charge And so saye I by proofe too dearely bought My haste mad wast my braue and brainsicke barge Did float to fast to catch a thing of nought With leasure measure meane and many mo I mought haue kept a chayre of quiet state But hastie heads can not bée setled so Till croked Fortune giue a crabbed mate As busie braynes muste beate on tickle toyes As rashe inuention bréedes a rawe deuise So sodayne falles doe hinder hastie ioyes And as swifte baytes doe fléetest fyshe entice So haste makes waste and therefore nowe I saye No haste but good where wisdome makes the waye 7. No haste but good where wisdome makes the waye For profe whereof behold the simple snayle Who sées the souldiers carcasse caste a waye With hotte assaulte the Castle to assayle By line and leysure clymes the loftye wall And winnes the turrettes toppe more conningly Than doughtyé Dick who loste his life and all With hoysting vp his head to hastilye The swiftest bitche brings foorth the blyndest whelpes The hottest Feuers coldest crampes ensue The nakedst néede hathe ouer latest helpes With Neuyle then I finde this prouerbe true That haste makes waste and therefore still I saye No haste but good where wisdome makes the waye Sic tuli Richarde Courtop the last of the fiue gaue him this theame Durum aeneum miserabile aeuum and therevpon hee wrote in this wise WHen péerelesse Princes courtes were frée from flatterie The Iustice from vnequal doome the quest from periurie The pillers of the state from proude presumption The clearkes from heresie the commones from rebellion Then right rewardes were giuen by swaye of dewe desarte Then vertues derlinges might be plaste aloft to play their part Then might they coumpt it true that hath béene sayde of olde The children of those happie dayes were borne in beds of golde And swadled in the same the Nurse that gaue them sucke Was wife to liberallitie and lemman to good lucke When Caesar woon the fielde his captaines caught the Townes And euery painful souldiours purse was crammed ful of crownes Licurgus for good Lawes lost his owne libertie And thought it better to preferre common commoditie But nowe the times are turnde it is not as it was The golde is gone the siluer sunke and nothing left but brasse To sée a King encroache what wonder should it séeme When commons cannot be content with countrie Dyadeeme The Prince maye dye a babe trust vp by trecherie Where vaine ambition doth moue trustlesse nobillitye Errours in pulpit preache where faith in priesthood failes Promotion not deuotion is cause why cleargie quailes Thus is the stage stakt out where all these partes be plaide And I the prologue should pronounce but that I am afraide First Cayphas playes the Priest and Herode sits as king Pylate the Iudge Iudas the Iurour verdict in doth bring Vaine tatling plaies the vice well cladde in ritche aray And poore Tom Trooth is laught to skorn with garments nothing gay The woman wantonnesse shée commes with ticing traine Pride in hir pocket plaies bo péepe and bawdry in hir braine Hir handmaides be deceipte daunger and dalliaunce Riot and Reuell follow hir they be of hir alliaunce Next these commes in Sim Swashe to see what sturre they kéepe Clim of the Clough then takes his héeles t is time for him to créepe To packe the pageaunt vp commes Sorrow with a song He say these iestes can get no grotes al this geare goth wrong Fyrst pride without cause why he singes the treble parte The meane hee mumbles out of tune for lacke of life and hart Cost lost the counter Tenor chanteth on apace Thus all in discords stands the cliffe and beggrie singes the base The players loose their paines where so fewe pence are sturring Their garmēts weare for lacke of gains fret for lack of furring When all is done and past was no part plaide but one For euerye player plaide the foole tyll all be spent and gone And thus this foolishe iest I put in dogrell rime Because a crosier staffe is best for such a crooked time Sic tuli ¶ And thus an ende of these fiue Theames admounting to the number of CCLVIII. verses deuised ryding by the way writing none of them vntill he came at the ende of his Iourney the which was no longer than one day in ryding one daye in tarying with his friend and the thirde in returning to Greyes Inne and therefore called Gascoignes memories ¶ A gloze vpon this text Dominus ijs opus habet MY recklesse race is runne gréene youth and pride be past My riper mellowed yéeres beginne to follow on as fast My glancing lookes are gone which wonted were to prie In euerie gorgious garishe glasse that glistred in mine eie My sight is now so dimme it can behold none such No mirrour but the merrie meane can please my fansie much And in that noble glasse I take delight to vewe The fashions of the wonted world compared by the newe For marke who lyst to looke eche man is for him selfe And beates his braine to hord heape this trashe worldly pelfe Our handes are closed vp great giftes go not abroade Fewe men wyll lende a locke of heye but for to gaine a loade Giue Gaue is a good man what néede we lashe it out The world is wondrous feareful now for danger bids men doubt And aske how chaunceth this or what meanes all this meede Forsoothe the common aunswere is because the Lord hath neede A noble iest by gisse I finde it in my glasse The same fréeholde our sauiour Christ conueyed to his asse A texte to trie the trueth and for this time full fitte Fo where should we our lessons learne but out of holy writte First marke our onely God which ruleth all the rost He sets a side all pompe and pride wherin fond wordlings boast His trayne is not so great as filthy Sathans band A smaller heard maye serue to féede at our great masters hand Next marke the heathens Gods and by them shall we sée They be not now so good fellowes as they were wonte to be Ioue Mars and Mercurie Dame Venus and the rest They bāquet not as they were wont they know it were not best So kinges and princes both haue left their halles at large Their priuie chambers cost enough they cut off euery charge And when an office falles as chaunce somtimes maye bée First kepe it close a yere or twayne then geld it by the fee. And giue it out at last but yet with this prouiso A bridle for a brainsicke Iade durante bene placito Some thinke these ladders low to climbe alofte with spéede Well let them créepe at leisure thē for sure the Lord hath neede Dukes Earles and Barons bold haue learnt like lesson nowe They breake vp house come to courte they liue not by that plowe Percase their roomes be skant not like their stately boure A field bed in a corner coucht a pallad on the floure
Sée ruine growes when most we reach to rise Sweete is the name and statelie is the raigne Of kinglie rule and swey of royall seate But bitter is the tast of Princes gaine When climbing heades do hunte for to be great Who would forecast the banke of restlesse toyle Ambitious wightes do freight their brestes withall The growing cares the feares of dreadfull foyle To yll successe that on such flightes doth fall He would not streyne his practize to atchieue The largest limits of the mightiest states But oh what fansies swéete do still relieue The hungrie humor of these swelling hates What poyson swéet inflameth high desire Howe soone the hautie heart is pufft with pride Howe soone is thirst of sceptre set on fire Howe soone in rising mindes doth mischief slide What bloudie sturres doth glut of honor bréede Th ambitious sonne doth oft surpresse his sire Where natures power vnfained loue should spread There malice raignes and reacheth to be higher O blinde vnbridled search of Souereintie O tickle traine of euill attayned state O fonde desire of princelie dignitie Who climbes too soone he ofte repentes too late The golden meane the happie doth suffise They leade the posting day in rare delight They fill not féede their vncontented eyes They reape such rest as doth beguile the might They not enuie the pompe of haughtie traine Ne dreade the dinte of proude vsurping swoorde But plaste alowe more sugred ioyes attaine Than swaye of loftie Scepter can afoorde Cease to aspire then cease to soare so hie And shunne the plague that pierceth noble breastes To glittring courtes what