deuise to liue in rest Fare well therefore thou false dissembling dame Whose luring lookes did lull me so a sleepe That when I felt the force of fierie flame And saw my selfe in daunger drownd so deepe I could not leaue the harme I lykt so well Which now I loth and will do while I liue Thy winks thy wiles thy words and all farewell To them that list my intrest whole I giue That they may keepe the thing with cost and care Which I desird and should haue bene my share The Prince his maister séeing him so sodainly and straungely altered laboured by all meanes possible to vnderstand the cause thereof which the gentleman would not in any wise confesse but sought to excuse the matter as he could and make his case a great deale better then it was The Prince therefore seeing all his wordes spent to small purpose in seeking to perswade him to manifest his griefe perceiuing that the hower approched wherein he appoynted to mete with this gentlewoman whose loue he had so lightly purchased being loth to prosecute his purpose without the companie and councell of his fauoured seruaunt whom he had in all thinges found faithfull vnto him he secretely called him vnto him and said Though I haue dyuers tymes demaunded the cause of thy griefe which I imagine to procéede of loue and can not be resolued in it yet for the mutuall amitie that ought to be betwene vs I will not conceale any secret of mine from thee Knowe then for certaine that I haue of late bene intrapped with the loue of a gentlewoman of this towne so faire and full of all perfections as I thinke in all Europe there liueth not her like whose happy company if fortune be not too contrary vnto me I hope to enioy this night at my pleasure wherefore hauinge now reuealed this secret vnto thee as to him in whom I haue most special affiance I pray thee vouchsafe to accoÌ„pany me to the place where she remaineth that is my onely solace and I assure thee if thou wilt let me vnderstaÌ„d what it is that thus troubleth thy mynd which I hartely beseche thee thou shalt fynd me as redie to satisfie thy desire in any thinge and as carefull to redeme thee from these dolors that now depriue thee of thy natural rest The gentleman knowing the perfecte goodwill and vnfained affection that his Lorde and maister bare vnto him perceyuing also by this his profred courtesie how desirous he was of his well doinge shewed him from pointe to pointe the cause of all his grefe proceding of loue and the ingratitude of her whom he honored estéemed aboue all other creatures being the selfe same gentlewoman that his Lord had chosen for his chefest frend which when he perceyued whether he had cause to contemne him or no I leaue it to the iudgment of those that be louers whose nature is to loth them that seke to be pertakers of their loues or to take from them any part of theire fauour whom they so greatly fancie Notwithstanding this wyse and worthy prince preferring the loue of his frend before his own fond affections toke a cleane contrary course for considering the miserable case whereunto loue had brought this pore gentleman he resolued with him self rather to respect his health then his owne priuat pleasure and resting vpon this determination he said to the gentleman as foloweth My frend thoughe I haue nothing in the world so dere and delightfull vnto me but I could willingly imparte the same with thée though thou mayst dispose of my goods as of thine owne câ—mmaund my person to do thée pleasure yet loue that can alow of no parteners will not permit vs to be both pertakers of the gentlewoman whome we both desire thou art greatly pained for her sake and I prefer the pleasure I might enioy with her before all my worldly treasure These are two great extremeties for as the one can wel be endured so may not the other be wel forborne Thy case craueth comfort and my contentment if thou want thy will thou art in daunger to perish if I bridle my affections it will brede me sorow notwithstanding so great is the loue I beare vnto thée that I do rather chose to depriue my self of this fauour then to se thée languish for lacke of that which is in my power to graunt thee Comforte thy selfe therfore cast of this carefulnes and despaire no more but count thy self assured of that thou sekest she shall be thyne that best deseruest her thou shalt enioy her wholy to thy self I geue her frely vnto thée and geue ouer all the intrest that I had or may haue in her hereafter The pore gentleman hearing these kinde words and perceyuing his owne error betwixt hope to obtayne his desire and â—eare to offend his good Lord whome he honoured with al reuerence due to so worthy a person not knowing how to answere or what to imagine he stode as still as a stone staringe in the princes face sheding great aboundaunce of teares and as one bereft of all his senses vnable to vtter one only worde a greate while together At the last coming to him self agayne with all humilitie he craued pardon for the offence which he had vnwittingly committed against hys maiesty protesting that he would rather choose to die a thousand deathes if it were possible then willingly séeke to impeach the least part of his pleasure The Prince remayning firme in his liberal purpose after he had studied a while by what meanes he might best beguile the gentlewoman and bring his frend reliefe hauing found a fitte deuise for that purpose he commaunded the gentleman to attend vpon him and vpon paine of hys displeasure to do whatsoeuer he should appoint him and so incontinently they passed together towards the gentlewomans lodging where they were finely receaued at their comming by a prety maid that she had made priuey to her meaning who like a good seruaunt carefull of her Mistres commaundements conueyed the Prince very priuely into her chamber where she attended his comming whose frendly welcome amorous enticements had ben enough to moue the chastest mind in the world to take delight in her and forgetting al frends and frendship to betake him selfe wholy vnto her But this good Prince whose minde was fully bent to séeke the safetie of his frend when he and the gentlewoman were laid together in the bedde and the candle put out faining as though he rise to â—ase him selfe went to the gentleman his seruaunt whom he had left in an other lodging not farre of sending him thether to supply his rome satisfied him self with the maid that was a prettie 〈◊〉 gerle whom with his good perswasions and liberall promises he easely obteyned to be at his commaundement in all thinges wherwith he did well content him selfe for the time The gentleman that was now in tharmes of his Lady whom he loued so dearely when he had wel satisfied
