〈◊〉 farewell vnto you both twixt hope and feare farewell all foolish strife Follie farewell which I haue fancyed so and farewell fancie that first wroughtst my woe Adue desire for death is harde at hande and yet againe I say adue to death Though loathed life doe in deathes daunger stande yet faith assures when bodie loseth breath The soule in heauen shall liue and fare right wel which makes me crie come death and life farewel Both frendes and foes vnto you all farewell farewell my frendes for frendshippe I haue found Farewell my foes that truth in time may tell when that â—y bones be buryed in the ground That with the worlde I die in charitie and so adue the bell hath done I die And yet once more to death agayne adue for dying thus me thinkes I liue againe My certayne hope showes ioyes that do ensue and hart findes ease of former pinching payne Which makes me thus by certayne prouse to tell faithe feares no death I dying liue farewell Counsaile geuen to a frend WHen gallant youthe hath gone a while at will and folowed that which fancie doth affecte And sées in tyme by proufe of sacred skill What wisdome would that reason should respect He then returnes from former vanytie and treades the pathe to true felicitie When witte doth waye the wanton toyes of will and will doth yéelde to folow wittes aduice And willing witte doth learne by wisdomes skil of perfecte good to knowe the passing price Then worldly toyes are all had in despight and Heauenly ioyes are all the hartes delight When fancie leaues to follow fonde desire and wisdome doth dame fortunes force defie And nature doth but reasones will require and conscience will conceale no trecherie Then if my mynde do not mistake his markes the skye will fall and we shall want no larkes The secrete sute of a louer NOt what I woulde yet would I what I wright not what I meane yet meane I what I saye Not what I mought yet would I what I might not what I can yet will I what I may My spéeche is darke but you perceyue much light then marke my wordes and gesse my meaning right For this you know my tonge so fast is tyde as for my lyfe I cannot yet speake playne Yet do I seeke to haue my mynde descride therby to speake some libertie to gayne For if my tonge might tell my tale in kynde my harte would hope to haue some ease of mynde But oh harde happe my hope his helpe denyes and hope halfe past dispaire doth drowne my mynde Yet reason showes that thou in deede art wise and ruth reportes that I shall fauour find Which makes me thus in midst of my distresse in secrete sorte to sue for some redresse Of sweet contentes WHat aâ—le I wretch or whereto was I borne what meanes my mynd my fancie so to set The greatest iemmes I seme to haue in scorne and daylie séeke the thinge I cannot get The reason is I seeke a thinge to craue which will would wishe but hope can neuer haue What is it welth no many rich I see as many seeke but few or none can haue Bewtie oh no faire ladies many be and t is I saye no common thinge I craue What is it loue tushe loue is but a toye yet faithfull loue is sure a heauenly ioy And therefore Loue I cannot choose but léeke but lyking lookes and lacke breedes discontent And they shal finde that doe such sorrowe seeke that lothed lacke doth luckles loue lamente What is it then whereof I am so faine oh t is contente I seeke but cannot gaine Oh sweete contente what one doth thée enioy who liues contente alas I least of all Content doth breede delight without annoy contente mislykes no fortune that can fall Contente is that which few or none can finde yet must I seeke to set at rest my minde One that had made his full choise MY foolish dayes and wanton lustes be past in vayne you seeke 〈◊〉 me againe Let be your toyes my thoughts are fixed fast Citheria should her selfe but lose her paine Remember not to me wonted delight each sweete so past is now but bitter gall Darcknes I 〈◊〉 that earst I counted light my reason is redéemde from fancies thrall Applie your selues to set some other snare perhaps ye may speede better if ye doe Such woodcockes many in the worlde there are that will be caught I am no pray for you One hath me fast already hers am I Ne will I be anothers till I die A Countrey Carrolle translated out of Belaye A Crowne for Ceres wil I make of euerie kinde of corne With garlandes made of faiâ—e 〈◊〉 boughes I Bacchus will adorne Two pottes of milke to Pales laste I purpose to present That they may heare my humble suite and to my will aâ—ente That Ceres may enforce the ground a plenteous croppe to yeald That Bacchus may the clustred grapes well prosper in the field That Pales so her mantle spread vpon the pleasaunt soyle That grasse and holesome hâ—rbes may grow to quite my painfull toyle The same in another sorte WIth fragrante flowers with eares of corne with leaues that largely grow On euery vine lets garlands make our thankefull mindes to show To Pales Ceres sacred dames and Bacchus last of all Who all our meddowes fields and grounds when we for grace did call With grasse with graine and grapes so filde as they did déeme it best We fearde no heate no hayle no colde for they our labour blest From all that might the grasse the eare or tender braunche offende The cattle birdes or greedie goate that from the hilles descend In summer season in the springe or Authume did not spoile The grasse the eare the sprouting budde but fedde on others soile Let mowiers then make merry now let Reapers all reioyce Let vintners vaunte of their good happe and all exalte their voice To praise the meddowes fieldes and ground that gaue so greate increase And laude their name that wrought this worke els will their goodnes cease Barnes garners sellers so are heapte with hay with corne and wine That neuer earst the like was seeâ—e with any mortall eyine An Epigram out of the same Author THough false Aeneas now be dead Dido laid in graue yet others lefte they in their stead that like coÌ„ditioÌ„s haue Who with the show of marriage rites which is a holy thing do hide their fleshly fonde delights that follie forth doth bring Verses translated out of the foresaide Poet. WIth loue with grace and perfect worthines the powers diuine were compassed rounde about The skie was clad and cloathd in comely sorte with burning rayes of happye heauenly hew All thinges were full of beutie and of blisse the sea was calme the winde was meeke and milde VVhen here below the Paragon was borne whose faire white skinne exceedes the Lillie farre Whose haire like golde doth glister in the sunne whose lippes doe staine the perfecte crimson die
the aliaunce that Hannibal soughte to haue with him which vpon what occasion I know not he greatly misliked and would in no wise geue his consent therunto perswading his Father very earnestly for diuers causes that he thought reasonable to breake of this match and in no wise to suffer it to go forward wherin the old man folowinge his Sonnes aduise did in all things as he desired him and answered Hannibals frends accordingly when they came to know his resolution in the matter The two louers vnderstanding how contrary to their expectacion al things were fallen out as it is our humane nature to desire that which is most denyed vs more desirous now then at any tyme before to be together and frely to enioy each other Camilla said to her beloued Hannibal what are not we handfast can we be put a sonder with a safe conscience no verely and therefore to make the matter more assured as I may very well without offence to Godward I will this night admit you to my bed wherefore if about midnight you will repaire to my Fathers house my maide that is alredie priuy to all that hath passed betwene vs shall geue her attendaunce at the back gate to let you in when you come whereunto Hannibal verie glad of so good an offer willingly consented and when the hower was come went with all speede to the place appoynted and was priuely conducted by the maid to Camillas chamber who receiued him very courteously and he imbrasing and kissing her with great affection rauished with exceding ioy through this his vnexpected pleasure his sences failing him he pittifully dyed in the armes of his deare Camilla who seing this straunge aduenture twixte feare and grefe was so grieuouslie tormented that being vnhable longe to endure it at the last she fell doune deade vpon the corpes of her beloued Hannibal The pore maide that was present behoulding this pitifull tragedie and séeing no hope of recouerie in them cried for helpe so loud as she could Claudius that lay not farre of being awakened with this sodaine clamour came running into his sisters chamber with his weapons readie drawne in his hand to see what was the cause thereof and beholding there this pitifull spectacle knowing it was the bodie of Hannibal that then lay by his sisters not stayinge to heare what the mayde would say to him presently stabbed her in with his dagger and so leauing her for dead retourned againe to his owne chamber In the morning this straunge accident being noysed throughout the whole towne and at the last coming to the eares of the Gouernour he caused the mayd to be examined that was not then fully dead and vnderstanding by her how all thinges had passed caused Claudius to be apprehended and within two days after the maid dying condemned him to be beheded wherupon he was presently executed in the place appoynted for the punishment of all offenders The two louers likewise with great lamētation were