séemed so straunge and so greatly amazed him that he stoode in doubt a great while whether he saw her in deede or else dreamed that he saw her but when he came to himselfe againe and knew for certaine that it was she he said vnto her Alas my deare art thou yet aliue it is long since that I hard report that thou was lost neither could it be knowen whether thou weÌ„test or what was become of thée This said weping bitterly he imbraced and kissed her a thousand times together Then did Constance tell him of all her aduentures and how courteously the good Lady had delt with her from time to time after which and diuers other talke that they had together he departed from thence and going to the King his Maister aduertised him of all that had happened to him and his frend Constance crauing leaue of him to marry her according to his countrie maner The King greatly marueling at the matter sent for Constance who confirming all that Martuccio had reported he said vnto her Now truly faire vigin thou art worthy to haue him to thy husbande for whom thou hast taken such paines and passed so many perils wherefore bestowing many large gifts vpon them he gaue them leaue to do whatsoeuer they thought good Then Martuccio very liberally rewarding the Lady for the great beneuolence that she had vsed towardes Constance in her aduersity with the Kings licence tooke leaue of all his frends in that country with Constance and Chereprise tooke shippe and returned very rich to Lippare where they were so chearefully receaued of all their frendes who neuer thought to haue seene them againe that it is not possible to declare the excéeding ioy that this seconde méeting did bring to euery one of them To conclude Martuccio and Constance to their great comfort and contentment beinge solemnelye married euer after duringe the tearme of their life enioyed their loue together as they ought without any impediment or let to their deserued pleasure The complaint of one in misery THe day séemes long to them that dwel in dole and short the time to such as liue in ioy The sickmans griefe ful litle knowes the hole so much delight doth differ from annoy That th one doth cause in man desire to die thother stil to liue continually What man would wish to liue that liues in woe and in delight who would desire to die Since that by death an end of grief doth grow and death of ioyes depriues vs vtterly Of worldly ioyes for only so I meane of which we see death doth depriue vs cleane Wherby not all olde prouerbes true I finde for old said sawes do say that life is swéete But death is more desierd of noble minde then life to leade for liuing farre vnmeete Which loathed life doth make me thus to crie I liue too long come death and let me die A Louer fancied but not fauoured of Fortune MY mourning minde doth craue some sweet delite and fancie fame would lend me some I see But fortune frownes and sendes me foule despite and care doth kepe all comfort quite from me Such passions strange doe stil perplex my mind as I despaire of any ease to find But let me sée I must not yet despaire Dame fortunes wheele may happen â—ourne againe When stormes are past the weather may be faire and pleasure comes vnlookt for after paine Things at the worst the prouerbe saith will mend why should not then my sorrowes haue an end But old said Sawes are not yet scripture all for thinges at worst are past all mendinge quite To pininge hartes all pleasure semeth small what mirthe can doo the pyâ—ing harte delight When fates do frowne and fortune is our foe â—ought can be thought to rid the mynd of woe The nature of the Larke described THe little Larke that in the ground is hatcht and there bredde vp till fethers make her flye No sooner she a flight or two hath catcht but vp she mountes vnto the lofty skye Where if she sée Sonne shine and weather fayre how then for ioy she twittles in the ayre But if she sée the winde beginne to blow it poure downe raine and tempestes do arise Within a bush she kéepes her selfe full lowe where prety wretch close to the ground she lyes Vntill such time as all the stormes be past and then againe she geuâ—th her vp in hast Which plainely shewes the nature in the Larke is still to séeke to mount to loftie skie And though perhaps you now and then may marke a kistrell kite to make a flight so hye Yet all things waide if eache thinge haue his right a larke will far be likde aboue a kite The hawty mynde how it disposeth it selfe WHat hill so hye but litle emmets clyme what pretious perle but pore by trauel gaine What thinge so hard but is atchiud in tyme what pleasure such but may be got with payne What doubte so great but hope may men assure see more what heauen but prayer may procure The heauie Asse both kepe the valley still the clownishe coultes do loue the Country best When hawtie hartes do clime the highest hill and gallant mindes do séeke in courte to rest