I not to learne And I did thinke you such that litle knew of guile But seemings now be plaste for deedes and please fulwel the while Why doo I wâ—nder thus to thinke this same so strange Who hath assayed and knoweth not that wemen choose to change Haue you thus sone forgot the doutes and dreades you made Of yongmens loue how litle holde how sone away they fade How hardly you beleeued â–ª how often would you say My wordes were spoken of the splene and I as oft denay How oft did you protest with handes vpstretcht to skyes How oft with othes vnto the Gods how oft with weeping eyes Did you beseech them all to rid your spending dayes When that you thought to leaue your fréend to dy without delayes Mée thought in heauen I saw how Ioue did laughe to skornâ— To sée you sweare so solemly and ment to be forsworne But as the Sirens singe when treason they procure So smyling baytes the harmles soules vnto their bane alure Thy fawning flattering wordes which now full falce I finde Perswades mee to content my selfe and turne from Cressids kinde And all the sorte of those that vse such craft I wish A speedy end or lothsome life to liue with Lasars dish Yet pardon I do pray and if my wordes offend A crased ship amid the streame the Marriner must mende And I thus to it and turnd whose life to shipwracke goes Complaynes of wrongs thou hast mee don and all my greefe forth showes And could your hart consent and could you gree therto Thus to betray your faythful freend and promis to vndo If nought your wordes could binde to holde your suer behest Nor ought my loue ne othes you sware could bide within your brest Yet for the worldly shame that by this facte might rise Or for the losse of your good name for dealing in this wise Or thus to see mee greeu'd tormented still in payne Thy gentil hart should haue bin pleasde such murder to refrayne But through thy cruell deede if that vntamed death With speedy dart shall rid my life or leaue my lyuing breath The gods then can and will requite thy bloddy acte And them I pray with lowly sute for to reuenge thy facte God graunt the earth may bring nought forth to thy auayle â–ª Nor any thing thou takest in hand to purpose may preuayle Thy most desired freend I wish may bee most coy Wherin thou doost thée most delite and takest the greatest ioy That same I would might turne vnto thy most mischeefe That in thy life thy hart may feele the smart of others greefe But sith no good can come of thy mishap to mee I graunt some blame I doo deserue that thus desire to see Thy blisfull life so changde from weaâ—e to wretched state When freendes do breake the bonde of loue then is their greatest hate Thy deedes do sure deserue much more reuenging spight Then hart can thinke or tongue can tel or this my pen can wright Thy bewty bright is sutch that well it would inuade A hart more hard then Tigar wilde and more it can perswade Then Tullyes cunning tongue or Ouids louing tale Well may I curse and ban them both that so haue brewed my bale I feare to praise to far least haply I begin To kindle fier that well is quencht and burne mée all within For well I may compare and boldly dare it say Thou art the Quéene of women kinde and all they ought obay And all for shame doo blush when thou doost come in place They curse ech thing that gaue thée life and more disdain thy face Then any liuyng wight doth hate the Serpent foule Or birdes that singe and flies by day abhors the shrikyng Owle Oh that a constant minde had guided forth thy dayes I had not then assayd myshap nor pen spoke thy disprayse Decréed sith that thou art for euer to forsake mée In sorrows swéete I wil mée shrine till death shall list to take mée Bewayle O woful eyes with fluds of flowing teares This great mischaunce thy lothsome life that all ill hap vp beares Since parted is your ioy resigne likewise your sight I neuer will agree to like or looke on other wight Nor neuer shall my mouth consent to pleasant sound But pale and leane with hollow lookes till death I will bée found And you vnhappy handes with lyking foode that fed mée Leaue of to labor more for mée since sorrow thus hath sped mée Lament vnlustie legges bée lame for euer more Sith shée is gone for whom you kept your willing pace in store O hatefull heauy hart bewayle thy great vnrest Consume thy selfe or part in twaine within my blouddy brest And yée my sences all whose helpe was aye at hand To length the life that lingreth now and lothsomely doth stand Yée sonne ye moone and starres that gyues the gladsome light Forbeare to show your force a while let all bée irkesome night Let neuer soyle bringe forth agayn the lusty gréene Nor trées that new dispoyled are with leafe be euer séene Let neither birde nor beast posses their wonted minde Let all the thinges that liues on earth be turned from their kinde Let all the furies forth that pine in Hell with payne Let all their torments come abroad with lyuing wightes to rayne Let peace be turnd to war let all consume with fier Sith I must dâ—e that once did ioy and lose that I desier I hate my life and breath I hate delighting food I hate my greefe I hate my death I hate that doth mee good I hate the gentill hart that rueth on my payne I hate the cruell stubborn sorte that doth my life disdayne I hate al sortes of men that haue their life in price And those I hate that folow death esteeming them vnwise I hate thâ—se carefull thoughtes that thinke on my sweet â—o I hate my selfe then twice as much if I forget her so I hate what would you more I wot not what I hate I wish her dead and layed in