A royal arbor (1663) :: :: University of Virginia Library

You to whom melting hearts belong,
That Lovers woes bewail,
And would not have true love take wrong,
Attend unto my tale.
The like to this is seldom known,
'Twill make your very souls to groan,
As if the case were all your own,

2

A great man late a Daughter had,
Which now may not be nam'd,
She had two Suitors, good and bad,
Both by her eyes inflam'd;

But young Philaster was his Name,
A Gentleman of noble fame,
That her affections overcame.

3

The tother was her fathers choice,
Antonio he was call'd,
Who with her feature, youth and voice
Was very much inthrall'd;
And though her Father bid her she
Should to Antonio's suit agree:
She cryes, Philaster is for me.

4

One day Philaster having walkt
Close by a River side,
He found a pretty boy that talkt
Unto himself, and cry'd;
Could I but now a master view,
To give my tender youth its due,
I would appear a Servant true.

8

Philaster entertain'd him straight,
And sent him to his Love,
That he with her might live and wait,
And 'twixt each other move;
His pretty face did so engage,
She lookt upon his tender age.
More like a Brother then a Page.

6

Betwixt them he so often went
With letters to and fro,

That it gave cause of discontent
To young Antonio;
Who cause he could not have his swinge,
But all his love was off the hinge,
He secretly doth vow revenge.

7

Phylaster and the Lady now
By Cupid's great command,
Are by the Priest with holy vow
united hand in hand;
But when the bonds of love were seal'd,
And that their fears were quite expell'd,
Their marriage joyes were all reveal'd.

8

Her Father apprehends him strait
For stealing of his Heir,
He's hurried to the prison-gate,
And she left in despair;
Antonio makes false witness swear,
That fornication did appear
One day betwixt the boy and her.

9

For which they both by course of law
Are to the prison sent,
Her father which did thither draw
Her love doth now lament;
Phylaster hearing this, quoth he,
Must I thus lose my life for she
That's taken in Adultery?

10

The Ladies tears not guilty prove,
Each eye so overflows,
To think her Honour and her Love
She in one hour should lose;
Justice against them doth proceed,
Two must be punisht, tother bleed,
Love lies a bleeding now indeed.

11

The Boy cryes out you do amiss,
For you do all mistake,
I am a Virgin, and did this
For young Antonio's sake;
This Suit which now you see me wear,
And all the course which I did steer,
Was 'cause he should not marry her.

12

Antonio knows her, and doth vow
He'l marry none but she;
Phylaster takes his Love, and now
The Father doth agree:
Their lives were near the push of pike,
But now embrace, and soft hands strike,
May all true Lovers do the like.