And you by hap haue surely hit the marke that how to finde may maze a cunning Clarke But who could keepe the key of such a chest or had a head might ioyne with such a witte Or could discerne where his desire doth rest as harte doth wish with happy hande to hit His happe were such as I can neuer craue but wish of God my haples harte might haue So pretty soule a solemne vowe I sweare I would not seeke for iemmes of greater ioy Nor should mine eye be trouling here and there to make a marke of any tysing toy But where I once my leauel lay of loue my hande shal holde and harte shal neuer moue The Louer forsaken and almost dismaide yet through hope taketh comforte FLy fancie flie and let me loue no more what meanes my wil or are my wits bestraught Die swéete desire molest me not so sore but seeke to saue that thou in vayne hast sought For sorrowe shewes the woe of wretched will and force affirmes but frowarde fortune still Where least I like my loue hath lent me losse where most I loue my liking findeth lack What bootes my barke in waues of woe to tosse when sorrowes sandes doe threaten sore shipwrack Such stormes of strife so rife in euery coast as but great happe shew life and laboure lost Yet cowarde wretch wilt thou goe back agayne and keepe thy couch and leaue to seeke delight Make sure accounte no pleasure without payne the sweetest ioyes are gainde through sore despight Then get thee forth in hope goe hoyse vp sayle the winde may tourne and worke for thine auayle Let hardie hope daunte feareful fonde despaire prepare thy selfe to leade a souldiars life Through thicke and thinne by weather foule or faire passe through the pikes and dread no deadly strife And though long first yet when the worst is past the best wil yealde some wished ioyes at last Another I Shrinke to speake since yet I haue no leaue and yet my harte so heaues my tongue to speake As that in deede I plainly doe perceaue with force of fame my very hart stringes breake Which force must be with fauoure ouerprest or els my hart wil neuer sitte at rest Forgeue me wretch if that my wordes offende fancie hath forcde my sillie minde to sue Some lyking let good nature to me sende my minde hath sworne our Ladie seruice due Then if thou lou'st our Ladie or her name regarde my suite graunt fauoure to the same Which fauoure loe I onely craue is this to graunt me leaue to say but what I could Say but my wordes thou wilt not like amisse and thou shalt heare my meaning what I would But til that time as I haue sayd before I must be dumbe and die in dole therefore The louer in sorrow craueth death HOw might I doe to weepe and wayle my fil that dolefull dumpes might soone dispatch my dayes Since sorrowe seekes my carkas so to kill oh doleful doome that so my death delayes I see selfewil hath wrought me such distresse as reason shewes no hope to finde redresse Yet die I must I feele deathes deadly stroake my carkase eke is nie consumde with care Why liue I then since that my hart is broke but liuing thus like one halfe dead I fare Which makes me thus at pointe of death to crie strike home thy darte good death and let me die Patience prolonges the patient in paine comforte relieues but rids not sorrow quight Hope lingers forth a loathed life in vaine fortune is false and frendes no wretched wight The fates doe groane dole is my destinie why liue I then good death come let me die Harde to finde a faithful frende HE seekes vnsure that seekes to finde a friend for faith is fled and frendes are secrete foes A shew of trothe tryes treason in the ende and many pluck a canker for a rose This wretched world is ful of wicked wiles when simple geese the subtile foxe beguiles For stinging snakes lie hid in smoothest grasse and softest streame doth shew the deepest floud No closer craft then in the glosing glasse which flatters much and shewes no perfect good I finde in deede no greater subtiltie then couered is with smoothe simplicitie Then deeme I best eche where to doubt the worst to make account of eche thing by desarte Or ere I choose to make true tryall first by tryall then for to esteeme in harte Thus thinke I best such trusty frends to finde as may content ech faithful meaning minde He craueth content being ouerworne with Loue. OH Loue leaue of to vexe thy silly slaue to bide the broyle some fresher souldyer seeke Thus worne with woes some comforte let me ahue that so thou mayst my seruice better leeke For if that care doe quite my carkasse kill how should I liue to doe thee seruice still Beholde my face my flesh is falne away see how mine eyes sinke hollow in my head My dumpes declares how my delights decay deeme if I seeme more like aliue or dead Let lyking loue some comforte me procure least loathed life no longer doe endure Oh heare me Loue and lende me helpe in hast the time is come that I must liue or die Stay not too long least