deere quoth he the price amasde the elfe For two pence halfepeny he agreede at last and hangs him selfe Le home THis geare beares pricke and price my girle of all that ere I sée La feme The pricke for me sir I crie first the price I leaue for thée Corpus opes animam formam vim lumina scortum Debilitat perdit necat aufert eripit orbat The bodie wealth the minde fourme face and sight a whore Doth weaken leese kill race and steale and eke depriueth sore A Gentlewomans poesie YOung lust of loue in hoarie lockes on Ladyes loynes lay lasye knockes Olde beldames then doe you receaue the cripple knights young Ladyes leaue Aungels MIne aungels stil they be so fledge they flie or els in shippe they floate with puffed sayles Or with their legges they leape and runne awrie or driuen away by Dragons with long tayles Legges winges and shippes the deuill in dragons shins To beare away mine aungels neuer linnes A Riddle SCâ—lere vehor materna carne vescor quaero patrem meumâ— Matris meae virum vxoris meae filium Foule is my faulte that feede my fill and gorge on mothers bowels still With busie care I seeke my Sire my mothers husbande I require And such a one that man must be as is the sonne of wife to me Money still restlesse GOod money be demourant with me stil and then thou shalt be pendaunte in my purse But if thou wilt be volant at thy will or coorraunte els thy harbore will be worse Voussera still incloased in my chest whereas thou runst abroad sance any rest A fantasticall passion MY vayne is done to write in prose or verse For why I see my wittes beginne to faile Full faine I would a woefull tale reherse but sorrow so my sences doth assaile That I am forcde to say and ende in briefe I cannot wright I am so full of griefe A birde to a birder A Fowler snarlde a little birde with lymed bushe of late To whome for life libertie the prettie fowle doth prate She begges her raunsome at a price and promiseth for pay Three iewels riche The birder then so biddes her flie away Escaped thus now list quoth she Hereafter holde thine owne Trust not to much nor take no care for that which heÌ„ce is floeâ— Henceforth if thou applie thy selfe to rule thee by these three No little fowle as I shal make so greate a foole of thee The abuse of the worlde THe mournefull minde the ouerwhelmed brayne the wittes bewitchd that wearyed are with woes The pensiue harte that pines away in payne the troubled thoughts whome thousande cares enclose Doth stil I see consume my carkase so as nought but death can ridde me of this woe Long haue I hoapde too longe I finde in vaine and all in vaine it is I finde too late That pittie woulde procure some ease of payne but pride is full pufte vp with deadly hate Disdaine is growne so great with beauties grace as humble suites are all thrust out of place Humilitie is thought a sillie slaue deserte is deemde a peeuishe painfull drudge Truth thought deceate and flatterie no knaue crafte credite gaines good dealing may goe trudge This all too late to my despight I finde which makes me thus to waile and mourne in minde The Author troubled with hope and despaire TWo thinges there are that trouble much my minde the one is hope the other is despaire In hope my harte doth heauenly comforte finde and peeuish dread my pleasures doth impaire Hope to good happe doth geue me vp amayne Despaire as fast doth flinge me downe againe I hope the best and yet doe dread the worst which wretched dread sayes hope is all in vaine And hope biddes me account that dread accurst that lets my helpe my heauenly wish to game And hope assures that reason doth require although despaire deny me my desire Therefore I hope although withall I feare because I hope my hope wil banish dread Which makes despaire both day and night to beare my tossed braines within my troubled head This passion straunge twixt hope and feare I finde is that which longe hath much perplext my minde The Author troubled with loue and hate TWo things there are that much torment my mind the one is loue the other deadly hate The force of loue doth make affection blind and blinde desire doth set my wittes at bate They beate my braynes to make what meanes they may I finde in fine to worke mine owne decay I like not loue againe I loue not hate yet loue or hate I needes must take the one The choice is harde which were the better state and happy he could let them both alone For he that knew them both as well as I woulde lothe his life and gladly wish to die Loue ofte breedes hate whome luckles lots ensue and foule despight doth sore consume the harte Which seekes reuenge that honest mindes doe rue when conscience pricks doth cause repentant smarte This for my selfe as once before I sayde hath made my minde and senses so dismayde And yet alas I cannot choose but loue yet hate my selfe to see my fonde desire But cannot get my fancy once remoue that in my harte hath kindled hatefull fire But must of force my wretched minde content to liue in griefe vntill my dayes be spent Another THe longer life the more offence the more offence the greater payne The greater payne the lesse defence the lesse defence the losse of gayne The losse of gayne long life doth trie wherefore come death and let me die The shorter lyfe lesse count I finde the lesse accounte the sooner made The counte soone made the merryer minde the merrier minde doth thought euade Shorte life wel spent the same doth trie wherefore come death and let me die Come gentle death the ebbe of care the ebbe of care the floud of life The floud of life the ioyfull fare the ioyfull fare the ende of strife The ende of strife for that wish I wherefore come death and let me die Another MIstrust misdeemes amisse whereby displeasure growes And time delayde findes friends afrayde their faith for to disclose Suspecte that breedeth thought and thoughts to sighes conuarte And sighes haue sought a flood of teares where sobbes doe soake the harte This harte that meanes no harme must féede on sorrowes all Vntil such time in please the iudge the truth in question call Though cause of great mistrust before the iudge appeare My truth and mercy of the iudge I trust shal set me cleare Reporte thus runnes at large my truth for to detecte Yet truth in time shal trie it selfe and driue away suspecte Beleue not euery speech nor speake not all you heare For truth and mercy of the iudge I trust shal set me cleare Another WHat watch what woe what want what wrack is due to those that toile the seas Life led with losse of paynes no lacke in stormes to winne much restles ease A bedlesse boarde at