fondnesse is to flie When better state in baser Towers rests Finis Epilogi Done hy Chr. Yeluerton NOte Reader that there vvere in Thebes fovvre principall gates vvherof the chief and most commonly vsed vvere the gates called Electrae and the gates Homoloydes Thys I haue thought good to explane as also certē vvords vvhich are not cōmon in vse are noted and expounded in the margent I did begin those notes at request of a gentlevvoman vvho vnderstode not poëtycall vvords or termes I trust those and the rest of my notes throughout the booke shall not be hurtfull to any Reader ⧠The Frute of reconciliation VVritten vppon a reconciliation betwene two freendes THe hatefull man that heapeth in his mynde Cruell reuenge of wronges forepast and done May not with ease the pleasaunt pathway finde Of friendly verse which I haue now begone Vnlesse at first his angry brest vntwinde The crooked knot which canckred choller knit And then recule with reconciled grace Likewise I finde it sayde in holy write If thou entend to turne thy fearefull face To God aboue make thyne agréement yet First with thy Brother whom thou didst abuse Confesse thy faultes thy frowardnesse and all So that the Lord thy prayer not refuse When I consider this and then the brall Which raging youth I will not me excuse Did whilome breede in mine vnmellowed brayne I thought it méete before I did assay To write in ryme the double golden gayne Of amitie first yet to take away The grutch of grief as thou doest me constrayne By due desert whereto I now must yéeld And drowne for aye in depth of Lethes lake Disdaynefull moodes whom frendship cannot wéelde Pleading for peace which for my parte I make Of former strife and henceforth let vs write The pleasant fruites of faythfull friends delight Si fortunatus infoelix Two gentlemen did run three courses at the Ring for one kisse to be takē of a fair gentlewoman being then present with this condicion that the winner should haue the kisse and the loser be bound to write some verses vpon the gaine or losse therof Now it fortuned that the winner triumphed saying he much lamented that in youth he had not seen the warres VVherevpon the loser compyled these following in discharge of the condition aboue rehearsed THis vaine auaile which thou by Mars hast woonne Should not allure thy flitting minde to feelde Where sturdie stéeds in depth of dangers roonne By guttes welgnawen by clappes that Canons yéelde Where faithlesse friendes by warrefare waxen ware And runne to him that giueth best rewarde No feare of lawes can cause them for to care But robbe and reaue and steale without regarde The fathers coate the brothers stéede from stall The deare friendes purse shall picked be for pence The natiue soile the parentes left and all With Tant tra tant the Campe is marching hence But when bare beggrie bidds them to beware And late repentance rules them to retire Like hiuelesse Bées they wander here and there And hang on them who earst did dreade their ire This cut throto life me séemes thou shouldst not like And shunne the happie hauen of meane estate High Ioue perdy may sende what thou doest séeke And heape vp poundes within thy quiet gate Nor yet I would that thou shouldst spende thy dayes In idlenesse to teare a golden time Like countrey loutes which compt none other praise But grease a sheepe and learne to serue the swine In vaine were then the giftes which nature lent If Pan so presse to passe dame Pallas lore But my good friende let thus thy youth be spent Serue God thy Lord and prayse him euermore Search out the skill which learned bookes do teach And serue in féeld when shadowes make thée sure Hold with the head and row not past thy reach But plead for peace which plenty may procure And for my life if thou canst run this race Thy bagges of coyne will multiply apace Si fortunatus infoelix Not long after the writing hereof he departed from the company of his sayd friend whom he entirely loued into the west of Englande and feeling himselfe so consumed by womens craft that he doubted of a safe returne wrote before his departure as followeth THe féeble thred which Lachesis hath sponne To drawe my dayes in short abode with thée Hath wrought a webbe which now welneare is donne The wale is worne and all to late I sée That lingring life doth dally but in vaine For Atropos will cut the twist in twaine I not discerne what life but lothsome were When faithfull friends are kept in twayne by want Nor yet perceiue what pleasure doth appéere To déepe desires where good successe is skant Such spight yet showes dame fortune if she frowne The haughty harts in high mishaps to drowne Hot be the flames which boyle in friendly mindes Cruell the care and dreadfull is the doome Slipper the knot which tract of time vntwynds Hatefull the life and welcome were the toome Blest were the day which might deuoure such youth And curst the want that séekes to choke such trueth This wayling verse I bathe in flowing teares And would my life might end with these my lines Yer striue I not to force into thine eares Such fayned plaints as fickell faith resignes But high forsight in dreames hath stopt my breath And causde the Swanne to sing before his death
For lo these naked walles do well declare My latest leaue of thée I taken haue And vnknowen coastes which I must séeke with care Do well diuine that there shal be my graue There shall my death make many for to mone Skarce knowne to them well knowne to thee alone This bowne of thée as last request I craue When true report shall sounde my death with fame Vouchsafe yet then to go vnto my graue And there first write my byrth and then my name And how my life was shortned many yeares By womens wyles as to the world appeares And in reward of graunt to this request Permit O God my toung these woordes to tell When as his pen shall write vpon my chest With shriking voyce mine owne deare friend farewell No care on earth did séeme so much to me As when my corps was forst to part from thée Si fortunatus infoelix He wrote to the same friend from Excester this Sonet following A Hundreth sonnes in course but not in kind Can witnesse well that I possesse no ioye The feare of death which fretteth in my mind Consumes my hart with dread of darke anoye And for eche sonne a thousand broken sléepes Deuide my dreames with fresh recourse of cares The youngest sister sharpe hir sheare she kéepes To cut my thred and thus my life it weares Yet let such daies such thousand restlesse nights Spit forth their spite let fates eke showe their force Deathes daunting dart where so his buffet lights Shall shape no change within my friendly corse But dead or liue in heauen in earth in hell I wil be thine where so my carkase dwell Si fortunatus infoelix He wrote to the same friend from Founteine belle eaü in Fraunce this Sonnet in commendation of the said house of Fountaine bel'eaü NOt stately Troye though Priam yet did liue Could now compare Founteine bel'eaü to passe Nor Syrian towers whose loftie steppes did striue To climbe the throne where angry Saturne was For outward shew the ports are of such price As skorne the cost which Cesar spilt in Roome Such works within as stayne the rare deuise Which whilome he Apelles wrought on toome Swift Tiber floud which fed the Romayne pooles Puddle to this where Christall melts in streames The pleasaunt place where Muses kept their schooles Not parcht with Phoebe nor banisht from his beames Yeeld to those Dames nor sight nor fruite nor smell Which may be thought these gardens to excell Si fortunatus infoelix He wrote vnto a Skotish Dame whom he chose for his Mistresse in the French Court as followeth LAdy receyue receiue in gracious wise This ragged verse these rude ill skribled lines Too base an obiect for your heauenly eyes For he that writes his fréedome lo resignes Into your handes and fréely yéelds as thrall His sturdy necke earst subiect to no yoke But bending now and headlong prest to fall Before your féete such force hath beauties stroke Since then mine eyes which skornd our English dames In forrayne courtes haue chosen you for fayre Let be this verse true token of my flames And do not drench your owne in déepe dispayre Onely I craue as I nill