riches are of the variable condition of the world and of the vncertaintie of mankinde Your Maiestie which gaue mee all whatsoeuer I haue cannot take any thing but what was your owne before from me and willingly if you please will I yeeld vp all I haue without enforcing mine owne will at all I will more easily discharge my selfe of my Goods then they may bee taken from mee I will resigne not only the Estates the Honors the Offices and Possessions whether they be of mine owne Person or belonging vnto my deare Wife but also my life into your princely Handes I say that happie and contented life which I owe vnto your liberall integritie doe mee I most humbly beseech you so great a good as to receiue it Leaue me onely I desire so little as 10000. franckes of yeerely rent mine owne poore patrimonie it shall be enough that I may maintaine my selfe in your royall Court with the small trayne I had before you knewe mee I shall haue sufficient being in your presence and your onely sight shall bee more vnto mee then all the treasures of the earth I will leaue without any griefe at all vnto your Maiestie the Liuings you haue bestowed on me without making any other request in this respect but onely to beseech you most humbly not to suffer that mine enemies namely those who haue plaied mee no small bad prankes about you should be put in possession and inuested with my spoyles neither to suffer them to finde their happines through the losse of mine owne good Fortune nâ—r that they may haue cause to erect them glorious Trophees of mine vndeserued ouerthrow for that only and only that alone would be the greatest aduersitie that losse of wealth or goods might bring vnto me See then my gracious Lord the account I make of riches But of your gracious Fauours I haue in such ample wise promised my selfe the eternitie thereof and haue taken such a HABIT in the possession of the same that this Custome is turned into a natural Order I cannot draw breath but with theÌ„ my life hath no mouing but their influence that day wherein they shall bee taken from mee shall be the last of my life and the separation of them cannot bee without the parting of my soule out of this body which notwithstanding I will holde for very fortunate to haue so honorable a subiect and will not a little glorie to haue so long and well liued that I haue been thought worthie the friendship of so great and mightie a Monarch who hath so much esteemed thereof as not to haue been able to liue without it One of the most apparant signes that your Royall selfe gaue me of your rare Affection towards me is in that you haue alwaies desired to haue had me neere about you Then I most humbly beseech your Maiestie let me not now be banisht far from you Banish rather my Fortune than my Person they rather gape at it than at my selfe It is not at the youngest Sonne of VALETTA that these spitefull Oppressors doe seekâ— to take holde of but it is on the Duke D'Epernoun and to his Princely greatnes they are rather enemies of the Effects than of the Cause and desire rather the possessions than the absence of the Possessor Suffer not then deare Soueraigne this his forced withdrawing whom you haue so greatly loued and change not your royall countenance from him at this time will ill fortune Notwithstanding most gracious Prince if of my being far off dependes the rest and quietnes of your poore people and the execution of your Maiesties worthie will and pleasure I will not gainesay it at all rather would I bee as low vnder the earth as you haue raised mee on high in dignitie Your commaundements herein as in all other things shall bee my Counsellerâ— you will shall be a law vnto me and your desires my affections It is more reason that I should perish then your Wil Heasts be vnaccomplished seeing I was not raised vp but by those meaneâ— I praise God for that he hâ—th left me one comfort in this my luckles desaster that is to know my ill hap and not my fault my hard fortune and not my King my Enuious and not my iust Enemies doe seeke this my fall My iust behauiour hath not any way caused it and therefore it will not leaue mee any place of repentance for my soule is free from all scruple and doubt and my vpright intentions of all offences towards your Maiestie Besides this I haue placed the friendship wherewith it hath pleased you to honour me in a perfect heart not tainted at all I call thereof to witnes the Diuinitie of your excellent Spirit which neuer deceiueth it selfe in the knowledge of his owne Amongst which in despight of the rage of his enemies who are almost in despaire I will appeare in loyall sincerenesse of zeale and in dutifull obedience as the Sunne amidst the Starres and I will make it to be seene that the ielousie of my pestilent Slaunderers is a meere iniurie of time and my life a splâ—ndant light of your Kingdome Neyther call I to minde these matters for that I feare you suspect mee of horrible ingratitude or beastly forgetfulnes The â—are manner wherewith you haue bound mee vnto you was such as coulde not come from a rude Scythian but from a most magnanimious King who hath restored a wofull heart cruelly wounded to happie life being therefore obliged vnto his princely Throne for euer So that my Actions hereafter and not my wordes at this present time shall answere for my continuall loyaltie I will euermore haue in memorie the liberalitie of my Prince as a passing pleasing witnesse of the honorable affection hee hath borne me and will repute that day accursed wherein I shall not thinke of the happinesse he hath done vnto me being not able as now to doe him any other duetie Then my sweete Soueraigne honour me I beseech you alwayes with your Commaundements it shall be a kinde of comfort vnto mee to bee euer employed in your Princely Seruice Adiew my good