all too late at last in vayne alas thou lende me remedie I humblie craue my humble suite regarde graunt my desire may haue his due rewarde De contemptu mundi IN depe despite of this vile world I write what is it but a vale of miserie A caue of care a dongeon of despite a place of payne a penne of penurie A sea of sorrowes and a goulph of griefe where wretched hartes doe die without reliefe The wise man wrytes it is a poysoned baight which doth with toyes the godly minde infecte A wanton theese which cloasly lyes in waight to robbe the minde of euery good effecte It is a grounde where onely griefes doe groe and to conclude a wildernes of woe Now why my selfe so ill thereof should deeme some men may muse that see my youthfull yeares Oh softe a while though young of yeares I séeme my youth hath past through many aged bryers But now that I am yet beyonde the bushes I doe not care for all the worlde two rushes Saue that my Prince I honour I protest my Parentes eke and so I loue my friend Set these aside and as for all the rest of loue and liking I must make an ende I hate the worlde and all the toyes therein and longe to sée my ioyes in heauen beginne Maledisant Beuchampe THe tender budde that brauely ginnes to blow while summer showers yeeldes comforte to the roote If that vnwares there fall a sodaine snow no sunné can shine that wel may doe it boote Except it holde but for a day and so It may haue leaue to make a liuely show My selfe the slower that flourisht all too fast while fauour flonge faire weather in my face But now must die my pleasures ouerpast to see disdaine so
come at call And I as faithfull as the rest or any one amongst them all The day as yet hath lothsome beene in which my seruice hath beene tride The loyaltie that I liue in and constant harte wherein I bide The surging seas the flashing flouds are here at barre my trothe to proue The craggie hilles the desarte wooddes if they coulde speake would shew my loue My tongue my penne my hande my harte were euer bente to doe your will And I not minded for to starte but so for to continue still Yet all this trothe which I doe owe you seeme but little to regarde The faithfull loue which I did sow doth yealde disdaine for my rewarde But since my chaunce doth so befall I must of force this loue refraine As good to leaue as to lose all if griefe be all that I shal gaine Sith then for that I longe and sue some others haue for little coste T is time to leaue and say adue shake handes with me and farewel frost Another I May and I may not I would but I cannot For makinge of strife If I might as I may not I woulde doe as I doe not But if that I shall not Then farewell my life But yet I doubt not Neither dispaire I not If you denye not My lawfull request While you dissemble not Smile on and spare not More pleasure I aske not Then you to loue best A Louer forsaken despayreth MY sences are not yet so dull as you perhaps suppose they be For I can spie and marke at full the craftie sleightes you vse with me And time wil come ere it be longe I may requight you of this wronge For though I winke I am not blinde through little holes the day I spie Your subtile secreate I can finde wherewith you thinke to bleare mine eye And yet I seeme to slumber still when that I see against my will I taste alas the more my payne the brackish teares as salte as brine That trickling on my chéekes remayne distilling from my blubbered eyne So much you féede me with this taste that life and all therewith you waste I heare and so doe many moe your nipping frumppes and taunting toyes And where you blaze them well I know among your youthfull Courtly boyes Which when I heare I would that death woulde come and stoppe my gasping breath I smell my loathsome carryon coarce with carping cares tournd now to dust In thee remaynes yet no remorce but beastly stil liue as you lust Like smelling hounde I vent thy trace and can foote out thy vaulting place I feele the priuie grieping nippes wherewith you purpose me to kill Who lookes for ought at sower slippes but choakiug fruite that soone will spill I feele you teare and rent my harte though vndeserued for my parte I see that death his browes doth bende I taste all paynes that one may haue I heare the bell biddes make an ende I smell the dampnes of my graue I feele and so I will conclude that all my loue you doe delude The praise of his Ladie WHat man can keepe in silence long the beautie of so faire a dame Or who can holde or stay his tongue from blasing out her worthy fame Though lande and life thereon did lie I tell you trothe it is not I. Whose beautie when I seeke to blase I see the dulnes of my witte Yet doth it nothing me amase good will enforceth so to it And I am vrgde against my will to shew the bluntnes of my skill Her comely face who list to vew with all the features of the same Must needes her tearme if he say