From Phebus beames her shining eyes tooke shape within her brest the heauens themselues haue sowen And through the Gods her name immortal bides Another THe happy braunch to Pallas consecrate the braunche of peace doth beare the name of her Who reaues my sence and in her beutie shrowdes such crueltie as most to Mars belongs Leaue then thou wilfull Dame leaue of I say this louely name or shew thy selfe the like That as thou doest in aâ—l immortal seeme thy name may séeme ordainde by destinie What from the heauens hath been bestowed on thee is nothing straunge nor wonderfull to me Since thou in minde and harte arte Soueraigne and that thine eyes from those that gaze on thée Their bodie harte minde sense and soule doth steale Another THe selfe same night wherein the powers diuine From highest heauens behelde the earth below Loue bente his how to pearce my painful brest And made me subiecte to his Dietie The sacred place from such great crueltie Nor yet the time it selfe could me redeeme This stroake to harte did from her eyes descende Whilest I too much her glorious face behelde I thought at first that Loue had leueled At both alike and that one onely bonde Had equally together ioyned vs both But Loue as blinde and ill aduisde therein Hath let her goe that was the greatest pray Detayning me that 〈◊〉 of least accounte Another AS none may well with fixed eye beholde The glistering beames of Phebus golden rayes So to suruey thy 〈◊〉 passing 〈◊〉 Woulde bleare the eyes and dimmâ— the clearest sight And he that shall with fixed eye 〈◊〉 Thy glorious face so shining as it â—oth Shall finde such â—lâ—arenes will increase his payne And take front him the vse of séeing quite How can my tongue or 〈◊〉 be able then To painte thy praise or yealde thy due desarte That haue no power thy beautie to beholde Which if mine eyes were able to attaine I would pâ—esume to passe the noble birde That vnto Ioue is iustly consecrate My loue shall last THe Soldyars wish drawes on with warres delight the Pilgrimes sporte lyes in his present payne Shippes 〈◊〉 the porte and seekes for seas in sight and I to smile in loue account it gayâ—e Whom while I serue wish sporte and seas I finde with gallante warre with sporte sea roome and winde Sith now this happe is had I ioy to singe what kinde of sea what mates what ship was there How happie chaunce by lotte rulde euery thing the maine saile truth each waue a frendly teare The master Loue him selfe sweete sighes the winde ioyes roade with Oares the ship a merry minde Fast hope at helme did winde the boate aboute and fixed faith stoode vp for middle maste The cable hope which seruant twinde throughout helde gladsome glee with picked anchore faste Beautie discride the rockes till I was past and now beloude I sweare my loue shall laste My loue is paste THe soldior worne with warres delightes in peace the Pilgrime in his ease when toyles are past The ship to gaine the porte when stormes doe cease and I to smile now voide of loue at last Whome while I serude peace rest and loue I lost with greeuesome warre with toile with seas betost But now the brunte is past I ioy to singe what kinde of sea what slaues what ship was there How foolish chaunce by lotte rulde euery thing how error was maine saile each waue a teare The master Loue himselfe deepe sighes the winde cares roade with vowes the ship vnmerry minde False hope at helme ofte turnde the boate about and fickle faith stoode vp for middle maste Despaire the cable twisted rounde with dout helde grieping griefe the picked anchoare fast Beautie was all the rockes but I at last am now twise free and all my loue is past Loue for vertue of longest continuance THe chiefest care we ought to haue is to adorne the minde With beautie such as best beséemes and most accordes with kinde Of greater force this beautie is a Ladies loue to gaine Then that which foolish folke commends and wise men count but vaine The loue of vertue lastes for aye which choice no chaunce can chaunge But loue for luste time turnes to nought and quickly makes it straunge When crooked age doth once creepe in braue beautie bids adue And then those fondlinges all too late their former follies rue But vertue bides in perfecte plight and to the vertuous bringes delight Loues Epitath HEre lyes blinde Loue here lyes the bedlem boy here lyes the God that all the Gods did feare Here lyes intoumbde Cithenas greatest ioy here lyes the bow that Loue was wonte to beare Here lie the shaftes here lie the piercing dartes wherewith erewhile he tamde the stoutest hartes Now is he dead now can he doe no more no signe appeares that he shall liue againe To plague poore soules as he hath done before and pinch their harts with straunge tormenting pain Now is he dead and who the cause but she whose blasing beames blinde all the worlde I see Ofte did he proone and all to none effecte to force his fire to fasten in her brest Her frozen harte did still his flame reiecte and made him muse to see his power supprest Deceaued so he knew not what to say ne coulde he iudge the cause of his decay To proue his fire if it had force or no vnto his winges he put the burning brande The fire tooke holde for needes it must doe so then he too late poore soule did vnderstande His fonde conceate and filde the aire with cries no plaintes preuailde he died and here he lyes At latter gaspe a grieuous sighe he gaue and saide farewell ye faithfull Louers all Now proofe shewes plaine what grieuous pangs ye haue what force my fire what power to make you thrall I finde it now that feltâ— it not before but be contente it shall offende no more If former faultes did merite worthy blame the blame is greate I haue incurde thereby My life must pay my raunsome now with shame A shamefull death I am at poynte to die My glorie gone my bâ—anes consumde to dust you haue your will abide it needes I must In commendation of his Mistresse I Smile to thinke how fonde conceite deceaues the finest wittes To féede them with a daintie baite that choakes them all by bittes How fondly some commende the face and some the smoothie skinne And some preferre in highest place the tender doubled chinne What should I stande to recken vp their trashe and trumpery That drinkes the dregges of euery cuppe and praise it to the skie Let such goe bragge them in the crew of baser minded swaines They neuer came yet where it grow nor paide more then their paines But if my Mistres woulde vouchsafe her beautie to discouer Then iustly might they frette and chafe that so they past her ouer He that triumphes in sweetest blis I know then would repine No man that saw her but would wishe oh
