[Page
183]
William and Diana
In Cumberland city, two lovers did
bear
A beautiful damsel
1 both handsome and
fair.
Her name was Diana, scarce sixteen years old,
Her portion Ten
thousand pounds all in bright gold.
Besides an estate when her father did die,
Which caused many a
suitor to on her cast an eye.
Among the
whole number Sir William was one
Who
thought for to make this fair lady his own.
As William and Diana walked the grove hand in hand
Said William to Diana “Your love I command.”
She hung down her head, said “I must do my part”.
With
blushes she said “You have conquered my heart.”
A day or two after, her father did say
"Diana go dress
yourself gallant and gay
2 ,”
"For there's a rich knight worth ten thousand a year
He says he
will make you his bride and his heir."
[Page 184]
“Oh father!
dear father! do not me confine!
And for to get married, 'tis
3 not my design.”
“Besides I'm too young, and I pray you therefore,
Oh
let me live single, one year or two more!”
“Oh stubborn daughter, what do you mean!
You must either wed
with him, or no more be seen.”
“ 'Tis only
to consider the gold you're to have.”
She says, “I'd much rather
you'd choose me a grave.”
Diana walked out
with the tears in her eyes,
She walked the grove round where she
choose for to lie.
Down on the cold ground
this fair lady did lay,
With a dose of strong poison her life to
betray.
She had not lain one hour on the
ground,
Until Sir William walked the grove round and
round.
He spied his true love and the
letter her by,
And there it was wrote how Diana did
die.
Ten thousand times over, he kissed her
cold lips
Saying “Now I've got rid of my joy and my
bliss.”
[Page
185]
“I wish her much joy, although she is
gone.
She was a virtuous lady, both handsome and
young.”
He fell on his sword like a lover so
brave,
So William and Diana both lie in one
grave.
Come all ye
4 parents now and behold,
The
cause of your wronging your children for gold.
The hearts of
your innocent children to break
The vows which true lovers do
solemnly make.
Finis
Notes
1
damsel: archaic term for
a young unmarried woman a young unmarried
woman.
↵
2
gay: meaning brightly coloured brightly coloured.
↵
3
'tis: archaic contraction of it is it is.
↵
4
ye: archaic term for the the.
↵