of no losse Doth Bountie binde her Bounteous liberall hand Or doth she force of coyne to keepe in store No no in deede if truth be iustly skand She rather lettes it flie at loose the moreâ— The Bounteous Dame esteemeth not the shews Of Beauties blaze that glistereth to the eye Some say Deceipt doth rest therin they know Experience telles and triall doth it trie Wherefore to say now as my Theame doth moue Not Beautie sure but Bountie I doe proue Not Beauty sure but Bounty I doe proue In this respect perchauâ—ce I â—hall offenâ— Tâ—e Beautifull Dame to mallice I shall moueâ— Because I seeme her for to discommend And doe preferre Dame Bountie in her place But beare with me my Theame pertaines theretoâ— You gallant Dames whose hue Declares your graceâ— Conceaue no ill for writing as I doeâ— For of my truth if Theame had thus beene saideâ— Not Bounty Sir but Beauty beares the bell I must haue then her praise at full displaâ—d To write wherein Dame Beauty doth excell I hope I haue no Courteous Dame oftended For God doth knowe I neuer so intended A presumption of the Courtesie of Fortune THough Fortune frowne looke with lowring face Upon my state to moue me to dispite Though she oft seeme to galle me with Disgrace And is the cause of dimming my delight Yet I presume as she doth worke annoy In doublâ— wise she can aduance my ioy And though I am thus spent with pensiue brest Conâ—train'â— to lodge the lookes of lowring hue In sullen soile although inforc'd to rest And kepâ— in place where sorrowe doth renewe Yet as the bird doth ioy at her release So will I ioy when cares begin to cease No wight I know but subiect is to Fate Sith Destiny from byrth ordaines it so What happy wight that neuer feeleth hate Or findes the place where Pleasure still doth flow Which place confused hath euer beene to me And still refrain'd that pleasant place to see Before my eyes I veiwe greate heapes of hap Which big doe seeme and yet I take nâ— hould I see how some are lul'd in Fortunes lap And wrapped warme for â—eare of catching cold But I at large vnbraced am you see And open lie to take in Miserie Well as I saide I doe presume on this That Fortunes face at length will change her frowne And all such cares from me she may dismisse Which heeretofore my pleasant state did drowne In wretched waues which moued me to mâ—urne And often say fy of that life forlorne Of Hope TO liue in Hope is helpe But Hope which feedes too long And bringes no helpe vnâ—ll Distresse Is rooted in among ¶ Then fy of lingering Hope That feedes our fancy so Yea fy â—f Hope againe I say When Hope bringes helpe to wo. ¶ I hope I hope in deede I hope what may befall I hope perchaunce more then is cause T is that which marreth all ¶ Yet such are musing mindes To make of Hope a God Which say we Hope all shall be well And nothing shall be od ¶ But ah that helpelesse Hope T is that which I do blame Which hateth helpe and heapeth wo Oh fy on that for shame ¶ Yet â—till to Hope some be In bondage and in thrall By whom they Hope for to haue helpeâ— When so it doth befall Hope is helpe Of a happie exchaunge LEaue of to muse my friendes for to beholde my state I liued once in deepe Disdaine my hearte did burne in hate The Tediouse toyling time of my tormoyling dayes Brought soâ—row inwardly to 〈◊〉 whâ—â—â—â—â—ttes a thousand wayes Mâ—leâ—teâ— so my minde bâ—reaued sâ— my rest As often times I did accounte my selfe to be vnblest And pondering with my selfe how vsuall constraint Inâ—orced me to seeke some meaâ—â— my gréeues for to depaint Then see how â—ortune â—onâ— for me did put in â—re A â—aling out not by Desert for me she did procure Whereby I had iust cause each thing considered right To shake off belles whose sounde wâ—◠〈◊〉 and proue another flight And see if that I could prouide so for my ill As that contempte of my conceipâ—e did not offend me still Not like the mounting Dorre which buzzeth vp on hy And falleth Downe an hâ—mely taâ—â— and all to be doth lye For some do chaunge in hope of better happe and place Yet finde it workes such is ill lucke a lamentable case But I may vaunte and say more then I could before I haue my 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 â—ickle 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 â—ro this Dame doth tosseâ— 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 â—eliefe doth still refraine What thinke you thâ— 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 â—aine Dismisse If Ioue would so alow of it Where Reason failes And Will is Iudge What then Preuailes But Wrath and Grudge But wraâ—h and grudge what life is that Who would Desire there to bee The silly Mouse doth dread the Cat Because she feares her Crueltie Euen so annoyes
