vnbridled time Olde Age is lothd with folly ouer grown Yonge yeres dispisde cut of in sprowting prime Experience learne let elder lyues thee lead In lyuely yeres thy fickle steps to guide Least vnawares such vncoth paths thou tread Which filthy be thought pleasant to be eyde In calmest Seas the deepest Whorepooles bee In greenest Grasse the lurking Adder lyes With eger sting the sugerest sap wee see Smooth wordes deceiue learne therfore to bee wise FINIS Inuidus alterius rebus macrescit opimis THe greedy man whose hart with hate doth swell Because hee sees his neyghbors good estate Liues vncontent with what might serue him well And eftsoones seemes to blame sufficient fate This grudging gluton glut with goulden gayne To serue his vse although hee hath enough Repines at that which others get with payne So that himselfe therby hee doth abuse Hee thinkes that much which passeth by his claw And findes a fault for it through luckles hap Although the matter valueth scarce a straw Hee deemes it small of gaine that giues no sap Hee thinkes his store shall serue his senâ—lesse corse Or that no death at all hee deemes there bee Els would hee to his conscience haue remorse And seeke to liue content with his degree For what auayles to horde vp heapes of drosse Or seeke to please vnsaciate fond desire Considering that t is subiect vnto losse And wee therby yll got deserues Hell fire From which O Lord conduct vs with thy hand And giue vs grace to liue vnto thy prayse Preserue our Queene his subiects and her land And graunt in peace shee raigne here Nestors dayes FINIS The reward of Whoredome by the fall of Helen FRom Limbo Lake where dismall féendes do lye Where Pluto raignes perpend Helenas cry Where firy flames where pittious howlings bee Where bodyes burne from thence giue eare to mee I am Helena shée for whose vilde filthy fact The stately Towers of Troy the hauty Grecians sacte High Troy whose pompe throughout the world did sound In Cinders low through mee was layd on ground Kinge Priamus through mée did end his life And Troians all almost I was the cause of strife I am that Dame whose beauty passing braue Dame Venus praysde the golden Pome to haue Whose feature forste Sir Paris boyling brest To leaue his land and seeke to be my guest That trull which tost the surging Seas a maine From Grecian shoare to Troy vnto my paine That flurt whose gallant sproutinge prime Through vilde abuse â–ª was scorcht ere auncient time I vertue shund I lothd a modest mynde I wayd not fame my beauty made mee blinde Each braue delight my masking minde allurde My fancy déemed my beauties gloze assurde Such worthy fame did sound of Helens hue Although my déedes reapt shame and guerdon due In gorgious plumes I maskt puft vp with pride In braue delights I liu'd my fancy was my guide But fie of filth your world is all but vayne Your pomp consumes your deeds shall guerdon gaine See here by mee whose beauty might haue boast For splendant hue throughout each forrain coast But what preuayles to vaunt of beauties glose Or brag of pride wheron dishonor growes If I had vsde my gifts in vertues lore And modest liud my prayse had bin the more Where now too late I lothe my life lewd spent And wish I had with vertue bin content FINIS T. P. A Louers lyfe THe tedious toyle the cares which Louers taste The troubled thoughts which moues their mindes to feare The pinching pangs the dole which seemes to waste Their lothsome life déepe plungd in gulfes of care Would mooue ech shun such snares of vayne delight Which irksome be though pleasant to the sight The minde full fraught with care enioyes no ease A boyling brest desires vnlawfull lust The hart would haue what best the minde doth please And fancy craues the thing which is vniust Beside eche frown which eftsoones moues them déeme They abiect are if sad their Louers séeme Or if occasion shun their vsuall sight Not seene they thinke themselues vnminded bée And then in dumps as mazd they leaue delight And yéeld to greefe till one eche others see So that with feare their mindes are alwayes fraught That liue in loue experience some hath taught Eche lowring frown from mirth doth moue the minde One iesting worde procures a thousand woes So that lyke gréefe or more through sight they finde Then absence sure such cares fro fancy flowes Such goring gripes such heapes of hideous harmes Such sorowing sobs from daunted louers swarmes Rosamond a spowsed Dame her husbands death procurde For speaking but a worde in iest Itrascus too full thyrty yeares indurde The panges of loue within his boyling brest So that in gréefe they harbor still their mindes are cloyd with care They diue in dole they plunge in payne liue in cruell feare And diuers moe as Axeres whose beauty passing faire So Iphis hart and boyling brest allurde That for her sake hée liude in extreame care And cruell gréefe while breathing breath indurde But at the length disdayne vpon a trée Hée honge himselfe where shâ—e his corps might sée FINIS ¶ A Louer approuing his Lady vnkinde Is forsed vnwilling to vtter his minde Willow willow willow singe all of gréene willow Sing all of gréene willow shall bée my Garland MY loue what mislyking in mée do you finde Sing all of gréene willow That on such a soddayn you alter your minde Sing willow willow willow What cause doth compell you so fickle to bée Willow willow willow willow In hart which you plighted most loyall to mée Willow willow willow willow I faythfully fixed my fayth to remayne Sing all of gréene willow In hope I as constant should finde you agayne Sing willow willow willow But periurde as Iason you faythlesse I finde Which makes mee vnwilling to vtter my minde Willow willow willow singe all of gréene willow Sing all of greene willow shall bee my Garland Your beauty braue decked with showes gallant gay Sing all of greene willow Allured my fancy I could not say nay Sing willow willow willow Your phrases fine philed did force mée agrée Willow willow willow willow In hope as you promis'd you loyall would bée Willow willow willow willow But now you be frisking you list not abide Sing all of greene willow Your vow most vnconstant and faythlesse is tride Sing willow willow willow Your wordes are vncertayne not trusty you stand Which makes mée to weare the willow Garland Willow willow willow sing all of greene willow Sing all of gréene willow shall bée my Garland Hath Light of loue luld you so softe in her lap Sing all of gréene willow Hath fancy prouokte you did loue you intrap Sing willow willow willow That now you be flurting and will not abide Willow willow willow willow To mée which most trusty in time should haue tride Willow willow willow willow Is modest demeanure thus turnd to vntrust Sing all of greene willow Are
own while I haue liuing breath What heapes of haples hopes on me shall chance to fall So thou doo liue in blisfull state no force for mée at all Amid my greatest greefe the greatest care I haue Is how to wish and will thée good and most thy honor saue Bee faythfull found therfore bée constant true and iust If thou betray thy louing fréend whom hensforth shall I trust When shal I speake with thee when shal I thee imbrace When will the gods appease their wrath when shal I haue sutch grace Hath Ioue forgotten dame Lede for loue and how hee prayed her Transformed like a swan at length the séely soule hee trayde her When faire fresh Danae was closed vp in tower Did hee not raine himselfe a drop amidst the golden shower And fell into her lap from top of chimney hiâ— The great delight of his long loue hee did attaine thereby What cruell gods be these what trespasse haue I doone That I am banisht thus from thee what conquest haue they woon I know their power deuine can for a while remooue mee But whilsâ—e I liue and after death my soule shall likewise loue thée Not Alcumena shee for whom the treble night Was shaped first can well compare with thee for bewty bright Not Troylus sister too whom cruell Pirrhus slew Nor shee the price of ten yeres wars whom yet the Grekes do rew Nor shee Penelope whose chastnes wan her fame Can match with thee Rosina chaste I see her blush for shame The childe of mighty Ioue that bred within his braine Shall yeeld the palme of filed speche to thee that doth her staine And euery wight on earth that liuing breath do draw Lo here your queene sent from aboue to kepe you all in awe But nowe I fine my talke I finde my wits to dull There liueth none that can set forth thy vertues at the ful Yet this I dare well say and dare it to auowe The Gods do feare Rosinas shape and bewty doth alowe In Tantalus toyle I liue and want that most I would With wishing vowes I speake I pray yet lacke the thing I should I sée that I do want I reach it runnes mée fro I haue and lacke that I loue most and lothest to forgo But oh Rosanna dere since time of my exile How hast thou done and doost thou liue how hast thou spent the while How standeth health with thée and art thou glad of chere God graunt those happy restful dayes increase may still each yere If any gréefe or care do vex thy wofull hart Then God I pray to giue thée ease and swagement of thy smart Yet this I doo desire that thou be found to abide