loue sought to win my loue from mee At this time there was speech of a marriage to be concluded betweene Charles Brandon then L. Lisle the Dutches of Sauoy the L. Lisle being highly fauoured exceedingly beloued of the Dutches. When in King Henrieâ— Tent of cloth of gold The King caused a rich Tent of cloth of gold to be erected where he feasted the Prince of Castile the Dutches and entertained them with sumptuous maskes and banquets during their aboad When Maximilian to those wars addrest Wâ—re Englands Crosse on his imperiall breast Maximilian the Emperour with all his souldiours which serued vnder King Henry wore the crosse of S. George with the Rose on their breasts And in our Armiâ— let his Eagle flie The blacke Eagle is the badge imperiall which here is vsed for the displaying of his ensigne or standard And had his pay from Henries treasurie Henry the 8. at his wars in Fraunce retained the Emperour all his Souldiours in wages which serued vnder him during those warres But this alone by Wolseys wit was wrought Thomas Wolsey the Kings Almoner then Bishoppe of Lincolne a man of great authoritie with the king afterward Cardinall was the thiefe cause that the Lady Mary was married to the old French king with whom the French King had dealt vnderhand to be friend him in that match When the proude Dolphin for thy valour sake Chose thee at tylt his prâ—ncely part to take Frauncis Duke of Valoyes and Dolphin of Fraunce at the mariage of the Lady Mary in honour thereof proclaimed a Iusts where hee chose the Duke of Suffolke and the Marques Dorset for his aydes at all martiall exercises Galeas and Bounarme matchles for their might This County Galeas at the Iusts ran a course with a Speare which was at the head fiue inches square on euery side and at the But nine inches square whereby here shewed his wondrous force and strength This Bounarme a Gentleman of Fraunce at the same time came into the field armed at all points with tenne speares about himâ— in each stirrop three vnder each thigh one one vnder his left arme and one in his hand and putting his horse to the careere neuer stopped him till he had broken euery staffe Hall Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk to Mary the French Queene BVt that thy fayth commaunds me to forbeare The fault thine owne if I impatient were vvere my dispatch such as should be my speed I should want time thy louing lines to reede Heere in the Court Camelion like I fare And as that creature onely liue by ayre All day I waite and all the night I watch And starue mine eares to heare of my dispatch If Douer were th'Abydos of my rest Or pleasant Callice were my Maries Cest Thou should'st not neede fayre Queene to blame me so Did not the distance to desire say no No tedious night from trauell should be free Till through the waues with swimming vnto thee A snowy path I made vnto thy Bay So bright as is that Nectar-stayned way The restlesse sunne by trauailing doth weare Passing his course to finish vp the yeare But Paris locks my loue within the maine And London yet they Brandon doth detaine Of thy firme loue thou put'st me still in mind But of my faith not one word can I finde VVhen Longauile to Mary was affied And thou by him wast made King Lewis bride How oft I wish'd that thou a prize might'st bee That I in Armes might combat him for thee And in the madnes of my loue distraught A thousand times his murther haue â—ore-thought But that th'all-seeing powers which sit aboue Regard not mad mens oathes nor faults in loue And haue confirm'd it by the graunt of heauen That Louers sinnes on earth should be forgiuen For neuer man is halfe so much distrest As he that loues to see his loue possest Comming to Richmond after thy depart Richmond where first thou stol'st away my hart Me thought it look'd not as it did of late But wanting thee forlorne and desolate In whose fayere walkes thou often hast beene seene To sport with Katherine Henries beautious Queeneâ— Astonishing sad vvinter with thy sight As for thy sake the day hath put back night That the byrds thinking to approach the spring Forgot themselues and haue begun to sing So oft I goe by Thames so oft returne Me thinks for thee the Riuer yet doth mourne vvho I haue seene to let her streame at large vvhich like a Hand-maide waited on thy Barge And if thou hapst against the flood to row vvhich way it ebd before now would it flow vveeping in drops vpon thy labouring oares For ioy that it had got thee from the shoares The Swans with musick that the Roothers make Ruffing theyr plumes come gliding on the lake As the fleet Dolphins by Arions strings were brought to land with their sweet rauishings The flocks heards that pasture neer the flood To gaze vpon thee haue forborne theyr food And sate downe sadly mourning by the brim That they by nature were not made to swimâ— VVhen as the Post to Englands royall Court Of thy hard passage brought the true report How in a storme thy well rigg'd ships were tost And thou thy selfe in danger to be lost I knew t was Venus loth'd that aged bed vvhere beautie so should be dishonoured Or fear'd the Sea-Nimphs