The Constant Lover. Who his affection will not move, Though he live not where he love.  
To a Northern tune called, Shall the absence of my Mistress.  

 

YOu loyal Lovers that are distant,  
from your Sweet hearts many a mile,  
Pray come help me at this instant,  
in mirth to spend away the while,  
In singing sweetly and completely,  
in commendation of my love,  
Resolving ever to part never,  
though I live not where I love.   

My love she's fair and also virtuous,  
God grant to me she may prove true.  
Then there is naught but death shall part us,  
and I'll ne'er change her for a new,  
And though the fates my fortunes hates,  
and me from her do far remove,  
Yet I do vow still to be true,  
though etc.   

My constancy shall ne'er be falling,  
whatsoever beside me here,  
Of her virtue I'll be telling,  
be my biding far or near,  
And though blind fortune prove uncertain,  
from her presence me to remove,  
Yet I'll be constant every instant,  
though etc.   

Though our bodies thus are parted,  
and asunder many a mile,  
Yet I vow to be true hearted,  
and be faithful all the while;  
Though with mine eye I cannot spy,  
for distance great my dearest Love,  
My heart is with her altogether,  
though etc.   

When I sleep I do dream on her,  
when I wake I take no rest,  
But every moment think upon her,  
she's so fixed in my breast,  
And though far distance may be assistance,  
from my mind her love to move,  
Yet I will never our love dissever,  
though etc.   

To think upon the amorous glances,  
that have been betwixt us twain,  
My constancy and love advances,  
though from her presence I remain,  
And makes the tears with groans & fears,  
from watery eyes and heart to move,  
And sighing say both night and day,  
alas I live etc.    

The second part, to the same Tune,  
 

I To her will be like Leander,  
if Hero like shée'le prove to me,  
For her sake through the would I'll wander,  
no desperate danger I will flee,  
And into the Seas with little ease,  
the mountains great themselves shall move,  
Ere saith I break, let me ne'er speak,  
though etc.   

Penelope shall be unconstant,  
and Diana prove unchaste,  
Venus to Vulcan shall be constant,  
and Mars far from her shall be placed,  
The blinded boy no more shall toy,  
with Arrows keen lovers to move,  
Ere false I be sweetheart to thee,  
though etc.   

The Birds shall leave their Airy region,  
the fishes in the air shall fly,  
All the world shall be at one religion,  
all living things shall cease to dye,  
All things shall change to shapes most strange,  
before that I disloyal prove,  
Or any way my love decay,  
though etc.   

If you lines do come before her,  
or do deign to touch her hand,  
Tell her that I do adore her,  
above all Maidens in the land,  
Remaining still at her good will,  
and always to her loyal prove,  
Tell death with dart do strike my heart,  
though etc.   

And tell my mistress that a Lover,  
that loves perfect image bears,  
As true as love itself do love her.  
witness his far fetched sighs and tears,  
Which forth he groans with bitter moans,  
and from his troubled breast he moves,  
And day nor night takes no delight,  
because etc.   

So with my duty to her commended,  
her loyal servant I'll be still.  
Desiring I may be befriended,  
with love again for my good will,  
And with that she as true may be,  
as I to her will constant prove,  
And night and day I still will pray,  
and wish I may live where I love    P. L. 
FINIS.   

London Printed for Henry Gosson.   

Fond Love why dost thou dally: OR, The passionate Lover's Ditty, In praise of his Love that's fair and witty.  
To the tune of The mock Widow.  

 

FOnd Love why dost thou dally,  
And mock my passions with thy disdain?  
there is no bliss,  
where coyness is,  
Seek not thy pleasure in my pain:  
But let the chaste torments of my desire,  
Kindle in thee propitious fire:  
So shall the pleasures of thy sweet embraces,  
Conquer the grief of my former disgraces,  
Then those storms past, shall mercy appear,  
And thou of cruelty go quit and clear.   

If not, thou art accused,  
For being a lure of my grief and care,  
for from thy sight,  
comes my delight,  
Thy frown only procures despair:  
But in thy smiles there dwell eternal joys,  
Which from my heart all floods of woes destroys,  
Then be not thou obdurate unto me,  
Seeing thou art my chief felicity:  
Thou seest how passionate I am for thee,  
O then grant Love, forgetting cruelty.   

Sweet love thou art my goddess.  
To whom my heart I solely dedicate,  
than morele send,  
to me thy friend,  
My sad grief to abreulate:  
Then shall I praise thy goodly tresses,  
Shining like gold as all the Gods confesses,  
And eke the splendour of thy comely face,  
Which doth so well thy complete body grace,  
As thou appear'st like Cynthia in her sphere,  
Or like Apollo in the days bright chair.    

The second part To the Same tune.  

