THE SONG

      THE CHORUS SUNG BY ALL THE COMPANIE

    In the Spring season,

    Maides have best reason,

        To dance and sing;

    With Chaplets of Flowers,

    To decke up their Bowers,

        And all in honour of the Spring.

  I heard a Nimph that sate alone,

      By a fountaines side:

  Much her hard Fortune to bemone,

      For still she cride:

  Ah! Who will pitty her distresse,

  That findes no foe like ficklenesse?

    For truth lives not in men:

    Poore soule, why live I then?

        In the Spring season, etc.

  Oh, How can mighty Love permit,

      Such a faithlesse deed,

  And not in justice punish it

      As treasons meed?

  I am undone through perjury,

  Although I loved constantly:

    But truth lives not in men,

    Poore soule, why live I then?

        In the Spring season, etc.

  When I did follow Dyans traine,

      As a loyall Maide,

  I never felt oppressing paine,

      Nor was dismaide.

  But when I listened Loves alluring,

  Then I wandred from assuring.

    For truth lives not in men:

    Poore soule, why live I then?

        In the Spring season, etc.

  Adiew to all my former joyes,

      When I lived at ease,

  And welcome now those sad annoies

      Which do most displease.

  And let none pitty her distresse,

  That fell not, but by ficklenesse,

    For truth lives not in men,

    Alas! why live I then?

    In the Spring season,

    Maides have best reason,

        To dance and sing;

    With Chaplets of Flowers,

    To decke up their Bowers,

        And all in honour of the Spring.

This Song, most sweetly sung by Madame Neiphila, was especially

commended, both by the King, and all the rest of the Ladies. Which

being fully finished, the King gave oder, that everie one should

repaire to their Chambers, because a great part of the night was

already spent.