haunting of the Lake If thou but seene theyr Goddesse should forsake And whirling round her Doue-drawne Coach about To view thy Nauie now in launching out Her ayrie mantle loosely doth vnbind VVhich fanning forth a rougher gale of winde vvafted thy failes with speede vnto the land And runnes thy ship on Bullins harbouring strand How should I ioy of thy ariue to heare But as a poore sea-faring passenger After long trauaile tempest-torne wrack'd By some vnpitting Pyrat that is sack'd Heare 's the false robber that hath stolne his wealth Landed in some safe harbour and in health Enriched with inualuable store For which he long hath trauailed before VVhen thou to Abuile held'st th' appointed day vvee heard how Lewes met thee on the way vvhere thou in glittering Tissue strangely dight Appear'dst vnto him like the Queene of light In cloth of siluer all thy virgine traine In beautie sumptuous as the Northerne waine And thou alone the formost glorious star vvhich lead'st the teame of that great VVagoner VVhat could thy thought be but as I doe thinke vvhen thine eyes tasted what mine eares did drinke A cripple King layd bedrid long before Yet at thy comming crept out of the dore T' was well he rid he had no legs to goe But this thy beautie forc'd his body to For whom a cullice had more fitter beene Then in a golden bed a gallant Queene To vse thy beauty as the miser gold vvhich hoards it vp but onely to behold Still looking on it with a iealous eye Fearing to lend yet louing vsurie O Sacriledge if beautie be diuine The prophane hand
THE BARRONS WARS in the raigne of Edward the second VVITH ENGLANDS Heroicall Epistles ¶ By Michaell Drayton AT LONDON Printed by I. R. for N. Ling. 1603. To the worthy and his most honored friend Ma. VValter Aston I vvill not striue m' invention to inforce vvith needlesse words your eyes to entertaine T' obserue the formall ordinarie course That euery one so vulgarly doth faine Our interchanged and deliberate choice Is with more firme and true election sorted Then stands in censure of the common voyce That with light humor fondly is transported Nor take I patterne of anothers praise Then what my pen may constantly avow Nor walke more publique nor obscurer waies Then vertue bids and iudgement will alow So shall my loue and best endeuours serue you And still shall studie still so to deserue you Michaell Drayton To the Reader The Quadrin doth neuer double or to vse a word of Heraldrie neuer bringeth foorth Gemells The Quinzain too soone The Sestin hath Twinnes in the base but they detaine not the Musicke nor the Cloze as Musitions terme it long enough for an Epick Poem The stanza of seauen is touched before This of eight both holds the tune cleaue through to the base of the columne which is the couplet at the foote or bottom closeth not but with a full satisfaction to the eare for so long detention Briefely this sort of stanza hath in it maiestie perfection soliditie resembling the piller which in Architecture is called the Tuscan whose shaft is of sixe diameters bases of two The other reasons this place will not beare but generally all stanzas are in my opinion but tyrants and torturers when they make inuention obey theyr number which sometime would otherwise scantle it selfe A fault that great Maisters in this Art striue to auoyde Concerning the deuision which I vse in this Poem I am not ignorant that antiquitie hath vsed to distinguish workes into Bookes and euery one to beare the number of theyr order Homers Iliads and Vlysiads indeede are distinguished by seuerall letters of the Greeke Alphabet as all the world knowes and not by the numerall letters onely which to Iota are digit and afterward compound the Alpha beeing our vnit for the Greekes had no figures nor cyphers in their Arithmeticke Virgils AEneis Statius Thebais Silius worke of the Carthagenian war Illyricus Argonauticks Vidas Christeis are all deuided into books The Italians vse Cantos so our first late great Reformer Ma. Spenser that I assume another name for the sections in this volum cannot be disgratious nor vnauowable Lastly if I haue not already exceeded the length of an Epistle I am to intreat that he who wil as any man may that wil make himselfe a party to this of ours would be pleased to remeÌ„ber that Spartan Prince who beeing found by certaine Embassadors playing among his children requested them to forbeare to censure til also they had some of their owne To such I giue a sample power and priuiledge as euer Ius liberorum could in Rome crauing backe againe at their hands by a regrant the like of that which I impart for great reason there is that they should vndergoe the licence which themselues challenge suffer that in their fames which they would wrongly put vpon others according to the most indifferent law of the Talio Fare you well To Ma. Michaell Drayton WHat ornament might I deuise to fit Th' aspiring height of thy admired spirit Or what faire Garland worthy is to sit On thy blest browes that compasse in all merit Thou shalt not crowned be with common Bayes Because for thee it is a crowne too low Apolloes tree can yeeld thee