trew Care not for them that mend Appelles shew FINIS He declareth his greate mishappes and lamentable sorovves of harte WHen eache wight wonted is to take by nature rest I lie alas through gréeping griefe and thought so sore oprest That from my goyng to bead vntill the time I rise Sleape once hath skarse the powre to close my wéeping wakefull eyes In whiche longe lothsome nightes my Pen full oft I blame For that the wofull state of me t' indite he doth not frame Whose youthfull yeares and daies by nature were not ripe When cruell fate them cleane cut of at one most soden wipe Though life do yet remaine to length my time in teares Whiche fliyng fame seemes not to cease to blow in each wightes eares For singe me oft God knowes a heauie harte to beare When outwardly I séeme to shew a glad and mery chere And eke a carefull minde more troublously itost Then is the shipman on the Sea in daunger nie the lost Whose care no greater is then life and goods to saue When I of God continually with humble voyce do craue That he by death will quite my grief away expell And geue to me a place amonge the saued soules to dwell Which now longe times haue béen so tossed with vnrest That scarse I may the woes sustaine that lie in wofull brest To thinke on my mishaps whiche do me still betide When happie hap to finde redresse full fast away doth glide What greater greife may growe in any honest minde Then is to wante such wonted wealth as it some time did finde Such prouidence for man doth Fortune oft procure When smilingly she séemes to trayne with bayte of golden leure By meane wherof she will a canckred poyson lay Full closely coucht in pleasant bayte with that poore soule to tray As I but lately tried who doth her bayts so taste That secretly I sup the smarts whiche caufe me pine and waste Would God when I began to enter first to life That present death had pearst my hart and rid me cleane this strife So should my Parents not haue béen at such great cost To bringe me vp on whom by fate their great good gifts are lost Ne yet haue left to me no whit such wealth at all Whereby from wealth to miserie might chaunce a soden fall But should the same els where haue well bestowed I say Which they in leauing vnto me did naught but cast away Whose heauie helplesse haps increasing euery hower Doth force me wéepe when others sleape where fortune doth not lowe ▪ Thus passe I forth the nighte when wishe doth wante his will Whom fortune seekes by great despight most cruellie to spill And when the dawninge day I do perceaue and see And eke how Titan lifteth vp him selfe in first degree Whose glorious glyttering beames doth mooue eache thing to ioy Saue only I whose haplesse hap hath wrought all mine anoy Then from my coutche I creepe all clad with woe and care And for to walke in Desart place my selfe I do prepare Where none but wofull wights do wandring wayle their gréefe Where violence doth vengance take where neuer coms releefe Where pleasure plaies no parte nor wanton life is lead Where daintinesse no daunger makes ne finesse once is fead Where deepe dispayre doth dwell in owgle lothsome lake Where feurious feendes do fersly fight an sorowes neuer slake Euen there in dolefull Den I do driue forth the day Where as my pitious plainte and wo no time hath once to stay And then a new I wish that I had neuer been To voyde the painefull piteous plight that now I wretch amin Within whose troubled head such thronge of thoughts doth rise That now on this and then on that I cease not oft to vise Amonge whiche thoughts I note this one that doth ensew Which as the younge Byrde brought from neast put in cage or mew Doth ioye in that her life as much as though she might From wood to wood or feilde to feilde at pleasure take hir flight whiche plainly doth declare a man from byrth brought vp In meane estate that neuer knew the taste of wanton cup Doth holde himselfe so well contente with his degree That he in life doth seldome seeke to craue more greater sée But I as byrde vnlike that flew hir timely flight Throughout the groues and fertill fielde in ioyes and great delight Which shall no sooner feele hir selfe to be restrainde From her such wonted libertie as some time she retainde But forth withall she doth such inwarde thought conceaue That yelding vp hir pleasures past hir life therewith doth leaue when as the byrde in Cage with chirpyng cheare doth singe That neuer knew the place wherein she had more better b'inge So I do playnly see eche wight that wealth hath taste And afterwardes doth wante the same with sorow is imbraste Wherefore sith life apointed was in me this longe to last In simplest sorte woulde God I had the same to this time past Then should I sure haue liude contente with this my pay Which now because of carefull change in wo do wast away Finis Keper to his frende Hovvell WHen surging Seas with raginge blastes be blowen In whiche is man with ship of troublous saile