ABSTRACT
I Fair Ladies, pity an unhappy Maid, By Fortune, and by faithless Love betray’d. Innocent once.— I scarce knew how to sin, Till that unlucky Devil entring in, 5 Did all my Honour, all my Faith undo: Love! like Ambition, makes us Rebels too: And of all Treasons, mine was most accurst; Rebelling ‘gainst a King and Father first. A Sin, which Heav’n nor Man can e’re forgive; 10 Nor could I Act it with the face to live. My Dagger did my Honours cause redress; But Oh! my blushing Ghost must needs confess, Had my young Charming Lover faithful been, I fear I’d dy’d with unrepented Sin. 15 There’s nothing can my Reputation save With all the True, the Loyal and the Brave; Not my Remorse, or Death, can expiate With them a Treason gainst the KING and State. Some Love-sick Maid perhaps, now I am gone, 20 (Raging with Love, and by that Love undone,) May form some little Argument for me, T’ excuse m’ Ingratitude and Treachery. Some of the Sparks too, that infect the Pit, (Whose Honesty is equal to their Wit, 25 And think Rebellion but a petty Crime, Can turn to all sides Int’ rest does incline,) May cry ‘I gad I think the Wench is wise; ‘Had it prov’d Lucky, ’twas the way to rise. ‘She had a Roman Spirit, that disdains 30 ‘Dull Loyalty, and the Yoke of Sovereigns. ‘A Pox of Fathers, and Reproach to come; ‘She was the first and Noblest Whig of Rome’. But may that Ghost in quiet never rest, Who thinks it self with Traytors Praises blest.