graue I wish her better state Come wilde and sauadge beastes stretch forth your cruell pawes Dismember mee consume my flesh imbrew your greedy iawes Within your entrayles see a coffin ye prepare To tombe this carefull corpes that now vnwillingly I bare Come lingringe slothful death that doost the wretch deny To show thy force and ridst the riche that list not for to dye Is this the recompence is this the due reward Doth loue thus pay his seruants hier and doth hee thus regard And doth hee vse to set the harmles soules on fier With faire sweet intisinge lookes to kindle their desier Fye false loue that hast so decte with bewty bright A Lady faire with such vntroth to worke such cruell spight And ye that did pursue blinde loue with speedy pace â—esâ—rame your steps example take of this my wofull case Let this alone suffise that in few wordes I say Who can beware by others harmes thrice blest and happy they Beleeue
Arthur Fletchar of Bangor Gent. YE grisly ghostes which walke below in black Cocistus Lakes Miâ—s Dâ—tis dennes Erebus Dames with heare of vgly Snakes Medusa with thy monstrous mates assist mée now a while In dyre wamenting verse to shew and drierie dolefull stile The fayre vntimely fatall ende of Fletcher now by death Unto the Ayre his soule with Ioue resignde his latest breath Whose life fuâ—l dâ—e wee must commend as it deserues the same And conuersation to eche one did seldome meryt blame A faythfull freend to eche hee was to none an oppen foe Unto his Prince a subiect true till fates had lodgd him loe His actes did tend to no mans harmes no Parasite to prayse For greedy gayne but still the troth mayntaynd at all assayes His time hée spent in Uertues lore as séemd his state full wel By serious study what hée could hée sought for to excel But what of al this same the fates no wight in time wyll spare WheÌ„ gastly death hath pearst in earth theÌ„ must our bodyes weare In age aswell in youthes in youthes aswell in age No certayne time wée haue to bide when death with vs wil wage No thing can still abide but comes to nought in ende The craggy Rocks the sturdiest okes starke rotten once is rend And so hath Fletcher now to death payd his due What hée is now wée must bée all his Funerall then vew FINIS ¶ A Lady writeth vnto her Louer wherin shee most earnestly chargeth him with Ingratitude O Wretched wight whom hensfoorth may I trust All men both falce and fell I will them painte If thou vnkinde bée cruell and vniust Whom I alwayes so faythfull held and quainte What cruelty what trustles treasons iust Was euer hard by tragicall complaint But lesse then this my merit if I may And thy desart in equall ballance lay Wherfore vnkinde since that on liue A worthier wight of prowes ne beauty Ne that by much to thee that doth ariue In cumly porte ne genorositie Why doost thou not twéene these thy vertues striue It may bee sayd thou hast serbillitie Then say that who of fayth is holden stable There may to him none els bée comparable For write ye not that vertues haue no grace Wheras this trust and stablenesse doth want As other things though much of cumly face Cannot be seene where gladsome light is skant A mayd to false for thée an easie case Whose Idol Lord God thou werst most puisant Whom with thy wordes it easly had bin donne To make beleue both colde and darke the sonne Cruell what offence hast thou for to bewayle The killing of thy loue if thou not repent If yee accompte so light of fayth to fayle What other sinne can make thy harte lament How treate you foes if mée ye doo assayle That loues thée so with such cruell torment The heauens iustles I will say to bée In case they shew the iust reuenge of mée If of offences all that monstrous vice Ingratitude do most a man offend And if for that an Angell of great price Was forced to Hell from heauen to dissend If great offence great chastisment entice When to reforme the hart doth not him bend Take héed sharp skourge that God on thée not send Thou art to mee vnkinde and doost not mend If these also besides some other spot I haue vnkinde wherof thée to accuse That thou my hart with holdst I meane it not I speake of thée that madest thée myne by lot And robbest mée since against reasoÌ„ which I must Restore vnkinde for well thou wottest it playne They shal be damned that others goods retaine Unkinde thou hast forsaken mée but I will Not will thee willingly for none assayes Yet this hard hap and trouble for to flie I can and will ende these my wofull dayes In onely way in thy disgrace to dye For if the Gods had graunted by their payes My death geuen then when I stoode in thy grace No wight had dyed in halfe so happy a case FINIS ¶ The Louer vnto his Lady beloued of her disdaynfulnesse toward him FOr beauties sake though loue doth dread thy might And Venus thinks by sute to proue thy dame Though Pallas striues by hope of equall right For Wisdoms watch as daughter thée to claime Though Mercury would entitled be thy Syre For thy sweet talke so sweetly blazed forth Though all the Gods do burne in like desire Thy graces rare in heauen so much worth Yet lo thy proofe I know the trusly waight Of Tygars milke thou fostred wert from molde And Cipres Well with dainful chaung of fraight Gaue thee to drinke infected poyson colde But yet beware least loue renew in thee The dreadfull flame Narcissus whylom felt With eger moode and sight to feede thine eye Of thine owne from others flame to swell For loue doth loue with hot reuenge to wreake The ruthles Iron hart that will not breake FINIS The Louer in the prayse of his