that she would be mine But yet content ye with your choise subscribe ye to my saint Whose worthy praise no siluer voice nor penne can fully painte Lenuoy Let it suffice I liue to proue it here In all respectes she neuer had her peere The despairing Louer TO painte the passions of a payned harte or shew the panges that foolish loue constraines When honest meaning lackes his due desarte the onely meane to purchase greater paines Alas I rue because my reason failes whilest fonde desire settes vp her swiftest sailes Too swifte in deede to passe the daungerous seas such daungerous seas as can be hardly paste Yet past all helpe and hope to purchase ease amidst the waues my â—rased barke I caste And cast the best although I count it vaine till fates accorde to sende reliefe againe A sorrowfull Sonette IF to the life that euer lastes this life a moment be If time consume our youthfull yeares which we no more shall sée If euery thinge that beareth breath doe waste and weare to nought Why dreamest thou in prisoned spright why doest thou take such thought VVhy doest thou so detest the day and wishe the darcksome night If to a safer place thou seeke to take thy speedie flight There is the good that euery soule ought chieflie to desire There is the rest whereto eachone woulde willingly aspire There loue doth lie there pleasure dwels there there my soule I say Amidst the highest heauens thou maist the image well suruay Of her whose beautie here on earth I haue adornde from time of birth The hurte that groweth by golde SOme say the golden worlde is gone but I suppose not so Now raignes the glistering golden age that greatly workes our woe For golde is now the God on earth now golde doth gouerne all Golde makes and marres if golde we wante in vaine for grace we call Golde geues and takes from kinges their crownes golde maintaines blooddie warre Golde bringes the greatest to theire graues and breedeth many a iarre Golde geues the iacke a gentils name and gaines him great account No faulte so foule but golde afoordes golde makes the meanest mounte Golde is the cause of all our care since first this golde was founde No faith nor frendshippe hath beene seene but fraude did most abounde Oh wretched golde would God thy name had neuer here beene knowen Then shoulde we not haue knowen the harme that by thy name hath growen He should I now haue cause to say so greatly to my griefe That wante of thee to winne good will doth make me wante reliefe The passions of a Louer MY Mistres eyes augment my kindled flame her golden lockes haue caught my captiue hart Her hurtfull hand my haples fall doth frame her wordes bewitch my minde and breede my smarte Her glistering eyes disgrace the brightest starre her crisped heare surmounts the glorious sunne Her handes in whitenes passe the Iuorie farre her wittie wordes immortall fame hath woon Her louely eyes doe much amase my minde her golden lockes alas doe linke me fast Beholde my state beholde what happe I finde no other ioy my pyning ghoast could tast Since cruel Loue within my breast did shrine her eyes her heare her handes her speach diuine The follie of Loue. ALas I see no hope is lefte at all by seruing thee to set my harte at rest Yet from this follie can I neuer fall nor leaue thy loue that likes my fancie best I am my selfe mine owne and onlie foe I see the pitte and plunge my selfe therein And though the meanes be founde to ease my woe foole that I am I seeke no ease to winne Though nothing happe that may my hope aduaunce from seruing thée yet can I not refraine No not though death or worse if worse might chaunce this is the good that I by lot doe gaine I see the best and know the worst aswell yet seeke the worst and bidde the best farewell To his vnconstant frend ROsetta retchlesse Dame since thou hast chaungde thy minde And in my absence to thy shame hast shewde thy selfe vnkinde I haue as well I might withdrawne my fonde desire From fancying one that is so light to make such quicke retire Henceforth for beauties blaze where no deserte is founde I will not set my selfe to gaze so great good will to ground This warning may suffice to make me wise at last Els greater daungers will arise then those alreadie past But tell when thou hast tride what good thou gaynste thereby Thou wast the first that gan to slide thy falshode made me flie Whilest I with store of teares did waile the wante of thee Thou toauest abroad with ruffeled heare and hadst no minde of me Forgetting my good will thou gauest thy selfe in charge To such as sought to spoyle thee still and leftst thy Loue at large As wauering as the winde that alters euery hower So wauering is thy wandring minde whereof thou hast no power But tell c. Where are thy solemne vowes at parting made to me Where are the teares with bended browes that then these eyes did see Would any man suppose such plaints should passe in vaine From one that onely loues to glose and glorie in her gaine O false periured wight accursed shall he be That in thy doinges takes delight or puttes his trust in thee But tell c. The man that holdes my place and pleades to please the best For all his faire dissembling face may loue thée with the least But she whom now I serue and honor with my harte Aboue all dames doth best deserue so prisde by due desarte Kéepe thou thy new come frende for I will stick to mine We loue and when our likes shal ende one toumbe our bones shall shrine But tell when thou hast tried what good thou gainst thereby Thou wast the first that gan to slide thy falsehoode made me flie The Louer ouercome with sorrow desireth death THe more my knowledge growes the more my power decayes To all mishappes my haples life is prone at all assayes My secrete flame augmentes amidst my floode of teares Before one griefe be fully gone another straight appeares Both night and day my thoughtes are chieflie on my graue In darcknes is my most delight no mirth my minde can haue The day dislykes me much the ceaseles griefes I taste At night when all things els take rest my woefull harte doth waste I neuer cease to weepe and yet I know not why In this vnconstant wauering worlde no trueth at all I trie A monstrous sea it is of sorrow griefe and payne Yet no where els can I finde meanes how I may comforte gayne Come therefore gentle death cutte of my line of life That by such death a thousande deathes may cease this secrete strife A Lady lamenteth the death of her louer WHy is my crased corps so strong against my wil that all the griefes I feele caÌ„not coÌ„sume me quite Who holdes my wretched soule whereas it likes so ill And will not let
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