simple prayse It is too dull a vesture for thy brow But with a wreath of starres shalt thou be crown'd vvhich when thy working temples doe sustaine vvill like the Spheares be euer moouing round After the royall musick of thy braine Thy skill doth equall Phoebus not thy birth He to heauen giues musick thou to earth Thomas Greene. To Ma. Michaell Drayton THose painfull wits which natures depth admire And view the causes of vnconstant strife Doe tremble least the Vniuerse expire Through lasting iarres the enemies of life On earthly signes let not such Sages looke Nor on the cleere aspects of hopefull starres But learne the worlds continuance from thy booke vvhich frames past Natures force eternall warres vvherein the Muses shewing perfect glory Adorne it so with gracefull harmonie That all the acts of this lamented storie Seeme not perform'd for peoples liberty Nor through the awe of an imperious King But that thy verses their deepe wounds might sing Iohn Beumont THE FIRST BOOKE of the Barrons warres The Argument The grieuous plagues and the prodigious signes That this great warre and slaughter doe foreshow Th' especiall cause the Barronage combines The Queenes strong griefe whence many troubles grow The time by course vnto our fall inclines And how each country doth to battell goe VVhat cause to yeeld the Mortimers pretend And their commitment perfecting the end 1 THe bloody factions and rebellious pride Of a strong nation whose vnmanag'd might Them from their naturall Soueraigne did diuide Their due subiection and his lawfull right VVhom their light error loosely doth misguide Vrg'd by lewd Minions tyrannous despight Me from soft layes and tender loues doth bring Of dreadfull fights and horred warres to sing 2 VVhat hellish furie poysned your hie blood Or should bewitch you with accursed charmes That by pretending of the generall good Rashly extrudes you to tumultuous armes And from the safety wherein late you stood Reft of all taste and feeling of your harmes That Fraunce and Belgia with affrighted eyes vvere sad beholders of your miseries 3 Th'inueterate ranckor in their boosoms bred vvho for their charter wag'd a former war Or through your vaines this raging venom spred vvhose next-succeeding Nephewes now you are Or that hote gore your bowes in conquest shed Hauing enlarg'd your countries bounds so far Ensigne to ensigne furiously oppose vvith blades of Bilbo dealing English blowes 4 O thou the great director of my Muse On whose free bounty all my powers depend Into my breast a sacred fire infuse Rauish my spirit this great worke to attend Let the still night my laboured lines peruse That when my Poems gaine their wished end They whose sad eyes shall read this tragique story In my weake hand shall see thy might and glory 5 VVhat care would plot discentions quickly crosse vvhich like an earthquake rends the tottering state By which abroade we beare a publique losse Betrayd at home by meanes of priuate hate vvhilst vs these strange calamities doe tosse The daily nurse of mutinous debate Confusion still our Countries peace confounds No helpe at hand and mortall all our wounds 6 Thou Church then swelling in thy mightinesse Tending the care and safety of the â—oule O nurse not factions flowing in excesse That vvith thy members shouldst theyr griefe condole In thee rests
controld Their earthly weaknes euermore explaines Exalting whom they please not whom they should vvhen their owne fall showes how they fondly er'd Procur'd by those vnworthily prefer'd 62 Merit goes vnregarded and vngrac'd vvhen by his fauters ignorance held in And Parasites in wisemens roomes are plac'd Onely to sooth the great ones in their sin From such whose gifts and knowledge is debac'd There 's many strange enormities begin Forging great wits into most factious tooles vvhen mightiest men oft proue the mightiest fooles 63 But why so vainly doe I time bestow The foule abuse of th'wretched world to chide vvhose blinded iudgement eu'ry howre doth show vvhat folly weake mortality doth guide vvise was the man that laugh'd at all thy woe My subiect still more sorrow doth prouide And this late peace more matter still doth breed To hasten that which quickly must succeed The end of the fourth Canto The fifth Booke of the Barrons warres The Argument Th' imprisoned King his gouernment forsakes And to the Peeres his weakenes so excused VVho him ere long from Leisters keeping takes That with much woe his soueraigne Lord refused◠His torturer of him a mockery makes And basely and reprochfully abused By secret wayes to Berckley beeing led And cruelly in prison murthered 1 THe wretched King vnnaturally betrayd By lewd corruption of his natiue Land From thence with speede to Kenelworth conuayd By th' Earle of Leister with a mighty band Some few his fauourers quickly ouer-wayd And now a present Parlement in hand To ratifie the generall intent His resignation of the gouernment 2 Falne through the frailty of intemperate will That with his fortunes it so weakely far'd To vndergoe that vnexpected ill For his deserued punishment prepar'd The measure of that wretchednes to