He must beware least Hulcke be ouerthrowen When deathly seas compels weake hart to quaile So though thou be returnd from Port of blisse With hoysing waues and windes so hardly tost Thou maist thy selfe full well assure of this Thou art not he that first hath had the lost It is a healpe sometimes in miserie To haue a sort as felows eke of thrall Ah many man hath felt the chaunce of thee When witlesse youth doth range so prodigall Then hoyse thy sayle and be not ouerblowen The feare of harmes may not thy stomacke slake And rise from couche when chearefull light is showen And draw thee backe from paines of Plutoes lake Haue stronger hart then simple Birdes on trée Let manly corps a manly minde embrace No woes can helpe then frende be rulde by mée Let pacience in quiet breast haue place For all disease for cares and woes each one A quiet minde is only salue alone Finis The restlesse paynes of the Louer forsaken IN springe time when fresh flowers in Feilde do florish fayre When Trees do bud and blosoms beare when temperate is th' ayre When Byrdes with chirping cheare when Beastes that be but brute As course of kinde doth force them forth through loue begins great sute Then I whose fansie fed my sprites to sporte and play To Forrist fayre of pleasant ayre began to take the way As I did passe throughout a valey fayre and gréene Where Birds did singe and Beastes to runne oft pleasant I had séen All husht I founde it tho such silence was there kept As midnight then if it had béen and all thinges sounde had slept Where at amasde I stoode and listning longe might heare At last a hollow sounding voice with lowde lamenting cheare
woes and care Finis A pithy Precept ¶ When youth hath ronne his race Olde age doth steppe in place In youth therfore beware Least age be clad with care Finis Another ¶ Who wanteth force against his foes to fight Shall seldom be deuoyde of painfull plight Finis The expressing of his vnluckie happes diuersly chaunced LYke as the shippe of force doth driue Which way the winde shall him constraine So out of natiue soyle I liue As destnie doth me leade and traine Now here now there now vp now downe As Fortune listes to smile or frowne And as the horse the rider rides Of force must take such way as he With pricking spours doth perse his 〈◊〉 Shall thinke most first for him to be So I of force must yelde to bide Suche hope as fate will me prouide As I by proofe doo playnly see Whiche longe haue sought in hope to finde Some place to ease my miserie With toyle I toste and troubled minde By seas by lande in many a coaste In daunger ofte like to be loaste I wish and wante what should I say I seeke and finde nothing at all I toyle and still in great decay I fayne woulde rise yet still do fall With sondrie cares I am oprest But Pen be still and take thy rest Finis His complaint to the God Cupide because he vvith his Darts perseth him alone OCupid Uenus darlynge deare Whose powre no mortall might may bide If once in hande thy bow thou beare And flaminge forckers by thy side Why dost thou this lie still and sleape When I to thee doo wayle and weepe Wheare is become thy wonted powre Art thou vanquisht and put to flight Or els art thou disposde to lowre On me alone most wofull wight Say no say no Oh I thee pray And turne the harte breedes mine anoy In whiche time â—arbes and trées that Winters winde did weare Enforce them selues to bud and growe some pleasant fruicte to beare The litle Byrde that reason wants doth then with chirping cheare From twig to twig and bushe to bushe greet oft his lotted feare The flotinge Fish in sturdie streames that trauels day and night Doth eke vnto their fancied feares repeare with all their might The weake and wreatched wormes forgetteth not this day Whom wée may finde aboute this time faste coplide by the way As nature hath decreede all these by course of kinde In thinges that reasons rule doth want right so hath man asingde For witnesse of the same in this apoinâ—ted time That euery man and woman eke shall haue a Ualentine In signe of that hir force whiche no wight can subdew Lo this the only cause I say that all thinges doth renew Lo this the cause also why Fortunes lots be had Whose hoped hap and haplesse hope doth make both wo and glad But I aboue the reast may Fortune highly prayse Who hath geuen me the fearest Dame that liues in these our daies Suche one I say whom Nature hath with Uertue so I deckte That none there is or shall haue powre hir name once to deteckte Euen suche a one whom I as Fortune hath asignde Will alwaies be at hir commaunds till death shall do his kinde Finis To a proude Dame. THe fem so fonde of vnaduised brayne That mountes in seate by pride of blinded harte No prayse may get but shewes a wisdom vaine Lo passe degrée in seate by no desart Be thou content to sit on squared stoole Least séeming wise thou prooue the fonder foole It might been sayd by prudent voyce of grace Presuming