vnbridled time Olde Age is lothd with folly ouer grown Yonge yeres dispisde cut of in sprowting prime Experience learne let elder lyues thee lead In lyuely yeres thy fickle steps to guide Least vnawares such vncoth paths thou tread Which filthy be thought pleasant to be eyde In calmest Seas the deepest Whorepooles bee In greenest Grasse the lurking Adder lyes With eger sting the sugerest sap wee see Smooth wordes deceiue learne therfore to bee wise FINIS Inuidus alterius rebus macrescit opimis THe greedy man whose hart with hate doth swell Because hee sees his neyghbors good estate Liues vncontent with what might serue him well And eftsoones seemes to blame sufficient fate This grudging gluton glut with goulden gayne To serue his vse although hee hath enough Repines at that which others get with payne So that himselfe therby hee doth abuse Hee thinkes that much which passeth by his claw And findes a fault for it through luckles hap Although the matter valueth scarce a straw Hee deemes it small of gaine that giues no sap Hee thinkes his store shall serue his senâ—lesse corse Or that no death at all hee deemes there bee Els would hee to his conscience haue remorse And seeke to liue content with his degree For what auayles to horde vp heapes of drosse Or seeke to please vnsaciate fond desire Considering that t is subiect vnto losse And wee therby yll got deserues Hell fire From which O Lord conduct vs with thy hand And giue vs grace to liue vnto thy prayse Preserue our Queene his subiects and her land And graunt in peace shee raigne here Nestors dayes FINIS The reward of Whoredome by the fall of Helen FRom Limbo Lake where dismall féendes do lye Where Pluto raignes perpend Helenas cry Where firy flames where pittious howlings bee Where bodyes burne from thence giue eare to mee I am Helena shée for whose vilde filthy fact The stately Towers of Troy the hauty Grecians sacte High Troy whose pompe throughout the world did sound In Cinders low through mee was layd on ground Kinge Priamus through mée did end his life And Troians all almost I was the cause of strife I am that Dame whose beauty passing braue Dame Venus praysde the golden Pome to haue Whose feature forste Sir Paris boyling brest To leaue his land and seeke to be my guest That trull which tost the surging Seas a maine From Grecian shoare to Troy vnto my paine That flurt whose gallant sproutinge prime Through vilde abuse â–ª was scorcht ere auncient time I vertue shund I lothd a modest mynde I wayd not fame my beauty made mee blinde Each braue delight my masking minde allurde My fancy déemed my beauties gloze assurde Such worthy fame did sound of Helens hue Although my déedes reapt shame and guerdon due In gorgious plumes I maskt puft vp with pride In braue delights I liu'd my fancy was my guide But fie of filth your world is all but vayne Your pomp consumes your deeds shall guerdon gaine See here by mee whose beauty might haue boast For splendant hue throughout each forrain coast But what preuayles to vaunt of beauties glose Or brag of pride wheron dishonor growes If I had vsde my gifts in vertues lore And modest liud my prayse had bin the more Where now too late I lothe my life lewd spent And wish I had with vertue bin content FINIS T. P. A Louers lyfe THe tedious toyle the cares which Louers taste The troubled thoughts which moues their mindes to feare The pinching pangs the dole which seemes to waste Their lothsome life déepe plungd in gulfes of care Would mooue ech shun such snares of vayne delight Which irksome be though pleasant to the sight The minde full fraught with care enioyes no ease A boyling brest desires vnlawfull lust The hart would haue what best the minde doth please And fancy craues the thing which is vniust Beside eche frown which eftsoones moues them déeme They abiect are if sad their Louers séeme Or if occasion shun their vsuall sight Not seene they thinke themselues vnminded bée And then in dumps as mazd they leaue delight And yéeld to greefe till one eche others see So that with feare their mindes are alwayes fraught That liue in loue experience some hath taught Eche lowring frown from mirth doth moue the minde One iesting worde procures a thousand woes So that lyke gréefe or more through sight they finde Then absence sure such cares fro fancy flowes Such goring gripes such heapes of hideous harmes Such sorowing sobs from daunted louers swarmes Rosamond a spowsed Dame her husbands death procurde For speaking but a worde in iest Itrascus too full thyrty yeares indurde The panges of loue within his boyling brest So that in gréefe they harbor still their mindes are cloyd with care They diue in dole they plunge in payne liue in cruell feare And diuers moe as Axeres whose beauty passing faire So Iphis hart and boyling brest allurde That for her sake hée liude in extreame care And cruell gréefe while breathing breath indurde But at the length disdayne vpon a trée Hée honge himselfe where shâ—e his corps might sée FINIS ¶ A Louer approuing his Lady vnkinde Is forsed vnwilling to vtter his minde Willow willow willow singe all of gréene willow Sing all of gréene willow shall bée my Garland MY loue what mislyking in mée do you finde Sing all of gréene willow That on such a soddayn you alter your minde Sing willow willow willow What cause doth compell you so fickle to bée Willow willow willow willow In hart which you plighted most loyall to mée Willow willow willow willow I faythfully fixed my fayth to remayne Sing all of gréene willow In hope I as constant should finde you agayne Sing willow willow willow But periurde as Iason you faythlesse I finde Which makes mee vnwilling to vtter my minde