sparing to grant Louers blisse Will see for time lost there shall no griefe misse Nor let me euer cease from lasting griefe But endlesse let it be without reliefe To winn againe of Loue The sauour I did proone And with my end please him since dying I Haue him offended yet vnwillingly 43. O Dearest eyes the lights and guides of Loue The ioyes of Cupid who himselfe borne blinde To your bright shining doth his tryumphs binde For in your seeing doth his glory moue How happy are those places where you prooue Your heauenly beames which makes the Sun to find Enuy and grudging he so long hath shin'd For your cleare lights to match his beames aboue But now alas your sight is heere forbid And darkenes must these poore lost rooâ—es possesse So be all blessed lights from henâ—â—â—orth hid That this blacke deede of darkenesse haue excesse For why should Heauen affoord least light to those Who for my misery such darkenesse chose 44. HOw fast thou hast st O Spring with sweetest speed To catch thy water which before are runne And of the greater Riuers welcome woone Ere these thy new-borne streames these places feede Yet you doe well lest staying here might breede Dangerous flouds your sweetest bankes t'orerunâ— And yet much better my distresse to shunn Which maks my tears your swiftest course succeed But best you doe when with so hasty flight You fly my ills which now my selfe outgoe Whose broken heart can testifie such woe That so orecharg'd my life-bloud wasteth quite Sweet Spring then keepe your way be neuer spent And my ill dayes or griefes assunder rent 45. GOod now be still and doe not me torment With multitude of questions be at rest And onely let me quarrell with my breast Which stil le ts in new stormes my soule to rent Fye will you still my mischiefes more augment You say I answere crosse I that confest Long since yet must I euer be opprest With your tongue torture which wil ne're be spent Well then I see no way but this will fright That Deuill speech alas I am possâ—st And madd folkes senseles are of wisdomes right The hellish spirit Absence doth arrest All my poore senses to his cruell might Spare me then till I am my selfe and blest 46. LOue thou hast all for now thou hast me made So thine as if for thee I were ordain'd Then take thy conquest nor let me be pain'd More in thy Sunne when I doe seeke thy shade No place for helpe haue I left to inuade That shew'd a face where least ease might be gain'd Yet found I paine increase and but obtain'd That this no way was to haue loue allay'd When hott and thirsty to a Well I came Trusting by that to quench part of my paine But there I was by Loue afresh imbrac'd Drinke I could not but in it I did see My selfe a liuing glasse as well as shee For loue to see himselfe in truely plac'd 47. O Stay mine eyes shed not these fruitlesse teares Since hope is past to win you back againe That treasure which being lost breeds all your paine Cease from this poore betraying of your feares Thinke this too childish is for where griefe reares So high a powre for such a wretched gaine Sighes nor laments should thus be spent in vaine True sorrow neuer outward wailing beares Be rul'd by me keepe all the rest in store Till no roome is that may containe one more Then in that Sea of teares drowne haplesse me And I le prouide such store of sighes as part Shall be enough to breake the strongest heart This done we shall from torments freed be 48. HOw like a fire doth Loue increase in me The longer that it lasts the stronger still The greater purer brighter and doth fill No eye with wonder more then hopes still bee Bred in my breast when fires of Loue are free To vse that part to their best pleasing will And now vnpossible it is to kill The heate so great where Loue his strength doth see Mine eyes can scarce sustaine the flames my heart Doth trust in them my passions to impart And languishingly striue to shew my loue My breath not able is to breath least part Of that increasing fuell of my smart Yet loue I will till I but ashes proue Sonnet LEt griefe as farre be from your dearest breast As I doe wish or in my hands to ease Then should it banish'd be and sweetest rest Be plac'd to giue content by Loue to please Let those disdaines which on your heart doe ceaze Doubly returne to bring her soules vnrest Since true loue will not that belou'd displease Or let least smart to