fill To him alotted as a iust reward Armes all with malice either lesse or more To strike at him that strooke at all before 3 And beeing a thing the commons daily craue To which the great are resolutely bent Such forward helpes on eu'ry side to haue T' effect their strong and forcible intent vvhich now that speede vnto their action gaue That ratifi'd by generall consent Still hastneth on to execute the thing vvhich for one ill twoworse should shortly bring 4 Bishops Earles Abbots and the Barrons all Each in due order as becomes the state Set by the Heraults in that goodly hall The Burgesses for places corporate vvhom this great busnes at this time doth call For the Cinque-ports the Barrons conuocate And other Knights for the whole body sent Both on the South and on the North of Trent 5 From his impris'ning chamber clad in blacke Before th' assembly sadly he is brought A dolefull hearse vpon a dead-mans backe vvhose heauy lookes might tell his heauier thought In which there doth no part of sorrow lacke Nor fained action needs to greefe be taught His funerall solemniz'd in his cheere His eyes the mourners and his legges the Beere 6 Torleton as one select to this intent The best experienc'd in this great affaire A man graue subtill stout and eloquente First with faire speech th' assembly doth prepare Then with a voyce austeere and eminent Doth his abuse effectually declare As winnes each sad eye with a reuerent feare vvith due attention drawing eu'ry eare 7 The great exactions raised by the King vvith whose full plenty he his Mineons fed Himselfe and subiects so impourishing And that deere blood he lauishly had shed vvhich desolation to the Land should bring And the chiefe cause by his leud riots bred The losse in warre sustained through his blame The during scandall to the English name 8 Proceeding forward to the future good That their dissignments happily intend And with what vpright pollicie it stood No after hopes their fortunes to amend The resignation to his propper blood That might the action lawfully defend The present need that wild it strictly so vvhose imposition they might not forslow 9 Pardon me art that striuing to be short To this intent a speech deliuering And that at full I doe not heare report Matters that tuch deposing of the King My faithfull Muse ô doenot thou exhort The after times to so abhord a thing To show the reasons forcibly were layd Out of thy feelings what he might haue said 10 The strong deliu'ry of whose vehement speech Borne with a dauntlesse and contracted brow That with such sterne seuerity did teach His reasons more autentique to alow vvhich the more easly made the dangerous breach By the remembrance of a generall vow To which they here must openly contest vvhen Edward comes to consumate the rest 11 His faire cheeke couer'd in pale sheers of shame And as a dumbe shew in a swoune began vvhere passion doth such sundry habits frame As eu'ry sence a right tragedian Truly to show from whence his sorrow came Beyond the compasse of a common man vvhere nature seemes a practiser in art Teaching dispaire to act a liuely part 12 Ah pitty doost thou liue or wert thou not Mortals by such sights haue to flint beene turned Or what men haue beene hath their seede forgot Or was it neuer knowne that any mourned In what so strangely are we ouer-shot Against our owne selfe hath our frailty spurned Or teares hence forth abandon humane eyes And neuer-more to pitty miseries 13 He takes the crowne yet scornefully vnto him vvith slight regard as scarcely thinking on it As though not sencelesse that it should forgoe him And sildome casts a scornefull eye vpon it vvould seeme to leaue it and would haue it woe him Then snatching it as loth to haue forgone it Yet putsit from him yet he will not so vvould faine retaine what faine he would forgoe 14 In this confused conflict of the mind Teares drowning sighes and sighes confounding teares Yet when as neither libertie could find Oppressed with the multitude of feares Stands as a man affrighted from his kinde Greefe becomes sencelesse when too much it beares vvhilst speech silence striues which place should take From his full bosome thus his sorrowes brake 15 If that my title rightfully be planted Vpon a true indubitate succession Confirm'd by nations as by nature granted That freely hath deliuerd me possession Impute to heauen sufficiency t' haue wanted vvhich must denie it power or you oppression VVhich into question by due course may bring The grieued wrongs of an annointed King 16 That hallowed vnction by a sacred hand vvhich once was powr'd on this emperious head vvhich wrough th'indument of a strict commaund And round about me the rich verdure spred Either my right in greater sted must stand Or why in vaine was it so idely shed vvhose prophanation and vnreuerent tuch Iust heauen hath often punish'd alwayes much 17 VVhen from the bright beames of our soueraine due Descends the strength of your enated right And prosperously deriues it selfe to you As from our fulnes taking borrowed light vvhich to your safeties alwaies firme and true vvhy thus repugne you by
