honor to aspire Whose greatest pompe doth but a while endure For proofe the flower bedect with gorgious hew As soone with heate of scorching sun doth fade As doth the weede the which vnséemly grew And showes it selfe vncouerd with the shade The stately ship which floates on fâ—ming fluds With waue is tost as soone to surging Seas Doth yéeld his pompe though fraught with store of goods As vessell weake whose force the streame assayes Our selues may show the state of eche degrée As Sampson stout whose force Philistians felt For wealth let Diues glut with golde our Mirror bée Marke Nemrods fall whose hart with pride was swelt And diuers mo whose preter pathes may learne Our future steps our vayn vnsteady stay Whose elder lyues already past may warne Us shun such snares which leades vs to decay FINIS T. P. The fall of folly exampled by needy Age. BEhold mée here whose youth to withered yeres Doth bow and bend compeld by crooked age Sée here my lyms whose strength benumbde weres Whose pleasure spent gray heares bids to bee sage But loe to late I lothe my life lewd spent And wish in vayne I had foreséene in youth These drowsie dayes which mooues mee to lament My idle youth prou'd what therof ensueth Unstorde olde yeres must serue for lusty prime These féebled ioynts must séeke to serue their want With tedious toyle because I vsde not time Loe thus I liue suffisde perforce to scant In flaunting yeres I flaunting florisht forth Amid delight puft vp with puffing pryde Meane garments then I déemed nothing worth Nay scace the best might serue my flesh to hide I thought them foes which tolde mée of my fault And iudgd them speake of rigor not good will Who toulde of gayne mée thought for hire did hault Then loe I lothde what now I wish by skill Experience mooues mée mone the more my gréefe In lyuely yeres because I did not shun Such idle steps least voyd of such reléefe As might haue helpt my age now youth is dun But what preuayles to wish I would I had Sith time delayd may not bee calde agayne A guerdon iust for such as youth too bad Consumes it is in time therfore take payne Seeke how in youth to serue contented age Learne how to lead your life in vertues lore Beholde you mee attacht with death his page Constraynd through want my lewdnes to deplore What greefe more great vnto a hauty hart Then is distresse by folly forste to fall What care more cruell or lothsom to depart From wealth to want it greeues vs to the gall But what auayles to boast or vaunt of vayne What profit i st to prayse a passed pryde Sith it consum'd is but a pinching payne A heape of harmes whose hurt I wretch haue tryde A direfull dreed a surge of sorowing sobs A carking care a mount of mestiue mone A sacke of sin coucht full of cankered knobs A wauering weed whose force is soone orethrone For proofe behold the boast of breathing breath See see how soone his valiaunst vaunt doth vade Our pleasant prime is subiect vnto death By vices vrgde in waues of wo to wade I know the state and trust of euery tyme I see the shame wherto eche vice doth cum Therfore by mee learne how to leaue such crime Foeâ—ix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum Let mee your Mirror learne you leaue what 's lewd My fall forepassed let teach you to beware My auncient yeres with tryall tript haue vewd The vaunt of vice to be but carking care FINIS T.P. ¶ A proper Sonet how time consumeth all earthly thinges AY mee ay mee I sighe to see the Sythe a fielde Downe goeth the Grasse soone wrought to withered Hay Ay mee alas ay mee alas that beauty needes must yeeld And Princes passe as Grasse doth fade away Ay mee ay mee that life cannot haue lasting leaue Nor Golde take holde of euerlasting ioy Ay mee alas ay mee alas that time hath talents to receyue And yet no time can make a suer stay Ay mee ay mee that wit can not haue wished choyce Nor wish can win that will desires to see Ay mee alas ay mee alas that mirth can promis no reioyce Nor study tell what afterward shal bee Ay mee ay mee that no sure staffe is giuen to age Nor age can giue sure wit that youth will take Ay mee alas ay mee alas that no counsell wise and sage Will shun the show that all doth marre and make Ay mee ay mee come time sheare on and shake thy Hay It is no boote to baulke thy bitter blowes Ay mee alas ay mee alas come time take euery thing away For all is thine bee it good or bad that growes FINIS A Mirror of Mortallity SSall clammy clay shrowd such a gallant gloze â—ust beauty braue be shrinde in dankish earth Shall crawling wormes deuoure such liuely showes of yong delights When valyant corps shall yéeld the latter breath Shall pleasure vade must puffing