true a Goddes and no earthly dame For Helen she doth passe as farre as doah the sunne the shining starre Beholde her body straight as line her armes so tirmme so longe so smll Her handes so neate so white so fine her fingers longe and straight withall That you woulde easly iudge with me the like of her vnborne to be I needed not if she were here with poynted wordes to praise her grace Nor to display her fauour cleare with all the beautie of her face I wish this rowme she did â—â—pplie then shoulde you sée if that I lie If princockes Paris were aliue and choyse of damsels had at will Disposed once againe to wiue his wittes I know were not so ill To leaue vnchoase this Princely peece for all the passing gyrles of Greece Not This be braue that was sometime a Louer vnto Piramus Lucretias fauour for to finde wherewith she coyde Tarquimius But she doth farther both excell then I am able for to tell In fine if equally you woulde each parte in her with iudgement way By true constrainte confesse you should and thereof here my lyfe I lay It were not now in natures might to frame so faire and trimme a wight To all these graces she hath store of mercy and of perfecte loue No earthly wight I know hath more as tryall telles when truth shal proue I harde when nature sayd and sware she was the Iewel of her ware For madde you might me then condemne if I would thinke my selfe so wise That I were able with my penne to set her out before your eyes Sith wel I know the like by birth as yet did neuer liue on earth Another WAy Lady mine I thee beseech with loyal louing hart In equal ballance my good wil yeeld me my desart Ladie Lay forth in true vnforged tale the summe of all thy suite Euen as my eare shal like or leaue so looke to reape thy fruite Louer Let fauour thine then furnish vp that fancy mine doth craue Lende Louer true for lew of loue the guerdone he should haue Ladie Truth lies not alwayes in the shew that glisters in the eine Trust asketh further triall still and triall asketh time Louer I caste my gloue to him that dares my loyaltie disproue A better proofe in alder yeares was neuer gin for loue Ladie Young hote lusty bloods seekes thus their vowed trothes defence â—old ladies craue for milder profes of plighted freÌ„ds pretence Louer My deere if boistrous words offende thy virgins melting brest Know here what proofe my Lady loues that likes her louer best Ladie Experience though it neuer learnd my greenish yeares to loue Long since hath taught that tract of time this trustines doth proue Louer Except I sue serue thee then while lungs shal lend me breth Let all the ill that harte can thinke procure 〈…〉 deth Ladie Aske then and haue as thou deseruest so looke for thy desire Nâ— shall my bitter nay denie if iustly you require Louer I care not Ladie for thy coyne I craue no Iunos golde Nor Pallas prudence doe I seeke my Venus loue I wolde Ladie Endeuoure thy behests to keepe thou needes no longer sue While Lettice liues Wil shal not wante if he continue true Great thaÌ„ks for this great grace I yeald god in heauen thee giue Expence of Nestors yeres on earth then
wittes may clime To touch the toppe of highest thinges with praise Which Nestor scarce attainde in all his dayes Young coltes beares price before olde restie iades young twigges stande faste when taller trees decay The budding rose exceedes the flower that fades youth waxeth ripe whilest age doth were away Then iudge aright and praise him for his paynes That prooues his theame in praising youthly braynes G. A. In commendation of the Author LEt hoarie heares who longe in painfull soyle with heauie hande haue sowed Experience seede At haruest reape in guerdone of their toyle the name and fame of wisdome for their meede But yet for witte let youth receaue the praise As this our Youth doth flowe in these our dayes N. Skr. In the praise of his frende THough wanton will did wrangle late with witte though Soldior braulde though Schollar cauil stil Manillas mone though no man pittie it nor woman-like so lose a praise of will Though counsell then that came from phisickes lore Doth yealde as yet no salue to heale his sore Yet died not witte he did but make his will I not deny but then he might be sicke His addle head may were a kercher still for then his braine was touched to the quicke But who so lookes shall see him here aliue And well perceaue how youth can him reuiue Mistres Marie P. In commendation of her seruaunts worke TO praise the wight whose déedes deserue no lesse were but to throwe my wordes into the winde For eache that sees his worke must needes confesse vnlesse they swarue contrarie to their kinde That he deserues farre more then I can tell his workes his wordes his deedes deserue so well R. W. gent. To his frende A N. LOe for my frende I here doe breake my vow who earst haue sworne in silence for to rest But for because my frende