Dame retire from stately place Finis The lamentable ende of Iulia Pompeyes vvife SOre plungde in piteous paines and wofull smarte Bespred with trâ—ckling teares on death like face Downe trils the droppes on cheekes and sighes from harte To heare and see hir hus bandes greeuous case Thus goes the spouse O wofull Julia Besprent with bloud when Pompeis cote she saw Downe deap she faules in lamentable sounde Of sence bereft so great was Julis straine The childe conceiued within with deadly wounde Untimely fruite came forth with proching paine When all was doone for loue hir life she lost For Pompeyes sake she yéelded vp hir gost So dead she lay bewaylde with many teares A Matron wise a famous ornament O Cesar had liued full cherefull yeares If thou with Pompey couldst haue ben content But Ciuell warres hath wrought this fatall lawe To Pompeye death and death to Julia. Ye Matrones graue and worthy spoused mates Ye mayden Nymphes whiche liue in larger partes O reade and see vewe not and iudge of states And folow eke such faithfulnesse of harts Such liuely loue embrace saith vertue graue As Julie true for mate hir life she gaue Finis To his frovvarde friende THis is not solom Sophocles In learned trade which treads This is not hardie Hercules That conquerd Hydras heads Feare not his bousteous vantinge worde Though he woulde sée me to braule He will aduise his angrie sworde On whom his strokes doo fall Wordes be but winde to purge his heate His stomacke to abate Wherein he shewes his manly feate When most he seemes to prate Time may a swage these choloricke fomes Where Hercles is so bolde Thinke not good Hercles all are momes When all thy Cardes be tolde Wée know the Wood by sight of trees Wee know the fier is hot Wee know your power and wise decrees Though fooles you call our lot Farewell good hardie Hercules As hardie as thou arte Thou maiest be vext with litle Bees Though greater be thy harte Finis A friendly salutation to his beloued THese lines vew dearest friende Wherein I close my harte Beholde therein my great good will Prouokte by iust desarte This simple slender shew Accept your harte to mooue For this my harte and golden will Restore your golden loue For if greate riches coulde Encopled mates the more I haue both seen and liue as now Wherin I might haue store But naught I care the welth Nor yet the gorgeous gaine My handes and hart I only geue Thee only to obtaine You only woulde I craue Before all other wight Before the fayrest proferde Nimphes You most do me delight Whose choyse is now at will To take or els refuse And if it lay so much in me You only woulde I chuse Accept my proferde loue As trust by truth may binde If it thee please I am thine owne O my approued friende In worthy state to stay I will forsake thee neuer My harte my ioy my only care I will thée loue for euer Accepte and vewe these lines And thinke my hart you see Beholding eke this menssenger Somtimes consider mee Suppose I present were To talke in friendly parte But though my body absent be Yet bounde you haue my parte Finis Complaint of ingratitude MY Pen in piteous part Cannot in halfe descrie The inwarde woes in moning hart That gripes me secretlie If outwarde face coulde mone The woes of inwarde shape The senslesse trées and Flintie stone
therwith stands contente For they that seeke most highest them selues for to aduance Are often seen to be the niest to daungerous mischance Example by the trée which growes vpon the Hill That subiect is vnto eache blast when trees below are still The higher state always the greater care doth bringe The greater care the lesser ease which prooues the meane surest thing And Hystories deuine vs bidth from cares and woes And wils vs all to view the byrdes and Lyllies fresh that groes The Byrds ne sowe nor reape and yet do wante nothing The Lillie eake it doth compare with Salomon the King Afirming plaine that he in all his princely power Was neuer decked like vnto the simple Lilly flower A voyde such care therefore as quailes the corage ofte And put thy confidence in him that sits in Throue a lofte Contente thy selfe alway with that he shall assine Against those whom he doth exalte se thou do not repine If riches do increase be thankefull for the same If wante of that do chaunce to prease do not thy Fortune blame Better it is of bothe to be contente with ought With greate and heaped howrdes of golde then haue vnquiet thought Did not Diogenes prefar the shining Sonne Before the mightie kingdomes great that Alexander wonne When this greate conquerour woulde haue geuen him giftes of golde He saide like gifte thou canst not geue as thou from me dost holde Tho sundrie others mo whose workes were wonderous wise I might here name to like effecte yet let this sayd suffice For nothing here so sure that certaine may remayne Acompte therfore all worldly powre as transitorie vayne Finis The vnquiet estate of the Louer vvherein is vvished redresse