pride decay Shall flesh consume must thought resigne to clay Shall haughty hart haue hire to his desart Must deepe desire die drenchd in direfull dread Shall déeds lewd dun in fine reape bitter smart Must each vade when life shall leaue vs dead Shall Lands remayne must wealth be left behinde Is sence depriu'd when flesh in earth is shrinde Séeke then to shun the snares of vayne delight Which moues the minde in youth from vertues lore Leaue of the vaunt of pride and manly might Sith all must yeeld when death the flesh shall gore And way these wordes as soone for to be solde To Market cums the yonge shéepe as the olde No trust in time our dayes vncertayne bee Like as the flower bedect with splendant hue Whose gallant show soone dride with heat wee see Of scorching beames though late it brauely grew Wée all must yeeld the best shall not denye Unsure is death yet certayn wee shall dye Although a while we vaunt in youthful yeares In yonge delightes wee see me to liue at rest Wee subiect bee to griefe eche horror feares The valiaunst harts when death doth daunt the brest Then vse thy talent here vnto thee lent That thou mayst well account how it is spent FINIS T.P. A briefe dialogue between sicknesse and worldly desire ¶ Sicknesse TO darkesome caue where crawling wormes remayn Thou worldly wretch resigne thy boasting breath Yéeld vp thy pompe thy corps must passe agayn From whence it came compeld by dreadfull death ¶ Worldly desire Oh sicknesse sore thy paines doo pearce my hart Thou messenger of death whose goryng gripes mee greue Permit a while mee loth yet to depart From fréends and goods which I behinde must leaue ¶ Sicknesse Ah silly soule entis'de with worldly vayne As well as thou thy fréends must yéeld to death Though after thee a while they doo remayne They shall not still continue on the earth ¶ Worldly desire What must I then néede shrine in gastly graue And leaue what long I
dolefull case Where walkes no wight but I alone in drewsie desart place And there I empt my laden hart that sweld in fretting mone My sighes and playnts and panges I tell vnto my selfe alone What shall I say doo aske mee once why all these sorowes bee â–ª I answere true O foe or freend they all are made for thee Once knit the lynck that loue may last then shal my dollors ceasâ— It lyes in thee and wilt thou not the yeelding wight release O would to God it lay in mée to cure such gréefe of thine Thou shouldst not long be voyd of helpe if t were in power of mine But I would run range in stormes a thousand miles in payne Not fearing foyle of freends to haue my couÌ„tenance whole agayn And wilt thou then all mercylesse more longer torment mee In drawing backe sith my good helpe is only whole in thée Then send mée close y hewing knife my wider wound to stratch And thou shalt see by wofull gréefe of life a cleane dispatch When thou shalt say and prooue it true my hart entirely lou'd Which lost the life for countnance swéet froÌ„ whoÌ„ hée neuer mou'd Write then vpon my wofull Tombe these verses grauen aboue Heere lyes the hart his truth to trie that lost his life in loue Loe saue or spill thou mayst mee now thou sitst in iudgment hie Where I poore man at Bar doo stand and lowd for life doo cry Thou wilt not bée so mercylesse to slea a louing hart â–ª Small prayse it is to conquer him that durst no where to start Thou hast the sword that cut the wound of my vnholâ—en payne Thou canst and art the only helpe to heale the same agayne Then heale the hart that loues theé well vntill the day hée dye And firmely fast thy loue on him that 's true continually In thée my wealth in thee my woe in thée too saue or spill In thee mee lyfe in thee my death doth rest to worke thy will. Let vertue myxt with pitty great and louing mercy saue Him who without thy salue so sicke that hee must yeeld to graue O salue thou then my secret sore sith health in thee dooth stay And grauÌ„t with speed my iust request whose want works my decay Then shal I blesse the pleasaÌ„t place where once I tooke thy gloue And thanke the God who giues thée grace to grauÌ„t me loue for loue FINIS ¶ A louing Epistle written by Ruphilus a yonge Gentilman to his best beloued Lady Elriza as followeth TWice hath my quaking hand withdrawen this pen away And twice againe it gladly would before I dare béewray The secret shrined thoughts that in my hart do dwell That neuer wight as yet hath wist nor I desire to tell But as the smoothered cole doth wast and still consume And outwardly doth geue no heate of burnyng blaze or fume So hath my hidden harmes béen harbred in my corpce Till faintyng limmes and life and all had welnigh lost his force Yet stand I