And adders, snakes, and toads therein, Long in this loathsome vault had bin, Into this foul and fearful place, Was cast, before her lady's face; Her malice to content. 65 This maid no sooner enter'd is, But strait, alas! she hears 70 The toads to croak, and snakes to hiss: With her fair hands she strives in vain Her body to defend: With shrieks and cries she doth complain, A servant listning near the door, With bleeding heart he goes agen Again he to his lady hies With all the haste he may: She into furious passion flies, Still back again does he return The virgin now had ceas'd to mourn; In grief, and horror, and affright, But finding all was silent quite, 'Too sure, O lady,' now quoth he, Your cruelty hath sped; Make hast, for shame, and come and see; She starts to hear her sudden fate, But all her haste was now too late, For death his worst had done. 90 95 100 105 The door being open'd strait they found 110 Two dreadful snakes had wrapt her round, One round her legs, her thighs, her wast Had twin'd his fatal wreath: The other close her neck embrac'd, And stopt her gentle breath. 115 The snakes, being from her body thrust, Their bellies were so fill'd, That with excess of blood they burst, The wicked lady at this sight, With horror strait ran mad; Let me advise you, ladies all, It causeth many a one to fall, 120 125 IX. JEALOUSY TYRANT OF THE MIND. This song is by Dryden, being inserted in his Tragi-Comedy of 'Love Triumphant,' &c. a play acted in 1694, and printed the same year.--On account of the subject it is inserted here. WHAT state of life can be so blest, O Jealousie! Thou tyrant, tyrant of the mind. All other ills, though sharp they prove, 5 10 But, oh, no cure but death we find To sett us free From jealousie, Thou tyrant, tyrant of the mind. False in thy glass all objects are, O Jealousie; Thou tyrant, tyrant of the mind. 15 20 X. CONSTANT PENELOPE. The ladies are indebted for the following notable documents to the Pepys collection, where the original is preserved in black-letter, and is entitled, 'A looking-glass for ladies, or a mirrour for married women. Tune Queen Dido, or Troy town.' WHEN Greeks and Trojans fell at strife, And lords in armour bright were seen; When many a gallant lost his life About fair Hellen, beauty's queen; Ulysses, general so free, Did leave his dear Penelope. When she this wofull news did hear, H 5 10 Ulysses, with a heavy heart, Unto her then did mildly say, 'The time is come that we must part; 'Let me no longer live,' she sayd, Then to my lord I true remain : My honour shall not be betray'd Until I see my love again; For I will ever constant prove, As is the loyal turtle-dove.' Thus did they part with heavy chear, And to the ships his way he took; Her tender eyes dropt many a tear; Still casting many a longing look: She saw him on the surges glide, And unto Neptune thus she cry'd: Thou god, whose power is in the deep, My loving lord in safety keep Till he return to me again: That I his person may behold, Then straight the ships with nimble sails Her cruel fate she then bewails, Since she had lost her hearts delight. Now shall my practice be,' quoth she, True vertue and humility. |