The cowarde dreades and in dispairs doth dye when boldest bloodes by hope do clime full hye Then let my harte goe clime the hyest hill and leaue the valley for the countrie Asse My mynd in courte shall séeke by trauell still to finde a pearle which farre all pearles doth passe My hope shall rest vpon a princely minde by helpe of God some heauenly grace to finde Loathing his life he wisheth for death WHat greater gréefe then tormentes of the hart which dayly grow by troubles of the minde And what such ioy as sodaine ease of smart which long time sought full hard hath bene to finde What heauen on earth with lucky loue to dwell then luckâ—les loue againe what greater hell But how fares he that féeleth no delight what world is that where nothing is but woe What woe to that which worketh such despight as makes a man no kinde of comfort knowe What life leades he that dayly cries to die far worse then death loe such a life lead I Then let me thus conclude my tale in briefe I am the man that only may lament A lothsome life that finde no ease of griefe nor hopes for help vntil my dayes be spent And sadly so I end my solemne song Come come good death I dying liue too long Hanging betweene hope and despaire he calleth for helpe TWixt chearefull hope and comfortles despaire straungely perplext ful sore amasde I stand Hope seemes to shew the weather wil be faire and darke despaire sayes tempestes are at hand Venture says hope despaire doth bid me slack hope prickes me on despaire doth pull me back Haue wel says hope despaire doth bid me doubt trust me says hope despaire says hope is vaine Shrinke not says hope despaire cries not to stout labour says hope
the aliaunce that Hannibal soughte to haue with him which vpon what occasion I know not he greatly misliked and would in no wise geue his consent therunto perswading his Father very earnestly for diuers causes that he thought reasonable to breake of this match and in no wise to suffer it to go forward wherin the old man folowinge his Sonnes aduise did in all things as he desired him and answered Hannibals frends accordingly when they came to know his resolution in the matter The two louers vnderstanding how contrary to their expectacion al things were fallen out as it is our humane nature to desire that which is most denyed vs more desirous now then at any tyme before to be together and frely to enioy each other Camilla said to her beloued Hannibal what are not we handfast can we be put a sonder with a safe conscience no verely and therefore to make the matter more assured as I may very well without offence to Godward I will this night admit you to my bed wherefore if about midnight you will repaire to my Fathers house my maide that is alredie priuy to all that hath passed betwene vs shall geue her attendaunce at the back gate to let you in when you come whereunto Hannibal verie glad of so good an offer willingly consented and when the hower was come went with all speede to the place appoynted and was priuely conducted by the maid to Camillas chamber who receiued him very courteously and he imbrasing and kissing her with great affection rauished with exceding ioy through this his vnexpected pleasure his sences failing him he pittifully dyed in the armes of his deare Camilla who seing this straunge aduenture twixte feare and grefe was so grieuouslie tormented that being vnhable longe to endure it at the last she fell doune deade vpon the corpes of her beloued Hannibal The pore maide that was present behoulding this pitifull tragedie and séeing no hope of recouerie in them cried for helpe so loud as she could Claudius that lay not farre of being awakened with this sodaine clamour came running into his sisters chamber with his weapons readie drawne in his hand to see what was the cause thereof and beholding there this pitifull spectacle knowing it was the bodie of Hannibal that then lay by his sisters not stayinge to heare what the mayde would say to him presently stabbed her in with his dagger and so leauing her for dead retourned againe to his owne chamber In the morning this straunge accident being noysed throughout the whole towne and at the last coming to the eares of the Gouernour he caused the mayd to be examined that was not then fully dead and vnderstanding by her how all thinges had passed caused Claudius to be apprehended and within two days after the maid dying condemned him to be beheded wherupon he was presently executed in the place appoynted for the punishment of all offenders The two louers likewise with great lamētation were both buried in one tombe very sumptiously prepared in perpetuall remembraunce of their incomparable amitie A Prince being enamoured of a bewtifull gentlewoman perceiuing a fauowred seruant of his to be greatly tormented for the loue of the same gentlewoman geueth him leaue to enioy her and quencheth his owne heate by an other