halfe in doubt whiche of these two to choose To hide my harmes still to my hurt or els this thraldome loose I will lay feare aside and so my tale beginne Who neuer durst assaile his foe did neuer conquest win Lo here my cause of care to thée vnfolde I will Help thou Minerua graunt I pray some of thy learned skill Help all you Muses nine my wofull Pen to write So stuffe my verse with pleasant wordes as she may haue delight With héedyng eares to reade my gréeif and great vnrest Some wordes of plaint may moue perhaps to pitty my request Oft haue I hard complaint how Cupid beares a sway In brittle youth and would commaund and how they did obay When I with skorning eares did all their talke dispise But well I see the blinded boy in lurking den hée lies To catch the careles sorte awayting with his Darte Hée threw at mée when I vnwares was wounded to the harte To speake and pray for helpe now loue hath mée constrainde And makes mée yéeld to serue the sorte that lately I disdainde Sith beggars haue no choyce nor néede had euer law The subiecte Oxe doth like his yoke when hée is driuen to draw That Ruphilus this wrote thou wonder wilt I know Cause neuer erst in louinge vearse my labor I bestowe Well woful loue is mine and wéeping lines I wright And doubtfull wordes with driery chéere beséemes a careful wight O thou Elrisa fayre the beuty of thine eyes Hath bred such bale within my drest and cau'sde such strife to ryse As I can not forget vntill deuouring death Shal leaue to mee a senceles goast and rid my longer breath Or at the least that thou doo graunt mée some releefe To ease the gréedy gripes I féele and end my great mischéefe As due to mee by right I can no mercy craue Thou hast the power to graunt mée life refuse not for to saue Put to thy helping hand to salue the wounded sore Though thou refuse it for my sake yet make thine honour more Too cruell were the facte if thou shouldst séeke to kill Thy faythful fréend that loues thee so and doth demaund no ill Thy heauenly shape I saw thy passing bewty bright Enforst mée to assay the bayt where now my bane I bight I nought repent my loue nor yet forthinke my facte The Gods I know were all agreed and secretly compacte To frame a worke of prayse to show their power deuine By good aduice this on the earth aboue the rest to shine Whose perfecte shape is such as Cupid feares his fall And euery wight that hath her séene I say not one but all With one consent they cry lo here dame Venus ayer Not Danae nor shée dame Lede was euer halfe so faire Though Princes sue for grace and ech one do thee woo Mislyke not this my meane estate wherwith I can nought doo As highest seates wee sée be subiect to most winde So base and poore estates we know be hateful to the minde The happy meane is mine which I do haply holde Thy honor is to yéeld for loue and not for heape of golde If euer thou hast felte the bitter panges that stinges A louers brâ—st or knowest the â—ares that Cupid on vs flinges Then pitty my request and wayle my wofull case Whose life to death with hasty whéeles doo toumble on apace Uouchsafe to â—ase the paine that loue on mée doth whelme Let not thy freend to shipwracke go sith thou doost hold his helme Who yeelâ—eth all hée hath as subiect to thy will If thou commaund hée doth obey and all thy heastes fulfill But if thou call to minde when I did part thee fro What was the cause of my exile and why I did forgo The happy life I held and lost there with thy sight Well mayst thou wayle thy want of troth rue thy great vnright If thou be found to fayle thy vow that thou hast sworne Or that one iot of my good will out of thy
I not to learne And I did thinke you such that litle knew of guile But seemings now be plaste for deedes and please fulwel the while Why doo I wâ—nder thus to thinke this same so strange Who hath assayed and knoweth not that wemen choose to change Haue you thus sone forgot the doutes and dreades you made Of yongmens loue how litle holde how sone away they fade How hardly you beleeued â–ª how often would you say My wordes were spoken of the splene and I as oft denay How oft did you protest with handes vpstretcht to skyes How oft with othes vnto the Gods how oft with weeping eyes Did you beseech them all to rid your spending dayes When that you thought to leaue your fréend to dy without delayes Mée thought in heauen I saw how Ioue did laughe to skornâ— To sée you sweare so solemly and ment to be forsworne But as the Sirens singe when treason they procure So smyling baytes the harmles soules vnto their bane alure Thy fawning flattering wordes which now full falce I finde Perswades mee to content my selfe and turne from