difference of our degrees Her great wealth and my want Her plentie and my pouertie In these words which were mingled with an infinit number of passions he could finde no reason at all for him to recouer any rest The poore Lady on the other side that fryed in the same fire withdrew her selfe into her chamber and framing her countenance as she could very well by fayning her selfe sicke she found the meanes to â—e alone to the ende she might the better bewaile her case without being perceiued of any wherefore prouoked by the heate of her new loue which tooke from her all Maydenly modestie she sayd to her selfe Alas is it meete this cruell tirant should so hardly intreate me to make me wil that I may not when I may not as I would Ah ah Barisor well may I count my selfe vnhappy that euer I saw thee seeing that sight hath ingendred this loue which at the beginning seemeth so harde and grieuous vnto me and will I feare me in the end be a cause of greater euill and peraduenture the vtter ruine of vs both My only desire is to enioy thee that art my only comfort But alas I see no way how to bring it to passe without greatly offending my parents and mine owne honor and therfore should death be more delightfull vnto me then stil to indure this extreame torment that my miserable life maketh me so long to endure These poore passionate louers so long maintained their inward affection by outward lookes and secrete fauoures that the poore Gentleman vnhable to indure his consuming griefes presuming vpon the courtesie of his mistres whom by al euident tokeÌ„s he perceiued to burne in the same fire that he did séeing her one day all alone at a window very sad and pensiue pricked forward by an amorous desire he found the meanes to enter into her chaÌ„ber vnseene of any saue only of a trustie maide that attended vpon her and fayning to bring her newes from some frend of hers as one that was coÌ„uersant among the best he did most humbly and gratiously salute her and then began with a trembling voice to vtter these wordes Madame though I know the greatnes of your beautie and the place ye holde to be such as should moue any man of my degrée to be wel aduised what he wil say before he presume to speake vnto you least by his vnaduised proceeding he doe abridge some part of that honour which is rightly due vnto you wherof I alwayes had and euer wil haue as great care and regard as any the most affectionate seruant that may possibly present himselfe before the eyes of so worthy a Lady Notwithstanding confessing the cruel torment that grieuouslie afflicteth euery parte of me for feare least I should obtaine no place in her honorable seruice whom I desire to obay and please in all thinges which would not haue suffered my life to continue till this time had it not been conserued by the hope I had to be so imployed to the death dispayring of al succour I haue now taken this presumption vpon me humbly beseeching your accustomed bountie to accept this excuse of your pore slaue that desireth no longer to liue then his life shal be acceptable vnto you and bearing with my indiscretion to impute the fault to your excellent beautie that hath entangled me and so restrayned my libertie that finding my self so wonderfully surprised I am said he the teares standing in his eyes wholy tyed to your answere whereby I attend the last and finall sentence of my life or death The young Lady litle acquainted with such amorous discourses as it is the nature of such tender youth to be somewhat shamefast at first cast down her eyes to the grouÌ„d but anone after ouercome with these sweet words and vnable to resist the feruency of this strange passion at this first incounter putting all shame vnder foote she loked vp againe beholding him with a sweete and louely countenance for whom she dyed a thousand times a day and then casting forth a deep sigh aunswered him with a trembling voice after this maner Senior Barisor I must needes confesse that at the first encounter my forces fayled me the honor I ought to my reputation being greatly attainted by the like mishap wherof vnawares I my selfe am the cause at euery word I would speake my hart panted and was gréeuously perplexed my mind likewise and al the other parts of my body were so weakened that I had in a maner no vse of them at al which now enforceth me hauing hetherto forgotten my selfe to let thée vnderstand that the very first time I was surprysed with thy honest behauiour I felt in my selfe such extreame anguish that me thought it pulled my hart out of the accustomed place to ioyne and vnite it with thine and since that time thy vertues and the knowledge I had of thy feruent affection the force and assurance whereof is now discouered hath been so liuely imprinted in my mind that through dispaire and extreme passion I thought a thousand times that my soule would haue departed from my bodie supposing all my life long to keepe secrete this amorous flame which whilest I had sought too much to suppresse increasing more and more would in the end haue quite consumed me But since vpon so iust occasion I see my good present without dissimulation vnable to denie that which ye know as well as my selfe I humbly beséech you seeing I haue so much forgotten my selfe as to put my honoure into your handes to be circumspecte in your dealing and forecast the daungerous mishaps and inconueniences that may ensue if our loue come to light considering the greatnes of my house and how many noble personages there are that wil séeke to hinder the fauour that I desire to beare vnto you which I shal not be able so wel to dissemble but that at one time or other it will be perceiued Loue now that had déepely wounded these two Louers at the heart desirous to make them know his full power and puisance when he had quite berefte their libertie so planted his ensigne in their entrailes that from the poore Lady Flora he tooke all habilitie to resist and gaue to Senior Barisor a rash desire to enterprice that which after coste him his life for geuinge bridle to his vnruly affections with a long and gracious kis confirmed his vnfayned amitie and rauished with exceeding ioy through the continuall pleasure he conceiued in her many courtesies finding him selfe alone at libertie he made request of that which most contented his libidinous desire so long contynued his haunt that at last the bruit of suspicion did not only offend the eares of all the gentlemen of the court but also of her Parents who determined to vse some rigorous correction to remoue her far from him by whose meanes she had gotten this il report and lost her good name which when she perceyued she determined rather to make
