_Scouring the Road, he lights on a Farmers house which he
intended to rob, but desists from that resolution,
falling in Love with his Daughter, who was exceeding
beautiful; gets her with Child, under the pretence of
Marriage, but afterwards refusing it, She and her
Parents tax him with the undoing of the young Woman;
whereupon he leaveth them, giving them no other
satisfaction then what they could gather out of a Copy
of Verses he sent them._
Riding along the Road, I met with a young Girl with a Milk-Pail on her
head, but I was amaz’d to see such perfection in one mortal face. I rid
up to her very near, purposely to entertain some discourse with her,
introductory to a future acquaintance: considering the ground, you may
imagine the questions I propounded to this pretty Rural Innocent were
frivolous enough; as, which was the readiest way to such a place, _&c._
which with much respect and modest confidence she resolv’d. She opening
a gate to milk her Cows, I followed, and tying my horse to an hedge, I
beg’d her an excuse for being so rude, and beseecht her charitable
opinion of my present actions, assuring her I would not offer the least
injury nor prejudice to her chastity. Being over-perswaded with my
protestations and vows to that purpose, she admitted me to sit down and
discourse with her whilest she performed the office of a Milk-maid. I
could hardly contain my self within bounds when I viewed her pretty
little hand _stroking the Duggs_, which indeed had so heightned my
amorous passion, that I soon forgot my Oaths and Promises, but after
some dalliance, what by intreaties and love-perswasions, and what by
corporal strength, I obtained my desires. We then grew somewhat more
familiar, but the burden of the Song was, _I had undone her_; let him
that reads judge the truth thereof. We conclude at length that she
should go home to her Fathers house, and that near night I would come
thither likewise, according to the time appointed, as if I had never
seen her before, and that I casually rid that way for information in the
steering of my course regularly in the prosecution of my journey.
She subtilly goes in, and acquaints her Father and Mother that there was
a Gentleman (without) whom by his countenance, garb and gesture, shew’d
himself no less; that fearing to travel farther, being night, knowing
not the way, desir’d to rest himself there till morning. With much
respects from her Parents to her own great satisfaction (which I
discern’d in her eyes) I was kindly entertain’d, and nobly treated. That
night we intended to be better acquainted by the renovation of our late
enjoyments; but our unlucky Starrs were impropitious to our amorous
designs. Next morning I seem’d to be very ill, that I might have some
pretence for my staying, which I acquainted the Daughter withal, the old
people were very loving and courteous, so that as soon as they heard
thereof, with much pitty they visited me, and with as much care they
provided what was necessary for me. I offer’d them money, shewing good
store of Gold, that they might have the better esteem of me. Thus I lay
for at least a fortnight; several Doctors had been with me, but none
knew my distemper. All this while I nightly had the society of my fresh
Country Mistres, who deviated from the common customes of her Sex, did
not coyishly refuse that which was the _center_ of her hopes, wishes and
desires. Fearing least I might be suspected, I left off counterfeiting,
and shew’d them some recovery of my strength. When at any time the good
old people would come into my Chamber to sit with me, the main subject
of my discourse would be the resentments of their favours, and that if I
liv’d I would gratefully repay them. Being restor’d to my former
healthful condition, I one day told them I could never recompence their
love and care of me but by marrying their Daughter, whom I told them I
loved most affectionately. Her Parents made many excuses. As that she
was but a poor Country Girle, and the like, but glad I perceived they
were to hear such an over-prized motion. Enquiries I made in a
Neighbouring Town what this farmer was, whom I understood by all to be
very wealthy, and that time was not more careful to furnish him with
silver Hairs, then he industrious to maintain them by the procuration of
a plentiful Estate: My wanton was his only Darling, for whom he furrowed
the surface of the Earth, and for whom he chose rather to sell then to
eat his better sort of Provision, that he might add to her Portion. It
was now he thought he had well bestowed his labour, since he had met
with such a blessed opportunity wherein he should add Gentility to his
daughters riches. O the slaughter of Piggs, Geese, Capons, which as to
some Idol were Sacrifices diurnally offered to procure my favour! And as
he was liberal in his Food, so was not I sparing in the sending for
Wine, six Dozen of Bottles at a time: So that the Old man was brought to
this pass, that he cared not whether he spent his Estate on me, or gave
it; and that young Girl so well pleased with her imaginary Paradise
here, that I am confident she would never have been induced to have
exchanged this for any other on equal terms. Inexpressable was our
satisfaction on all hands, but nothing gave them greater content then to
see us together, by which we had as many opportunities as we listed. My
main aim was still to know of my young Mistress what store of Coyn her
Father had, and where it lay, but to my great grief and vexation she
told me he had not five pound within doors, having lately bought a
purchase. I now thought it was to little purpose to stay longer, since I
could not glean from her Fathers harvest, though I had reapt the _crop_
of her Mothers labour, and so resolved to be going, but not without one
nights solemn leave taking of her. The night being come, she purposely
stayed up till all the rest were gone to bed. But we being too
imprudently hasty in the Kitchin, stumbled against two Barrels piled one
on the other and fell; and we both were so intangled, that we could not
disingage our selves so soon, but that her Father came out crying, _In
the name of Goodness what is the matter?_ And groping about caught me by
the naked breech. Seeing there was no remedy, I desired him to be
silent; and not spread his Daughters disgrace; if so, I would make her
shortly a recompence. The old man was very much perplext, and could not
forbear telling his Wife of what had past. They both cryed out that
their Daughter was undone: The Daughter was in the same tone, unless I
would speedily marry her.