which way they â—ould â—ake 38 Slaughter runnes wildly through th' afflicted host vvhilst yet the battaile strongly doth abide That in this strange distemprature is lost VVhere hellish fury sensibly doth guide Neuer suffisd where tyrannizing most That now their wounds with mouthes euen open'd wide Lastly inforc'd to call for present death That wants but tongues your swords do giue the breath 39 Heere lyes a heape halfe slaine and halfly drownd Gasping for breath amongst the watry segs And there a sort falne in a deadly swound Troad with the presse into the muddy dregs Other lie bleeding on the firmer ground Hurt in the bodies maym'd of armes and legs One kills a foe his braine another cuts On 's feere intangled in anothers guts 40 One his assayling enemy beguiles As from the bridge he happily doth fall Crush'd with his weight vppon the forced piles Some in their gore vpon the pauement spraule That euery place so lothsomly defiles The carcasses lie heaped like a wall Such hideous shreekes yet still the souldiers breath As though the spirits had howled from beneath 41 The faction still defying Edwards might Edmond of VVoodstocke with the men of Kent Charging a fresh reuiues the doubtfull fight Vpon the Barrons languishing and spent New preparation for a tragique sight vvhen they againe supplies immediat sent A second battaile proudly to begin The noblest spirits but newly entred in 42 As at Troyes fack faire Thetis godlike sunne Couragious Talbot with his shield him bare Clyfford and Mowbray brauely following on Audly and Gifford thrunging for a share These seconding the former beeing gone Elmsbridge and Baldsmere in the thickest are Pell mell together flie this furious power vvhen they perceiue that death will all deuour 43 Mountfort and Teis your worth I faine would speake But that your valure doth so ill deserue And Denuile heere from thee perforce must breake And from thy prayses VVillington must swerue Your deedes permit not I your wrongs should wreake Proud Damory here must thy glory starue Concealing many most deseruing blame Because your actions quench my sacred flame 44 O had you fashiond your great deedes by them vvho summond Acon with an English drum Or march'd before that faire Ierusalem vvith the vnited powers of Christendome Eternall then had been your Diadem And with Christs warriors slept about his Toombe Then ages had immortaliz'd your name vvhere now my song can be but of your shame 45 O age inglorious Armes vntimely borne vvhen now this prooued and victorious sheeld Must in this ciuill massacre be torne vvhich bare the marks of many a bloody feeld And lastly in their ouerthrowne forlorne vvhen now to flight the Barrons basely yeeld That since that time the stones for very dreed Against foule stormes small drops of moisture shee l 46 VVhen now those wretched and vnstedfast friends vvhich all this while stood doubtfully to pause vvhen they perceiue what desteny intends And his successe doth iustifie his cause Their faintnes now more comfort apprehends For victory both feare and friendship drawes T' an open smile conuert a couered frowne All lend their hands to hew the conquered downe 47 That part of power th'emperiall seem'd to lacke vvhilst yet the aduerse bare an vpright face vvhen now constraynd to giue a recreant back Quickly returnes to prosecute the chase vvhere now the Barrons wholy goe to wracke In the iust tryall of so neere a case Inforc'd to proue the fortune of the Coast vvhen they perceiue the glorious gole is lost 48 And to the fortunes of the conquering King vvhich well confirm'd his long and tendered hope His fayre successe still more incouraging vvhich now had got so large and ample scope The Earle of Carlell happily doth bring His light-arm'd bands the valiant Northerne troope Armed too lately and with too much speed To doe most harme euen when we least had need 49 vvhen now the Barrons making out their way Through parts for safety and aduantage knowne Keeping their force still bodied as they may Into the depth of this misfortune throwne And in pursute deuising day by day T' offend th'assailant and defend their owne In their last hope the vtmost to endure To deferre the effect although the end were sure 50 And whilst their fortune â—uâ—ing sadly thus To Burrough-bridge conducted by their fate Bridges to Barrons euer omenous And to this place their fall preordinate That ministring such cause of griefe to vs By the remembrance of their passed state The very soile by deepe impression yit Euen to this day doth still remember it 51 New courage now new fights new battailes rang'd New breath but what might make destruction newe They change the ground but yet their fate vnchang'd vvhich too directly doth their course pursue Nor from their former misery estrang'd Their strength decayes their dangers daily grew To shorten that which whilst it did depend Gaue a long breathing to a fearefull end 52 Like to a heard of weary hartlesse Deare vvhom hot-spurd Huntsmen seriously doe chase In brakes and bushes falling here and there Proouing each couert euery secret place Yet by the hounds recouered eu'ry where