change for new That you vouchsafe to thinke your seruaunt trew Si fortunatus infoelix A Sonet written in prayse of the browne beautie compiled for the loue of Mistresse E. P. as foloweth THe thristles thred which pampred beauty spinnes In thraldom binds the foolish gazing eyes As cruell Spiders with their crafty ginnes In worthlesse webbes doe snare the simple Flies The garments gay the glittring golden gite The tysing talk which flowes from Pallas pooles The painted pale the too much red made white Are smiling baytes to fishe for louing fooles But lo when eld in toothlesse mouth appeares And hoary heares in stéede of beauties blaze Than had I wist doth teach repenting yeares The tickle track of craftie Cupides maze Twixt faire and foule therfore twixt great and small A louely nuthrowne face is best of all Si fortunatus infoelix Now to begin with another man take these verses written to be sent with a ryng wherein were engraued a Partrich in a Merlines foote THe Partridge in the pretie Mertines foote Who féeles hir force supprest with fearfulnesse And findes that strength nor strife can do hir boote To scape the danger of hir déepe distresse These wofull wordes may séeme for to reherse Which I must write in this waymenting verse What helpeth now sayeth she dame natures skill To die my feathers like the dustie ground Or what preuayles to lend me winges at will Which in the ayre can make my bodie bound Since from the earth the dogges me draue perforce And now aloft the Hauke hath caught my corse If chaunge of colours could not me conuey Yet mought my wings haue scapt the dogges despite And if my wings did fayle to flie away Yet mought my strength resist the Merlines might But nature made the Merline mée to kill And me to yéeld vnto the Merlines will. My lot is like déere Dame beleue me well The quiet life which I full closely kept Was not content in happie state to dwell But forth in hast to gaze on thée it lept Desire thy dogge did spring me vp in hast Thou wert the Hauke whose tallents caught me fast What should I then séeke meanes to flie away Or striue by force to breake out of thy féete No no perdie I may no strength assay To striue with thée ywis it were not méete Thou art that Hauke whom nature made to hent me And I the Byrd that must therewith content me And since Dame nature hath ordayned so Hir happie hest I gladly shall embrace I yéeld my will although it were to wo I stand content to take my griefe for grace And seale it vp within my secrete hart Which seale receiue as token of my smart Spraeta tamen viuunt A louing Lady being wounded in the spring time and now galded eftsones with the remembrance of the spring doth therfore thus bewayle THis tenth of March when Aries receyud Dame Phoebus rayes into his horned head And I my selfe by learned lore perceyu'd That Ver approcht and frostie winter fled I crost the Thames to take the cherefull ayre In open féeldes the weather was so fayre And as I rowed fast by the further shore I heard a voyce which séemed to lament Whereat I stay'd and by a stately dore I left my Boate and vp on land I went Till at the last by lasting paine I found The wofull wight which made this dolefull sound In pleasant garden placed all alone I sawe a Dame who sat in weary wise With scalding sighes she vttred all hir mone The ruefull teares downe rayned from hir eyes Hir lowring head full lowe on hand she layed On knée hir arme and thus this Lady sayed Alas quod she behold eche pleasaunt gréene Will now renew his sommers liuery The fragrant flowers which haue not long bene séene Will florish
to vse that for a Spurre which I had heere appoynted for a Brydle I can none otherwise lameÌ„t it but to say that I am not the first which hath bene misiudged Truely gentle Reader I protest that I haue not ment heerein to displease any man but my desire hath rather bene to coÌ„tent most men I meane the diuine with godly Hymnes and Psalmes the sober minde with morall discourses and the wildest will with sufficient warning The which if it so fall out then shall I thinke my selfe right happie And if it fall out otherwise I shall yet neuer bee ashamed to become one of their corporation which reape floutes and reprehension for their trauayles But bicause these Posies growe to a great bundell and thereof also the number of louing lynes exceedeth in the Superlatiue I thought good to aduertise thee that the most part of them were written for other men And out of all doubt if euer I wrote lyne for my selfe in causes of loue I haue written tenne for other men in layes of lust For I counte greater difference betweene loue and lust than there is diuersitie betweene witte and wisedome and yet witte and I did in youth make such a fray that I feare his cosen wisedome will neuer become freendes with me in my age VVell though my folly bee greater than my fortune yet ouergreat were mine vnconstancie if in mine owne behalfe I shoulde compyle so many sundrie Songs or Sonets I haue heard of an honest plaine meaning Citizen who being ouercharged with many matters in the lawe and hearing of a common solicitor of causes in the Citie came home to comfort his wife and tolde hir that he had heard of one which dwelt at Billingsgate that coulde helpe all men Euâ—n so good Reader I was a great while the man which dwelt at Billingsgate For in wanton delightes I helped all men though in sad earnest I neuer furthered my selfe any kinde of way And by that it proceedeth that I haue so often chaunged my Posie or worde For when I did compile any thing at the request of other men if I had subscribed the same with mine owne vsuall mot or deuise it might haue bewrayed the same to haue beene of my doing And I was euer curious in that behalfe as one that was lothe to bewray the follies of other men And yet as you see I am not verie daungerous to lay my selfe wide open in view of the worlde I haue also sundrie tymes chaunged mine owne worde or deuise And no meruaile For he that wandereth much in those wildernesses shall seldome continue long in one minde VVell it were follie to bewayle things which are vnpossible to be recouered sithence Had I wist doth seldome serue as a blasone of good vnderstanding And therefore I will spende no more wordes in this Preface but I pray thee to smell vnto these Posies as Floures to comfort Herbes to cure and VVeedes to be auoyded So haue I ment them and so I beseech thee Reader to accept them Farewell T.B. In prayse of Gascogines Posies WE prayse the plough that makes the fruitelesse soyle To bring forth corne through helpe of heauenly might And eke esteeme the simple wretches toyle VVhose painefull handes doe labour day and night VVe prayse the ground whereon the herbes do grow VVhich heale or helpe our greeues and mortall paine Yea weedes haue worth wherein we vertue know For natures Art nothing hath made in vaine VVe prayse those floures which please the secrete sense And do content the tast or smell of man The Gardners paynes and worke we recompence That skilfull is or aught in cunning can But much more prayse to Gascoignes penne is due VVhose learned hande doth here to thee present A Posie full of Hearbes and Flowers newe To please all braynes to wit or learning bent Howe much the minde doth passe the sense or smell So much these Floures all other do excell E.C. In prayse of Gascoignes Posies IN gladsome Spring when sweete and pleasant shoures Haue well renued what winters wrath hath torne And that we see the wholesome smelling Floures Begin to laugh rough winters wracke to scorne If then by chaunce or choyce of owners will VVe roame and walke in place of rare delightes And therein finde what Arte or natures skill Can well set forth to feede our hungrie sightes Yea more if then the owner of the soyle Doth licence yeelde to vse all as our owne And gladly thinkes the fruites of all his toyle To our behoofe to be well set and sowne It cannot be but this so great desart In basest breast doth bâ—eede this due regarde VVith worlde of thankes to prayse this friendly part And wish that woorth mought pay a iust rewarde Good Reader then beholde what gallant spring This booke brings forth of fruites of finest sortes Be bolde to take thy list of euerie