beloued and comparison of her beauty NOt shée for whom prowde Troy did fall and burne The Greekes eke slaine that bluddy race did runne Nor shée for spight that did Acteon turne Into an Hart her beauty coye did shunne Nor shée whose blud vpon Achilles Tombe Whose face would tame a Tygars harte Nor shée that wan by wise of Paris dome Th'apple of Golde for Beauty to her parte Nor shee whose eyes did pearce true Troylus brest And made him yeeld that knew in loue no law Might bee compared to the fayrest and the best Whom Nature made to kéepe the rest in awe For Beauties sake sent downe from Ioue aboue Thrise happy is hée that can attayne her loue FINIS ¶ In the prayse of a beautifull and vertuous Virgin whose name begins with M. BEhold you Dames the raigne in fames whose lookes mens harts do leade And triumph in the spoyle of those vpoÌ„ whose brests you trede A myrt or make of M whose molde Dame Nature in disdayne To please her self spight her foes in beauty raysd to raigne Whose sunny beames starry eyes presents a heauenlyke face And shewes the world a wonderous worke sutch are her giftes of grace In forhed feature beareth brunt in face doth fauor guyde In lookes is life in shape is shame in cheekes doth coulor hyde In boddy seemelynesse doth shew in wordes doth wisdome shade All partes of her doth prayse deserue in temprance is her trade In humble porte is honor plaste in face is maydens smyles Her life is grafte with Golden giftes her deedes deuoyd of gyles And as the Star to Marriners is guyde vnto the Port So is this M a heauenly ioy to Louers that resort Who run and rome with inward wounds folded armes acrosse And hide their harms with clokes of care féed their hope with losse Her lookes doth lift aboue the skyes her frowns to Hel doth throw All sues to her shée séekes on none that daily proofe doth show Wherfore her saying late set forth shée burnt
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
own while I haue liuing breath What heapes of haples hopes on me shall chance to fall So thou doo liue in blisfull state no force for mée at all Amid my greatest greefe the greatest care I haue Is how to wish and will thée good and most thy honor saue Bee faythfull found therfore bée constant true and iust If thou betray thy louing fréend whom hensforth shall I trust When shal I speake with thee when shal I thee imbrace When will the gods appease their wrath when shal I haue sutch grace Hath Ioue forgotten dame Lede for loue and how hee prayed her Transformed like a swan at length the séely soule hee trayde her When faire fresh Danae was closed vp in tower Did hee not raine himselfe a drop amidst the golden shower And fell into her lap from top of chimney hiâ— The great delight of his long loue hee did attaine thereby What cruell gods be these what trespasse haue I doone That I am banisht thus from thee what conquest haue they woon I know their power deuine can for a while remooue mee But whilsâ—e I liue and after death my soule shall likewise loue thée Not Alcumena shee for whom the treble night Was shaped first can well compare with thee for bewty bright Not Troylus sister too whom cruell Pirrhus slew Nor shee the price of ten yeres wars whom yet the Grekes do rew Nor shee Penelope whose chastnes wan her fame Can match with thee Rosina chaste I see her blush for shame The childe of mighty Ioue that bred within his braine Shall yeeld the palme of filed speche to thee that doth her staine And euery wight on earth that liuing breath do draw Lo here your queene sent from aboue to kepe you all in awe But nowe I fine my talke I finde my wits to dull There liueth none that can set forth thy vertues at the ful Yet this I dare well say and dare it to auowe The Gods do feare Rosinas shape and bewty doth alowe In Tantalus toyle I liue and want that most I would With wishing vowes I speake I pray yet lacke the thing I should I sée that I do want I reach it runnes mée fro I haue and lacke that I loue most and lothest to forgo But oh Rosanna dere since time of my exile How hast thou done and doost thou liue how hast thou spent the while How standeth health with thée and art thou glad of chere God graunt those happy restful dayes increase may still each yere If any gréefe or care do vex thy wofull hart Then God I pray to giue thée ease and swagement of thy smart Yet this I doo desire that thou be found to abide A freend euen such as shal mislike with sodaine change to slide If pleasure now thou hast to spend the dreiry day Read then this pistle of my hande to driue the time away If all thy freendes aliue would from thy frendship swarue A thousand deathes I do desire in wretched state to starue If I amongst the rest should alter so my minde Or thou shouldest charge I promise brake or els am found vnkinde Though Argus ielus eyes that daily on vs tend Forbid vs meat and speech also or message for to send A time will come to passe and thinke it not to long That thou and I shall ioyne in ioy and wreake vs of our wrong Which time I would abide though time too long doth try mee In hope againe when time shal serue thou wilt not then deny mee Thus hope doth mee vpholde for hope of after blisse And lose therby my present ioy in hoping still for this I doo commend to thee my life and all I haue Commaund them both as thee best likes to lose or els to saue I am no more mine owne but thine to vse at will Thesame is thine without desert if thou mee seke to kill Bee glad thou litle quere my mystresse shall thee see Fall flat to ground before her face and at her feet doo lie Waste not