pleasure but too much and what doth youth wish more Some profit eke withall is matched for her mate The countinance of cheerefull hue me thinkes doth blesse by state The quyetnesse of minde the fearefull feare excluded The fond surmyses of my heade with odiouse othes deluded So much doth me reioyce that all thinges past and donne As to my selfe oft times I say me thinkes I heauen haue wonne For those which alwayes haue beene pent in priuate paine When as they haue release thereof they double thinke their gaine Lo thus I do conclude in this my skillesse stile And thanke the Lord whose goodnesse greate hath holpen my exile Of the Mutabillitie of this world OH wauering world vnconstant and vnkinde Oh drudge to droyle and driuell to the minde Oh toyle oh paine oh how by trauell tost Oh waues of wo that worke so for the most Oh harde to please and ready to offend Oh quicke to sinne and slowly to amend Oh prompt to speake our friend for to disease Oh flacke to helpe but quickly to displease Oh eares to heare each tatling tale vs brought Oh tongue to taunt whereby is mischiefe wrought Oh gruppilouse mindes desirouse to haue gaine Oh hazardes hard which harbors in the braine Oh how we are by fickle Fancie led Oh how we seeke to haue our humor fed Oh how we harke and listen vnto tales Oh ignorance how she bringes vs vnto bales Oh how we sigh when as we feele the smart Oh how before we thinke not of that part Oh how this world by Mutabillitie Doth often chaunge and bringes much miserie Many worldlinges be wilfull It is a vaine thing to molest the minde with fortunes Inconstancie MUse not a whit though Fortune frowne And turne thy ioy vnto dispight She setteth vp she pulleth downe She moueth care she brings delight Thus to and fro this Dame doth tosse To ouerthrow Our welth to losse From welth to losse is cause of greefe And cause of greefe procures paine And paine is that would haue reliefe And where reliefe doth still refraine What thinke you tho Some sigh and say Oh fy on wo And wofull stay And wofull stay that onely is The wretched wringer of the witt The thing that lyfe would faine Dismisse If Ioue would so alow of it Where Reason failes And Will is Iudge What then Preuailes But Wrath and Grudge But wrath and grudge what life is that Who would Desire there to bee The silly Mouse doth dreaâ— the Cat Because she feares her Crueltie Euen so annoyes Which daily grow â—ereaues the ioyes Of some I knowe Of some I know that daily tast The sower sauce of sorrowes still And yet with griefe they take repast And make a myrth of euery ill For that 's the way As wisedome shewes For to alay Dame Fortunes blowes Dame Fortunes blowes which coâ—pled are With ouerthwartes that glutte the mindâ— And in the stomake make such warre As life doth wish it were Resign'd Yet onely this Remembring still A tune there is To end all ill He being very sicke and finding greate courtesie at his betters handes thereupon writâ—th LEt truth Reporte what Triall findes Conceale no praise where it is due â—e bold to laude such courteous mindes As that disdaine not for to view As well the simple as the best With sickenesse when they be opprest Not like the Proude Ambitious wights Which scorne the simple for their race Where wisdome guides there are no sightâ— For modestie supplyes the place And pittie prickes their ruthfull eyes To pittie him in cares that lyes And Doubtles sure for their reward High Ioue some heauenly hap will send Besides their Fame which is Preferd Throughout the soyle where life doth lend And for my parte while life doth well I will not let the same to tell As knoweth God Which sits on hye Who euery secret thought Doth spye If I dissemble Or do faine God graunt good hap I neere attaine A Question vnto true Meaning WHere hast thou beene so long True meaning to me tell Abroad in world to seeke and search where Faithfulnesse doth dwell What hast thou found him out and where he keepes his hould I 〈◊〉 keepes a marrish place that is both moist and colde Who bringeth him his foode firme friendes which neuer fayle And what is that they bring to him Plaine proofe which shall preuaile Why doth he keepe away because men should him craue He saith that fewe now Desire his companie to haue Who is the cause thereof Dissembling deepe delight Who doth allure the mindes of men to swerue from faithfull right And doth Dissembling driue Firme faithfulnesse away I. I. Truemeaning markes it well he seeth it euery day Let Flearing flatterie faune Truemeaning is but plaine Yet Truemeaning and faithfulnesse were neuer found to faine Truemeaning cannot glose ne Faithfulnesse deceaue Wherefore Truemeaning and Faythfulnesse of Dissembling take their leaue Written vnto Master S. H. IF wealth agre'd vnto my willing minde To gratify you as I doe Desire Then trust me true some present you shoulde finde For recompence but this I you require For to accept