vvith eager yearning in the sented trace Hem'd on each side with hornes rechating blast Headlong themselues into the toyles doe cast 53 Ensigne beards Ensigne sword gainst sword doth shake vving against wing and ranke doth ranke oppose In on each other furiously they brake And death in earnest to his bus'nes goes A generall hauock as dispos'd to make And with destruction doth them all inclose Dealing it selfe impartially to all Friend by his friend and foe by foe doth fall 54 This part of life which yet they did respire In spight of fortune as they stood prepar'd vvith courage charg'd with comlines retire Make good their ground and then relieue their guard vvithstand the entrer then pursue the flier New forme their battaile shifting eu'ry ward As your hie courage but were your quarrel good O noble spirits how deere had beene your blood 55 The Northerne bands th' ambitious Herckley led On the weake Barrons mangled so before That now towards Burrough make a puissant head Incouraging th' imperiall power the more O day so fatall and so full of dread vvhen ere shall time thy ruinous wast restore vvhich to amend although thou shalt perseuer Thou still mai'st promise but performe it neuer 56 Pale death beyond all wontâ—d bounds doth swell Caruing proud flesh in cantels now at large As leaues in Autumne so the bodies fell Vnder rough steele at eu'ry boysterous charge O what sad pen can the destruction tell vvhere scalps lay beaten as the battered targe And eu'ry one he claimeth as his right That not prouides t' escape away by flight 57 Those Ensignes earst that in the glittering field vvith their curld forheads threat th' ambitious foe Like wether'd foule the drouping pyneons yield Stooping their proud heads to the dust below There sits a helmet and there lies a shield O ill did fate these noble Armes
his princely birth To manage Empires and to sit on thrones Frighting coy fortune when she stern'st appeares vvhich else scornes sighes and ieereth at our teares 46 VVhen now report with her fleet murmuring wing Tuch'd the still entrance of his listning eare A fleete prepar'd this royall Queene to bring And her arriuall still awaited neare vvhen eu'ry sound a note of loue doth sing The ioyfull thoughts that in his bosome were The soule in doubt to make her function lesse Denies the vtterance fully to expresse 47 Quoth he slide billowes gently for her sake vvhose sight can make your aged Nereus yong For her fairâ— passage euen allyes make On the sleeke waters waâ—t her sayles along And whilst she glydes vpon the pleasant lake Let the sweet Syrens rocke her with a song Though not Loues mother that doth passe this wayâ— Fairer then she that 's borne vpon the sea 48 You Sea-bred creatures gaze vpon her eye And neuer after with your kind make war O steale the accents from her lip that flie vvhich like the musicks of the Angels are And them vnto your amorous thoughts apply Compar'd with which Aryons did but iarre vvrap them in ayre and when blacke tempests rage Vse them as charmes the rough seas to asswage 49 Fraunce send to fetch her with full sholes of oares vvith which her fleet may eu'ry way be plyde And beeing landed on thy happy shoares As the vast nauie doth at Anck or ride For her departure when the wild sea roares Ship mount to heauen there brightly stellifide Next Iasons Argo on the â—urnish'd throne Assume thee there a constellation 50 Her person hence conuay'd with that delight vvhich best the languish of her iournies easd That to her pleasure doth it selfe inuite vvhereon her mind and subtill fancie ceasd And that most deare her liking might excite vvhich then this Lord naught more her presence pleasd vvhere when with state she fitt'st her time could take Thus the faire Queene her Mortimer bespake 51 O Mortimer great Mortimer quoth shee vvhat angry power did first this meane deuise To seperate Queene Isabell and thee vvhom loues eternall vnion strongly ties But if supposd this fault began by me For a iust pennance to my longing eyes Though guiltlesse they this punishment assignd To gaze vpon thee till they leaue me blind 52 T is strange sweet friend how thou art altred thus Since first in Court thou didst our fauours weare vvhose shape seem'd then not mortall vnto vs vvhen in our eye thy brow was beauties spheare In all perfection so harmonious A thousand seuerall graces moouing there But what then could'st thou be not now thou art An alien first last home-borne in my hart 53 That powerfull fate thy safety did inforce And from the worst of danger did thee free Still regular and constant in one course vvrought me a firme and euen path to thee Of our affections as it tooke remorce Our birth-fix'd starres so happily agree vvhose reuolusion seriously directs Our like proceedings to the like effects 54 New forme of counsaile in the course of things To our dissignement finds a neerer way That by a cleere and perfect managing Is that firme prop whereon we onely stay vvhich in it selfe th' authority doth bring That weake opinion hath no power to sway Confuting such whose sightlesse iudgement sit In the thicke ranke with euery