constraines me now both vowes and othes I doe accounte as iest And say and sweare as I haue done of yore that such Greene wittes haue seldome beene before I. Io. Gent. IN verse to write the praises of my frende I wante the skill of learned Poets olde Whose pregnante witte in Virgill may be pende and not by me his filed phrase be tolde Reade gallante youthes this booke which he hath wrot not for his owne but your delight God wot I. H. To his frende A. N. TO say of trothe that this my frende doth well and in the ende his doinges should proue badde My name his fame I should both by and sell and nether winne but both of vs be sadde So that to praise him further then I say I neither can ne will ne must nor may YOVTHES VVIT OR THE WIT OF GRENE YOVTH WITH THE CASTELL OF Conceites Choose Gentlemen mez-Dames which of these two shall best like you Two louers being together in the night the Man died for ioy the Maide for griefe Whereof ensued the death of other two IN the citie of Cessenna not long since was dwelling a riche marchant named Affranio who had two children a Sonne and a Daughter Néere vnto him was dwelling an other marchant named Gerardo who had likewise a Sonne and a Daughter and as betwene the fathers there had of long time bene great familiaritie so did acquaintance growe and increase betwene their children specially betwene their Daughters For Camilla the Daughter of Gerardo by meanes of her brothers absence who was resident at Rome where he had continued a long time as factor for his father hauing no bodie to kéepe her companie in his absence resorted diuers times to Cornelia who her father being dead was then only Mistres of the house which her brother Hannibal as sole inheritour of all his goodes did hold and enioy after his decease The continuall conuersation of these two gentlewomen as it ingendred betwene them such perfect amitie as could neuer be dissolued so did it kindle a new fire in the hart of Hannibal which by the contemplacion of Camillas bewtie so increased from time to time and in the end toke such déepe roote that it could not possiblie be remoued This straunge passion so tormented the mind of the poore gentleman who had neuer before bene acquainted with the like that neglecting all his necessarie affaires he applied his whole care and studie to please and pleasure his beloued Camilla who vtterly ignorant of his griefe shewed him no better countenaunce then she did commonly to all other young gentlemen of her acquaintance which Signor Hannibal perceiuing and not satisfied therewith would faine haue made his meaning more apparant crauing such comfort as the necessitie of his cause required but the feare he had to offend and so to lose the fauour whereof he was assured by her continuall presence did still deteyne him and would neuer suffer him to prosecute his purpose Thus hanging betwene hope and dispaire th one pricking him forward the other pulling him backe imagining now one thing now an other thing and neuer resoluing fully vpon any thing he became at last so melancolike with musing imagining on this matter that losing his appetite to meate and desire to sléepe at the last he grew sicke and by litle and litle wasted away as snow against the sunne Cornelia séeing her brother thus pained applied her selfe like a naturall sister to prouide him all things that she thought méete for the recouerie of his health by Phisicke or otherwise but his disease procéeding of no natural cause could neither be discerned nor cured by any Phisitiā were his skill and experience neuer so great only their opinion was for the most part that it procéeded of some passion of the mind which Cornelia vnderstanding who could by no meanes imagine vppon what occasion he should be so disquieted to vnderstand the truth she lay continually vpon him vsing all the perswasions that possibly she might to make him reueale vnto her the cause of this his grieuous malladie which at the last he did with much a do telling her that it was only for the loue he bare to her frend Camilla which he had sought by all meanes possible to suppresse but could not being continuallie renewed by the dayly contemplacion of her celestiall bewtie Cornelia hearing these wordes vttered by her sicke brother with grieuous sighes and great aboundaunce of teares knowing that it was then no time to reproue his folly but rather to prouide a remedie for thextreame mischiefe whereunto he was so vnhappely fallen comforted him with swéete wordes exhorting him to plucke vp his spirites and séeke some meanes to remedie his griefe Whereunto he replied that he knew not how to ease him selfe vnlesse it would please her to discouer his affection to her frend Camilla and persuade her to take some pitie vpon him Cornelia that loued her brother as her owne life gaue him her promise that when opportunitie should serue she would satisfie his desire and make his estate so well knowen to her in whom his only hope of helpe consisted that
