The pining Maid
OR
A Pattern for Lovers
Giving a brief account of the unfortunate death of a young Man living
in Coventry, Shopkeeper, who drowned himself for the Love of a
Maid daughter to a Captain of the said City, because she denyed her
promise and would not yeild to be his wife and now she lives in a
most sad condition and is very much troubled in her mind the Poet
having a hint of some of her grief c[o]mposed these lines into meeter,
according to her directions and so caused it to be Printed for all
young men and maids, to take example by the same.
The tune is, alack for my Love I must dye.
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COme all young Men & Maidens
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and listen unto me,
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I briefly will declare
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how im plungd in misery,
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And all through my own seeking
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I well may say truly,
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And tis for my Love that I mourn.
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There was a gallant young Man
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in Coventry did dwell,
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He was a brave Shop-keeper
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as it is known full well,
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He loved me to dearly the
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truth of it to tell,
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And etc.
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Three years in Love together
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was this young Man and I,
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Our hearts in one were linked fast
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I cannot it deny,
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But I was the first breaker
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of the bands of amity,
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And, etc,
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He was as well beloved
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as any Man could be.
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He was civil in his carriage
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toth high and low degree,
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Yet for all this poor soul
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he could find no Love
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And, etc.
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The second part to the same tune.
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MY Parents they consented
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that I should be his wife
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Also I was contented
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with him to lead my life
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But my Pride and Ambition
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did seek this deadly strife
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And tis for my Love that I mourn.
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His heart wad nere at quiet
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or could rest but in my sight
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He sought all means to please me
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and feed my fond delight
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At last for to reward him
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I paid him with despight,
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And, etc.
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For when that Marriage it grew nigh
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than I did him forsake,
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And gave him a flat answer
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then he these words did speak,
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Oh Mary dont deceive me
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and cause my heart to break
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And, etc,
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He [wept] & waild he wrung his hands
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and thus to me did say
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Sweet Mary if thou lovest me
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oh cast me not away,
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But still with a scornful look
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his words would not obey,
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And, etc.
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He seeing no perswasions
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my stony heart would move,
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He sighing sadly went away
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I did it him to prove
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I thought he did dissemble
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but he did mean true Love
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And, etc.
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He laid himself upon the bed
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but there no rest could be,
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Ins mind he was perplexed
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as plainly you may see;
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That very night he drownd himself
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all for the love of me,
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And, etc.
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[?] when tidings it was brought me
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the truth of it was so,
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My conscience was tormented
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I knew not what to do
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Yet all things I kept secret
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and made no outward show,
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And, etc,
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Within a small time after
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appeared in my sight
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His gashly Ghost that lovd me
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and did me sore affright,
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And groaning cryd now I do come
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for my own hearts delight,
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And, etc.
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Into such a damp it struck me
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and wounded so my heart,
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If a thousand swords had piercd me
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I could not a felt more smart
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Nor can all the Physit[i]ans
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yet cure me with their art,
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And, etc.
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My friends thy much do blame me
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and all the Town beside,
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Those that which I kept company
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now cannot me abide
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Because I would not yeild
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to be his Bride
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And, etc.
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Now I have made a solemn Oath
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and mean to keep it truly,
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Because he lovd me so well
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for his sake a Maid to dye
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My self I will refrain
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from all bad company
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And, etc.
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Ile live on bread and watter
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good dyet ile forsake,
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In the world I live in misery
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sweet Christ me ready make,
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Oh John I come, I come
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all this is for thy sake
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And, etc.
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Altho fi[r]st I made light of it
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yet now it doth grieve me sore
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That I, should cast a man away
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that lovd me long before
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I was the causer of his death
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which was worth worlds and more
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And, etc.
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I hope I soon shall follow him
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whom I do love so dear,
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Though then I made light of him
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and for him did not care
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I thought love but an idle toy
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but now I find it dear
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And etc.
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Young Maidens all both great & small
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to you these lines I send,
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Be faithfull in your promise
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and true unto your friend
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Least at the last your forced
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to cry out in the end
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And, etc.
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Trust not Love ore much
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I speak it flat and plain,
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Run not the hazard of it
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but constant still remain
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For fear it be to late
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to call yesterday again
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And, etc.
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For though foolish fancy
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as many well do know,
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I wrought my loves destruction
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I sought his overthrow
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Now in Coventry fair City
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my love doth lye full low
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And, etc.
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So adieu you faithful lovers
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where ever that you be,
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Be sure to keep your promise
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in every degree,
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Though I remain upon the earth
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yet still my hearts with thee
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And tis for my love that I mourn.
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