The two Loving Sisters:
Wherein the one to the other doth shew,
How Cupid in a Dreame did her wooe.
To a pleasant new Tune.
IT was my chance not long agoe,
abroad as I was walking,
I heard two louing Sisters,
that secretly were talking;
The youngest to the eldest said,
why doest thou not marry?
In faith (quoth she) Ile tell to thée,
I meane not long to farry.
When I was fiftéene yéeres of age,
then had I suiters many,
But like a wanton wily wench,
I would not sport with any:
Till at the last, sléeping fast,
Cupid came vnto me,
And like a Lad that had béene mad,
he swore that he would woo me.
Then he lay downe by my side,
and laid his armes vpon me:
But I being 'twixt sléepe and wake,
did striue to thrust him from me.
But then he so kissed me,
as I was kissed neuer;
If he had ne're left kissing me,
I should haue slept for euer.
Then he hug'd and tug'd me so,
I could not get him from me,
But I with all the strength I had,
did thrust him who came on me:
For Cupid like a Suiter bold,
did use both time and leasure,
And in the circle of his armes,
enchanted me with pleasure.
Then me thought the world run round,
when Phoebus fell a skipping,
And all the Nymphs and Goddesses,
came round about to strip him,
Neptune lowred, & would have powred
his Ocean cup upon us,
But Boreas with his blustring blast,
did strive to thrust him from us.
Then limping Vulcan he came in,
like one that had béene iealous;
Venus follow'd after him,
and swore she'd blow the bellowes.
Mars call'd Cupid Iackanapes,
and swore he would him smother;
Quoth Cupid then, did I say so,
when thou didst love my Mother?
Me thought that Orphaeus with his Lute
stood at my bed side playing,
And Pan too with his oaten Flute,
did kéepe his Flocke from straying:
And while that they did sweetly play,
in such a trance they laid me,
That to the pleasant Fields below,
I thought they had convey'd me.
Then Iuno and great Iupiter,
came marching with Apollo,
Saturne came with Mercury,
and all began to hollow:
Cupid ran and hid himselfe,
and so of ioyes bereft me:
Then suddenly I did awake,
and all these fancies left me.
The second part. To the same Tune.
WEll Sister, I have heard your dreame,
which much good doth intend thée:
For I thinke Cupid now doth meane,
with a husband to befriend thée;
And to entice you unto love,
which you held in derision,
Hath sent you this same Dreame, which may
be called Pleasures Vision.
Then Sister, I would have thée use
thy Suiters well hereafter:
And though our Father he be rich,
and thou his eldest Daughter,
Yet I doe know you are in love,
for 'tis in vaine to hide it:
O fie on this dissembling looke,
I never could abide it.
Make use of time, it will away,
for beauty soone decayeth,
And shée is out of date, they say,
that untill twenty stayeth.
Then let us not be coy againe,
these squemish trickes undoe us,
But kindly let us entertaine,
our Suiters when they wooe us▪
This péevishnesse doth but prolong,
our Maiden griefe and sorrow;
And we are older by a day,
when wée doe rise to morrow:
Then why should we in modesty,
our owne desires thus smother,
Faith I doe love a proper man,
and so too did my Mother.
Cupid is a waggish Boy,
and by your dreame he shewed,
That married couples happy be,
that are with love indewed;
But she that dyeth here a Maid,
and coyly doth dissemble,
Shall afterward lead Apes about,
which makes my heart to tremble.
Although that I doe counsell you,
who are my eldest Sister;
Yet if my tongue belye my heart,
I wish that it may blister:
For I confesse, that when I first
to fiftéene yéeres attained,
To thinke that I had staid so long,
I oftentimes complained.
The eldest Sister hearing this,
unto her soone replyed;
Good Sister, I your counsell like,
which shall not be denyed,
For though that I have alwayes béene
so coy in outward carriage,
Yet being eldest, as 'tis fit,
I will take place in marriage,
The other Sister then replyed,
quoth she, though I am younger,
Yet will I not in love give place,
for my desires are stronger:
And therefore since that both of us,
against our wills have tarried,
Like loving Sisters let us both,
upon one day be married.
FINIS.