meane A Certaine Prince whose name I nede not rehearse soiorning for his pleasure in the towne of Blais had amongest all his folowers one that he specially fauoured who walking one day abroad for his pleasure beheld by chaunce a very bewtifull gentlewoman that was wyfe to a welthie merchant of the Toune and findinge in her as he thought so many good giftes as he neuer sawe in any in all his lyfe before he became so greatly enamoured of her that he could neuer be in quiet but was continualy troubled in mind practising by all meanes possible to find a remedie for his newe passion and so behaued him selfe that the gentlewoman well perceyuing his purpose being vāquished with the like affection did by her lookes and iestures geue him playnly to vnderstand that she liked wel of his frendly offers and would willingly satisfie his desire if oportunitie did serue Duringe these hopes the Prince his maister made a solemne feast whereunto were asembled all the Ladies gentlewomen of any reputation in the Cittie amongest whome this gentlewoman before spoken of was one who for her bewty neatenes in apparel and comely behauiour did as far surmount the rest as the prettie pigion doth the fowle black rauen or the fairest spring the filthiest pudle to be short there was no comparison betwene them so greatly did they differ in all thinges which the youthful Prince perceyuing and wondringe greately at such excellent bewtie as she on the other side did at his royaltie and the rare perfections that she perceyued to be in him loue by and by atached both theire hartes and inflamed them with such affection each towards other that they instantly desired a spedie end of their amorous procedings and so finely they handled the matter that before they parted it was concluded betwene them that the next night her husband being from home they would mete at her house and satisfie each other with full assurance of theire vnfained amitie The loue of this gentlewoman beinge thus remoued from the Seruant to the Maister the last stode so greatly in her grace that the first was in a maner quite forgotten her swete lookes cōuerted to rigorous regards she now set him at nought whome before she highly estemed which sodaine alteration so tormented the mind of this pore gentleman and draue him into such extreame passions that being quite altred from that he was wont to be he semed rather a deade image then a liuinge creature In these extremities he withdrue himselfe into his chamber and taking his lute in hand songe thereunto as foloweth Both loue and death are now become my foes Of libertie hath loue bereft me quite So death denyes his due to end my woes And lets me liue to worke me more despight A wretched life that lasteth all too long Since all things tornes contrary to my mind My mind is grieu'd to bide such open wrong Such open wrong as no redresse can find Yet see I well the cause of all my griefe Springs from the place where lay my most delight A small delight that lendes so bad reliefe A bad reliefe that so bereaues my right And to an other voide of like desert Yeldes that which should requite my passed paines A grieuous case a cause that cuts my hart So much the more because no helpe remaines But thus resolu'd that whilst my life shall last I will no more a womans words beleue This hurt once heald I hope my heate is past And then no more it shall my senses grieue To thinke on loue or louers wanton toyes I leaue that life to such as like it best Let them sucke sorrow from their secret ioyes I will hence forth
Therefore I déeme as I at first begon I would be mery but my myrth is done The louer by froward happe inforced to forsake loue enforceth him selfe by trauell to seeke out the forte of fame THe world is chaungd my wits are woond about fancie is forced to leaue her fond desire From vaine delites dame Vertue driues me out and wisedom will what reason doth require My wanton wits are warnd by sacred I kill to flie the follies of 〈◊〉 will I now must leaue to write of louers toyes in Cupids Court I must no longer keepe Nor sporte my selfe in wanton pleasures layes nor longer lye in fancies lappe a sléepe I now must wake and set my selfe to schoole to sée how longe that I haue lyude a foole And I must nowe some tyme in trauell spend to seeke in tyme the gallant forte of fame That when alas my lothed lyfe doth end my workes may leaue remembraunce of my name And I may showe though longe I went astraye I founde at last dame vertues heauenly waye The louer forsaken craueth speedie death A Wretched case it is to sitte and cry where none are neare to helpe the harmed harte A greater gréefe where present aide is nye and yet by spyghte is onely kept a parte But yet most gréefe when helpe is hard at call and yet alas can do no good at all In such a case loe cursed wretche I stand my heauie harte full sore for comforte cryes Yet none can get yet some