thing For so is ment And for thy glad disportes The paine was tane therefore lo this I craue In his behalfe that wrote this pleasant worke VVith care and cost and then most freely gaue His labours great wherein great treasures lurke To thine auayle let his desartes now binde thee In woorde and deede he may still thankfull finde thee M.C. commending the correction of Gascoignes Posies THe Beares blinde whelpes which lacke both nayles and heare And lie like lumpes in filthie farrowed wise Do for a time most ougly beastes appeare Till dammes deare tongue do cleare their clozed eyes The gadde of steele is likewise blunt and blacke Till file and fire do frame it sharpe and bright Yea precious stones their glorious grace do lacke Till curious hand do make them please the sight And so these floures although the grounde were gay VVhereon they grew and they of gallant hew Yet till the badde were cullde and cast away The best became the worse by such a crew For my part then I lyked not their smell But as they be I like them pretly well R.S. In prayse of Gascoignes Posies THe pleasant plot wherein these Posies gâ—â—w May represent Parnassus springs indeede VVhere Pallas with hir wise and learned crew Did plant great store and sow much cunning seede That Goddesse then on whom the Muses wayte To garde hir grounde from greedie gathrers spoyle Hath here ordeynde by fine and close conceyte A greene knight chiefe and master of the soyle Such badge beares he that beautified this booke VVith glorious shew of sundrie gallant flowers But since he first this labor vndertooke He gleand thereout to make the profite ours A heape of Hearbes a sort of fruitfull seedes A needefull salue compound of needlesse weedes Appendix All these with more my freend here freely giues Nor naked wordes nor streyne of straunge deuise But Gowers minde which now in Gascoigne liues Yeeldes heere in view by iudgement of the wise His penne his sworde himselfe and all his might To Pallas schoole and Mars in Princes right T. Ch. In prayse of Gascoignes Posies THough goodnesse of the
put me from my wonted place And déepe deceipte hath wrought a wyle to wrest me out of grace Wyll home againe to cart as fitter were for mée Then thus in court to serue and starue where such proude porters bée Si fortunatus infoelix ¶ This question being propounded by a Dame vnto the Aucthour to witte why he should write Spreta tamen viuunt he aunswereth thus DEspysed things may liue although they pine in payne And things ofte trodden vnder foote may once yet rise againe The stone that lieth full lowe may clime at last full hye And stand a loft on stately towr's in sight of euery eye The cruell Axe which felles the trée that grew full straight Is worne with rust when it renewes and springeth vp on height The rootes of rotten Réedes in swelling seas are seene And when eche tide hath tost his worst they grow againe ful gréene Thus much to please my selfe vnpleasauntly I sing And shrich to ease my morning minde in spite of enuies sting I am nowe set full light who earst was dearely lou'd Som new foūd choise is more estemd than that which wel was prou'd Some Diomede is crept into Dame Cressides hart And trustie Troylus nowe is taught in vaine to playne his part What resteth then for me but thus to wade in wo And hang in hope of better chaunce when chaunge appointeth so I sée no sight on earth but it to Chaunge enclines As litle clowdes oft ouercast the brightest Sunne that shines No Flower is so freshe but frost can it deface No man so sure in any seate but he maye léese his place So that I stand content though much against my mind To take in worth this lothsome lot which luck to me assynd And trust to sée the time when they that nowe are vp May féele the whirle of fortunes whéele and tast of sorrowes cup. God knoweth I wishe it not it had bene bet for mée Styll to haue kept my quiet chayre in hap of high degrée But since without recure Dame Chaunge in loue must raigne I now wish chaunge that sought no chaūge but constāt did remaine And if suche chaunge do chaunce I vowe to clap my hands And laugh at them which laught at me lo thus my fansie standes Spreta tamen viuunt ¶ In trust is Treason written by a Louer leaning onelye to his Ladies promises and finding them to fayle THe straightest Trée that growes vpon one onely roote If that roote fayle wyll quickly fade no props can do it boote I am that fading plant which on thy grace dyd growe Thy grace is gone wherefore I mone and wither all in woe The tallest ship that sailes if shée too Ancors trust When Ancors slip Cables breake her helpe lyes in the dust I am the ship my selfe mine Ancor was thy faith Which now is fled thy promise broke I am driuen to death Who climeth oft on hie and trusts the rotten bowe If that bow breake may catch a fall such state stand I in now Me thought I was a loft and yet my seate full sure Thy heart dyd séeme to me a rock which euer might endure And sée it was but sand whome seas of subtiltie Haue soked so with wanton waues that faith was forst to flye The flooddes of ficklenesse haue vndermined so The first foundation of my ioy that myrth is ebb'd to wo. Yet at lowe water markes I lye and wayte my time To mend the breach but all in vaine it cannot passe the prime For when the prime flood comes which all this rage begoon Then waues of wyll do worke so fast my piles are ouer roon Dutie and dilligence which are my workmen there Are glad to take vp fooles in haste and run away for feare For fansie hath such force it ouerfloweth all And whispring tales do blow the blasts that make it ryse fall Thus in these tempests tost my restles life doth stand Because I builded on thy wodres as I was borne in hand Thou weart that only stake wereby I ment to stay Alas alas thou stoodst so weake the hedge is borne away By thee I thought to liue by thee now must Idye I made thee my Phisicion thou art my mallady For thee I longde to liue for thée nowe welcome death And welcome be that happie pang that stops my gasping breath Twise happie were that axe would cut my rotes downe right And sacred were that swelling sea which would consume me quight Blest were that bowe would breake to bring downe climing youth Which craks aloft and quakes full oft for feare of thine vntruth Ferenda Natura The constancie of a louer hath thus sometimes bene briefly declared THat selfe same tonge which first did thée entreat To linke thy liking with my lucky loue That trustie tonge must nowe these wordes repeate I loue thee still my fancie cannot moue That dreadlesse hart which durst attempt the thought To win thy will with mine for to consent Maintaines that vow which loue in me first wrought I loue thee still and neuer shall repent That happie hande which hardely did touch Thy tender body to my déepe delight Shall serue with sword to proue my passion such As loues thee still much more than it can write Thus loue I still with tongue hand hart and all And when I chaunge let vengeance on me fall Ferenda Natura ¶ The fruite of foes written to a Gentlewoman who blamed him for writing his friendly aduise in verse vnto another louer of hyrs THe cruell hate which boyles within thy burning brest And séekes to shape a sharpe reuenge on them that loue thée best May warne all faithfull friendes in case of ieopardie Howe they shall put their harmelesse hands betwéene the barck trée And I among the rest which wrote this weary song Must nedes alledge in my defence that thou hast done me wrong For if in simple verse I chaunc'd to touch thy name And toucht the same without reproch was I therefore to blame And if of great good will I gaue my best aduise Then thus to blame without cause why me thinkes thou art not wise Amongst olde written tales this one I beare in mind A simple soule much like my selfe dyd once a serpent find Which almost dead for colde lay moyling in the myre When he for pittie tooke it vp and brought it to the fyre No sooner was the Snake recured of hir griefe But straight shée sought to hurt the man that lent hir such reliefe Such Serpent séemest thou such simple soule am I That for the weight of my good wil am blam'd without cause why But as it best beseemes the harmelesse gentle hart Rather to take an open wrong than for to plaine his part I must and will endure thy spite without repent The blame is mine the triumph thine and I am well content Meritum petere graue A Louer often warned and once againe drouen into fantasticall flames by the chase of company doth thus bewayle his misfortunes I That
