Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads ...

AND BALLADS. 27*
She Harts to hear her fudden fate, TO£
And does with torches run :
But all her hafte was now too late,
For death his worft had done.
The door being open'd firait they found
The virgin ftretch'd along : 1 1©
Two dreadful fnakes had wrapt her round,
Which her to death had Hung.
One round her legs, her thighs, her wail
Had twin'd his fatal wreath :
The other clofe her neck embrac'd^
And itopt her gentle breath.
The fnakes, being from her body thruft,
Their bellies were fo fill'd,
115
That with excefs of blood they burft,
Thus with their prey were kilPd. 120
The wicked lady at this fight,
With horror itrait ran mad ;
So raving dy'd as was moll right,
Caufe ihe no pity had.
Let me advife you, ladies all, 225
Ofjealoufy beware:
It caufeth many a one to fall,
And is the devil's fnare. *'#*
IX. JEALOUSY