I had store of money there, 'Stay, George," quoth she, "thou art too quick: Why, man, I did but jeer. "Dost think for all my speech, That I would let thee go? 50 Faith no," said she, "my love to thee "You scorne a prentice boy, Wherefore I will not trouble you." 55 I heard you just now swear: Nay, George, hark in thine ear; “Thou shalt not go to-night, What chance soe're befall; But man, we'll have a bed for thee, So I by wiles bewitcht, And snar'd with fancy still, Had then no power to 'get' away, Or to withstand her will. 60 I'll rob her ere I'll want." "Nay, then," quoth Sarah, "they may well 66 Consider of your scant." 'Nay, I an uncle have; At Ludlow he doth dwell; He is a grazier, which in wealth "Ere I will live in lack, And have no coyn for thee, I'll rob his house, and murder him." 66 Why should you not?" quoth she: "Was I a man, ere I Would live in poor estate, 80 On father, friends, and all my kin 95 "For without money, George, But bringing money, thou shalt be 100 Whereby she seized was, And then to Ludlow sent,. Where she was judg'd, condemn'd, and hang'd, For murder incontinent. VOL. II. U 170 These beautiful stanzas were written by George Wither, of whom some account was given in the First Volume: see the song entitled, The Shepherd's Resolution, book v. song xxi. In the first edition of this work, only a small fragment of this sonnet was inserted. It was afterwards rendered more complete and entire by the addition of five stanzas more, extracted from Wither's pastoral poem, entitled, The Mistress of Philarete, of which this song makes a part. It is now given still more correct and perfect by comparing it with another copy, printed by the author in his improved edition of The Shepherd's Hunting, 1620, 8vo. HENCE away, thou Syren, leave me! No common snare 5 |