Page:Bride's burial.pdf/3

 and fair as are Dian's nymph

ſo look'd my lovely bride.

and as fair Helen's face,

gave Græcian dames the lurch,

ſo did my dear excel in ſight,

all virgins in the church,

When we had knit the knot

of holy wedlock band,

Like alabaſter join'd to jet,

ſo ſtood we hand in hand.

Then lo! a chilling cold,

did ſeize on every part,

And griping grief like pains of death,

ſeiz'd on my true love's heart.

Down in a ſwoon ſhe fell,

as cold as any ſtone,

Like Venus picture lacking grief,

ſo was my love brought home.

At length a roſe of red,

ſpread through her lovely face,

As Phoebus' beams with wat'ry clouds

had covered for a ſpace,

Then with a grievous groan,

and voice moſt hoarſe and dry,

Farewell, quoth ſhe, my loving friends,

for this day I muſt die.

The meſſenger of God,

with golden trump I ſee,

With many holy angels more,

doth fend and call for me.

Inſtead of muſic ſweet,

go toll the paſſing bell,

And with theſe flowers ſtrew my grave

that in my chamber ſmell,

Srip off my bride's array,