to rise againe nor doo her not withstand If of her bounty shee vouchsafe to rayse thee with her hand Say thy maister sent thee and humbly for mée greete her Thou knowest my selfe doth wish full ofte to be in place to meete her If any worde in this hath scapte and doo her greeue A pardon craue vpon thy knee and pray her to forgeue A giltles hand it wrote thou mayst be bolde to tell No minde of malice did mee moue her self doth know it well Thou canst and I deserue make glad my wofull sprite I craue no answer to thy payne nor force thee for to write It should suffise if thou voutchsafe to reade the same This pistle then if thou mislyke condemne it to the flame But now there néedes no more I will this pistle ende Estéeme Narsetus alwayes well that is thy faythfull fréend FINIS The Louer forsaken writeth to his Lady a desperate Farwell EUen hée that whilome was thy faithful fréend most iust That thrise thrée yéeres hath spent past reposing all his trust In thy bewayling words that séemed sugar swéet The selfsame man vnwillingly doth with these lines thée greet I can not speake with thee and speaking is but paine To speake and pray and not to speede too fruitles were the gayne Inforste therfore I write and now vnfolde my minde I loue and like as earst I did I am not yet declinde Though time that trieth all hath turnde the loue you ought No changing time could alter mee or wrest awry my thought And sure I doo mislyke that wemen choose to change Ungratefull folkes I do detest as monsters foule and strange Sith first I did you know I neuer spake the thing That did intend you to beguile or might repentance bring Thrise hath my pen falne downe vpon this paper pale And scantly can my hart consent to write to thee this tale Least hasty Iudgmentes might misdeeme my giltles minde To charge that malice moues my spéech or some new frend to finde The gods I vouch to ayd who knowes the troth I ment To swarue or fleet from that I vowed was neuer my intent But as the Courser fearce by pearcing spur doth run So thy desertes enforce mée now to see this worke begun Would God I had no cause to leaue that I did loue Or lothe the thing that likt mee so nor this mishap to proue But sith no thing in earth in one estate can bide Why striue I then against the streame or toyle against the tide And haue you now forgot how many yéeres I sought To get your grace with whot good will how dearly I it bought There is no one aliue that nature euer made That hath such giftes of vertues race and such vntroth doth shade If fayth might haue bin found within a womans brest I did beleeue within thy hart shee chose her place to rest Unskilful though I bee and cannot best deserne Where craft for troth doth preace in place yet am
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
honor to aspire Whose greatest pompe doth but a while endure For proofe the flower bedect with gorgious hew As soone with heate of scorching sun doth fade As doth the weede the which vnséemly grew And showes it selfe vncouerd with the shade The stately ship which floates on fâ—ming fluds With waue is tost as soone to surging Seas Doth yéeld his pompe though fraught with store of goods As vessell weake whose force the streame assayes Our selues may show the state of eche degrée As Sampson stout whose force Philistians felt For wealth let Diues glut with golde our Mirror bée Marke Nemrods fall whose hart with pride was swelt And diuers mo whose preter pathes may learne Our future steps our vayn vnsteady stay Whose elder lyues already past may warne Us shun such snares which leades vs to decay FINIS T. P. The fall of folly exampled by needy Age. BEhold mée here whose youth to withered yeres Doth bow and bend compeld by crooked age Sée here my lyms whose strength benumbde weres Whose pleasure spent gray heares bids to bee sage But loe to late I lothe my life lewd spent And wish in vayne I had foreséene in youth These drowsie dayes which mooues mee to lament My idle youth prou'd what therof ensueth Unstorde olde yeres must serue for lusty prime These féebled ioynts must séeke to serue their want With tedious toyle because I vsde not time Loe thus I liue suffisde perforce to scant In flaunting yeres I flaunting florisht forth Amid delight puft vp with puffing pryde Meane garments then I déemed nothing worth Nay scace the best might serue my flesh to hide I thought them foes which tolde mée of my fault And iudgd them speake of rigor not good will Who toulde of gayne mée thought for hire did hault Then loe I lothde what now I wish by skill Experience mooues mée mone the more my gréefe In lyuely yeres because I did not shun Such idle steps least voyd of such reléefe As might haue helpt my age now youth is dun But what preuayles to wish I would I had Sith time delayd may not bee calde agayne A guerdon iust for such as youth too bad Consumes it is in time therfore take payne Seeke how in youth to serue contented age Learne how to lead your life in vertues lore Beholde you mee attacht with death his page Constraynd through want my lewdnes to deplore What greefe more great vnto a hauty hart Then is distresse by folly forste to fall What care more cruell or lothsom to depart From wealth to want it greeues vs to the gall But what auayles to boast or vaunt of vayne What profit i st to prayse a passed pryde Sith it consum'd is but a pinching payne A heape of harmes whose hurt I wretch haue tryde A direfull dreed a surge of sorowing sobs A carking care a mount of mestiue mone A sacke of sin coucht full of cankered knobs A wauering weed