Willow willow willow singe all of gréene willow Sing all of greene willow shall bee my Garland Your beauty braue decked with showes gallant gay Sing all of greene willow Allured my fancy I could not say nay Sing willow willow willow Your phrases fine philed did force mée agrée Willow willow willow willow In hope as you promis'd you loyall would bée Willow willow willow willow But now you be frisking you list not abide Sing all of greene willow Your vow most vnconstant and faythlesse is tride Sing willow willow willow Your wordes are vncertayne not trusty you stand Which makes mée to weare the willow Garland Willow willow willow sing all of greene willow Sing all of gréene willow shall bée my Garland Hath Light of loue luld you so softe in her lap Sing all of gréene willow Hath fancy prouokte you did loue you intrap Sing willow willow willow That now you be flurting and will not abide Willow willow willow willow To mée which most trusty in time should haue tride Willow willow willow willow Is modest demeanure thus turnd to vntrust Sing all of greene willow Are
dolefull case Where walkes no wight but I alone in drewsie desart place And there I empt my laden hart that sweld in fretting mone My sighes and playnts and panges I tell vnto my selfe alone What shall I say doo aske mee once why all these sorowes bee â–ª I answere true O foe or freend they all are made for thee Once knit the lynck that loue may last then shal my dollors ceasâ— It lyes in thee and wilt thou not the yeelding wight release O would to God it lay in mée to cure such gréefe of thine Thou shouldst not long be voyd of helpe if t were in power of mine But I would run range in stormes a thousand miles in payne Not fearing foyle of freends to haue my couÌ„tenance whole agayn And wilt thou then all mercylesse more longer torment mee In drawing backe sith my good helpe is only whole in thée Then send mée close y hewing knife my wider wound to stratch And thou shalt see by wofull gréefe of life a cleane dispatch When thou shalt say and prooue it true my hart entirely lou'd Which lost the life for countnance swéet froÌ„ whoÌ„ hée neuer mou'd Write then vpon my wofull Tombe these verses grauen aboue Heere lyes the hart his truth to trie that lost his life in loue Loe saue or spill thou mayst mee now thou sitst in iudgment hie Where I poore man at Bar doo stand and lowd for life doo cry Thou wilt not bée so mercylesse to slea a louing hart â–ª Small prayse it is to conquer him that durst no where to start Thou hast the sword that cut the wound of my vnholâ—en payne Thou canst and art the only helpe to heale the same agayne Then heale the hart that loues theé well vntill the day hée dye And firmely fast thy loue on him that 's true continually In thée my wealth in thee my woe in thée too saue or spill In thee mee lyfe in thee my death doth rest to worke thy will. Let vertue myxt with pitty great and louing mercy saue Him who without thy salue so sicke that hee must yeeld to graue O salue thou then my secret sore sith health in thee dooth stay And grauÌ„t with speed my iust request whose want works my decay Then shal I blesse the pleasaÌ„t place where once I tooke thy gloue And thanke the God who giues thée grace to grauÌ„t me loue for loue FINIS ¶ A louing Epistle written by Ruphilus a yonge Gentilman to his best beloued Lady Elriza as followeth TWice hath my quaking hand withdrawen this pen away And twice againe it gladly would before I dare béewray The secret shrined thoughts that in my hart do dwell That neuer wight as yet hath wist nor I desire to tell But as the smoothered cole doth wast and still consume And outwardly doth geue no heate of burnyng blaze or fume So hath my hidden harmes béen harbred in my corpce Till faintyng limmes and life and all had welnigh lost his force Yet stand I halfe in doubt whiche of these two to choose To hide my harmes still to my hurt or els this thraldome loose I will lay feare aside and so my tale beginne Who neuer durst assaile his foe did neuer conquest win Lo here my cause of care to thée vnfolde I will Help thou Minerua graunt I pray some of thy learned skill Help all you Muses nine my wofull Pen to write So stuffe my verse with pleasant wordes as she may haue delight With héedyng eares to reade my gréeif and great vnrest Some wordes of plaint may moue perhaps to pitty my request Oft haue I hard complaint how Cupid beares a sway In brittle youth and would commaund and how they did obay When I with skorning eares did all their talke dispise But well I see the blinded boy in lurking den hée lies To catch the careles sorte awayting with his Darte Hée threw at mée when I vnwares was wounded to the harte To speake and pray for helpe now loue hath mée constrainde And makes mée yéeld to serue the sorte that lately I disdainde Sith beggars haue no choyce nor néede had euer law The subiecte Oxe doth like his yoke when hée is driuen to draw That Ruphilus this wrote thou wonder wilt I know Cause neuer erst in louinge vearse my labor I bestowe Well woful loue is mine and wéeping lines I wright And doubtfull wordes with driery chéere beséemes a careful wight O thou Elrisa fayre the beuty of thine eyes Hath bred such bale within my drest and cau'sde such strife to ryse As I can not forget vntill deuouring death Shal leaue to mee a senceles goast and rid my longer breath Or at the least that thou doo graunt mée some releefe To ease the gréedy gripes I féele and end my great mischéefe As due to mee by right I can no mercy craue Thou hast the power to graunt mée life refuse not for to saue Put to thy helping hand to salue the wounded sore Though thou refuse it for my sake yet make