<!DOCTYPE ETS PUBLIC "-//UMDLPS//DTD EEBOPROOF 2.0//EN">
<ETS>
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<CHANGE>
<DATE>2008-12-03</DATE>
<RESPSTMT>
<NAME>tcpstaff</NAME>
<RESP>MURP</RESP>
</RESPSTMT>
<ITEM>Proofed and reviewed as part of batch B081019.pdcc.</ITEM>
</CHANGE>
</REVDESCR>
</TEMPHEAD>
<EEBO>
<IDG S="marc" R="UM" ID="B04367">
<STC T="W">M2256</STC>
<BIBNO T="umi">99887829</BIBNO>
<VID>183484</VID>
</IDG>
<TEXT LANG="eng">
<BODY>
<DIV1 TYPE="ballad">
<PB N="350" REF="1" MS="y"><!-- PDF PAGE 12 -->
<HEAD>The Mi&s;taken Bride: <HI>OR,</HI> The faithful Friend.</HEAD>
<OPENER>To an Excellent New Tune, call'd <HI>Celia</HI> that I once was ble&s;t.</OPENER>
<P><FIGURE>
</FIGURE></P>
<P><FIGURE>
</FIGURE></P>
<LG>
<L>IN fair <HI>London</HI> late did dwell,</L>
<L>A Man who&s;e Fame did mo&s;t excel;</L>
<L>He po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ing a rich Ble&s;&s;ing,</L>
<L>Of his hopeful Son we'll tell:</L>
<L>Fair <HI>Gerardo</HI> he was named,</L>
<L>Mild, and of &s;weet Temper framed.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>When that he was come to Age,</L>
<L>In Vertues School fit to engage,</L>
<L>His wi&s;e Father, he cho&s;e rather</L>
<L><HI>Oxford,</HI> that fair Learned Stage,</L>
<L>Than the Court which mo&s;t admire,</L>
<L>And which youth do &s;o de&s;ire.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Thither he was &s;ent to get,</L>
<L>Fair Learning and accompli&s;h'd Wit;</L>
<L>There a Knight, with great delight,</L>
<L>Took charged of this Companion fit,</L>
<L>For his Son <HI>George,</HI> &s;uch a Creature,</L>
<L>Iu&s;t &s;o tall and of &s;uch a Feature.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In their Stature and their Face,</L>
<L>They were of equal Height and Grace,</L>
<L>in their Favour, and Behaviour,</L>
<L>So alike in every place,</L>
<L>One was not known from the other,</L>
<L>As if Twins, and of one Mother,</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And as they in Face were found,</L>
<L>Alike in Vertue did abound;</L>
<L>Kind and Pritty, both like witty,</L>
<L>Not their Equals the World round;</L>
<L>Not like others that are roving,</L>
<L>But mo&s;t con&s;tant in their loving.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L><HI>George</HI> he lov'd a Lady fair,</L>
<L>With whom no Virgin could compare,</L>
<L>All admiring and de&s;iring,</L>
<L>Such a Beauty bright and rare,</L>
<L>Like the Sun-Beams in the Morning,</L>
<L>All the Meads and Fields adorning.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>On a Time it chanced &s;o,</L>
<L>That to this Beauty he would go,</L>
<L>For his Plea&s;ure, to this Trea&s;ure,</L>
<L>And he ask'd <HI>Gerardo</HI> too,</L>
<L>If he would not &s;ee this Beauty,</L>
<L>He reply'd it was his Duty.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And along with him he went,</L>
<L>But Beauty bred his di&s;content,</L>
<L>her bright Eyes, did &s;o &s;urprize,</L>
<L>The faithful youth, and did torment.</L>
<L>She with Graces &s;o abounded,</L>
<L>And his gentle Heart &s;o wounded.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB N="351" REF="2"><!-- PDF PAGE 13 -->
<L>After this perplex'd in Mind,</L>
<L>His Friend him in de&s;pair did find;</L>
<L>And reque&s;ted, and prote&s;ted,</L>
<L>That the cau&s;e thereof he'd find:</L>
<L>He then told in mournful fa&s;hion,</L>
<L>That the Lady caus'd his Pa&s;&s;ion.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Courage then, dear Friend, quoth he,</L>
<L>This Beauty I'll re&s;ign to thee,</L>
<L>She divine, &s;hall be all thine,</L>
<L>For we will never di&s;agree:</L>
<L>Go and put on my Apparel,</L>
<L>And of her I'll take my Farewel.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Go to Church and in my &s;tead,</L>