LIke as the Captaine stoute constrainde is in th' ende Oprest with powre to yéelde himself and what he did defende So I with Cupid caught am forst at last to yéelde To you whose vertuous wayes hath wonne of me both Forte fielde I may no longer cloke the scortchinge flames of fire That still in sâ—acret breast doth burne through wante of my desire But forth it findes away that hid hath line full longe And loue doth boldly bid me seeke to haue redresse of wronge Sith then in you it lies on me to worke your will By mercie for to length my life by contrary to kill Let pittie mooue your minde in humble wise I sue And seeke to saue the Captiue harte that wisheth well to you For here I do confesse the only state and stay Of my led life and eke my death to rest in you alway Whose graunte of grace hath powre to glade my griped brest Whose stay therof hath like effect to further mine vnrest Graunte yea therfore my deare let nay be out of minde As I haue vowde to worke your will till death shall do his kinde And thus I cease to write the twenteth parte of greife That my poore payned harte endures as yet without releife Finis Liberalitee ¶ Where wise do suffer wante And driuen in hard distresse Cut not thy cantle skante That maiste their cause redresse Finis Prouidence TWyse happie is the wight Whom others harmes doth cause To shonne the snare of noysome care That growes by breache of lawes Finis Good aduise to his faithfull friende OF Louers restles liues I liâ—t not wright Let learned heads describe their playnfull plight But plaine in tearmes I wishe thee euen as well As those that can their tales more trimly tell Whose friendly meaning if thou wilt receaue Fyrst flie from Uice and vnto Uertue cleaue Nexte seeke by honest meanes such wealth to winne As may thee helpe what néede thou shalt be in Counte not thy Chickens that vnhatched be Waye wordes as winde till thou finde certaintée For filid wordes that deeds do neuer yeelde May well be likened to the baren fielde Be ware of had I wiste whilst youth doth last Whose stealinge steps do passe away in hast Prouide in time thine aged yeres to chearishe And let fayre wordes go feede the fonde and foolishe Acompte eache thinge as proofe the same shall trie Trust not to farre before thou finde cause why For vnder Flowers so fayre oft poyson lurkes Whose showe of flagrant smell much mischéefes workes Take héede least Argus with his crastie Net And wily subtle sleights do thee be seâ— Thus wishinge aye thy wealth I make an ende Least tedious talke should nought but thee offende Finis Youth still bevvayleth VVhen naught it auaileth MY retchlesse rage of wanton youthe With griefe I do lament When vnto minde I call the truthe How I my time haue spent Finis An humble sute to his friende requesting Loue for Loue. I Saw of late a wofull wight That Willo wandes did winde to weare Whose face declarde the painfull plight Which he through loue then present beare He lookte a loft as though he woulde Haue fled vnto the starrie skies But still he stoode as though he coulde Not once heaue vs his heauie thées His feathered handes he flashed foorthe And thyther fayne he woulde haue â—â—ead But wofullman he was full wroothe To see his limmes all lade with lead You are the bright and starrie skie I am the man in painfull plight My lâ—â—â—es are lade I cannot flie My corps may not sustaine my weight I read the woes of Sigismonde The childe of Tanckred Salerne kinge Her loue to Guystarde did so bounde She fanced els none other thinge For riches naught nor for his wealth Whereof he had but slender store His vertue was hir only health She likte that well she sought no more They had their hoped hap and ioye If Tanckred coulde content him so But he by workyng their anoy Unto himselfe brought deepest woe You Sigismonde are fayre and bright Woulde I had Guystardes vertuous life And Tanckred chaste cleane out of sight Then woulde I wish for such a wife I reade how Luna loued one Of birth but meane of right good fame By name iclipt Endimione Whose loue was quite deuoyde of blame In Laemi Hill it thus befell She saw him sit all sad alone T is I que she I know full well For whom he mournes and makes his mone She was not shamde of Laemi Hill Nor yet of Louers simple state But straight consents vnto his will And him did choose for louing make O Luna looke vpon thy Loue Endimion makes his mone to thée Be not ashamde let pittie moue And loue me like as I loue thée Finis The Commendation of the meane in all thinges AS meane in Musicke soundeth best So meane estate liues most in rest The higher climde the fall more deepe The deeper fall the double paine And pensife paine doth carefull keepe In man eache liuely lim and vaine Whiche prooues what change or chaunce do fall Contented meane excéedeth all Finis I. K. To his friende H. THe high estate is dangerous The poore degrée is burdenous The richer sorte are couetous The néedie soule is dolorous The youthfull imps are prodigall The aged
