Page:Wife of Beith (9).pdf/6

Upbraid me then, goodwife, no more,
For, firſt when I heard of thy name,
I knew thou hadſt ſuch words in ſtore,
Would make the devil to think ſhame.
Forſooth, Sir Thief, you are to blame,
If I had time now to abide,
Once you were well but may think ſhame,
That loſt heaven for rebellious pride;
Who traitor-like fell with the reſt,
Becauſe you would not be content,
And now of bleſs are diſpoſſeſt,
Without all grace for to repent,
Thou mad'ſt poor Eve long ſince conſent,
To eat of the forbidden tree;
(Which we her daughters may repent,)
And made us almoſt like to thee:
But God be bleſt, who paſs'd thee by,
And did a Saviour provide:
For Adam's whole poſterity,
All thoſe who do in him conſide.
Adieu, falſe fiend, I may not bide,
With thee I may no longer ſtay,
My God, in death, he was my guide,
O'er hell I'll get the victory.
Then up the hill the poor wife went,
Oppreſt with ſtinking frames and fear,
Weeping right fore, with great relent,
For to go elfe ſhe wiſt not where:
A narrow way, with thorns and briers,
And full of mires was her before;
She ſighed oft with ſobs and tears,
The poor wife's heart was wondrous fore;