whose force is soone orethrone For proofe behold the boast of breathing breath See see how soone his valiaunst vaunt doth vade Our pleasant prime is subiect vnto death By vices vrgde in waues of wo to wade I know the state and trust of euery tyme I see the shame wherto eche vice doth cum Therfore by mee learne how to leaue such crime Foeâ—ix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum Let mee your Mirror learne you leaue what 's lewd My fall forepassed let teach you to beware My auncient yeres with tryall tript haue vewd The vaunt of vice to be but carking care FINIS T.P. ¶ A proper Sonet how time consumeth all earthly thinges AY mee ay mee I sighe to see the Sythe a fielde Downe goeth the Grasse soone wrought to withered Hay Ay mee alas ay mee alas that beauty needes must yeeld And Princes passe as Grasse doth fade away Ay mee ay mee that life cannot haue lasting leaue Nor Golde take holde of euerlasting ioy Ay mee alas ay mee alas that time hath talents to receyue And yet no time can make a suer stay Ay mee ay mee that wit can not haue wished choyce Nor wish can win that will desires to see Ay mee alas ay mee alas that mirth can promis no reioyce Nor study tell what afterward shal bee Ay mee ay mee that no sure staffe is giuen to age Nor age can giue sure wit that youth will take Ay mee alas ay mee alas that no counsell wise and sage Will shun the show that all doth marre and make Ay mee ay mee come time sheare on and shake thy Hay It is no boote to baulke thy bitter blowes Ay mee alas ay mee alas come time take euery thing away For all is thine bee it good or bad that growes FINIS A Mirror of Mortallity SSall clammy clay shrowd such a gallant gloze â—ust beauty braue be shrinde in dankish earth Shall crawling wormes deuoure such liuely showes of yong delights When valyant corps shall yéeld the latter breath Shall pleasure vade must puffing pride decay Shall flesh consume must thought resigne to clay Shall haughty hart haue hire to his desart Must deepe desire die drenchd in direfull dread Shall déeds lewd dun in fine reape bitter smart Must each vade when life shall leaue vs dead Shall Lands remayne must wealth be left behinde Is sence depriu'd when flesh in earth is shrinde Séeke then to shun the snares of vayne delight Which moues the minde in youth from vertues lore Leaue of the vaunt of pride and manly might Sith all must yeeld when death the flesh shall gore And way these wordes as soone for to be solde To Market cums the yonge shéepe as the olde No trust in time our dayes vncertayne bee Like as the flower bedect with splendant hue Whose gallant show soone dride with heat wee see Of scorching beames though late it brauely grew Wée all must yeeld the best shall not denye Unsure is death yet certayn wee shall dye Although a while we vaunt in youthful yeares In yonge delightes wee see me to liue at rest Wee subiect bee to griefe eche horror feares The valiaunst harts when death doth daunt the brest Then vse thy talent here vnto thee lent That thou mayst well account how it is spent FINIS T.P. A briefe dialogue between sicknesse and worldly desire ¶ Sicknesse TO darkesome caue where crawling wormes remayn Thou worldly wretch resigne thy boasting breath Yéeld vp thy pompe thy corps must passe agayn From whence it came compeld by dreadfull death ¶ Worldly desire Oh sicknesse sore thy paines doo pearce my hart Thou messenger of death whose goryng gripes mee greue Permit a while mee loth yet to depart From fréends and goods which I behinde must leaue ¶ Sicknesse Ah silly soule entis'de with worldly vayne As well as thou thy fréends must yéeld to death Though after thee a while they doo remayne They shall not still continue on the earth ¶ Worldly desire What must I then néede shrine in gastly graue And leaue what long I
print to shew A sure beléefe did straight inuade his ouerlyuing minde Tâ—at there the fatall ende alas of Thisbie was assinde And that her dainty flesh of beastes a pray vnmeet was made Wherwith distrest with woodlike rage the words he out abrade The lamentacion of Piramus for elâ—e loffe of his Loue Thisbie THis is the day wherin my irksome life And I of lyuely breath the last shall spend Nor death I dread for fled is feare care strife Daunger and all wheron they did depend Thisbie is dead and Pirame at his ende For neuer shall reporte hereafter say That Pyrame lyu'de his Lady tane away O soueraigne God what straung outragious woe Presents alas this corsiue to my hart Ah sauage beaste how durst thy spight vndoe Or séeke woes mée so perfect loue to part O Thisbie mine that was and only art My liues defence and I the cause alone Of thy decay and mine eternall mone Come Lyon thou whose rage here only shew Aduaunce with spéede and doo mée eke deuoure For ruthlesse fact so shalt thou pitty shew And mée too heere within thy brest restore Where wée shall rest togeather euermore Ah since thy corps thou graues within thy wombe Denye mée not swéet beast the selfesame tombe Alas my ioy thou parted art from mée By far more cruell meane then woonted fine Or common law of nature doth decrée And that encreaseth for woe this gréefe of mine Of that beautie only which was deuine And soueraigne most of all that liued here No litle signe may found be any where If the dead corps alas did yet remayne O great cruelty O rage of fortune spight More gréeuous far then any tongue may fayne To reue her life and in my more despight Mée to defraude of that my last delight Her once t' mbrace or yet her visage pale To kisse full oftâ— and as I should bewayle