heard that he was dead desperately put her selfe all alone in a barke which being transported by the winde to Suse in Barbary From thence she went to Thunâ—s where finding her frend Martuccio aliue and in great auctoritie she bewrayed her selfe vnto him who marrying her shortly after returned with her very rich to Lippare Wherein is plainly set forth the force of loue and the stedfast affection of those that loue faithfully with a perfect example of the ficklenes of fortune who neuer abideth custome but euery day altreth her estate aduaunsing one and ouerwhelming an other and somtime greatly abasing them whome she mindeth to bring to a better state NOt farre from Cicilia there lieth a litle Iland named Lippare the inhabitants wherof are chiefly maintained by marchaundise nauigation In this Iland a virgin of verie good parentage named Constance was borne and brought vp who for her beawtie and vertuous behauiour was well beloued and greatly desired of many in mariage but specially of one Martuccio Gomitto a comely and courteous young man not very welthy but well skilled in the arte he professed to whom this virgin did likewise beare so good affection that she neuer thought her selfe well without his company wherof when Martuccio was assured purposing to make her his wife he demaunded her fathers good will which he denied him saying he would bestow his daughter vpon one that should be well able to maintaine her to the end she might be a comfort to him in his old age Martuccio greatly grieued to sée him selfe reiected and in a maner despised for his pouertie prepared a litle vessell and furnishing it with all things fit for his purpose hauing also drawne diuers of his frends and kinsfolke to take parte with him he made a vow neuer to returne agayne to Lippare till he were rich wherefore departinge from them he began to practise pâ—racy on the borders of Barbarie pilling and spoyling all that he found too weake to resist him wherein fortune was very fauorable vnto him if he could haue taken the time whilest it serued But he and his companions not contented that they were in short time become very rich in séeking to get more they were all taken by certaine Saracins who shutting them vp vnder their hatches caried them to Thunes where they were committed to prison and long after kept in great miserie whereupon newes was brought to Lippare for certaine by many credible persons that all they that were in the litle barke with Martuccio were drouned Which Constance hearing who was grieued without measure at his sodaine departure she greatly lamented amongst the rest and determining to liue no longer because her hart would not serue to make away her selfe by any violent meanes she sought to find some new necessity to hasten her desired ende For which purpose going one euening forth of her fathers dores towardes the sea side she found by chaunce a fisherbote in the hauen somwhat distant from the other shippes which by meanes that the owners were newly arriued was furnished with mast saile and oaers which Constance perceauing presently entred into it and hauing a litle skill in nauigation as most of the women of that Iland haue she lanched into the déepe and casting ouerbord the oaers and rudder and all things else wherewith the bote might be guided hoised her saile and committed all to the mercy of the winde thinking it would either ouerwhelme the bote being vnbalaced and without a pilote or else driue it vpon some rocke and so breake it all to peeces and so being vnable to auoide the daunger when she would must of necessity be drowned In this mind weping bitterly she wrapped her clothes about her head and layd her downe vnder the hatches But it fell out coÌ„trarie to her expectacion for the gentle Northwest wind did blow so full and freshly that by the next night after she went a bord the barke it brought her within a hundred myles of Thunes into a hauen neare to a towne named Suse The young virgin felt not whether she were on land or in the sea for whatsoeuer happened she neuer lifted vp her head nor neuer thought to lift it vp againe By good happe as the barke stroke vpon the shore there was a poore seaâ—aring woman hard by laying forth her fisher mens nets to drie in the sunne who marueiling greatly to see it runne on ground with full saile and thinking that the fishermen were a sléepe within she went a bord the barke and finding no body there but this poore desolate virgin that was theÌ„ fast a sleepe wondring greatly at so straunge a case and perceauing by her garmentes that she was a Christian she called her diuers times so loude as she could and when she had waked her she asked her in Latin howe it was possible for her to come thither all alone in that litle bote The virgin hearing her owne country language doubting that some contrary blast had brought her back againe to Lippare started vp sodainlye and looked rounde aboute her But not knowing the countrie and yet séeing her selfe on land she asked the poore woman where she was who aunswering her sayd My daughter thou art now neare to Suse in Barbarie The poore virgin hearing this storie that the had so well escaped the daunger of the seas and fearing to fal into the hands of these barbarous people that would abuse her not knowing what was best to do she sate her downe on the botes side and wept bitterly The good old woman séeing what sorrowe she made greatly pitied her case comforting her all that she might and intreated her to go with her into a litle house she had vpon the shore which at last after long and earnest perswasion she was contented to do and being there the old woman so â—â—nely flattred her that in the end she told her by what meanes she was ariued there The good old woman knowing by this meanes that she had fasted long and must therefore néedes be a hungred set before her such simple fare as she had and intreated her so much that she got her to eate a litle Constance being now somewhat refreshed asked the old woman what she was who aunswered that she was of the Trappany and that her name was Chereprise and serued certaine Christian fishermen dwelling in that countrie The young virgin though she were greatly gréeued yet hearing Chereprise named her mind gaue her straitwayes that she had heard the name before not knowing any cause that should moue her thereunto and began now to hope she knewe not what and did no more desire to dye as she was wont to do desiring the old woman without enquiring any further of her estate to haue compassion on her youth and geue her councell howe she might keepe her selfe from receauing any iniurie which the good old woman promised her to do Wherefore leauing her alone in the house she went with all spéede to take vp her nets