Lord adiew the greatest good I possesse in this life is the happie thought of your gracious Fauour I beseech you still to preserue me therein and to beleeue that neuer soule seperated it selfe from a goodly bodie with greater griefe then E ' Pernoun now hath in being deuided from your Maiesty and not â— little do I complaine for that Fortune hath no other meanes to beat mee downe then in depriuing mee of your noble presence in such sort as it hath done But since it hath pleased God and your Maiestie I shoulde withdrawe my selfe from you I beseech his goodnesse that there may remaine with you as great ioy as in parting from you I carry away both heauinesse and anger that it may please his holy spirit to conduct and fauour you in such sort in your enterprises that your Good may be as fairhfully sustained as I would desire to see manifested the Fauorers of the troubles of your Realme and the iust punishment due vnto them for their rash Wilfulnesse and ouer presumptuous Boldnesse to the glorie of God the encrease of your Maiesties Royaltie the â—ealth of your People the contentment of your magnanimous and Princely Desires Your no lesse duetifull then sorrowfull Subiect for that he must loose the sweete sight of your Princely Maiestie Iean Louis de Nogaret Duke D'Epernoun FINIS
Thou that do'st fill with true Delight the minde With true Delight wherein true Ioy we finde Behold how I ore laid with grieuous sinne With Soule defil'd with Heart infected sore Doe flie to thee thy Mercie for to winne And with Repentance doe my faultes deplore Lord if thy Lawes and thee I haue offended Let mine old Follies with new Teares be cleansed My Sorrowes to my Sinnes are sparkes but small So loathsome they appeare vnto my sight On thee I at thy Gate of Pittie call Thou art the Flame that canst them purge most brighâ— The Bellowes is Amendements pure desire Which doth inflame through thy hotte louing Firâ— Let thy great Bountie me forget forgiue And bad Conceites that idle Fancies wrought Let them no more within me working liue But to Confusion and Contempt be brought Oh let not Sinne my Soule still Satanise But with thy Spirit the same imparadise A most excellent patheticall and passionate Letter of Duke D'Epernoun MINION vnto Henry the third King of France and Polonia when through the Duke of Guizes deuise and meanes he was forbidden the presencâ— of the King MY gracious Soueraigne a great combate had I in my minde and no little or small adoe to resolue my selfe what way to take hauing receiued expresse commandement not to approach the royall presence of your sacred Maiestie any more a matter of no small consequence as that was vnto me and such as was hard for me to beleeue and therefore not vnlikelie to be but of long resolution Willing I was my good Lord to obey your letter and so did I but yet for to make manifest the cause of so suddaine an alteration I did greatly desire to remoue from my heart whatsoeuer might haue displeased your Grace in any of my actions whatsoeuer yet could I finde none being thoroughly determined and wonderouslie desirous to answer the same with my life and bid you farewell with a liuely and open voyce before the face of all the world I most humbly beseech your Maiestie to pardon this my Disobedience seeing I haue not committed this fault onely for feare of disobeying you but rather because I am pricked forward by the great affection I owe vnto your seruice more than all the men in the world I see Sir I am the onely marke whereat the Enuie and Slaunder of France doe drawe their most fierce Dartes of their Rigor and Force I must needes vndertake â—o resist no lesse those who are Enuyers of my good Fortune then heretofore I haue done the Admirers thereof not doubting but that God will giue me the Grace not onely to repulse theÌ„ but also to beat theÌ„ downe wiâ—h the onely Sun-shining Beame of your royall Fauour which alone shal suffice without any more need of other Armour being as strong vnto me as the foundation of a Rocke which no Accidents whatsoeuer shall euer be able to vndermine For I do not place in the ranck of transitory thinges the Friendship wherewith your Maiestie with so great affection so long time hath honoured me It hath continued without ceasing with so great Good-will and sustayned so many sharpe assaultes that I feare nothing at all that it should perish in one small moment and on the sodaine Hap-hazard did not build it Fortune therefore shall not ouerthrow it and the workes of your Maiesties bountie shall neuer I hope yeelde vnto the malice of the Enemies of my Good Neither will I haue any other proofe of the Eternitie of your rare Fauours towards mee then the answere you made vnto one of the Neerest about your Maiestie who affirming you would make me too GREAT you answered And so Great will I make him that it shal not be in my power hereafter to vndoe him although willingly I would These are the wordes worthie Prince wherewith you haue pricked forwardes the violence of my malicious ill willers Wordes in trueth most worthie the greatest noblest and most bountifull Monarch of the worlde In so much as I haue engrauen in my soule an immortall desire to make my selfe worthie the effectes thereof But I must not nowe beholde nor at this time looke into what parte your Good-will hath shewed it selfe most firme and most affectionate to make famous my good Fortune The principall beginning thereâ—â— was resolued vpon with iudgement the sequell with reason and the end shall not be variable with ill destinie The proceedinges thereof were voluntary your Maiestie wil not suffer I trust that the chaunce thereof should be forced you haue raised me out of the dust vnto the greatest honours of your high Estate and of an vnworthie younger brother that I was you haue created me a