A freend euen such as shal mislike with sodaine change to slide If pleasure now thou hast to spend the dreiry day Read then this pistle of my hande to driue the time away If all thy freendes aliue would from thy frendship swarue A thousand deathes I do desire in wretched state to starue If I amongst the rest should alter so my minde Or thou shouldest charge I promise brake or els am found vnkinde Though Argus ielus eyes that daily on vs tend Forbid vs meat and speech also or message for to send A time will come to passe and thinke it not to long That thou and I shall ioyne in ioy and wreake vs of our wrong Which time I would abide though time too long doth try mee In hope againe when time shal serue thou wilt not then deny mee Thus hope doth mee vpholde for hope of after blisse And lose therby my present ioy in hoping still for this I doo commend to thee my life and all I haue Commaund them both as thee best likes to lose or els to saue I am no more mine owne but thine to vse at will Thesame is thine without desert if thou mee seke to kill Bee glad thou litle quere my mystresse shall thee see Fall flat to ground before her face and at her feet doo lie Waste not to rise againe nor doo her not withstand If of her bounty shee vouchsafe to rayse thee with her hand Say thy maister sent thee and humbly for mée greete her Thou knowest my selfe doth wish full ofte to be in place to meete her If any worde in this hath scapte and doo her greeue A pardon craue vpon thy knee and pray her to forgeue A giltles hand it wrote thou mayst be bolde to tell No minde of malice did mee moue her self doth know it well Thou canst and I deserue make glad my wofull sprite I craue no answer to thy payne nor force thee for to write It should suffise if thou voutchsafe to reade the same This pistle then if thou mislyke condemne it to the flame But now there néedes no more I will this pistle ende Estéeme Narsetus alwayes well that is thy faythfull fréend FINIS The Louer forsaken writeth to his Lady a desperate Farwell EUen hée that whilome was thy faithful fréend most iust That thrise thrée yéeres hath spent past reposing all his trust In thy bewayling words that séemed sugar swéet The selfsame man vnwillingly doth with these lines thée greet I can not speake with thee and speaking is but paine To speake and pray and not to speede too fruitles were the gayne Inforste therfore I write and now vnfolde my minde I loue and like as earst I did I am not yet declinde Though time that trieth all hath turnde the loue you ought No changing time could alter mee or wrest awry my thought And sure I doo mislyke that wemen choose to change Ungratefull folkes I do detest as monsters foule and strange Sith first I did you know I neuer spake the thing That did intend you to beguile or might repentance bring Thrise hath my pen falne downe vpon this paper pale And scantly can my hart consent to write to thee this tale Least hasty Iudgmentes might misdeeme my giltles minde To charge that malice moues my spéech or some new frend to finde The gods I vouch to ayd who knowes the troth I ment To swarue or fleet from that I vowed was neuer my intent But as the Courser fearce by pearcing spur doth run So thy desertes enforce mée now to see this worke begun Would God I had no cause to leaue that I did loue Or lothe the thing that likt mee so nor this mishap to proue But sith no thing in earth in one estate can bide Why striue I then against the streame or toyle against the tide And haue you now forgot how many yéeres I sought To get your grace with whot good will how dearly I it bought There is no one aliue that nature euer made That hath such giftes of vertues race and such vntroth doth shade If fayth might haue bin found within a womans brest I did beleeue within thy hart shee chose her place to rest Unskilful though I bee and cannot best deserne Where craft for troth doth preace in place yet am
I not to learne And I did thinke you such that litle knew of guile But seemings now be plaste for deedes and please fulwel the while Why doo I wâ—nder thus to thinke this same so strange Who hath assayed and knoweth not that wemen choose to change Haue you thus sone forgot the doutes and dreades you made Of yongmens loue how litle holde how sone away they fade How hardly you beleeued â–ª how often would you say My wordes were spoken of the splene and I as oft denay How oft did you protest with handes vpstretcht to skyes How oft with othes vnto the Gods how oft with weeping eyes Did you beseech them all to rid your spending dayes When that you thought to leaue your fréend to dy without delayes Mée thought in heauen I saw how Ioue did laughe to skornâ— To sée you sweare so solemly and ment to be forsworne But as the Sirens singe when treason they procure So smyling baytes the harmles soules vnto their bane alure Thy fawning flattering wordes which now full falce I finde Perswades mee to content my selfe and turne from Cressids kinde And all the sorte of those that vse such craft I wish A speedy end or lothsome life to liue with Lasars dish Yet pardon I do pray and if my wordes offend A crased ship amid the streame the Marriner must mende And I thus to it and turnd whose life to shipwracke goes Complaynes of wrongs thou hast mee don and all my greefe forth showes And could your hart consent and could you gree therto Thus to betray your faythful freend and promis to vndo If nought your wordes could binde to holde your suer behest Nor ought my loue ne othes you sware could bide within your brest Yet for the worldly shame that by this facte might rise Or for the losse of your good name for dealing in this wise Or thus to see mee greeu'd tormented still in payne Thy gentil hart should haue bin pleasde such murder to refrayne But through thy cruell deede if that vntamed death With speedy dart shall rid my life or leaue my lyuing breath The gods then can and will requite thy bloddy acte And them I pray with lowly sute for to reuenge thy facte God graunt the earth may bring nought forth to thy auayle â–ª Nor any thing thou takest in hand to purpose may preuayle Thy most desired freend I wish may bee most coy Wherin thou doost thée most delite and takest the greatest ioy That same I would might turne vnto thy most mischeefe That in thy life thy hart may feele the smart of others greefe But sith no good can come of thy mishap to mee I graunt some blame I doo deserue that thus desire to see Thy blisfull life so changde from weaâ—e to wretched state When freendes do breake the bonde of loue then is their greatest hate Thy deedes do sure deserue much more reuenging spight Then hart can thinke or tongue can tel or this my pen can wright Thy bewty bright is sutch that well it would inuade A hart more hard then Tigar wilde and more it can perswade Then Tullyes cunning tongue or Ouids louing tale Well may I curse and ban them both that so haue brewed my bale I feare to praise to far least haply I begin To kindle fier that well is quencht and burne mée all within For well I may compare and boldly dare it say Thou art the Quéene of women kinde and all they ought obay And all for shame doo blush when thou doost come in place They curse ech thing that gaue thée life and more disdain thy face Then any liuyng wight doth hate the Serpent foule Or birdes that singe and flies by day abhors the shrikyng Owle Oh that a constant minde had guided forth thy dayes I had not then assayd myshap nor pen spoke thy disprayse Decréed sith that thou art for euer to forsake mée In sorrows swéete I wil mée shrine till death shall list to take mée Bewayle O woful eyes with fluds of flowing teares This great mischaunce thy lothsome life that all ill hap vp beares Since parted is your ioy resigne likewise your sight I neuer will agree to like or looke on other wight Nor neuer shall my mouth consent to pleasant sound But pale and leane with hollow lookes till death I will bée found And you vnhappy handes with lyking foode that fed mée Leaue of to labor more for mée since sorrow thus hath sped mée Lament vnlustie legges bée lame for euer more Sith shée is gone for whom you kept your willing pace in store O hatefull heauy hart bewayle thy great vnrest Consume thy selfe or part in twaine within my blouddy brest And yée my sences all whose helpe was aye at hand To length the life that lingreth now and lothsomely doth stand Yée sonne ye moone and starres that gyues the gladsome light Forbeare to show your force a while let all bée irkesome night Let neuer soyle bringe forth agayn the lusty gréene Nor trées that new dispoyled are with leafe be euer séene Let neither birde nor beast posses their wonted minde Let all the thinges that liues on earth be turned from their kinde Let all the furies forth that pine in Hell with payne Let all their torments come abroad with lyuing wightes to rayne Let peace be turnd to war let all consume with fier Sith I must dâ—e that once did ioy and lose that I desier I hate my life and breath I hate delighting food I hate my greefe I hate my death I hate that doth mee good I hate the gentill hart that rueth on my payne I hate the cruell stubborn sorte that doth my life disdayne I hate al sortes of men that haue their life in price And those I hate that folow death esteeming them vnwise I hate thâ—se carefull thoughtes that thinke on my sweet â—o I hate my selfe then twice as much if I forget her so I hate what would you more I wot not what I hate I wish her dead and layed in graue I wish her better state Come wilde and sauadge beastes stretch forth your cruell pawes Dismember mee consume my flesh imbrew your greedy iawes Within your entrayles see a coffin ye prepare To tombe this carefull corpes that now vnwillingly I bare Come lingringe slothful death that doost the wretch deny To show thy force and ridst the riche that list not for to dye Is this the recompence is this the due reward Doth loue thus pay his seruants hier and doth hee thus regard And doth hee vse to set the harmles soules on fier With faire sweet intisinge lookes to kindle their desier Fye false loue that hast so decte with bewty bright A Lady faire with such vntroth to worke such cruell spight And ye that did pursue blinde loue with speedy pace â—esâ—rame your steps example take of this my wofull case Let this alone suffise that in few wordes I say Who can beware by others harmes thrice blest and happy they Beleeue