But since from mée thou hast the meane outchast Of this poore ioy thy might I héere defie For maugre thee and all the power thou hast In Plutoes raigne togeather will wée bée And you my loue since you are dead for mée Good reason is that I for you agayne Receiue no lesse but euen the selfsame payne Ah Mulberie thou witnes of our woe Right vnder thée assigned was the place Of all our ioy but thou our common foo Consented hast vnto her death alas Of beauty all that had alone the grace And therfore as the chéefe of others all Let men the Tree of deadly woe thée call Graunt our great God for honor of thy name A guerdoâ—â—f the woe wée shall here haue For I nill 〈◊〉 shée dead that rulde thesame Pronounce O Pluto from thy hollow Caue Where stayes thy raigne and let this trée receiue Such sentence iust as may a witnesse bée Of dollour most to all that shall it see ANd with those wordes his naked blade hée fiersly froÌ„ his side Out drew through his brest it forst with mortal wouÌ„d to glide The streames of gory blood out glush but hée with manly hart Careles of death and euery payne that death could them imparte His Thisbies kerchéefe hard hée straines kist with stedfast chere And harder strainde and ofter kist as death him drew more nere The Mulberies whose hue before had euer white lo béene To blackish collour straight transformed black ay since are séen And Thisbie then who all that while had kept the hollow trée Least hap her Louers long aboad may séeme him mockt to bée Shakes of all feare and passeth foorth in hope her loue to tell What terror great shée late was in and wonderous case her fel But wheÌ„ she doth approche that treâ— whos◠〈…〉 were Abasht she stands musing much how 〈…〉 should appere Her Pyramus with sights prosound and 〈…〉 that plained Shee hard and him a kerchefe saw how hee bit 〈◊〉 and strained Shee neuer drew but wheÌ„ the sword and gaping wound she saw The anguish great shee had therof her caus'd to ouerthrow In deadly swoone and to her selfe shee beeing come agayne With pittious playnts and deadly dole her loue shee did coÌ„playne That doone shee did her body leane and on him softly lay She kist his face whose collour fresh is spent and falne away Then to the sword these woords she sayth thou sword of bitter gall â–ª Thou hast bereaued mee my Loue my comfort ioy and all With that deare blood woes me of his thy cursed blade doth shine Wherfore thinke not thou canst be free to shed the same of mine In life no meane though wee it sought vs to assemble could Death shall who hath already his mine shall straight vnfolde And you O Gods this last request for ruthe yet graunt it mee That as one death wee should receiue one Tombe our graue may bee With that agayn she oft him kist then shee speaketh thus O Louer mine beholde thy loue alas my Pyramus Yet ere I dye beholde mee once that comfort not denye To her with thee that liu'd and lou'd and eke with thee will dye The Gentilman with this and as the lastest throwes of death Did pearce full fast at that same stroke to end both life and breath The voice hee knows euen ther with castes vp his heauy eyes And sees his loue hee striues to speake but death at hand denyes Yet loue whose might not theÌ„ was queÌ„cht in spite of death gaue streÌ„gth And causde froÌ„ bottoÌ„ of his hart these words to pas at leÌ„gth Alas my loue and liue ye yet did not your life define By Lyones rage the foe therof and caus'd that this of mine Is spent and past or as I thinke it is your soule so deare That seekes to ioy and honor both my last aduenture heare Euen with that woord a profound sighe from bottom of his hart Out cast his corps and spirit of life in sunder did depart Then Thisbie efte with shrike so shrill as dynned in the skye Swaps down in swoone shee eft reuiues hents the sword hereby Wherwith beneath her pap alas into her brest shée strake Saying thus will I die for him that thus dyed for my sake The purple Skaâ—let streames downe ran shee her close doth lay Unto her loue him kissing still as life did pyne away Lo thus they lou'd and died and dead one tombe theÌ„ graued there And Mulberies in signe of woe from white to blacke turnde were FINIS ⧠The lamentacion of a Gentilwoman vpon the death of her late deceased frend William Gruffith Gent. A doutfull dying dolefull Dame Not fearing death nor forcing life Nor caring ought for flitting fame Emongst such sturdy stormes of strife Here doth shee mourne and write her will Vpon her liked Louers ende Graunt Muses nyne your sacred skill Helpe to assist your mournfull freend Embouldned with your Nimphish ayde Shee will not cease but seeke to singe And eke employ her willing head Her Gruffithes prayse with ruthe to ringe WIth Poets pen I doo not preace to
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
