor of mother.
And as in fauour they were found
alike in all respects:
Euen so they did most dearly loue,
as prou'd by good respect.
Ganselo loued a Lady faire,
which did in Athens dwell,
Who was in beauty peerlesse found,
so farre she did excell.
alike in all respects:
Euen so they did most dearly loue,
as prou'd by good respect.
Ganselo loued a Lady faire,
which did in Athens dwell,
Who was in beauty peerlesse found,
so farre she did excell.
Upon a time it chanced so,
as fancy did him moue:
That he would visit for delight,
his Ladie and his loue:
And to his true and faithfull friend,
he did declare the same:
Asking of him if he would see,
that faire and comely Dame.
as fancy did him moue:
his Ladie and his loue:
And to his true and faithfull friend,
he did declare the same:
Asking of him if he would see,
that faire and comely Dame.
Alphonso did thereto agree,
and with Ganselo went:
To see the Ladie whom he lou'd
which bred his discontent.
But when he cast his Christall eyes
vpon her Angels hue:
The beauty of that Ladie bright,
did straight his heart subdue.
and with Ganselo went:
To see the Ladie whom he lou'd
which bred his discontent.
But when he cast his Christall eyes
vpon her Angels hue:
The beauty of that Ladie bright,
did straight his heart subdue.
His gentle heart so wounded was,
with that faire Ladies face,
That afterward he daily liu'd
in sad and wofull case.
And of his griefe he knew not how
thereof to make an end:
For that he knew the Ladies loue,
was yeelded to his friend.
with that faire Ladies face,
That afterward he daily liu'd
in sad and wofull case.
And of his griefe he knew not how
thereof to make an end:
For that he knew the Ladies loue,
was yeelded to his friend.
Thus being sore perplext in mind,
vpon his bed he lay:
Like one which death and deepe despaire,
had almost worne away.
His friend Ganselo that did see,
his griefe and great distresse:
At length requested for to know
his cause of heauinesse.
vpon his bed he lay:
Like one which death and deepe despaire,
His friend Ganselo that did see,
his griefe and great distresse:
At length requested for to know
his cause of heauinesse.
With much adoe at length he told
the truth vnto his friend:
Who did release his inward woe,
with comfort in the end.
Take courage then deare friend, quoth he,
though she through loue be mine:
My right I will resigne to thee,
the Lady shall be thine.
the truth vnto his friend:
Who did release his inward woe,
with comfort in the end.
Take courage then deare friend, quoth he,
though she through loue be mine:
My right I will resigne to thee,
the Lady shall be thine.
You know our fauours are alike,
our speech alike likewise:
This day in mine apparell then,
you shall your selfe disguise.
And vnto Church then shall you goe,
directly in my sted:
So though my friends suppose tis I,
you shall the Lady wed.
our speech alike likewise:
This day in mine apparell then,
you shall your selfe disguise.
And vnto Church then shall you goe,
directly in my sted:
So though my friends suppose tis I,
you shall the Lady wed.
Alphonso was so well appaid,
and as they had decreed:
He went next day, and wedded plaine,
the Lady there indeed.
But when the Nuptiall Feast was done,
and Phœbus quite was fled,
The Lady for Ganselo tooke
Alphonso to her bed.
That night they spent in pleasant sport,
and when the day was come,
A Post for faire Alphonso came,
to fetch him home to Rome.
Then was the matter plainely prou'd,
Alphonso wedded was,
And not Ganselo to that Dame,
which wrought great wo alas.
and as they had decreed:
He went next day, and wedded plaine,
the Lady there indeed.
and Phœbus quite was fled,
The Lady for Ganselo tooke
Alphonso to her bed.
That night they spent in pleasant sport,
and when the day was come,
A Post for faire Alphonso came,
to fetch him home to Rome.
Then was the matter plainely prou'd,
Alphonso wedded was,
And not Ganselo to that Dame,
which wrought great wo alas.
Alphonso being come to Rome,
with his Lady gay:
Ganseloes friends and kindred all,
in such a rage did stay,
That they depriu'd him of his wealth,
his lands and rich attyre:
And banish him their Country quite,
in rage and wrathfull yre.
With sad and pensiue thoughts alas,
Ganselo wandred then,
Who was constrain'd through want to beg
reliefe of many men.