Cressids kinde And all the sorte of those that vse such craft I wish A speedy end or lothsome life to liue with Lasars dish Yet pardon I do pray and if my wordes offend A crased ship amid the streame the Marriner must mende And I thus to it and turnd whose life to shipwracke goes Complaynes of wrongs thou hast mee don and all my greefe forth showes And could your hart consent and could you gree therto Thus to betray your faythful freend and promis to vndo If nought your wordes could binde to holde your suer behest Nor ought my loue ne othes you sware could bide within your brest Yet for the worldly shame that by this facte might rise Or for the losse of your good name for dealing in this wise Or thus to see mee greeu'd tormented still in payne Thy gentil hart should haue bin pleasde such murder to refrayne But through thy cruell deede if that vntamed death With speedy dart shall rid my life or leaue my lyuing breath The gods then can and will requite thy bloddy acte And them I pray with lowly sute for to reuenge thy facte God graunt the earth may bring nought forth to thy auayle â–ª Nor any thing thou takest in hand to purpose may preuayle Thy most desired freend I wish may bee most coy Wherin thou doost thée most delite and takest the greatest ioy That same I would might turne vnto thy most mischeefe That in thy life thy hart may feele the smart of others greefe But sith no good can come of thy mishap to mee I graunt some blame I doo deserue that thus desire to see Thy blisfull life so changde from weaâ—e to wretched state When freendes do breake the bonde of loue then is their greatest hate Thy deedes do sure deserue much more reuenging spight Then hart can thinke or tongue can tel or this my pen can wright Thy bewty bright is sutch that well it would inuade A hart more hard then Tigar wilde and more it can perswade Then Tullyes cunning tongue or Ouids louing tale Well may I curse and ban them both that so haue brewed my bale I feare to praise to far least haply I begin To kindle fier that well is quencht and burne mée all within For well I may compare and boldly dare it say Thou art the Quéene of women kinde and all they ought obay And all for shame doo blush when thou doost come in place They curse ech thing that gaue thée life and more disdain thy face Then any liuyng wight doth hate the Serpent foule Or birdes that singe and flies by day abhors the shrikyng Owle Oh that a constant minde had guided forth thy dayes I had not then assayd myshap nor pen spoke thy disprayse Decréed sith that thou art for euer to forsake mée In sorrows swéete I wil mée shrine till death shall list to take mée Bewayle O woful eyes with fluds of flowing teares This great mischaunce thy lothsome life that all ill hap vp beares Since parted is your ioy resigne likewise your sight I neuer will agree to like or looke on other wight Nor neuer shall my mouth consent to pleasant sound But pale and leane with hollow lookes till death I will bée found And you vnhappy handes with lyking foode that fed mée Leaue of to labor more for mée since sorrow thus hath sped mée Lament vnlustie legges bée lame for euer more Sith shée is gone for whom you kept your willing pace in store O hatefull heauy hart bewayle thy great vnrest Consume thy selfe or part in twaine within my blouddy brest And yée my sences all whose helpe was aye at hand To length the life that lingreth now and lothsomely doth stand Yée sonne ye moone and starres that gyues the gladsome light Forbeare to show your force a while let all bée irkesome night Let neuer soyle bringe forth agayn the lusty gréene Nor trées that new dispoyled are with leafe be euer séene Let neither birde nor beast posses their wonted minde Let all the thinges that liues on earth be turned from their kinde Let all the furies forth that pine in Hell with payne Let all their torments come abroad with lyuing wightes to rayne Let peace be turnd to war let all consume with fier Sith I must dâ—e that once did ioy and lose that I desier I hate my life and breath I hate delighting food I hate my greefe I hate my death I hate that doth mee good I hate the gentill hart that rueth on my payne I hate the cruell stubborn sorte that doth my life disdayne I hate al sortes of men that haue their life in price And those I hate that folow death esteeming them vnwise I hate thâ—se carefull thoughtes that thinke on my sweet â—o I hate my selfe then twice as much if I forget her so I hate what would you more I wot not what I hate I wish her dead and layed in graue I wish her better state Come wilde and sauadge beastes stretch forth your cruell pawes Dismember mee consume my flesh imbrew