highest pleasure The heaunly courâ—… of the high king of kings where sacred spirits haue their speciall treasure And sweetest comfort of contentment springs God bring your sences by your harts desire To feele the comfort of his kingly fier THE COVNTESSE OF PENbrookes loue FAIRE in a plot of earthly paradise Vpon a hill the Muses made a Maze In midst whereof within a Phoenix eies There sits a grace that hath the world at gase which Phoenix is but name vnto a nature That shews the world hath scarcely such a creature This true loues saint by worthy beauty crowned Did seeme to wish but not expresse her will when straunge desires were in deuises drowned To finde out wonders farthest from her wil The worlde came in with presents many a one But yet alas her loue could like of none Cleare was the day when Phaebus shonne ful bright But her hartes eie did higher light aspire Aprill brought in both earth and Aires delight But earth nor Aire could answere her desire Fortune shee skornde friendes who durst be a foe Seruants a worlde would serue her will or no. Welth was buttrash and health was natures ioie Honour a Title beauty but a blast Power but a trouble pleasure but a toie Youth but a time to quickely ouerpast Learning alas it liueth in her schoole wisedome her will knowes worldly wit a foole Yet still she wisht but saide not what shee woulde when still the worlde did worke but still in vaine Care with conceite did all the best he coulde Brought in his giftes but bare them backe againe when welth helth beauty honor power nor ease wit youth nor learning could her humor please Some brought in pearles most orient to beholde Shee knew them pearles and so shee did regarde them Some brought in gemmes of diamondes set in golde Shee knewe their worth and so shee did rewarde them Some brought in workes of weomens rare deuises Shee knew their paines and so did giue the prices Some brought in musicke of most siluer sounde which all woulde cease if â—…hee but tucht astring Some brought in first the fairest flowers they founde Shee tooke them as the comforts of the spring Some brought in this and some woulde bringe in that But yet her wish was still shee knewe not what The souldiers came and brought in all their armes Shee smilde to see how beauty made a peace The pesants came and offred vp their farmes But shee saide loue did neuer make a lease The merchants came withall their mony treasure Shee put it off id did her minde no pleasure The lawiers came and laide downe all their bookes Shee knew that truth was all in yea and no The courtiers came with all their lofty lookes But when shee lookt she made them curtzy low The scholars came and brought in all their artes Shee knew their practise ere they learnd their partes The sailers brought their Rubies from the rocâ—…es But of such toies her treasure was to full The shepards brought the fairest of their flockes But shee coulde weare no cloth was made of woll Thus euery one did bring in what they coulde Yet still shee wisht but knew not what shee woulde The poets came and brought in their inuentions But well shee knew their fancies were but fained The muses brouhht the truth of their intentions which in their kindes were kindely entertained But yet the best with all her worthines Toucht not the humor of her happines But when the world could not come neare her wish And saw in vaine it was her will to seeke The earth coulde yeelde no fruite the sea no fishe That coulde be founde that might her fancy leeke Some with a sigh other with pitteous mone All went awaie and left her all alone They wil sweete loue is but the summe of wel Thy well is well wel better and the best That with thy loue thy liuing soules may dwell Safe in the hope of their eternal rest Thy rest the Ioie the soule cannot conceiue Thy soules the Saintes thy Mercy doth receiue Thy comfort is the tuch stone of true kindenes Thy kindenesse is the very life of loue Thy loue is light all other light but blindenesse Thy light is life that death can neuer proue Thy death was life thy life is Ioie for euer Vnto the soules that loue and leaue thee neuer VVhat was or is or on the earth shall be But that thou knowst and knowst al what they are And that they haue their beeing but in thee Made by thy hande and gouerne by thy care which thou dost prosper comfort or defende And when thou wilt shal wholy make an ende Grast is the King whom thou dost only crowne And wise the wit that only knowes thy wil Happy the state where thou dost blesse the towne And blest the hart that thou dost keepe from ill But yet the soule doth in her faith approue The life the life is onely in thy loue Shall I describe thy sweete and glorious seate But as thou art vnto thy seruants seene Or shall my spirite humbly elâ—…e entreate Some Angels help that in the heauens hath beene That to the world such glory may vnfolde Or saie it is too glorious to beholde Thy