both buried in one tombe very sumptiously prepared in perpetuall remembraunce of their incomparable amitie A Prince being enamoured of a bewtifull gentlewoman perceiuing a fauowred seruant of his to be greatly tormented for the loue of the same gentlewoman geueth him leaue to enioy her and quencheth his owne heate by an other meane A Certaine Prince whose name I nede not rehearse soiorning for his pleasure in the towne of Blais had amongest all his folowers one that he specially fauoured who walking one day abroad for his pleasure beheld by chaunce a very bewtifull gentlewoman that was wyfe to a welthie merchant of the Toune and findinge in her as he thought so many good giftes as he neuer sawe in any in all his lyfe before he became so greatly enamoured of her that he could neuer be in quiet but was continualy troubled in mind practising by all meanes possible to find a remedie for his newe passion and so behaued him selfe that the gentlewoman well perceyuing his purpose being vāquished with the like affection did by her lookes and iestures geue him playnly to vnderstand that she liked wel of his frendly offers and would willingly satisfie his desire if oportunitie did serue Duringe these hopes the Prince his maister made a solemne feast whereunto were asembled all the Ladies gentlewomen of any reputation in the Cittie amongest whome this gentlewoman before spoken of was one who for her bewty neatenes in apparel and comely behauiour did as far surmount the rest as the prettie pigion doth the fowle black rauen or the fairest spring the filthiest pudle to be short there was no comparison betwene them so greatly did they differ in all thinges which the youthful Prince perceyuing and wondringe greately at such excellent bewtie as she on the other side did at his royaltie and the rare perfections that she perceyued to be in him loue by and by atached both theire hartes and inflamed them with such affection each towards other that they instantly desired a spedie end of their amorous procedings and so finely they handled the matter that before they parted it was concluded betwene them that the next night her husband being from home they would mete at her house and satisfie each other with full assurance of theire vnfained amitie The loue of this gentlewoman beinge thus remoued from the Seruant to the Maister the last stode so greatly in her grace that the first was in a maner quite forgotten her swete lookes cōuerted to rigorous regards she now set him at nought whome before she highly estemed which sodaine alteration so tormented the mind of this pore gentleman and draue him into such extreame passions that being quite altred from that he was wont to be he semed rather a deade image then a liuinge creature In these extremities he withdrue himselfe into his chamber and taking his lute in hand songe thereunto as foloweth Both loue and death are now become my foes Of libertie hath loue bereft me quite So death denyes his due to end my woes And lets me liue to worke me more despight A wretched life that lasteth all too long Since all things tornes contrary to my mind My mind is grieu'd to bide such open wrong Such open wrong as no redresse can find Yet see I well the cause of all my griefe Springs from the place where lay my most delight A small delight that lendes so bad reliefe A bad reliefe that so bereaues my right And to an other voide of like desert Yeldes that which should requite my passed paines A grieuous case a cause that cuts my hart So much the more because no helpe remaines But thus resolu'd that whilst my life shall last I will no more a womans words beleue This hurt once heald I hope my heate is past And then no more it shall my senses grieue To thinke on loue or louers wanton toyes I leaue that life to such as like it best Let them sucke sorrow from their secret ioyes I will hence forth
difference of our degrees Her great wealth and my want Her plentie and my pouertie In these words which were mingled with an infinit number of passions he could finde no reason at all for him to recouer any rest The poore Lady on the other side that fryed in the same fire withdrew her selfe into her chamber and framing her countenance as she could very well by fayning her selfe sicke she found the meanes to â—e alone to the ende she might the better bewaile her case without being perceiued of any wherefore prouoked by the heate of her new loue which tooke from her all Maydenly modestie she sayd to her selfe Alas is it meete this cruell tirant should so hardly intreate me to make me wil that I may not when I may not as I would Ah ah Barisor well may I count my selfe vnhappy that euer I saw thee seeing that sight hath ingendred this loue which at the beginning seemeth so harde and grieuous vnto me and will I feare me in the end be a cause of greater euill and peraduenture the vtter ruine of vs both My only desire is to enioy thee that art my only comfort But alas I see no way how to bring it to passe without greatly offending my parents and mine owne honor and therfore should death be more delightfull vnto me then stil to indure this extreame torment that my miserable life maketh me so long to endure These poore passionate louers so long maintained their inward affection by outward lookes and secrete fauoures that the poore Gentleman vnhable to indure his consuming griefes presuming vpon the courtesie of his mistres whom by al euident tokeÌ„s he perceiued to burne in the same fire that he did séeing her one day all alone at a window very sad and pensiue pricked forward by an amorous desire he found the meanes to enter into her chaÌ„ber vnseene of any saue only of a trustie maide that attended vpon her and fayning to bring her newes from some frend of hers as one that was coÌ„uersant among the best he did most humbly and gratiously salute her and then began with a trembling voice to vtter these wordes Madame though I know the greatnes of your beautie and the place ye holde to be such as should moue any man of my degrée to be wel aduised what he wil say before he presume to speake vnto you least by his vnaduised proceeding he doe abridge some part of that honour which is rightly due vnto you wherof I alwayes had and euer wil haue as great care and regard as any the most affectionate seruant that may possibly present himselfe before the eyes of so worthy a Lady Notwithstanding confessing the cruel torment that grieuouslie afflicteth euery parte of me for feare least I should obtaine no place in her honorable seruice whom I desire to obay and please in all thinges which would not haue suffered my life to continue till this time had it not been conserued by the hope I had to be so imployed to the death dispayring of al succour I haue now taken this presumption vpon me humbly beseeching your accustomed bountie to accept this excuse of your pore slaue that desireth no longer to liue then his life shal be acceptable vnto you and bearing with my indiscretion to impute the fault to your excellent beautie that hath entangled me and so restrayned my libertie that finding my self so wonderfully surprised I am said he the teares standing in his eyes wholy tyed to your answere whereby I attend the last and finall sentence of my life or death The young Lady litle acquainted with such amorous discourses as it is the nature of such tender youth to be somewhat shamefast at first cast down her eyes to the grouÌ„d but anone after ouercome with these sweet words and vnable to resist the feruency of this strange passion at this first incounter putting all shame vnder foote she loked vp againe beholding him with a sweete and louely countenance for whom she dyed a thousand times a day and then casting forth a deep sigh aunswered him with a trembling voice after this maner Senior Barisor I must needes confesse that at the first encounter my forces fayled me the honor I ought to my reputation being greatly attainted by the like mishap wherof vnawares I my selfe am the cause at euery word I would speake my hart panted and was gréeuously perplexed my mind likewise and al the other parts of my body were so weakened that I had in a maner no vse of them at al which now enforceth me hauing hetherto forgotten my selfe to let thée vnderstand that the very first time I was surprysed with thy honest behauiour I felt in my selfe such extreame anguish that me thought it pulled my hart out of the accustomed place to ioyne and vnite it with thine and since that time thy vertues and the knowledge I had of thy feruent affection the force and assurance whereof is now discouered hath been so liuely imprinted in my mind that through dispaire and extreme passion I thought a thousand times that my soule would haue departed from my bodie supposing all my life long to keepe secrete this amorous flame which whilest I had sought too much to suppresse increasing more and more would in the end haue quite consumed me But since vpon so iust occasion I see my good present without dissimulation vnable to denie that which ye know as well as my selfe I humbly beséech you seeing I haue so much forgotten my selfe as to put my honoure into your handes to be circumspecte in your dealing and forecast the daungerous mishaps and inconueniences that may ensue if our loue come to light considering the greatnes of my house and how many noble personages there are that wil séeke to hinder the fauour that I desire to beare vnto you which I shal not be able so wel to dissemble but that at one time or other it will be perceiued Loue now that had déepely wounded these two Louers at the heart desirous to make them know his full power and puisance when he had quite berefte their libertie so planted his ensigne in their entrailes that from the poore Lady Flora he tooke all habilitie to resist and gaue to Senior Barisor a rash desire to enterprice that which after coste him his life for geuinge bridle to his vnruly affections with a long and gracious kis confirmed his vnfayned amitie and rauished with exceeding ioy through the continuall pleasure he conceiued in her many courtesies finding him selfe alone at libertie he made request of that which most contented his libidinous desire so long contynued his haunt that at last the bruit of suspicion did not only offend the eares of all the gentlemen of the court but also of her Parents who determined to vse some rigorous correction to remoue her far from him by whose meanes she had gotten this il report and lost her good name which when she perceyued she determined rather to make