your greedy iawes Within your entrayles see a coffin ye prepare To tombe this carefull corpes that now vnwillingly I bare Come lingringe slothful death that doost the wretch deny To show thy force and ridst the riche that list not for to dye Is this the recompence is this the due reward Doth loue thus pay his seruants hier and doth hee thus regard And doth hee vse to set the harmles soules on fier With faire sweet intisinge lookes to kindle their desier Fye false loue that hast so decte with bewty bright A Lady faire with such vntroth to worke such cruell spight And ye that did pursue blinde loue with speedy pace â—esâ—rame your steps example take of this my wofull case Let this alone suffise that in few wordes I say Who can beware by others harmes thrice blest and happy they Beleeue
will as best contented mee My Prince therwith well pleased that nothing might offend And all my deedes so done that eche man might commend My parent of great state and eke of worthy fame That worldly men did wish the honor of his name My friends and mine allyes so worthy in eche presse That I néede beare no wrong that I could not redresse Of courage and of strength so doughty of my hand That Ladyes might mée loue that dwell in forrayn land And enemyes might mee dread for feare of ouerthrow And that all this were true eche worldly wight did know Yet were I but a man and mortall in this earth For death doth not accept the worship of my byrth Since so I holde it best that eche man should contend So to directe himselfe that after this liues ende Yet vertue might remayne that soundes a Trompet loe A comfort to a fréend a wound vnto a foe As some to simple turne from sage And ouerthrow with euery winde Some eke correct with rigorous rage Whom wealth could neuer foord good minde Hath wonne in prison such a feelde As liberty could neuer yeelde FINIS Virtute nulla possessio maior ¶ Of a happy wished time EChe thing must haue a time and tyme doth try mens troth And troth deserues a special trust on trust great frenship groth And freendship is full fast where faythfulnesse is found And faythfull thinges be ful of fruicte and fruitful things be sound The sound is good in proofe and proofe is Prince of prayse And woorthy prayse is such a pearle as lightly not decayes All this doth time bring forth which time I must abide How should I boldely credit craue till time my truth haue tried And as a time I found to fall in Fancies frame So doo I wish an happy time at large to shew the same If Fortune aunswer hope and hope may haue her hire Then shall my hart possesse in peace the time that I desire FINIS ¶ The Louer perswadeth him selfe to pacience agaynst Enuie and slanderous tongues IF only sight suffise my hart to loose or binde What cause haue I to mooue debate wherby no peace I finde If that my restlesse will by payne doth still renue What force haue I but shee consent my fo for to subdue To yeeld and suffer then I thinke it for the best And by desert as time shall serue to purchase quiet rest Let ielous enuy lowre with browes and visage bent I know the worst no shameles tongue shall alter myne intent The Dice of Loue are throwen god speede the doubtfull chaunce Misdeeme who lyst so shee at last my seruice will aduaunce To aske and to oâ—tayne that Fortune were so swifte Sith trauaill is the ready way vnto eche noble gyfte And feeble is the ioy that lightly is begonne As tender Flare can beare no stresse before that it bee sponne Wherfore with sad aduice in hope my harte shall dwell And all the tale that I confesse in silence will I tell Unto her selfe alone whose fauour I require None els shall know her name for mee to constre my desire FINIS ¶ The Louer greeuously complayneth agaynst the vniust dealing of his Lady beloued SInce thou vniust hast caught a lust To plough in barrayne ground Who long thée loue hee shall thee proue Mutch better lost then found As brickle clay in Winters day That in the frost is wrought So doo I finde thy double minde Mutch better solde then bought It is as éefe a broken Syue Should holde the dropping rayne As for to binde thy chaunged minde That nought can doo but fayne So may I say both night and day Cursing the time and place Where I profest to loue thee best Whose troth I finde so scace Whose lyinge wordes and faigned bourdes Did mee so far enchayne When thou didst flyt by chaunged wit That I could not refraine But of my hart to ease the smart The best redresse I know Is to vntwinde my constant minde And let sutch fansies goe For thoughe I serue vntill I sterue I sée none other boote Such doublenesse thy hart doth presse And croppes it by the roote Yet will I pray euen