Reliques of Ancient English Poetry consisting of Old Heroic Ballads, Songs, and other Pieces of our earlier Poets, (Chiefly of the Lyric kind.) Together with some few of later Date |
1. |
1. |
I. |
II. |
III. |
2. |
3. |
Reliques of Ancient English Poetry | ||
VI. THE PATIENT COUNTESS.
The following tale is found in an ancient poem intitled Albion's England, written by W. Warner, a celebrated Poet in the reign of Q. Elizabeth, tho' his name and works are now equally forgotten. The reader will find some account of him in Vol. 2. p. 231. 232.
The following stanzas are printed from the author's improved edition of his work, printed in 1602. 4to. This seems to have been the third impression, for “The first and second Parts of Albion's England, &c.” made their first appearance in 1583, 4to; and were reprinted in 1597, under the title of “Albion's England; a continued
It is proper to premise, that the following lines were not written by the Author in stanzas, but in long Alexandrines of 14 syllables; which the narrowness of our page made it here necessary to subdivide.
But jelousie is hell;
Some wives by patience have reduc'd
Ill husbands to live well:
As did the ladie of an earle,
Of whom I now shall tell.
Was lov'd, and lived long
Full true to his fayre countesse; yet
At last he did her wrong.
Long fasting, and the heat
Did house him in a peakish graunge
Within a forest great.
And persons might afforde)
Browne bread, whig, bacon, curds and milke
Were set him on the borde.
Halfe backed with a hoope
Were brought him, and he sitteth down
Besides a sorry coupe.
Were wheat, their whig were perry,
Their bacon beefe, their milke and curds
Were creame, to make him merry.
With linen white as swanne,
Herselfe more white, save rosie where
The ruddy colour ranne:
Of arte made to excell)
The good man's daughter sturres to see
That all were feat and well;
The earle did marke her, and admire
Such beautie there to dwell.
And held him at a feast:
But as his hunger slaked, so
An amorous heat increast.
And welcome too; he sayd
The hearing of the mayd:
Of this, and many townes;
I also know that you be poore,
And I can spare you pownes.
That yonder lasse and I
May bargaine for her love; at least,
Doe give me leave to trye.
Who needs to know it? nay who dares
Into my doings pry?
For lucre were misled;
And then the gamesome earle did wowe
The damsell for his bed.
So coyish to be kist,
As mayds that know themselves belov'd,
And yieldingly resist.
She lastly did consent;
With whom he lodged all that night,
And early home he went.
In such a sort to hunt.
Whom when his lady often mist,
Contràry to his wont,
His amorous haunt elsewhere;
It greev'd her not a little, though
She seem'd it well to beare.
Some fault perhaps in me;
Somewhat is done, that so he doth:
Alas! what may it be?
He is a man, and men
Have imperfections; it behooves
Me pardon nature then.
Although hee now were chaste:
A man controuled of his wife,
To her makes lesser haste.
Prevayle to alter him;
I will be dutifull, and make
My selfe for daliance trim.
Did entertaine her lord,
As fairer, or more faultles none
Could be for bed or bord.
Did still pursue that game,
Suspecting nothing less, than that
His lady knew the same:
Wherefore to make him know she knew,
She this devise did frame:
The foresayd meanes in vaine,
She rideth to the simple graunge
But with a slender traine.
And then did looke about her:
The guiltie houshold knowing her,
Did wish themselves without her;
Yet, for she looked merily,
The lesse they did misdoubt her.
(Than blushing fairnes fairer)
Such beauty made the countesse hold
Them both excus'd the rather.
Thought she: and who (though loth)
So poore a wench, but gold might tempt?
Sweet errors lead them both.
Of proffer'd gold denied,
Or of such yeelding beautie baulkt,
But, tenne to one, had lied.
Her cause of coming thether;
My lord, oft hunting in these partes,
Through travel, night or wether,
I thanke you for the same;
For why? it doth him jolly ease
To lie so neare his game.
Beseeming such a guest,
I bring his owne, and come myselfe
To see his lodging drest.
In which were hangings brave,
Silke coverings, curtens, carpets, plate,
And al such turn should have.
She prayes them to have care
That nothing hap in their default,
That might his health impair:
This houshold is but three,
And for thy parents age, that this
Shall chiefely rest on thee;
He hither come no more.
So tooke she horse, and ere she went
Bestowed gould good store.
His countesse had done so;
Who now return'd from far affaires
Did to his sweet-heart go.
The late deformed cote,
But that the formall change of things
His wondring eies did note.
His proper goods; though late,
Scarce taking leave, he home returnes
The matter to debate.
With her his lodging tooke;
Sir, welcome home (quoth shee); this night
For you I did not looke.
His stuffe bestowed soe.
Forsooth, quoth she, because I did
Your love and lodging knowe:
Your lodging nothing lesse;
I held it for your health, the house
More decently to dresse.
Your lordship loveth me;
And greater hope to hold you such
By quiet, then brawles, ‘you’ see.
And to retaine your favour,
All done I did, and patiently
Expect your wonted 'haviour.
His gentle teares to fall:
When (kissing her a score of times)
Amend, sweet wife, I shall:
He said, and did it; ‘so each wife
‘Her husband may’ recall.
Reliques of Ancient English Poetry | ||