their minds be addrest But oftentimes mistakings be in loue Be they as farre from false accusing right And still truth gouerne with a constant might So shall you only wished pleasures proue And as for me she that shewes you least scorne With all despite and hate be her heart torne Song O Me the time is come to part And with it my life-killing smart Fond Hope leaue me my deare must goe To meete more ioy and I more woe Where still of mirth inioy thy fill One is enough to suffer ill My heart so well to sorrow vs'd can better be by new griefes bruis'd Thou whom the Heauens themselues like made should neuer sit in mourning shade No I alone must mourne and end Who haue a life in griefe to spend My swiftest pace to wailings bent Shewes ioy had but a short time lent To bide in me where woes must dwell And charme me with their cruell spell And yet when they their witchcrafts trye They only make me wish to dye But ere my faith in loue they change In horrid darknesse will I range Song SAy Venus how long haue I lou'd and seru'd you heere Yet all my passions scorn'd or doubted although cleere Alas thinke loue deserueth loue and you haue lou'd Looke on my paines and see if you the like haue prou'd Remember then you are the Goddesse of Desire and that your sacred powre hath touch'd and felt this fire Perswade these flames in me to cease or them redresse in me poore me who stormes of loue haue in excesse My restlesse nights may show for me how much I loâ—e My sighes vnfaignd can witnes what my heart doth proue My saddest lookes doe show the griefe my soule indures Yet all these torments from your hands no helpe procures Command that wayward Childe your Son to grant your right and that his Bow and shafts he â—eeld to your faire sight To you who haue the eyes of ioy the heart of loue And then new hopes may spring that I may pitty moue Let him not triumph that he can both hurt and saue And more bragge that to your selfe a wound he gaue Rule him or what shall I expect of good to see Since he that hurt you he alas may murther mee Song I That am of all most crost Hauing and that had haue lost May with
euill with a show of good While in faire showes their malice so is spent Hope kill 's the heart and Tyrants shed the blood For Hode deluding brings vs to the pride Of our desires the farther downe to slide 36. HOw well poore heart thou witnesse canst I loue How oft my grief hath made thee shed forth teares Drops of thy dearest blood and how oft feares Borne testimony of the paines I proue What torments hast thou suffer'd while aboue Ioy thou tortâ—r'd wert with racks which longing bears Pinch'd with desires which yet but wishing reares Firme in my faith in constancie to moue Yet is it said that sure loue cannot be Where so small shew of passion is descri'dâ— When thy chiefe paine is that I must it hide From all saue oneâ—y one who should it see For know more passion in my heart doth moue Then in a million that make shew of loue Song 6. YOu happy blessed eyes Which in that ruling place Haue force both to delight and to disgrace Whose light allures and tyes All hearts to your command O looke on me who doe at mercy stand 'T is you that rule my life 'T is you my comforts giue Then let not scorne to me my ending driue Nor let the frownes of strife Haue might to hurt those lights Which while they shine they are true loues delights See but when Night appeares And Sunne hath lost his force How his losse doth all ioy from vs diuorce And when he shines and cleares The Heauens from clowdes of Night How happy then is made our gazing sight But more then Sun's faire light Your beames doe seeme to me Whose sweetest lookes doe tye and yet make free Why should you then so spight Poore me as to destroy The only pleasure that I taste of ioy Shine then O dearest lights With fauour and with loue And let no cause your cause of frownings moue But as the soules delights So blesse my then blest eyes Which vnto you their true affection tyes Then shall the Sunne giue place As to your greater might Yeelding that you doe show more perfect light â—â—en but grant this grace Vnto your Loue-tide slaue To shine on me who to you all faith gaue And when you please to frowne Vse your most killing eyes On them who in vntruth and falshood lies But Deare on me cast downe Sweet lookes for true desire That banish doe all thoughts of faigned fire 