<L>You &s;hall the lovely Lady wed,</L>
<L>Do not langui&s;h, ea&s;e your angui&s;h,</L>
<L>Since we both alike are free'd,</L>
<L>None can know us from each other,</L>
<L>Not &s;o much as our own Mother.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Then next day as they decree'd</L>
<L><HI>Gerardo</HI> wedded her indeed,</L>
<L>After Fea&s;ting, Mirth and Ie&s;ting,</L>
<L>To the Nuptial Bed they &s;peed;</L>
<L>She &s;uppo&s;ing 'twas her Lover,</L>
<L>Gave him Ioys none may di&s;cover.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>All the night in her &s;oft Arms,</L>
<L>He lay po&s;&s;e&s;t of all her Charms;</L>
<L>but next day, a Po&s;t that way,</L>
<L>Did give the&s;e Lovers loud Alarms,</L>
<L>For <HI>Gerardo</HI> comes from <HI>London,</HI></L>
<L>And now all the Plot is undone,</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>All the matter's plainly prov'd</L>
<L>That 'twas his Friend the Lady lov'd.</L>
<L>Though &s;he Wedded and was Bedded,</L>
<L>To <HI>Gerardo</HI> in mi&s;take:</L>
<L>Now their Kindred all deceive them,</L>
<L>All enrag'd, they railing leave them.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Bani&s;h'd thus from <HI>London</HI> quite,</L>
<L>And depriv'd of Wealth and Right,</L>
<L>Fortune froward and untoward,</L>
<L>Made him &s;igh both day and night,</L>
<L>In (&s;aith he) this Fortune cruel,</L>
<L>I'll go &s;eek my Friend and Iewel.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>When that he to <HI>Oxford</HI> came,</L>
<L>And found his Friend by mighty Fame,</L>
<L>He po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ing, Fortune's Ble&s;&s;ing,</L>
<L>Wealth and a renowned Name;</L>
<L>Quoth he, now I am a&s;hamed,</L>
<L>That <HI>Gerardo</HI> &s;hould be named.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Wherefore I within this Street</L>
<L>Will &s;tay till I my Friend do meet,</L>
<L>He ran by, him did e&s;py,</L>
<L>But knew not 'twas his Friend &s;o nigh,</L>
<L>Which did cau&s;e <HI>Gerardo</HI>'s angui&s;h,</L>
<L>Made him &s;igh and made him langui&s;h.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Then in Grief he drew his Knife,</L>
<L>Thereby to end his wretched Life,</L>
<L>Sighing, moaning, &s;adly groaning;</L>
<L>Till he there fell fa&s;t a&s;leep,</L>
<L>Where, while he lay &s;oundly &s;leeping,</L>
<L>There a murdering Thief came &s;leeping.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>With this Knife he ran amain,</L>
<L>And thru&s;t in the Man he had &s;lain,</L>
<L>After peeping, he &s;till &s;leeping,</L>
<L>Put it in his hand again;</L>
<L>Then away fled from the &s;leeper,</L>
<L>That had Heaven for his &s;afe Keeper.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>When that &s;earch in this was made,</L>
<L><HI>Gerardo</HI> was for Murther &s;taid;</L>
<L>He confe&s;t and did prote&s;t,</L>
<L>That he the murder'd Man had &s;lain:</L>
<L>But his Friend that knew him pittied,</L>
<L>And <HI>Gerardo</HI> &s;oon acquitted.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Quoth he, then 'twas only I</L>
<L>That kill'd this Man, then let me dye;</L>
<L>while they pleaded, and proceeded,</L>
<L>The Thief there him&s;elf came by,</L>
<L>To the Iudges did di&s;cover</L>
<L>Every thing, the Fact all over.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In brave rich Array he &s;traight</L>
<L>Was &s;uited, as became his Fate,</L>
<L>And his Land, at his Command,</L>
<L>And former Servants on him wait:</L>
<L>The Thief Pardon'd here lamended,</L>
<L>His &s;oul Fact, and &s;o repented.</L>
</LG>
</DIV1>
</BODY>
<BACK>
<DIV1 TYPE="colophon">
<P>Printed for <HI>J. Conyers,</HI> at the <HI>Black Raven</HI> near <HI>St. Andrew</HI> Church, in <HI>Holborn.</HI></P>
</DIV1>
</BACK>
</TEXT>
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