seas in rest may chaunce to him that chaunceth best How sundrie sowndes with lead and lines into the deepe the shipman throwes No foote to spare he tries ofte times no neare when hoe the master blowes If Neptune frowne all be vndone straightway the shippe the wracke hath wone Those dangers great doe ofte befall on those that shores vpon the sande Iudge of their liues the best who shall how vile it is few vnderstande Alack who then may iudge the game not they which haue not felte the same But those that saile in storme and winde and dayes and yeares haue spente therein Such wel may iudge since proofe they finde in rage no rest till calme againe No more may those that loue doe fayne geue iudgement of true louers payne Another ARise o noble Sidney now and heare the merry Robin singe The birdes on euery bushe and bough with warbling make the woods to ringe Dame Flora fresh in mantle gréene doth waight vpon a mayden Quéene And out are gone by breake of day a worlde of Dames to bring in May. When Phebus shines in loftie skies and Luna yealdeth vp her light T is time for waking wittes to rise and bidde adue the drowsie night Greate sleepers haue but little health the wise will walke and vse his skill The sluggarde wantes both wit and wealth and liues in néede and scareslie still Arise o noble Sidney c. The labourer findes his feeding sweete the idle heades haue idle braynes The slothfull sheepe hath simple sprites and much desires and litle gaynes The house but breedes greate cares in brest the fielde takes toyes from troubled mynde As griefe and sicknes folow rest so health through laboure must men finde Arise o noble Sidney c. As bees seeke hunny out of flowers and trauailes farre for pleasures sake So man delightes in summer bowers and for sweete things some toyle must take For needfull sleepe the bed is good whilst night be clips the world about But in the day each lustie blood on hills or dales are walkinge out Arise o noble Sidney c. Since Maye doth come so kindly in and doth reioyce both man and boy With mirthe we do this May begin in hope to end the yeare with ioy A soldier doth this daybell ringe who wisheth well to worthy wight And we poore boyes his farewell singe to worthy Sidney noble knight Arise o noble Sidney c. A Riddle A Thinge there is a frende tolde me that none can feele nor heare nor sée Which bréedeth many deadly smarte and eke with griefe consumes the harte For which is found none other ease but one the cause of the disease Now this is my desire of thee to be resolude what this may be Answere THe thinge that breedeth such a griefe as but by it finde no reliefe Is straunge yet not so straunge I trow but one by studie soone may know And at a venture this I gesse T is Loue. And why smile you I Smile to see the world so full of toyes I smile to see that toyes should so delight I smile to shew by signes such secrete ioyes as but for shame would make me laugh outright To shew such mirth as manners doe conceale and smiles in kinde can neuer halfe reueale But for I see that laughing is too light and smiling shewes a modest merry minde I will conceale my secrete sweete delight saue by a smile you may my fancie finde Then why I smile the cause be sure is this somewhat is well I say not what it is I smile to thinke what what that what may be I smile agayne at prettie iestes I finde And now I smile at secrete smiles I see I smile in signe to shew a merry minde And so I leaue to write but not to smile mirth among friendes may be alone awhile And why sigh you I Sigh to sée the world so ful of woes I sigh to thinke of secret miserie I sigh to shew that speach may not disclose I sigh and could and but for shame would crie That teares might tel such tormentes of the minde as sighes nor sobbes can neuer shew in kinde But for I sée that women vse to wéepe and gallante mindes their secrete griefe conceale I will awhile vnséene my sorrowes keepe least womanlike I doe my woes reueale Then why I sigh the cause be sure is this I say not what but somewhat is amisse I sigh to thinke that somewhat is so much as that in some there cannot be much more I sigh to thinke my secreat sorrow such as makes my harte to sigh and sobbe so sore And so I leaue to wright but sighing still to shew by sighes that sighing wil me kill Plus amour que la vie MY chaunce was good who can say nay my happe was hitte that instant time When I for solace séemde to goe to gardeâ—â—e in the springing prime Whereas me thought I saw did clime Faire gallante girles the one was such As to recount it grieues me much They climde but whether would you know trust me in truth I cannot tell Mine eyes were dazeled with the show of her which I did marke too wel For why of troth she did excell And so surpaste the other traine That