Berkshire lady, or, Batchelors of every statioh (sic)/The Berkshire Lady
THE BERKSHIRE LADY.
PART I
BATCHLORS of every ſtation.
Mark and hear this true relation,
Which in truth to you I bring,
Never was a ſtranger thing
You ſhall find it worth the hearing,
Loyal love is moſt enduring,
When it takes the deepest root,
Yielding gold and charms to boot,
Some wid wed for ſtore of treaſure,
But the ſweeteſt joy and pleaſure,
Is in faithfull love you'll find,
Graced with a faithful mind.
Such a noble diſpoſitian,
Had this Lady with ſubmiſſion,
Of whom I this ſonnet write,
Store of wealth and beauty bright
She was left by a good G an'am,
Full five thouſand pounds per annum,
Which ſhe hold without controul,
Thus ſhe did in riches roll.
Tho' ſhe had vaſt ſtore of riches,
Which fome perſons much bewiſhes,
Yet ſhe bore a virtuous mind
Not the leaſt to pride inclin'd
Many noble perſons courted,
This young lady 'tis reported,
But their (illegible text) in vain,
(illegible text)could not her favour gain
Tho ſhe made ſuch ſtout reſiſtance,
Yet by Cupid's true aſſiſtance,
She was conquer'd after all
How it was declare I ſhall.
Being at a noble wedding
Near the famous town of Reading
A young gentleman ſhe ſaw,
who belonged to the law.
As ſhe view'd his ſweet behavior,
Evry courteous carriage gave her,
New addition to herger grief,
Forc'd ſhe was to ſeek relief.
Privately ſhe now enquired,
About him ſhe ſo admired;
Both his name and where he dwelt,
Such was the hot flames ſhe feelt.
Then at night this youthful lady,
Call'd her coach which being ready,
Homeward ſtraight be did return,
But her herrt in flames did burn.
PART II
NIGHT and morning ſer a ſeaſon,
In her cloſet ſhe did reaſon,
With herſelf and often faid.
Why has love my heart betray'd ?
I that have ſo many ſlighted,
Am at length so well requited,
For my grieſs are not a few
Now i find what love can do,
He that has my heart a keeping
Though I for his take ly weeping
Little knows what grief I feel,
But I'll try it out with (illegible text)el,
For I will a challenge ſend him
And appoint where I'l attend him,
In a grove without delay
By the dawning of the day.
He will not the le(illegible text) diſcover,
That I am his virgin lover:
By the challenge that I ſend,
But for juſtice I'll contend
He hath caused ſad diſtraction;
and I am for ſatisfaction
Which if he denies to give.
One of us shall ceaſe to live.
Having thus her mind reveal'd;
She a letter clos'd and seal'd;
Now when it came to his hand,
The young man was at a ſtand.
In this lett'r ſhe conjur'd him
For to meet and well aſſur'd him,
Recompenſe he muſt afford.
Or diſpute it with the ſword
Having read this ſrange relation,
He was in a conſternation!
Then adviſing with a friend,
He perſuades him to attend.
Be of courage and make ready,
A faint heart ne'er won fair Lady,
I along with you I will go,
In regard it muſt be ſo.
PART III.
EARL on a ſummer's morning,
When bright Ph(illegible text) was (illegible text)
Ev'ry bower with his beams,
The fair Lady came it ſeems.
At the bottom of a mountain.
Wear a pleaſant chryſtal fountain,
There ſhe left her gilded coach,
While the prove ſhe did approach.
Cover'd with a maſk and walking,
There ſhe found her lover talking
With a friend that he had brought,
Straight ſhe aſk'd him who he ſought?
He) I am challeng'd by a gallant,
Who relives to try my talent:
What he is I cannot ſay.
But I hope to ſhew him play.
She) It is I that did invite you;
You ſhall wed me or I'll fight you;
Underneath theſe ſpreading trees,
Therefore chuſe you which you pleaſe,
You ſhall find I do not vapour,
I have brought my truſty rapier,
Therefore take your choice, ſays ſhe,
Either to fight or marry me
Said he Madam, pray, what mean ye
In my life I ne'er had ſeen ye;
Pray umaſk your viſage ſhow,
Then I'll tell you I or no,
She) I will not my face uncover,
Till the marriage rites are over:
Therefore now chooſe which you will
Wed me ſir or try your ſkill.
Step within that pleaſant bower,
With your friend one ſingle hour;
Strive your thoughts to reconcile,
And I'll wander here the while,
While the charming Lady waited,
The young Batchelor debated,
What was beſt for to be done,
Quoth his friend the hazard run.
If my judgment may be truſted,
Wed her ſir you can't be worſted:
If ſhe is rich ſhe'll raise your ſame,
If ſhe is poor you are the ſame.
He conſented to be married.
In the coach they all were carried,
To a church without delay.
Where he weds the lady gay,
There ſweet pretty Cupid hover'd.
Round her eye: her face was cover'd,
With a mask he took her thus
Just for better or for worſe
With a courteous kind behaviour,
Sbe preſents his friend a favour.
And with all diſmiſt him Straight,
That he might no longer wait.
PART IV.
AS the gilded coach ſtood ready,
The young lawyer and his Lady,
Rode together till they came
To her houſe of ſtate and ſame:
Which appeared like a caſtle,
Where he might behold a parcel,
Of young cedars tall and ſtraight,
Juſt before her palace gate,
Hand in hand they walk'd together
To a hall or parlour rather
Which was beautiful and fair,
All alone ſhe left him there.
Two long hours there he waited,
Her return at laſt he fretted,
And began to grieve at laft.
For he had not broke his faſt.
Still he ſat like one amazed t
Round a ſpacious roon he gazed,
which was richely beautified,
But alas! he loſt his bride.
There was piping laughing ſneering
All within the courtiers hearing:
But his bride he could not ſee,
Would I were at home thoutht he,
While his heart was melancholy:
Said the Steward briſk and jolly,
Tell me friend, How came you here,
You have ſome deſign I fear,
He replied Dear loving maſter,
You ſhall meet with no diſaſter,
Through my means in any caſe,
Madam brought me to this place,
Then the Steward did retire,
About the matter to enquire,
Whether it was true or no
Ne'er was lover hamper'd ſo,
Now the Lady who had fill'd him,
With the tears, full well beheld him
From a window where ſhe drest,
Delighted with the plealent jeſt,
When ſhe had herſelf attired,
In rich robes to be admired,
Like a moving angel bright
She appeared in his ſight,
Dear Sir, my ſervent have related,
How you have for ſome hours waited,
In my parlour, tell me who
In my houſe that you do know
Madam, if I have offended,
It is more than I intended,
A young Lady brought me here.
That is very true my dear.
I can be no longer cruel
To my dear and only jewel
Thou are mine end I am thine,
Hard and heart I do reſign!
Once I was thy wounded lover
Now thoſe fears are cleanly over,
by receiving what I gave,
Thou art Lord of all have.
Beauty, honour love and treaſure
A rich golden ſtream of pleaſure,
With this Lady he enjoys.
Thanks to Cupid's kind decoys.
Now he is cloth'd in rich attire,
Not inferior to any 'quire;
Beauty, honour, riches ſtore,
What can a man defire more.