In this distresse oft would he say,
to Rome I meane to go:
To seeke Alphonso my deare friend,
who will relieue my woe.
with his Lady gay:
Ganseloes friends and kindred all,
in such a rage did stay,
That they depriu'd him of his wealth,
his lands and rich attyre:
And banish him their Country quite,
in rage and wrathfull yre.
With sad and pensiue thoughts alas,
Ganselo wandred then,
Who was constrain'd through want to beg
reliefe of many men.
In this distresse oft would he say,
to Rome I meane to go:
To seeke Alphonso my deare friend,
To Rome when poore Ganselo came
and found Alphonsoes place,
Which was so famous huge & faire,
himselfe in such poore case.
He was asham'd to shew himselfe,
in that his poore array:
Saying, Alphonso knowes me well,
if he should come this way.
and found Alphonsoes place,
Which was so famous huge & faire,
himselfe in such poore case.
He was asham'd to shew himselfe,
in that his poore array:
Saying, Alphonso knowes me well,
if he should come this way.
Wherfore he staid within the street
Alphonso then came by:
But heeded not Ganselo poore,
his friend that stood so nie.
Which grieu'd Ganselo to the hart:
quoth he, and is it so?
Doth proud Alphonso now disdaine
his friends in need to know?
Alphonso then came by:
But heeded not Ganselo poore,
his friend that stood so nie.
Which grieu'd Ganselo to the hart:
quoth he, and is it so?
Doth proud Alphonso now disdaine
his friends in need to know?
In desperate sort away he went,
into a Barne hard by:
And presently he drew his knife,
thinking thereby to die.
And bitterly in sorrow there
he did lament and weepe:
And being ouerswayed with grief,
he there fell fast asleepe.
into a Barne hard by:
And presently he drew his knife,
thinking thereby to die.
And bitterly in sorrow there
he did lament and weepe:
And being ouerswayed with grief,
he there fell fast asleepe.
Where soundly there he sweetly slept,
came in a murthering thiefe,
And with a naked knife, lay by
this man so full of griefe.
The knife so bright he tooke vp straight
and went away amaine:
And thrust it in a murthered man,
which he before had slaine.
came in a murthering thiefe,
And with a naked knife, lay by
this man so full of griefe.
The knife so bright he tooke vp straight
and went away amaine:
And thrust it in a murthered man,
which he before had slaine.
And afterward he went with speed,
and put his bloudie knife
Into his hand that sleeping lay,
to saue himself from strife.
Which done, in hast away he ran.
and when that search was made,
Ganselo with his bloudie knife,
was for the murther staid.
and put his bloudie knife
Into his hand that sleeping lay,
to saue himself from strife.
Which done, in hast away he ran.
and when that search was made,
Ganselo with his bloudie knife,
was for the murther staid.
And brought before the Magistrates,
who did confesse most plaine,
That he indeed with that same knife,
the murthered man had slaine.
Alphonso sitting there as Iudge,
and knowing Ganseloes face:
To saue his friend, did say, himselfe
was guiltie in that case.
who did confesse most plaine,
That he indeed with that same knife,
the murthered man had slaine.
Alphonso sitting there as Iudge,
and knowing Ganseloes face:
To saue his friend, did say, himselfe
was guiltie in that case.
None, quoth Alphonso, kil'd the man,
my Lord but onely I:
And therefore set this poore man free,
and let me iustly die.
Thus while for death these faithfull friends
in striuing did proceed:
The man before the Senate came,
which did the fact indeed.
And therefore set this poore man free,
and let me iustly die.
Thus while for death these faithfull friends
in striuing did proceed:
The man before the Senate came,
which did the fact indeed.
Who being moued with remorse,
their friendly hearts to see:
Did proue before the Iudges plaine,
none did the fact but he.
Thus when the truth was plainly told,
of all sides ioy was seene:
Alphonso did embrace his friend,
which had so wofull beene.
their friendly hearts to see:
Did proue before the Iudges plaine,
none did the fact but he.
Thus when the truth was plainly told,
of all sides ioy was seene:
Alphonso did embrace his friend,
which had so wofull beene.
In rich array he clothed him,
as fitted his degree:
And helpt him to his lands againe,
and former dignity,
The murtherer he for telling truth,
had pardon at that time:
Who afterwards lamented much,
this foule and grieuous crime.
as fitted his degree:
And helpt him to his lands againe,
and former dignity,
The murtherer he for telling truth,
had pardon at that time:
Who afterwards lamented much,
this foule and grieuous crime.
FINIS.
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