The thing God knowes was of no great emport Some fréendly lines the vertuous Lady wrote To me hir fréend and for my safe passeporte The Camepomaster Valdes his hand was gotte And seale therewith that I might safely trotte Vnto the Haghe a stately pleasaunt place Whereas remaynd this worthy womans grace 127 And here I set in open verse to showe The whole effect wherfore this work was wrought She had of mine whereof few folkes did knowe A counterfayte a thing to me deare bought Which thing to haue I many time had sought And when shee knew how much I did estéeme it Shée vowde that none but I should thence redéeme it 128 Lo here the cause of all this secrete sleight I sweare by Ioue that nothing els was ment The noble Prince who sawe that no deceipt Was practised gaue trust to mine entent And leaue to write from whence the same was sent But still the Bowgers Burghers should I saye Encreast their doubtes and watcht me day by day 129 At euery porte it was forsoth be last That I die groene Hopman might not go out But when their foes came skirmishing full fast Then with the rest the Gréene knight for them fought Then might he go without mistrust or doubt O drunken plompes I playne without cause why For all cardes tolde there was no foole but I. 130 I was the foole to fight in your defence Which know no fréende nor yet your selues full well Yet thus you sée how paye proclaymde for pence Pulles néedie soules in steade of heauen to hell And makes men hope to beare away the bell Whereas they hang in ropes that neuer rotte Yet warre seemes sweete to such as know it not 131 Well thus I dwelt in Delfe a winters tyde In Delfe I say without one pennie pay My men and I did colde and hunger bide To shew our truth and yet was neuer day Wherein the Spanyard came to make vs play But that the Gréene knight was amongst the rest Like Iohn Greyes birde that ventred with the best 132 At last the Prince to Zeland came himselfe To hunger Middleburgh or make it yéeld And I that neuer yet was set on shelf When any sayld or winde or waues could wéeld Went after him to shew my selfe in field The selfe same man which earst I vowed to be A trustie man to such a Prince as he 133 The force of Flaunders Brabant Geldres Fryze Henault Artoys Lyegeland and Luxembrough Were all ybent to bryng in new supplies To Myddleburgb and little all enough For why the Gaeulx would neyther bend nor bough But one of force must breake and come to nought All Walkers theirs or Flushyng dearly bought 134 There once agayne I serued vpon seas And for to tell the cause and how it fell It did one day the Prince my chieftayne please To aske me thus Gascoigne quoth he you dwell Amongst vs still and thereby séemeth well That to our side you beare a faithfull harte For else long since we should haue séene you starte 135 But are sayde he your Souldiours by your side O Prince quoth I full many dayes be past Since that my charge did with my Cronâ—ll glyde Yet byde I here and meane to be with last And for full proofe that this is not a blast Of glorious talke I craue some fisher boate To shew my force among this furious floate 136 The Prince gan like my fayth and forward will Equyppt a Hoye and set hir vnder sayle Wherein I serued according to my skill My minde was such my cunning could not quayle Withouten bragge of those that did assayle The foemens fleete which came in good aray I put my selfe in formost ranke alway 137 Thrée dayes wée fought as long as water serued And came to ancor neyghbourlike yféere The Prince himselfe to sée who best deserued Stoode euery day attending on the péere And might behold what barke went formost there Ill harte had he that would not stoutely fight When as his Prince is present still in sight 138 At last our foes had tidings ouer lande That neare to Bergh their fellowes went to wracke On Scheld they mette by Rymerswaell a bande Of Edell bloets who put their force abacke Lewes de Boyzett did put them there to sacke And lost an eye bicause he would resemble Dan Iuliane whome there he made to tremble 139 When this was knowen Sancio de Auila Who had the charge of those that fought with vs Went vp the Hont and tooke the ready way To Anwerpe towne leauing in daunger thus Poore Myddelburgh which now waxt dolorous To sée all hope of succour shrinke away Whiles they lackt bread and had done many a day 140 And when Mountdragon might no more endure He came to talke and rendred all at last With whome I was within the Cittie sure Before he went and on his promisse past Such trust I had to thinke his fayth was fast I dinde and supt and laye within the towne A daye before he was from thence ybowne 141 Thus Middleburgh Armew and all the rest Of Walkers Ile became the Princes pray Who gaue to me bycause I was so prest At such a pinche and on a dismall day Thrée hundreth gilderns good aboue my pay And bad me bide till his abilitie Might better gwerdon my fidelitie 142 I will not lie these Gilderns pleasd me well And much the more bycause they came vncraued Though not vnnéeded as my fortune fell But yet thereby my credite still was saued My skores were payde and with the best I braued Till lo at last an English newe relief Came ouer seas and Chester was their chief 143 Of these the Prince perswaded me to take A band in charge with Coronels consent At whose requests I there did vndertake To make mine ensigne once againe full bent And sooth to say it was my full entent To loose the sadle or the horse to winne Such haplesse hope the Prince had brought me in 144 Souldiours behold and Captaynes marke it well How hope is harbenger of all mishappe Some hope in honour for to beare the bell Some hope for gaine and venture many a clappe Some hope for trust and light in treasons lappe Hope leades the way our lodging to prepare Where high mishap ofte kéepes an Inne of care 145 I hoapt to shew such force agaynst our foes That those of Delf might sée how true I was I hopt in déede for to be one of those Whome fame should follow where my féete should passe I hoapt for gaynes and founde great losse alas I hoapt to winne a worthy Souldiours name And light on lucke which brought me still to blame 146 In Valkenburgh a fort but new begonne With others moe I was ordeynde to be And farre beforne the worke were half way done Our foes set forth our sorie seate to sée They came in time but cursed time for mée They came before the courtine
into the Gulfe to fill it vp but it would not so close vp nor be filled Then came the ladyes and dames that stoode by throwing in their cheynes Iewels so to cause it stoppe vp and close it selfe but when it would not so be filled came in a knighte with his sword drawen armed at all poyntes who walking twise or thrise about it perusing it seing that it would nether be filled with earth nor with their Iewells and ornaments after solempne reuerence done to the gods and curteous leaue taken of the Ladyes and standers by sodeinly lepte into the Gulfe the which did close vp immediatly betokning vnto vs the loue that euery worthy person oweth vnto his natiue coūtrie by the historye of Curtins who for the lyke cause aduentured the like in Rome This done blinde Tyresias the deuine prophete led in by hys daughter and conducted by Meneceus the son of Creon entreth by the gates Electrae and sayth as followeth Actus iij. Scena 1. TYRESIAS CREON. MANTO MENECEVS SACERDOS THou trustie guide of my so trustlesse steppes Déer daughter mine go we lead thou the way For since the day I first did léese this light Thou only art the light of these mine eyes And for thou knowst I am both old weake And euer longing after louely rest Direct my steppes amyd the playnest pathes That so my febled féete may féele lesse paine Meneceus thou gentle childe tell me Is it farre hence the place where we must goe Where as thy father for my comming stayes For like vnto the slouthfull snayle I drawe Deare sonne with paine these aged