séemed so straunge and so greatly amazed him that he stoode in doubt a great while whether he saw her in deede or else dreamed that he saw her but when he came to himselfe againe and knew for certaine that it was she he said vnto her Alas my deare art thou yet aliue it is long since that I hard report that thou was lost neither could it be knowen whether thou weÌ„test or what was become of thée This said weping bitterly he imbraced and kissed her a thousand times together Then did Constance tell him of all her aduentures and how courteously the good Lady had delt with her from time to time after which and diuers other talke that they had together he departed from thence and going to the King his Maister aduertised him of all that had happened to him and his frend Constance crauing leaue of him to marry her according to his countrie maner The King greatly marueling at the matter sent for Constance who confirming all that Martuccio had reported he said vnto her Now truly faire vigin thou art worthy to haue him to thy husbande for whom thou hast taken such paines and passed so many perils wherefore bestowing many large gifts vpon them he gaue them leaue to do whatsoeuer they thought good Then Martuccio very liberally rewarding the Lady for the great beneuolence that she had vsed towardes Constance in her aduersity with the Kings licence tooke leaue of all his frends in that country with Constance and Chereprise tooke shippe and returned very rich to Lippare where they were so chearefully receaued of all their frendes who neuer thought to haue seene them againe that it is not possible to declare the excéeding ioy that this seconde méeting did bring to euery one of them To conclude Martuccio and Constance to their great comfort and contentment beinge solemnelye married euer after duringe the tearme of their life enioyed their loue together as they ought without any impediment or let to their deserued pleasure The complaint of one in misery THe day séemes long to them that dwel in dole and short the time to such as liue in ioy The sickmans griefe ful litle knowes the hole so much delight doth differ from annoy That th one doth cause in man desire to die thother stil to liue continually What man would wish to liue that liues in woe and in delight who would desire to die Since that by death an end of grief doth grow and death of ioyes depriues vs vtterly Of worldly ioyes for only so I meane of which we see death doth depriue vs cleane Wherby not all olde prouerbes true I finde for old said sawes do say that life is swéete But death is more desierd of noble minde then life to leade for liuing farre vnmeete Which loathed life doth make me thus to crie I liue too long come death and let me die A Louer fancied but not fauoured of Fortune MY mourning minde doth craue some sweet delite and fancie fame would lend me some I see But fortune frownes and sendes me foule despite and care doth kepe all comfort quite from me Such passions strange doe stil perplex my mind as I despaire of any ease to find But let me sée I must not yet despaire Dame fortunes wheele may happen â—ourne againe When stormes are past the weather may be faire and pleasure comes vnlookt for after paine Things at the worst the prouerbe saith will mend why should not then my sorrowes haue an end But old said Sawes are not yet scripture all for thinges at worst are past all mendinge quite To pininge hartes all pleasure semeth small what mirthe can doo the pyâ—ing harte delight When fates do frowne and fortune is our foe â—ought can be thought to rid the mynd of woe The nature of the Larke described THe little Larke that in the ground is hatcht and there bredde vp till fethers make her flye No sooner she a flight or two hath catcht but vp she mountes vnto the lofty skye Where if she sée Sonne shine and weather fayre how then for ioy she twittles in the ayre But if she sée the winde beginne to blow it poure downe raine and tempestes do arise Within a bush she kéepes her selfe full lowe where prety wretch close to the ground she lyes Vntill such time as all the stormes be past and then againe she geuâ—th her vp in hast Which plainely shewes the nature in the Larke is still to séeke to mount to loftie skie And though perhaps you now and then may marke a kistrell kite to make a flight so hye Yet all things waide if eache thinge haue his right a larke will far be likde aboue a kite The hawty mynde how it disposeth it selfe WHat hill so hye but litle emmets clyme what pretious perle but pore by trauel gaine What thinge so hard but is atchiud in tyme what pleasure such but may be got with payne What doubte so great but hope may men assure see more what heauen but prayer may procure The heauie Asse both kepe the valley still the clownishe coultes do loue the Country best When hawtie hartes do clime the highest hill and gallant mindes do séeke in courte to rest The cowarde dreades and in dispairs doth dye when boldest bloodes by hope do clime full hye Then let my harte goe clime the hyest hill and leaue the valley for the countrie Asse My mynd in courte shall séeke by trauell still to finde a pearle which farre all pearles doth passe My hope shall rest vpon a princely minde by helpe of God some heauenly grace to finde Loathing his life he wisheth for death WHat greater gréefe then tormentes of the hart which dayly grow by troubles of the minde And what such ioy as sodaine ease of smart which long time sought full hard hath bene to finde What heauen on earth with lucky loue to dwell then luckâ—les loue againe what greater hell But how fares he that féeleth no delight what world is that where nothing is but woe What woe to that which worketh such despight as makes a man no kinde of comfort knowe What life leades he that dayly cries to die far worse then death loe such a life lead I Then let me thus conclude my tale in briefe I am the man that only may lament A lothsome life that finde no ease of griefe nor hopes for help vntil my dayes be spent And sadly so I end my solemne song Come come good death I dying liue too long Hanging betweene hope and despaire he calleth for helpe TWixt chearefull hope and comfortles despaire straungely perplext ful sore amasde I stand Hope seemes to shew the weather wil be faire and darke despaire sayes tempestes are at hand Venture says hope despaire doth bid me slack hope prickes me on despaire doth pull me back Haue wel says hope despaire doth bid me doubt trust me says hope despaire says hope is vaine Shrinke not says hope despaire cries not to stout labour says hope
despaire doth shew no gaine Good hap says hope despaire cries contrarie hope bids me liue despaire would haue me die Thus twixt those two at point of death I liue in hope of good yet fearing froward chaunce In you it lyes a happy hap to geue to bring me out of this despairing traunce Oh help me then that thus on knees doe crie Assure my hope or in despaire I die The Louer craueth rewarde for his long and faythfull seruice OH Loue to whome I long haue bene a slaue consider wel how truely I haue serud And blame not him who is compeld to craue the due reward that he hath wel deserud Let trustie troth be euer yet regarded that faithful seruants may be wel rewarded Thou knowest how long that I haue liued a thrall thou knowest againe my true and faithful minde And thou canst tel how landes limme life and all by faith full fast I once did firmely finde To serue a Saint all this thou loue doest know and how my faith I neuer did forgoe And since thou knowest I neuer reapt reward nor euer sought til now reward to craue Sweete loue let now my humble suite be heard and pittie take vpon thy silly slaue And cause the Saint whom I so long haue serud to lend me liking as I haue deserud Oh amour WHat thing is loue a God as Poets wright why Poets faine then how can that be true What is it then some worldly sweete delight oh then their loue why should so many rue It is a griefe then why are men so vaine to ioy in that which doth procure their paine But such a pain as pleasure bringes withal and such a griefe as yealds a heauenly ioy Doth make the heart to think the hurt but smal when fancie rids the minde of selfe annoy And such is sure the panges that louers proue that wretched wights can ioy so much in loue But peace I sée loue is a God in deede who diuers wayes doth worke in minde of man Whose mighty power mans