and could not flée Though ment in prayse yet far amis I take it written bée Shée is none such as if shée would that any would disdayne But for the smartes of others gréefes of pitty shee did playne As one most lothe of any lyfe for loue of her bee loste Or that with blud or cruell deedes men write her beauties boste For mercy is in M her brest and modest is her life A courtuous mayd and like to prooue a constant worthy wife FINIS ¶ The Louer deceyued by his Ladyes vnconstancy writeth vnto her as foloweth THe heat is past that did mee fret The fier is out that nature wrought The plantes of youth that I did set Are dry and dead within my thought The Frost hath slayne the kindly sap That kept the hart in liuely state The sodayne storme and thunder clap Hath turned loue to mortall hate The myst is gon that bleard mine eyes The lowring cloudes I see appeare Though that the blinde eate many flyes I would you knew my sight is cleare Your sweete deceyuing flattryng face Did make mee thinke that you were white I muse how you had such a grace To séeme a Hauke and bée a kyte Where precious ware is to be solde They shall it haue that giueth most All things wée see are woon with Golde Few things is had where is no cost And so it fareth now by mée Because I preace to giue no gyftes Shee takes my sute vnthankfully And driues mée of with many dryftes Is this th' end of all my sute For my good will to haue a skorne Is this of all my paynes the frute To haue the chafte in steade of corne Let them that lyst posses such drosse For I deserue a better gayne Yet had I rather leaue with losse Then serue and sue and all in vayne FINIS ¶ A true description of Loue. ASke what loue is it is a passion Begun with rest and pampred vp in play Planted on sight and nourished day by day With talke at large for hope to graze vpon It is a short ioy long sought and soone gon An endles maze wherin our willes doo stray A gylefull gaine repentance is the pay A great fier bred of small occasion A plague to make our fraylty to vs knowen Where wée therby are subiecte to their lay Whose fraylty ought to leaue vntill our stay In case our selues this custome had not knowen Of hope and health such creatures for to pray Whose glory resteth chéefly on denaye FINIS ¶ The Louer to his beloued by the name of fayre and false O Cruell hart with falsehood infecte of force I must complayne Whose poyson hid I may detect as cause doth mée constrayn Thy name I shryne within my brest thy déedes though I doo tell No minde of malice I protest thy selfe doth know it well If thy deserts then bids mée write I cannot well reuoke it I shall not spare to shew thy spite I will no longer cloake it As Troylus truth shall bée my shéeld to kepe my pen from blame So Cressids crafte shall kepe the féeld for to resound thy shame Vlisses wife shall mate the sore whose wishly troth doth shine Well Fayre and False I can no more thou art of Helens lyne And daughter to Diana eke with pale and deadly cheare Whose often chaunge I may well like two moonthes within the yeare FINIS ¶ The Louer describeth his paynfull plight and requireth speedy redresse or present death THe slaue of seruile sort that borne is bond by kinde Doth not remayne in hope with such vnquiet minde Ne tossed crasid Ship with yrksome surging seas So gréedely the quiet Port doth thirst to ride at ease As I thy short returne with wishing vowes require In hope that of my hatefull harmes the date will then expire But time with stealing steps and driery dayes doth driue And thou remaynst then bound to come if that thou bée aliue O cruell Tygars whelpe who had thy hand in holde When y with flattering pen thou wrotst thy help at hand behold Beleeue it to bee true I come without delay A foole and silly simple soule yet doost thou still betray Whose mooueles loue and trust doth reason far surmount Whom Cupids trumpe to fatall death hath sommond to accompt My fayth and former life fed with such frendly fier Haue not of thee by iust reward deserued such falts hyer I promisse thee not mine but thy case I bewayle What infamy may greater bee then of thy fayth to fayle How ofte with humble sute haue I besought the sonne That hee would spur his Coursers fearce their race more swifte to ronne To th' end with quicker speed might come the promised day The day which I with louing lookes and weary will did pray But thou art sure disposde to glory in my death Wherfore to feede thy fancy fond loe here I ende my breath I can not sighe nor sob away by playnt I pine I see my fatall fainting file ye Sisters doo vntwine The Feriman I finde prest at the Riuer side To take mee in his restles Boate therin with him to ride And yet although I sterue through thy dispitous fault Yet craue I not in my reuenge that harme should thee assault But rather that thy fame eternally may shine And that eche to thine auayle aboundantly encline That eche thine enterprise hath luckye lot and chaunce And stable fortune thine estate from day to day aduaunce That Sun that Moone that starres and eke the plannets all The fier the water and the earth may fréendly to thée fal That many quiet yeres thou number may with rest Uoyd of all annoyes and gréeues as may content thee best And if that foraine loue torment and vexe thy harte God yeeld thy weary wanting wish and swagement of thy smart With froward flearing face at mee if Fortune frowne Thou doost reioyce and I not so but ioy thy good renowne And if I thée offend for that I doo thée loue Forgiue it mée for force it is I can it not remoue For I in secret sort these lines to thée did I write My weakned wearied hand hensforth shall sease for to endyte That letters to receiue from mée thou néede not muse The messenger that next of all of mée shal bring the newes Dissolued from the corps shal be my dolefull spright That first vnsheaâ—hd shal passe to thée when hée hath vewd thy sight Contented hee shall go vnto the heauens aboue In case that ioyed rested place may gayne it any loue And now for that my death thy name may spot and stayne If that the flying fame therof to others eares attayne I will not it were red or knowen by other wayes That thou art only cause I thus in ruthe doo ende my dayes Wherfore this Letter red condemne it to the flame And if thou doo thy honnor forse I know thou wilt thesame And if in lingring time vnwares they chaunce to come Wherin the entrayles of the earth shall hap to bee my tombe
