S they in sweet imbraces lay, I chanced to return, She told me she was wondrous ill, and thus she did begin: And spoil'd the Game which they did play, for which my wife did mourn. With shrieks and groans she made her moans, 'cause she had let him in. 16 I willing was to go to bed, and off my breeches threw : She told me she was almost dead, and knew not what to do: "Dear love (quoth she), a Cordial get! my pains, my pains afresh begin."— I little thought she was so nought to let another in. 20 Away went I, most willingly, for my dear Spouse's sake; A pair of breeches on put I, which provèd a mistake: A Cordial brave I ask'd to have, not thinking who got in. 24 A Cordial was prepar'd for me, then thus I did reply, And there behold was store of Gold, the youngster had brought in. The Apothecary he did view the Breeches I had on, And them, he said, full well he knew; then him 1 star'd upon. Away went I, most furiously, this trick to think upon; But when I came, with grief and shame, the youngster he was gone. But I am mad, and monstrous sad, that she had let him in. Take warning all, both great and small, in women ne'r confide; Printed for P. Brooksby at the Golden Ball in Pye-corner. [In Black-letter. Date, not before 1683, and certainly not later than 1695.] The Deceiver Deceived. Sylvia.-"I doe detest false periur'd Protheus: Therefore, be gone, sollicit me no more." -The Two Gentlemen of Verona, v. 4. THE "Virgin's Revenge" is wrought in behalf of her own sex upon its enemy, the Deceiver; who is punished, by suffering the pains of an unrequited passion, for all the cruel treachery of his former life, especially for his indifference to the woes of those women whom he had abandoned after winning their affection. The date of the ballad is certainly 1680-1685; it being later than the original song, "Ah! cruel bloody Fate," belonging to Nat. Lee's tragedy of "Theodosius," Act v. sc. 1, which was produced in 1680. The broadside having been licensed by Roger L'Estrange, before August, 1685, no doubt "The Deceiver Deceived" came within these limits of time. (We hope hereafter to arrive at a certainty of exact date, as to this and others of the broadside-ballads, by a private search through the Manuscript Registers of the Stationers' Company, posterior to November 3rd, 1640. Additional notes on such discoveries can be given in Appendices to this volume or its successors. Also a General Index to the whole Series.) The tune of this ballad is sometimes called "Philander," at other times, "Ah, cruel bloody fate," so named from the first line of the Philander ballad; the music of which was composed by Henry Purcell, to the words written by Nat. Lee. Concerning this original song see Bagford Ballads, p. 542, where the complete three verses are given. Expanded to suit a large sheet of broadsideballad, "Philander" is found in Roxb. Coll., IV. 78; and a sequel to it is on p. 6 of the same volume. Properly speaking, Vol. IV., the "Additional" of the Roxburghe Collection, ought to have been called "Bright's Collection," from its founder Benjamin Heywood Bright; for no part of it was ever in the Duke of Roxburghe's possession. It being difficult to conquer a habit, we retain the title. The popularity of "Philander" was so great, that spirits were called from the vasty deep to supply the demand for the sequel, entitled "A Strange Apparition." It was sung to the same tune, "Philander." Being so frequently named and required, it will be convenient to let it and its sequel immediately follow the present "Deceiver Deceived," instead of awaiting in due course. The music of Philander is given in John Playford's Choice Ayres, 1681, Book iii. p. 29; in 180 Loyal Songs, 1685 and 1694, p. 126; in Pills to Purge Melancholy, iv. 284; and in Chappell's Popular Music, p. 280. YOL. IV. D [Roxburghe Collection, II. 105; Pepys Collection, III. 83.] The Deceiver Deceived; Or, The Virgin's Revenge. Those that in Love's wide Grove delight to range, Of yielding Beauty, seldome scape the toiles: For Love to take them has a thousand wiles. TUNE OF, Ah, cruel bloody fate! This may be printed, R. L. S[trange]. MAN. MAID. AH, cruel Maid, give o're to punish him with scorn; Who has for you in store a flame as bright as morn. Come, dear, be kind, the Pow'rs of Love To make with such care, a Creature so fair, Tell me no more! in vain will all your Courtship prove. I smile to hear you feign a false pretended love; MAN. The Deceiver Deceived, What Grave is free from broken vows, to yielding Virgins made, Whom you let languish in their anguish, when [they're] to Love betray'd? It's true, some gentle hours I trifl'd in their arms; could make me own its Charms. The feeble Beauties they displaid, each moment seem'd to wast[e]; 35 16 But your's, my delight, is so dazling bright, 24 MAID. So flatter'd your smooth Tongue, so were your looks addrest; Such smiles about you hung; such liking you exprest, To those whose senceless hearts you gain'd, In being undone, by trusting too soon, 32 MAN. That's their own fault, in hast[e] to entertain a flame, Which in their cheeks cou'd blast Th' Lillies and Rose's stain; Disarm them of those killing beams, which in your eyes appear: Those eyes which are bright, those eyes, by whose light my course Love bids me steer. MAID. In vain you try my heart, no Conquest there you'l gain; Too feeble is your art, to make me suffer pain. You seek a triumph there in vain, no Trophy you shall boast: But in what, so fain, you wou'd now obtain, you shall be ever crost. MAN. Such cruelty can't live within so fair a breast; A milder sentence give, to me with love opprest. O to a flame that burns like mine, some speedy Cordial ply; 40 48 Or he that, till now, Love never made bow, for love of you must dye. 56 Revenge, false man, the Nymph that's undone by your deluding smiles. 64 |