thine honour more Too cruell were the facte if thou shouldst séeke to kill Thy faythful fréend that loues thee so and doth demaund no ill Thy heauenly shape I saw thy passing bewty bright Enforst mée to assay the bayt where now my bane I bight I nought repent my loue nor yet forthinke my facte The Gods I know were all agreed and secretly compacte To frame a worke of prayse to show their power deuine By good aduice this on the earth aboue the rest to shine Whose perfecte shape is such as Cupid feares his fall And euery wight that hath her séene I say not one but all With one consent they cry lo here dame Venus ayer Not Danae nor shée dame Lede was euer halfe so faire Though Princes sue for grace and ech one do thee woo Mislyke not this my meane estate wherwith I can nought doo As highest seates wee sée be subiect to most winde So base and poore estates we know be hateful to the minde The happy meane is mine which I do haply holde Thy honor is to yéeld for loue and not for heape of golde If euer thou hast felte the bitter panges that stinges A louers brâ—st or knowest the â—ares that Cupid on vs flinges Then pitty my request and wayle my wofull case Whose life to death with hasty whéeles doo toumble on apace Uouchsafe to â—ase the paine that loue on mée doth whelme Let not thy freend to shipwracke go sith thou doost hold his helme Who yeelâ—eth all hée hath as subiect to thy will If thou commaund hée doth obey and all thy heastes fulfill But if thou call to minde when I did part thee fro What was the cause of my exile and why I did forgo The happy life I held and lost there with thy sight Well mayst thou wayle thy want of troth rue thy great vnright If thou be found to fayle thy vow that thou hast sworne Or that one iot of my good will out of thy
minde be worne Or if my absence long to thy disgrace hath wrought mée Or hindering tales of my back fréends vnto such state hath brought mée I can and will accurse the cause of my ill spéede But well I hope my feare is more then is the thing indéede Yet blame mée not though I doo stand somewhat in feare The cause is great of my exile which hardly I do beare Who hath a sternles ship amidst the trustles Seaes Full gréedely desires the porte where hée may ride at ease Thy bewty bids mee trust vnto thy promise past My absence longe and not to speake doth make mee doubt as fast For as the sommers sonne doth make eche thing to spring Euen so the frosen winters blast as deadly doth them wring Unsuer thus I liue in dreade I wot not why Yet was there neuer day so bright but there be cloudes in sky Who hath of puer Golde a running streame or flud And is restraind for comming nigh this treasure great and good Hee must abide a time till Fortune graunt him grace That hee haue power by force to win his riche desired place I neede not thus to doo nor yet so much mistrust I know no time can change thy minde or make thée bée vniust No more then water soft can stir a stedfast rocke Or seely flyes vpon their backes can beare away a blocke Eche beast on earth wée sée that liuing breath doth draw Bée faythfull found vnto their mates and keepes of loue the law My wretched life to ease when I doo seke to turne Thy bewty bright doth kindle mee in greater flame to burne No day no night nor time that geues mee mirth or rest Awake asleape and at my meales thou doost torment my brest Though weary lothsome lyfe in care and wo haue clad mee Remembrance of thy heauenly face giues cause again to glad mée Thus Ioyfull thoughtes a while doth lessen much my payne But after calme and â—ayer tides the stormes do come agayne And I in cares doo flame to thinke of my exile That I am barred from thy sight I curse and ban the while Would God I had the craft a Laborinth to frame And also had a Mynotaure inclosed in thesame And that our enemies all might therin take some paine Till Dedales line I did them bringe to helpe them out againe Then should my sorowes seace and drowne my deepe dispaire Then should my life be blest with Ioyes and raisde aboue the ayre â–ª But as the mazed birde for feare dare skantly fly When hee hath scapte the Falcons foote euen so I know should I Scarse able be to speake or any word to say Least Argus wayting ielous eyes might haply mée bewray But oh Elrisa mine why doo I stir such war Within my selfe to thinke of this and yet thy loue so far Why rather should not I giue vp the life I haue And yeeld my weary wretched corps vnto the gaping grau If I hopte not that thou with faith didst binde thy life This hand of mine with bloody sworde should stint my cruel strife â–ª No length of lingring time no distance can remooue The fayth that I haue haue vowed to thée nor alter once my loue Beleeue this to bee true that streames shall soner turne Or frosen Ice to fier coales on blasing flame to burne Then I will seke to change or alter once my minde All plagues I pray may fall on me if I be found vnkinde Or if I meane to swarue while I haue liuing breath God graunt my end then may be such as Agamemnons death I wish thy life no harme but yet I woulde thou knew The wofull ende that Cressed made because shee was vntrue These angry gods or men asonder that doo set vs Shal neuer pearce our mindes in twaine nor eke to loue can let vs As well they may deuide the fier from the flame And euery beast that now is wilde as soone shal be made tame Let not this pistle long my sute with thee deface Who pleadeth for his life thou knowest at large must tel his case And all these wordes I write to one effect do tende I am all thine and not mine owne and herewithal to ende I pray thee to regarde thy health and my request And that my loue doo neuer fleet out of thy