37. NIght welcome art thou to my minde distrest Darke heauy sad yet not more sad then I Neuer could'st thou finde fitter company For thine owne humour then I thus opprest If thou beest darke my wrongs still vnredrest Saw neuer light nor smallest blisse can spye If heauy ioy from mee to fast doth hie And care out-goes my hope of quiet rest Then now in friendship ioyne with haplesse me Who am as sad and darke as thou canst be Hating all pleasure or delight of life Silence and griefe with thee I best doe loue And from you three I know I cannot moue Then let vs liue companions without strife 38. WHat pleasure can a banish'd creature haue In all the pastimes that inuented are By wit or learning Absence making warre Against all peace that may a biding craue Can wee delight but in a welcome graue Where we may bury paines and so be farre From loathed company who alwaies iarre Vpon the string of mirth that pastime gaue The knowing part of ioy is deem'd the heart If that be gone what ioy can ioy impart When senslesse is the feeler of our mirth No I am banish'd and no good shall finde But all my fortunes must with mischiefe binde Who but for misery did gaine a birth 39. IF I were giuen to mirth t would be more crosse Thus to be robbed of my chiefest ioy But silently I beare my greatest losse Who 's vs'd to sorrow griefe will not destroy Nor can I as those pleasant wits inioy My owne â—ram'd wordes which I account the drosse Of purer thoughts or reckon them as mosse While they wit-sick themselues to breath imploy Alas thinke I your plenty shewes your want For where most feeling is wordes are more scant Yet pardon me liue and your pleasure take Grudge not if I neglected enuy show 'T is not to you that I dislike doe owe But crost my selfe wish some like me to make 40. IT is not Loue which you poore fooles doe deeme That doth appeare by fond and outward showes Of kissing toying or by swearings gloze O no these are farre off from loues esteeme Alas they are not such that can redeeme Loue lost or winning keepe those chosen blowes Though oft with face and lookes loue ouerthrowes Yet so slight conquest doth not him beseeme 'T is not a shew of sighes or teares can proue Who loues indeed which blasts of faigned loue Increase or dye as fauours from them slide But in the soule true loue in safety lies Guarded by faith which to desert still hies And yet kinde lookes do many blessings hide 41. YOu blessed Starres which doe Heauen 's glory show And at your brightnesse make our eyes admire Yet enuy not though I on earth below Inioy a sight which moues in me more fire I doe confesse such beauty breeds desire You shine and clearest light on vs bestow Yet doth a sight on Earth more warmth inspire Into my louing soule his grace to know Cleare bright and shining as you are is this Light of my ioy fix't stedfast nor will moue His light from me nor I change from his loue But still increase as th' earth of all my blisse His sight giue life vnto my loue-rould eye My loue content because in his loue lies 42. IF euer loue had force in humane brest If euer he could moue in pensiue heart Or if that he such powre could but impart To breed those flames whose heat brings ioyes vnrest Then looke on me I am to these adrest I am the soule that feeles the greatest smart I am that heartlesse Trunck of hearts depart And I that One by loue and griefe opprest None euer felt the truth of loues great misse Of eyes till I depriued was of blisse For had he seene he must haue pitty show'd I should not haue beene made this Stage of woe Where sad Disasters haue their open show O no more pitty he had sure bestow'd Song 7. SOrrow I yeeld and grieue that I did misse Will not thy rage be satisfied with this As sad a Diuell as thee Made me vnhappy be Wilt thou not yet consent to leaue but still Striue how to show thy cursed diuelish skill I mourne and dying am what would you more My soule attends to leaue this cursed shoare Where harmes doe onely flow Which teach me but to know The saddest houres of my lifes vnrest And tyred minutes with griefes hand opprest Yet all this will not pacifie thy spight No nothing can bring ease but my last night Then quickely let it be While I vnhappy see That time so