this to bee true that now too true I proue But litle troth in womens breast and fleeting in their loue God graunt each wight on earth that serues with faythfull minde A better hap and that hee may a truer Mystrisse finde FINIS The Louer in distresse exclaymeth agaynst Fortune HOw can the criple get in running race the game Or hee in fight defend himselfe whose armes are broken lame How can th' imprisoned man whofe legs be wrapt in chaynes Thinke this his life a pleasant time who knoweth nothing but paines So how can I reioyse that haue no pleasant thing That may reuiue my doulfull sprits or cause mee for to singe My legs be lame to goe mine armes cannot embrace My hart is sore mine eyes bée blinde for lacke of Fortunes grace All this is Fortunes fault that keepes these sences so Shée may aduaunce them if shée list and rid them of this wo. It is her cruell will alwayes on mee to lower To kepe froÌ„ mée her pleasant giftes to make mée know her power Alas alas fiâ— Fortune fâ—e why art thou so vnkinde To mée that fayne would bée thy sonne and euer in thy minde Now doo I thée beséech with pleasures mée to frayght To temper this my wofull life or els to kill mée strayght FINIS An other complaint on Fortune IN doubtful dreading thoughts as I gan call to minde This world and eke the pleasures al that Adams children finde A place of pleasant hew appeared to my thought Where I might sée the wonderous works which nature for vs wrought All things of any price approched to my sight And still me thought that each man had that was his most delight The riche man hath his ioy his riches to imbrace So hath the huntesman his desire to haue the Hart in chace And other haue their sporte to sée the Falcon flee And some also in Princes court in fauor for to bée The warring Knight at will an horse doth run his race And eke the louer in his armes his Lady doth embrace When that I sée eche man enioy his whole delite Saue I alas poore cursed man whom Fortune doth so spite I fall straight to the ground amazed with much griefe With blouddy strokes vpon my brest I striue to rid my lief And thus I thinke how can fayre pictures those delight Whom nature from their tender age defrauded of their sight FINIS ¶ The louer beeing newly cought in Cupids snares complayneth on the Gods of loue and compareth his greefe as followeth THe hugie heape of cares that in this world I finde The sodayne sighes that sore molest my hart The foolish fansies that still run in my minde Makes mée to lay all ioy and myrth apart Lamenting still the causes of my smart But oh alas the more I wéepe and wayle The more my gréefe to mée séemes to preuayle The more I seeke my pinchinge panges to swage By diuers wayes such as I thinke be best The more it frets the more it gins to rage So that my senceles head can take no rest Ah seely wretch what doth thee thus mollest Or what doth thus perturbe thy restlesse braynes And from thy harte all worldly ioye detaynes Alas what this should bee I can not tell My youthfull yeares can skill of no such change But if some vgly shape of fury fell Or wicked wight that in this world doth range Hath witched mee with this disease so strange Or Cupid with his force of cruell dart Hath stricken mee and wounded thus my hart Hath Cupid then sutch power on mortall wightes And strikes the blinded boy his dart so sure That no man can auoyd his subtill sâ—ightes Nor ought agaynst his fury may indure Hath Venus force men thus for to allure And why then doth shée not her sonne commaund To shoote alike and strike with equall hand Is this the guise of powers that raigne aboue Us séely soules in snares thus for to trap And care they not to yéeld vs death for loue Ioy they in woes our corses for to trap And passe they not what vnto vs doth hap Can Gods aboue to man beare any hate Or doo they mocke and iest at our estate Ah foolish foole what fancy rules thy head Or what doth cause thée now this talke to moue What fury fell doth thée poore wretch now lead To rayle on all the Gods doth it behooue Sith it is only Cupid God of loue That guiltlesse shee with stroke of goulden shafte Hath wounded thus and thee of ioyes berafte Euen as the slender Barke that long is tost By surging waues cast vp from deepest seas And Saylars still in daunger to be lost Doo hale and pull in hope to take their ease When stormy fluds begin once to appease Euen so fare I beeing in Cupids power In hope at last to see that happy hower Wherin I shall my wished ioyes obtayne And placed bee within her gentill hart Then shall I take my sorrowes all for gayne When I haue her that causeth now my smart Then farewell Cupid with thy cruell darte And welcome shee that pearst mee with her sight Shee is my Ioy shee is my hartes delight FINIS The Louer extolleth aswell the rare vertues of his Lady beloued as also her incomparable beautie DEsire hath driuen from mée my will Or Cupids blase hath bleard mine eyes Knowledge mee fayles my sight is yll If kinde or cunning could deuise Nature to paynt in better plight To set her forth with red and white Or if men had Apelles arte Who could her mend in any parte Her face declares where fauor growes And telles vs heere is Beauties grace Her eyes hath power to binde and lose Her countenance may fréendes embrace Her cheekes be decte with bloud full fayre Her collour cleare as is the ayre Her haire her hand her foote also Hath wonne the praise where euer shée go Her lookes doo séeme to speake alone When that her lips remooue no whit Her inwarde vertues may be knowen By vsinge of her sober wit. Her iestures also cumly are My tongue lackes skill them to declare The rest of her that are vnnamed In perfect shapes are lyuely framed Now though that kinde hath set her forthe And natures workes shée hath possest Théese goodly giftes are litle worth If pitty dwelt not in her brest Oh God forbid such flowring youth Should bée mislyked for lacke of ruth For I with other might say then Lo this is shée that killeth men FINIS ¶ The Louers farewell at his departure perswadeth his beloued to constancie in his absence THough Fortune cannot fauor According to my will The proofe of my behauor Shall bée to loue you still Entending not to chaunge Whiles that my life doth last But still in loue to raunge Till youth and age be past Though I bée far you fro Yet in my fantacie I loue you and no mo Thinke this assuredly Your owne both true and iuste Alwayes you shall mée finde Wherfore of right you must Haue mée
could deuise I tel the truth beleeue mee wel the day will not suffise Graunt now therfore some rest since thus thou hast mee bound To be thine owne til body mine lye buried vnder ground FINIS ¶ The Louer hauing his beloued in suspition declareth his doutfull minde DEeme as ye list vpon good cause Yee may and thinke of this or that But what or why my selfe best knowes Wherby I thinke and feare not Wherunto I may wel like The doubtful sentence of this clause I would ye were not as I thinke I would I thought it were not so If that I thought it were not so Though it were so it greeued mee not Unto my hart it were as thâ— I harkened and I heare not At that I sée I cannot winke Nor for my hart to let it go I would it were not as I thinke I would I thought it were not so Lo how my thought might make mée frée Of that perchance it néedeth not For though no doubt in déede I sée I shrinke at that I beare not Yet in my hart this worde shall sinke Untill the proofe may better bée I would it were not as I thinke I would I thought it were not FINIS ¶ An exellent Sonet Wherin the Louer exclaymeth agaynst Detraction beeing the principall cause of all his care To the tune when Cupid scaled first the Fort. PAsse forth in doulfull dumpes my verse Thy Masters heauy haps vnfolde His grisled gréefe â—ache hart well perce Display his woes feare not bée bould Hid hole in heapes of heauinesse His dismale dayes are almost spent For fate which forgde this ficklenesse My youthly yeares with teares hath sprent I