these verses heere in place Which simple be and worthles in their grace I cannot chuse exaction mouing me But write I must yet briefly I intend I am Disposed belike that you should see A fewe verses which I doe commend To your constructioÌ„ vprightly for to Deeme Then courteously see that you them esteemâ— It were a fault to flatter with a friend A faulte nay sure a villany that 's more Where Trusty troth abids not to the end Nor promise kept as it was made before If breach thereof be proued then I say Such well deserue to be put from the way Where faithfull friendship walketh voide of guile And firmenes fixt fond flattery to reiect And Deepe disseÌ„bling with her glosing stile Is put apart where Trust doth whole protect Which Trust God graÌ„t vntill our daies do end Trusty to be vnto a faithfull friend No foe to a flatterer A fancy vpon fortune SIth Fortune doth assigne My ioyes they shall vntwine And cares they shall combine I must contented stand Sith that she is my foe Good lucke to ouerthrowe And haplesse hap to shew I take it at her hand I take it at her hand Perforce then I must stand For to abide her band Untill she me release Her subiect and her thralle Her vassaile at her call Her innocent and all So must I hould my peace Though wrong I do sustaine Alas it is in vaine For me for to complaine When Fortune knittes her faceâ— But beare it well in hearte Although it be a smart In faith without Desarte More greeuouse is my case But God that sittes on hy And guydes the cloudy skye And doth each secrete spye Respect this ruthfull tale Remember those in care Whose backe is faine to bare Untill their eyes do stare And yet they not availe How long will Fortune frette How long shall I thus sette How long shall sorrowes gette
I see yet seeme as though that I were blind I ioy likewise when as I might lament I frame my selfe to vse such play and sporte As others doe which to the place resorte Sighing is signe of sadnesse As myrth is shevve of gladnesse Verses vpon this Theame Silence breaketh many Friendeshippes Written vnto his friende G. P. IF Silence friendship breake then silent for to be Is euen the way to loose a friend as seemeth vnto me For when I call'd to minde how longe my pen did rest From writing to him which deserues as well as doth the best Then saide I to my selfe I am too silent I That to my friend of all this time nothing I doe discrie I doe consider thus he is of courteous kind Hee will haue no ill conceipt I hope within his minde for I must needes confesse I haue not idle Time So much as I had heeretofore to write each thing in rune I am inforced nowe to bend both wit and will For to discharge that is my charge and rest in fauour still The which God graunt I may for that is my Desire The onely sore I seeke to salue the right I doe require The more of it I muse the more I haue good cause To try which way and what to doe to ponder and to pause To print in priuate brest and secrets to conceale For why it is a folly vaine each actâ—on to reueale But whether doe I wend I run beyond my reach What doe I meane to write so much as though that I should teach O no I not so minde but this is my intent Some verses to my very friend my thinkes I must present And thus I you commend vnto the Lord of all Who readie is to heare and helpe those that on him doe call Verses written in a solitary suppose of a doubtfull Dumpe I Sadly sitting in a Dumpe deuysing what to write My Muse could not aforde me that which should yeelde me delight Because she saw I was dispos'd in solitarie sorte With matter voyd of pleasant glee to make a plaine reporte Of priuate passions which procure the inward wo and paine The secret causes of contempt the dolour and disdaine The lingring hope that faintly feâ—des the mindes of many wightes That passe their time in place where grow but few delightes And yet we see it happens so that in the mid'st of smart They finde some causes of conceipte which doe reioyce their heart And trust me true that is the way to mittigate the ill Which other wise might be the cause of wounding of their will To be disposed from delight is meane to moue or mone To constiue of each crosse conceipte is guyder vnto grene Wherefore to vse indifferently the causes of ill lucke Is meane to moue no inwarde hate vpon our thought to sucke We see by due examples shewed the chaunges of our time We see ther 's none so warely liues that alwayes voydeth cryme We see who most doth frame him selfe to sober sorte of life Is forced though against his will to try and tast of strife The most of all that we do finde as hinderers of good happe Are crooked causes which do come our state for to intrappe The daintie dayes of due delight whereon some trust repose Incertaine are nothing so sure as life and them to lose The featured face which florisheth in beawtie blasing braue Shall wrimpled be when hoary Age commaundes