honest mindes is wrought But now I finde thy flattery and skill Which idely made me to obserue thy will Thus is my learning by my bondage bought 8. POore Loue in chaines and fetters like a thiefe I met ledd forth as chast Diana's gaine Vowing the vntaught Lad should no reliefe From her receiue who gloried in fond paine She call'd him thiefe with vowes he did mainetaine He neuer stole but some sadd slight of griefe Had giuen to those who did his power disdaine In which reuenge his honour was the chiefe Shee said he murther'd and therefore must dye He that he caus'd but Loue did harmes deny But while she thus discoursing with him stood The Nymphes vnti'de him and his chaines tooke off Thinking him safe but he loose made a scoffe Smiling and scorning them slew to the wood 9. PRay doe not vse these wordes I must be gone Alasâ—e doe not foretell mine ills to come Let not my care be to my ioyes a Tombe But rather finde my losse with losse alone Cause me not thus a more distressed one Not feeling blisse because of this sad doome Of present crosse for thinking will orecome And loose all pleasure since griefe breedeth none Let the misfortune come at once to me Nor suffer me with griefe to punish'd be Let mee be ignorant of mine owne illâ— Then now with the fore-knowledge quite to lose That which with so much care and paines Loue chose For his reward but ioy now then mirth kill 10. FOlly would needs make mee a Louer be When I did little thinke of louing thought Or euer to be tyde while shee told me That none can liue but to these bands are brought I ignorant did grant and so was bought And sold againe to Louers slauery The duty to that vanity once taught Such band is as wee will not seeke to free Yet when I well did vnderstand his might How he inflam'd and forcâ—d one to affect I loud and smarted counting it delight So still to waste which Reason did â—eiect When Loue came blind-fold and did challenge me Indeed I lou'd but wanton Boy not hee Song THe Spring time of my first louing Finds yet no winter of remouing Nor frosts to make my hopes decrease But with the Summer still increase The trees may teach vs Loue 's remaining Who suffer change with little paining Though Winter make their leaues decrease Yet with the Summer they increase As birds by silence shew their mourning in cold yet sing at Springs returning So may Loue nipt a while decrease but as the Summer soone increase Those that doe loue but for a season Doe falsifie both Loue and Reason For Reason wills if Loue decrease It like the Summer should increase Though Loue sometimes may be mistaken the truth yet ought not to be shaken Or though the heate a while decrease It with the Summer may increase And since the Spring time of my louing Found neuer Winter of remouing Nor frosts to make my hopes decrease Shall as the Summer still increase Song LOue a childe is euer crying Please him and he strait is flying Giue him he the more is crauing Neuer satisfi'd with hauing His desires haue no measure Endlesse folly is his treasure What he promiseth he breaketh Trust not one word that he speaketh Hee vowes nothing but false matter And to cousen you hee 'l flatter Let him gain the hand hee 'l leaue you And still glory to deceiue you Hee will triumph in your wailing And yet cause be of your failing These his vertues are and slighter Are his guifts his fauours lighter Fathers are as firme in staying Wolues no fiercer in their praying As a childe then leaue him crying Nor seeke him so giu'n to flying BEing past the paines of Loue Freedome gladly seekes to moue Sayes that Loues delights were pretty But to dwell in them t were pitty And yet truly sayes that Loue Must of force in all hearts moue But though his delights are pretty To dwell on them were a pitty Let Loue slightly passe like Loue Neuer let it too deepe moue For thoâ—gh Loues delights are pretty To dwell in them were great pitty Loue no pitty hath of Loue Rather griefes then pleasures moue So though his delights are pretty To dwell in them would be pitty Those that like the smart of Loue In them let it freely moue Els though his delights are pretty Doe not dwell in them for pitty O Pardon Cupid I confesse my fault Then mercy grant me in so iust a kinde For treason neuer lodged in my minde Against thy might so much as in a thought And now my folly â— haue dearely bought Nor could my soule least rest of quiet finde Since Rashnes did my thoughts to Error binde Which now thy fury and my harme hath wrought I curse that thought and hand which that