throne is Iudgement Iustice is thy sworde Mercy and truth are still before thy face Loue is thy law and wisedome is thy worde Vertue thy loue and Bounty is thy grace Pitty thy state where patience is the story Grace is thy gift and Mercy is thy glory Thus in the seate of sacred excellence With Virgins Saints and Angels all attended Dost thou possesse that princely residence Till Iudgement passe and Ioies be neuer ended When all the host of heauen and heauens do th sing An Alleluia to their heauenly king Where trembling Ioyes distill the teares of loue And louing feare doeth bring forth blushing faces And blushing faces in their faith approue Vnworthy creatures to behold their graces which graces doe this glorious musicke moue The life of life is in thy heauenly loue Now for thy loue it cannot turne to hate Thou hatest the life that once doth alter loue It is the staie of an eternall state A mansion house that neuer can remoue which on the rocke of true Religion standes And neuer feares the seas of errors sandes Now thy Religion is the rule of life whose chiefest blessing is the ioie of peace where loue cuts of the cause of euery strife And sweete accord doth bring out loues encrease And loues encrease is such a ioie to see As bringes the soule vnto his life in thee Alas alas all treasure is but trashe where loue is banisht by the state of strife The sweetest wine is but as swinish wash Vnto the water of the well of life No no the pleasures that the world can proue Are all but sorrowes to thy heaunly loue But let me see what fruite thy fauour yeeldes Or in thy loue what happy life is founde when sea and lande hils dales and fairest fieldes Doe all
when other life is dead Loue is thy grace that higest good doth giue Loue me then lorde and I shall euer liue And with that worde proceeding from her hart The trickeling teares distilled downe her eies As if her sence possest in euery part A secret ioie that did the soule surprise when lifting vp her handes oh loue quod shee My soule is sicke she cannot be with thee And from the mercy of thy maiesty Beholde the sorrowes of my wounded soule Let pitties care of loues calamitie My ruthfull teares thy register enrowle And thinke vpon the passions that I approue For truely lorde my soule is sicke of loue And sicke it is and so well maie it bee A sweeter sickenes then a worldly health A healthfull sickenes to be sicke for thee where Natures want doth proue the spirits wealth while hart hath set her highest happines But to beholde thee in thy holines But I am sicke and sicke in euery vaine Sicke to the death but not to die to thee For why thy loue assures me life againe And there to liue where death can neuer be Oh sweetest sicknes where the soule may see The way through death to come to liue with thee To liue with thee oh euer liuing loue Oh let me die that I may liue no more Till in thy loue I may the life approue That may confesse I neuer liu'de before Life is but death where thy loue shineth neuer Onely thy loue is happy life for euer My sinnes my sinnes with sorrow and with shame Of faultes and follies couerd haue my face Death is my due I haue deseru'd the same Wo to the hart in such vnhappy case But if repentance mercy may obtaine Looke on me loue and I am well againe Vnhappy hart that euer thee offended Vnworthy eies thy blessing to beholde Vncarefull eare that euer tale attended But to the truth that hath thy mercy tolde vnfaithful soule that euer thought did moue From euerliuing with thine onely loue But now the hartis dead to worldes delight And eies in teares pronounce repentance truth The eare is deafe vntill the hart be right To see the life that of thy loue ensueth The faithfull soule of pleasure is depriued Dead till her life be by thy loue reuiued Nor let me teâ—…pt that 〈◊〉 loue of thine To hasten time beyonde thy holy will But only looke vpon this soule of mine That in thy loue may be her liuing still Till shee may heare this ioiful â—…ounde of thee Come away loue and euer liue with me But yet my loue me 〈◊〉 I see thee looke As though my soule had thee displeased sore But hath my loue so high displeasure tooke That he will looke vpon my loue no more Oh yes my loue will not be angry euer And where he loues he will be angry neuer Then though thou chide yet be not angry loue But in thy kindenes giues thy sweete correction That humble hart maie in repentance proue The dearest passage of thy loues direction whose blessed ende may in this only be To liue to die to die to liue to thee Me thinkes I see that glorious seate of thine whereto thy Saints and Angels al assemble And in the presence of thy power diuine with Ioifull feare how euen the highest tremble And when those spirits doe such passions proue Shall I presume to think vpon thy loue Oh sweetest loue that carries such a force As keepes the hart of humble hope in awe And sweete againe that caries such