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
write Mineruaes mate I doo not boast to bée Parnassus Mount I speake it for no spite Can cure my cursed cares I playnly see For why my hart contaynes as many woes As euer Hector did amongst his foes Eche man doth mone when faythfull 〈…〉 And paynt them out as well as wits doo serue â–ª But I a Mayde am forst to vse my head To wayle my fréend whose fayth did prayse deserue Wit wants to will alas no skill I haue Yet must I néedes deplore my Gruffithes graue For William white for Gruffith gréene I wore And red longe since did serue to please my minde Now blacke I weare of mee not vs'd before In liew of loue alas this losse I finde Now must I leaue both White and Gréene and Red And wayle my fréend who is but lately dead Yet hurtfull eyes doo bid mée cast away In open show this carefull blacke attyre Because it would my secret loue bewray And pay my pate with hatred for my hyre Though outwardly I dare not weare thesame Yet in my hart a web of blacke I frame You Ladyes all that passe not for no payne But haue your louers lodged in your laps I craue your aydes to helpe mee mourne amayne Perhaps your selues shall feele such carefull claps Which God forbid that any Lady taste Who shall by mee but only learne to waste My wits be weake an Epitaphe to write Because it doth require a grauer stile My phrase doth serue but rudely to recite How Louers losse doth pinch mee all this while Who was as prest to dye for Gruffithes sake As Damon did for Pithias vndertake But William had a worldly freend in store Who writ his end to small effect God knowes But I. and H. his name did show no more Rime Ruffe it is the common sentence goes It hangs at Pawles as euery man goes by One ryme too low an other rampes too hye Hée prays'd him out 〈…〉 doo vse And vttered all the 〈◊〉 that God had sent But I am shée that neueâ— will refuse But as I am so will I still bee bent No blastes shall blow my lincked loue awry Oh? would the Gods with Gruffith I might dye Then had it been that I poore silly Dame Had had no neede to blot this scratched scroule Then Virgins fist had not set forth the fame How God hath gripte my Gruffithes sacred soule But wee is mée I liue in pinching payne No wight doth know what sorowes I sustayne Unhappy may that drowsie day bée nam'd Wherin I first possest my vitall breath And eke I wish that day that I was fram'd In stead of life I had receiued death Then with these woes I needed not to waste Which now alas in euery vayne I taste Some Zoylus sot will thinke it lightly doone Because I mone my mate and louer so Some Momus match this scroule will ouerronne But loue is lawlesse euery wight doth know Sith loue doth lend mee such a freendly scope Disdaynfull dogs I may despise I hope Wherfore I doo attempt so much the more By this good hope to shew my slender arte And mourne I must who neuer marckt before What fretting force doo holde eche heauy hart But now I see that Gruffithes greedy graue Doth make mee feele the fits which louers haue My mournfull Muse good Ladyes take in worth And spare to speake the worst but iudge the best For this is all that I dare publish forth The rest recorded is within my brest And there is lodg'd for euer to remayne Till God doth graunt by death to ease my payne And when that death is 〈…〉 With all the paynes that 〈…〉 Yet to my Gruffith will I 〈…〉 Hap death holde life my 〈…〉 Before I will our secret loue 〈…〉 To Tantals paynes my body I 〈◊〉 So liue I shall when death hath spit heâ— spâ—ght And Lady Fame will spread my prayse I know And Cupids Knights will neuer cease to write And cause my name through Europe for to flow And they that know what Cupid can preuayle Will blesse the ship that floates with such a sayle If I had part of Pallas learned skill Or if Caliope would lend her ayde By tracte of time great volumes I would fill My Gruffithes prayse in wayling verse to spread But I poore I as I haue sayd before Doo wayle to want Mineruaes learned lore By helpe I hope these ragged rymes shall goe Entituled as louers lyues should bee And scape the chyding chaps of euery foe To prayse that man who was best likte of mee Though death hath shapte his most vntimely end Yet for his prayse my tristiue tunes I send In hope the Gods who guide the heauens aboue His buryed corps aliue agayne will make And haue remorce of Ladyes lincked loue As once they did for good Admetus sake Or change him els into some flower to weare As erst they did transforme Narscissus fayre So should I then possesse my former freend Restor'd to lyfe as Alcest was from Hell Or els the Gods some flagrant flower would send Which for his sake I might both weare and smell Which flower out of my hand shall neuer passe But in my harte shall haue a sticking place But wo is mee 〈…〉 in 〈…〉 Adue delight come 〈…〉 To bluntish blockes I see I doo 〈◊〉 playne And reape but onely sorrow for â—y share For wel I know that Gods noâ— sprites can cure The paynes that I for Gruffith doo endure Since wayling no way can remedy mee To make an ende I therfore iudge it best And drinke vp all my sorrow secretly And as I can I will abide the rest And sith I dare not mourne to open showe With secret sighes and teares my hart shall flow Some busie brayne perhaps will aske my name Disposed much some tidings for to marke That dare I not for feare of flying fame And eke I feare least byting bugs will barke Therfore farewell and aske no more of mee For as I am a Louer will I dye FINIS