great Duke I am of your owne fashioning I hope you will not suffer your worke to be vnperfect and for to lift me vp vnto the heauens of your greatnes you will not giue me winges of so soft a wax that I shall melt in the violent lightninges of the rage of mine enemies to make me miserablie to sincke into the bottomlesse flouds of their bloody desires But rather contrariwise that it would please you to protect me and to take a certaine kinde of pleasure and pride to see and beholde that the power you haue giuen mee may bee sufficient to ouerthrow these Infidels and base Creatures their 〈◊〉 estate being full of discommodities and tâ—eir diuelish determinations guiltie of horrible treasons But if your Maiestie desire to see the rest and quietnesse of your poore People imagining that I am the cause of their pouertie and neede and not the quarrels and conflicts that these Iewde fellowes haue attempted if my prosperitie causeth the trouble of your pleasures and if you thinke that ceasing the pretexte of your vnfained Good-will towardes mee by the same meanes they woulde cease their euill behauiours also let vs then Sir ouerthrow this good Fortune let vs remoue that which serues for a colour to the enterprises that these turbulent Companions goe about to put themselues into possession of your Estate let vs ouerthrowe the meanes which they call the Motiues and occasions of their Factions yet in the ende it shall plainly be seene that aspiring Ambition cankred Enuie of these malcontented mindes is the onely cynders which couers the fire wherewith they would imbrace your Realm and the breake necke ouerthrow into which they couet to thrust your people to accompany theÌ„ vnto their endles miseries But Soueraigne Liege I doe not hold the liberalitie your royall Person hath bestowed on mee so deare as I doe the least of your desires my obedience shall franckly yeeld to you all that which your princely Liberalitie hath bountifully giuen vnto me whether it be to take away the colour of the warres ensuing or to make it good in good-earnest vpon them which beare a shewe to desire it The losse of my Goodes shall be the least of my Crosses I haue alwayes considered that Fortune giueth noâ—hing but what she can alwayes take againe and that all worldly
Deare ALBA then accept this Sacrifice These dutious Teares the Tribute of mine eyes Thinke how perplext fore PICTVRE thine I stand Thinke of the depth of my sad Passion How I haue alwaies bin at thy command How none but thee my thoughts still muse vpon Thinke how I euer tendred thy Good naâ—â— Conseruing with my dearest Blood the same 〈◊〉 how I still of thee had due respect 〈◊〉 thou at all times â—idst me vse too hard 〈…〉 withouten cause thou didst reiect 〈…〉 meaning too too meane reward 〈◊〉 â—hese wrongs which I endured haue 〈◊〉 â—emember me Nought els I craue Troinoâ—anâ— Since spightfull Fortune sore against my will Hath drawne me farre from place where thou dost liue And that of force I must obey her still Although to liue so doth me deadly grieue Yet though my Bodie is farre off MY HART Is still with thee from whence is nere shall part Only of thee sweete Ladie this I craue That till our thred of life shall be vnspun Thou wilt vouchsafe me in thy minde to haue And not forget the Loue twixt vs begun But in thy Hart the same for to repose As I the like in inward soule doe close This only can still me in life conserue Thy gracious Fauour and thy Pitie sweete This is the pretious Balme the pure Preserue Which I doe hope to finde and still will seeke This makes me liue although with great vnrest Since of thy selfe I haue bin dispossest Thou art my Hope my Hauen my Comfort chiefe On thee alone on none elâ— I relie Only to thee I come to begge reliefe In thee it is if I shall liue or die DEAREST remember t is a Gift more rare CONSTANT to be then to be counted FAIRE Two sparkling stars fine golde pure Ebonie From whence Loue takes his Brands his Shafts Bow Two daintie Apples which though hid from eye Through vaile of Lawne through lawne more faire do show A cherrie lip with Iuoâ—ie teeth most white Where Cupid begs within that Grate so bright Vermilion Flowers that grow in Heauen aboue Snow which no wet can marre nor Sunne can melt Right Margarite Pearle which alwaies Orient proue A Voyce that Hart of marble makes to swelt A Smile that calmes the raging of the Sea And Skie more cleere makes then was wont to bee Graue staied wisedome in yong and tender yeares A stately Gate and Port maiesticall A Carriage where in vertue borne appeares Lookes that disdaine and yet delight withall Numbers of Fauours Beauties infinite With Modestie chaste pure and milde Delighâ— An humble Soule within a Bodie rich A lowly Thought within a conquering Hart These are the workes which I commend so mich Which Heauens LOVE haue framde by curious Art All these I once enioyde but they being gone My Note is changde my Mirth is turnde to Mone Ah might I once perswaded be at last These skalding sighs of mine should haue an end That I for Sower some Sweet at length might taste And that the CRVEL FAIRE would not contend Euer gainst me I then would gently take And suffer all these wrongs for her sweete sake Too well I know and I confesse the same That too too loftie is my proud Desire My soaring Thoughts deseruing mickle blame And I ore bold presume too high t' aspire Yet still me thinkes mine Ayme being not base I should deserue some little tynie Grace Say then sweete LOVE for thou with ALBA mine Dost soiorne wheresoeuer she doth bide Say am I like that to obtaine in time From which I now am so farre off and wide Ah say the truth doth she once thinke on me Doth she but wish that I with her might be Ah had not Reason my Desires refrainde I had my Thoughts deare Soueraigne seene ere this Whose Grace