like a shadow doth decay most true it is in deede Then ere thy breath be spent and past reuoke thy childish toyes And giue thou ouer yet at last that most was once thy ioyes For why fond Will â— thou canst not haue that solely to thy selfe When others may in time it craue as gayned with their pelfe Thou art of yeares to know this well The Hauke whose gorge is full Lakes more delight to shake her bell then on the lure to pull Euen so conceyue this in thy thought for why thou maiest it see The newest things are soonest bought and are still wont to be Then thus consider in thy minde Where thou thy fancie frames Giue leaue let Nature â—howe her kindâ— but publish out no names For Nature she can not digresse I speake not this to faine But euen the truth for to expresse to those who to that vaine Doe seeme so much for to apply their studie in their hearte God graunte in fine such do not trie a close vnhidden smart And thus adue I leaue this verse to scanned be of some Which often times do wordes rehearseâ— when as they might be mume Verses vvritten vpon this vvord vvho doth refaine to faine declared vnto him priuatly by his friende vvhome he ansvvereth thus WHo can refraine where flatterie heareth sway Who doth not Sir Dissemble for sooth the vpright mind Who hath the harmles heart not verteouse meÌ„ I say Who mindeth most mistrust the lewd and truthles kind Who fauours friendlesse fraud the fickl flearring friend Who most rebuketh vice those that wish godly ende A lothsome lise it were if idlenesse were maintained A brutish kinde of trade to fauour a fâ—lthie faâ—t A mischieuous meaning man for most part is disdayned An innocent to sâ—ay were but a cowardes acte A pratler much to be declares but simple sense A drunkardes draught to drinke you grauÌ„t to be offence Well Sir as for offence offenders we are all Aswell the riche as poore the wise as is the foole God graunt we may haue grace for mercy stil to call And with repentant hearts to set a godly dole In place where we may see and willing to amend As we by nature ready are Gods goodnesse to offend Verses vvritten vpon a dreame which was dreamed on Sundaie night the x. of April and written vnto Mistresse F. W. WHen darkesome night approched wasâ— and Phoebus ceast to shine Then went I to my â—asing bed to rest this corps of mine Wherein laide downe before I slept according to my vse I craued pardon for my faultes abounding in abuse Thus when I had bequeath'd my selfe vnto high loue to keepe My heauy eyes inforced me strâ—ight waies to fall asleepe Then Morpheus he was courteous bent to merry make my minde And vnto me this Sundayes night a pleasant parte assignde For lo beholde one of my friendes my thought thus tolde to me That modest mistresse F. W. shoulâ— most welthie married be Unto a proper Gentlâ—man whose Parentes are of fame And he himselfe by due deserteâ— doth merrite euen the same Whose vertuous life from infancie hath wonne him such renowme As Trust me friend I want the skill in order to set downe Well friende quoth I a thousand thankes for this thy happy tale This may preuent the peruers pangues of bitter beyling bale Wiâ—h that I wak'd from slothfull sleepe and to my selfe did say I craue of God with all my heart that Iames may see that day And as this dreame of my deliâ—ht did friendlesse feare reiect So I doe wish if you so please that it may take effect And thus I â—nd my duely done your selfe I doe commend Unto the heauenly Lord of hostes who alwayes you defend Verses vpon feare and Fury FEare is a foe as fury is a friend And selfe coÌ„ceipt is worker of much harme Disdainefull doubts dâ—e bring a man to end And careful cold doth neuer keepe maÌ„ warme Mistrustfull mindes haue euery houre care As much as they can well vprightly beare The quiâ—t minde is neuer trobled muchâ— But tries to take each thing in sober sorte When frâ—waâ—d fancy fretteth and doth gruteh To see her selfe contemned in her sporte Well vaine it is heere much for to reueale In close coÌ„ceipt I will the rest conceale Till Time doth serue according to my minde And opportunitie to open my intent 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 haâ—e no ill conceipt I hope within his minde For I must needes confesse I haue not idle Time So much as I had heâ—â—etoforeâ— 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 â—till 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 dâ—e to poâ—der 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 asorde me thaâ— which should yeelde me delight Because she saw I was dispos'd in solitarie soâ—te With matter voyd of pleasant glee to make a plaine reporte Of priuate passione which procure the inward wo and paine The secret causes of contempt the doleur and disdaine The lingring hope that faintly feedes the mindes of many wightes That passe their time in place where grow but few delightes And yet we seâ— it happens so that in the mid'st of smart They finde some causes of conceipâ—e which doâ— reâ—oyce their heart And trust me true that is the way to mittigate the ill Which other wise might be the causeâ— of wounding of their will To be disposed from delight is meane to moue or