I stayed afterwards about some three dayes to colour the matter, and at
last marcht off _incognito_, sending her twenty pieces of Gold, and a
Coppy of Verses, which, although I knew they understood not, yet I could
not but express my self by writing, if for nothing else but mine own
satisfaction.
_Is it not strange thou and thy friends should say,
Thou art undone by me? Lets see which way.
Have I not done to my great toyl and pain,
What all thy friends cannot undo again.
Call but to mind the pleasures thou hast tasted,
The hours and minutes which with thee I wasted
To bring thee to perfection; and to teach
Thee learning, far above the Sexes reach.
Have I not taught thee oft’ Astronomy,
Within thy Mothers Garden, shew’d thee all
The Starry course, and Sphears Celestial.
Did I not teach thee Poetry that night
And how in Tripped Dactyls thou shouldst write.
I taught thee then _Geometry_, the notion
Of _length_ and _bredth_, _egality_, _proportion_
Of _Quadrant Triangles_; the way to enter
_Circles_, or _Semi-circles_; how the _Center_
Stands ever _fixt_, how that every _line_
_Direct_, or _oblique_, _circular_, or trine
Hath still its _ending_; how to take the _height_
Of any _blazing bearded Star_ by night.
I taught thee _Musicks harmony_ to know,
To keep _true time_, where thou shouldst _rest_, and how:
Learn’d thee likewise thy notes, _large_, _long_, & brief,
Prickt Minom, with a Crotchet, and the chief
Of the lov’d Art, good discant for to make
Upon a plain Song, _Discords_ also take
With a sweet close, and meltingly to fall
Into a Treble, ravishing withal.
I shew’d thee why Artists hold six _Cliffs_ best,
And why ’tis prized far above the rest,
Because it keeps the middst; the very _heart_
And Soul of Musick is the inner part.
Yet art undone thou saidst? Is to impart
The hidden secrets of mysterious art
Undoing to thee. Hadst thou ever spent
Thy means upon me, or thy money lent,
And had not paid the Int’rest back to thee,
Thou and thy friends might then have rail’d at me.
What wert thou before I knew thee, but an Ass,
A rude neglected home-spun Country lass,
Knowing not how to speak, to go or look,
But hide thy self when seen in every nook.
And blush, nay tremble if thou wert found out;
Strive to be gone again, scratch, cry, and pout
If one but touch thy Apron, and wouldst spit
In’s mouth should come to kiss thee: for thy wit
It did extend but unto no, and I,
Confess this truth, or else in faith you lye.
This was thy eloquence; why did I love thee?
Young, plump and fair thou wert, and that did move me.
I took thee and refin’d thee, made thee new,
Alter’d thy nature, chang’d thy former hew:
Taught thee to kiss, embrace, and entertain
A lover with that Sp’rit and catching vein,
The Goddess of delight in her own sport
May strive to equal thee, but must come short.
Where hadst thou all thy _breeding_ but from me?
Who _bound_ thee first, and now have made thee free?
Thy petulant discourse, and apish toying,
A change of humours, now a sullen coying,
All which I taught thee, which do make thee rare,
Now are thy Attributes as well as fair:
And what content is in a simpering fool,
A squeamish thing, she doth mans spirits cool;
Beats back the flowing current of his blood,
And ebbs it in the very spring or floud,
’Tis harsh to hear a School boy in one tone
Repeat his lesson like a Bagpipes drone,
But it doth ravish with delight the ear
Well worded and sweet languag’d lines to hear,
Pronounc’d by one hath skill and art to know
When he should raise his voyce, when bring it low.
For though a Poet write good Lines, it is
The speaker that doth make them hit or miss.
So though a Wench be nere so fair, so neat,
Or well proportion’d, if she wont the feat
Of acting well upon loves Theater,
It will not make mans loving passion stir.
She’s like one handsome in a splendid suit,
Onely to fit a Stage and play the Mute
And shall not go clapt off with frequent kisses,
The Lovers _plaudit_, but distastful _hisses_.
And such wert thou, when first I met with thee.
Now have I brought thee to thy _excellence_
With my excessive toyl, and dear _expence_
Of my best blood; and, added to thee more
Then was in all thy _Ancestors_ before
_Gentility_. I have enricht thy mind
With the chief Ornament of Woman kind
Behaviour: Taught thee to live and spend
Of thy own gettings, without help of friend.
And have I this ungrateful _Girle_ for all
That I have done to thee. Why dost thou call
Me thy _Undoer_. How e’re I will forgive,
For I’m in charity, and do believe
The onely cause why I am taxt so sore
With thy undoing, ’cause I do no more._