VIRGINIA

I grant deer Dame I do agree, When time shall so provide: But tender youth and infansie, Does rather wish me bide, What should I loose Diana's gift, And eke the spring to shun: By which Acteon fateally, His final raze did run: Should I as abject be esteemed, Throughout Pernassus hill, Or should my Virgins name be filde, It were to great a skill: But yet it is unspotted lo, Right well I do conceive, When wedlock does require the same, With parents love and leave: Yet obstinate I will not be, But willing will me yield: When you command and not before Then duty shall me Shield. Like happy state as mother told, Like joyful sighed to me. O Father my comfort, o Mother my joy, O Dear, and Oh sufferaigne, do cease to employ Such dolorous talking, where dangers are none, Where Joys are attendant, what needeth this moan, You matron, you spouse, you Nurse, and you wife, You comfort, you only the some of his life: You husband, you heart, you joy, and you pleasure, You King, and you Keyser, to her only treasure, You Father, you Mother, my life does sustain, I babe and I bliss, your health am again, Forbear then your dolour, let mirth be frequented Let sorrow depart, and be not attempted. O Father we do consent. The trustiest treasure in earth earth as we see, Is man, wife and children in one to agree, Then friendly, and kindly, let measure be mixed With reason, in season, where friendship is fixed. When Daedelus from Crete did fly, With Icarum, his joy: He nought regarding father's words, Did seek his own annoy: He mounted up into the skies, Whereat the Gods did frown, And Phœbus soar his wings did fry, And headlong flins him down. The trustiest treasure in earth as we see. Is man wife and children &c. A Gods how may this be? Dear father do withdraw your dread, and let me know the cause, My self will aid with life or death, without demur or pause: Then tender your child, that craveth this bound. O father o friendship, o fatherly favour, Whose dulset words, so sweetly do savour, On knees I beseech thee to grant my request, In all things according, as liketh thee best: Thou knowest, Oh my father, if I be once spotted, My name and my kindred, then forth will be blotted: And if thou my father, should die for my cause, The world would account me as guilty in cause: Then rather deer father, if it be thy pleasure, Grant me the death, then keep I my treasure? My Lamp, my light, my life undefiled, And so may Judge Apius, of flesh be beguiled: This upon my knees with humble behest, Grant me Oh father my instant request.