lothe the lingring life I â—ed â–ª O wished death why stayest thy hand Sith gladsome Ioyes away bée fled And linkte I am in Dollors bande In weltring waues my ship is tost My shattering sayles away bée shorne My Anker from the Stearne is lost And Tacklings from the Maynyard storne Thus driuen with euery gale of winde My weather beaten Barke doth sayle Still hoping harbor once to finde Which may these passinge perrils quayle But out alas in vayne I hope Sith Billowes prowd assault mée still And skill doth want with Seas to cope And licour salte my Kéele doth fill Yet storme doth cease but lo at hand A ship with warlike wightes addrest Which seemes to bee some Pyrates band With Powder and with Pellets prest To sinke or spoyle my brused Barke Which dangers dread could not a daunt And now the shot the ayre doth darke And Captayne on the Deke him vaunt Then Ignorance the ouerséear proude Cryes to Suspicion spare no shot And Enuy yelleth out aloude Yeeld to Detraction this thy Boate And as it is now Sea mens trade When might to coole the foe doth lacke By vayling foretop signe I made That to their lee I mee did take Then gathering winde to mee they make And Treason first on borde doth come Then followes Fraud like wily Snake And swift amongst them takes his rome These bindâ— mee Captiue tane with band Of carkinge care and fell annoy While vnder Hatches yet I stand Therby quight to abandon ioye Then hoysting sayles they homeward hye And mee present vnto Disdayne Who mee beheld with scorning eye The more for to encrease my payne As Lady shee commaunded strayght That to Dispayre they mee conuay And bid with skilfull heed hee wayght That Truth bee bard from mee away Madam quoth I let due desart Yet finde remorse for these my woes Of pitty graunt some ease to smart Let Troth draw neare to quayle my foes But all for nought I doo complayne For why the deafe can mone no noyse No more can they which doo disdayne But will in harte therat reioyce Wherfore twixt life and death I stay Til time with daughter his drawe nye Which may these furious foes dismay Or els in ruthfull plight I dye FINIS ¶ The Louer in bondage looketh for releasement and longeth for the releefe of his wedding day WHen shall reliefe release my wo When shall desert disdayne digest When shall my hap hap to mée so That my poore hart may come too rest When shall it so when shall it so When shall longe loue bée looked vpon When shall tried truth bée homeliest When shall hope haue that hope hangeth on That my poore hart may come to rest When shall it so c. When shall I sée shée séethe right When shall I heare shee heareth mée best When shall I féele shée féeleth delight That my poore harte may come to rest When shall it so c. When stinte all stormes that thus agréeue When stinte all stayes that wrong hath wrest When stinte all strifes right to reléeue That my poore hart may come to rest When shall it so c. When right shall sée right time to boste When right shall aright vnright oppresse When right shall raigne and rule the roste Then my poore harte shall come to rest Then shall it so c. When shall I watch the time to sée Now shall I wish the time possest Now shall I thinke each day yéeres thrée That my poore harte may come to rest When shall it so c. Now farewell harte most smooth most smart Now farewell hart with hart hartiest And farewell harte tiâ—â— hart in harte By harty harte may come to rest God graunt it so c. FINIS ¶ A fine and freendly Letter of the Louer to his beloued LIke as the Hauke is led by lure to draw from trée to trée So is my hart through force of loue where euer my body bee The Hauke to pray doth double wing her flight is fled in vayne I make my flight in waste of winde my hope receyueth no gayne Haukes that be high it hurtes to light two flightes without reward My flight is two and three againe alas Mistresse regarde The Hauke brought low is soone made high by féeding on warme foode Your mouthes breath settes mée aloft there is nothing so good Good Lady then strain forth the strings whose tune may mée reuiue And with strauÌ„g tongue do not prolong my ioyes thus to depriue Within your brest my hart is hid your will and it is one Regard my smart the cure is yours and losse when I am gone Thus all your owne I recommend mee wholly to your grace As seemeth you best for to reward my plight and wofull case Which plight if you do counterpaise with ioyes as doth belonge My hart for ioy would tune accorde to singe some pleasant songe FINIS ¶ The Louers fata farewell at his death AL wealth I must forsake and pleasures eke forgo My life to ende in wo and greefe my desteny is so For where I had perfixt with sute to win my ioy I found I had right spéedy death al welth for to distroy Whose Image lo I am though lyuing I appeare Both body and soule be seperate my heauen it is not here My harte I haue bestowed wheras it is not found Thou
By vewing of thy face Full oft it ioyes my hart To kisse â–ª that clot of clay From whence thou shot those louing lookes Which bred my whole decay O blessed place I cry Though woorker of my payne Render I craue most hartely To mee my loue agayne Not wofull Monsier dom Dieg Or Priams noble sonne Constrayned by loue did euer mone As I for thée haue donne Sir Romeus annoy But trifle seemes to mine Whose hap in winning of his loue Did clue of cares vntwine My sorrowes haue no ende My hap no ioy can spie The flowing Fountayne of my teares Beginneth to waxe drie Let pitty then requyte my payne O woorker of my woe Let mercy milde possesse thy harte Which art my freendly foe Receiue the hart which heare I yeeld into her hand Which made by force a breach in Fort Which I could not withstande Thou hast in Ballance paysd My life and eke my death Thy loyalty contaynes my ioy Disdayne will stop my breath If constant loue may reape his hire And fayth may haue his due Good hope I haue your gentill hart My grislie greefe will rue And that at length I shall My hartes delight imbrace When due desart by curtesie Shall purchace mee thy grace Untill which time my deare Shall still increase my payne In pensiue thoughtes and heauinesse Because I shall remayne FINIS ¶ A Caueat to yongmen to shun the snares of Cupids crafty sleightes IF euer wight had cause to mone or wayle with bitter teares His wretched life and wofull plight that still in languish weares Then haue I cause that late haue lodgde â–ª such loue within my hart With gréefe with payne with pyning panges â–ª my body boyles in smart O earth why doost not thou my wofull plight sustayne O surging Seas with swallowing gulfe release mee of this payne For languishing loue with dolefull doomes â–ª hath layd my hart in brine O wofull wretch O wicked wight That so for loue doth pine The Sonne that shines with golden beames and dries the dewie flowers Doth cause mée wretch with blubbering eyes to gush forth extreame showers The hermony of chirping birdes that ioyes with siluer songes Eche lyuing wight doth cause my cares to fill my hart with thronges Eche gladsome ioy of mundaine glée That glads the worldly minde Doth heape vp cares on carefull corps agaynst all course of kinde And so eche thing that ought delight and rid the minde from pause Contrariwise agaynst all right a thousand cares doth cause For when that I in sugred sleepe most swéetly should take rest Then doo I wring my wofull handes and beate my dolefull brest And if I chaunce on sleepe to fall a thousand dreames I haue And doo suppose I her embrace whose want will cause my graue And then with gladsome hart I ioy thus cleane depriued of wo But oh alas when that I wake I finde it nothing so And then my sighes from sobbing harte doth reaue my brest in twayne And teares that run from blubbered eyes doth more encrease my payne And when I should sustayne my lyfe and féeble corps with foode Unsauory séemes it vnto mee eache thing should doo mee good Amidst the nipping frostes I broyle in pearching heate I freese And thus agaynst all course of kinde for loue my lâ—fe I leese Wo woorth the time that first I lodgde thy sâ—oyling loue in harte You yonge men al bée warnd by mée And shun blinde Cupids Darte FINIS ¶ The aged Louers noate at length to learne to dye WHy askest thou the cause Wherfore I am so sad Thou knowst wheÌ„ age on draws No creature can bee glad And sith shée hath mée rested And threatned mee to die Therfore I am sequestred All mirth for to denie And now with feeble age The rest of all my dayes My couÌ„tenance must be ful sage Since that my life decayes Like as the harte of Oke By time doth rot at last Like time doth age prouoke With time my hart doth brast Lo thus by course of time My youth is gone and past And now the turne is mine Of bitter death to taste And noate that I haue sayd The cause wherof and why My youthfull partes be playde And I must learne to die FINIS ¶ The desperate Louer exclaymeth his Ladyes cruelty and threatneth to kill himselfe MY ioyful dayes bée past My plasant yeres be gone My life it may not last My graue and I am one My mirth and all is fled And I a man in woo Desireth to bee dead My mischâ—â—fe to forgoe I burne and am a colde I freese in middest of fire I sée shée dooth with hold That most I doo