they but shadowes seemed plaine The other three were Venus ioyes in whome the Goddes tooke delight She keepes them from all dire annoyes if they complaine it makes her spight She is their Patrones by right Wherefore in them she sutes her showes And nothing cares for mine God knowes But why should I graue at their gaine Minerua is the patrone deare Which shields my ladie from the paine that Venus brattes feede for their cheere These wantons thinke they haue no peere Till sturdie Mars doth lay the baight And then they crie Peccaui straight The glistering glee which they retayne the outwarde shewes of Venus ioyes The curled heare the faces plaine the fine proportion of her boyes My Lady countes them all as toyes And thinkes that trickes her passing trimme Out of their waues of woe to swimme Well since my Deare thou hast begoon in Dians sacred fieldes to walke Where all the vertues still doe woon and flowers croppe from daintie stalke There rest thou still with them to walke And let me languish still in woe For that is al I craue you knowe Another TO vaunte before the conquest gotte to triumph still fore victorie Were too too diffamous a blotte if happe should hit the contrarie So that I saide it is the wisliest done Neuer to vaunte till victorie be won And then to vaunte and double vaunte it too to triumph then it were to thee no blame For so of right thou oughtest then to dooe because thy foe of right doth beare the shame Thy triumph then doth merite nought but this with Lawrell bowe for to be crownde I wis But what deeme you him worthy for to be which triumphes still before the conquest gotte If then a iudge you will allow of me he sure
〈◊〉 farewell vnto you both twixt hope and feare farewell all foolish strife Follie farewell which I haue fancyed so and farewell fancie that first wroughtst my woe Adue desire for death is harde at hande and yet againe I say adue to death Though loathed life doe in deathes daunger stande yet faith assures when bodie loseth breath The soule in heauen shall liue and fare right wel which makes me crie come death and life farewel Both frendes and foes vnto you all farewell farewell my frendes for frendshippe I haue found Farewell my foes that truth in time may tell when that â—y bones be buryed in the ground That with the worlde I die in charitie and so adue the bell hath done I die And yet once more to death agayne adue for dying thus me thinkes I liue againe My certayne hope showes ioyes that do ensue and hart findes ease of former pinching payne Which makes me thus by certayne prouse to tell faithe feares no death I dying liue farewell Counsaile geuen to a frend WHen gallant youthe hath gone a while at will and folowed that which fancie doth affecte And sées in tyme by proufe of sacred skill What wisdome would that reason should respect He then returnes from former vanytie and treades the pathe to true felicitie When witte doth waye the wanton toyes of will and will doth yéelde to folow wittes aduice And willing witte doth learne by wisdomes skil of perfecte good to knowe the passing price Then worldly toyes are all had in despight and Heauenly ioyes are all the hartes delight When fancie leaues to follow fonde desire and wisdome doth dame fortunes force defie And nature doth but reasones will require and conscience will conceale no trecherie Then if my mynde do not mistake his markes the skye will fall and we shall want no larkes The secrete sute of a louer NOt what I woulde yet would I what I wright not what I meane yet meane I what I saye Not what I mought yet would I what I might not what I can yet will I what I may My spéeche is darke but you perceyue much light then marke my wordes and gesse my meaning right For this you know my tonge so fast is tyde as for my lyfe I cannot yet speake playne Yet do I seeke to haue my mynde descride therby to speake some libertie to gayne For if my tonge might tell my tale in kynde my harte would hope to haue some ease of mynde But oh harde happe my hope his helpe denyes and hope halfe past dispaire doth drowne my mynde Yet reason showes that thou in deede art wise and ruth reportes that I shall fauour find Which makes me thus in midst of my distresse in secrete sorte to sue for some redresse Of sweet contentes WHat aâ—le I wretch or whereto was I borne what meanes my mynd my fancie so to set The greatest iemmes I seme to haue in scorne and daylie séeke the thinge I cannot get The reason is I seeke a thinge to craue which will would wishe but hope can neuer haue What is it welth no many rich I see as many seeke but few or none can haue Bewtie oh no faire ladies many be and t is I saye no common thinge I craue What is it loue tushe loue is but a toye yet faithfull loue is sure a heauenly ioy And therefore Loue I cannot choose but léeke but lyking lookes and lacke breedes discontent And they shal finde that doe