In grief, and horror, and affright, He listens at the walls; But finding all was silent quite, He to his lady calls. 100
Too sure, O lady, now quoth he, Your cruelty hath sped; Make hast, for shame, and come and see; I fear the virgin's dead.
She starts to hear her sudden fate, 105 And does with torches run: But all her haste was now too late, For death his worst had done.
The door being open'd strait they found The virgin stretch'd along: 110 Two dreadful snakes had wrapt her round, Which her to death had stung.
One round her legs, her thighs, her waist Had twin'd his fatal wreath: The other close her neck embrac'd, 115 And stopt her gentle breath.
The snakes, being from her body thrust, Their bellies were so fill'd, That with excess of blood they burst, Thus with their prey were kill'd. 120
The wicked lady at this sight, With horror strait ran mad; So raving dy'd, as was most right, 'Cause she no pity had.
Let me advise you, ladies all, 125 Of jealousy beware: It causeth many a one to fall, And is the devil's snare.
This Song is by _Dryden_, being inserted in his Tragi-Comedy of _Love Triumphant_, &c.--On account of the subject it is inserted here.
What state of life can be so blest, As love that warms the gentle brest; Two souls in one; the same desire To grant the bliss, and to require? If in this heaven a hell we find, 5 Tis all from thee, O Jealousie! Thou tyrant, tyrant of the mind.
All other ills, though sharp they prove, Serve to refine and perfect love: 10 In absence, or unkind disdaine, Sweet hope relieves the lovers paine: But, oh, no cure but death we find To sett us free From jealousie, 15 Thou tyrant, tyrant of the mind.
False in thy glass all objects are, Some sett too near, and some too far: Thou art the fire of endless night, The fire that burns, and gives no light. 20 All torments of the damn'd we find In only thee, O Jealousie; Thou tyrant, tyrant of the mind.
The ladies are indebted for the following notable documents to the Pepys collection, where the original is preserved in black-letter, and is intitled, _A lookingglass 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, 5 Did leave his dear Penelope.