Which daily grow Bereaues the ioyes Of some I knowe Of some I know that daily faâ—â— 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 coopled are With ouerthwartes that glutte the minde And in the stomake make such warre As life doth wish it were Resign'd Yet onely this Remembring still A time there is To end all ill He being very sicke and finding greate courtesie at his betters handes thereupon writeth LEt truth Reporte what Triall findes Conceale no praise where it is due Be 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 Ambitions wights Which scorne the simple for their race Where wisdome guides there are no sights For moâ—estie 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 graunâ— good hap I neere attaine A Question vnto true Meaning WHere hast thou beene so long Truemeaning 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 He 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 Disâ—embling 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 courteoâ—sly see that you them esteeme It were a fault to flatter with a â—riend 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 â—ut from the way Where faithfull friendship walketh voide of And firmenes fixt fond flattery to reiect guile 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 endâ— 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 band I take it at her hand Perforce then I must stand For to abide her band Untill she me release Her subiect and her thralâ—e 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 face 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 For to bereaue my ioy How long shall pleasure stay How long shall mirth delay How long shall I thus sway In depth of myne annoy Will Fortune neuer smile Will Fortune wrong compile Will Fortune still exile O now I hope and trust That fortune will me pleasure Though not with wit or treasure But quyet life and leasure Lo thus I hope and must A vowe prefixt AS Tracte of Time doth try each tradeâ— And Triall doth disclose the truth And truth is seene where proofe is made And proofe explaineth ioy or ruth So modest minde is bent to beare The mirth the mone the wâ— and care The mirth wâ— easily can vphold The more indifferently to tast The wo is neyther hoâ—e nor colde The cares be as the cause is plac'd Lo one my friend and three my foes My pensâ—ue pen doth new disclose To take each chaunce and act vpright To hearâ— eache speache that shall be tolde To laugh when cause is of delight To smyle when Fancie things behold Thus to behaue and frame thy minde Shall make thee see when some are blinde The sillie soule that droyles in durt And drinkes the dregges of deepe Disdaine Whose simple minde doth thinke no hurt By Patience doth experience gaine And closely doth conuey a smyle To cheere his minde betwene each while Thus neyther for to feare the brunte Nor yet to care for too much toyle But patiently to take thy wunt Till Tracte of Time do giue the â—oyle And like as trees their Blossomes shed So cares be past when man is deadeâ— Patience is profitable A quyet life is sure a world of wealth A meane to mirth a preparatiue for healâ—h WHat 's that hath cha ung'd thy state my friend to me declare What 's that hath eas'd thy feare and toyles of former trade What 's that which makes thee now at libertie from care Doth pleasure now possesse the place which greefe did once inuade No t is a quyet life whiâ—h is the worlde of welth A meane to moue vs vnto mirth a preparatiue to healthâ— For where Discention digges there Sorrow sowes her sâ—edeâ— Where fearefullnesse is founde there pleasantnesse is voyde Where soaking sighes be sonke what passions then it breedes I me report to those which be with those extreemes anoy'd For sure â— quyet life is euen the world of wealth A meane to moue vs vnto mirth preparatiue to health The hearte which haunted is with dayly dreedfull doubtes Is in a prison pent in paine procuring still vnrest And when their happens