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
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
seas in rest may chaunce to him that chaunceth best How sundrie sowndes with lead and lines into the deepe the shipman throwes No foote to spare he tries ofte times no neare when hoe the master blowes If Neptune frowne all be vndone straightway the shippe the wracke hath wone Those dangers great doe ofte befall on those that shores vpon the sande Iudge of their liues the best who shall how vile it is few vnderstande Alack who then may iudge the game not they which haue not felte the same But those that saile in storme and winde and dayes and yeares haue spente therein Such wel may iudge since proofe they finde in rage no rest till calme againe No more may those that loue doe fayne geue iudgement of true louers payne Another ARise o noble Sidney now and heare the merry Robin singe The birdes on euery bushe and bough with warbling make the woods to ringe Dame Flora fresh in mantle gréene doth waight vpon a mayden Quéene And out are gone by breake of day a worlde of Dames to bring in May. When Phebus shines in loftie skies and Luna yealdeth vp her light T is time for waking wittes to rise and bidde adue the drowsie night Greate sleepers haue but little health the wise will walke and vse his skill The sluggarde wantes both wit and wealth and liues in néede and scareslie still Arise o noble Sidney c. The labourer findes his feeding sweete the idle heades haue idle braynes The slothfull sheepe hath simple sprites and much desires and litle gaynes The house but breedes greate cares in brest the fielde takes toyes from troubled mynde As griefe and sicknes folow rest so health through laboure must men finde Arise o noble Sidney c. As bees seeke hunny out of flowers and trauailes farre for pleasures sake So man delightes in summer bowers and for sweete things some toyle must take For needfull sleepe the bed is good whilst night be clips the world about But in the day each lustie blood on hills or dales are walkinge out Arise o noble Sidney c. Since Maye doth come so kindly in and doth reioyce both man and boy With mirthe we do this May begin in hope to end the yeare with ioy A soldier doth this daybell ringe who wisheth well to worthy wight And we poore boyes his farewell singe to worthy Sidney noble knight Arise o noble Sidney c. A Riddle A Thinge there is a frende tolde me that none can feele nor heare nor sée Which bréedeth many deadly smarte and eke with griefe consumes the harte For which is found none other ease but one the cause of the disease Now this is my desire of thee to be resolude what this may be Answere THe thinge that breedeth such a griefe as but by it finde no reliefe Is straunge yet not so straunge I trow but one by studie soone may know And at a venture this I gesse T is Loue. And why smile you I Smile to see the world so full of toyes I smile to see that toyes should so delight I smile to shew by signes such secrete ioyes as but for shame would make me laugh outright To shew such mirth as manners doe conceale and smiles in kinde can neuer halfe reueale But for I see that laughing is too light and smiling shewes a modest merry minde I will conceale my secrete sweete delight saue by a smile you may my fancie finde Then why I smile the cause be sure is this somewhat is well I say not what it is I smile to thinke what what that what may be I smile agayne at prettie iestes I finde And now I smile at secrete smiles I see I smile in signe to shew a merry minde And so I leaue to write but not to smile mirth among friendes may be alone awhile And why sigh you I Sigh to sée the world so ful of woes I sigh to thinke of secret miserie I sigh to shew that speach may not disclose I sigh and could and but for shame would crie That teares might tel such tormentes of the minde as sighes nor sobbes can neuer shew in kinde But for I sée that women vse to wéepe and gallante mindes their secrete griefe conceale I will awhile vnséene my sorrowes keepe least womanlike I doe my woes reueale Then why I sigh the cause be sure is this I say not what but somewhat is amisse I sigh to thinke that somewhat is so much as that in some there cannot be much more I sigh to thinke my secreat sorrow such as makes my harte to sigh and sobbe so sore And so I leaue to wright but sighing still to shew by sighes that sighing wil me kill Plus amour que la vie MY chaunce was good who can say nay my happe was hitte that instant time When I for solace séemde to goe to gardeâ—â—e in the springing prime Whereas me thought I saw did clime Faire gallante girles the one was such As to recount it grieues me much They climde but whether would you know trust me in truth I cannot tell Mine eyes were dazeled with the show of her which I did marke too wel For why of troth she did excell And so surpaste the other traine That they but shadowes seemed plaine The other three were Venus ioyes in whome the Goddes tooke delight She keepes them from all dire annoyes if they complaine it makes her spight She is their Patrones by right Wherefore in them she sutes her showes And nothing cares for mine God knowes But why should I graue at their gaine Minerua is the patrone deare Which shields my ladie from the paine that Venus brattes feede for their cheere These wantons thinke they haue no peere Till sturdie Mars doth lay the baight And then they crie Peccaui straight The glistering glee which they retayne the outwarde shewes of Venus ioyes The curled heare the faces plaine the fine proportion of her boyes My Lady countes them all as toyes And thinkes that trickes her passing trimme Out of their waues of woe to swimme Well since my Deare thou hast begoon in Dians sacred fieldes to walke Where all the vertues still doe woon and flowers croppe from daintie stalke There rest thou still with them to walke And let me languish still in woe For that is al I craue you knowe Another TO vaunte before the conquest gotte to triumph still fore victorie Were too too diffamous a blotte if happe should hit the contrarie So that I saide it is the wisliest done Neuer to vaunte till victorie be won And then to vaunte and double vaunte it too to triumph then it were to thee no blame For so of right thou oughtest then to dooe because thy foe of right doth beare the shame Thy triumph then doth merite nought but this with Lawrell bowe for to be crownde I wis But what deeme you him worthy for to be which triumphes still before the conquest gotte If then a iudge you will allow of me he sure