I sought but bootles to haue gainde The only ioy I in this world would wish Rather would I see those chaste beautious Eyes Then chuse to be in matchlesse Paradise As Christall Glasse in which the Sunne doth shine I like mine ALBAS Angels heauenly feature But when she deadly wounds this Corâ—e of mine I lothe her more then any murthring Creature More then a Theefe that robs and stealeth pelfe I hate her when she steales me from my selfe My hart is grieu'd cause it doth disagree For whilst my Minde to loue her doth deuise And thinks her worthie honored for to bee A Sdainfull thought through Hatred doth arise Which skornes that one so Rich a Theefe shuld proue That one so Faire a Murtheresse is in loue I know not what to seeke nor what I should Yet haue I sought till I haue lost my sense Although truth to confesse faine loue I would And yet not die for this too Cruell wench Betwixt these two fain would I find a Meane Alas Women haue none they alwaies keepe â—h'extreme Then how for me i ft possible to loue If my best ALBA once from me be tooke How shall I liue when thousand Deaths I proue When not this one the least I scarce can brooke Ah woe is me a double mixt Desire To haste my Death the sooner doth conspire Such is the rare perfection of sweete Beautie Of my faire ALBA my sole choise Delight That if that any PAINTER doth his dutie To shadow forth her Luster passing bright He loseth both his labour and his time As one ore bold so high a step to clime For whilst he giues his minde attentiuely And studieth to match Nature with his Art Marking her Feature with a watchfull eye To portray forth most liuely euery part Such brightnes comes from her such glistring rayes As he 's struck blinde and darkned goes his wayes This is the cause that who in hand doth take In curious wise her pearlesse Counterfate Hoping himselfe immortall so to make Doth fall into like dangerous estate Thinking to shadow her he shadowed is And so his eyes and purpose he doth misse That she were drawne in midst of Hart it were Far better and my selfe haue plaste her so For though in darke she hidden doth appeere Yet vnto me she faire and bright doth show My Hart 's the Boord where limnde you may her see My Teares the Oyle my Blood the Colours bee Fano Bright were the Heauens and husht was euery winde Cleere was the day when as mine ALBA faire Brought forth with ioy Lucina being kinde A daintie Babe for feature passing rare Adorning all the world with this glad welth A gift t' enrich the World Vs and her self What time she was in trauell of this Childe No thunder lightning nor no storme was heard But all was quiet peacefull calme and milde As if the skies t' offend her were afeard Whilst th' earth attended on her and the Sea As though they staid at her command to be Then did the Windes not vsing so before A gentle gale blow calmely euery where And fild the blisfull Aire with sweetes great store Each bird and fowle shewing a merry cheere Whilst that blest Day
face did see But this thou thinkst not of this is least part Now of thy minde nor hast thou hereof care This neuer comes God knowes into thy hart But as heat 's ioynd with fire and breath with aire So crueltie in Womens stomacks dwels Which with Disdaine as Furie alwaies swels Ye Valleys deep withouten bottome found Ye Hils that match with height the azure skie Ye Caues by Nature hollow vnder ground Where quiet rest and silence alwaies lie Thou gloomy Aire which euer to the sight Bringst darknes still but neuer cheerfull light Ye vncouth Paths ye solitarie walks Ye breakneck Rocks most ghastly for to see Ye dreadfull Dens where neuer any stalks And where scarce hissing Serpents dare to bee Ye fatall Vaults where murdred Corses lie Haunted with hatefull sprites continuallie Ye Wildernesses and ye Deserts wilde Ye strangie Shores nere yet inhabited Ye Places from all pleasures quite exilde Where sad Melancholy and Griefe is fled Heare me who am a shadow and a Ghost Damnd with eternall sorrow to be crost Heare me since I am come for to bewaile Mongst you my Faith my Constancie and Loue I hope with my lowd Cries and drerie Tale Though not the Heauens yet Hell at least to moue Since more the Griefes are which within me grow Then Heauen hath Pleasures or Hel Plagues below â—ow can the ship be guided without Helme â—he storme arising in a troubled Sea Needs must the churlish Waues it ouerwhelme Needs must it drowne and cast away must bee How should I liue and not my life enioy Feeding on Griefe what should I taste but Noy â—h Cupid thinke vpon thy Seruant true â— craue for my Deserts but some reward â—eeke mine Owne not more then is my due Hate for Goodwill to reape is too too hard If I for Well with Ill am payd againe Had I done ill what then had bin my paine Loue with Remembrance lieth in my breast All other Thoughts he cancels out of minde To thinke what 's past I cannot quiet rest Yet I in those Conceits strange Ioy doe finde Whilsâ—â—ow for her I think All I forsooke And wholly to her Grace my selfe betooke My wonted Mirth is turned into Mone Because my state is changde and altred quite In company I am as One alone Whilst what doth Others please doth me dispite Ah when shall I once from these Plagues be free Neueâ— lesse ALBA Mercie shew to mee My ioyles Hart a troubled Spring is like Which from the topâ— of matchles Alpes most hie Falls with a mightie noise downe headlong right By vncouth stony wayes most dreadfully Where all his Hopes he in the Deepe doth drowne A fatall signe of fortunes heauie frowne Darke pitchie clowdes of hugie Mountaines steepe The loftiest part do hide from Sunny heate Seeld any winde of Pitie there doth fleete Them to dissolue their thicknes is so great For no calme Aire of gentle Loue doth blow Where swelling Anger frets in furious show Thence