Bride.
Marry this Merlins mother was welsh Lady,
That liued in Carnaruan beautious maide,
And loue of Lords and Knights shee did not way by,
But set all light, and euery one denay'd:
All Gentlemen, (as all you knowe be there,)
That came a wooing were no wit the neere.
At length it hapned that this gallant girle,
Which scorned all men that she euer saw,
Holding her selfe to be a matchlesse Pearle,
And such a Loadestone that could Louers draw:
Grew belly-full, exceeding bigge and plumpe,
Which put her Mayden-credit in a dumpe.
Time running course, and her full stomacke fed,
When consumation of fewe months expired,
Shee husbandlesse, a mayde was brought to bed,
Of that rare Merlin that the world admired:
This to be honest, all her friends did doubt it,
Much prittle prattle was in Wales about it.
So that ere long, the strangnes of the thing,
To heare that Lady Adhan had a childe,
Caus'd famous Arthur (being Brittans King)
Send for her to the Court, and reason milde:
To know how this rare matter could be done,
And make her finde a father for her sonne.
She told his Maiestie with sighes and teares,
That keeping beautie carefull from the Sunne,
Within her chamber safely shut from feares,
Till Phoebus horses to the West were runne:
The doores fast lock'd, and she her selfe alone,
Came in a gallant stranger, meere vnknowne.
Who euer came in courting manner to her,
With all the louing courage could be thought:
So powerfull in perswasions force to woe her,
That to his will constrained she was brought:
Although her heart did firme deniall vow,
Yet she was forc'd to yeeld and knew not how.
So oft he came (quoth she) priuate and strange,
When I shut vp my selfe in most sad humor,
That I began to finde an inward change,
Which brought me quickly to an outward tumor:
An't please your highnes I was in such case,
That to the world I durst not show my face.
My foes reioyced, all my friends were sad,
My selfe in sorrow spent both day and night,
No satisfaction my wrong'd honour had,
Was neuer maide in such perplexed plight:
To be with child whether I will or no,
And for my child, no humane father know.
Had I bin married (quoth she) as I ought,
And with my loue, the loue of man requited,
I had not to this woefull state bin brought,
In all contempt, disgracefully despighted:
And tearmed strumpet by the rude vnciuill,
Who say my sonne is bastard to the diuell.