reason doth exceede by working woe or comfort now and than But is it so is loue a power diuine then God of Gods spéede well this loue of mine Nought dare I do therfore oh God of loue I thée beséeche to worke for thy behooue Of a hauty minde THe conquest rare doth greatest glory gaine the strongest fortes by stoutest wightes are won The hardest thinges atchiude with greatest payne do bréede most ease when so the worke is done Well labors he how so his time be spent that for his paines doth reape his hartes content God knowes my hart and what I do desire but what I seeke doth few or no man know The nobler harte the higher doth aspier and for my selfe I cannot stoupe to lowe But if I séeke to clyme a steppe to hye God saue the childe for if I fall I dye In high attemptes the boldest bloudes of all do best preuaile when perill once is past Then lyue or dye or stand or slyde or fall clyme sure I will God set my footing fast And helpe me so to height of my desire that I may wishe saue heauen to clyme no hyer After many misfortunes he craueth death as the ender of all calamities I Longe in iest haue wishd and calde for death when foolishe toyes haue gone agaynst my mynde But dying now at latest gaspe of breath I call to God that I may fauoure find That sinne bréede not my soules eternall paine that dyinge here I may not dye agayne For now I sée the woes of wretched will and now I finde the filthie shame of sinne And now by grace I knowe the good from ill I lothe the state that I haue liued in I see the lyfe of man is but a floure which springes growes fades and dyeth in an houre What are we all but euen a clod of claye first made of earth whence back agayne we must A life vnsure which lasteth not a daye A death most sure to which each one may trust And yet that death yeldes lyfe by heauenly grace which grace God graunt ech one in wretched case And for my selfe God me my sinnes forgiue and God forgeue each one that is amisse Oure sinnes forgeue God graunt oure soules may lyue From wretched worlde with him in heauenly blisse And thus I end my solemne dyinge songe Lord saue my soule I dyinge lyue too longe He proueth vertue to be better then worldly riches THe golde that first within the ground doth growe doth come to stand on top of pillers hye The pretious Pearle that likewise lyes full low the Prince accountes a iewell for his eye What iemme so rare that euer yet was founde but that at first did growe out of the grounde Then when you see your pallace trimly deckt straight cal to minde from whence that decking came And to the ground haue presently respect who by Gods help did first bring forth the same And thinke the iemme that makes the brauest show ful rough at first within the ground did grow The man whose minde is ful and wholy bent to vertues throne to treade the redy way And meetes mishap ere halfe his iorney spent to lothsome vice to leade him out astray Where is the fault but in a froward wil who goes without the guide of wisdomes skill But what if wit be rulde by sage aduise and then doe chaunce to meete with naked neede It bootes alas but litle to be wise if wealth do want to help to doe the déede Yet wealthy wise who walkes to vertues schoole when he comes there shal see himselfe a foole How should the minde then séeke out vertues throne or els what minde is best to seeke the same The seate is straunge and standeth all alone and vertue she is thought a heauenly dame Which makes me thinke it is some heauenly place which heauenly minde must game by heauenly grace Which heauenly guide God graunt my willing minde with wisdomes skil to seeke out vertues schoole That though wealth want yet wit may wisely finde how long too long that I haue liued a foole And I may see from vertues heauenly way what wanton toyes haue led my minde astray The louer being ouercome is compelled of necessitie â—o sing of sorrow FAine would I write some pretie pleasaunt toy to put away fond fancies out of mind But secret spite so chokes me with annoy as wearied wits can litle pleasure find So that I sée if ought at all I write my song must be of sorrow and despite And sorrowes song who would desire to sing that dolefull dumpe doth lend but small delite And yet the mind which wretched woes do wring can sing no song but smackes of some despite For if of myrth it doth the more disease and solemne songs do litle paine appease Then sadde and swéete since that no song I see which may delite of cheare the heauy hart I can but â—igh let others sing for me no musicke mirth can ease my secret smart
haunt the field with more delight then euer he was wont Dame Procris she that markt it well beginneth now to muse and thinkes it but vnlawfull game her husband went to hūt See see the fruites of ielosie see on what ground they grow on no soyle els I warrante you but such as hat◠a staine Silde seekes the Sire his sonne in ouen but that he first did know himselfe ful ofte to haue beene there this case is too too plaine Vpon a sweete smile SWéete are the smiles in secreat I receaue and secreat sweete is swéetest swéete of all Would God swéete wench thou plainly didst perceaue how by thy smiles I liue deuoyd of thrall Then my sweete soule I know to my delight thou stil wouldst vse swéete smiling in my sight For if swéete hope yeald me such swéetnes still my fancie swéete for foode wil neuer sterue I can but yeald swéete thankes for swéete good will and sweetely séeke such sweetnes to deserue And could my wish once winne my sweete desire soone should I reape the swéete I would require Which sweete request is to thy sweete content by thy sweete will to worke my sweetest wish Which wish so sweete my sweete so sweetely ment is by sweete baite to catch so sweete a fish Which baite so sweete is loue I lay for thee and thou the fish I seeke to draw to me Which sweetely let thy fancy feede vpon and thou shalt finde so sweete a kinde of baight as by my hooke of hope I thinke anone to draw thee vp by lines of sweete delight And thus my sweete I swéetely angle still till my sweete loue hath caught thy sweete good will An inuectiue against loue WIth ue that see my loyall harte graunt my desire enioy his due desarte That all the world may wel be warnd by me to shun such mischieues as themselues may sée Let Poets fayne and tell what tales they list the troth is this loue growes in deede of lust First looke then prate and so forsooth they kist and then you know what further follow must Which to obtaine yet better be without how wittes must worke to bring this geare about Loue is in déede a naturall instinct which first doth grow but by view of the eye Which moues desire to passe beyond precinct and so doth bréede a secreate malady So loue is then a naturall disease and doth in déede to nature little ease The law of loue instruckes no more but this truely to serue the lady whome we loue To prooue each meane to please a misteris whome euery toy may to displeasure moue It is I finde a flatteringe kinde of arte which with deceit will fraught the truest hart And if it be as learned fathers finde it is a fire that doth consume the harte A welcome wounde vnto the wanton minde a pleasaunte poyson bréeding deadly smarte And if in loue be such a state to proue happie is he that neuer falles in loue And for my selfe I solemnly protest See see the fruites of ielosie see on what groun◠〈…〉 on no soyle els I warrante you but such as hath 〈…〉 Silde seekes the Sire his sonne in ouen but that he first did know himselfe ful ofte to haue beene there this case is too too plaine Which since I doe by true experience proue I hate the nature state and lawe of loue He craueth speedie loue or speedie death OH care leaue of to tire my restles minde come comforte come reuiue my dulled spright Flie fancie flie or els some fauoure finde cease sorrow cease loue lende me some delight Auaunte despaire oh helpe me hope in haste happe helpe my hope least life no longer last Drawe neare delight cheare vp my heauie harte packe from me paine away vile wretched woe Swéete heauenly ioye come helpe my secreate smarte oh ruthe relieue the wretch that sorrowes so Griefe get thee gone let pleasure take thy place hence vgly death for I must liue a space Mistres deare dame sweete soueraigne my ioy the Saint I serue the comforte of my care My hope my healpe my mirth in all annoy my loue my life my ioy of ioyes that are Oh saue my life that thus on thée doe cry lende me thy loue or let me quickly die My faith hath vowde to foyle all false suspecte and will wil worke in spite of enuies face Trothe is the othe which I cannot neglecte that loue should finde to gaine his ladies grace Oh Gods of loue that see my loyall harte graunt my desire enioy his due desarte He being tormented with manie passions craueth speedie remedie WHether wil wit or what is reason fled what wretched will hath now bewitchd my brain What rechlesse rage kéepes reags within my head what frantike fitte hath vexd me in ech vaine What mad conceite doth thus my minde molest that tumbling thoughts wil neuer let me rest Worke no more wit till reason rule thy will by sage aduise to stay thy busie braine Suppresse thy rage by sacred wisdomes skill and frantike fits wil flie away againe Let madnes marche into some other minde and séeke thy selfe some quyet rest to finde For liuing thus thy wit doth worke thée woe and braine bewitchd doth breede thee wilfull bale And rueful rage in time wil rancor soe that wil cannot geue eare to wisoomes