secret brest FINIS ¶ NARSETVS a wofull youth in his exile writeth to Rosana his beloued mistresse to assure her of his faithfull constancie requiring the like of her TO stay thy musinge minde hee did this pistle frame That holds the deere loues thee most Narsetus is his name Would God thy frend had brought the health that here he sendes I should haue seene my lacking ioy and heale that hart that rendes And redy is eche hower to sunder still in twaine Saue now this pistle that I write doth lessen wel my paine And helpes mee to vpholde a lingring lothsome life Awaiting still the blisfull hower when death shall stinte the strife What dooth it mee preuaile to haue king Cresus wealth Or who doth ioy in golden Giues imprisoned with his health I sweare by Ioue to thee whose godhead is aye iust These wordes I write are not vntrue then do mee not mist rust Thy selfe shal be the iudge and if thou list to vewe The bared bones the hollow lookes the pale and ledy hew The stealing strides I draw the wo and dreadfull feares The boyling brest with bitter brine the eyes be sprent with teares The skant and hungry meales the seldome slepe I take The dainty dames that others ioy â—o iest to mee do make These hated hatefull harmes when I them feele to greeue mee Remembrance of thy beuty bright doth straight again releeue mee And then I cal to minde thy shape and cumly grace Thy heauenly hew thy sugred words thy sweet entising face The pleasant passed sportes that spent the day to ende The lothsom lookes that liked not to leue so soone thy freend Sith froward fortune hath my Mystresse thus bereâ—t mee Perforce I yéeld and am content to like the lot is left mée If Pyramus were sad when hée found Thisby slayne If Cresseds craft and falsing fayth did Troylus turne to payne Eneas traytor false oh treason that hée did With bloody woundes and murdering sword Quéene Didos lyfe hath riâ— If these haue won by death and end of pyning payne And I aliue with torments great in dying deathes remaine The sound of instruments or musicke 's pleasant noyce Or riches rule or proude estate doth cause mée to reioyce Or Venus damsels deere do please mée euen as well As dying bodies ioy to here for them a passing bell The greefes that gripe my hart and dayly do mée slay It lessen would much of the smart if thou vouchsafe to say God graunt his weary life and sorrowes to asswage God yeeld him health and happy dayes with honor in his age These wordes would win my life dispaired now to death Thou should but saue that is thine
this to bee true that now too true I proue But litle troth in womens breast and fleeting in their loue God graunt each wight on earth that serues with faythfull minde A better hap and that hee may a truer Mystrisse finde FINIS The Louer in distresse exclaymeth agaynst Fortune HOw can the criple get in running race the game Or hee in fight defend himselfe whose armes are broken lame How can th' imprisoned man whofe legs be wrapt in chaynes Thinke this his life a pleasant time who knoweth nothing but paines So how can I reioyse that haue no pleasant thing That may reuiue my doulfull sprits or cause mee for to singe My legs be lame to goe mine armes cannot embrace My hart is sore mine eyes bée blinde for lacke of Fortunes grace All this is Fortunes fault that keepes these sences so Shée may aduaunce them if shée list and rid them of this wo. It is her cruell will alwayes on mee to lower To kepe froÌ„ mée her pleasant giftes to make mée know her power Alas alas fiâ— Fortune fâ—e why art thou so vnkinde To mée that fayne would bée thy sonne and euer in thy minde Now doo I thée beséech with pleasures mée to frayght To temper this my wofull life or els to kill mée strayght FINIS An other complaint on Fortune IN doubtful dreading thoughts as I gan call to minde This world and eke the pleasures al that Adams children finde A place of pleasant hew appeared to my thought Where I might sée the wonderous works which nature for vs wrought All things of any price approched to my sight And still me thought that each man had that was his most delight The riche man hath his ioy his riches to imbrace So hath the huntesman his desire to haue the Hart in chace And other haue their sporte to sée the Falcon flee And some also in Princes court in fauor for to bée The warring Knight at will an horse doth run his race And eke the louer in his armes his Lady doth embrace When that I sée eche man enioy his whole delite Saue I alas poore cursed man whom Fortune doth so spite I fall straight to the ground amazed with much griefe With blouddy strokes vpon my brest I striue to rid my lief And thus I thinke how can fayre pictures those delight Whom nature from their tender age defrauded of their sight FINIS ¶ The louer beeing newly cought in Cupids snares complayneth on the Gods of loue and compareth his greefe as followeth THe hugie heape of cares that in this world I finde The sodayne sighes that sore molest my hart The foolish fansies that still run in my minde Makes mée to lay all ioy and myrth apart Lamenting still the causes of my smart But oh alas the more I wéepe and wayle The more my gréefe to mée séemes to preuayle The more I seeke my pinchinge panges to swage By diuers wayes such as I thinke be best The more it frets the more it gins to rage So that my senceles head can take no rest Ah seely wretch what doth thee thus mollest Or what doth thus perturbe thy restlesse braynes And from thy harte all worldly ioye detaynes Alas what this should bee I can not tell My youthfull yeares can skill of no such change But if some vgly shape of fury fell Or wicked wight that in this world doth range Hath witched mee with this