doth my Tributarie Hart forth send Through peable stones now here now there along A little Brooke into the Sea to wend As signe that I my dutie would not wrong For ALBA mine Degree aboue Comparâ— A large Sea is of sundrie Beauties rare A bitter cause me bitter teares makes shed Whose enuious Stepdame is a Froward Will Which is by Selfe conceit too wanton fed Th' efficient cause that I these drops distill Which though in outward shew you white them see Yet pure Red blood they in my Bodie bee â—et baseborne Mindes of basest matters treate My selfe with them to trouble I not list The vulgar sort they know not what do speake VVhilst gainst the Truth and Vertue they persist HONOR 's the marke whereat I seeke to aime Shame light on them that think on beastly shame â—o many men so many Mindes they say Yet at the last Truth alwaies shall preuaile Bringing her vowed Foe vnto her bay Falshood I meane for all her masked Vaile No Woman blame I only I do seeke Swanlike to sing of my faire Sunne I leâ—ke The Beauties which in other Ladies be â— neuer had once thought for to disgrace Mine ALBA hath enough in store for me Thousand of Amours finde I in her face Her woâ—ld I praise whose looks haue pleasde me euer From whom in hart disioynd I will be neuer Faine would I make mine infant Pen to swell Through feruent zeale to blaze her Deitie That he her praise as Oracle might tell Raising the same t 'the skies bright Canopie That she since she deserues might famous bee Beyond the Bounds of Allâ—â—ons vtmost Sea The Conclusion of the first Part. WHo so acquainted is not with my minde Nor knowes the Subiect faire of whom I write Nor how mine ALBA me to her doth binde Of whom I still discourse talke and endite How I doe hope how I doe feare and grieue How I doe die and how againe I liue Let him but LOVE seeke out and him demaund And he shall wonders strange to him declare Such as at Beauties gaze shall make him stand So exquisite so strange they be and rare Hee le tell him of so rich a Precious stone As like before hath been enioyde of none And if he be desirous for to know The Heauen where my faire Angell doth abide Northwest from Troynouant he will him shew Alongst which place faire MERSIE cleere doth glide WAR IN that TOVVNE LOVE Lordlikâ—â—â—epeth stil Yet she ore him triumphs with chastest will Some say she 's Louely Browne but I dare say She is Faire BEAVV SE so Faire as Faire may be Fairer then is the breake of beautious Day When sweete Aurora smileth in her glee Put why doe I praise her selfe praising Face I praise her not t is she her selfe doth grace R. T. THE SECOND PART OF THE MONETHS MIND OF A MELANCHOLY LOVER By R. T. Gentleman AT LONDON Printed by Felix Kingston for Matthew Lownes 1598. Alla Crudelissima THese few yet zealous line comeâ— from my hart Dried with my Sighs and written with my Teares I send to her the Author of my smart â—hough subtill Serpent like she stop her eares VVho more to her I sue her Grace to gaine The more incenst against me doth remaine â— loue not I to pharisie nor praise My selfe for to her owne selfe I appeale â—f I deuoted haue not bin alwaies To do her good as one that sought her weale Heauens I forsweare and vtterly abiure If that my Faith be tainted or vnpure Malleuolent Malicious Planet Starre VVas it my Fortune so for to be borne My COTE so true to haue so crosse a BAR That for my seruice thus she should me skorne Must my deere Sunne eclipsed be with Spite Must enuious Clowdes still seeke to dark my Light VVhat remedie I le think t was Fortune mine And not her fault that wroâ—ght me all this paine Her Crueltie t was not but Destnie mine My selfe not she was cause of mine owne bane Yet shal the world by this my LOVES
plaine That opens wide the path of proud Disdaine If so why shouldst thou beg in vaine for grace Rather demaund thy pasport and away Better at first giue ore in midst of Race Then lose in th' end though longer time thou stay Then if she 'le not admit thee as a frend Let her thee manum it as Free to wend. O that I were where bides mine ALBA faire VVhose person to possesse is pleasure such As driues away all melancholy Care Which doth the Hart through Griefs impression touch Whose louely Locks All do more curious deeme When they most careles to be dressed seeme Her sweet Lookes most alluring be when they Most chaste do seeme in modest glancing show Her words the more they vertuously do way The more in counâ— for amorous they go Her dressings such as when neglected most She 's thought as then to haue bestowd most cost Sweet Fortune when I meet my louely Treasure Dash my Delights with some small light disgrace Lest I enioying sweetnes boue all measure Surfet without recure on that faire face Her wonted coynesse let her vse a while My fierce Desire by Diet to beguile Lest with the fulnes of my ioyes abate The sweetnes and I perish straight before I do possesse them at too deare a rate But soft Fond Icarus how high wilt soare Thou dreamst I think or foulie dost mistake I dreame indeed Ah might I neuer wake Like as the Hawke cast from the Faulkners fist Freed from the Mew doth ioyfull take his flight Soaring aloft in th' aire as best him list Now here now there doth finde no small delight Enioying that which Treasures all doth passe His libertie wherefore he prisoner was But when th'acquainted Hollow he doth heare And seeth the Lure cast forth him home to traine As one obedient full of awfull feare He leaues his flight and backward turnes againe Chusing in ancient bonds for to be bound Fore faithles to his Lord he will be found So ALBA though I wanton otherwhile Do runne abrode and other Ladies court Seeking the time with pleasures to beguile And oft my selfe with words of course do sport Dissemâ—â—â—ng with Dissemblers cunninglie As is the guise with