is hard at hande which in despighte accursed hap denyes And some I haue which woulde somwhat content but doth in deede my sorrowes more augment The secreat cause alas for shame I hide since folly first was worker of my woe By want of witte which wisdome hath discride and I do now by secreate sorrowe showe Therefore consumde come kill me death I crye in deede resolud and well content to dye A Comparison betwene thraldome and libertie THe little birde that close in kage is pente which ladies loue to sitte and whistle by Some say doth singe but layes of deepe lament and cheareles chirpes for losse of libertie Esteeming more her mates abrode in fielde then courtly toyes that chiefest pleasure yelde But contrarie oh happy birde thinke I so luckely to light in fowlers snare As to be brought to stand in pallas hye and eke in courte to féede on princely fare And shortly there in fauor so to stande as to be fed at fairest ladies hand Would God I were a birde in prison pent so I might still beholde my heauenly Quene If that I sing one note of deepe lament that day when I my Princes grace haue séene Wring of my necke or fling me out of dore as worthie then to kepe in court no more A warning to all estates The gallant mind when store of coyne is spent by rare exploytes must seeke to purchase praise Though honor fall to some by due descent good happe doth hit a thousand sundrie wayes Yet oftentimes in seeking high renowne the hautie hart hard Fortune flingeth downe The souldiour thinkes by sword to winne his wish when oft is séene the sword doth cut him short The sea man seekes in déepest floods to fish when drowning proues a cold vnpleasant sport The marchaunt meanes to winne the world by wares when oft his cost doth yéeld him nought but cares Now some againe build castels in the ayre which many times fall tumbling on their neckes And some will seeme to sit in stately chaire which are sometime set downe with deadly checkes In sâ—â—e I find the brauest mind oâ— all is highest set but haâ—d before a fall The miserie of loue BEwrapt in woe 〈…〉 with wretched will orecome with â—ares deepe drenched in distresse Pining in paine aliue but dying still crying for helpe but finding no redresse A life I lead the Lord of heauen doth know much worse then death to mourne in sorrow so But what auailes when fates and fortune froune when moone and starres are now become my foes When from delite despite doth keepe me downe and cares my corpes do round about inclose Abide I must as destinies ordaine thus like a wretch to 〈◊〉 away in paine Or loathed life that wretched thus I lead tenne times 〈◊〉 such cursed happe to know Or cruell 〈◊〉 coâ—e cut a two the thread that draweth forth my dayes in sorrow so Oh sorrow 〈◊〉 thy soking sighes dospill me all dole adew come you good death and kill me Or else good God who from aboue dost see the secret cause of all my cutting care And knowes and hast what thing will comfort me vouchsafe some drop of mercie me to spare That so my hart that long hath bid in griefe may praise thy name for tending my releefe In wanton youth my fancy thought a while there was no state nor life so sweete as loue But now I find how well did wit beguile and I the paine of such a pleasure proue I needes must say by true experience taught I find in deede the state of loue starke naught For first the wise loue makes become a foole the souldiour stout the rich not worth a grote The learned clarke it sets againe to schoole to learne an art wherewith to cut his throate It makes the man most free become a slaue and many times an honest man a knaue The Lord of loue Cupid him selfe is blind yet shootes by ame and oft vnhappely hits He hurts the hart and quite doth dimme the mind and with vile wayes doth ouerwhealme the wits What shall I say who knew so much as I would deeme of loue a wofull misery A meane is best WHen I sometime with griefe enough beheld the gallant troupe of brauenes in their kind Some swime in silke some siluer pearle and gold and I poore soule come meanely clad behind Good Lord I thinke what kind of world is this when some so thriue some fare so farre amisse But when againe I see some lusty lad whom I my selfe haue knowne in meane estate And in respect but silly simple swads and none to kepe so high and stately gate Well yet thinke I this wil not euer last the tides doe flow but ebbe againe as fast The prouerbe says that pride wil haue a fall who hath no lands nor yet no rents I sée When money melts and fethers gin to fall wil be ful glad to come and folow me Loe this is all the sodaine ioy I haue when richly clad I sée a rascall knaue An other FRom leathed bed my lustles limmes I lifte with heauy hart with sorow not with sléepe But sigh and sobbe I sée no other shift such careful thoughts my mind in thraldome kéepes No Musickes mirth nor any sweete delight may once reuiue my ouer dulled spright Yet can I sing and how but as the swan a doleful dumpe when death is hard at hand And so perhaps poore wretch I thinke I can sing such a note as none shal vnderstand Which song perhaps shall please but