vulgar-wit 55 Then since pleasd time our wish'd content assures Imbrace the blessings of our mutuall rest And whilst the day of our good hap endures And we as fauorites leane on fortunes brest vvhich doth for vs this vacansie procure In choise make free election of the best Nere feare the storme before thou feele the shower My sonne a King an Empire is my dower 56 Of wanton Edward when I first was woo'd vvhy cam'st thou not into the Court of France Thy selfe alone then in my grace had'st stood Deere Mortimer how good had beene thy chaunce My loue attempted in that youthfull mood I might haue beene thine owne inheritance vvhere entring now by force thou hold'st by might And art deseisor of anothers right 57 Honour thou Idole women so adore How many plagues doo'st thou retaine to grieue vs vvhen still we finde there is remaining more Then that great word of maiestie can giue vs vvhich takes more from vs then it can restore And of that comfort often doth depriue vs That with our owne selues sets vs at debate And mak'st vs beggers vnder our estate 58 Those pleasing raptures from her graces rise Strongly inuading his impressiue breast That soone entranced all his faculties Of the proud fulnesse of their ioyes possest And hauing throughly wrought him in this wise Like tempting Syrens sing him to his rest vvhen eu'ry power is passiue of some good Felt by the spirits of his high-rauish'd blood 59 Like as a Lute that 's tuch'd with curious skill In musicks language sweetly speaking plaine vvhen eu'ry string his note with sound doth fill Taking the tones and giuing them againe And the eare bath's in harmony at will A diapason closing eu'ry straine So their affections set in keyes so like Still fall in consort as their humors strike 60 VVhen now the path to their desire appeares Of which before they had beene long debar'd By desolution of some threatning feares That for destruction seem'd to stand prepar'd vvhich the smooth face of better safety beares And now protected by a stronger guard Giues the large scope of leysure to fore-cast Euents to come by things already past 61 These great dissignements setting easly oâ—t By due proportion measuring eu'ry pace T' auoyd the cumbrance of each hindring doubt That might distort the comlines and grace Comming with eu'ry circumstance about Sâ—rictly obseruing person time and place All ornaments in faire discretions lawes Could giue attyre to beautifie the cause 62 The Embassy in tearmes of equall height As well their state and dignitie might fit Apparrelling a matter of that weight In ceremony well beseeming it To carry things so steddy and so right vvhere wisdome with cleere maiestie might sit All things still seeming strictly to effect That loue commaunds and greatnes should respect 63 VVhos 's expedition by this faire successe That doth againe this ancient league combine VVhen Edward should by couenant release And to the Prince the Prouinces resigne vvith whom King Câ—arles renewes the happy peace Receauing homage due to him for Guyne And lastly now to consumate their speed Edwards owne person to confirme the deede 64 VVho whilst he stands yet doubtfull what to doe The Spensers chiefely that his counsels guide Nor with their Soueraigne into Fraunce durst goe Nor in his absence durst at home abide Now whilst the weake King stands perplexed so His listning eares with such perswasion pli'de As he at last to stay in England's wonne And in his place to send the Prince his sonne 65 Thus is the King encompast by their skill A meane to worke what Herford doth deuise To thrust him
how euer you shall vse it Al 's one to this though you should bid dispaire This still intreates you this still speakes you faire Hast thou a liuing soule a humaine fence To like dislike proue order and dispence The depth of reason soundly to aduise To loue things good things hurtfull to despise The tuch of iudgement which should all things proue And hast thou touch'd yet not allow'st my loue Sound moues his sound voyce doth beget his voyce One Eccho makes another to reioyce One well-tun'd string set truly to his like Strooke neere at hand doth make another strike How comes it then that our affections iar vvhat opposition doth beget this war I know that nature franckly to thee gaue That measure of her bounâ—ie that I haue And with that sence she lent she likewise lent Each one his organ each his instrument But euery one because it is thine owne Doth prise it selfe vnto it selfe alone Thy daintie hand when it it selfe doth tuch That feeling tels it there was neuer such VVhen in thy glasse thine eye it selfe doth see That thinks there 's none like to it selfe can be And euery one doth iudge it selfe diuine Because that thou doost challenge it for thine And each it selfe Narcissus like doth smother And loues it selfe not like to any other Fie be not burnd thus in thine owne desire T is needlesse beautie should it selfe admire The sunne by which all creatures lightned be And seeth all it selfe yet cannot see And his owne brightnes his owne foile is made And doth become the cause of his owne shade VVhen first thy beautie by mine