Classic Poem

Then wast thou brought unto a House,
Halfe dead, like to a drowned Mouse;
Where at the last (as did require)
By drinkes, warme cloathes, and heate of fire,
Thou didst recover life againe,
And merry wert, as 'fore thy payne:
And when thou hear'd by Dnabsuh, I
Did venture so couragiously
To save thy life, when one foote furre,
The rest for feare durst not (once) sturre:
 (For I durst sweare (then) and protest,
 Of Willow-Garland thou thought'st least.)

Thou found'st the meanes in secret wise,
On bended knees, with weeping eyes
To thanke mee for the life I gave,
Which from the waters I did save;
And there didst wish that thou might'st dye,
Unlesse thou didst this courtesie
Requite againe, and that so large,
As thee I never once should charge,
To be ungratefull for good turne,
Thou vowd'st thy selfe thou first would'st burne;
 And prayd'st mee that I should not feare
 The Willow-Garland for to weare.

I tooke thee up, when thou me kist,
And in mine eare thou wotst what whist
I then againe did crave of thee,
That thou would'st constant prove to me,
And never change me for a new,
And I would be thy Turtle true.
A Token then to me thou gave,
Which (if I list to show) I have;
But I (a Gentleman) will not,
Though thou thy selfe so much forgot;
 That mee a Garland gav'st in charge,
 To row with Willow in my Barge.

Who then was blithe so much as I,
For joy of thy sweet company,
I thought I had thee then most sure,
That loyall still thou would'st endure;
I thought on thee to set my REST,
I lov'd thee most, I likt thee best.
Thy Face so fayre did cause me thinke
No falshood in thy minde could sincke;
Thy fayned Teares did make me trust,
Thy Oathes did force mee judge thee just,
 And that the Willow-Garland ne'er
 I on my harmelesse head should weare.

But (all too late) I finde as now,
That thou hast broke thy plighted vow,
Thy Moone, which shone before so bright,
Through Clouds of craft is darkened quite;
Thy Sunne eclipsed is to see,
Which (shining) cleare, was wont to be,
Thy selfe (whome I most honest thought)
I finde to be a Thing of Nought:
All is forgot which thou didst vow,
Thy Words, thy Oathes, thy Promise, now,
 But well I wot thou bearst in brest,
 Where Willow-Garland thine doth rest.

Then since thou as the winde dost range,
Since thou as Weather-cocke dost change,
Since thou as Seas uncertaine art,
And since thou act'st Dame Fortunes part,
Ile leave thee to thy wavering vaine,
And turne thee into'th open Plaine;
My right Ile yeeld up to thy Hands,
No Farmer I to common Lands;
Nor paynes Ile for a Common take,
Inclosure of it for to make:
 Since to the owner fruitlesse Fields,
 Nought but a Willow-Garland yeelds.

Yet on thee for bestowed cost,
I somewhat have, all is not lost;
Thy Tokens which to mee thou sent
In time may make thee to repent:
Thy Gifts doe groane (bestow'd on mee)
For griefe that they thee guilty see:
The Amber Bracelet thou me gave,
(For feare that thou shouldst shortly wave)
From Yealow turned is to Pale,
A Signe thou shortly wilt be stale:
 Yet is full fresh my Garlands wreath
 Compos'd of Willow , by thy leave.

The Waste-coate wrought, thou sentest new,
Hath (of his Silke) new chang'd the hue:
The Colours of thy Picture fayre
Doe drop from Boord and much impayre:
The Chayne which thou thy selfe didst knit
About my Necke (for it most fit)
On sodayne's broke, presages all,
That thou from first Love soone would'st fall;
But thy chiefe Secrets Ile not show
(Though thou unworthy to scape so)
 Since I (through thee) weare for my Flower,
 The Willow Garland passing sowre.

Then joy not o'er-much in thy gaine,
Although 'tis somewhat to my paine:
For if thou well dost count thy shot,
Full deare, too deare, thou hast it got;
And sooner I recover may
My losse, than thou thine, any way:
And though it somewhat hinders mee,
Yet undone by it, I will not be;
Afore-hand Ile be soone againe,
When come behinde thou shalt be faine:
 Though now I stand like forlorne Soule,
 With Willow-Garland on my Nowle.