sore yet heales againe That is the cause of great despight And yet doth purchase sweete delight That healeth some of deadly smarte And strikes some other dead at harte It should be straunge what so it is But sure if I iudge not amisse T is all one with the same that I Propounded you T is loue perdie Mors mihi vita COnsumde with cares and ouerwhelmde with woes I bidde adue to such as liue in ioy Contented well my loathed life to lose as fortune stil did follow with annoy For as I féele my death drawe neareâ— on I see the smarte of all my sorrowes gone Whereby I see sweete death the ende of dole while life prolonges the wretched soule in payne The salue of death makes sickest hartes soone hole when care is found a comforte all in vaine Yet dying thus ere I be throughly dead accepte this counsaile of a carefull head Loue not to liue nor yet desire to die but liue to die so dying looke to liue Such dying life such liuing death haue I which makes me thus the world this comfort giue To dread no death but count him for our frend who bringes vs ioyes and makes our sorrowes ende The Nightingales note THe Nightingale that singes the sweetest note of any birde that flyeth in the ayre Whose choise of sounde with warblings in the throate reuiues the harte that dyeth in despayre In Aprill first recordes then sings in Maye and that mâ—onth past she singing goes awaye Which heauenly note might hold but halfe the yeare the ioy thereof woulde cloy our eares with sweete Nothing so good so rare nor yet so deare but chaunge for worse the foolish man thinkes meete So sweete and shorte is Philomelas songe and nought esteemed that lasteth once too longe But yet this songe that Philomela singes of sorrow groanes although the sounde delight Or harde mishappe wherof such mischiefe springes she but recordes the sounde of her despight So with that birde may I singe fie fie fie while others ioy in song to heare me crie Nil nisi probatum AMonge mishappes which kill a careful hart to finde a foe of an assured frend Is such a griefe as breedes that deadly smart which vntill death can neuer take his ende Oh wretched world where faith is so vniust that surest frendes are sometime harde to trust But all too late I finde the prouerbe true that frends are founde as fortune skoules or smiles But twise accurst that hollow harted crue whose flattering face the simple minde begiles And for my selfe since frendshippe such I finde I will accounte of each one in his kinde Faire wordes shal stande for open flatterie till faithfull deedes may merite no mistrust And secreat traynes shal stande for treacherie till tryall finde her dealinges not vniust But where I finde the trothe at neede I crie with such a friend I vow to liue and die The clogge of care THe clogge of care that hangs on heauie harte pulles downe the head from loftie mindes delight The sighes that grow of sorrowes secreat smarte in time consumes the wretched carcase quight But comforte yet may cut that clogge away the cause of dole whereby delights decay And then the harte will holde vp head on hie and ioy as much as it did mourne before Oh comforte come and cut of by and by that cruell clogge that cuttes my harte so sore I haue too long to carefull thoughtes bene tide my minde cannot the burthen long abide But all in vaine for comforte stil I crie my clogge of care is such I cannot goe I sée too plaine my dolefull destenie to waste my dayes in worlds of carefull woe Which makes me thus to ende my solemne songe the carefull harte can neuer holde out longe Another THe Plowman sure are ye and I the sandie field Your haruest then must needes be grosse that such a earth doth shielde The golde I meane my selfe the hutch my husbandes harte The Marte is done put vp your pipes goe whistle for your parte And let me liue at rest deuoyde of slaunders blotte Contented with my faithfull feere whome fortune did alofte For sure the Letchers loue comes euer out of time I meane not to deface my fame with such a couerte crime I am no Younckers pray I skilles am in scapes I doe detest the doting loue of Roysters and their rapes I meane to runne the race of these my poasting dayes In such a sorte that none shall check my youthfull wanton wayes Leaue then to ransacke her that careth for no chaunge Ne seeke to false her faulcones faith with haggarde hauke to raunge Vpon two Gentlewomens names MY fancie led me sodainlie as I did sitte and sow Amongst some other secrete thinges a secrete cause to know Remembring how the Poets vse Good Gentlewomen to abuse All in their ditties when they chuse Resounding fame to blow Extolling in their Sonets then The onely prayse of faithfull men They list not see how we women Passe them as I will show Harke not what Poets prattle then from reason they declinde In Platoes Schoole thou mayst it learne how frendship is definde Loue lyketh where is loyaltie Lyke loyaltie in lyke degree In wemen this is chiefe to see Peruse and you shal finde So saith he that this frendlines Only doth springe from humblenes None barreth women gentlenes Except they barre their kinde Perhappes I coulde adioyne to this where most affection dwels How there the flower of frendlines most pleasantly it smels Enritching womens goodly grace But here I neede not in this place Experience proueth well this case Aske her I say naught els Then sith it comes to vs by kinde Keepe not the secret cause to finde In Poetrie that is so blinde No true tale once it tels Sith loyaltie affection and likenes of degree On perfecte proofe from cradle vp hath linked thee to me No treasure riche nor golden mine Exchaunge shall make at any time For as I was so am I thine Reposing trust in thee Enduring so I doe pretende No chaunge to make till life doe ende Damon was neuer dearer frende So thou my Pithias be A merry conceate OVr Wilkin now will wedde the goodlyest girle I gesse That ere this countrey bredde it is that bounsinge Besse That euery iacke for ale and cakes At euery game his Lady makes He thinkes his Ladie beares the bel Pore horechit Hob And she belowtes the mome as well And there a bobbe How ere the worlde it wagges his Besse must needes be braue Gogs vish these rotten ragges are vitter vor a zlaue Then vor my Ladie zweares our Wil And therewithall he smackes his Gil. And she requites his busse againe He likes wel that He payes his Ladie for her paine That hittes her patte To beare his flaunting porte our Wilkin wanteth welth He shames to yeald the sporte and therefore seekes by stelth To maintaine this his iollie ruffe He stryketh handes with Saunder Snuffe So forth together they two trigge To make a
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