The DUKE of Monnmouth's Kind Answer TO HIS Mournful Duchess Complaint, In the time of His Absence: With the great Acknowledgement of His Princely Father's Love, whose Mercy is beyond compare, and Pity admired by all the AEuropean Princes.  
Entered according to Order.  

WHat noise is this that soundeth in mine ear?  
Sure 'tis the voice of my beloved dear;  
My Noble Duchess surely doth Complain  
For my long absence, which doth her constrain  
To sigh and mourn, then mourn and drop a tear,  
Ah! what's become of my beloved dear?  
Where is he gone, cries she? where is he fled?  
Without all doubt, my Princely Love is dead.  
Were he alive I think it could not be,  
That my Delight should stay so long from me  
A live or dead, Love, would I were with thee.  
This sound methinks doth pierce me to the heart,  
I mourn that I was forced from her to part:  
Well, i'll Return, what ever doth betid,  
With her to dwell, where my Soul doth abide;  
I come, my Duchess, do no more complain,  
Thou wilt enjoy thy heart's Delight again:  
That Princely Monarch whom I did offend,  
I hope in God, once more will be my Friend;  
And if my Pardon I can once obtain,  
To gain the World i'll ne'er offend again:  
My Soul within me bleeds, to think that I,  
Was from my Father's presence forced to fly,  
And then I check myself, fie! Jemmy, fie!  
But if I live, mine Honour i'll regain,  
To wipe out that which Folly once did slain▪  
Through Seas of Dangers for my Father, I  
Will freely venture, in his Quarrel die;  
Or gain such Honour that all shall admire  
Young Jemmy's heart should to that height aspire!  
Nay, and to make amends too, I will strive,  
And if I can by any means contrive,  
To add such Glory to my Father's Name,  
That ev'ry tongue shall through the world proclaim.  
And as to thee, my Duchess, if I live,  
For thy true love i'll Satisfaction give:  
No longer for thy Jemmy shalt thou mourn,  
Nor drowned thyself in Tears, like one forlorn;  
And ev'ry sigh thou gav'st for my s,  
Shall be rewarded with a loving Kiss:  
Sigh you, i'll grieve, and when you shed a tear,  
I'll hug and comfort my beloved Dear;  
Love ne'er so well, i'll strive thee to outvie,  
I hate to be in debt for Constancy;  
What Kindnesses soever you do show  
To me, i'll not one dram of Kindness owe;  
For when you smile, i'll smile, but if you frown  
On me my Dear, you'll see me sinking down;  
A signal Token that I ill resent,  
The Emblems of my true love's discontent.  
My study now shall be to make-amends,  
First to my Prince, next to my Royal Friends;  
And ev'ry Friend I find that I have here,  
I'll find some way or other to endear.  
A Prince that sprung from such a Royal Line,  
Or had a Princely Father like to mine,  
Should unto Deeds of Honour still incline,  
The residue of all my days i'll spend  
So, that the Universe shall me commend▪  
I'll merit Honour if it may be gained,  
Ignoble Actions all shall be disdained.  
And having compassed what I here do say,  
With Honour lie down in my Bed of Clay;  
For all the Honours that a Prince can gain,  
He must from hence, not always here remain,  
Then let our actions Righteous be and Just,  
Princes and Peasants▪ all must turn to Dust,  
At God's Tribunal there appear he must.  
All Youthful Vigour will in time decay,  
And Riches they have wings and fly away▪  
There's nothing Stable underneath the Sun,  
Lofty Ambition thousands hath undone.  
But findng more than I could well expect,  
And since the Powers above do me protect▪  
I'll strive to merit what's bestowed on me,  
And to maintain my Father's Dignity.  
My Duchess I do hope, shall grieve no more,  
Who for my absence was oppressed sore▪  
And her dear love i'll certainly repay,  
Her love I will engraft, my King obey;  
So that when I submit to pale-faced Death,  
Who certainly must stop my murmuring breath,  
Sure some kind Soul so mournfully will say,  
'Twas pity Death snatched this poor Duke away.  
Sure to the Power Divine I must submit,  
And beg of God, Transgressions to remit;  
That when at his Great Bar I shall appear,  
I may be loved there as well as here.  
That Monmouth's Name may never be forgot,  
Whose Carcase in the Grave must lie and rot;  
Yet my immortal Soul I hope will be,  
Through Jesus Christ, blest to Eternity:  
A Heavenly Diadem I would obtain,  
To live where Jesus doth in Glory Reign,  
Then shall I have no reason to complain.   
FINIS.   

Printed for Tho▪ Wright, 1683.