disease so strange Or Cupid with his force of cruell dart Hath stricken mee and wounded thus my hart Hath Cupid then sutch power on mortall wightes And strikes the blinded boy his dart so sure That no man can auoyd his subtill sâ—ightes Nor ought agaynst his fury may indure Hath Venus force men thus for to allure And why then doth shée not her sonne commaund To shoote alike and strike with equall hand Is this the guise of powers that raigne aboue Us séely soules in snares thus for to trap And care they not to yéeld vs death for loue Ioy they in woes our corses for to trap And passe they not what vnto vs doth hap Can Gods aboue to man beare any hate Or doo they mocke and iest at our estate Ah foolish foole what fancy rules thy head Or what doth cause thée now this talke to moue What fury fell doth thée poore wretch now lead To rayle on all the Gods doth it behooue Sith it is only Cupid God of loue That guiltlesse shee with stroke of goulden shafte Hath wounded thus and thee of ioyes berafte Euen as the slender Barke that long is tost By surging waues cast vp from deepest seas And Saylars still in daunger to be lost Doo hale and pull in hope to take their ease When stormy fluds begin once to appease Euen so fare I beeing in Cupids power In hope at last to see that happy hower Wherin I shall my wished ioyes obtayne And placed bee within her gentill hart Then shall I take my sorrowes all for gayne When I haue her that causeth now my smart Then farewell Cupid with thy cruell darte And welcome shee that pearst mee with her sight Shee is my Ioy shee is my hartes delight FINIS The Louer extolleth aswell the rare vertues of his Lady beloued as also her incomparable beautie DEsire hath driuen from mée my will Or Cupids blase hath bleard mine eyes Knowledge mee fayles my sight is yll If kinde or cunning could deuise Nature to paynt in better plight To set her forth with red and white Or if men had Apelles arte Who could her mend in any parte Her face declares where fauor growes And telles vs heere is Beauties grace Her eyes hath power to binde and lose Her countenance may fréendes embrace Her cheekes be decte with bloud full fayre Her collour cleare as is the ayre Her haire her hand her foote also Hath wonne the praise where euer shée go Her lookes doo séeme to speake alone When that her lips remooue no whit Her inwarde vertues may be knowen By vsinge of her sober wit. Her iestures also cumly are My tongue lackes skill them to declare The rest of her that are vnnamed In perfect shapes are lyuely framed Now though that kinde hath set her forthe And natures workes shée hath possest Théese goodly giftes are litle worth If pitty dwelt not in her brest Oh God forbid such flowring youth Should bée mislyked for lacke of ruth For I with other might say then Lo this is shée that killeth men FINIS ¶ The Louers farewell at his departure perswadeth his beloued to constancie in his absence THough Fortune cannot fauor According to my will The proofe of my behauor Shall bée to loue you still Entending not to chaunge Whiles that my life doth last But still in loue to raunge Till youth and age be past Though I bée far you fro Yet in my fantacie I loue you and no mo Thinke this assuredly Your owne both true and iuste Alwayes you shall mée finde Wherfore of right you must Haue mée
could deuise I tel the truth beleeue mee wel the day will not suffise Graunt now therfore some rest since thus thou hast mee bound To be thine owne til body mine lye buried vnder ground FINIS ¶ The Louer hauing his beloued in suspition declareth his doutfull minde DEeme as ye list vpon good cause Yee may and thinke of this or that But what or why my selfe best knowes Wherby I thinke and feare not Wherunto I may wel like The doubtful sentence of this clause I would ye were not as I thinke I would I thought it were not so If that I thought it were not so Though it were so it greeued mee not Unto my hart it were as thâ— I harkened and I heare not At that I sée I cannot winke Nor for my hart to let it go I would it were not as I thinke I would I thought it were not so Lo how my thought might make mée frée Of that perchance it néedeth not For though no doubt in déede I sée I shrinke at that I beare not Yet in my hart this worde shall sinke Untill the proofe may better bée I would it were not as I thinke I would I thought it were not FINIS ¶ An exellent Sonet Wherin the Louer exclaymeth agaynst Detraction beeing the principall cause of all his care To the tune when Cupid scaled first the Fort. PAsse forth in doulfull dumpes my verse Thy Masters heauy haps vnfolde His grisled gréefe â—ache hart well perce Display his woes feare not bée bould Hid hole in heapes of heauinesse His dismale dayes are almost spent For fate which forgde this ficklenesse My youthly yeares with teares hath sprent I lothe the lingring life I â—ed â–ª O wished death why stayest thy hand Sith gladsome Ioyes away bée fled And linkte I am in Dollors bande In weltring waues my ship is tost My shattering sayles away bée shorne My Anker from the Stearne is lost And Tacklings from the Maynyard storne Thus driuen with euery gale of winde My weather beaten Barke doth sayle Still hoping harbor once to finde Which may these passinge perrils quayle But out alas in vayne I hope Sith Billowes prowd assault mée still And skill doth want with Seas to cope And licour salte my Kéele doth fill Yet storme doth cease but lo at hand A ship with warlike wightes addrest Which seemes to bee some Pyrates band With Powder and with Pellets prest To sinke or spoyle my brused Barke Which dangers dread could not a daunt And now the shot the ayre doth darke And Captayne on the