Page:Sweet William of Plymouth.pdf/3

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How bafe and deceitful her parents did prove,

Who council’d their child to be falfe to her love,

PART II.

NOW when this young damfel had languifhing lain,

Near five or six months, fhe recover’d again,

Whofe beauty was brighter than e’er ’twas before,

Go that there were many who her charms did adore.

All did account her that came her to view,

Her name through the neighbouring villages flew,

You be the moft beautiful creature on earth,

Although but a fisherman’s daughter by birth,

Now fhe was courted b ynone of the word,

A wealthy young farmer came to her the ,

And call’d her his jewel, the joy of his life,

She faid, pray be gone, for I’m another man's wife,

By facred vows, in the prefence of God,

And if I am falfe let his heavenly rod,

Of fharpeft correction, my punifhment be,

And therefore begone from my prefence faid fhe.

Thence came a young ’fquire and call'fd or his dear,

And faid he would fettle two hundred a year

Upon her, if that fhe would be his fweet bride;

I cannot, I dare not, you muft be denied.

Then unto her father and mother he went,

When having, difcovered his noble intent,

They being ambitions of honour and fame,

They ftrove to perfuade her, but hall was in vain.

Dear parents, fays fhe, now obferve what l fay,

In all things that are lawful l muft needs obey,

But when you would have me perjure'd for gold,

I, dare not fubmit, to the truth I will hold.