few that heare and my poore hart God knowes as litle cheare Then since you sée my hart so ill at ease leaue of to craue a Christmas song of me My dolefull dumpe were liker to displease each one I feare then please but one of ye But if some one would sit him downe and crie with sorrowes sobs so but for shame would I. The louer wearied craueth ease THough wearyed long yet home I come at last and down I sit in sorrowes sory seat Darke dole drawes on delightful day is past and fancy faire must be my chiefest meate I broake my faste with dishes of despight and now must suppe with sorrowes soppes at night In coldest frostes my fire is furies flame in whoatest heate my cooling carde is care My pleasure paine which fates and fortune frame my musicke moane to thinke how hard I fare My compame a trayne of treacherie my loathed lodge a den of miserie In such a house what wretch would lay his head from faithles friendes who would not seeke to flie Who pines in paine were tenne times better dead such life leade I which makes me thus to crie Ah woful wretch whose hart so sore accurst with swelling sobbes is hourely like to burst The arraignement of a Louer THe wretched wight that weares away in woe who drawes his dayes in dumps of dire despight Whom care consumes but doth no comfort know who dying liues deuoyde of all delight Let him with me come sing this sorrowes song the loathed life alas doth last too long In prime of yeares first grew my deadly greefe and as my yeares my corzies doe increase Rigor retaines the meanes of my releefe and spight stil sweares my sorrowes shal not cease Enuie so workes with sleights of false suspect that witles rage doth reason quite reiect Pride lookes alofte and pittie shrinkes aside and dare not speake hate is so hard at hand Disdaine desart hath due reward denide and will wil let no case be rightly scand Loe thus I liue in daunger of distresse and right it selfe can get me no redresse The cause at first of al this care was loue who clapt me close in fancies fetters fast And so inforcd a captiues life to proue in prison pent my prime of yeares are past And yet can make no meanes to set me frée till death him selfe doe make an end of me At beauties barre I twise haue beene arrained and crafte hath there beene my accursed still Foule hate was harde and reason was restraind and wicked wrong had leaue to say his will A forged tale of false suspect was troth and troth it selfe was thought a trifling othe In iudgement seate by beautie sate disdaine before her lappe sate Cupid God of loue Selfe will sate next and treason with his traine was witnes cald my foule offence to proue My cause the Quest was panneld there to trie who me coÌ„demnd God knowes without cause why But beautie yet her iudgement would not geue for why quoth she the man may yet amend His yeares are young and he in time may liue to doe them good that him doe fauour lend Yea quoth disdaine dame beautie wil ye so tush let him trudge quoth Courtesie not so Quoth Pride alas it is a â—illy slaue what should he doe t were good for him to die Quoth Pittie then let poore soules fauour haue at least extremitie prooues open iniurie Quoth Crueltie t were ill that he should liue quoth Reason then I wil the man repriue Being ouerwearyed with misfortunes he craueth death MY wearie wit quite ouerworâ—e with woe my dulled braine bewitcht with wretched wil By certaine signes doe dayly seeme to show that care in fine my sillie corps wil kill Though hope a while my loathed life prolong sorrow at last will singe the Signets song For though sometime I doe dissemble dole and Swanlike singe a song of swéete delight Yet God he knowes my heart is farre from hole which pining pants with pangs of bitter spight The cause I singe is hope that death is me the song I sing is death come let me die This deadly songe in dole is my delight and mournful mirth to cheare a carefull minde Yet such sad sporte sometimes in déepest spight is all the ioy that fortune lets me finde Yet thus content with patience perforce I singe I die come beare away my corse The Louers tongue tyed for being ouer 〈◊〉 I May not speake yet speake I must perforce what booâ—es to speake you wil not vnderstand I must confesse in deede my voice is hoarce yet if my wordes were wel and wisely skand Then would you say the man whose tongue is tied must haue his minde by misteries discried So for my selfe since I haue silence sworne til I haue leaue at large to say my minde Plaine speach alas must be of force forborne vntil to speake I doe 〈◊〉 â—auour finde But had I leaue to speake without offence then would I say she lyes not long way hence This is one meane wherby to know my minde the second is I rue her