tale Therfore good will let wit in time take héede least reason lost thou runne starke madde indéede Yet sit not stil for idlenes is ill but call to God to graunt thee heauenly grace That willing wit may worke his heauenly will and troubled minde may finde a heauenly place About this worke goe beate thy busie braine both rest on earth and heauenly ioyes to gaine That wight is bewitched that is subiect to beautie THe griefe is great that neuer findes redresse harde is his hap that findes no happy houre Doleful his doome that dyeth in distresse bewitchd the will that waites on beauties bower Wretched his woes that is bewrapt in loue such griefe happe doome and wretched state I proue For fancie now hath reason put to flight and witles will doth wisdomes wordes disdaine Desire acquaints him selfe with fonde delight and running wit hath got a wanton vaine Selfe will hath sought sage wisdome to beguile and hath in deede deceaud himselfe the while For fancies gaine is losse vnto my griefe and reason fled what rechles race I run My déepe distresse dispayring in reliefe doth tell me plaine my pleasant dayes are done My foule despight doth shew my mourning minde the bitter fruites of fonde delight I finde Repentance rues sage wisdomes small regard and wretched woes doe wanton toyes bewaile And heauie harte lamenteth hap so hard and sorrow shewes that selfe willes sleights doe faile Which makes me sing vnto my dying hower bewitchd is he that waytes on beauties bower Seeke and finde THe prouerbe sayes who seekes shal surely finde shall finde but what not that he séekes I gesse For why my selfe haue sought in sundrie kinde vnto my griefe
And you by hap haue surely hit the marke that how to finde may maze a cunning Clarke But who could keepe the key of such a chest or had a head might ioyne with such a witte Or could discerne where his desire doth rest as harte doth wish with happy hande to hit His happe were such as I can neuer craue but wish of God my haples harte might haue So pretty soule a solemne vowe I sweare I would not seeke for iemmes of greater ioy Nor should mine eye be trouling here and there to make a marke of any tysing toy But where I once my leauel lay of loue my hande shal holde and harte shal neuer moue The Louer forsaken and almost dismaide yet through hope taketh comforte FLy fancie flie and let me loue no more what meanes my wil or are my wits bestraught Die swéete desire molest me not so sore but seeke to saue that thou in vayne hast sought For sorrowe shewes the woe of wretched will and force affirmes but frowarde fortune still Where least I like my loue hath lent me losse where most I loue my liking findeth lack What bootes my barke in waues of woe to tosse when sorrowes sandes doe threaten sore shipwrack Such stormes of strife so rife in euery coast as but great happe shew life and laboure lost Yet cowarde wretch wilt thou goe back agayne and keepe thy couch and leaue to seeke delight Make sure accounte no pleasure without payne the sweetest ioyes are gainde through sore despight Then get thee forth in hope goe hoyse vp sayle the winde may tourne and worke for thine auayle Let hardie hope daunte feareful fonde despaire prepare thy selfe to leade a souldiars life Through thicke and thinne by weather foule or faire passe through the pikes and dread no deadly strife And though long first yet when the worst is past the best wil yealde some wished ioyes at last Another I Shrinke to speake since yet I haue no leaue and yet my harte so heaues my tongue to speake As that in deede I plainly doe perceaue with force of fame my very hart stringes breake Which force must be with fauoure ouerprest or els my hart wil neuer sitte at rest Forgeue me wretch if that my wordes offende fancie hath forcde my sillie minde to sue Some lyking let good nature to me sende my minde hath sworne our Ladie seruice due Then if thou lou'st our Ladie or her name regarde my suite graunt fauoure to the same Which fauoure loe I onely craue is this to graunt me leaue to say but what I could Say but my wordes thou wilt not like amisse and thou shalt heare my meaning what I would But til that time as I haue sayd before I must be dumbe and die in dole therefore The louer in sorrow craueth death HOw might I doe to weepe and wayle my fil that dolefull dumpes might soone dispatch my dayes Since sorrowe seekes my carkas so to kill oh doleful doome that so my death delayes I see selfewil hath wrought me such distresse as reason shewes no hope to finde redresse Yet die I must I feele deathes deadly stroake my carkase eke is nie consumde with care Why liue I then since that my hart is broke but liuing thus like one halfe dead I fare Which makes me thus at pointe of death to crie strike home thy darte good death and let me die Patience prolonges the patient in paine comforte relieues but rids not sorrow quight Hope lingers forth a loathed life in vaine fortune is false and frendes no wretched wight The fates doe groane dole is my destinie why liue I then good death come let me die Harde to finde a faithful frende HE seekes vnsure that seekes to finde a friend for faith is fled and frendes are secrete foes A shew of trothe tryes treason in the ende and many pluck a canker for a rose This wretched world is ful of wicked wiles when simple geese the subtile foxe beguiles For stinging snakes lie hid in smoothest grasse and softest streame doth shew the deepest floud No closer craft then in the glosing glasse which flatters much and shewes no perfect good I finde in deede no greater subtiltie then couered is with smoothe simplicitie Then deeme I best eche where to doubt the worst to make account of eche thing by desarte Or ere I choose to make true tryall first by tryall then for to esteeme in harte Thus thinke I best such trusty frends to finde as may content ech faithful meaning minde He craueth content being ouerworne with Loue. OH Loue leaue of to vexe thy silly slaue to bide the broyle some fresher souldyer seeke Thus worne with woes some comforte let me ahue that so thou mayst my seruice better leeke For if that care doe quite my carkasse kill how should I liue to doe thee seruice still Beholde my face my flesh is falne away see how mine eyes sinke hollow in my head My dumpes declares how my delights decay deeme if I seeme more like aliue or dead Let lyking loue some comforte me procure least loathed life no longer doe endure Oh heare me Loue and lende me helpe in hast the time is come that I must liue or die Stay not too long least all too late at last in vayne alas thou lende me remedie I humblie craue my humble suite regarde graunt my desire may haue his due rewarde De contemptu mundi IN depe despite of this vile world I write what is it but a vale of miserie A caue of care a dongeon of despite a place of payne a penne of penurie A sea of sorrowes and a goulph of griefe where wretched hartes doe die without reliefe The wise man wrytes it is a poysoned baight which doth with toyes the godly minde infecte A wanton theese which cloasly lyes in waight to robbe the minde of euery good effecte It is a grounde where onely griefes doe groe and to conclude a wildernes of woe Now why my selfe so ill thereof should deeme some men may muse that see my youthfull yeares Oh softe a while though young of yeares I séeme my youth hath past through many aged bryers But now that I am yet beyonde the bushes I doe not care for all the worlde two rushes Saue that my Prince I honour I protest my Parentes eke and so I loue my friend Set these aside and as for all the rest of loue and liking I must make an ende I hate the worlde and all the toyes therein and longe to sée my ioyes in heauen beginne Maledisant Beuchampe THe tender budde that brauely ginnes to blow while summer showers yeeldes comforte to the roote If that vnwares there fall a sodaine snow no sunné can shine that wel may doe it boote Except it holde but for a day and so It may haue leaue to make a liuely show My selfe the slower that flourisht all too fast while fauour flonge faire weather in my face But now must die my pleasures ouerpast to see disdaine so