as I may That Cupid will requite Thy froward harte with such a smart As I haue by thy spite For to bée fed with wake a bed And fast at boorde among Till thou confesse ah pittilesse That thou hast doone mee wrong On bush and brier may it appeare Wherby most men doo pas Thy faygned fayth how nere my death It hath mée brought alas That they vncaught may once bée taught By reason to refrayne Their crafty wiles and subtill smiles That so in loue can fayne A due vniust sith that I must Of force declare thée so The fault is thine the payne is mine And thus I let thée go FINIS ¶ The Louer in great distresse comforteth himselfe with hope O Heauy hart whose harmes be hid Thy healpe is hurte thy hap is hard If thou shouldest brast as God forbid Then should I dye without reward Hope well to haue hate not swéet thought Ofte cruell stormes faire calmes haue brought After sharp showres the sunne shyneth faire Hope commeth likewise after dispayre In hope a Kinge doth go to warre In hope the Louer lyues full longe In hope the Marchaunt sayles full farre In hope most men doo suffer wronge In hope the Ploughman soweth much séede Thus hope helpes thousands in their néede Then faynt not hart amonge the rest What euer chaunce hope thou the best Though wit biddes will to blowe retrayte Wyll cannot worke as wit would wish When that the Roche doth taste the bayte To late to warne the hungry fishe When Cities bren of firy flame Great Ryuers scarce will quenche the same If Will and Fantasie bée agréed To late for Wyt to bid take heede FINIS ¶ In the commendacion of faythfull loue THe faithful cannot flye nor wander to nor fro Fayth only they holde them bye though that the fickle go A Piller of more force then Marble layd with hand With Pickaxe may deuorce and lay it flat on land Th' other so deuine that no arte can remoue Once layd cannot decline th' only Piller loue FINIS ¶ The Louer wisheth himselfe an Harte in the Foreste as Acteon was for his Ladyes sake I Would I were Acteon whom Diana did disguise To walke the woods vnknown wheras my lady lies A hart of pleasant hew I wish that I were so So that my Lady knew alone mée and no mo To follow thicke and plaine by hill and dale alow To drinke the water fayne and féede mée with the sloe I would not feare the frost to lye vpon the ground Delight should quite the cost what payne so that I found The shaling nuts and mast that falleth from the trée Should serue for my repast might I my Lady sée Sometime that I might say when I saw her alone Beholde thy slaue alone that walkes these woods vnknowen FINIS ¶ An Epytaph vpon the death of
fayth and troth fixed approoued vniust Sing willow willow will Are you shée which constant for euer would stand And yet will you giue mée the willow Garland Willow willow willow singe all of gréene willow Sing all of gréene willow shall bée my Garland What motion hath moude you to maske in delight Sing all of gréene willow What toy haue you taken why séeme you to spight Sing willow willow willow Your loue which was ready for aye to indure Willow willow willow willow According to promise most constant and sure Willow willow willow willow What gallant you conquerd what youth mooude your minds Sing all of gréene willow To leaue your olde Louer and bée so vnkinde Singe willow willow willow To him which you plighted both fayth troth and hand For euer yet giues mee the willow Garland Willow willow willow singe all of greene willow Sing all of greene willow shall bee my Garland Hath wealth you allured the which I doo want Sing all of greene willow Hath pleasant deuises compeld you recant Sing willow willow willow Hath feature forste you your words to deny Willow willow willow willow Or is it your fashion to cog and to lye Willow willow willow willow What are your sweet smiles quite turnd into lowres Sing all of green willow Or is it your order to change them by howres Sing willow willow willow What haue you sufficient thinke you in your hand To pay for the making of my willow Garland Willow willow willow singe all of greene willow Sing all of greene willow shall bee my Garland Farewell then most fickle vntrue and vniust Sing all of greene willow Thy deedes are yll dealings in thee is no trust Willow willow willow willow Thy vowes are vncertayne thy wordes are but winde Willow willow willow willow God graunt thy new louer more trusty thee finde Willow willow willow willow Be warned then gallants by proofe I vnfolde Sing willow willow willow Mayds loue is vncertayne soone hot and soone colde Sing willow willow willow They turne as the reed not trusty they stand Which makes mee to weare the willow Garland Willow willow willow singe