desire I sée that shée doth sée And yet shee wil be blinde I see in healpinge mee Shée seeketh and wil not finde I sée how shée doth wrye When I begin to mone I see when I come nye How fayn shée would be gone I see shee knoweth my harte And how I doo complayne I see shâ—â— knoweth my smarte Shee seeth I doo not fayne I see my helpe at hand I see my death also I see where shee doth stand I see my cruell fo I see what would you more Shee would mee gladly kill And shee shall see therfore That shee shall haue her will. I cannot liue by stones It is to harde a food I would be dead at once to doo my Lady good Shee shall haue her request And I will haue mine ende Lo heeâ—e my blouddy brest To please her most vnkinde FINIS ¶ The Louer beeing blinded with the faythlesse loue of his Lady is contented to remit her fault vpon promis of amendment SInce that thou diddest mee loue When lust did thee prouoke And that thou doost well proue That I cannot reuoke My fréendship fast my loue nor my good will Shew some reléefe least in dispayre I spill How well I was content â—lwayes to follow thée How well I did assent Thy thrall aye for to bee Thy selfe can iudge to whom I doo appeale By sentence lo to yeeld mee wo or weale But if thou mée forsake As Cressid that forgot True Troylus her make And that thy hart is whot On him whom shame did force thée once his fayth to flie I see no hope but that hee must yéeld forth himself to die And though thou thinke that I Am loth theâ— too forgoe Yet shall I rather die Then liue and please my foe But hindre him in loue all others doth refrayne Whose treasoÌ„ once did mée purchace thy due disdain FINIS ¶ A worthy comparison of Vertue agaynst all worldly pompe WHen that I way with wit and eke consider now The tickle stay of her that Fortunes whéele doth bow And turne euen at her will such luck loe as shee list No thread so surely spâ—nne but that shee may vntwist I can but aye lament and wayle the lacke of them That in her holde doo trust weighing they are but men For if I were a Lorde and come of high degree And had all thing at
will as best contented mee My Prince therwith well pleased that nothing might offend And all my deedes so done that eche man might commend My parent of great state and eke of worthy fame That worldly men did wish the honor of his name My friends and mine allyes so worthy in eche presse That I néede beare no wrong that I could not redresse Of courage and of strength so doughty of my hand That Ladyes might mée loue that dwell in forrayn land And enemyes might mee dread for feare of ouerthrow And that all this were true eche worldly wight did know Yet were I but a man and mortall in this earth For death doth not accept the worship of my byrth Since so I holde it best that eche man should contend So to directe himselfe that after this liues ende Yet vertue might remayne that soundes a Trompet loe A comfort to a fréend a wound vnto a foe As some to simple turne from sage And ouerthrow with euery winde Some eke correct with rigorous rage Whom wealth could neuer foord good minde Hath wonne in prison such a feelde As liberty could neuer yeelde FINIS Virtute nulla possessio maior ¶ Of a happy wished time EChe thing must haue a time and tyme doth try mens troth And troth deserues a special trust on trust great frenship groth And freendship is full fast where faythfulnesse is found And faythfull thinges be ful of fruicte and fruitful things be sound The sound is good in proofe and proofe is Prince of prayse And woorthy prayse is such a pearle as lightly not decayes All this doth time bring forth which time I must abide How should I boldely credit craue till time my truth haue tried And as a time I found to fall in Fancies frame So doo I wish an happy time at large to shew the same If Fortune aunswer hope and hope may haue her hire Then shall my hart possesse in peace the time that I desire FINIS ¶ The Louer perswadeth him selfe to pacience agaynst Enuie and slanderous tongues IF only sight suffise my hart to loose or binde What cause haue I to mooue debate wherby no peace I finde If that my restlesse will by payne doth still renue What force haue I but shee consent my fo for to subdue To yeeld and suffer then I thinke it for the best And by desert as time shall serue to purchase quiet rest Let ielous enuy lowre with browes and visage bent I know the worst no shameles tongue shall alter myne intent The Dice of Loue are throwen god speede the doubtfull chaunce Misdeeme who lyst so shee at last my seruice will aduaunce To aske and to oâ—tayne that Fortune were so swifte Sith trauaill is the ready way vnto eche noble gyfte And feeble is the ioy that lightly is begonne As tender Flare can beare no stresse before that it bee sponne Wherfore with sad aduice in hope my harte shall dwell And all the tale that I confesse in silence will I tell Unto her selfe alone whose fauour I require None els shall know her name for mee to constre my desire FINIS ¶ The Louer greeuously complayneth agaynst the vniust dealing of his Lady beloued SInce thou vniust hast caught a lust To plough in barrayne ground Who long thée loue hee shall thee proue Mutch better lost then found As brickle clay in Winters day That in the frost is wrought So doo I finde thy double minde Mutch better solde then bought It is as éefe a broken Syue Should holde the dropping rayne As for to binde thy chaunged minde That nought can doo but fayne So may I say both night and day Cursing the time and place Where I profest to loue thee best Whose troth I finde so scace Whose lyinge wordes and faigned bourdes Did mee so far enchayne When thou didst flyt by chaunged wit That I could not refraine But of my hart to ease the smart The best redresse I know Is to vntwinde my constant minde And let sutch fansies goe For thoughe I serue vntill I sterue I sée none other boote Such doublenesse thy hart doth presse And croppes it by the roote Yet will I pray euen as I may That Cupid will requite Thy froward harte with such a smart As I haue by thy spite For to bée fed with wake a bed And fast at boorde among Till thou confesse ah pittilesse That thou hast doone mee wrong On bush and brier may it appeare Wherby most men doo pas Thy faygned fayth how nere my death It hath mée brought alas That they vncaught may once bée taught By reason to refrayne Their crafty wiles and subtill smiles That so in loue can fayne A due vniust sith that I must Of force declare thée so The fault is thine the payne is mine And thus I let thée go FINIS ¶ The Louer in great distresse comforteth himselfe with hope O Heauy hart whose harmes be hid Thy healpe is hurte thy hap is hard If thou shouldest brast as God forbid Then should I dye without reward Hope well to haue hate not swéet thought Ofte cruell stormes faire calmes haue brought After sharp showres the sunne shyneth faire Hope commeth likewise after dispayre In hope a Kinge doth go to warre In hope the Louer lyues full longe In hope the Marchaunt sayles full farre In hope most men doo suffer wronge In hope the Ploughman soweth much séede Thus hope helpes thousands in their néede Then faynt not hart amonge the rest What euer chaunce hope thou the best Though wit biddes will to blowe retrayte Wyll cannot worke as wit would wish When that the Roche doth taste the bayte To late to warne the hungry fishe When Cities bren of firy flame Great Ryuers scarce will quenche the same If Will and Fantasie bée agréed To late for Wyt to bid take heede FINIS ¶ In the commendacion of faythfull loue THe faithful cannot flye nor wander to nor fro Fayth only they holde them bye though that the fickle go A Piller of more force then Marble layd with hand With Pickaxe may deuorce and lay it flat on land Th' other so deuine that no arte can remoue Once layd cannot decline th' only Piller loue FINIS ¶ The Louer wisheth himselfe an Harte in the Foreste as Acteon was for his Ladyes sake I Would I were Acteon whom Diana did disguise To walke the woods vnknown wheras my lady lies A hart of pleasant hew I wish that I were so So that my Lady knew alone mée and no mo To follow thicke and plaine by hill and dale alow To drinke the water fayne and féede mée with the sloe I would not feare the frost to lye vpon the ground Delight should quite the cost what payne so that I found The shaling nuts and mast that falleth from the trée Should serue for my repast might I my Lady sée Sometime that I might say when I saw her alone Beholde thy slaue alone that walkes these woods vnknowen FINIS ¶ An Epytaph vpon the death of