sore yet heales againe That is the cause of great despight And yet doth purchase sweete delight That healeth some of deadly smarte And strikes some other dead at harte It should be straunge what so it is But sure if I iudge not amisse T is all one with the same that I Propounded you T is loue perdie Mors mihi vita COnsumde with cares and ouerwhelmde with woes I bidde adue to such as liue in ioy Contented well my loathed life to lose as fortune stil did follow with annoy For as I féele my death drawe neareâ— on I see the smarte of all my sorrowes gone Whereby I see sweete death the ende of dole while life prolonges the wretched soule in payne The salue of death makes sickest hartes soone hole when care is found a comforte all in vaine Yet dying thus ere I be throughly dead accepte this counsaile of a carefull head Loue not to liue nor yet desire to die but liue to die so dying looke to liue Such dying life such liuing death haue I which makes me thus the world this comfort giue To dread no death but count him for our frend who bringes vs ioyes and makes our sorrowes ende The Nightingales note THe Nightingale that singes the sweetest note of any birde that flyeth in the ayre Whose choise of sounde with warblings in the throate reuiues the harte that dyeth in despayre In Aprill first recordes then sings in Maye and that mâ—onth past she singing goes awaye Which heauenly note might hold but halfe the yeare the ioy thereof woulde cloy our eares with sweete Nothing so good so rare nor yet so deare but chaunge for worse the foolish man thinkes meete So sweete and shorte is Philomelas songe and nought esteemed that lasteth once too longe But yet this songe that Philomela singes of sorrow groanes although the sounde delight Or harde mishappe wherof such mischiefe springes she but recordes the sounde of her despight So with that birde may I singe fie fie fie while others ioy in song to heare me crie Nil nisi probatum AMonge mishappes which kill a careful hart to finde a foe of an assured frend Is such a griefe as breedes that deadly smart which vntill death can neuer take his ende Oh wretched world where faith is so vniust that surest frendes are sometime harde to trust But all too late I finde the prouerbe true that frends are founde as fortune skoules or smiles But twise accurst that hollow harted crue whose flattering face the simple minde begiles And for my selfe since frendshippe such I finde I will accounte of each one in his kinde Faire wordes shal stande for open flatterie till faithfull deedes may merite no mistrust And secreat traynes shal stande for treacherie till tryall finde her dealinges not vniust But where I finde the trothe at neede I crie with such a friend I vow to liue and die The clogge of care THe clogge of care that hangs on heauie harte pulles downe the head from loftie mindes delight The sighes that grow of sorrowes secreat smarte in time consumes the wretched carcase quight But comforte yet may cut that clogge away the cause of dole whereby delights decay And then the harte will holde vp head on hie and ioy as much as it did mourne before Oh comforte come and cut of by and by that cruell clogge that cuttes my harte so sore I haue too long to carefull thoughtes bene tide my minde cannot the burthen long abide But all in vaine for comforte stil I crie my clogge of care is such I cannot goe I sée too plaine my dolefull destenie to waste my dayes in worlds of carefull woe Which makes me thus to ende my solemne songe the carefull harte can neuer holde out longe Another THe Plowman sure are ye and I the sandie field Your haruest then must needes be grosse that such a earth doth shielde The golde I meane my selfe the hutch my husbandes harte The Marte is done put vp your pipes goe whistle for your parte And let me liue at rest deuoyde of slaunders blotte Contented with my faithfull feere whome fortune did alofte For sure the Letchers loue comes euer out of time I meane not to deface my fame with such a couerte crime I am no Younckers pray I skilles am in scapes I doe detest the doting loue of Roysters and their rapes I meane to runne the race of these my poasting dayes In such a sorte that none shall check my youthfull wanton wayes Leaue then to ransacke her that careth for no chaunge Ne seeke to false her faulcones faith with haggarde hauke to raunge Vpon two Gentlewomens names MY fancie led me sodainlie as I did sitte and sow Amongst some other secrete thinges a secrete cause to know Remembring how the Poets vse Good Gentlewomen to abuse All in their ditties when they chuse Resounding fame to blow Extolling in their Sonets then The onely prayse of faithfull men They list not see how we women Passe them as I will show Harke not what Poets prattle then from reason they declinde In Platoes Schoole thou mayst it learne how frendship is definde Loue lyketh where is loyaltie Lyke loyaltie in lyke degree In wemen this is chiefe to see Peruse and you shal finde So saith he that this frendlines Only doth springe from humblenes None barreth women gentlenes Except they barre their kinde Perhappes I coulde adioyne to this where most affection dwels How there the flower of frendlines most pleasantly it smels Enritching womens goodly grace But here I neede not in this place Experience proueth well this case Aske her I say naught els Then sith it comes to vs by kinde Keepe not the secret cause to finde In Poetrie that is so blinde No true tale once it tels Sith loyaltie affection and likenes of degree On perfecte proofe from cradle vp hath linked thee to me No treasure riche nor golden mine Exchaunge shall make at any time For as I was so am I thine Reposing trust in thee Enduring so I doe pretende No chaunge to make till life doe ende Damon was neuer dearer frende So thou my Pithias be A merry conceate OVr Wilkin now will wedde the goodlyest girle I gesse That ere this countrey bredde it is that bounsinge Besse That euery iacke for ale and cakes At euery game his Lady makes He thinkes his Ladie beares the bel Pore horechit Hob And she belowtes the mome as well And there a bobbe How ere the worlde it wagges his Besse must needes be braue Gogs vish these rotten ragges are vitter vor a zlaue Then vor my Ladie zweares our Wil And therewithall he smackes his Gil. And she requites his busse againe He likes wel that He payes his Ladie for her paine That hittes her patte To beare his flaunting porte our Wilkin wanteth welth He shames to yeald the sporte and therefore seekes by stelth To maintaine this his iollie ruffe He stryketh handes with Saunder Snuffe So forth together they two trigge To make a
Lo. Sweete beautie only she To whom both youth and vanitie obedient seruants be Louer What is the chiefest foode thou feedest thy selfe withall Loue. A faire cleare light which ledes me forth seldome lets me fal Louer Fearest thou the length of time that alters all thinges quite Or doest thou doute the dinte of death that daūts the worthiest wight Loue. No no I Way thē not for though they change my state I take my rest and turne againe to that I was of late The humble petition of a passionate Louer MAke me to liue swéet mistres make me liue exchaunge my chance make mirth of mourning cheare Exchange my death a lasting life to giue so worke my harte so weake whilest thou art here That when my soule shall from my bodie flie it may els where a better place supplie Make me to liue that at the instant hower when thy swete eyes I shall assaye to touche Both sence and sight may want there wonted power that in thy armes whome I estéeme so much My pyning corse may mildely passe away and of my life make this the latest day Ioyne both our soules ioyne both our soules in one linke both our hartes in bandes of like good will Make both our mindes to match in mirth or moane let our selfe lawe leade our affections still So let our thoughtes our wordes and workes agrée as if I liude in thee and thou in me Forbid me not thy lippes that like me well denie me not thy bosome for my due Those louely beames where loue him selfe doth dwell those blazing beames that scarce mine eyes can view Vouchsafe swéete harte that sweetely I may kisse and by such sweetenes turne my bale to blisse Nought that I haue can I accounte mine owne nought that thou hast in right thou recknest thine Mine eyes are thine as all my déedes haue showen euen so thine eyes they are or should be mine My harte is thine thy harte is due to me so loue allowes if so our lyking be Thou arte my fire and I thy kindled flame I am thy soule be thou my soule againe Imbrace thine owne and so auoyde the blame thou mayst incurre by shewing proude disdaine Linke fast our lippes that so with like delight we may exchaunge our soules our sense and sight So let vs change as by our chaunge we may be more assured of that we most misdoubt And not by chaunging change that chaunce away that might perchaunce be better brought about My séeking is that such exchange shoulde make our doubtful loue a déeper roote to take So is my wishe and so I hope it will so may I liue a most contented life So shall I finde to please my fancie still so may my state be euer frée from strife So shall I thinke my selfe the happyest man that euer liude since first my life began The changeable state of Louers WHome loue hath made obedyent to his law doth euerie hower exchaunge his shape anew I proued it well that longe haue liude in awe and often chaungde the more my chaunce I rue First to a hart a woefull wounded harte I was transformde then to a sillie swanne That singing shewde his death without desarte nexte to a flower whose colour soone waxt wan At laste alas a Fountaine was I made as soone dryed vp for from my blubbered eyes The water flowed till all began to fade and now the beast I am in flame that fries But yet ere longe I hope a voice to be to vaunte of her that makes no counte of me The vanitie of Louers SInce griefes increase since this my quenchles fire Consumes me still alas what bootes it me To say and sweare I will with speede retire And neuer loues her louely face to see Since when I wante poore wretch her wished sight Her wished sight the cause of all my care New cares beginnes to cutte of all delight And breake my vowes so snarlde in Cupids snare Who Tyrant-like alas the more my paine Within her eyes hath pleasaunte poysone plaste The sight whereof doth search through euerie vaine And helpeles quite my fainting harte doth waste Thus am I forste though sore against my wil To séeke and léeke the cause of all my ill FINIS
