Miscellaneous > Royal courtly garland; or, Joy after sorrow

                  PART IV.

BUT now let us ſhew how providence ſmil'd
Upon this beautiful innocent child.
By tempeſtuous waves it was drove on ſhere,
Where the Prince reigned King we ſpoke of before
A ſhepherd by chance came by the ſea ſide,
For to view ſome ſheep, when a boat he eſpy'd,
And feeing the infant,' he ſtrangely did grze,
And made the poor ſhepherd to ſtand in amaze.
Yet nevertheleſs he took up the child,
Seeivg what's about it the old ſhepherd ſmil'd ;
And never being bleſs'd with a child in his life,
He carry'd this infant ſtrait home to his wife.
His wife ſaid, when ſhe did this infant behold,
What baſtard is this? and began to ſcold.
The ſhepherd ſaid ſhe, was drove on ſhere.
But feeing the riches, ſhe ſcolded no more.
The ſhepherd ſaid, Wife, we'll call it our own
But keep it awhile that it may not be known,
I need not keep any more ſheep on the plain,
I'll build me a farm, and ſo flouriſh a main.
The wife ſaid husband hear me if you pleaſe,
It is the beſt way to begin by degrees ;
They'll fay we have robb'd upon the highway,
Therefore take my counſel, dear husband I pray.
He took his wife's counſel, as I understand,
And in a ſhort time get a ſmall piece of land,
So in decent manner they went on 'tis true
And all his good neighbours commended him too.

                  PART V.

THIS child grew up endu'd with grace,
A modeſt behaviour and Tweet comely face;
And being arrived at the age of fifteen,
For beauty and wiſdom few like him were ſeen.
Both Knights and Squires of high renown,
Unto the ſhepherd's houſe come flacking down,
Striving to ſeduce her with proffers ſo kind,
But ſtill to love ſhe would not incline.
By chance the King's ſon rid a hunting one day,
And ſeeing this beauty in homely array,
Her charming ſweet features did torture him ſo,
The young Prince was wounded by Cupid's bow.
Oh how this young Prince was inflamed with love
Studying how he might his paſſion remove,
From a ſhepherd's daughter ſo mean and poor,
Yet nevertheleſs he was vexed the more.
The Prince went out and meet her in the find
Among the lambs where he quickly reveal'd
His paſſionate ſtory, ſaying, Charmer ſo ſweet
Grant me now thy love, or I die at thy feet.
She anſwer'd him ſtrait, Noble Prince of renown
Would you be diſinherited quite from the crown ?
Wherefore noble Prince it can never be done,
I'm a ſhepherd's daughter, and you a King's ſon.
My kingdom and crown love I value not.
But would, make you my bride upon this fame ſpot.
Was you a ſhepherd dear Prince ſhe reply'd,
I could love you dearly, and be your ſweet bride.
So the Prince put on Shepherd's array,
And came to this beauty a courting next day,
Said fie, Charming creature, if you'll he my wife
I ever will love you as long as I've life,
He kiſs'd and ombrac'd her often times in arms,
Crying I'm the Prince muſt yield to her charms.
Unto ſome foreign nation love let us go,
And ſhe will be married where none do us know.
He got a ſhip loaded as we underſtand,
With rich golden treaſure for another land;
He takes a page with him whom he could truſt,
Who always remained faithful and juſt.

                  P A R T VI.

THE old ſheperd hearing ſaid ſhe'll be ſpoil'd,
I fear the Prince will riun our child,
O how ſhall we get her wife from the King's ſon,
I'll tell the King of it, or ſhe'll be undone,
So with the gold mantle he poſted away.
The Prince's page met him, faying friend this day
The King for ſome pleaſure is gone to the feast
I'll bring you on board to the King, if you pleaſe.
But when the ſhepherd came on board, we find,
Inſtead of the King the young Prince he did find,
And likewiſe this beauty dreſt in rich array,
Then ſtraitway the ſhepherd for pardon did pray.
The Prince ſaid, Father, riſe from your knees ;
The ſhepherd ſaid put me on ſhore, if you pleaſe,
Or elſe my wife will be grieved full ſore,
No, no, ſaid the Prince,I'll not truſt him on ſhore.
Now while the ſhepherd his grief did bewail,
They had a fair wind, ſo they hoiſted up fail :
The ſhip as we hear was to Italy bound,
But great grief and forrow did compaſs him round.
A violent ſtorm on the ſeas did ariſe,
Drove them to Bohemia, they are took for ſpies.
Their ſhip was feiz'd, and they to priſon ſent.
To confine them awhile,the King's fully benr.
Hearing of this beautiful creature was brought,
The King to defile her immediately thought,
Yet ſtill with the King for her honour ſhe ſtrove,
Saying, let be die to ranſome my love.
But finding that ſhe would not yield, I proteſt,
He ſent her to priſon, lock'd up with the reſt.
His hot luſtful love to hatred was turn'd,
He vow'd ſhe ſhould be hang'd or burn'd,
At last they were brought to trial, we hear;
O how the ſhephe d trembl'd for fear :
May it pleaſe your grace, this child is not my own,
So how he came by her to all he made known.
He likewiſe produced the mantle of gold:
The King was amazed the fight to behold;
Tho' long time the ſhepherd had uſed to ſame,
The King knew it mark'd with his own name.
He ſwooned away, but recovered again,
Crying this is my child I threw into the main :
My child is alive, whom I thought to deſtroy.
The Prince was known, which encreaſed their joy.
With honour and triumph they married were:
Her father was ſent for, who quickly came there
And likewiſe Dame Mopſey, the old ſhepherd's wife
Who dancing pleaſed the court to the life.
The ſhepherd and wife made paſtime and ſport,
The King made the ſhepherd a Lord of the court:
Now by what Was acted, we plainly may fee,
How nothing can hinder what the heavens decree.
printed and Sold in Aldermary Church Yard,London .