thyrst for goods so thrall The bolder men foolehard ye call The fearefull wights are dastards all Then ill eschew embrace thinges cleane Howell welfare thy golden meane Finis He lamenteth the vngratefull person for inconstancie ALas I vnhappie and most wofull wight Whom Fortune so déeply hath now in despight That tonge cannot tell ne Pen haue powre to wright My pittifull playnt and heauie pining plight How shall I to case me vnborden my brest Of these double dolours that breedes mine vnrest When speeche wanteth powre when Pen is vnprest And witte wanteth conning thervnto adrest This great restlesse rage in my minde doth renew And where I fayne helpe woulde finde harme doth ensew But yet was I neuer founde false or vntrew Which causeth me much more my dolors to rew She that I did honour aboue all the rest To whom I reserued the harte in my brest Hath me quite forsaken and broke hir behest And another taken to loue and like best And séemeth now sleightly to beare me in hande That I was cause only of breatche of hir bande But truth if me tried full searched and scande Then trespas in me should she non vnderstande Wherfore to the Spider I may her compare That cruelly killeth what 's caught in hir snare For she by like tyranie nothing doth spare Most spitefully to spoyle thus my carcas with care Finis The shevving of his good Hart. THe Gloue for gadge is rightly geuen where thinges concluded 〈◊〉 Wherefore I do accompte therof more then of golde or fee Of whiche if I were storde like Cresus in his time I vow to thée if thou so woulde it should be wholy thine Where to if I with Salomon in wisdome might compare And bewtie had like Absolon whose matche is very rare Like eloquence to Cicero in power Caesars peare Yet would I be as now I stande your faithfull seruant deare And thus I rest in Hauen hope whose bosome doth imbrace Your gloue as you till trackte of time may purchase further grace Finis The declaration of the vnstablenesse of fickle Fortune WHere Fortune fauoureth not what labour may preuaile Whom frowning fate will needes thrust downe what shall he win to waile With patience to yeelde for such Ideeme most best And cast their cares and griefes on him that rewleth fates behest Wee see by perfit proofe that none so Princely goes But that by will of God the hiest out of this worlde he floes Sith then suche fickle force in mortall might wee finde Let nothing that shall hap thée heare to much torment thy minde For all to liue a like of this assured bee Was neuer yet nor shal be seene but cache in his degree As like the Potters pottes be made to sundrie vse So some men serue and some are serude here néedes no fine eâ—scuse The labouring man to toyle that spares ne night nor day Gets skarce to feede his famely when some howrde heapes that play Yet doth he not dispayre nor yet from labours flie But liues contente when worldlinges make of wealth their miscrie Who gripte with greater greif if Fortune list to lowre Then suche as earst did feede at fill vpon hir fruitfulst flowre Whiche change full oft hath chaunst through hir vnconstantnesse And whom she lately laught vpon throwne downe remedilesse Was Alexander greate that many daungers past For all his mightie conquestes wonne not poysned dead at last A Kynges sonne eke I finde for Fathers tirannie Constrainde to worke in Smithes Fordge by harde necessitie Suche is the fading force of Fortunes fickle flower Whose fruitfulst fruite both ripes rots in lesse space then one hower Such is hir tickle trust suche are hir slipper steppes That what she seemes to sowe in ioye with sorow oft she reapes Attribute all to him that ruleth fate therefore To him I meane whiche lefte the riche and fed the pinyng poore For thus do I intende whilse vit all breath shall last Though earst I practisde many meanes which proofe hath tride in wast Finis Themislocles ansvver concerninge his Daughter to be maried THemislocles by whose great skill th' Athenians longe were led His only Daughter did bestow on meane yonge man to wed Whiche when his freindes did wonder sore these wordes he did expresse My daughter deare hath wonne ê™ he more wealth then ye do gesse Whom I accompt muche better plaste when truth I truely scan Upon a man that money wants then money wanting man. Finis The Lamentation of the vvofull man hauinge for entire Loue no goodvvyll THe time that I began to enter first to life Woulde God the sisters three had cut the threade with fatale knife Wolde God that death had béen with arowes readie bente To pearce the wofull harte of mine whiche now with care is spente Then should I not at all haue folowed fancies lewre Whose outwarde showe of suger sweet is mirt with poyson sowre As now I am constrainde by destnie sure I thinke That still doth finde but bitter tast yet cannot choose but drinke Thus I God knowes full oft a heauie harte do beare â—hen out wardly I