At least yet graunt mee this it is a small request O happy wythered pyned corps God send thy soule good rest FINIS ¶ The Lady beloued assureth her Louer to bee his owne and not to change while life doth last DEare hart as earst I was so will I stil remayne Till I am dead and more if more may bee Howsoeuer loue do yeeld mee ioy or payne Or Fortune lyst to smyle or frowne on mee No chaunging chaunce my fast fayth may constrayne No more then Waues or beating of the Sea May stir the stedfast rocke that will not ply For fayre nor fowle one inche no more will I. A file or knife of lead shall sooner carue The Diamant vnto what forme you will Ere Fortunes dynte compell mee for to swarue Or the ire of Loue to breake my constant will Yée sooner shall the law of nature starue When Ryuers take their course agaynst the hill Ere sodayne hap for better or for worse Disturâ—e my thoughts to take a better course With hartes consent my loue you doo possesse A surer holde may chaunce then many wéene The fayth by othe that subiectes doo confesse To their new prince is seldome stronger séene No fyrmer state than that which loue doth sure expresse Of Kinge ne Keyser hitherto hath béen So that you néede not fortifie your hould With Towre or Ditch least others win it should For though you set no Souldiers for defence For all assaults this one may yet suffise It is not goods can alter my pretence No gentle hart yéeldes to so vile a prise Though crowne and septier few would dispise Not beauty méete to moue a wauering minde Yet more then yours I wot not where to finde And feare you not what forme my hart once tooke Least any new print shall the same deface So deepe therin ingraued is your looke As neuer may bée wyped from that place My hart like Waxe so lightly did not brooke More then one stroke ere Cupid brought to passe One splint of skale therof to take away The best reserued your Image to pourtray That like as what stone it selfe best desendeth And hardiest is with toole to bee graue Doth sooner breake in péeces then it bendeth To looze the stampe afore my hand it gaue Euen so the nature of my hart contendeth As hard is this as any stone you haue Though forse do breake it vnto péeces small Those péeces somewhat you resemble shall FINIS ¶ In the prayse of the rare beauty and manifolde vertues of Mistres D. as followeth IF Chawcer yet did lyue whose English tongue did passe Who sucked dry Pernassus spring and raste the Iuice there was If Surrey had not scalde the height of Ioue his Throne Unto whose head a pillow softe became Mount Helycon They with their Muses could not haue pronounst the fame Of D. faire Dame lo a staming stock the chéefe of natures frame They would but haue eclipsed her beauties golden blast Nor Ouid yet of Poets Prince whose wits all others past Olde Nestor with his tongue and flowing dew so sweete Would rather haue berefte her right then pend her praises méete In Helens heauenly face whose grace the Greekes bought deare For whose defence prowd Troy did fal such forme did not appeare In Hectors sister loe who Pirhus Father rapte Did not abound sutch beauty bright as now to D hath hapt For D doth passe as far Dame Venus with her prise As Venus did the other two by doome of Paris wise If shée had present béen within the walles of Ide They would not had such discord then nor Paris iudgd that side In minde all voyd of doubt they straight agréed would That D should of good right the Aple haue of Golde Whom as I must beleeue that nature did create To rob the hartes of noble Kings and courage stoute to mate Her forhead seemely spaste wherin doo shine her eyes No whit vnlike to starres by night or beame when Phebus ryse Her haire that shines like golde her shoulders couer whight To which no snow on Mountayne highe may be compared right Her mouth well compast small in smylings vtters forth A treasure riche of Orient Pearle therto no Golde more worth I feare much Promethius fall dare no further wade Whom loue embraced with the shape that hee so finely made Yet this I dare presume one thought of her may draw A harte of Iron and it subdue vnto blinde Cupids law I sorrow to recite the bitter teares that flow Within the eyes of other Dames that beauty know I weepe to wayle in minde the burning slights that flame In troubled hartes of Natures case in spreading of her fame They all doo curse themselues of Nature makes complaynt That shee on them had smal regard that did her thus depaynt Of her doth nobles spring and sutors sue for grace And Fountaines eke of sugred speech where voice can take no place Here Pallas should haue lost her prayse for wisdome great Who gendred was of Ioue his braines wher wisdom toke his seat Here wise Vlisses wyfe whose chastnesse brued her fame Should matched bee ye mated eke in ventring of thesame Prowde Tarquin with his force which Lucresse did defile Could not haue spoyled faire D. so with neither sound nor gyle This Dame I thinke bee such that heauen can vndermine And lifte the earth vnto the skyes eche stone a star to shine If passed time alas might now returne agayne And all the wittes that euer was would herein take the payne They could not at the ful no due giftes expresse A wight vnfit to bée in earth in heauen no such goddesse Whose name shall floorish still though Atropos with spight In running from her deuelish Den bereaue vs of this light Though Thesiphon do cut her time of life a way Her cankred Swoord cannot assayle her fame for to decay For wee in these our dayes our selues may better quight To geue to her the cheefest prayse then Paris which did right Lesse hatred cannot want though power for to reuenge Our stately house as they did Troy their force doth faile to senge Their might if it were like these verses wee should rew With no lesse payne then Ouid did whose greefe by Muses grew FINIS Prety parables and Prouerbes of Loue. I Spake when I ment not in spéeding to gayne I sought when I sped not but trauaild in vayne I found where I feard not would writh with the wind I loste where I lou'd not nor forâ—â—d to finde Nothing in which truth is not trustie But double is such and beauty but rustie I coole with the colde I leue that I like not I know not the olde that rotteth and ripes not I sauor no such that fondly doth fauor I care not to much for such sory sauor I taste or I try in parte or in all I care not a flye the losse is but small I labor at leasure I pricke without payne In vsing for pleasure beates in my brayne I spare not in byrding to
ten dayes space I tooke no rest by day nor yet by night But like to Baccus beldame Nonne I sent and rangde apace To sée if that I mought thée finde in some frequented place Now here now there now vp now down my fancy so was fed Untill at length I knew of troth that thou from mee wert fled Then was I fully bent with blade to stab my vexed harte Yet hope that thou wouldst come agayn my purpose did conuart And so ere since I liu'd in hope bemixt with dreadful feare My smeared face through endles teares vnpleasant doth appeare My slepes vnsound with vgly dreams my meats are vayn of taste My gorgious rayment is dispisde my tresses rudly plaste And to bee breefe I bouldly speake there doth remayne no care But that therof in amplest wise I doo possesse a share Lyke as the tender sprig doth bend with euery blast of winde Or as the guidelesse Ship on Seas no certaine Porte may finde So I now subiecte vnto hope now thrall to carefull dread Amids the Rocks tween hope and feare as fancy mooues am led Alas returne my deare returne returne and take thy rest God graunt my wordes may haue the force to penytrat thy brest What doost thou thinke in Italy some great exployt to win No no it is not Italy as sometimes it hath bin Or doost thou loue to gad abroad the forrain costes to vew If so thou hadst not doone amisse to bid mée first a dew But what hath bin the cause I néede not descant longe For sure I am meane while poore wench I only suffer wrong Wel thus I leaue yet more could say but least thou shouldst refuse Through tediousnesse to réede my lines the rest I will excuse Untill such time as mighty Ioue doth send such luckye grace As wée therof in fréendly wise may reason face to face Till then farwell and hée thee kéepe who only knowes my smart And with this bill I send to thee a trusty Louers harte By mee to thee not mine but thine Since Loue doth moue the same Thy mate though late doth wright her â—light Thou well canst tell her name ¶ A Letter sent from beyond the Seaes to his Louer perswading her to continew her loue towardes him TO thée I write whose life and death thy faith may saue or spil Which fayth obserue I liue in ioy if not your freend you kill Suspecte not that I doo misdoubt your loyalty at all But pender how that louers are vnto suspicion thrall Which thraldome bréedeth furth thrall if woonted fayth doo fayle Agaynst the Louer thus forlorne do thousand Cares preuayle It litle helpes to haue begun and there to set a stay They win more fame that fight it out then those that run away Like as the willing hound that doth pursue the Deare in Chace Will not omit vnto the ende his paynfull weary race So Loue if loue it bee indeed will stedfast still remayne What so betide good hap or yll and not reuoult agayne Such fayth of you swéet hart I aske such fayth why sayd I so What néede I to demaund the thing I haue had long ago Your fayth you gaue the case is playn you may not seeme to start And I in earnest of the match did leaue with you my hart But now perhaps you may alleage long distance may procure A cause wherby our former loue no longer may endure If so you Iudge to far amisse although that sayle and winde Conuay my corps to cuntry strange my hart remaynes behinde Examples many could I shew but néedles is that payne Mine owne example shalâ— suffise when I returne agayne Meane