A Nights Search :: :: University of Virginia Library

Walking alone, about the evening tide,
I heard a voyce: turning about, I spi'd
Two walking hand in hand; and as they went,
They whisp'red out their shame; 'twas their intent
To sin in secret. First, the man did wooe,
And soone the female gave consent unto
What he desir'd: a place then they descri'd,
Which they did think would all their folly hide.

But what is hid from that all-seeing eye,
That's done in hell, or on the earth? the skie
Is fixed full of eyes to finde out sin,
And every creature must give verdict in,
Against the sinfull world: but all this while,
Those witlesse Imps are striving to beguile
Their soules of peace; and having had their ends,
They part for that time, (seeming loving friends.)
But pointed when, and where to meet againe:

He breaking promise (for it seemes his braine
Grew addle after this) she sent to know
Where all this time he did himselfe bestow,
Desiring him to visit her; for shee
Must shew to him her haplesse miserie.
He told his name, his place, that he was rich,
Vnto this whore: and now her fingers itch
To handle some of's gold: she rubs her neyes,
Hangs downe her head, and blubbers out, and cryes,
She's halfe undone; her belly now doth swell,
For she's with child by him: she loves him well,

And would not have him sham'd; give her reliefe,
She'd free him on't, and still conceale her griefe.
Against her lying in, he must provide
A nurse, and linnen; divers things beside
Which she must have; then, had you heard him curse
This whore, his fate, their meeting ('cause his purse
Grew emptie by this meanes) you would have thought
The Devill spoke by him, what's worse than nought.

He tries with care, and cost, to hide his sin:
For now the time is come, and she lyes in,
So neat, and fine; he goes to see her then,
And to supply her wants; and goes agen,
And findes her weake: the child i'th' cradle by,
The bawdy Nurse was rocking: presently
She takes it up; oh, here's th' owne fathers child;
Your eyes, your nose, your picture is not spoyl'd
In ioyning up; while this babe doth survive,
He'll keep your image, and your name alive:
D'yee see your fore-head, eye-brows, double chin,
Your little mouth? iust as your lips are thin,
So are the child's: his fingers long and small;
He's quiet too; that sutes you best of all.

This gives him no content, away he flings,
And leaves his image; but the Nurse she sings
A Lullaby; the woman that lyes in,
Is rais'd with gold, to strike the merry pin.

He meets a man whom he well knew before,
Reveales the passages 'twixt him and 's whore:
And how much gold sh' had had, and of the shame
That he did feare would light upon his name.

His friend (if so you call him) heard the case,
Took his fit time, and went unto that place,
Pretending shamefull mirth; but she seem'd ill,
And would not once submit unto his will;
Being subtill in her trade, she told him how
The case did stand: he must not touch her now.

Away goes he, acquaints a Magistrate,
How such a man was made unfortunate,
By dealing with a whore: he brings him to him,
Who promis'd them much kindnesse he would do him,
To set him free: unto the house they went,
Where he had been, and had his money spent.
They coming in, the Trull seem'd very weake;
The Nurse being rocking, she began to speake,
But feare restrain'd her: for the man, they knew,
Did use to give such birds of night their due.
He taking up the child (but he mistook)
Was quite agreed it had the fathers look;
I am perswaded in this heart of mine,
Who ever sees this babe, may sweare 'tis thine.

With violence this child began to cry;
A woman charg'd with fury, suddenly
Rusht in upon 'em, What d'yee meane to doe?
Borrowing my child, pray do not murther't too!
I will not trust you (Bawds and Whores are vilde)
You doe not care how you abuse my childe.

By this the plot was found; the Whore, the Nurse
Devis'd a lying in to purge his purse.
The Iade from her preferment had a fall,
She's sent abroad, and yet not church'd at all.
The Nurse must go before the month be out,
To old Bridewell, to turne the mill about.
(Her gossipping is spoyl'd) there she must stay,
To try her strength a twelve-month and a day.

The other Imp to new Bridewell is had,
To knock the hemp: which work she counts as bad
As Purgatorie: now she cheats no men:
A sudden change! there she lies in agen.

As for the man, I'd place him with this whore,
But he has promis'd to do so no more.

Thou little infant! did they bring thee in
To be a patron to a new-borne sin?

Thou ne're didst act a sin: but at the first,
As all by nature are, thou wast accurst.
They thought by thee, their vile intents to smother;
And act one sin, that they might hide another.
Did they intend to bring thee, being young,
A stranger way to hell? or did the throng
Forsake the broad high-way? they did abuse thee,
'Cause for this purpose they did strive to use thee.
Had'st thou been active in this plot so soone,
Thy morning had been cloudie: but thy noone
Had been more dark than night: how had the times
Been poyson'd by thee! and thy forward crimes
Had ran through ages! and all vile men still
Had made thee as a patron for their ill.
Poore harmlesse infant! seeing 'twas thy lot,
To seeme to be indeed, what thou wast not,
Be warn'd for ever by't: let not the shame
Once follow thee, or e're disgrace thy name.

But could thy mother harbour thee so neare
The mouth of hell? was not her minde in feare,
Thou would'st slip in? or did she send thee out
On purpose, thus to bring their ends about?
Then she was guiltie too: or was't for need
To have some milk, she might her infant feed?

Did not thy tender flesh begin to melt?
Thy spirits faile? oh! if thou hadst but felt
The weight of sin and shame, thou hadst been strange
To them: for thou would'st then have wisht a change.
Did not thy fixed eyes, thy mouth, thy face
Disclaime their wickednesse, bewray the place?
Yes, thou didst watch thy time (thou little spie)
How to discover all: for thou didst crie,
And call thy mother up: who did disclose
Their projects, dasht their hopes. Shew more of those
Vnheard of plots: and then my pen shall raise
Vnto you both a monument of praise.

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