first fram'd For which by thee I am most iustly blam'd But now that hand shall guided be aright And giue a Crowne vnto thyâ—endlesse praise Which shall thy glory and thy greatnesse raise More then these poore things could thy honor spight A Crowne of Sonnets dedicated to LOVE IN this strange Labyrinth how shall I turne Wayes are on all sides while the way I misse If to the right hand there in loue I burne Let mee goe forward therein danger is If to the left suspition hinders blisse Let mee turne backe shame cryes I ought returne Nor faint though crosses which my fortunes kisse Stand still is harder although sure to mourne Thus let mee take the right or left hand way Goe forward or stand still or back retire I must these doubts indure without allay Or helpe but trauell finde for my best hire Yet that which most my troubled sense doth moue Is to leaue all and take the threed of Loue. 2. IS to leaue all and take the threed of Loue Which line straight leades vnto the soules content Where choice delights with pleasures wings do moue And idle fant'sie neuer roome had lent When chaste thoughts guide vs then our minds are bent To take that good which ills from vs remoue Light of true loue brings fruite which none repent But constant Louers seeke and wish to proue Loue is the shining Starre of blessings light The feruent fire of zeale the root of peace The lasting Lampe fed with the oyle of right Image of Faith and wombe for ioyes increase Loue is true Vertue and his ends delight His flames are ioyes his bands true Louers might 3. HIs flames are ioyes his bandes true Louers might No staine is there but pure as purest white Where no cloud can appeare to dimme his light Nor spot defile but shame will soon requite Heere are affections tryde by Loues iust might As Gold by fire and black discern'd by white Error by truth and darknes knowne by light Where Faith is vallu'd for Loue to requite Please him and serue him glory in his might And firme hee 'le be as Innocency white Cleere as th' ayre warme as Sun's beames
as day light Iust as Truth constant as Fate ioyd to requite Then Loue obey striue to obserue his might And be in his braue Court a glorious light 4. ANd be in his braue Court a glorious light Shine in the eyes of Faith and Constancy Maintaine the fires of Loue still burning bright Not slightly sparkling but light flaming be Neuer to slake till earth no Starres can see Till Sun and Moonâ— doe leaue to vs darke night And second Chaos once againe doe free Vs and the World from all diuisions spight Till then affections which his followers are Gouerne our hearts and prooue his powers gaine To taste this pleasing sting seeke with all care For happy smarting is it with small paine Such as although it pierce your tender heart And burne yet burning you will loue the smart 5. ANd burne yet burning you will loue the smart When you shall feele the waight of true desire So pleasing as you would not wish your part Of burthen should be missing from that fire But faithfull and vnfaigned heate aspire Which sinne abollisheth and doth impart Salues to all feare with vertues which inspire Soules with diuine loue which shewes his chast Art And guide he is to ioyings open eyes He hath to happinesse and best can learne Vs meanes how to deserue this he descries Who blinde yet doth our hidn'st thoughts diserne Thus we may gaine since liuing in blest Loue He may our Prophet and our Tutor prooue 6. HE may our Prophet and our Tutor prooue In whom alone we doe this power finde To ioyne two hearts as in one frame to mooue Two bodies but one soule to rule the minde Eyes which must care to one deare Obiect binde Eares to each others speach as if aboue All else they sweete and learned were this kind Content of Louers witnesseth true loue It doth inrich the wits and make you see That in your selfe which you knew not before Forcesing you to admire such gifts should be Hid from your knowledge yet in you the store Millions of these adorne the throane of Loue How blest are they then who his fauours proue 7. HOw bless'd be they then who his fauors proue A life whereof the birth is iust desire Breeding sweete flame which harts inuite to moue In these lou'd eyes which kindle Cupids fire And nurse his longings with his thoughts intire Fix't on the heat of wishes form'd by Loue Yet whereas fire destroyes this doth aspire Increase