while although to swim I want Leanders cunning art In all things els except the same I le play Leanders part In hope that thou wilt shew thy selfe to mée an Hero true And so although loth to depart I say swéete hart adue A Ringe I sende wherin is pende a Posie if you reede Wherby you may perceaue alway of what I most haue neede By mee your frende vnto the ende if you therto agree Although not so your louing foe I still perforce must bee FINIS An other louing Letter BEcause my hart is not mine owne but resteth now with thée I greet thee well of hartinesse thy selfe mayst Caruer bée Muse not hereat but like hereof first read and then excuse I wish to you a plyant hart when you these lines peruse Hope bids me speak fear stayes my tongue but Cupid makes mée boulde And Fancy harps of good successe when that my playnt is tould Thus Hope doth prick feare doth kicke fancy féeds my brayn In you alone doth now consist the salue to ease my payne You are my Paradice of ioy the heauen of my delight And therwithall which thing is strang the worker of my spight Which spight I seeke not to reuenge but meekely to subdue Not as a foe but as a fréend I do your loue pursue I yeeld my selfe vnto your power and will not you relente In humble wise I mercy craue and is your mercy spente No sure as nature outwardly hath shewde in you her skill I doubt not but that inwardly the like shee doth fulfill So good a face so trim a grace as doth in you remayne A Cressids cruell stony harte I know may not retayne Wherfore to ratefie my wordes let déedes apparant bée Then may you vaunt and proue it true you fréedom gaue to mée Consider of my restles care and way blinde Cupids ire Then shal you finde my paynful loue doth claym but earned hire Requite not this my curtesy and fréendship with disdaine But as I loue vnfainedly so yeeld like loue againe Allow hereof as for the rest that doth belong to loue My selfe therof will take the care as time in time shall proue Meane while I wish a Thisbies hart in you there may endure Then doubt not but a Pyramus of mée you shall procure Yours at your will To saue or spill FINIS Proctors Precepts LEaue vading plumes no more vaunt gallant youth Thy masking weeds forsake take collours sage Shun vicious steps consider what ensueth Time lewdly spent when on coms crooked age When beauty braue shall vade as doth the flower When manly might shall yeeld to auncient time When yonge delightes shall dye and ages bower Shall lodge thy corps bemoning idle prime Learne of the Ant for stormy blastes to get Prouision least vntimely want do cum And mooues thee mone such time so lewd neglect From vertues lore where worthy honors wun Thinke how vncertayne here thou liust a guest Amid such vice that 's irksome to beholde Thinke whence thou camst and where thy corps shall rest When breathing breath shall leaue thy carkasse colde When dreadfull death shall daunt thy hauty minde When fearfull flesh shall shrowd in clammy clay When pamperd plumes shall vade and dreads shall finde Deseruings due for erring lewd astray Run not to rash least triall make the mone In auncient yeres thy greene
fayth and troth fixed approoued vniust Sing willow willow will Are you shée which constant for euer would stand And yet will you giue mée the willow Garland Willow willow willow singe all of gréene willow Sing all of gréene willow shall bée my Garland What motion hath moude you to maske in delight Sing all of gréene willow What toy haue you taken why séeme you to spight Sing willow willow willow Your loue which was ready for aye to indure Willow willow willow willow According to promise most constant and sure Willow willow willow willow What gallant you conquerd what youth mooude your minds Sing all of gréene willow To leaue your olde Louer and bée so vnkinde Singe willow willow willow To him which you plighted both fayth troth and hand For euer yet giues mee the willow Garland Willow willow willow singe all of greene willow Sing all of greene willow shall bee my Garland Hath wealth you allured the which I doo want Sing all of greene willow Hath pleasant deuises compeld you recant Sing willow willow willow Hath feature forste you your words to deny Willow willow willow willow Or is it your fashion to cog and to lye Willow willow willow willow What are your sweet smiles quite turnd into lowres Sing all of green willow Or is it your order to change them by howres Sing willow willow willow What haue you sufficient thinke you in your hand To pay for the making of my willow Garland Willow willow willow singe all of greene willow Sing all of greene willow shall bee my Garland Farewell then most fickle vntrue and vniust Sing all of greene willow Thy deedes are yll dealings in thee is no trust Willow willow willow willow Thy vowes are vncertayne thy wordes are but winde Willow willow willow willow God graunt thy new louer more trusty thee finde Willow willow willow willow Be warned then gallants by proofe I vnfolde Sing willow willow willow Mayds loue is vncertayne soone hot and soone colde Sing willow willow willow They turne as the reed not trusty they stand Which makes mee to weare the willow Garland Willow willow willow singe all of greene willow Sing all of greene willow shall bee my Garland FINIS A gloze of fawning freendship NOw cease to sing your Syren songes I leaue ech braue delight Attempt no more the wounded corps which late felt fortunes spight But rather helpe to rue with sorowing sobs come mone My lucklesse losse from wealth to woe by fickle fortune throwne I once had freends good store for loue no drosse I tryde For hauing lost my goods on Seas my freends would not abide Yet hauing neede I went to one of all I trusted moste To get releefe hee answerd thus go packe thou peuish poste His wordes did pearce my tender brest and I as mazde did stand Requesting him with pitteous plaints to giue his helping hand Content thy selfe quoth hee to serue my owne estate I haue not I yet am I greeu'd to see thy lucklesse fate Ah fie of fawning freends whose eyes attentiue bee To watch and warde for lukers sake with cap and bended knee Would God I had not knowne their sweet and sugered speach Then had my greefe the lesser bin experience mee doth teach FINIS A Maze of Maydens WHo goes to gaze of euery gallant girle And castes his eyes at euery glauncing gloze Whose masking minde with euery motion moou'd In fine shall finde his fancy fraught with woes For pleasure spent is but a wishing vayne By crooked chaunce depriude of braue delight Cut of by care a heape of hurtfull harmes Our gaze vngaynd which whilome pleasde our sight Our baunts doo vade our pleasures passe away Our sugerest swéetes reapes sorowing sobs in fine Our braggest boast of beauties brauest blaze To forowed browes doth at the length resigne Our foolish fancy filde with filthy vice Pursues his hurt vnto anothers harmes A houering hart with euery gloze enticed gaynes lothsome-loue whence nought but sorow swarmes Leaue then to gaze of euery glauncing gloze Contemne the sleights of beauties sugerest bate Whose outward sheath with colours braue imbost Shuns cruell craft and enuious hurtfull hate FINIS A short Epistle written in the behalfe of N.B. to M.H. DEare Lady deckt with cumlynesse To counteruayle my clemency Bee prest I pray in readynesse To yeeld your courteous curtesie Let mee you finde Penelope In minde and loyall hart So shall I your Vlisses bée Till breathing lyfe depart Yelde loue for loue to him who lykes To liue in lynckes of loyalty And graunt him grace who nothing séekes For his good will but curtesy Let mee your bondmen fauour â—nde To gratefie my willing harte Whom no attempt to please your minde Shall hynder mee to play my parte Permit mee not in lingring sorte To labour in a barrayn soyle Ne giue occasion to reporte How loytryng loue reapes troubled toyle But let mee say my hart obtaynd The gloze which pleasd my glauncing eyes And that I haue for guerdon gaynd The best that in my Lady lyes So shall I boast of that which best Doth please the prime of my desire And glory in a gayned rest Which through your fauour I aspire FINIS A vew of vayn glory WHat motion more may mooue a man to minde His owne estate then proofe whose dayes vnsure Accounted are vnto a puffe of winde A breathing blast whose force can not endure Whose lyuely showes consumes whose pompe decayes Whose glory dyes whose pleasures soone be spent Whose stoutest strength to weakenes subiect stayes Whose thoughts bee vaine and vade as though vnment What haue wée then to vaunt or glory in Sith all is vayne wherin wée take delight Why should wée boast or brag sith nought wée win In fine but death to whom yéeldes euery wight To equall state hée bringeth each degrée Hée feareth none all subiects yéeldes to death To dâ—nkish dust hée driueth all wée sée Which in the world enioyeth any breath Why vaunt wée then in that wée sée is vayne Or take delight in that wée proue but drosse Why glory wee or séeke for golden gayne Sith at the length wee reape therof but losse Wée lothe to leaue our hutches filde with golde Our annual rents it gréeues vs to forgo Our buildings braue which glads vs to beholde Our pleasant sport it gréeues vs to forgo Wée nothing brought ne ought shall carry hence Lyfe lost behinde goods mony land wée leaue And naked shall returne assured whence Before wée came when death doth life bereaue Line then to leaue thy life in euery howâ—r Learne how to lead thy minde from vayne desire Of filthy drosse whose sugerest sweet is sower When dreadfull death shall yéeld our earthly hire What is our world but vayne fraught full of vice Wherin wée liue allured by disceat Which vs in youth to error doth entice And sturs vs vp in flamed by follyes heat Our mindes are mooued with euery fond desire Wee gloze in that the which wée see vnsure Wée vsuall séeke great