Deke him vaunt Then Ignorance the ouerséear proude Cryes to Suspicion spare no shot And Enuy yelleth out aloude Yeeld to Detraction this thy Boate And as it is now Sea mens trade When might to coole the foe doth lacke By vayling foretop signe I made That to their lee I mee did take Then gathering winde to mee they make And Treason first on borde doth come Then followes Fraud like wily Snake And swift amongst them takes his rome These bindâ— mee Captiue tane with band Of carkinge care and fell annoy While vnder Hatches yet I stand Therby quight to abandon ioye Then hoysting sayles they homeward hye And mee present vnto Disdayne Who mee beheld with scorning eye The more for to encrease my payne As Lady shee commaunded strayght That to Dispayre they mee conuay And bid with skilfull heed hee wayght That Truth bee bard from mee away Madam quoth I let due desart Yet finde remorse for these my woes Of pitty graunt some ease to smart Let Troth draw neare to quayle my foes But all for nought I doo complayne For why the deafe can mone no noyse No more can they which doo disdayne But will in harte therat reioyce Wherfore twixt life and death I stay Til time with daughter his drawe nye Which may these furious foes dismay Or els in ruthfull plight I dye FINIS ¶ The Louer in bondage looketh for releasement and longeth for the releefe of his wedding day WHen shall reliefe release my wo When shall desert disdayne digest When shall my hap hap to mée so That my poore hart may come too rest When shall it so when shall it so When shall longe loue bée looked vpon When shall tried truth bée homeliest When shall hope haue that hope hangeth on That my poore hart may come to rest When shall it so c. When shall I sée shée séethe right When shall I heare shee heareth mée best When shall I féele shée féeleth delight That my poore harte may come to rest When shall it so c. When stinte all stormes that thus agréeue When stinte all stayes that wrong hath wrest When stinte all strifes right to reléeue That my poore hart may come to rest When shall it so c. When right shall sée right time to boste When right shall aright vnright oppresse When right shall raigne and rule the roste Then my poore harte shall come to rest Then shall it so c. When shall I watch the time to sée Now shall I wish the time possest Now shall I thinke each day yéeres thrée That my poore harte may come to rest When shall it so c. Now farewell harte most smooth most smart Now farewell hart with hart hartiest And farewell harte tiâ—â— hart in harte By harty harte may come to rest God graunt it so c. FINIS ¶ A fine and freendly Letter of the Louer to his beloued LIke as the Hauke is led by lure to draw from trée to trée So is my hart through force of loue where euer my body bee The Hauke to pray doth double wing her flight is fled in vayne I make my flight in waste of winde my hope receyueth no gayne Haukes that be high it hurtes to light two flightes without reward My flight is two and three againe alas Mistresse regarde The Hauke brought low is soone made high by féeding on warme foode Your mouthes breath settes mée aloft there is nothing so good Good Lady then strain forth the strings whose tune may mée reuiue And with strauÌ„g tongue do not prolong my ioyes thus to depriue Within your brest my hart is hid your will and it is one Regard my smart the cure is yours and losse when I am gone Thus all your owne I recommend mee wholly to your grace As seemeth you best for to reward my plight and wofull case Which plight if you do counterpaise with ioyes as doth belonge My hart for ioy would tune accorde to singe some pleasant songe FINIS ¶ The Louers fata farewell at his death AL wealth I must forsake and pleasures eke forgo My life to ende in wo and greefe my desteny is so For where I had perfixt with sute to win my ioy I found I had right spéedy death al welth for to distroy Whose Image lo I am though lyuing I appeare Both body and soule be seperate my heauen it is not here My harte I haue bestowed wheras it is not found Thou
By vewing of thy face Full oft it ioyes my hart To kisse â–ª that clot of clay From whence thou shot those louing lookes Which bred my whole decay O blessed place I cry Though woorker of my payne Render I craue most hartely To mee my loue agayne Not wofull Monsier dom Dieg Or Priams noble sonne Constrayned by loue did euer mone As I for thée haue donne Sir Romeus annoy But trifle seemes to mine Whose hap in winning of his loue Did clue of cares vntwine My sorrowes haue no ende My hap no ioy can spie The flowing Fountayne of my teares Beginneth to waxe drie Let pitty then requyte my payne O woorker of my woe Let mercy milde possesse thy harte Which art my freendly foe Receiue the hart which heare I yeeld into her hand Which made by force a breach in Fort Which I could not withstande Thou hast in Ballance paysd My life and eke my death Thy loyalty contaynes my ioy Disdayne will stop my breath If constant loue may reape his hire And fayth may haue his due Good hope I haue your gentill hart My grislie greefe will rue And that at length I shall My hartes delight imbrace When due desart by curtesie Shall purchace mee thy grace Untill which time my deare Shall still increase my payne In pensiue thoughtes and heauinesse Because I shall remayne FINIS ¶ A Caueat to yongmen to shun the snares of Cupids crafty sleightes IF euer wight had cause to mone or wayle with bitter teares His wretched life and wofull plight that still in languish weares Then haue I cause that late haue lodgde â–ª such loue within my hart With gréefe with payne with pyning panges â–ª my body boyles in smart O earth why doost not thou my wofull