tongue with hand and Eye Yet when I thinke vpon thy face diuine Thy Beautie cals me home straight as a Lure All other banishing from Hart of mine And in LOVES Bands to thee doth binde me sure And since my Faith and Fates do so ordaine I am content thy prisoner to remaine Where are those Haires so louely Browne in show Where is that snowy Mount of Iuorie white With damaske Rose where do the Lillies grow Whose Colours whose sweetnes All delight Where are those cheerfull Lights Lamps of cleere Loue Wherein a beautious Heauen doth alwaies moue Where are those Margarite Pearles withouten prise And Rubies rich my matchles Treasures store With other Graces wonders to the Wise Worthy that euery Lawrell them adore I know not I vnles in her they be In Her who 's Faire Alas too Faire for me VVhy haue not then my Stars so courteous bin In this to me as they are in the rest That I by loftie stile might Beautie win And blaze abrode her praise deseruing best VVhy haue not I the Gift her Gifts to thâ—nder And make the world thereat admire and wonder Could I but as she doth deserue aright Sing as a Cignet sweete with pleasing vaine Her Vertues rare her staining Beauties sight As I am blunt in Wit and dull in Braine I then should see her Courteous Gentle Milde VVhere now I finde her Cruell Proud and Wilde Needes must I ALBA leaue yet she 'le not part Though I doe loue her yet still my Desire Seekes her to keepe in Closet of my Hart And though she doth against me thus conspire Yet with my Soule I must her Error moane Since so vnkindelie she her selfe hath showne My secret griefes I le in my selfe disiest The world shall neuer know her hatefull Pride Her shame my Bane I will conceale in brest And as a Monument there shall it bide ALBA farewell all pittie now is fled And since t is so Adew I am but Dead But thou my Hart come thou from her thy way T is time I thinke to leaue that witching face Where too too much vnkindenes still doth stay For Loyall Loue there is no resting place Simple â—â—odwill to soâ—ourne findes it vaine Where Thoughts are falls and Double do remaine My nere stainde Faith my life shall testifie To future Age that shall hereafter come To shew the world my spotles Loyaltie And yet perhaps againe may shine the Sunne When as my Trueth vnto her being knowne She may at last receiue me for her owne The Conclusion of the second Part. IF I should count the spending of my time Since Her I lost with whom I left my life How I in Griefe without reliefe doe pine My seldome Pleasures and my Corsies rife If I should take vpon me these to tell It were in vaine for t' were impossibell Yet still the more I suffer for her sake The more my Hart doth studie to endure The world shall know the Pennance he doth make And how his Thoughts are loyall chaste and pure So small account he maketh for to die At his owne Death he seeketh wilfully Of Her he still doth buzze me in the eare And wilâ— me make a Iournie to that place To haue a sight of Her to him so deare Whose beautious shape all Beauties doth disgrace Alas I would full faine Her selfe doth know But Danger to offend doth still say No. Then since poore Hart thou canst not haue thy will But longst â—or what thou neuer shalt obtaine Consume tâ—y selfe with thy recureles ill As Women that with Longing breede their banâ— And as thou diest let this thy Comfort be Thy LOVE was VERTVE hers was CHASTITIE R.T. THE THIRD PART OF THE MONETHS MIND OF A MELANCHOLY LOVER By R. T. Gentleman AT LONDON Printed by Felix Kingston for Matthew Lownes 1598. Alla Crudelissima LO here the course spun Web of Discontent Extract from out the cause of my trew Griefe The Quintesence of my Complaint close pent Wherein my Hart hath line without reliefe The Glasse wherein my sorrowes each may see Thou cruell ALBA thus haste plagued me Thinke on the Mestfull MONTHS MINDE I still keepe Depriude of thee how I doe liue forlorne All night I sigh all day I waile and weepe As one that hath all pleasures quite forsworne Thus caâ—efull I doe care for careles thee Whilst wretchles thou makst no account of mee Knewst thou what t' were to Loue and what to hate I know with Malice thine thou wouldst dispence And wouldst enhaunce my Bale to blissefull state And Loue with Loue not Rigor recompence Ah gainst me doe not thou thy wrath incite Monstrous it is Loue to repayâ—e with spite Be gracious then though I haue graceles bin Let Fauour thine aboue my Merit show Against the Tide why shouldst thou
be fed I will embrace the time for to beguile Such golden Thoughts as are within my head Golden indeede Golde Thoughts of sâ—â—h a one As I prefer fore Golde though she a Stone But sleepe or die Then dye thou canst not sleepe For thee to sleepe it is impossibell To thinke what 's past broade waking will thee keepâ—â— Which thou must still conceale not any tell My comfort 's this that waking as I die I see my Loue in Thought though not with eye Pure Iuâ—rie white with spot of Crimson red Where Beauties First Borne lay the perfect Molde Or like Aurora rising from her Bed Such was mine ALBA faire for to beholde Such was She when She louely LOVE ore came The Conquerors Glory Conquereds Pleasing Shame But now that Cullâ—r faire hath changde his grace Through Burning Feuer deadly in his kinde And Sallow Palenes stained hath that Face To whome the Prize for Fauour was assinde Sicke is my Lady sicke is all Delight And brightest Day is turnde to darkest Night Fortune hath stolne from ALBA tooke from LOVE From him she takes his Solace Sport and Play From Her her Beautie which she would improue And to her selfe would falsely it conuay Being Pitifull she Cruell seemes to be And in her Blindenes sheweth â—hat she can see False Fortune darke as Moâ—â—â— in any Good â—ut to doe Hurt as Argus full of Eyes â—n outward shew a Tiger