A Handful of Pleasant Delights/The lamentation of a woman being wrongfully defamed
The lamentation of a woman being wrongfully defamed. To the tune of Damon and Pithias.
Ou Ladies falsly deemd,
of anie fault or crime:
Command your pensiue harts to help
this dolefull tune of mine:
For spitefull men there are,
that faults would fain espie:
Alas, what heart would heare their talke,
but willingly would die.
¶I waile oft times in woe,
and curse mine houre of birth,
Such slanderous pangs do me oppresse,
when others ioy in mirth:
Belike it was ordaind to be my destinie.
Alas what heart would heare their talk, &c.
¶A thousand good women,
haue guiltlesse been accusde:
For verie spite, although that they,
their bodies neuer abusde:
the godly Susanna accusde was falsly
alas &c.
¶The poisoned Pancalier,
ful falsly did accuse
The good Dutchesse of Sauoy,
because she did refuse.
To grant vnto his loue,
that was so vngodlie.
Alas what, &c.
¶Such false dissembling men,
stoong with Alectos dart:
Must needs haue place to spit their spite,
vpon some guiltlesse hart:
Therefore, I must he pleasde,
that they triumph on me,
Alas, &c.
¶Therefore, Lord, I thee pray,
the like death downe to send,
Vpon these false suspected men,
or else their minds t'amend:
As thou hast done tofore,
vnto these persons three.
Alas what, &c.