plight sustayne O surging Seas with swallowing gulfe release mee of this payne For languishing loue with dolefull doomes â–ª hath layd my hart in brine O wofull wretch O wicked wight That so for loue doth pine The Sonne that shines with golden beames and dries the dewie flowers Doth cause mée wretch with blubbering eyes to gush forth extreame showers The hermony of chirping birdes that ioyes with siluer songes Eche lyuing wight doth cause my cares to fill my hart with thronges Eche gladsome ioy of mundaine glée That glads the worldly minde Doth heape vp cares on carefull corps agaynst all course of kinde And so eche thing that ought delight and rid the minde from pause Contrariwise agaynst all right a thousand cares doth cause For when that I in sugred sleepe most swéetly should take rest Then doo I wring my wofull handes and beate my dolefull brest And if I chaunce on sleepe to fall a thousand dreames I haue And doo suppose I her embrace whose want will cause my graue And then with gladsome hart I ioy thus cleane depriued of wo But oh alas when that I wake I finde it nothing so And then my sighes from sobbing harte doth reaue my brest in twayne And teares that run from blubbered eyes doth more encrease my payne And when I should sustayne my lyfe and féeble corps with foode Unsauory séemes it vnto mee eache thing should doo mee good Amidst the nipping frostes I broyle in pearching heate I freese And thus agaynst all course of kinde for loue my lâ—fe I leese Wo woorth the time that first I lodgde thy sâ—oyling loue in harte You yonge men al bée warnd by mée And shun blinde Cupids Darte FINIS ¶ The aged Louers noate at length to learne to dye WHy askest thou the cause Wherfore I am so sad Thou knowst wheÌ„ age on draws No creature can bee glad And sith shée hath mée rested And threatned mee to die Therfore I am sequestred All mirth for to denie And now with feeble age The rest of all my dayes My couÌ„tenance must be ful sage Since that my life decayes Like as the harte of Oke By time doth rot at last Like time doth age prouoke With time my hart doth brast Lo thus by course of time My youth is gone and past And now the turne is mine Of bitter death to taste And noate that I haue sayd The cause wherof and why My youthfull partes be playde And I must learne to die FINIS ¶ The desperate Louer exclaymeth his Ladyes cruelty and threatneth to kill himselfe MY ioyful dayes bée past My plasant yeres be gone My life it may not last My graue and I am one My mirth and all is fled And I a man in woo Desireth to bee dead My mischâ—â—fe to forgoe I burne and am a colde I freese in middest of fire I sée shée dooth with hold That most I doo desire I sée that shée doth sée And yet shee wil be blinde I see in healpinge mee Shée seeketh and wil not finde I sée how shée doth wrye When I begin to mone I see when I come nye How fayn shée would be gone I see shee knoweth my harte And how I doo complayne I see shâ—â— knoweth my smarte Shee seeth I doo not fayne I see my helpe at hand I see my death also I see where shee doth stand I see my cruell fo I see what would you more Shee would mee gladly kill And shee shall see therfore That shee shall haue her will. I cannot liue by stones It is to harde a food I would be dead at once to doo my Lady good Shee shall haue her request And I will haue mine ende Lo heeâ—e my blouddy brest To please her most vnkinde FINIS ¶ The Louer beeing blinded with the faythlesse loue of his Lady is contented to remit her fault vpon promis of amendment SInce that thou diddest mee loue When lust did thee prouoke And that thou doost well proue That I cannot reuoke My fréendship fast my loue nor my good will Shew some reléefe least in dispayre I spill How well I was content â—lwayes to follow thée How well I did assent Thy thrall aye for to bee Thy selfe can iudge to whom I doo appeale By sentence lo to yeeld mee wo or weale But if thou mée forsake As Cressid that forgot True Troylus her make And that thy hart is whot On him whom shame did force thée once his fayth to flie I see no hope but that hee must yéeld forth himself to die And though thou thinke that I Am loth theâ— too forgoe Yet shall I rather die Then liue and please my foe But hindre him in loue all others doth refrayne Whose treasoÌ„ once did mée purchace thy due disdain FINIS ¶ A worthy comparison of Vertue agaynst all worldly pompe WHen that I way with wit and eke consider now The tickle stay of her that Fortunes whéele doth bow And turne euen at her will such luck loe as shee list No thread so surely spâ—nne but that shee may vntwist I can but aye lament and wayle the lacke of them That in her holde doo trust weighing they are but men For if I were a Lorde and come of high degree And had all thing at
which to late Compels vs to complayne The boast of Beauties brags And gloze of louing lookes Seduce mens mindes as fishes are Intic'd with bayted hookes Who simply thinking too Obtayne the pleasant pray Doth snatch at it and witlesse so Deuoures her owne decay Euen like the mindes of men Allurde with beauties bayt To heapes of harmes to carking care Are brought by such decaite Lothus by proofe it proou'd Perforce I needes must say That beauty vnto ruinous end Is as a pleasant way FINIS T.P. T. P. his Farewell vnto his faythfull and approoued freend F. S. FArewell my fréend whom fortune forste to fly I greeuâ— to here the lucklesse hap thou hast But what preuayles if so it helpe might I I would be prest therof be bold thou maste Yet sith time past may not be calde agayne Content thy selfe let reason thee perswade And hope for ease to counteruayle thy payne Thou art not first that hath a trespasse made Mourne