carefull case The third swéete soule she is of nature kinde the fourth she is of fauoure like your face The fifte she is a faire and courteous dame the sixte and last she beares our Ladies name She is besides the onely Saint I serue she is the sweete whome I doe most esteeme She is the dame whom I doe most deserue yea it is she whome I most deare doe deeme And thus I end I say no more but this I cannot speake iudge what my meaning is Another I May not speake yet silence workes my woe my speach I haue and yet I cannot speake My tyed tongue doth tumble too and fro my wil would faine but wits are all too weake My hart doth heaue my tongue to tell my minde yet to my speache a sodaine stop I finde Yet had I leaue to say but what I would then would I 〈…〉 wits vnto my will My tyed tongue should tel you as it could the thing that yet I must keepe silent still My hart would breake but it by signes should show that which by speach I may not let you know Then speake 〈◊〉 first and so my speach release craue what I may my words shal graunt your will Speake you heare me but if you holde your peace my tyed tongue must needes be silent still And thus I ende my harte is like to breake with griefe remitte your will to let me speake Say you but this my wordes shal like your will and you shal heare the 〈◊〉 of my hart And if my wittes doe wante such cunning skill as wel may painte my panges in euery parte Yet by my wordes gesse thou my inwarde grieâ—e and by thy will graunt me some sweete relieâ—e He craueth by vertue and not by subtiltie to come to good fortune WHat meanes this world is nothing left but woe are wordes but winde is faith the courtâ—â—y fled Can flatterie séeke to créepe in credite so is
driue me in disgrace By due desarte whereon ay me to thinke From swéete delight my head begins to shrinke And coolde of care so nips my hart at roote as that except you fauoure seeme to shew No sunne can shine that wel may doe it boote with frost of feare it wil be withered so Wherfore deare dame let fauour saue the flower Whose life or death lyes only in your power Oh che dolore IF in the world there be but onely one gainst whose good hap both heauen earth are bent Whom lot hath lefte in sorrowes seate alone her thriftles time with fruitles trauell spent To waile in vaine and mourning so to dye by heauens I thinke that onely wenche am I. For natures griefes are cur'd by Phisickes arte and counsaile much doth comforte careful minde But such a pange doth pinche me at the harte as Phisick frende and all I frustrate finde So that I see the heauens for me prepare to liue in thought and pine away in care Then sith such life to some one is assignde and I that one on whome that lotte doth fall With crooked care I wil content my minde til death desirde doe make an end of all Whose long delayes I doe too long endure and know not how his comforte to procure Oh straunge disease that nature neuer knew then not to blame in leauing no redresse Oh cause accurst wherof such sorrow grew as soakes the harte that dyeth in distresse Oh harte what helpe but stil in woes to waste til death oft wishd doe end my dole at last The Louer casteth all mourning away LAment that liste I can no longer mourne the heauie thoughts that lay vpon my hart To happy ioyes the heauenly fates doe tourne and swéete conceites haue cut of sorrowes smart The feare is fled of heauenly fauour lost and hope attainde of that I wished most My most desire was seruice due rewarde my greatest feare was force of fortunes spight My prayer yet the heauenly powers haue harde that due desarte might once enioy delight Which I protest since that I now possesse my griefe no more nor ioy was euer lesse Your fauour was the thing my seruice sought and your dislike did make me doubt despight But yet my harte had stil this happy thought when rage was past remorse would lende delight Which true I finde and sing in hart therefore lamente that list for I wil mourne no more The Louer compareth his ill lucke to Philomelas ill fortune NOthing on earth remaines to shew aright the patterne true of my increasing care But Philomela with her song by night whose rueful state to mine I may compare With careful watch she preacheth in the tree when creatures all into their nestes doe creepe So from mine eyes all sweete repos doth flee when men are wonte of course to take their sleepe She with a thorne against her tender brest I with the darte of cruel loues vnrest This gentle birde her yealding voyce doth straine to wayle the wronges that Progne did endure I haples man vpon the wight complaine that causeles doth to me these woes procure And when she doth a tune so dolefull frame as wel might moue the heauens to moane her plight Oh griefe of griefes yet such as heare the same rue not her songe but therein take delight Likewise my plaints which bring from me salte teares seeme pleasaunte suites vnto my