seeme to shew a mery carelesse cheare Desembling eke my case in hope of happier day But aye from time to time I finde nought els but my decay I pine in secret flanies like ware consumde with fyre I wishe but alwaies wante my will lo this mine only hier What Paps did geue hir foode that nought regardes my wo What Tiger fearce alas coulde hate the harte that loued hir so Great crueltie it is to slay the yéelding wight That mercy stil doth sue to haue and vseth none other fight But sith my haplesse hap alas must néedes be so With speede come death to ende my life and ridde me of this wo. Finis The Louer declares his constant harte neuer to forge the thinge that vvas decreed SHall any wight preuayle to bringe to passe by powre Away to mooue or rule our loue that faith hath firt tindewre Shall either force of friendes or frowarde frownyng foes Cause vs forgoe our hoped ioyes bought with so many woes No no for my parte here a vowe to thee I make That first eache torment shall me teare care I my faith forsake Finis An admonition concerning the tracte of time ¶ As time all thinges findes out So time eache thinge must bide In time therefore I wishe That time may well prouide Finis A friendly admonition to his friende that craued good Counsaile COndemne no cause till it be throughly knowne Eche brutish broyle that forth abrode is blowne Beléeue not lightly least by some suche acte Thou chaunce repent of déede informer facte Accuse no wight of crime till trouth thou trie Ne credit then thine eare before thine eye Suche false reporte abrode may often go As perfit proofe shall finde out nothing so In iudgement rashe se that thou neuer bee Deale not in thinges that passe capasitie Thy porcion spende that some thou haue to spare If thou wilt liue deuoyde of
Woulde rue my haplesse hap O hart with care opprest So plungde in penurie The sobbing sightes of great vnrest Will cause me wretch to die Into vntimely graue Mishap shall me conuaie The darte of death I néede not craue I sée no prompter way Thus I haue plight the paine Of toyling hand and minde To helpe the grace that can rewarde Yet shew it selfe vnkinde I. K. Finis After his good fortune falne into mishap AH wretches set in wretched vale Where nought is sure but death so pale All worldly goods and ioyes so gay As withred flowres they vade away When Fortune thée doth hiest extoule Yet somwhat still doth vexe thy soule Then vertue craue vayne ioyes despice For wisdom still shall beare the price I. K. Finis A Dialogue touching the matrimoniall degree SIthe wée are now in pleasaunt place Where eache may speake his minde at will And quietly debate the case Accordingly by simple skill I meane to reason this with thee Who will be bounde and may go free What bandes you meane first let me know And then I will some answer make In diuers sence your wordes do grow And diuersly they may be take Though commonly they be aplide To those that are in wedlocke tide My meaning is as ye do gesse Now let me heare what you can say If I shall right my minde expresse And speake the truth without delay I thinke him voyde of witte to bée That wil be bounde and may go free In wedlocke state is no such bande No freedom lost by taking wife If that the truth bâ—e rightly scande She causeth longe and happie life A verteous wife enlarge thy daies Of husbands age deuine bookes saies Who hastes to wyue in hope of that Maye grope for Eles and catch a Snake And proue as wise as Pusse our Catte That sekinge fishe fell in the lake Let them that list therfore for me I will not binde and maie goe free Well then I sée who will contend If thou so wilfully be bente I doe fall out to little ende Take hede therfore leste thou repente The life thou now calst libertie Here after through extremitie The Batcheler most ioyefully In pleasant plight doth passe his daies Good feloship and companie He doth maynteine and keepe alwaies With Damsels braue he may well go The maride man can not do so Though daintie Dames thée now delight And bewties beames thine eies do blinde When time shall come of perfit sight The weddid life thou suerst shalt finde For God himselfe to auoyde sinne The weddid state did first beginne Finis Tyme geueth triall ¶ Though yet to thee it skante appeare The ende shall showe what truth I beare Finis The Bridle of youth THe wilde and wanton Coulte that romes in pasture still And takes his foode with careles lippes without restraint of will Is all vnmeete to serue vpon till first by perfit guide With Bit and Bridle stronge he be from wanton will fast tide Wherefore eche worthy wight a rider â—it doth finde To checke and breake such carlesse Coultes as shall to them be sinde So likewyse beardlesse boyes that reasons rule doth shonne In steede of Rider they by Rod from vice to grace are wonne And both vnséemly were for princely peares to vse A lacke therefore in such I déeme as woulde them thus abuse Finis A farevvell to his vvorshipfull