not to much but rather ioy because God hath cut of thy will ere greater crime Wherby thou might the more incur the lawes And beare worse Brutes seduc'd by wicked prime Take héede my woordes let teach thée to be wise And learne thee shun that leades thy minde to ill Least béeing warnd when as experience tries Thou waylst to late the woes of wicked will. FINIS T. P. The History of Pyramus and Thisbie truely translated IN Babilon a stately seate of high and mighty Kinges Whose famous voice of ancient rule through all the world yet ringes Two great estates did whilom dwell and places ioyned so As but one wall eche princely place deuided other fro These Nobles two two children had for whom Dame Nature sought The déepest of her secret skill or shée their byrth had wrought For as their yeares in one agréed and beauty equall shone In bounty and lyke vertues all so were they there all one And as it pleased Nature then the one a sonne to frame So did the glad olde Father like him Pyramus to name Th' other a maide the mother would that shée then Thisbie hight With no smal blisse of parents al who came to ioy the sight I ouerslip what sodaine frights how often feare there was And what the care each creature had ere they did ouerpas What paynes ensue what the stormes in pearced harts that dwel And therfore know what babe mother whose chast subtil braÌ„d No earthly hart ne when they lust no God hath yet withstand Ere seuen yeres these infants harts they haue with loue opprest Though litle know their tender age what causeth their vnrest Yet they poore fooles vntaught to loue or how to lesse their payne With well contented mindes receiue and prime of loue sustayne No pastime can they elswhere finde but twayn themselues alone For other playfeares sport God wot with them is reckend none Ioy were to here their prety wordes and swéet mamtam to sée And how all day they passe the time till darknes dimmes the skye But then the heauy cheare they make when forst is their farwell Declares such gréefe as none would thinke in so yong brests could dwell Ye looke how long that any let doth kepe them two a sunder Their mourning harts no ioy may glad that heuens the passeth vnder And when agayn they efte repayre and ioyfull méeting make Yet know they not the cause therof ne why their sorowes slake With sight they feede their fancies then and more it still deâ—â—re Ye more they haue nor want they finde of sight they so require And thus in tender impe spronge vp this loue vpstarteth still For more their yeres much more the flame that doth their fancies fill And where before their infants age gaue no suspect at all Now needefull is with weary eye to watchfull minde they call Their whole estate it to guide in such wise orderly As of their secret swéete desires ill tongues no light espy And so they did but hard God wot are flames of fire to hide Much more to cause a louers hart within it bounds to finde For neither colde their mindes consent so quench of loue the rage Nor they at yeres the least twise seuen their passions so aswage But that to Thisbes Mothers eares some spark therof were blowen Let Mothers iudg her pacience now til shée the whole haue knoweÌ„ And so by wily wayes shée wrought to her no litle care That forth shée found their whole deuise and how they were in snare Great is her gréefe though smal the cause if other cause ne were For why a meeter match then they might hap no other where But now tween Fathers though the cause mine Auctor nothing els Such inward rancor risen is and so it daily swels As hope of fréendship to be had is none alas the while Ne any loueday to be made their mallice to begyle Wherfore straight charge straight giuen is with fathers frowning chere That message worde ne token els what euer that it were Should froÌ„ their foe to Thisbee passe Pyramus fréends likewise No lesse expresse commaundement doo for their sonne deuise And yet not thus content alas eche Father doth ordayne A secret watch and bounde a point wherin they shall remayne Sight is forbid restrained are wordes for scalde is all deuise That should their poore afflicted mindes reioyce in any wise Though pyning loue gaue cause before of many carefull yll Yet dayly sithe amended all at least well pleased them still But now what depth of deepe distresse may they indrowned bee That now in dayes twise twenty tolde eche other once shall see Curst is their face so cry they ofte and happy death they call Come death come wished death at once and rid vs life and all And where before Dame Kinde her selfe did wonder to beholde Her highe bequests within their shape Dame Beauty did vnfold Now doth shee maruel much and say how faded is that red And how is spent that white so pure it wont to ouerspred For now late lusty Piramus more fresh then flower in May As one forlorne with constant minde doth seeke his ending day Since Thisbe mine is lost sayth hee I haue no more to lose Wherfore make speed thou happy hand these eyes of mine shall close Abasid is his princely port cast of his regall weede Forsaken are assemblies all and lothed the foming steed No ioy may pearce his pensiue mynde vnlesse a wofull brest May ioyed bee with swarmes of care in haples hart that rest And thus poore Piramus distrest of humaine succor all Deuoyd to Venus Temple goes and prostrate downe doth fal And there of her with hart I korue and sore tormented mindes Thus askes hee ayd and of his woes the Fardell thus vnbindes O Great Goddesse of whose immortal fire Uertue in Erbe might neuer quench the flame Ne mortall sence yet to such skill aspire As for loues hurt a medecine once to name With what deare price my carefull pyned ghost Hath tried