Classic Poem

AFTER THE TAKING OF CADIZ

Will you hear a Spanish lady,
How she wooed an Englishman?
Garments gay and rich as may be
Decked with jewels she had on.
Of a comely countenance and grace was she,
And by birth and parentage of high degree.

As his prisoner there he kept her,
In his hands her life did lie;
Cupid's bands did tie them faster
By the liking of an eye.
In his courteous company was all her joy,
To favour him in anything she was not coy.

But at last there came commandment
For to set the ladies free,
With their jewels still adorned,
None to do them injury.
Then said this lady mild, " Full woe is me;
O let me still sustain this kind captivity!

" Gallant captain, show some pity
To a lady in distress;
Leave me not within this city,
For to die in heaviness:
Thou hast set this present day my body free,
But my heart in prison still remains with thee. "

" How should'st thou, fair lady, love me,
Whom thou know'st thy country's foe?
Thy fair words make me suspect thee:
Serpents lie where flowers grow. " —
" All the harm I wish to thee, most courteous knight,
God grant the same upon my head may fully light. "

" Blessed be the time and season,
That ye came on Spanish ground;
If our foes ye may be termed,
Gentle foes we have you found:
With our city ye have won our hearts each one;
Then to your country bear away that is your won. " —

" Rest you still, most gallant lady;
Rest you still, and weep no more;
Of fair lovers there is plenty,
Spain doth yield a wondrous store. " —
" Spaniards fraught with jealousy we often find,
But Englishmen through all the world are counted kind.

" Leave me not unto a Spaniard,
You alone enjoy my heart;
I am lovely, young, and tender,
Love is likewise my desert:
Still to serve thee day and night my mind is prest;
The wife of every Englishman is counted blest. " —

" It would be a shame, fair lady,
For to bear a woman hence;
English soldiers never carry
Any such without offence. " —
" I'll quickly change myself, if it be so,
And like a page I'll follow thee, where'er thou go. " —

" I have neither gold nor silver
To maintain thee in this case,
And to travel is great charges,
As you know in every place. " —
" My chains and jewels every one shall be thy own,
And eke five hundred pounds in gold that lies unknown. "

" On the seas are many dangers;
Many storms do there arise,
Which will be to ladies dreadful,
And force tears from watery eyes. " —
" Well in troth I shall endure extremity,
For I could find in heart to lose my life for thee " —

" Courteous lady, leave this fancy;
Here comes all that breeds the strife.
I in England have already
A sweet woman to my wife:
I will not falsify my vow for gold nor gain,
Nor yet for all the fairest dames that live in Spain

" O how happy is that woman,
That enjoys so true a friend!
Many happy days God send her!
Of my suit I make an end:
On my knees I pardon crave for my offence,
Which did from love and true affection first commence.

" Commend me to thy lovely lady.
Bear to her this chain of gold,
And these bracelets for a token;
Grieving that I was so bold:
All my jewels in like sort take thou with thee,
For they are fitting for thy wife, but not for me.

" I will spend my days in prayer;
Love and all her laws defy;
In a nunnery will I shroud me
Far from any company:
But ere my prayers have an end, be sure of this,
To pray for thee and for thy love I will not miss
" Thus farewell, most gallant captain!

Farewell, too, my heart's content!
Count not Spanish ladies wanton,
Though to thee my love was bent:
Joy and true prosperity go still with thee!
" The like fall ever to thy share, most fair ladie! "