336 At length the ten years siege of Troy To see the towers to ashes turn'd: O blame her not if she was glad, Fair ladies all, example take; And hence a worthy lesson learn, All youthful follies to forsake, And vice from virtue to discern: And let all women strive to be L 95 100 105 XI. TO LUCASTA, ON GOING TO THE WARS. By Col. Richard Lovelace: from the volume of his poems, intitled "Lucasta, Lond. 1649," 12mo. The elegance of this writer's manner would be more admired if it had somewhat more of simplicity. TELL me not, sweet, I am unkinde, That from the nunnerie Of thy chaste breast and quiet minde, To warre and armes I flie. True, a new mistresse now I chase, The first foe in the field; And with a stronger faith imbrace 5 Yet this inconstancy is such, As you too shall adore; 10 I could not love thee, deare, so much, XII. VALENTINE AND URSINE. The old story-book of Valentine and Orson (which suggested the plan of this tale, but it is not strictly followed in it) was originally a translation from the French, being one of their earliest attempts at romance. See "Le Bibliotheque de Romans, &c." The circumstance of the bridge of bells is taken from the old metrical legend of Sir Bevis, and has also been copied in the Seven Champions. The original lines are, "Over the dyke a bridge there lay, "That man and beest might passe away: Sign. E. iv. In the Editor's folio MS. was an old poem on this subject, in a wretched corrupt state, unworthy the press: from which were taken such particulars as could be adopted. PART THE FIRST. WHEN Flora 'gins to decke the fields. With colours fresh and fine, Then holy clerkes their mattins sing To good Saint Valentine! The king of France that morning fair He would a hunting ride: In all his princelye pride. To Artois forest prancing forth To grace his sports a courtly train Of gallant peers attend ; And with their loud and cheerful cryes The hills and valleys rend. Through the deep forest swift they pass, Through woods and thickets wild; When down within a lonely dell They found a new-born child; All in a scarlet kercher lay'd Of silk so fine and thin: A golden mantle wrapt him round, The sudden sight surpriz'd them all; No mother could be found. At length the king himself drew near, The pretty babe look'd up and smil❜d, And stretch'd his little hands. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Now, by the rood, king Pepin says, I wot he is of gentle blood; Goe bear him home unto my court And look me out some cunning nurse; Nor ought be wanting that becomes A bairn of high degree. They look'd him out a cunning nurse; And nurtur'd well was hee; Nor ought was wanting that became A bairn of high degree. Thus grewe the little Valentine, Belov'd of king and peers; And shew'd in all he spake or did A wit beyond his years. 40 45 But chief in gallant feates of arms 50 |