fierce and wood â—nd yet to me she 's Kinde in piteous wise Since She by drawing Beautie from that place Quencht hath my Fier to ease me for a space My Harte vpon his Deathbed sicke did lye Calling vpon proude ALBA but in vaine Too Cruell she for pittie it did crie Yet had Repulse through Rigor of Disdaine So as to liue thus long it could not bide But soone gaue vp the Ghost and so he dide Then to the Chappell of bad Fortunâ— harde By smoking sighes it quickelie was conuaide A place for these sad Funerals preparde Where in a Tombe of Loyaltie t' was laide Anger Suspect Griefe Sorow Care and Feare VVith dismall Doubtes the chiefest Mourners were About the Hierce great store of Teares were shed The Torches that did burne so cleare and bright VVere ALBAS eyes by Crueltie misled VVhilest she triumpht to see so wofull sight Pittie the Dirge did sing with wofull Plâ—â—â— Assisted with a blacke and dismall Saunt Vpon the Monument yplacâ—d was Fire Sworde and Corde with Arrowes sharpe keenâ—â— The Epitaph for such as by should pas VVas thus subscribde an carued to be seene Loe here that gentle Hart entombde doth lie Whom cruell ALBA causeles forst to die Poore Soule in couert ioy thy Care fauns rest VVeare VVillow in thy Hat Baies in thy Hart Gold when it bubleth least then boyles it best VVater runs smoothest in the deepest part By thy great warines let it be seene Not what thou now art but what thou hast beene The greatest comfort as a Louers dew Is of his Mistris Secrets much to know Yet no lesse labor for him being Trew Then naught to say nor ought thereof to show Of men we learne to speake things to reueale Of Gods silent to be and to conceale Yet sweete's the Beautie of mine ALBA faire What blabst thou it yea blab it willinglie Bees that doe die with honey buried are With dulcet notes and heauenly Harmonie And they that dying doe Beautie still commend Shall be with kindenes honored in the end Then hope thou well and haue well as they say Long haue I hopte but Hoping is in vaine Hope with Allusions dallying doth me pay Yet but for Hope the Hart would breake in twaine Ah MELT my Hart would Melted once thou were Thou shouldst not then haue cause so much to feare The Fall of Leafe the Spring tide of my Loue Flowring a fresh with Hope I found to bee But now alas the Spring time for to proue Fall of the Leafe of my lost Loue I see The Carnouale of my sweet LOVE is past Now comes the Lent of my long Hate at last LOVE is reuolted whilst he Traytor like Against his prince gainst me his Soueraigne Weapons vniust sauns cause takes vp to fight And doth his fealtie and his Homage staine He is reuolted and mine ALBA's fled I seeme aliue here yet in deede am dead In vaine I wish for what I cannot haue And seeke with griefe to aggrauate my Mone What is to me denied that still I craue Gaulling my selfe with fond Conceiâ—s alone Yet I forgiue her little knoweth she That she her owne Hart wounds when she â—ils me Meane time in vncouth Sorrowes secret Cell My haples Fortune hard I will disiest Hating all ioy I priuat there will dwell Because I of my wish am dispossest Like Petrark chaste of Laura coy I plaine Of whom I neuer yet could Fauour gaine How long shall I importune thee with Cries And presse thee for some Grace bard flintie Dame How long my sute deplore in pitious wise And yet be frustrate of that I complaine Vrge me with ought if so thou canst of Ill Do but obiect and answer thee I will Cite me at LOVES great Audit to appeare And if a iust account I giue not thee Of all my Life since Loyall I did sweare Vnto thy Cruell selfe casheere thou mee But if I true haue bin and dealt vpright Thou dost me wrong to set by me so light More then high time t is for thee to relent My sorrowes flowes aboue their wonted bound And well nie breake my Hart where they art pent For so great Force a too too slender ground Then 〈◊〉 supplant not from my wished rest But do abiure harsh Rigor from thy brest Affect me not inflict on me fresh woe Thy Loue my seruice merits not thy Hate My loyall Hart to thee didst thou but know Thou wouldst not thus reuenge but rew my state Nor am I ouer bolde in what I craue Pitie not Fauour I desire to haue TAVVNY and BLACK my Courtly Colours be Tawny because forsooke I am I weare Black since mine ALBAS Loue is dead to me Yet liueth in another I do beare Then welcome TAVVNY since I am forsaken And come deare BLACK since my Loue 's from me taken The princelike Eagle's neuer smit with Thunder Nor th' Oliue tree with Lightning blasted showes No marâ—â—â—lâ—â—hen it is to me or wonder Thoâ—gh my â—oy Dame in Loue to me hard growes More deafe to me she is then sensles stock Her Hart 's obdurate like the hardned rock But what meane I thus without Reason prate I am no more forsaken then I was My Loue 's no more dead then it was of late For yet mine ALBA nere for me did passe My Loue 's not dead she neuer me forsooâ—â— For ALBA nere yet me in fauour tooke As many Fauours haue I as before For since I her first lou'd she me disdainde And still doth so still wounding me the more As in despayre I haue ere since remainde Yet I in BLACK