O how I am astonished,  
To view the nature of my true love,  
thy sweet face,  
and comely grace,  
World in an Angel envy move,  
Thy eyes give lustre these shadows o'erspread,  
And thy sweet language would waken the dead,  
The music of the spheres is but a dull noise  
When we shall hear thee, in thy sweetest voice,  
Curious wondors within thee do shine,  
Which do persuade me that thou art divine.   

juno the Queen of glory,  
Cannot come near thee for thy virtuous grace:  
thou art more fair,  
in beauty rare,  
And dost deserve as well that place,  
Wherein loves darling in her glory moves,  
Thy hands far whiter than fair Venus Doves,  
And thou thyself complete in each degree,  
Upon thy forehead dwells rare Majesty:  
Thou art indeed a lamye of heavenly wonder.  
And for thy virtues keep'st all creatures under.   

All earthly joys and pleasures  
Are to be had in thy society,  
Lorina's name,  
deserves true fame,  
She is endued with piety,  
Fairer she is by 〈◊〉 then rocks of pearl.  
love till this time ne'er saw a braver Girl,  
The Phoenix mate maked not a gayer show,  
Nor yet the Lilies on the bank of Poe,  
She is indeed the mirror of our age,  
And with jove's Queen may walk in equipage.   

Wherefore should I dally then,  
To court this glory, and to embrace,  
even in thee,  
all bliss I see,  
Lively depainted in thy fare,  
Come then le's dally, and to the wanton air,  
Change love's delightments, so shall we declare  
Our loves by our kisses, whist I nothing fearing  
Breath my best wish, in my wished beauties hearing  
Which when I have done thy captius I'll be,  
Yet think I have a glorious liberty.   

Come then, come my Lorina,  
And yield that treasure, which who so knows,  
knows a bliss,  
by which he is  
Eternally exempt from woes,  
Should love himself envy at our best delight,  
These joys we'll enjoy still in envy's despite  
Nay should his anger descend so upon me,  
As my Lorina to ravish thee from me,  
I'll fly in my fury as high as his sphere,  
And snatch thee from his arms or perish there.   

Come then let me enjoy thee     

Printed at London for Francis Coules.  
FINIS.   

A New Ditty: Of a Lover, tossed hither and th' there, That cannot speak his mind when they are together.  
To the Tune of, Hide Park.  

 

ALas I am in love,  
and cannot speak it,  
My mind I dare not move,  
nor ne'er can break it,  
She doth so far excel  
all and each other,  
My mind I cannot tell,  
when we are together.   

But I'll take heart to me,  
I will reveal it,  
I'll try her constancy,  
I'll not conceal it,  
But alas, but alas I do consider,  
I cannot break my mind,  
When etc.   

Her loving looks and smiles,  
hath to bewitched me,  
Her virtue me beguiles,  
she hath enriched me,  
she's so fair, she's so rare,  
her due to give her,  
Makes me I cannot speak,  
when etc.   

Our oft frequented jests,  
are turned to earnest,  
In ' thnight I cannot rest,  
for love's severeness,  
It hath turned, it hath burned,  
my heart for ever.  
Alas I cannot speak,  
when etc.   

Like to the foolish Flies,  
too long I have dallied  
With her bright glistering eyes,  
my Fort she th' sallied  
That I have scorched my wings,  
and heart for ever,  
Alas etc.   

Her presence is my joy.  
her want my sadness,  
When I her face enjoy,  
I am turned to gladness,  
And with our company may last for ever.  
but yet I etc.    

The second part, to the same Tune  
 

I Think she loves me well,  
but I ne'er broke it,  
I am sure I love her well,  
though I ne'er spoke it,  
And my love to her shall prove,  
constant for ever,  
Although etc.   

Suppose she loves me not,  
or loves another,  
Too much yet care I not,  
still I will love her,  
And do vow to be true,  
and faithful for ever,  
Although etc.   

I will do the best I can,  
I'll strive to please her,  
I will do any thing,  
whereby to ease her.  
Over Sea I will flee,  
swim like Leander,  
Before I'll lose her love,  
through the world I'll wander.   

And I'll do much more too,  
if shée'le command it,  
If 't be to lose my life,  
I'll not gain stand it,  
But alas, but alas,  
I do consider,  
I cannot speak my mind  
when etc.   

The more I strive to hide,  
the more it shameth,  
These pains I cannot bide,  
my wits it lameth.  
And if it hidden be,  
will burn for ever,  
Unless I speak my mind,  
when etc.   

I think 'twere good I tried,  
and went to prove her,  
And lay all fear aside,  
stoutly to move her,  
But when I am going to speak,  
my tongue doth quiver,  
And will not break my mind,  
when we are together.  Peter Lowberry.   
FINIS.   

Printed at London for Edward Wright dwelling near Christ's Church gate