History & Politics

A New Song, Called, Parthenia's Complaint on the Ingratitude of Strephon

by Anonymous (English broadside ballads) c. 1540–1700

From English Broadside Ballads (TCP)

History & Politics

But when she found the Gods above,
to ease her Pain no Cure apply'd,
And Strephon backward of his love,
then to herself Parthenia cry'd:
Amongst Woods and Hills I'll mourn my Fate,
to them of all my Wrongs complain;
Theyll pity this my wretched State,
and eccho back my Woes again.

Or to a pleasant myrtle shade,
to ease my present Cares I'll go,
A place which Nature only made,
for Lovers to declare their Woe.
There I'll ingrateful Strephon name,
and tell the feather'd Quire my Care:
And in harmonious Notes proclaim,

Each day within a silent Bow'r,
with Arms across, I'll sighing Muse;
In private spend each restless hour,
and busie Nature's Works peruse:
But when the God of Sleep shall call,
and all my pleasant Cares destroy,
Upon the tender Grass I'll fall,
and Dream of all my former joy.

But when the glitt'ring God of day
expands his warm and cheerful Beams,
And guilds with his delightful Ray
the flow'ry Meads and purling Streams;
Then Birds their lazy slumber scorn,
delighted with approaching day,
And welcome in the glorious Morn,
with notes will melt my cares away.

My dearest Strephon, Ah, Return!
ye Gods with Love his Heart inspire,
Ah, hear the wrong'd Parthenia mourn,
and quench the Heart you've set on fire!
If you continue thus unkind,
Parthenia must unhappy be
And to her last hour be-confin'd
within the bounds of misery.

Ingreateful Strephon, how could you
the kind Pathenia's Love implore,
Now causeless bid the Nymph adieu,
whom you so highly lov'd before?
But when my tender Soul shall flye
toth' lofty Regions of the Just,
No thought of Love shall you enjoy
when I lye stifled in the Dust.

✦ ✦ ✦

Full title: A New SONG, called, Parthenia's Complaint On the Ingratitude of STREPHON. TCP B04581 (1687).

MLA

Anonymous (English broadside ballads). “A New Song, Called, Parthenia's Complaint on the Ingratitude of Strephon.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-broadsides/497/.

Chicago

Anonymous (English broadside ballads). “A New Song, Called, Parthenia's Complaint on the Ingratitude of Strephon.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-broadsides/497/.

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