remorse As hath cut off the curses of the lawe And sweetest yit that in the soule doth proue There is no sweete indeede but in thy loue Which feeds the huÌ„gry with a heaueÌ„ly bread And cooles the thirsty from the liuing Rocke which heales the sicke giues life vnto the dead And wakes the careful with the morning Cocke which breedes the peace that stinteth euery strife And giues the fountaine of the well of life It is the key that opes the doore of grace Vnto the care that thou hast constant proued And shewes the fauour of thy shining face Vnto the blessed of thy deare beloued It is in summe the infinite sweete pleasure Of tried faith and true Repentance treasure Oh ioy ofioies what hart can comprehend thee Oh sweet of sweets what sence that can coÌ„ceiue thee Blest be the harts that truly doe attend thee And ten times blest that in their soules receiue thee And fairely blest whom thou hast faithful proued But chiefly blest whom thou hast chiefly loued Me thinkes I see how sweetly thou dost ride Aboue the heauens vpon the Cherubs high with all thine Angels set on euery side with all the sound of sweetest harmony wheral some their sweetest notes do frame To sing the praises of thy holy name Me thinkes I see thy holy Martyrs crowned On huÌ„ble knees cast down their crowns before thee And cry alowd be thou alone renowned Let heauen and earth and all the world adore thee when my poore soule with sinne oppressed sore Can say Amen yet though it say no more Oh that my soule could see that sacred light That might but leade me to thy holy will And learne the rule that keepes the soule aright In perfect faith thy precepts to fulfill And might so neere vnto thy hand abide As from thy loue might neuer steppe aside But what am Iâ—… a worme and wretched thing Vnworthy creature made of earth and claie Once to presume to speake vnto my King On whom the state of highest heauens doth staie Let not presumption thy displeasure moue But in thy pitty looke vpon my loue For I am sicke oh sauiour sende me health My hart is hurt come heale my deadly wounde And I am poore relieue me with thy wealth Yea I am dead oh raise me from the grounde My health my wealth my only resurrection let my soule liue but in thy loues perfection Beholde the tearâ—…s of my repentaunt truth And wey my sorrowes by my sighing sobbes And in the rule but of thy heauenly ruth Feele my poore hart in horror how it throbbes And when thou seest my soule thus wo begun her In thy sweete mercy sweete loue looke vpon her And from the dew of thy deare blessed loue Let fall one droppe vpon my dried hart wherein my soule such comfort maie approue As maie asswage the rigour of my smart And being so by thy sweete hand relieued Maie so reioice as neuer more be grieued Lorde who dare looke against thy liuing power Or what doth liue but onely in thy loue The sweete of sweets where there was neuer sower But ioies of ioies that can no sorrow proue Oh purest proofe of loue and lifes perfection Blest be the soule that liues by thy direction But my hart pantes my soule doth quake for feare And sorrowes paine possesseth euery part My heape of sinnes to heuy for to beare Presse downe desire with terror of desart And in great dread of deepe dispaire doth crie Grace giue me life for
but in thy blessed giftes abounde Besides the peace wherewith the hart is blest To bring the soule to thy eternall rest Thou dost not ioie to see a sinners death But true repentaunce pleaseth thee farre better Yea thou wilt helpe at latest gaspe of breath To make the soule confesse it selfe thy debter And where the soule such comforts doth approue Can there be thought a comfort like thy loue No no this worlde is full of wanton toies which oft keepes backe the comfort of thy care And many waies doth worke the harts anoies when fortunes hope doth proue but heauy fare Oh heauens who knew but halfe thy blessednes woulde hate the world with all his wretchednes Where shew of faith doth shape but falshods cloke when fancies teares proue drops offonde desire wherefree conceites will yeeld to kindenes yoke when sorrow paies repentance for their hire while in thy loue maie liuing faith vnfolde Hart may her hope hope may her heauen behold What shadowes here doe ouershroude the eie while Masking thoughts doe March before the winde where loues conceite doth but illusion trie when careles wit becometh the wilfull blinde And Nature findes her selfe still misconceiued where forme for matter hath the soule deceiued Not that my wits can touch the smallest worth Of that high wonder worthines of thine For from a sinner what can issue forth And who more sinner then this soule of mine which doth with teares of true repentance moue thy gratious helpe to glorifie thy loue For as vnto the sea a water droppe And to the sandes a little pibble stone And as a corne vnto a haruest croppe And vnto infinite the number one So are my Muses in