A strange Encounter of two Lovers? OR, The Dying Maid Revived.  
To the Tune of, On the Bank of a Brook, etc.  
With Allowance.  
 
 

DOwn in a Cypress Grove as I was lying,  
to hear the Nightingales innocent song;  
I saw a beauteous Nymph weeping and crying,  
and beating her breast as she walked along:  
She made such complaints that would soften a stone,  
She made the Grove ring with her pitiful moan.   

In this condition a Gallant youth spied her,  
as like to her he was walking alone;  
He so astonished was when that he eyed her,  
that he did stand like a stoek or a stone:  
But at last he drew nigh, and he asked what did grieve her,  
And proffered his sword and his life to relieve her.   

Kind stranger, said she, O there is no redressing  
of my misfortunes but only by death,  
O! if the Heavens would grant me that blessing,  
how willingly would I resign up my breath?  
But since I must live I will weep till I die,  
And from all joy, and all comfort will fly.   

Then, said the noble youth, i'll sit down by you,  
and keep you company in your sad grief:  
I'll sigh when you do weep, and never fly you,  
till you can find to your sadness relief:  
Tell me the cause of your sad discontent,  
I'll help you for to weep, grieve, and lament.   

O then, said she, give ear to my sad story,  
I was beloved, and beloved much too well  
By a most beauteous youth, he was the glory  
of all mankind, for he did so excel  
In valour and wisdom, and virtues of mind,  
That the whole world his like could not find.   

He did love faithfully, for he did languish,  
he grieved and he pined, consumed with love's flame,  
And I loved him as well, and had great anguish,  
to see him suffer, but I was to blame;  
For I was ●oy, forsooth, and for to try him,  
I seemed for to scorn him to slight him and fly him.   
 

HE came one day, and he told how he loved me,  
he threw himself down at my feet all in tears;  
He asked if his constancy had not yet moved me,  
at which I seemed for to stop my false ears:  
O then, said he, since I no longer can live,  
I'll die by your hand if my death's wound you'll give.   

And so he gave me his sword for to strike him,  
but I had ●ather have stabbed my own heart;  
When I would neither strike, nor seem to like him,  
he spoke these sad words as from me he did part:  
Since by the hand that I love I can't die,  
I'll fall by the hand of some brave enemy.   

I'll to the wars go, and in bloody battle,  
teach the world how a scorned lover can fight;  
With Lance and with sword will I thunder & rattle,  
he fears no death whom his Mistress does slight:  
In the midst of my foes will I yield up my breath,  
And end my sad life by a nobler death.   

And so he parted, and I seemed to leave him,  
with great content, but when that he was gone;  
I sent to call him back, and undeceive him,  
and for to tell him I had loved him long:  
But he to Sea was got, for he did hate  
The Country that gave him so cruel a fate.   

I run down to the Shore weeping and wailing,  
and to the waves and the winds I did cry;  
Bring back my love again, for he is sailing  
from a poor Maid that does languish and die:  
But the Ship soon was got out of my sight,  
And then I fainted and swooned outright.   

I saw my folly, and cursed my madness,  
for which I ever will sit down and cry;  
And until death i'll persever in sadness,  
my mournful eyes they shall never be dry:  
O hold, said the stranger, give me but one kiss,  
I'll bring back your dear, for I know where he is.   
 

I'd give the world, said she, were't in my power,  
but since it is not, i'll give what I can:  
You'll have him for less, said he, this very hour,  
and so here take him for I am the Man:  
So into her arms the youth presently slew,  
She looked upon him, and found he said true.   

The Nymph she wept for joy, fainted and swooned,  
and felt those joys which can ne'er be expressed;  
Her Lover felt as great, for his heart bounded,  
it leapt and it capered almost out of's breast:  
She wept, and he kissed, and then he did tell  
How he came thither, and what him befell.   

We scarce were got to Sea, when we discover  
six Turkish Ships, said he, all under sail;  
At which we startled were, but your sad lover  
persuaded them for to fight without fail:  
And so I shot off the challenging Gun,  
And then we all unto battle did run.   

I fought like one that all life had despised,  
I leapt into one of their Ships all alone;  
I only fought to die, 'twas death I prized,  
I stood them though they were hundreds to one:  
Then our Ships were soon severed by wind & by wave  
And I was carried away for a slave.   

Then for to work like a beast I was forced,  
heavily loaded with an iron chain:  
But my great torment was to be divorced  
from my beloved, O that was a pain,  
Much greater than stripes, than fetters, or gives,  
Than being a slave, or losing of lives.   

But when that I could no longer endure it,  
away one night from the Turks I did fly;  
Here in your sight by my death for to cure it,  
fully resolved at your feet for to die:  
But here I find my grief turned into joy,  
And into pleasutes that never shall cloy.    

Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clarke.