mistres eares An other THe tender budde that brauely ginnes to blow while sunnie showers yealdes comfort to the roote If that vnwares there fall a sodaine snow no sunne can serue that wel may doe it boote Except it holde but for a day and so it may haue leaue to make a liuely show My selfe the flower that flourish all too fast while fauoure flonge fayre weather in my face But now must die my pleasures ouerpast to see disdaine so driue me in disgrace By due desarte whereon ay me to thinke From swéete delight my head begins to shrinke And coolde of care so nips my hart at roote as that except you fauoure seeme to show No sunne can shine that wel may doe it boote with frost of feare it wil be withered so Wherfore deare dame let fauour saue the flower Whose life or death lyes only in your power Another THe day of my delight is ouercast And cloudes of care beginne apace to rise The sunne doth goe his course midday is past Night will insue my mistres shuttes her eyes The glistering beames whereof gaue me that light Which others haue whil'st I bewayle the night But should the sunne stande alwayes in one place Sure that contrary were vnto her kinde The warme desires that grow by her good grace Woulde burne and so conâ—ume both harte and minde The course we keepe in middle spheare is best Where rowling stil she seekes a place to rest Disdaine doth driue these clowdes of my despaire And shades the sunne from shining in the aire Another THe shafte that Cupids bowe hath shotte hath Vulcane forged in my brest The fire which made the iron whotte desire did blow and neuer rest The cooles of care which burnte was loue the steele was trust whereon he strikes The hammers hope which alwayes proue to frame the shape which best he likes Teares serue the tourne to quench the fire and fancie files the arrow head Payne payes the workemen for their hire the wounde is deepe which neuer bled Lenuoy To heale this hurte is readyest meane To shoote his arrow back againe A Gentleman dallyeth with his Lute THou knowest my Lute if thou knowest ought that Musicke stil doth couet chaunge Stale beaten stuffe is counted nought new from the stampe is counted straunge And straunge deuises stil delight such daintie wittes as diuers be Deere bought is good in euery plight farre fette for Ladyes and for me If Tigell bring vs nothing els but stil doe pleade vpon a song And play vs nought but Osnay bels then Tigell doth the Cuckow wrong Lie downe therefore my little Lute and geue me leaue a litte while From case to plucke my little Flute the time a little to beguile Thou knewst when I was wel content til midnight thee for to embrace Another now wil thée preuent and séeke to keepe thy wonted place And I who thought it did suffise with thée an houre or two to play Must now assay in other wise some sporte to finde till it be day Contente thée then and holde thee stil my Lute I pray thée doe not fume Although I séeke against thy wil another instrumente to tune And when I haue assaide my wits that I can play both true and playne Then will I visite thee by fittes and wil retourne to thee againe The Louer shewing his loyaltie and findinge no fauoure is contented to geue ouer I Maruaile why you be so straunge when once you did professe such loue Or why seeke you so sodayne chaunge sith faulte in me you cannot proue My seruice hath béene readie preast at euery becke to
deserues no whit at all God wot But as he is so shifte him to his mates and let him seeke for conquest without gates But pardon me which meaner conquest seeke what conquest i st would you so fayne it know No victor I the vanquisht is most léeke to conquere me as plaine I here will show So that I counte my selfe already quelde and meane to yealde before I be compelde The Dame that hath my conquering harte put downe and pulde alow the stomacke which I bare With blowes no no it was done with a frowne which bréedes to me the terror of my care Wherefore I meane to yealde me to thy grace some louely lookes thou wilt extende percace Then since to you I yealde as vassal heare and stande to craue for mercie at your handes Good Ladie then some pittie let appeare and lose from me the lewde and lucklesse bandes Which bindes me still to be to you a thrall ioy when I rise reioyce not when I fall Another THree new yeares giftes thrée ladies craude at once and thrice renewde their treble suite to me And three times thrice I wished for the nonce that I coulde sorte each Ladie out her fee. As they deserude so should it alwayes be which when I heard then did I cast in minde Chiefly what giftes for them I best might finde As gorgets braue or shadowes for the head Or shutes of lawne or nette that finely showes their glutted eyes with them be alwayes fed And for such toyes they nothing care God knowes in meaner thinges their mindes they doe repose And meanes to take such giftes as he can giue whereby the geuer