The Mistaken Bride:
OR, The faithful Friend.
To an Excellent New Tune, call'd Celia that I once was blest.
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IN fair London late did dwell,
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A Man whose Fame did most excel;
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He possessing a rich Blessing,
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Of his hopeful Son we'll tell:
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Fair Gerardo he was named,
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Mild and of sweet Temper framed.
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When that he was come to Age,
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In Vertues School fit to engage,
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His wise Father, he chose rather
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Oxford, that fair Learned Stage,
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Than the Court which most admire,
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And which Youth do so desire.
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Thither he was sent to get,
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Fair Learning and accomplish'd Wit;
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There a Knight, with great delight,
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Took charge of this Companion fit,
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For his Son George, such a Creature,
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Just so tall and of such a Feature.
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In their Stature and their Face,
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They were of equal Height and Grace,
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in their Favour, and Behaviour,
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So alike in every place,
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One was not known from the other,
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As if Twins, and of one Mother
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And as they in Face were found,
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Alike in Vertue did abound;
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Kind and Pritty, both like witty,
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Not their Equals the World round;
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Not like others that are roving,
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But most constant in their loving.
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George he lov'd a Lady fair,
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With whom no Virgin could compare,
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All admiring and desiring,
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Such a Beauty bright and rare,
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Like the Sun-Beams in the Morning,
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All the Meads and Fields adorning.
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On a Time it chanced so,
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That to this Beauty he would go,
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For his Pleasure, to this Treasure,
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And he ask'd Gerardo too,
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If he would not see this Beauty,
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He reply'd it was his Duty.
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And along with him he went,
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But Beauty bred his discontent,
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her bright Eyes, did so surprize,
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The faithful youth, and did torment.
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She with Graces so abounded,
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And his gentle Heart so wounded.
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After this perplex'd in Mind,
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His Friend him in despair did find;
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And requested, and protested,
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That the cause thereof he'd find:
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He then told in mournful fashion,
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That the Lady caus'd his Passion.
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Courage then, dear Friend, quoth he,
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This Beauty I'll resign to thee,
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She divine, shall be all thine,
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For we will never disagree:
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Go and put on my Apparel,
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And of her I'll take my Farewel.
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Go to Church and in my stead,
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You shall the lovely Lady wed,
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Do not languish, ease your anguish,
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Since we both alike are free'd,
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None can know us from each other,
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Not so much as our own Mother.
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Then next day as they decree'd
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Gerardo wedded her indeed,
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After Feasting, Mirth and Jesting,
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To the Nuptial Bed they speed;
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She supposing 'twas her Lover,
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Gave him Joys none may discover.
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All the night in her soft Arms,
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He lay possest of all her Charms;
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but next day, a Post that way,
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Did give these Lovers loud Alarms,
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For Gerardo comes from London,
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And now all the Plot is undone,
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All the matter's plainly prov'd
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That 'twas his Friend the Lady lov'd,
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Though she Wedded and was Bedded,
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To Gerardo in mistake:
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Now their Kindred all deceive them,
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All enrag'd, they railing leave them.
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Banish'd thus from London quite,
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And depriv'd of Wealth and Right,
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Fortune froward and untoward,
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Made him sigh both day and night,
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In (saith he) this Fortune cruel,
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I'll go seek my Friend and Jewel.
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When that he to Oxford came,
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And found his Friend by mighty Fame,
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He possessing, Fortune's Blessing,
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Wealth and a renowned Name;
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Quoth he, now I am ashamed,
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That Gerardo should be named.
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Wherefore I within this Street
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Will stay till I my Friend do meet,
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He ran by, him did espy,
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But knew not 'twas his Friend so nigh,
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Which did cause Gerardos anguish,
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Made him sigh and made him languish.
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Then in Grief he drew his Knife,
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Thereby to end his wretched Life,
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Sighing, moaning, sadly groaning;
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Till he there fell fast asleep,
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Where, while he lay soundly sleeping,
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There a murdering Thief came sleeping.
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With this Knife he ran amain,
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And thrust in the Man he had slain,
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After peeping, he still sleeping,
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Put it in his hand again;
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Then away fled from the sleeper,
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That had Heaven for his safe Keeper.
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When that search in this was made,
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Gerardo was for Murther staid;
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He confest and did protest,
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That he the murder'd Man had slain:
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But his Friend that knew him pittied,
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And Gerardo soon acquitted.
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Quoth he, then 'twas only I
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That kill'd this Man, then let me dye;
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while they pleaded, and proceeded,
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The Thief there himself came by,
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To the Judges did discover
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Everything, the Fact all over.
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In brave rich Array he straight
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Was suited, as became his Fate,
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And his Land, at his Command,
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And former Servants on him wait:
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The Thief Pardon'd here lamented,
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His foul Fact, and so repented.
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