and TAVVNY Weedes will goe Because Forsooke and dead I am with woe LOVES LABOR LOST I once did see a Play Ycleped so so called to my paine VVhich I to heare to my small Ioy did stay Giuing attendance on my froward Dame My misgiuing minde presaging to me Ill Yet was I drawne to see it gainst my Will This Play no Play but Plague was vnto me For there I lost the Loue I liked most And what to others seemde a left to be I that in earnest found vnto my cost To euery one saue me t was Comicall Whilst Tragick like to me it did befall Each Actor plaid in cunning wise his part But chiefly Those entrapt in Cupids snare Yet All was fained t was not from the hart They seemde to grieue but yet they felt no care T was I â—hat Griefe indeed did beare in brest The others did but make a show in Iest. Yet neither faining theirs nor my meere Truth Could make her once so much as for to smile Whilst she despite of pitie milde and ruth Did sit as skorning of my Woes the while Thus did she sit to see LOVE lose his LOVE Like hardned Rock that force nor power can moue My lifes Catastrophe is at an end The Staffe whereon my sickly Loue did leane And which from falling still did him defend Is through mischance in sunder broken cleane Gone is my Mediatrix my best Aduocate Who vsde for me to intercessionate Ah that my Loue cannot aright be waide In Ballance iust as merits due desart But must with Hate for her Goodwill be paide Whereof Th'exchequer is mine ALBAS Hart The Saphire cut with his owne dust may be Mine owne pure Faith in Loue confoundeth me O be not still vnto me thus seuere But rather Simplest milde in sicknes mine Honey with Gawle Oyle mix with Vineger With frownes blithe smiles some sweete with sower of thine Giue me to comfort mine a Lenatiue But not t' encrease my Paine sharpe Corasiue Canst thou endure that as a Ghost or Sprite I still should haunt thee with my irksome cryes Ah yet at last vnto thy selfe be like Some pitie shew from out those murthring eyes If th'owlt not grant my sute nor louing be At least yet in my Griefe do flatter me Deare Parler louing lodging vnto me Mine only Walke and Garden of Delight Ah who hath tooke thy Beautie now from thee And rest from me what most did please my sight Ah if our wonted Sunne do not returne As absent Her so me dead shalt thou mourne My Hart that scarce his fainting breath drawes hard Demaundeth still his tribute of mine eyes Needes must I say a too too small reward Whilst he his Masters sorrowes oremuch tries Poore Hart thy Master wrongs thee I confesse Yet cannot he amend it neere the lesse I beare my part with thee in this sad mone In this sad Quire where dolefull Notes I sing For not to any but to me alone This Rooâ—th as vncouth seemes and griefe doth bring Yet sinâ—â— she here did vse her walke to make These naked Walls I le honor for her sake Ah Quondam Temple of my Goddesse faire Great reason haue I thee for to adore Thy Boords and Windowes I do holde as rare Since thou hast entertainde her heretofore Though Saint be gone and nought be left but Shrine Yet for her Loue I le hold thee as Diuine Shall these same Eyes but now no Eyes at all Raine Teares still thus and shall this my poore Hart In vaine vpon a flintie Corse still call For mercie who no Mercie will impart Shal this my Tongue now hoarse with Pitie crying Nere finde reliefe but still a Voice denying Ah partiall LOVE Ah World vnmeet for men Ah maners fit for sauadge Beasts to loathe Ah wicked Fortune thus dost quit me then Because thou seest my selfe with Loue I cloathe Another shall despoyle me and vnbare Is this reward for faith vowde to the FAIRE Sweet meate sowre sawce deserues I must confesse But pure Loue should nere purchase Hate in right By Ones Disdaine which is remedilesse I liue to like vnlou'd to worke my spight Wretched 's that Wight but faithfull Patâ—â—ne rare That doth through Loue Death to himselfe prepare Now by these brinish teares that outwardly Distill from weeping eyes like showers of raine And by those drops of blood vnseene of eye Which inwardly from hart streame downe amaine And by what els I haue All which is Thine Begin to loue els end this life of mine Ah ALBA faire ah me vnfortunate Ah that my Birth 's so low my Thoughts so his My due Desires so great so poore my state As not to ioy my Right deseruinglie How might I please thee thee for to possesse With how gteat will would I my selfe addresse Will Labours patient of Extremities Obtaine the fauour of thy long sought Loue I will attempt if so thou but deuise Monsters to tame and Mountaines to remoue Alcides like all things I will subdue So I may finde thee gracious when I sue Dost thou â—he passions of deep Loue desire The sad despayring moode of perplext minde The nere exprest through hidden torments Fire Of racked Thoughts dost couet this to finde Mark 〈◊〉 deep sighs my hollow eyes salt teares My broken sleepes my heauy countnance beares Wouldst thou I to thy Beautie vowde should beâ— And in thy seruice spend my long lifes time Remember then my solitarie life for thee This seuen whole yeares a Prentiship of mine T is true thou knowst where ere thou now remaine Then be appeasde and pleasde to ease my paine Say then faire ALBA faire yet full of spight What haue I done that thou shouldst me vndoe Holding thee Deare why setst 〈◊〉 me so light Why silent art thou when to thee I sue The more Submissiue I and Humble am Why gainst me dost thy selfe still sdainfull frame Whom haue I but mine owne Thoughts entertainde And thy rare Vertues and what companie But Contemplation hath with me remainde And whom haue I still wondred at but thee Whom haue I not contemnd for thee since time I first beheld that matchles shape of thine Haue I not crept to some not trod with feete On them cause thou to fauour them I saw Haue not all Iniuries to me bin sweete If thou didst will me beare them t was a Law Haue I not spent my golden yeares with I ope Seeking nought but thy Loue my Wishes scope Yet in the midst of these distempered Thoughts Thou art not only Ielous of my Truth But makst account of me farre worse then Noughts Nor dost by Message yeeld me any Ruth My Loue vnspotted cannot be accepted My Truth O strange vnspeakable's reiected Like to this Sea LOVE hath me fashiond right He full of water I replete with woe He boyles and bubleth vp in open sight I fret and rage where ere I wandring goe He flowes and boue his banks the surges rise From me salt teares gush forth in streaming wise He water wants not