1.
Was not good King Solomon
Ravishèd* in sundrȳ wise
With everȳ livelȳ paragon
That glisterèd before his eyes?
If this be true as true it was,
Ladȳ, ladȳ,
Why should not I sėrve you, alas,
My dear ladȳ?
2.
When Paris was enamourèd
With Helena, dame beautȳ’s peer,
Whom Venus first him promisèd
To venṯure on and not to fear,
What sturdȳ storms endurèd he,
Ladȳ, ladȳ,
To win her lover it would be,
My dear ladȳ.
3.
Know ye not how Troilus
Languishèd and lost his joy
With fits and fevers marvellous
For Cressida that dwelt in Troy?
Till pitȳ planted in her breast,
Ladȳ, ladȳ,
To sleep with him and grant him rest,
My dear ladȳ.
5.
I read sometime how venṯurous
Leander was his love to please,
Who swum the waters perilous
Of Abidon, those surging seas,
To come to her where as she lay,
Ladȳ, ladȳ,
Till he was drownèd by the way,
My dear ladȳ.
6.
What say ye then to Priamus
That promisèd his love to meet,
And found by fortune marvellous
A blo͝odȳ cloth before his feet?
For Thisby’s sake himself he slew,
Ladȳ, ladȳ,
To prọve that he was a lover true,
My dear ladȳ.
7.
When Hėrcules for Hesionȳ
Murderèd a monster fell,
He put himself in jeopardȳ,
Perilous as the stori͞es tell,
Rescuing her upon the shore,
Ladȳ, ladȳ,
Which else by lot had died therefore,
My dear ladȳ.
8.
Anaxaretis beautiful,
When Iphis did behold and see
With sighs and sobbings pitiful
That paragon long wooèd he,
And when he could not win her so,
Ladȳ, ladȳ,
He went and hung himself for woe,
My dear ladȳ.
9.
Besides these matters marvellous,
Good ladȳ, yet I can tell the more,
The gods have been full amorous
As Jupiter by learnèd lore,
Who changed his shape as fame hath spread,
Ladȳ, ladȳ,
To come to Alcmene’s bed,
My dear ladȳ.
10.
And if beautȳ breed such blissfulness,
Enamouring both God and men,
Good ladȳ, let no willfulness,
Exuperate your beautȳ then
To slay the hearts that yield and crave,
Ladȳ, ladȳ,
The grant of your goodwill to hāve,
My dear ladȳ.