it vnto graue The golden hayre which glittereth and showes so by in hewe Shall lodged be in cloddes of clay and kept from worldly view The listening eares which do delight in tales reporting pleasures Shall become deafe and brought to ground when death doth find his leasure The truthlesse tongue which doth agree to flatter and to faine Shall feede the wormes as it hath fed a number with disdaine The pleasant nose which takes repast to smell each pleasant sent Shall lose the profit of the same and vnto death relent The fingers that can finely frame to strike the ioyfull Lute Shall cease from pleasure of the same when Death doth Life confute The feete which wonted were to goe and vnto mirth resorte Must be content to rest at home and leaue off former sporte The wanton wight which takes delight to cut it with his blade By tract of Time growes from that vse whem Age doth him inuade The Preacher he which feedes his flocke with ghostly counsell pure Must yeelde to death and be content his pangues for to endure The wise and worthiest wighte of all that euer liued here Must be content to yeelde to Death as plainely doth appeare Thus to conclude we may be bold each one of natures frame Shall taste of Death when mightie Ioue assigned hath the same Verses sent vnto his friend B. M. IN all thy deedes be circumspect Thy secretes not disclose But vnto such in whom thou dost a faithfull trust repose And if thou hast a faithfull friend be loth him to offend Accounte thou not of flattering friendes thy eares to such not bend Serue God with faithfull fixed faith and frame thy life so iust As that thy carnall motions do not moue thee vnto lust Conceaue and way well thine estate take not too much in hand Frame thy expences as thou mais liue free from others band In doing this with iust regarde thou shalt auoyd much blame And euery one that markes thy vse will praise thee for the same Verses written for one who espyinge his friends fauour and countenance to be altered from the former fashion to satisfie his request he wrote as followeth I See and dayly spy by open viewe too plaine That those which once estem'd of me begin me to disdaine And much I muse thereat but my ill lucke is cause I stand in doubt and dumpish dreed and somtime in a pause I sigh I sobbe I waile I knocke vpon my brest I tosse me here I tosse me there as one that takes no rest I looke like sillie soule with ruthfull running eye And cast my head oft times abacke good countenance to espy But Lord how coy it seemes and squaimish to the showe I neuer thought yâ— courteouse kind such malice once would owe. Oh Fortune fickle Dame in whom remains no trust Whose wauering chaunces are no stay to grouÌ„d vpoÌ„ for iust growes As thou procurest friendes so thou procurest foes As thou makes â—â—ch so thou makes poore eueÌ„ as thy pleasure As now to day to laugh to morrow for to weepe And those yâ— wake in pleasure sweet at length in dauÌ„ger sléepe Thus vpside down thou roulest yâ— whirâ—â—lig wheele of chauÌ„ce And I accompt them happilesse that most thou dost aduauÌ„ce As for my onely state I blame thee â—h of right For sure none the causer was but thou of this my spite Thou broughst my liking first and I was well esteemed And had a contenaunce voyd of hate â—â—lely I was déem'd To be in presâ—nce more then euer since I was But now a chaunce against
abused Lord graunt we may conuert and that with speede For well we know we neuer had more neede Let vs not linger and driue from day to day We haue beene warned sufficiently we know The Lord is angry and not without good cause And though he do but signes vnto vs shew Well let vs thinke if we do thus exceede In sinne so ryfe we shall it feele in deede Amend your liues for the kingdome of God is at hand Mat. 3. None good but God Verses written vnto his friend W. C. of not and nor NOt boyst crouse winds of Aeolus force caÌ„stir the hardy reckâ—s Nor wooden wedges can preuaile to cleane the knotty block Not absence he to frendly heartes can any breach procure Nor spiteful spite can do much hurte where frieÌ„dship doth assure Not frowning lookes of frowarde Mars that can my peâ— restraine Nor doubtfull speach can me reuoke in verse to shew my vaine Not want of good will ready prest shall be one let or cause Nor yet the feare of any man shall make me for to pause Not Time to tarry to deuise some pleasant thing to write Nor yet to proue for to be sine my verse for to indite Not that I thinke my friend he will for rashnesse laugh at me Nor that I stand in doubt if that this thing he take in grâ—â— Not that I am a Poet braue for to declare my minde Nor that I haue a curiouse head some pleasant thing to finde Not that my friend is scrupulousse but friendly be will take Nor that he is of Momus sect to mocks that I do make Not that I know my friend will now accept my ragged verse Nor I thinke he will reiect that which I do