by the gifte may liue Gloues say you then be they the giftes you craue To kéepe from sunne the whitenes of your handes alas good soules the sunne you faine would haue As weather serues and state of yeare now standes to coole your lillie white you néede no fannes The nipping frostes and blustering windes doe show what like good will you vnto summer owe. That like good will I would you ought to me Then like for giftes I surely you should finde no gloues it is that I craue of you thrée But méere good will which me to you wil binde for so be sure I still doe fixe in minde Not geuers you but I will waigh your gifte Crie not boe peepe t is but a simple shiste Another IN rage and griefe against the world I wright in dole deepe drencht in payne perplexed sore Aliue as dead I seeme in each mannes sight out of the worlde exempted cleane therefore That out I crie and crying stil will say fie vpon loue why breedst thou my decay Fie vpon loue why doe I thereof plaine nay rather fie vpon my gasing eyes That such a foile woulde let me to sustaine of one that doth both me and mine despise Which makes me crie and crying stil will say th' Italian blood doth breede my dire decay Th'Italian bloud fie fie vpon them all which craftely créepes out of Cresids kinde They loue to keepe both man and minde in thrall and in their woes they ioy stil in their minde Which makes me cry and crying still to say fie Italie why breedes thou my decay Fie Italie why doe I curse thee so nay rather fie vpon too forwarde will Which sought too soone to faune vpon my foe without the guyde of sacred wisdomes skill Which being spide she made me straight to say when you commaunde deare Mistres I le obay Obay but how too soone to frowarde minde which sought me cleane to ouerwhelme in care She scornde to sée how glad she did me finde to feede on griefe which was my daylie fare For which good deedes of hers I still will say fie on thee wretch why seekst thou my decay A Sonet WHat should I write what should I say what should I doe to weepe my fill I crouch I kneele I still obay and yet my harte she seekes to spill So that with griefe I grunt and groane with care which dayly is my sustenaunce and fare My meate is moane my drinke is dreadfulnes my solace sower my musicke nought but woe My minde is turnde vnto forgetfulnes and I lie wallowing in my sorrowes so That in the ende I crie for morning gray and wish for night tenne thousand times a day Loe thus I liue and liuing thus I die but dying now I hope to liue againe For by experience loe thus much I trie that dying well we neuer feele more paine When I am dead quite gone and layd in graue for me againe no wisdome t is to craue Another TRie ere thou trust the prouerbe sayth so true and trust not thou before thou wel hast tride For here to each I wil set downe in view what vile despight was hid ere I it spide In Ladie faire in whome I tooke delight who at the length wrought me this foule despight I loued her deare and she did like me well as then I thought that better could not be In wordes in shew in speach loe thus I tell the faulte was hers the foyle was mine you see And I poore soule thus flouted wente my way and she did laugh that wrought my dire decay Badde was the best that fell vnto my share and worse was hers if she doe waigh it well For though to me it bringe some carking care that her disgraces vilie I can tell So that I see my happe did fall out best to leaue a blackbirde cloase within her nest Amor altus COnstrainde by loue though halfe held back by feare headlong I runne into the handes of happe With minde amasde I wende I wote not where seeking no seate but in dame Venus lappe But downe proude harte doe not presume so hie Least fortune frowne I fall and then I die But liue or die affection doth enforce the hautie harte to clime although it fall Sweete pittie séemes to promise some remorce and loue will serue the highest Sainte of all To seruauntes fall sometime a happie hire for due desarte the somme of their desire To lie below and see our ioyes alofte what minde so base but venture would a ioynte What though I slippe and that I fall not softe if life yet holde I doe not care a poynte For hope of ioyes will helpe my present payne harte holde vp head hand helpe to clime againe Me thinkes I sée where Dame Diana sittes and Cupid cryes holde Hope and â—lime by care And Pallas by who doth instructe my wittes by humble suite to winne a happie share And Venus smiles what should I wishe for more vp sure I will and if I die therefore Another Riddle WHat thing on earth breedes greatest griefe Yet lends the heauiest harte reliefe That is the cause of greatest ioy Yet thousande wayes doth breede annoy Both spoyles and saues sleas and reuiues Prolonges and shortens many liues This thinge is very straunge I trow Yet I of thee the same would know Answere WHat bréedes delight yet worketh paine That hurteth