and foster all delights aboue Loue will a Painter make you such as you Shall able be to draw your onely deare More liuely perfect lasting and more true Then rarest Workeman and to you more neere These be the least then all must needs confesse He that shuns Loue doth loue himselfe the lesse 8. HE that shuns Loue doth loue himselfe the lesse And cursed he whose spirit not admires The worth of Loue where endlesse blessednes Raignes commands maintain'd by heau'nly fires Made of Vertue ioyn'd by Truth blowne by Desires Strengthned by Worth renew'd by carefulnesse Flaming in neuer-changing thoughts bryers Of Iealousie shall here misse welcomnesse Nor coldly passe in the pursutes of Loue Like one long frozen in a Sea of yce And yet but chastly let your passions moone No thought from vertuous Loue your minds intice Neuer to other ends your Phant'sies place But where they may returne with honor's grace 9. BVt where they may returne with Honor's gâ—ace Where Venus follies can no harboâ—r winne But chased are as worthlesse of the face Or stile of Loue who hath lasciuious beene Our hearts are subiect to her Sonne where sinne Neuer did dwell or rest one minutes space What faults he hath in her did still beginne And from her breast he suck'd his fleeting pace If Lust be counted Loue 't is falsely nam'd By wickednesse a fairer glosse to set Vpon that Vice which else makes men asham'd In the owne Phrase to warrant but beget This Childe for Loue who ought like Monster borne Be from the Court of Loue and Reason torne 10. BEe from the Court of Loue and reason torne For Loue in Reason now doth put his trust Desert and liking are together borne Children of Loue and Reason Parents iust Reason aduiser is Loue ruler must Be of the State which Crowne he long hath worne Yet so as neither will in least mistrust The gouernment where no feare is of scorn The reuerence both their mights thus made of one But wantonnesse and all those errors shun Which wrongers be Impostures and alone Maintainers of all follies ill begunne Fruit of a sower and vnwholesome grownd Vnprofitably pleasing and vnsound 11. VNprofitably pleasing and vnsound When Heauen gaue liberty to fraile dull earth To bring foorth plenty that in ills abound Which ripest yet doe bring a certaine dearth A timelesse and vnseasonable birth Planted in ill in worse time springing found Which Hemlocke like might feed a siâ—kâ—-wits mirth Where vnrul'd vapours swâ—mme in endlesse round Then ioy we not in what we ought to shunne Where shady pleasures shew but true borne fires Are quite quench'd out or by poore ashes won Awhile to keepe those coole and wann desires O no let Loue his glory haue and might Be giu'n to him who triumphs in his right 12. BE giu'n to him who triumphs in his right Nor fading be but like those blossomes faire Which fall for good and lose their colours bright Yet dye not but with fruit their losse repaire So may Loue make you pale with louing care When sweet enioying shall restore that light More cleere in beauty then we can compare If not to Venus in her chosen might And who so giue themselues in this deare kinde These happinesses shall attend them still To be supplide with ioyes enrich'd in minde With treasures of content and pleasures fill Thus loue to be diuine doth here appeare Free from all foggs but shining faire and cleare 13. FRee from all foggs but shining faire and cleare Wise in all good and innocent in ill Where holy friendship is esteemed deare With Truth in loue and Iustice in our Will In Loue these titles onely haue their fill Of happy life-maintainer and the meere Defence of right the punisher of skill And fraude from whence directions doth appeare To thee then Lord commander of all hearts Ruler of our affections kinde and iust Great King of Loue my soule from faigned smarts Or thought of change I offer to your trust This Crowne my selfe and all that I haue more Except my heart which you bestow'd before 14. EXcept my heart which you bestowd before And for a signe of Conquest gaue away As worthlesse to be kept in your choice store Yet one more spotlesse with you doth not stay The tribute which my heart doth truely pay Is faith vntouch'd pure thoughts discharge the score Of debts for me where Constancy beares sway And rules as Lord vnharmd by Enuies sore Yet other mischeifes faile not to attend As enemies to you my foes