from off a hill whose concave womb reworded a plaintful story froma sist'ring vale, my spirits t'attend this double voice accorded, and down ilaid to list the sad-tuned tale, ere long espied a fickle maid full pale,tearing of papers, breaking rings atwain, storming her world withsorrow's wind and rain.
upon her head a platted hive of straw, which fortified her visagefrom the sun, whereon the thought might think sometime it saw thecarcase of a beauty spent and done. time had not scythed all that youthbegun, nor youth all quit, but spite of heaven's fell rage some beautypeeped through lattice of seared age.
oft did she heave her napkin to her eyne, which on it had conceitedcharacters, laund'ring the silken figures in the brine that seasoned woehad pelleted in tears, and often reading what contents it bears; as oftenshrieking undistinguished woe, in clamours of all size, both high and low.
sometimes her levelled eyes their carriage ride, as they did batt'ry tothe spheres intend; sometime diverted their poor balls are tied to th' orbedearth; sometimes they do extend their view right on; anon their gazes lendto every place at once, and nowhere fixed, the mind and sightdistractedly commixed.
her hair, nor loose nor tied in formal plat, proclaimed in her acareless hand of pride; for some, untucked, descended her sheaved hat,hanging her pale and pined cheek beside; some in her threaden fillet stilldid bide, and, true to bondage, would not break from thence, thoughslackly braided in loose negligence.
a thousand favours from a maund she drew of amber, crystal, and ofbeaded jet, which one by one she in a river threw, upon whose weepingmargent she was set; like usury applying wet to wet, or monarchs' handsthat lets not bounty fall where want cries some, but where excess begs all.
of folded schedules had she many a one, which she perused, sighed,tore, and gave the flood; cracked many a ring of posied gold and bone,bidding them find their sepulchres in mud; found yet moe letters sadlypenned in blood, with sleided silk feat and affectedly enswathed andsealed to curious secrecy.
