Classic Poem

A neighbour mine not long ago there was
(But namelesse he, for blamelesse he shall be),
That maried had a tricke and bonny lasse
As in a sommer-day a man might see;
But he himselfe a foule vnhandsome groome,
And farre vnfit to hold so good a roome.

Now, whether moou'd with selfe-vnworthinesse,
Or with her beauty, fit to make a pray,
Fell iealousie did so his braine oppresse,
That if he absent were but halfe a day,
He ghest the worst (you wot what is the worst),
And in himselfe new doubting causes nurst.

While thus he fear'd the silly innocent,
Who yet was good, because shee knew none ill;
Vnto his house a iollie shepheard went,
To whom our prince did beare a great good will,
Because in wrestling and in pastorall
He farre did passe the rest of shepheards all.

And therefore he a courtier was benamed,
And as a courtier was with cheere receiued;
For they haue tongues to make a poore man blamed,
If he to them his dutie misconceiued:
And for this courtier should well like his table,
The good man bade his wife be seruiceable.

And so she was, and all with good intent;
But few dayes past, while she good maner vsde,
But that her husband thought her seruice bent
To such an end as he might be abusde:
Yet, like a coward, fearing strangers pride,
He made the simple wench his wrath abide.

With chumpish lookes, hard words, and secret nips,
Grumbling at her when she his kindnesse sought,
Asking her how she tasted courtier's lips,
He forst her thinke that which she neuer thought;
In fine, he made her ghesse there was some sweet
In that which he so fear'd that she should meet.

When once this entred was in woman's hart,
And that it had enflam'd a new desire,
There rested then to play a woman's part,
Fuell to seeke, and not to quench the fire:
But for his iealous eye she well did finde,
She studied cunning how the same to blinde.

And thus she did: one day to him she came,
And, though against his will, on him she leand,
And out gan cry: Ah, well-away for shame,
If you helpe not, our wedlock will be staind!
The goodman, starting, askt what her did moue;
She sigh'd and said: The bad guest sought her loue.

He, little looking that she should complaine
Of that whereto he fear'd she was enclinde,
Bussing her oft, and in his heart full faine,
He did demaund what remedie to finde;
How they might get that guest from them to wend,
And yet the Prince, that lou'd him, not offend.

Husband, quoth she, goe to him by and by,
And tell him you doe finde I doe him loue;
And therefore pray him that of curtesie
He will absent himselfe, lest he should moue
A yong girle's heart to that were shame for both;
Whereto, you know, his honest heart were loath.

Thus shall you shew that him you doe not doubt,
And as for me, sweet husband, I must beare.
Glad was the man when he had heard her out,
And did the same, although with mickle feare;
For feare he did, lest he the yong man might
In choller put, with whom he would not fight.

The courtly shepheard, much agast at this,
Not seeing earst such token in the wife,
Though full of scorne, would not his dutie misse,
Knowing that ill becomes a houshold strife, —
Did goe his way, but soiourn'd neare thereby,
That yet the ground hereof he might espie.

The wife thus hauing settled husband's braine, —
Who would haue sworne his spouse Diana was, —
Watched when she a further point might gaine,
Which little time did fitly bring to passe:
For to the Court her man was call'd by name,
Whither he needs must goe for feare of blame.

Three dayes before that he must sure depart
She written had, but in a hand disguisde,
A letter such, which might from either part,
Seeme to proceed, so well it was deuisde.
She seald it first, then she the sealing brake,
And to her iealous husband did it take.

With weeping eyes (her eyes she taught to weep)
She told him that the Courtier had it sent:
Alas, quoth she, — thus women's shame doth creepe!
The goodman read on both sides the content;
It title had, Vnto my onely Loue:
Subscription was, Yours most, if you will proue.

The pistle' selfe such kind of words it had: —
" My sweetest ioy, the comfort of my spirite,
So may thy flockes' increase, thy deare heart glad;
So may each thing, euen as thou wishest, light,
As thou wilt deigne to reade, and gently reed
This mourning inke, in which my heart doth bleed.

Long haue I lou'd (alas thou worthy art);
Long haue I lou'd (alas loue craueth loue);
Long haue I lou'd thy selfe, alas my heart
Doth breake, now tongue vnto thy name doth moue:
And thinke not that thy answer answer is,
But that it is my doome of bale or blisse.

The iealous wretch must now to Court be gone;
Ne can he faile, for Prince hath for him sent:
Now is the time we may be here alone,
And giue a long desire a sweet content.
Thus shall you both reward a louer true,
And eke reuenge his wrong-suspecting you."

And this was all, and this the husband read
With chafe enough, till she him pacified;
Desiring that no griefe in him be bread,
Now that he had her words so truely tried,
But that he would to him the letter show,
That with his fault he might her goodnesse know.

That straight was done with many a boystrous threat,
That to the King he would his sinne declare:
But now the Courtier 'gan to smell the feat,
And with some words which shewed little care,
He staid vntill the goodman was departed,
Then gaue he him the blow which neuer smarted.

Thus may you see the iealous wretch was made
The pandar of the thing he most did feare.
Take heed, therefore, how you ensue that trade;
Lest the same markes of iealousie you beare:
For sure no iealousie can that preuent,
Whereto two parties once be full content.