their Musicke short thy Kingly prayse of prayses to report But as a scholer that doth goe to schoole To make a letter ere he learne to write And as the wit that knowes it selfe a foole Till higher wisedome teach it to endite So let my soule in her submission proue Hate of the world and honour of thy loue For what is heere that can content the hart That knowes content or what it doth containe what thought ◅o sweete but brings as sowre a smart Or pleasure such but breedes a further paine what thing so good but proues in fine so euil As but for God woulde beare men to the deuill What is the Earth the labour of our life what is the sea a gulfe of griezy lakes what is the Aire a stuffe of filthy strife what is the fire the spoile of what it takes when these are al whence euery thing doth springe what is the worlde but euen a woful thing What thing is man a cloddde of miry claie Slime of the Earth a slaue to filthie sinne Springes like a weede and so doth weare awaie Goes to the earth where first he did beginne Oh heauens thinke I when man is wholy such what is in man that man shoulde loue so much VVhat hath the worlde to leade the minde to loue In true effect a fardel ful of toies where wey the pith what euery one doth proue The perfectst gems are most vnperfect Ioies Consider al what fansie bringeth forth The best conceite will fal out nothing worth VVhat worldely thinges doe follow fansie most welth Beutie loue fine diet honor fame what findes affect both loue and labour lost Disdaine disease dishonor death and shame where care and sorrow death and deadly strife Doe rule the rost in this accursed life What thing is Beauty colour quickely gon And what is wealth when riches fal to rust what thing is loue a toy to thinke vpon Fine diet drosse to feede a filthy lust what worldly honour oft vnworthy praise what ease the cause whereby the life decaies What is disdaine the skorne of proud conceit And what disease the death of discontent Dishonour next the fruit of foule deceite And what is death but ende of ill intent Now what is shame a shamefull thing to tell And thus the world but euen the way to hell For beasts birds for fishes flowers trees And al such things created for our vse what thing is man to take such things as theese By want of grace to turne vnto abuse Oh wretched world when man that should be best In beastly things proues worse then al the rest But when I see this wretched state of man And al the world at such a woful passe That since the course of humane care began More ful of wo good nature neuer was when this my soule doth with her sorrow see Lord saies my Loue that I might liue with thee And leauing so the world with all his woes And looking vp to heauen heauenly ioies And to the grace where vertues glory goes Noting the life that neuer loue anoies when in my soule Idoe this sweetnes proue Lord saies my soule howe sweete art thou my loue I see the sunne the beauty of the skie The moone and stars the candles of the night They haue their essence in thy heauenly eie That blindes the proude and giues the humble light I see the raine-bow bended by thy hand That doth both heauen earth sea heauen cōmand Thou gauest the sunne the moone stars a course which they obserue according to thy will Thou makest the tides to take their due recourse And setst the earth where it doth settle stil. Thou framdst the substance of each Element And settst thy foote vpon the firmament Thus doest thou sitte in glory of thy throne with al the hoast of highest heaues attended who in thine ire hast kingdoms ouerthrowen And in thy loue hast little things defended whose glory more then may by man be knowen And glory most is in thy mercy showen Thus dost thou sit in honor of thy power Calling the poore vnto thy rich reliefe Sowing the sweete that killeth euery sower Giuing the salue that healeth euery griefe Making them liue that long were dead before And liuing so that they can die no more Thou madst the worlde and what it doth containe Onely but man thou madst vnto thy loue And mans good will was thy desired gaine Till proude attempt did high displeasure moue Thou plagst his pride yet when thou sawst his paine Thou ga◅st the s◅lue that heald the wound againe Vngratefull man whom thou didst onely make In loue to loue and with thy loue preseruest And for his loue enduredst for his sake Such death of life as dearest loue deseruest what cursed hart woulde to displeasure moue thee That giuing all askes nothing but to loue thee Oh loue sweete loue oh high and heauenly loue The onely lin◅ that leades to happy life Oh loue that liu◅st for louing hartes behoue And makst an ende of euery hatefull strife Happy are they that kindely can attaine thee And how accurst that dare but to disdaine thee Thy loue was cause that first we were created Loue is the life that thou wilt haue vs leade Loue is the cause we neuer can be hated Loue is our life