friende T. D. DO bloysterous blastes that blow compell to hoyse thy sayle To driue the ship to calmer Port vnto thy more aduaile O cease ye froward fluds returne O ship to stay For thou in Barke so well befraught hast al our ioyes away But since the witlesse windes haue causde good ship to flee The selfe same blast shall shortly force a sorte to sayle with thée And since thou wilt away what haplesse hap befell That doth procéede of inwarde woe I can but say farewell Farewell O Justice iust that didst vprightly stande And eke to rayse the fallinge poore that hadst prepared hande Farewel thou friendly hart that wouldst do dwell alwayes With towarde minde plighted paines that sought thy founders praise Farewell of minde so milde vpspronge of right degrée Soms inwarde thoughts vrge outward woes that finde y want of thée Farewell thou worthy wight in guile that canst not faine That will do well as thou hast don not one there coms againe Farewell if néedes it must so doth our losse befall Of honest wights though hence ye go yet haue the hartes of all Farewell a friend to eche farewell a foe to none Lo here in griefe my last farewell farewell O friende alone Et puis clemens carus es omnibus vnus â–ª Nature prudens conditione probus Viue Diu venerande faue reuerende valeto Heâ— mihi quod possum dicere trâ—ste vale Finis I. Keeper to his frend H. HOwell haunte hope bartely Hir happy hap haue humbly Hast hardie hart holde honestie Hir hartie hart I hight to thee ¶ Finis The life of man likened to a Stage playe where on wee ought warelie to Walke SIth earth is stage wheron we play ourparts And deeds are deemd accordyng to desarts Be warie how you walke vpon the same In playing your parte win prayse and banishe blame Remember how your tale once tolde straight way An other steps on stage his parte to play Lo whom of force you must geue vp your place As he that hath all redie runne his race Your porte your powre your wealth and wearing weds You then must yeelde to such as shall succede As thinges but lent to play your part withall Whose heyre shal be euen as desarte doth fall Not he that plaieth the stateliest parte most prayse Nor be that weareth ritchest robes alwayes But he I say that beares him selfe most best Whether his parte be with the great or least Take heede therfore and play your part so well That afterwardes you may in saftie dwell Grope not to greedely for worldly gayne The ende wherof is transitory and vayne But be suffisde with that sufficient is And seeke the thinges that bryng eternall blisse So shall you heare not only win great prayse But after eke enioy most happie dayes ¶ Finis Regard thy end ¶ Unpleasant is the plight of that most wofull wight That seeith with perfit sight his life from him take flight And wanteth power and might to slea and flee such spight ¶ Finis The lamentable historie of Sephalus with the vnfortunat end of Procris To the tune of Appelles WHo lust to vewe the heauy happes Of faythfull louers longe a go And eke suruaye their after clappes Muste needes me thinkes lament for woe If that my hart were framd of flynte From teares yet hardly might it stinte ¶ I reade some time of Sephalus A lusty youth of noble blood Of face and fauor amorus In Natures fauour far he stoode If neare woulde make a man agaste To marke hys lymbs and members plast ¶ So streight so square so trym was he So fayre of
forme so wyse and sage He semde a sample sure to be And Lantarne to the yonger age And to conclude he passed those That thought they made a goodly glose ¶ This brute as youth will haue a spurte When lusty blood be gyns to broyle Dyd flee from fredom to the courte Where Uenus only kepes the coyle Thus reason banisht quite a waye He warneth will to beare the swaye Then fancy forced by and by The wandringe eyes as skowtes to bee In secret sorte for to espie Or publykely to marke and see If any Lady weare in sight That might deserue this worthie knyght ¶ But sone alas they haue espyde The marke wheareat they shot so longe Faire Procris bewtie is descryde She blazde so bright her mates amonge Lo Sephalus doth nowe be gynne His Ladyes fauor fyrst to wynne ¶ â—ewe daies were past lesse yeares were speÌ„t Tyll flattringe Fortune strake the stroke To loue eche other both were bent Loue did them both so sore prouoke What will you more if Fortune saye Yt shal be thus saye you not naye ¶ Now nothinge greeued Sephalus But for to be a brydged fro His Ladies sight most gloryus What greater greef might any grow Fayre Procris Parents were so hard That she as Byrde in Cage was barde ¶ But Sephalus by fyne deuyse Of wytty hed and wary wyt Did put in practyse to intyse His Ladie thence what hap shoulde hit By letter then he did conclude That she her kepers should delude ¶ And to a Forest bye a pace Which he in letter namd also Where here he did meane to â—yâ—â— her 〈◊〉 â–ª If that it woulde her pleace to goe The letters red shee sought his