rehearse Not that the Time doth let me now some farder wordes to vse Nor that I meane in any thing my friend for to abuse In steade of giftes to thanke thee for Yake Yates his gifte of not and nor Verses written vpon the captiouse coniecture of one who not offended THe state of worldly wightes is straunge And mutall mindes do passe my skill The good haue bad for their exchaunge By cogitations wrong to will The iniury hath small repay Where maiestie doth beare the sway The supreame rule supporteth much Me thinkes it saith why I am hee Men know my nature to be such As scant my like is knowne to be For where I may I croppe I loppe I make them stoupe and bowe their toppe But Iustice sittes with sword in hand And Equity with ballance right The cause and truth to vnderstand To deale by equall Doome vpright For sure the Gods they will not see That worngfull iudgement geuen be Then preace in place thou guyltlesse minde Whose modest moode deserues no blame God will all misbeliues vnbinde And try thy truth with worthie fame And like as Laurell kepes the hue So truth the falshood shall subbue Conceyne no cause of ponstue thought In Nature good each small is greate The wise themselues haue wisely taught More then my pen can here repeat Wherefore I cease I stay to tell Hoping in end all shall be well Verses written vpon a Question I Being once occasioned Comparisons to vse A friend of mine a question put to aunswere or refuse The which was this VVhat thing vvas that vvhich longest doth remaine In happie blisse but at the last it tasteth of some paine Where with I grewe astonied an aunswere streight to make For why quoth I deliberation in this I had neede take Yet as my simple head a simple reason can render I hope you will accept it well though it be small and slender Then Sir I thus confesse as reason would I should To tell my minde I am content to speake the best I could The happiest thing quoth I is Gods eternall grace For that is that which doth remaine and stayes in happie case For els I knowe no thing that happie can be counted No worldly wealth no Towre high that to the skye is mounted No faith of any friend for why it shall decay We see it is like fortunes wheele which turneth euery way In faith my friend quoth he you haue me full resolued It seemes you trust not much the world from it you are dissolued The fragrant florishing feates and gallant glosing glee Is like a blast or puffe of wind which blowes the leafe from tree Esteeme it as it is and weigh and ponder thus That mindes of men change euery houre as fancie doth discusse But ah the changlesse state that euer shall endure Is Gods eternall blisse on hye of this we may be sure Verses written vpon Desire to vnload the minde THe Bird that buildes her nest doth order due obserue And therein takes her rest her younglings to preserue As nature doth ordaine each thing by course of kind So she doth them maintane till seekers do them find Like so where worldly woes doe dayly still increase And lucklesse chaunces shewe that sorrowes will not cease Till happy hap doth hit and course doth turnâ— and change And good lucke come to those to whome she hath bin strange Where want doth weaue the web there skâ—nt doth pleasure growe Wherâ— good 〈◊〉 doth 〈◊〉 there ill successe doth slowe Where Patience perforce in spight must vsed be Vnhappy is that course such haplesse hap to sec. As pleasantnesse doth vade and dieth like the flowre So ioyfulnesse consumes within one silly houre Or what doth boote it nowe in myrth for to abound When as we bend and bow to sorrowes sollemne sound The head opprest with dumpes the heart doth heauie make And wayward chances come our ioyes away to take And as the Impe that 's greene is tender for the knife So mirth is seldome seene whereas such cares be rife Verses vvhich signifie the ease Hovv medling least doth not displease THe busie heads whose harebraine wits With causelesse cause will haue to deale Doe often shewe but foolish fittes For nothing they can close conceale All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease The Royster and the quarreling foole That standes vpon his garde of strength May meete with one that shall him coole And ouercome his pride at length All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease The pratler he cannot abstaine No yet keepe in his tongue from prate O blame him not for t is his vaine He takes a glory in that rate All you that meane to liue at case To meddle least doth not displease T is vaine to put our hand in fire Or in a fray to take a parte When as no cause doth so require Perchance he comes vnto his smart All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease The prouerbe often thus doth shew Which warneth vs in this respect Heere much but little seeke to know That any tumult may erect All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease By busie pates strife