such sorrowe seeke that lothed lacke doth luckles loue lamente What is it then whereof I am so faine oh t is contente I seeke but cannot gaine Oh sweete contente what one doth thée enioy who liues contente alas I least of all Content doth breede delight without annoy contente mislykes no fortune that can fall Contente is that which few or none can finde yet must I seeke to set at rest my minde One that had made his full choise MY foolish dayes and wanton lustes be past in vayne you seeke 〈◊〉 me againe Let be your toyes my thoughts are fixed fast Citheria should her selfe but lose her paine Remember not to me wonted delight each sweete so past is now but bitter gall Darcknes I 〈◊〉 that earst I counted light my reason is redéemde from fancies thrall Applie your selues to set some other snare perhaps ye may speede better if ye doe Such woodcockes many in the worlde there are that will be caught I am no pray for you One hath me fast already hers am I Ne will I be anothers till I die A Countrey Carrolle translated out of Belaye A Crowne for Ceres wil I make of euerie kinde of corne With garlandes made of faiâ—e 〈◊〉 boughes I Bacchus will adorne Two pottes of milke to Pales laste I purpose to present That they may heare my humble suite and to my will aâ—ente That Ceres may enforce the ground a plenteous croppe to yeald That Bacchus may the clustred grapes well prosper in the field That Pales so her mantle spread vpon the pleasaunt soyle That grasse and holesome hâ—rbes may grow to quite my painfull toyle The same in another sorte WIth fragrante flowers with eares of corne with leaues that largely grow On euery vine lets garlands make our thankefull mindes to show To Pales Ceres sacred dames and Bacchus last of all Who all our meddowes fields and grounds when we for grace did call With grasse with graine and grapes so filde as they did déeme it best We fearde no heate no hayle no colde for they our labour blest From all that might the grasse the eare or tender braunche offende The cattle birdes or greedie goate that from the hilles descend In summer season in the springe or Authume did not spoile The grasse the eare the sprouting budde but fedde on others soile Let mowiers then make merry now let Reapers all reioyce Let vintners vaunte of their good happe and all exalte their voice To praise the meddowes fieldes and ground that gaue so greate increase And laude their name that wrought this worke els will their goodnes cease Barnes garners sellers so are heapte with hay with corne and wine That neuer earst the like was seeâ—e with any mortall eyine An Epigram out of the same Author THough false Aeneas now be dead Dido laid in graue yet others lefte they in their stead that like coÌ„ditioÌ„s haue Who with the show of marriage rites which is a holy thing do hide their fleshly fonde delights that follie forth doth bring Verses translated out of the foresaide Poet. WIth loue with grace and perfect worthines the powers diuine were compassed rounde about The skie was clad and cloathd in comely sorte with burning rayes of happye heauenly hew All thinges were full of beutie and of blisse the sea was calme the winde was meeke and milde VVhen here below the Paragon was borne whose faire white skinne exceedes the Lillie farre Whose haire like golde doth glister in the sunne whose lippes doe staine the perfecte crimson die
in heauen to liue Another AS each man spics a time his griefe for to bewayle And doth poure out from baylefull breast the woes that him annoy So haue I seuerde out this time in hope for mine auaile To shew my frende my griuoues panges and eke my blisfull ioy The woeful plight which present now I doe in brest sustaine The pleasures eke which now are past I will to minde them call For too too long in secreate breast I haue them kepte with paine With sighes that boyles from out my breast most bitter like to gall There was a time when as I set my loue vpon a Lasse And lente my lyking out to loane to lull my lyking lust Because she present in mine eye me thought did all surpasse But sure within her secrete breast did harboure then no trust For after we had dwelt awhile in pleasures sweete delight And husht our sences both asleepe as lyk'd oure persons best Then crept there in this croppe of care which wrought me this despight And tooke from me the louing Lasse and did disturbe our rest And now doe I appeale to you take pittie if you may On him that is tormented still with woes his life that weare And for thou art a faithfull frende loe thus of thée I pray Let not this frowarde happe of mine my tender heart still feare Another COnsider well I pray the lines that here I wright Nought els but dole and dolefull thinges I profer to thy sight No cause at all I haue to write of any ioy My minde is whelmde in deepe distresse and tombled in annoy My serses all doe quake to thinke vpon my