legges of mine Creon returneth by the gates Homoloydes And though my minde be quicke scarce can I moue Cre. Comfort thy selfe deuine Creon thy frend Loe standeth here and came to méete with thée To ease the paine that thou mightst else sustaine For vnto elde eche trauell yeldes annoy And thou his daughter and his faithfull guide Loe rest him here and rest thou there withall Thy virgins hands that in sustayning him Doest well acquite the duetie of a childe For crooked age and hory siluer heares Still craueth helpe of lustie youthfull yeares Tyr. Gramercie Lorde what is your noble will Cre. What I would haue of thée Tyresias Is not a thing so soone for to be sayde But rest a whyle thy weake and weary limmes And take some breath now after wearie walke And tell I pray thée what this crowne doth meane That sits so kingly on thy skilfull heade Tyr. Know this that for I did with graue aduise Foretell the Citizens of Athens towne How they might best with losse of litle bloude Haue victories against their enimies Hath bene the cause why I doe weare this Crowne As right rewarde and not vnméete for me Cre. So take I then this thy victorious crowne For our auaile in token of good lucke That knowest how the discord and debate Which late is fallen betwene these brethren twaine Hath brought all Thebes in daunger and in dreade Eteocles our king with threatning armes Is gone against his greekish enimies Commaunding me to learne of thée who arte A true diuine of things that be to come What were for vs the safest to be done From perill now our countrey to preserue Tyr. Long haue I bene within the towne of Thebes Since that I tyed this trustie toung of mine From telling truth fearing Eteocles Yet since thou doest in so great néede desire I should reueale things hidden vnto thée For common cause of this our common weale I stand content to pleasure thée herein But first that to this mightie God of yours There might some worthie sacrifice be made Let kill the fairest goate that is in Thebes Within whose bowelles when the Préest shall loke And tell to me what he hath there espyed I trust t' aduise thée what is best to doen. Cre. Lo here the temple and ere long I looke To sée the holy préest that hither cōmes Bringing with him the pure and faire offrings Which thou requirest for not long since I sent For him as one that am not ignorant Of all your rytes and sacred ceremonyes He went to choose amid our herd of goates The fattest there and loke where now he commes Sacerdos accompanyed with .xvj. Bacchanales and all his rytes and ceremonies entreth by the gates Homoloydes Sacer. O famous Citizens that holde full deare Your quiet country Loe where I doe come Most ioyfully with wonted sacrifice So to beséeche the supreme Citizens To stay our state that staggringly doth stand And plant vs peace where warre and discord growes Wherfore with hart deuoute and humble chéere Whiles I breake vp the bowels of this beast That oft thy veneyarde Bacchus hath destroyed Let euery wight craue pardon for his faults With bending knee about his aultars here Tyr. Take here the salt and sprincle therwithall About the necke that done cast all the rest Into the sacred fire and then annoynte The knife prepared for the sacrifice O mightie Ioue preserue the precious gifte That thou me gaue when first thine angrie Quéene For deepe disdayne did both mine eyes do out Graunt me I may foretell the truth in this For but by thée I know that I ne may Ne wil ne can one trustie sentence say Sa. This due is done Tyr. With knife then stick the kid Sac. Thou daughter of deuine Tyresias With those vnspotted virgins hands of thine Receiue the bloude within this vessell here And then deuoutly it to Bacchus yelde Man. O holy God of Thebes that doest both praise Swete peace and doest in hart also disdayne The noysome noyse the furies and the fight Of bloudie Mars and of Bellona both O thou the giuer both of ioy and health Receiue in grée and with well willing hand These holy whole brunt offrings vnto thée And as this towne doth wholy thée a dore So by thy helpe do graunt that it may stand Safe from the enimies outrage euermore Sac. Now in thy sacred name I bowell here This sacrifice Tyre And what entralls hath it Sac. Faire and welformed all in euery poynt The liuer cleane the hart is not infect Saue loe I finde but onely one hart string By which I finde something I wote nere what That séemes corrupt and were not onely that In all the rest they are both sound and hole Tyr. Now cast at once into the holy flame The swete incense and then aduertise mée What hew it beares and euery other ryte That ought may helpe the truth for to coniecte Sac. I sée the flames doe sundrie coulours cast Now bloudy sanguine straight way purple blew Some partes séeme blacke some gray and some be gréene Tyr. Stay there suffyseth this for to haue séene Know Creon that these outward séemely signes By that the Gods haue let me vnderstand Who know the truth of euery secrete thing Betoken that the Citie great of Thebes Shall Victor be against the Gréekish host If so consent be giuen but more
his taile And leaping ouer hedge and ditch I sawe it not preuaile To pamper him so proude Wherfore I thought it best To trauaile him not as I woont yet nay to giue him rest Thus well resolued then I kept him still in harte And founde a pretie prouander appointed for his parte Which once a day no more he might a little tast And by this diet made I youth a gentle iade at last And foorth I might him ride an easie iourneying pace He neuer straue with middle age but gently gaue him place Then middle age stept in and toke the helme in hande To guide my Barke by better skill into some better lande And as eche noble heart is euermore most bent To high exploites and woorthie déedes where honor may be hent So mine vnyolden minde by Armes gan séeke renowne And sought to rayse that recklesse youth had rashly tūbled downe With sworde and trustie targe then sought I for to carue For middle age and hoarie haires and both their turnes to sarue And in my Caruers roome I gan to cut suche cuttes And made suche morsels for their mouthes as well might fill their guttes Beside some ouerplus which being kept in store Might serue to welcome al their friends with foison euermore I meane no more but this my hand gan finde such happe As made me thinke that Fortune ment to play me in hir lappe And hope therwith had heavde my heart to be so hie That still I hoapt by force of armes to climbe aboue the Skie I bathed still in blisse I ledde a lordelie life My Souldiers lovde and fearde me both I neuer dreaded strife My boord was furnisht stil with cates of dainty cost My back wel clad my purse wel lynde my woonted lack was lost My bags began to fil my debtes for to discharge My state so stoode as sure I séemde to swim in good lucks barge But out and well away what pleasure bréedes not paine What sun cā shine without a cloud what thūder brings not rain Such is the life of man such was the luck of me To fall so fast from hiest hap where sure I séemde to be Fiue hundred sundrie sunnes and more could scarcely serue By sweat of brows to win a roome wherin my knife might carue One onely dismall day suffised with despite To take me from my caruers place and from the table quite Fiue hundred broken sleepes had busied all my braynes To find at last some worthy trade that might increse my gaynes One blacke vnluckie houre my trade hath ouerthrowen And marrde my marte broke my bank al my blisse oreblowen To wrappe vp all in woe I am in prison pent My gaines possessed by my foes my friends against me bent And all the heauy haps that euer age yet bare Assembled are within my breast to choake me vp with care My modest middle age which lacks of youth the lust Can beare no such gret burdēs now but throwes them in the dust Yet in this piteous plight beholde me Louers all And rewe my grieues least you your selues do light on such a fal I am that wearie wretch whom loue always hath tyred And fed me with such strange conceytes as neuer man desired For now euen now ay me I loue and cannot chuse So strangely yet as wel may moue the wisest mindes to muse No blasing beautie bright hath set my heart on fire No ticing