vertue gone and all good dealing dead Then let me seeke to doe as others doe by subtile sleights to creepe in credite too What haue I saide shal I by subtile â—leight séeke credite no my hart such dealing hates My troth hath vowd for to detest deceit such meanes are best for such ill meaning mates As credite seeke vnto so vile an end as wisdome findes a foe of such a friend And for my selfe since that I know indéede that vertue gaines the greatest good that is Although with some it stande in little steade yet with the best it thryueth not amisse I craue of God though here my hap be hard by vertue I in heauen may haue reward Loue good and badde STraunge were the life that euery man would léeke more straunge the state that should mislike ech one Rare were the iemme that euery one would seeke and little worth that all would let alone Swéete were the meate that euery one would choose and soure the sauce that all men would refuse Yet such a life and such a state there is such iemme such ioy such meate such sauce and all And if I doe not take my markes amisse by but one worde I could descry them all Which onely worde that shewes them all by name is this worde Loue that plainly shewes the same Who would not wish to leade his life in loue and who so madde to séeke to liue in woe Yet he that meanes the ioyes of loue to proue is like perforce most bitter panges to know In loue such woes with ioyes are ioynde together take t 'one take both or leaue both chose you whether Loue right is rare and worthy to be sought but counterfaite is but a foolish toy Whose vertues rare as rare effectes haue wrought and which mistaâ—e hath wrought as great annoy But right so rare and hard is to be knowne as who would seeke were better let alone Fonde fancies fruites are all the soode of loue whose sause most soure is sorrowes sugred gall Which messe of meate doth in disgestion proue to yeld both minde and bodie comfort small Yet see the spite who of the fruite would eate must suppe thâ— sauce or let alone the meate Another Eh cruell care that cals to minde in vaine the thriftles time that reachles youth hath spent Hadst thou but waighd in pleasures past the paine that present now I doe too late repent Then hadst thou sau'de me from such sorrowes smart as now I sée doe so consume my hart But since at first thou letst me slippe at large to follow wil the worker of my woe Too late alas thou takst me now in charge with secreat sorrowes to consume me so Then leaue me Care or quickly lend me cure least loathed life no longer doe endure What sayst thou Care or canst thou make no way to winne the good that wanton will hath lost Oh then good death doe thou no more delay to kill me thus with careful troubles tost But must I liue then God who knowes my griefe cut of my cares and lend me some reliefe Long haue I walkt to tire my restles minde yet tyred am long since with weary woes And yet though tierd no resting place can finde where I might once my restles minde repose But tyred thus on on must trauaile still till want of rest my wearyed carkas kil Ah wretched walke that hath such weary ende which ende though long would I could finde it yet But fates doe frowne fortune is not my frend and wretched woes haue ouerworne my wit So that in vaine I seeke I see in fine to set at rest this wearye minde of mine I sought for loue but found out foule despight a way that was quite wide from that I sought But since alas I followed follie quight and left the way that trustie reason taught In weary wayes I now must wander stil to see the sorrowes of my wretched will But Ladies yee that leade your liues at ease and are not forcd to treade one step awry Nor passe one foote more then may pleasure please with ruth respecte my wofull treachery And when you fall into your tyring talke with pittie waigh poore Bretons wearie walke Another T Is straunge Madame to see you straunge that stoode so much on tearmes of truth From which so soone to see you chaunge doth shew in you a tricke of youth A trick of youth to take a toy to take a toy and tourne away And tourne away from your sweete ioy from your sweete ioy that would not stray From whom you once could say and sweare not death it selfe should make you start But since you lickt and likd els where your vowed oath is layd a parte And let it lye a parte for me for I my selfe haue vowed too To flie as farre as fast from thee as thou from me canst thinke to doe And so shall either be content thou hast thy wish and I my will VVhereof who first seemes to repent let them bite on the bridle still Another T Is luste that leades your loue awry t is chaunge that makes you check your choise T is fancie makes your faith to fly t is follie makes you false your voice But reckon what you get thereby And put your winnings in your eye T is wanton wordes that winnes your will t is wauering wit that makes you trippe T is double dealing drawes you still t is sorrie meaning makes you slippe But reckon what you get thereby and put your winnings in your eye For luste with loathing once wil reaue and chaunge perchaunce your choise will choke Fonde fancie ofte her fall doth weaue that puts on follie for her cloake But reckon what you gaine thereby and put your winninges in your eye When wanton woordes are tournd to winde and wauering witte hath wrought your woe Then dooble dealinge you shall finde and sorry meaning both your foe And counting then your gaine thereby you may put winninges in your eye The frutes of ielousy DAme Procris Don Cephalus old Ouid tels the tale were lincked fast in loyall loue as maried man wife And blisfully they lead their liues deuoyde of any bale till Ielousy threw in a boane the roote of all their strife He gaue the first occasion and subtillie he sought disfigured to prooue her truth corrupting her with gold To vnderminde her chastitie this â—aight her loue hath cought for where the batterie is so hoat weake women cannot hold He blameth her inconstancie she blusheth at her fall and for to shrowde her self fro shame she frames her self to flight Thus banished she bides abroad til weried therwithal he cald her home and reconcil'd he doth forgeue her quight In profe of this attonement made on him she doth bestow a dogge a darte of sundrie sorte excelling in their kinde The dogge he mist no chase in hunt the darte it mist no blow a man might seeke the world for such yet not their matches finde In concord thus continuing Don Cephalus doth vse to
come at call And I as faithfull as the rest or any one amongst them all The day as yet hath lothsome beene in which my seruice hath beene tride The loyaltie that I liue in and constant harte wherein I bide The surging seas the flashing flouds are here at barre my trothe to proue The craggie hilles the desarte wooddes if they coulde speake would shew my loue My tongue my penne my hande my harte were euer bente to doe your will And I not minded for to starte but so for to continue still Yet all this trothe which I doe owe you seeme but little to regarde The faithfull loue which I did sow doth yealde disdaine for my rewarde But since my chaunce doth so befall I must of force this loue refraine As good to leaue as to lose all if griefe be all that I shal gaine Sith then for that I longe and sue some others haue for little coste T is time to leaue and say adue shake handes with me and farewel frost Another I May and I may not I would but I cannot For makinge of strife If I might as I may not I woulde doe as I doe not But if that I shall not Then farewell my life But yet I doubt not Neither dispaire I not If you denye not My lawfull request While you dissemble not Smile on and spare not More pleasure I aske not Then you to loue best A Louer forsaken despayreth MY sences are not yet so dull as you perhaps suppose they be For I can spie and marke at full the craftie sleightes you vse with me And time wil come ere it be longe I may requight you of this wronge For though I winke I am not blinde through little holes the day I spie Your subtile secreate I can finde wherewith you thinke to bleare mine eye And yet I seeme to slumber still when that I see against my will I taste alas the more my payne the brackish teares as salte as brine That trickling on my chéekes remayne distilling from my blubbered eyne So much you féede me with this taste that life and all therewith you waste I heare and so doe many moe your nipping frumppes and taunting toyes And where you blaze them well I know among your youthfull Courtly boyes Which when I heare I would that death woulde come and stoppe my gasping breath I smell my loathsome carryon coarce with carping cares tournd now to dust In thee remaynes yet no remorce but beastly stil liue as you lust Like smelling hounde I vent thy trace and can foote out thy vaulting place I feele the priuie grieping nippes wherewith you purpose me to kill Who lookes for ought at sower slippes but choakiug fruite that soone will spill I feele you teare and rent my harte though vndeserued for my parte I see that death his browes doth bende I taste all paynes that one may haue I heare the bell biddes make an ende I smell the dampnes of my graue I feele and so I will conclude that all my loue you doe delude The praise of his Ladie WHat man can keepe in silence long the beautie of so faire a dame Or who can holde or stay his tongue from blasing out her worthy fame Though lande and life thereon did lie I tell you trothe it is not I. Whose beautie when I seeke to blase I see the dulnes of my witte Yet doth it nothing me amase good will enforceth so to it And I am vrgde against my will to shew the bluntnes of my skill Her comely face who list to vew with all the features of the same Must needes her tearme if he say true a Goddes and no