will. In euery poynte for to fulfyll ¶ And to the apoynted place shee hide Expectinge still her Sephalus She gaue the flippe vnto her gyde Oh tracte of tyme most tedyus Oh Procris sure thine is the wronge That Sephalus a bydes so longe ¶ But neuer is the same to longe The Prouerbe sayth that comes at last She spyde him in the ende amonge A sort of trees not makyng hast His Boowe was bent his arowe fast â–ª In Nut to shoote alredy plast ¶ She would not call for feare of foes Nor yet to hym she woulde repayre Lest that she shoulde the Deere vnroes That Sephalus had spyde at layre She geues him leaue to range his fill Full loth she is his sporte to spill ¶ The tyme did passe no game was founde And Sephalus was welnere tyrde Fayre Procris absence did hym wounde For she was all that he desyrde Hee stoode not still he trugde about Lose if he might fynde her out ¶ Lo fortune brought him nere the place Where Procris still alas did stande She blusshed yet to she we her face She made no sygne but with her hand She tooke the bowes and them did shake A fearde to great a noyse to make ¶ But Sephalus when he espyde The leaues to wagge and bowes to shake â–ª He thought some beast did there him hyde And at hys commynge did awake Wherfore to see he thought it best If he might fynde him takinge rest ¶ And as he peeped here and theare He spyde a thinge of coler darke And indginge it an ouglie Beare Dyschardgde hys bowe and hit the marke Through sturdy stroke and deadly wound He nayled Procris to the grownde ¶ Alas vnwares did Sephalus His Ladie kill and murder thus Oh greeff of greefs most dolorous Oh hap of Happs most pytâ—ous Deare Ladies steppe your foote to myne To mourne with me your hartes inclyne ¶ When Sephalus his Precris founde Imbrude with blood on euery side The arowe stickinge in the wounde That bleedinge sore did gape full wyde He curst the gods that skies possest The systers three and all the rest ¶ And fayntly spake no Ladie no You shall not vanishe hence a lone My ghoste alas your frendly foo Shall wayte your precyous soule vpon And wyth that worde to ende his lyfe He â—â—ue him selfe with bloody knyfe ¶ Lo Lordynges here by take a vewe And Ladies marke what I shall saye Eche one to lyfe must say adue And to the earthe her owne repaye There is no choyse we see it so When death doth call we needs must go Finis A freindly admonishment to 〈◊〉 freinde to choose a wife HEre liue in loue for thy behoue let reason rule thy choyce so shalt thou weare Ulisses eare to shun the Syrens voyce Beware and care before thou stare on womens painted eyes like Crocodiles with poysoned smiles they will thee cleane disguise If thou to catche intendst a match to liue in mariage sporte first marke and heare what fame she beare amonge the wiser sorte For market men can tell thee then how doth the market go if well thou heare then draw thee neare and be in sute not â—â—o In womens mindes are diuers winds which stur their Aspin funge to prate and chat they know not what by that much strife is sprong But take thou heede and euer dreede to matche with carters kinde for carters seede is base of breede whose maners ill wee finde They will deuise both tales and lies to bring thy house to square no honest man if that she can with hir shall credit beare Such rusticke kinde such faults will finde wheÌ„ they desarue the blame and wil be proude and scould full loude not passyng for hir fame The seruants good from meate and foode she will debar with paine and yet complaine as though thy gaine by them were spent in vaine To blinde thine eyes she will haue spies to bringe thee tales and lies as though for thrift good huswiues shift she doth for thee deuise When she in deede her selfe will feede and take her priuate gaine and make the weare kyng Midas eare as though she tooke the paine But in hir Wyne she will diuine and blab the secretminde to such hir mates as chats and prates according to hir kinde By this I say a foole in play by hir thou shalt be made and all the towne will call thee clowne which ridest on such a Jade Agayne a mayde of honest trade if thou wilt seeke to haue though riches want yet like the Ant by trauell will she saue An still enough thy man at plough and all thy seruants els shall of hâ—r meate both drinke and eate no toyes nor lies she tels In quiet rest she maketh nest to lodge thy weary bones 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 keepe in quiet sleepe from all deepe sights and grones Amonge hir maydes with honest trades she puts hir hande in vse and alwaies dreades hir husbands deedes with scoldyng to abuse Besides all this thou shald not misse but haue an honest fame for such a wife is chaste of life and like Ulisses dame He is a cokes and worthy strokes whose wife the Breeches beare a Cuckolds hoode to do him good deserueth he to weare Take heede therfore and keepe in store this short admonishment Least had I wist alas I mist then doest