eye was prou'd It saw not then so much to be belou'd But when it came a perfect view to take Each looke of one doth many beauties make In little cerâ—lets first it doth arise Then somewhat larger seeming in mine eyes And in his Gyring compasse as it goes So more and more the same in greatnes growes And as it yet at libertie is set The motion still doth other formes beget Vntill at length looke any way I could Nothing there was but beautie to behold Art thou offended that thou art belou'd Remoue the cause th' effect is soone remou'd Indent with beautie how farre to extend Set downe desire a limmit where to end Then charme thine eyes theyr glaunces shall not wound Teach reason how the depth of loue to sound If thou doe this nay then thou shalt doe more And bring to passe what neuer was before Make anguish sportiue crauing all delight Mirth solemne sullen and inclind to night Ambition lowly enuie speaking well Loue his reliefe of nigardize to sell Our warlike fathers did these forts deuise As surest holds against our enemies The safest places for your sexe to rest Feare soone is setled in a womans brest Thy breast is of another temper farre And then thy Castle fitter for the warre Thou doost not safely in thy Castle rest Thy Castle should be safer in thy brest That keepes ouâ— foes but doth thy friends inclose But thy brest keepes out both thy friends and foes That may be batter'd or be vndermin'd Or by straite siege for want of succour pin'd But thy hart is inuinsible to all And more defensiue then thy Castle wall Of all the shapes that euer Ioue did proue vvhere-with he vs'd to entertaine his loue That likes me best when in a golden shower He raind himselfe on Danae in her Tower Nor did I euer enuie his commaund In that he beares the thunder in his hand But in that showrie shape I cannot be And as he came to her I come to thee Thy tower with foes is not begert about If thou within they are besieg'd without One haire of thine more vigor doth retaine To binde thy foe then with an yron chaine VVho might be gyu'd in such a golden string vvould not be captiue though he were a King Hadst thou all India heap'd vp in thy Fort And thou thy selfe besieged in that sort Get thou but out where they can thee espie They 'le follow thee and let the treasure lie I cannot think what force thy tower should win If thou thy selfe doost guard the same within Thine eye retaines artillarie at will To kill who euer thou desir'st to kill For that alone more deeply wounds theyr harts Then they can thee though with a thousand darts For there entrenched little Cupid lies And from those turrets all the world defies And when thou letst downe that transparant lid Of entrance there an Armie doth forbid And as for famine thou needs neuer feare vvho thinks of want when thou art present there Thy onely sight giues spirit vnto the blood And comforts life though neuer tasting foode And as thy souldiers keepe theyr watch and ward So chastitie thy inward breast doth guard Thy modest pulse serues as a larum bell VVhich watched by a wakefull Sentinell Is stirring still with euery little feare vvarning if any enemie be neere Thy vertuous thoughts when all the others rest Like carefull skouts passe vp and downe thy brest And still they round about that place doe keepe VVhilst all the blessed garison doe sleepe But yet I feare if that the truth were told That thou hast robd and fliest vnto this hold I thought as much and didst this Fort deuise That thou in safety heere might'st tyrannize Yes thou hast robd the heauen and earth of all And they against thy lawlesse theft doe call Thyne eyes with mine that wage continuall warrs Borrow their brightnes of the twinckling starrs Thy breath for which mine still in sighes consumes Hath rob'd sweet flowers rich odors and perfumes Thy cheeke for which mine all this penance proues Steales the pure whitnes both from Swannes and Doues Thy lips from mine that in thy maske be pent Haue filch'd the blushing from the orient O mightie Loue bring hether all thy power And fetch this heauenly theefe out of her Tower For if she may be suffered in this sort Heauens store will soone be hoarded in this Fort. VVhen I arriu'd before that state of loue And saw thee on the battlement aboue I thought there was no other heauen but there And thou an Angell didst from thence appeare But when my reason did correct mine eye That thou wert subiect to mortalitie I then excus'd the Scot before had done No maruaile though he would the fort haue wone Perceiuing well those enuious walls did hide More wealth then was in all the world beside Against thy foe I came to lend thee ayde And thus to thee my selfe my selfe betrayd He is besieg'd the siege that came to raise There 's no assault that not my brest assayes Loue growne extreame doth finde vnlawful shifts The Gods take shapes and doe allure with gifts Commaunding loue that by great Stix doth sweare Forsworne in loue with Louers oathes doth beare Loue causelesse still doth aggrauate his cause It is his lawe to violate all lawes His reason is in onely wanting reason And were vntrue not deeply tuch'd with