talke no gorgeous gyte tormenteth my desire No bodie finely framde no haggarde Falcons eie No ruddie lip no golden locks hath drawne my minde awrie No téeth of shining pearle no gallant rosie hiew No dimpled chinne no pit in chéeke presented to my view In fine no such delights as louers oft allure Are cause why thus I do lament or put my plaintes in vre But such a strange affect as both I shame to tell And all the worlde may woonder much how first therin I fell Yet since I haue begonne quoth he to tell my griefe I wil nought hide although I hope to finde no great reliefe And thus quoth he it is Amongst the sundrie ioyes Which I conceivde in feates of warre and all my Martial toyes My chaunce was late to haue a péerlesse firelock péece That to my wittes was nay the like in Turkie nor in Greece A péece so cleanly framde so streight so light so fine So tempred and so polished as séemeth worke diuine A péece whose locke yet past for why it it neuer failde And though I bent it night and day the quicknesse neuer quailde A péece as well renforst as euer yet was wrought The brauest péece for bréech and bore that euer yet was bought The mounture so well made and for my pitch so fit As though I sée faire péeces moe yet fewe so fine as it A péece which shot so well so gently and so streight It neyther bruzed with recule nor wroong with ouerweight In fine and to conclude I know no fault thereby That eyther might be thought in minde or wel discernde with ey This péece then late I had and therin tooke delight As much as euer proper péece did please a warlike wight Nowe though it be not lost nor rendred with the rest Yet being shut from sight therof how can I thinke me blest Or which way should I hope that such a iewell rare Can passe vnséen in any campe where cunning shooters are And therewith am I sure that being once espied It neuer can escape their hands but that it will be tried And being once but prooued then farewel frost for me My péece my locke and all is lost and I shall neuer sée The like againe on earth Nowe Louers speake your minde Was euer man so strangely stroke or caught in such a kinde Was euer man so fonde was euer man so mad Was euer man so woe begone or in such cares yclad For restlesse thus I rest the wretchedst man on liue And when I thinke vpon this péece then still my woes reuiue Nor euer can I finde good plaister for my paine Vnlesse my lucke might be so good to finde that péece againe To make my mourning more where I in prison pine I daily sée a pretie péece much like that péece of mine Which helps my hurt much like vnto a broken shinne That when it heales begins to ytch and then rubs off the skinne Thus liue I still in loue alas and euer shall As well content to loose my péece as gladde to finde my fall A wonder to the worlde a griefe to friendlie mindes A mocking stocke to Momus race and al such scornefull hindes A loue that thinke I sure whose like was neuer séene Nor neuer warlike wight shal be in loue as I haue béene So that in sooth quoth he I cannot blame the Dames Whome I in youth did moste estéeme I list not foile their fames But there to lay the fault from whence it first did flowe I say my Fortune is the root whence all these griefes did grow Since Fortune
Firste he pleaded ignorance as though he knewe not hir name and therefore demaunded the same of Mistresse Fraunces who when shée had to him declared that hir name was Elinor hee sayde these woordes or very like in effect If I thought I shoulde not offend Mistres Elynor I woulde not doubte to stoppe hir bléeding without eyther payne or difficultie This Gentlewoman somewhat tickled with his woordes did incontinent make relation thereof to the sayde Mistresse Elynor who immediately declaring that Ferdinando was hir late receyued seruaunt returned the saide messanger vnto him with especiall charge that hee shoulde employ his deuoyre towardes the recouery of hir health with whome the same Ferdinando repayred to the chamber of his desired and finding hir set in a chayre leaning on the one side ouer a Siluer bason After his due reuerence hée layde his hande on hir Temples and priuily rounding hir in hir eare desired hir to commaunde a Hazell sticke and a knyfe the whiche beyng brought hée deliuered vnto hir saying on this wise Mistresse I will speake certaine woordes in secrete to my selfe and doe require no more but when you heare me saie openly this woorde Amen that you with this knyfe will make a nicke vppon this Hazell sticke and when you haue made fiue nickes commaunde mée also to cease The Dame partly of good will to the Knight and partly to be stenched of hir bléeding commaunded hir mayde and required the other Gentils somewhat to stande aside whiche done he began his Oraisons wherein he had not long muttered before he pronounced Amen wherwith the Lady made a nicke on the sticke with hir knyfe The saide Ferdinando continued to an other Amen when the Lady hauing made an other nick felt hir bléeding began to steynch so by the third Amen throughly steinched Ferdinando then chaunging his prayers into priuat talk said softly vnto hir Mystres I am glad that I am hereby enabled to doe you some seruice and as the staunching of your owne bloud may some way recomfort you so if the shedding of my bloud may any way content you I beséech you commaund it for it shal be euermore readily employed in your seruice and therwithal with a loud voyce pronounced Amen wherewith the good Lady making a nick did secretly answere thus Good seruant quod shée I must néedes think my selfe right happy to haue gained your seruice and good will and be you sure that although ther be in me no such desert as may draw you into this depth of affection yet such as I am I shal be alwayes glad to shewe my self thankfull vnto you And now if you thinke your self assured that I shall bleede no more doe then pronounce your fifth Amen the which pronounced shée made also hir fifth nicke and held vp hir head calling the company vnto hir and declaring vnto them that hir bléeding was throughly steinched And Ferdinando tarying a while in the chamber found oportunitie to loose his sequence néere too his desired Mistres And after congé taken departed After whose departure the Lady arose out of hir chayre and hir mayd going about to remoue the same espied and toke vp the writing the which hir mistres perceiuing gan sodenly coniecture that the same had in it some like matter to the verses once before left in like maner and made semblant to mistrust that the same should be some wordes of coniuration and taking it from hir mayd did peruse it and immediatly said too the company that she would not forgo the same for a great treasure But to be plain I think that Ferdinando excepted she was glad to be rid of all company vntill she had with sufficient leasure turned ouer and retossed euery card in this sequence And not long after being now tickled thorough all the vaines with an vnknown humour aduentured of hir selfe to commit vnto a like Ambassadour the discyphring of that which hitherto shée had kept more secret and therevpon wrot with hir own hand and head in this wyse GOod seruant I am out of al doubt much beholding vnto you and I haue great comfort by your meanes in the steinching of my bloud and I take great comfort too reade your letters and I haue found in my chamber diuers songs which I think too be of your making and I promise you they are excellently made and I assure you that I wil bee ready to doe for you any pleasure that I can during my life wherefore I pray you come to my chamber once in a day till I come abroad again and I wil be glad of your company and for because that you haue promised to be my HE I will take vpon me this name your SHE THis letter was doubtles of hir own hande writing and as therin the Reader may finde great difference of Style from hir former letter so may you now vnderstand the cause Shée had in the same house a friend a seruant a Secretary what should I name him such one as shée estéemed in time past more than was cause in tyme present And to make my tale good I will by the same words that Bartello vseth discribe him vnto you He was in heigth the proportion of two Pigmeis in bredth the thicknesse of