Her lady cast a jealous eye

Upon this gentle maid,

And taxt her with disloyaltye,
And did her oft upbraid.

In silence still this maiden meek
Her bitter taunts would bear,
While oft adown her lovely cheek
Would steal the falling tear.

In vain in humble sort she strove

Her fury to disarm;

As well the meekness of the dove
The bloody hawke might charm.

Her lord, of humour light and gay,
And innocent the while,

As oft as she came in his way,

Would on the damsell smile.

But strait, alas! she hears

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The toads to croak, and snakes to hiss:
Then grievously she fears.

Soon from their holes the vipers creep,
And fiercely her assail,

Which makes the damsel sorely weep,
And her sad fate bewail.

With her fair hands she strives in vain
Her body to defend ;

With shrieks and cries she doth complain,
But all is to no end.

Make hast, for shame, and come and see;

The door being open'd, strait they found
The virgin stretch'd along;

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Two dreadful snakes had wrapt her round,

Which her to death had stung.

One round her legs, her thighs, her waist,

Had twined his fatal wreath;

The other close her neck embrac❜d,

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And stopt her gentle breath.

The snakes being from her body thrust,
Their bellies were so fill'd,
That with excess of blood they burst,
Thus with their prey were kill'd.

The wicked lady, at this sight,

With horror strait ran mad;

So raving dy'd, as was most right,
'Cause she no pity had.

Let me advise you, ladies all,
Of jealousy beware:

It causeth many a one to fall,
And is the devil's snare.

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IX.

Jealousy, Tyrant of the Mind.

This song is by Dryden, being inserted in his Tragi-Comedy of Love
Triumphant, &c. On account of the subject, it is inserted here.

WHAT state of life can be so blest,
As love that warms the gentle brest;
Two souls in one: the same desire
To grant the bliss and to require?
If in this heaven a hell we find,
"Tis all from thee,

O Jealousie !

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Thou tyrant, tyrant of the mind.

All other ills, though sharp they prove,
Serve to refine and perfect love;

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In absence or unkind disdaine,

Sweet hope relieves the lovers paine.

But, oh, no cure but death we find

To sett us free

From Jealousic,

Thou tyrant, tyrant. of the mind.

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The ladies are indebted for the following notable documents to the Pepys collection, where the original is preserved in black-letter, and is entitled, "A Looking-Glass for Ladies, or a Mirrour for Married Women. Tune, Queen Dido, or, Troy town."

WHEN Greeks and Trojans fell at strife,

And lords in armour bright were seen,

When many a gallant lost his life

About fair Hellen, beauty's queen,

Ulysses, general so free,

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Did leave his dear Penelope.