all of greene willow Sing all of greene willow shall bee my Garland FINIS A gloze of fawning freendship NOw cease to sing your Syren songes I leaue ech braue delight Attempt no more the wounded corps which late felt fortunes spight But rather helpe to rue with sorowing sobs come mone My lucklesse losse from wealth to woe by fickle fortune throwne I once had freends good store for loue no drosse I tryde For hauing lost my goods on Seas my freends would not abide Yet hauing neede I went to one of all I trusted moste To get releefe hee answerd thus go packe thou peuish poste His wordes did pearce my tender brest and I as mazde did stand Requesting him with pitteous plaints to giue his helping hand Content thy selfe quoth hee to serue my owne estate I haue not I yet am I greeu'd to see thy lucklesse fate Ah fie of fawning freends whose eyes attentiue bee To watch and warde for lukers sake with cap and bended knee Would God I had not knowne their sweet and sugered speach Then had my greefe the lesser bin experience mee doth teach FINIS A Maze of Maydens WHo goes to gaze of euery gallant girle And castes his eyes at euery glauncing gloze Whose masking minde with euery motion moou'd In fine shall finde his fancy fraught with woes For pleasure spent is but a wishing vayne By crooked chaunce depriude of braue delight Cut of by care a heape of hurtfull harmes Our gaze vngaynd which whilome pleasde our sight Our baunts doo vade our pleasures passe away Our sugerest swéetes reapes sorowing sobs in fine Our braggest boast of beauties brauest blaze To forowed browes doth at the length resigne Our foolish fancy filde with filthy vice Pursues his hurt vnto anothers harmes A houering hart with euery gloze enticed gaynes lothsome-loue whence nought but sorow swarmes Leaue then to gaze of euery glauncing gloze Contemne the sleights of beauties sugerest bate Whose outward sheath with colours braue imbost Shuns cruell craft and enuious hurtfull hate FINIS A short Epistle written in the behalfe of N.B. to M.H. DEare Lady deckt with cumlynesse To counteruayle my clemency Bee prest I pray in readynesse To yeeld your courteous curtesie Let mee you finde Penelope In minde and loyall hart So shall I your Vlisses bée Till breathing lyfe depart Yelde loue for loue to him who lykes To liue in lynckes of loyalty And graunt him grace who nothing séekes For his good will but curtesy Let mee your bondmen fauour â—nde To gratefie my willing harte Whom no attempt to please your minde Shall hynder mee to play my parte Permit mee not in lingring sorte To labour in a barrayn soyle Ne giue occasion to reporte How loytryng loue reapes troubled toyle But let mee say my hart obtaynd The gloze which pleasd my glauncing eyes And that I haue for guerdon gaynd The best that in my Lady lyes So shall I boast of that which best Doth please the prime of my desire And glory in a gayned rest Which through your fauour I aspire FINIS A vew of vayn glory WHat motion more may mooue a man to minde His owne estate then proofe whose dayes vnsure Accounted are vnto a puffe of winde A breathing blast whose force can not endure Whose lyuely showes consumes whose pompe decayes Whose glory dyes whose pleasures soone be spent Whose stoutest strength to weakenes subiect stayes Whose thoughts bee vaine and vade as though vnment What haue wée then to vaunt or glory in Sith all is vayne wherin wée take delight Why should wée boast or brag sith nought wée win In fine but death to whom yéeldes euery wight To equall state hée bringeth each degrée Hée feareth none all subiects yéeldes to death To dâ—nkish dust hée driueth all wée sée Which in the world enioyeth any breath Why vaunt wée then in that wée sée is vayne Or take delight in that wée proue but drosse Why glory wee or séeke for golden gayne Sith at the length wee reape therof but losse Wée lothe to leaue our hutches filde with golde Our annual rents it gréeues vs to forgo Our buildings braue which glads vs to beholde Our pleasant sport it gréeues vs to forgo Wée nothing brought ne ought shall carry hence Lyfe lost behinde goods mony land wée leaue And naked shall returne assured whence Before wée came when death doth life bereaue Line then to leaue thy life in euery howâ—r Learne how to lead thy minde from vayne desire Of filthy drosse whose sugerest sweet is sower When dreadfull death shall yéeld our earthly hire What is our world but vayne fraught full of vice Wherin wée liue allured by disceat Which vs in youth to error doth entice And sturs vs vp in flamed by follyes heat Our mindes are mooued with euery fond desire Wee gloze in that the which wée see vnsure Wée vsuall séeke great