earthly dame For Helen she doth passe as farre as doah the sunne the shining starre Beholde her body straight as line her armes so tirmme so longe so smll Her handes so neate so white so fine her fingers longe and straight withall That you woulde easly iudge with me the like of her vnborne to be I needed not if she were here with poynted wordes to praise her grace Nor to display her fauour cleare with all the beautie of her face I wish this rowme she did â—â—pplie then shoulde you sée if that I lie If princockes Paris were aliue and choyse of damsels had at will Disposed once againe to wiue his wittes I know were not so ill To leaue vnchoase this Princely peece for all the passing gyrles of Greece Not This be braue that was sometime a Louer vnto Piramus Lucretias fauour for to finde wherewith she coyde Tarquimius But she doth farther both excell then I am able for to tell In fine if equally you woulde each parte in her with iudgement way By true constrainte confesse you should and thereof here my lyfe I lay It were not now in natures might to frame so faire and trimme a wight To all these graces she hath store of mercy and of perfecte loue No earthly wight I know hath more as tryall telles when truth shal proue I harde when nature sayd and sware she was the Iewel of her ware For madde you might me then condemne if I would thinke my selfe so wise That I were able with my penne to set her out before your eyes Sith wel I know the like by birth as yet did neuer liue on earth Another WAy Lady mine I thee beseech with loyal louing hart In equal ballance my good wil yeeld me my desart Ladie Lay forth in true vnforged tale the summe of all thy suite Euen as my eare shal like or leaue so looke to reape thy fruite Louer Let fauour thine then furnish vp that fancy mine doth craue Lende Louer true for lew of loue the guerdone he should haue Ladie Truth lies not alwayes in the shew that glisters in the eine Trust asketh further triall still and triall asketh time Louer I caste my gloue to him that dares my loyaltie disproue A better proofe in alder yeares was neuer gin for loue Ladie Young hote lusty bloods seekes thus their vowed trothes defence â—old ladies craue for milder profes of plighted freÌ„ds pretence Louer My deere if boistrous words offende thy virgins melting brest Know here what proofe my Lady loues that likes her louer best Ladie Experience though it neuer learnd my greenish yeares to loue Long since hath taught that tract of time this trustines doth proue Louer Except I sue serue thee then while lungs shal lend me breth Let all the ill that harte can thinke procure 〈…〉 deth Ladie Aske then and haue as thou deseruest so looke for thy desire Nâ— shall my bitter nay denie if iustly you require Louer I care not Ladie for thy coyne I craue no Iunos golde Nor Pallas prudence doe I seeke my Venus loue I wolde Ladie Endeuoure thy behests to keepe thou needes no longer sue While Lettice liues Wil shal not wante if he continue true Great thaÌ„ks for this great grace I yeald god in heauen thee giue Expence of Nestors yeres on earth then
key and a locke A bedde and a 〈◊〉 and other such 〈◊〉 A fillet a paste a combe and a glasse A potte and a panne with vessels and brasse And twentie such toyes which here I let passe And yet it doth chaunce most commonly after God sendes vs a childe a boy or a daughter Then must I prouide who so euer begate her Some ragges and some iagges to folde and to wrap her A Nurse and a midwife to holde vp her backe Some spyces to make her a posset of sacke And other such trinkets as these young wiues doe lack Which if that they haue not our loue goes to wracke A cradle a swathbande a pillow of downe A wastecote a biggin to wrappe the childes crowne A wenche for to rocke it with downe a downe downe Or els t is time for me to packe out a towne A possenette and sugar to make the childe pappe A blancket of woollen the childe for to wrappe If this be not gotten such fortune may happe At her first vprysing I beare her a clappe If I marrye a widdow you bid me not care She bringeth all this geare and other such ware Your stocke and your treasure thereby you may spare Enritching your substance to maintaine your fare But yet Sir I pray you remember well this Not one shrow of twentie among them there is Whose children and kinsfolke at any time misse To prowle or conuay away that thinge or this Now hath she a daughter now hath she a sonne Now hath she a Cosin the worlde hath begon I must geue them a ladle a dishe and a spoone Which if I deny them our frendshippe is done And then Sir withall she will clothe her in yelowes And â—uming and â—â—etting she beginnes to be ielious With scoulding and brawling she lets not to tell vs At stues and at tauerns al 's spent on good fellowes She sumes and she frettes she fomes like a bore She sweares she was neuer thus vsed before Ere this time I might haue bestowed my store To geue at my pleasure a little or more If I 〈◊〉 you say Sir she makes me good cheare With caudels and possettes and good double beere For money at all times I can buy this geare What neede I to keepe then a wise all the yeare What neede I to finde one meate drinke and array To keepe one at liuerie by night and by day For when I would dallie with sporte and with play I can meete with a sweeting a snatch and away If once I doe marrie and take me a wyfe To brauling and scoulding I am bounde all my lyfe To â—aunting and vaunting to discorde and stryfe The practise of this thinge is commonlie ryfe I am bounde for to tarrie for her still at home To toyle and to moyle for her all alone Whilest she sittes a feasting with olde mother Ione I must be a drudging for her like a mome All these thinges with other that I coulde resight From wooing and wiuing driue me away quight And I will bestow my sweetest delight With sweete sleepe to passe out the longe drowsie night These maydes be so wanton these widdowes so wood That neither of both will doe me any good These widdowes be withered they drinke vp my blood These maydes be so lustie I le none by the roode And therefore I will till you agree on the one Thus holde me contented to liue still alone The commendation of hope WHo hopeth much and feareth nought at all doth shew him selfe too desperate of minde VVho feareth much and hath his hope but small in such conceate can little comforte finde Who stammering standes halfe hoping halfe in dread assure him selfe shall haue a troubled head Who hopes for nought nor feareth ought at all is rather madde or not of humaine kinde VVho â—lymes by hope and feareth euery fall doth doubtles beare a most vnquyet minde VVho dreads the worst and al wayes hopes the best what euer happe is euer best at rest But he that hopes vpon so sure a ground as sets the spight of foule despaire aparte And to his hope such heauenly happe hath found as yealdes the thing that most contents his harte Let him not boast but geue God thankes for all who helpte him vp and sau'de him from a fall For he it is that helpes the honest harte that geues the hope that neuer needes to feare VVhich findes a salue to euery sodaine smarte and keepes the minde in quyet euery where In him alone mine only hope shal rest this life once lefte in heauen to liue at rest A warning to wanton Louers CEase sorrowe now for thou hast done the deede for care hath now consumde my carcase quight No hope no help nor hap can stande in steed for dolefull dayes doth cut of all delight Yet while I heare the toling of the bell before I die I wright this fainte farewell VVho loues to leade his life in quyet rest beware the worst of what so may befall Abandone Loue feede not on fancies feast least hungrie harte in vaine for comforte call And sorrow then doe so assaile thy minde the witte bewitchd a worlde of woes doe finde And then comes care for to tormente my harte when nought auayles to languish or lament For longe the harte doth pine in secreat smarte before the dayes be quight in sorrow spent This finde I true and for good will I tell ware wanton loue and so I say farewell A fancie I Woulde yet will not yes yes no no why for that my will and woulde doe disagrée For why to worke my would contentedly my wish to will doth wante too farre I sée Which makes me thus against my will to say I woulde yet nill but will when so I may I may why now I may yet may I not for that my may is not such as I woulde Yet what I may full fayne I would God wotte and more would wishe if so be that I coulde Which more might I then would I quickly say I woulde and will and glad in that I may But oh that will his wish cannot attaine and that delight should so desire denie That willing hartes should labour all in vaine when will and wordes doe méete so contrarie Yet what of this I hope to sée the day when that my woulde may finde a willing may A farewell to Fancie FAncie farewell that wroughtst my fonde delight delight adue that wroughtst my deepe distresse Distresse adue that wroughtst my déepe despight Despight adue for death doth lende redresse And death adue for though I thus be slaine in thy despight I hope to liue againe Faire Dames adue whose loue hath wrought my woe and farewel woe that wearyed hath my wittes And farewell witte with will bewitched so and farewell will so full of franticke â—ittes Fransie farewell whose sorce I feele too sore and farewell feeling for I féele no more And life adue that I haue lou'de and loathd and farewell loue that makes me lothe my life Both loue and