two bacon hogges of presumption a Gyant of power a Gnatte Apishly wytted Knauishly mannered and crabbedly fauord What was there in him then to drawe a fayre Ladies liking Marry sir euen all in all a well lyned pursse wherewith he could at euery call prouide suche pretie conceytes as pleased hir péeuish fantasie and by that meanes hée had throughly long before insinuated him selfe with this amorous dame This manling this minion this slaue this secretary was nowe by occasion rydden too Florence forsothe and though his absenee were vnto hir a disfurnishing of eloquence it was yet vntoo Ferdinando Ieromini an opportunitie of good aduauntage for when hée perceiued the change of hir stile and thereby grewe in some suspition that the same procéeded by absence of hir chiefe Chauncellor he thought good now to smyte while the yron was hotte and to lend his Mistresse suche a penne in hir Secretaries absence as hée should neuer be able at his returne to amend the well writing therof Wherfore according to hir cōmaund he repayred once euery day to hir chamber at the least whereas hée guided himselfe so wel and could deuise such store of sundry pleasures and pastymes that he grew in fauour not onely with his desired but also with the rest of the gentlewomen And one day passing the time amongst them their playe grew to this end that his Mistresse being Quéene demaunded of him these thrée questions Seruant quod she I charge you aswell vppon your allgiance being nowe my subiect as also vpon your fidelitie hauing vowed your seruice vnto me that you aunswere me these thrée questions by the very truth of your secret thought First what thing in this vniuersall world doth most reioyce and comfort you Ferdinando Ieronimi abasing his eyes
howe thou séemest to like me well And how thou saydest I did deserue To be thy Lord thy Knight thy King. And how much more I list not sing And canst thou now thou cruell one Condemne desert to déepe dispayre Is all thy promise past and gone Is fayth so fled into the ayre If that be so what rests for me But thus in song to saye to thée If Cressydes name were not so knowen And written wide on euery wall If brute of pryde were not so blowen Vpon Angelica withall For hault disdayne thou mightst be she Or Cresside for inconstancie And in reward of thy desart I hope at last to sée thée payd With déepe repentaunce for thy part Which thou hast now so lewedly playd Medoro hée must bée thy make Since thou Orlando doest for sake Such is the fruite that groweth alwaies Vpon the roote of ripe disdaine Such kindly wages Cupide payes Where constant hearts cannot remaine I hope to see thée in such bandes When I may laugh and clappe my handes But yet for thee I must protest But sure the faulte is none of thine Thou art as true as is the best That euer came of Cressedes lyne For constant yet was neuer none But in vnconstancie alone Meritum petere graue ¶ Mars in despite of Vulcane vvritten for an absent louer parted from his Lady by Sea. BOth deepe and dreadfull were the Seas Which held Leander from his loue Yet could no doubtes his mind appease Nor saue his life for hir behoue But guiltlesse bloud it selfe would spill To please the waues and worke his wyll O greedye gulfe O wretched waues O cruell floods O sinke of shames You holde true louers bound like slaues And keepe them from their worthy Dames Your open mouth gapes euermore Tyll one or both be drowned therefore For proofe whereof my selfe maye sing And shrich to pearce the loftye skies Whose Lady left me languishing Vppon the shoare in woofull wise And crost the Seas out of my sight Wherby I lost my chiefe delight She sayd that no such trustlesse flood Should keepe our loues long time in twayne ▪ She sware no bread shoulde doe hyr good Till she mighe sée my selfe agayne She sayd and swore these wordes and mo But now I finde them nothing so What resteth then for me to doo Thou salte sea foome come saye thy minde Should I come drowne within thee to That am of true Leanders kind And headlong cast this corpes of mine Into this greedy guttes of thine No cruel but in spite of thée I will make Seas where earst were none My teares shall flowe in full degree Tyll all my myrth may ebbe to mone Into such droppes I meane to melt And in such Seas my selfe to swelt Lenuoie ¶ Yet you déere Dame for whome I fade Thus staruing still in wretched state Remember once your promise made Performe it now though all to late Come home to Mars who may you please Let Vulcane bide beyond the Seas Meritum petere graue ¶ Patience perforce wherein an absent louer doth thus encourage his Lady to continew constant COntent thy selfe with patience perforce And quenche no loue with droppes of darcke mistrust Let absence haue no power to diuorce Thy faithfull friend which meaneth to be iust Beare but a while thy constance to declare For when I come one ynche shall breake no square I must confesse that promise dyd me binde For to haue sene thy seemely selfe ere now And if thou knewest what griefes did gaule my minde Bicause I coulde not kéepe that faithfull vowe My iust excuse I can my selfe assure With lytle paine thy pardon might procure But call to minde how long Vlisses was In lingring absence from his louing make And howe she deigned then hir dayes to passe In solitary silence for his sake Be thou a true Penelope to me And thou shalt sone thine owne Vlisses sée What sayd I sone yea sone I saye againe I wyll come sone and soner if I maye Beléeue me nowe it is a pinching payne To thinke of loue when louers are awaye Such thoughts I haue and when I thinke on thée My thoughtes are there whereas my bones would bée The longing lust which Priames sonne of Troye Had for to see his Cresside come againe Could not exceede the depth of mine anoye Nor séeme to passe the patterne of my payne I fryse in hope I thaw in hote desire Farre from the flame and yet I burne like fire Wherfore deare friend thinke on the pleasures past And let my teares for both our paines suffise The lingring ioyes when as they come at last Are bet then those which passe in posting wise And I my selfe to proue this tale is true In hast post hast thy comfort will renew Meritum petere graue ¶ A letter deuised for a yong louer REceiue you worthy Dame this rude ragged verse Lend wylling eare vnto the tale which I shall nowe rehearse And though my witlesse woordes might mooue you for to smile Yet trust to that which I shal tel neuer marke my stile Amongst fiue hundreth Dames presented to my view I find most cause by due desert to like the best of you I sée your beautie such as séemeth to suffice To binde my heart in linckes of loue by iudgement of myne eyes And but your bounty quench the coales of quicke desire I feare that face of yours wyll set ten thousand hearts on fire But bounty so aboundes aboue al my desart As that I quake and shrinke for feare to shewe you of my smart Yet since mine eye made choice my hart shal not repent But yéeld it self vnto your wyl therwith stand content God knowth I am not great my power it is not much The greater glorye shall you gaine to shew your fauour suche And what I am or haue all that I yéeld to you My hande and sworde shall serue alwayes to proue my tongue is true Then take me for your owne and so I wyl be still Beléeue me nowe I make this vowe in hope of your good wyll Which if I may obtaine God leaue me when I change This is the tale I meant to tell good Lady be not strange Meritum petere graue ¶ Dauids salutacions to Berzabe vvherein are three sonets in sequence vvritten vppon this occation The deuiser hereof amongst other friendes had named a gentlevvoman his Berzabe and she vvas content to call him hir Dauid The man presented his Lady vvith a booke of the Golden Asse vvritten by Lucius Apuleius and in the beginning of the books vvrote this sequence You must conferre it vvith the Historye of Apuleius for else it vvyll haue small grace THis Apuleius was in Affricke borne And tooke delight to trauaile Thessaly As one that helde his natiue soyle in skorne In foraine coastes to feede his fantasie And such againe as wandring wits find out This yonker wonne by wyll and weary toyle A youth mispent a doting age in doubt A body brusd with many a