 | A royal arbor (1663) |  |
52
The Double Marriage: A sad Story.
1
Amongst all woes that ever weHave felt, or else in story read,
There is no greater misery,
Then an inforced Marriage-bed.
2
As I will sadly make appear,When I my story shall unfold,
You will confess that you do hear
The saddest tale that e're was told.
3
A Gentleman of good renownDid dye, and left his Heir in ward
Unto the mercy or the frown
Of a most proud imperious Lord.
4
This Gallant was a youth of worth,His feature might affection move,
Who travelling into the North,
It was his fate to fall in Love,
5
With a fair Lady of good fame,And being on both sides agreed,
They in one Contract mix their flame,
And seal it as their act and deed.
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6
No sooner did their souls accordIn tears and kisses, oaths and vows,
But he is sent for by his Lord
To London; now comes all the woes.
7
The Lord his Guardian doth preferHim to a Lady of his kin,
The Gallant cryes, should I take her,
I might commit a grievous sin.
8
I am contracted, Sir, quoth he,To one I love no less then life;
And you know, Sir, that Contracts be
The greatest bonds 'twixt man and wife.
9
The Guardian by his power compellsThe woful Ward to break his oath,
And (which all misery excells)
Unto another plight his troth.
10
He sends into the North with speed,To her whom he by right should wed;
Onely one line which she doth read,
Forgive me, I am married.
11
This broke her heart, but she inditesAn answer which much sorrow bred;
For in one fatal line she writes,
My Dear, Forgive me I am dead.
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12
Then with her knife she made it good,And by a desperate stroke did prove,
Sealing it with her flowing blood,
That Life is nothing without Love.
13
The Gentleman forsakes his Wife,Such misery this Marriage bred;
Quoth he, I'le never lead a life
With thee in an adult'rous Bed.
14
I'th' wicked wayes he now beginsTo riot all his vaste estate,
His wife was brought to bed of twins,
The Mothers grief, the Fathers hate.
15
His wife and children full of woeAnd want unto their father come,
Who now in England doth not know
A place that he can call his home.
16
His breach of Contract in his thoughtDoth now (at last) so fiercely fall,
That by the devil he is wrought
To kill his wife and children small:
17
He draws his sword, but by good fateA messenger comes running in,
And bids him read a letter straight;
Which done, my Gallant doth begin
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18
To be more temperate in his minde,For thus it seems the letter said,
Your Guardian that was so unkinde,
Much griev'd for you, is lately dead;
19
He hath bequeath'd his whole EstateTo be onely at your dispose,
And doth confess, though now too late,
He was the cause of all your woes.
20
He bids you likewise, since you areThe Husband of another Wife,
That you will take her to your care,
And lead a loving peaceful life.
21
This counsel he resolves to take,And loving to his wife appears;
Though often for his Contracts sake
He venteth penitential tears.
22
Thus have you seen the miseryWhich inforc'd Marriage doth procure;
Therefore let all forewarned be
Never to break that are made sure.
| A royal arbor (1663) | |