Page:Mistaken lady's garland, or, The squire cheated.pdf/5

( 5 ) That minute the marriage was over and done,

According to promise she homeward did come,

Before that the family rose. I declare,

The bride was undrest, and in her own rigging were.

She cover’d the lady warm up in her bed,

And there she did sleep as if she’d been dead,

The night being come, she to bed did repair,

Expecting the squire, her joy and her dear.

At length comes the squire and opens the door,

Being eager, saluted her once and no more,

But off with his clothes, and to bed with his bride,

Biest be this night my dear jewel, he cry’d.

Straightway to embrace her the squire did begin,

What consternation, poor fool, was he in !

Saying, My dear, you have me beguil’d,

If I’m not mistaken you are with child.

You are the father, my dear, if I am,

Adzooks, said the ’squire, what is’t I have done,

Performed the promise you made unto me,

And it is sweet Betty that lieth by thee.

How came you the secret to know? I desire,

My lady she told me. Why then, quoth the ’squire,

If she be such a fool I commend thee my dear,

A lady thou art of five hundred a year.

He stroaked her belly and with her did play,

The lady she waked by the break of day,

And missing her maid, she to her chamber did creep,

Thinking not there the ’squire for to meet.

As soon as she enter’d the room, as we hear,

She saw Betty in bed in the arms of her dear,

What now have I caught you! you strumpet! she cry’d,

Hold there, said the ’squire, for she is my bride.

Had you kept your counsel you’d been in her place,

And I thus betray’d 'tis a sorrowful case,

I’ll ne’er trust a servant no more I declare,

So be gone from my presence and come no more here.