griefe For to bewaile my woefull happe that cannot finde reliefe What fauoure shoulde he haue whom fortune hath defide By rigor of the law t is harde for any to be tride By Law why saide I so no Law there is I thinke That barres true louers from their ioyes but he that stil doth winck And blinking like a bussarde foole can laugh to see our woes And nothing for our helpe will he seeke out the Lord he knowes Oh would it were in me poore soule the waggish God to tame If he then wrought vs such despight in me then were the blame But why doe I now wish for thinges which passe my reach It were as much for me to craue fine Tullie for to teach Good Lady yet geue eare a while and heare my woefull plaint Seeke I beseech to search his wound whome loue doth sore attaint And do not stil reiect your thrall whē as he doth cōplain And think not light the direfull panges that I for you sustaine Ten thousand griefes a day I feele ten times ten moe woes And eke a thousande thousande sighes my pensiue harte out throws I liue a thousand times a day I die ten thousand more And yet I am as neere of thee as I haue bene of yore Let pittie once take place and moue thy louing minde That I for all my torments past some fauoure once may finde Another GOod Lordinges geue me leaue a while to beate my braynes about a toy The further that I wade therein the deeper wade I in annoy The lesse I thinke thereon in sooth the greater blisse shal happe to me The fewer times I heare thereof the happyer man sure shal I be The lesse in sight the better luck the furthest of the most at ease And yet this is the straungest case for life I dare it not displease For life and all thereon depende what resteth then for to ensue My Ladie barres I may not tell therefore deare hartes count you it true For if I once knew what it mente her should I haue that me it sent Philomelas fie FIe flattering face in an vnfaithfull frend Fie on mischaunce where neuer was mistrust Fie fonde desire that findes dispightfull ende Fie fie that faith should euer proue vniust Fie frowarde fate which makes me singing crie Fie fortune fie and falshoode fie fie fie But fie for shame this songe yealdes small delight When euerie note doth runne on fie fie fie Oh waigh the cause is her accursed spight Which makes her thus lament her miserie It is her note so swéete and not her song Whereto we loue to listen too so long So may my note séeme swéete although my fie May séeme perhaps a most vnpleasaunt worde Although I sing in harte alas I crie Fie pleasure fie I must with this poore byrde Goe shroude my selfe as one with sorrow slayne Till merry May may make me rise againe And then this Birde shal come and singe with me Such heauenlye notes as may each eare delight And euery one that doth my sorrow see Shall curse the cause of my accursed spight And some al night shal gladly leaue their nest To heare recorde of our vnquyet rest Alta peto THe hautie Larke that fayne would sit on hye And yet perforce long time doth sitte below Will vp at last although he gaine thereby To his decay a deadly ouerthrow Which makes my harte that highly would aspire Séeke how to clime to height of my desire To prowle for pence such gayne yealds simple share To fight for flies the conquest were but small To gaine contente my minde shal only dare To venture death in clyming though I fall But careful hope must hoyse me bp alofte Least footing fayle and then I fall not softe And when I clime the trée shal be of life The fruite of faith the field the ground of grace My ladder loue and care my cutting knife To proyne such sprigges as may annoy the place Reason the ground to stay me from a fall And hope my holde to touch the toppe of all A Gentleman mislyking of his Mistres sente her at his departure these sixe sower lines for a farewell ALthough you count your hauen a sea of blisse I nothing like to anchore in your fludde I feare in faith so sweete the water is that ouer vse hath made the bottome mudde And south to say I cannot well away in common cockex to put my barke in bay Farewell foule false and filthie forger P. I. The Mistres of this gentleman hauing more cause to dislike of him then he to misleeke of her requiteth him with these sixe lines following THe seas you seeme to set so little by no harbor is for euery rotten barke Let be the floud and let the Anchor lie It flotes not here you neede not therefore carke And sooth to say the bay beares such a grace vnnethes it likes to harbor ought so base Farewell fonde false fleering and fantasticall foole P. M. Verses out of Borbonius MArcus Auarus heri cum se suspendere vellet sexque obulis misero restis emenda foret Territus hoc pretio restim inquit non emo tanti quinque obulis tandem conuenit atque perit MArke Miser yesterday I harde the hanging crafte would trie And vnder three pence caitife wretch no halter could he by I buy no roapes so