this true and ouer true alas My greefeful eyes that sight hath almost lost And brest through darted with thy golden Mace. Full well declare though all that mee beholde Are iudges and wonders of my deadly wo But thou alone mayst helpe therfore vnfolde Els helples Lady streight will knap in two The feeble thread yet stayes my lingering life Wherfore if loue thy sacred Goddes brest Did euer presse or if most dreadly griefe And causeles not thy inward soule opprest When crooked Vulcane to your common shame Bewrayed of stolen ioyes thy sweet delight If then I say the feare of further blame Caus'd you refrayne your Louers wished sight And forst restraynt did equall then impart And cause you taste what payne in loue may bée When absence driues assured hartes to part Thy pitty then O Quéene now not denye To mee poore wretch who feeles no lesse a payne If humayne brests so much as heauenly may Haue ruthe on him who doth to thée complayne And onely helpe of thée doth lowly pray Graunt Goddesse mine thou mayst it vndertake At least wise Lady ere this life decay Graunt I beseeche so happy mée to make That yet by worde I may to her bewray My wonderous woes and then if yee so please Looke when you lust let death my body ease THus praying fast ful fraught with cares I leaue this wofull man And turne I will to greater gréefe then minde immagin can But who now shall them writ since wit denayeth the some to thinke Confusedly in Thisbies brest that flow aboue the brinke Not I for though of mine owne store I want no woes to write Yet lacke I termes and cunning both them aptly to recite For CuÌ„nings clyffe I neuer clombe nor dranke of Science spring Ne slept vpon the happy hill froÌ„ whence Dame Rhetorique rings And therfore all I doo omit and wholy them resigne To iudgment of such wofull Dames as in like case hath bin This will I tel how Thisbie thus opprest with dollors all Doth finde none ease but day and night her Pyramus to call For lost is slepe and banisht is all gladsome lightes delight In short of case and euery helpe eche meane shée hath in spight In langor long this life shée led till hap as fortune pleased To further fates that fast ensue with her own thought her eased For this shée thinkes what distance may or mansions bée betwéen Or where now stands so cruell wall to part them as is seene O feeble wit forduld with woe awake thy wandering thought Seeke out thou shalt assured finde shall bring thy cares to nought With this some hope nay as it were a new reuiued minde Did promis straight her pensiue hart immediate helpe to finde And forth she steres with swifted pace ech place she seeks throughout No stay may let her hasty foote till all be vewed about Wherby at length from all the rest a wall aloofe that lyes And corner wise did buyldings part with ioyful eye shée spyes And scarcely then her pearcing looke one blinke therof had got But that firme hope of good successe within her fancy shot Then fast her eye shée roules about and fast shée seekes to see If any meane may there bee found her comfort for to bee And as her carefull looke shee cast and euery part aright Had vewed wel a litle rifte appeared to her sight Which as it seemed through the wall the course the issue had Wherwith shee sayd O happy wall mayst thou so blist be made That yet sometimes within thy bandes my dere hart Pyramus Thou doost possesse if hap so worke I will assay thee thus And from about the heauenly shape her midle did present Shee did vnlose heer girdle riche and pendent therof hent And with her fingers long and small on tipto so shee wrought That through the wall to open sight she hath the pendant brought That doone shee stayes and to the wall she closely layes her eare To vnderstand if any wight on th' other side yet were And whiles to harken thus shee stands a wonderous thing behold Poore Pyramus in Venus Church that all his minde had tolde Performed his vowes and prayers eke now ended all and dun Doth to his Chamber fast returne with hart right wo begun Euen to the same where Thisbie stayd to see if fortune please To smooth her browes and her distresse with any helpe to ease Hee as his woonted vsage was the Chamber once within Lockes fast the doore with fresh complaynts new sorrow to begin But euen lo as his backe hee turned vnto the closed dore Aglimpse of light the pendant gaue his visage iust before Let in his face with speedy pace and as hee nearer drew With wel contented minde forthwith his Thisbies signe he knew And when his trembling hand for ioy the same receyued had And hee ten hundreth times it kist then thus to it hee sayd THough many tokens ioyful newes haue set And blisse redust to carefull pyned ghost Yet mayst thou sweare that neuer lyued hee yet Who halfe such ease receiued in pleasure most As thou sweete pendant now in wofull brest Impersid hast O happy Pyramus Nay béeing a Lady in whom such râ—the can rest Most blisfull Lady most mighty Venus And mighty Thisbie yea Venus not displeased My Goddesse chéefe my loue my life and all For who but Thisbie would nay could haue eased A hart remedyles abandon thrall Wherfore since thus ye please to show your might Make mée whole happy with gladnesse of your sight WHiles Pyramus all clad in ioy thus talkes within the wall No lesse content doth Thisbie stand without and heareth al And with those gladsom lightes where loue doth sightly ioy to play And vanquish harts her loue shée vewes in minde somwhat to say But maydeÌ„ly feare plucks backe the word dread stops her trimbling tongue A rossy hew inflames her face with staine of red among Yet lo at length her minde thée stayes her sences doo awake And with a swéet soft sounding voyce this answer doth she make Loue Pyramus more deare to mée then lyfe Euen as I first this way for spéech haue found Of present death so let the dreadfull knyfe At this instant for euer mee consound If ioyfull thought my passing pensiue harte Did euer pearse since parents cruell dome Pronounst the sentence of our common smart No deare hart mine for how alasse may blome The fading trée whose sap deuided is Ye further sweet I dare with you presume Your passed woes but pastimes ware I wis In their respect that did mée whole consume But now sharpe sighes so stop my willing spéeche Such streames of teares doo dim my troubled sight And inward feare of parents wrath is such Least longer talke should giue them any light Of our repayre that further to recyte My heaped yls I neuer dare ne may Yet oftenly wee wisely heare may meete At chosen times which shall vs not bewray And this for short thy Thisbie shalt thou see With
body theÌ„ depart thou hence why pleasurest thou the ground And Death draw thou mée neare O Death my dearest fréend Then with thy dart shoot through my hart my sorrows so to ende â–ª And when that death did hears the thing that I did craue Hée weighed mée euen as I was a man fit for the graue Come follow mée sayth hée thou man bée not agast Hée that delighteth in earthly things shal feele these panges at last All yée then that list to loue this lesson learne by mée Or yée begin noate well the ende is payne and misery FINIS ¶ The Louer complayneth of his Ladies vnconstancy to the Tune of I lothe that I did loue YYou graues of grisly ghosts Your charge froÌ„ coffins send FroÌ„ roring rout in Plutoes costs You Furies vp ascend You trampling steades of Hell Come teare a wofull wight Whose haples hap no tonge can tell Ne pen can well endight I hate this lothsome life O Atropos draw nie Untwist the thred of mortall strife Send death and let mée die For Beauties taynted trope Hath made my cares assay And ficklenes with her did cope To fordge my whole decaye My fayth alas I gaue To wight of Cressids kinde For stedfast loue I loue did craue As curtesy doth binde Shée likewise troth doth plight To bée a constant loue And proue her self euen maugre spight A faythfull turtle Doue But lo a womans minde Cloakt hole with déepe deceyt And driuen with euery gale of winde To bite at fâ—esher bayt For when bewitch shée had My minde that erst was frée And that her cumly beauty bad My wounded hart agree And fixt on Fancyes lore As world can witnesse beare No other saynct I did adore Or Idole any whear Ne will no wo or smart Could minde from purpose fet But that I had a Iasons harte The golden fléese to get Ne for my part I swere By all the Gods aboue I neuer thought on other fere Or sought for other loue In her the like consente I saw ful oft appear If eyes be iudge of that it mente Or eares haue power to heare Yet woordes bée turnd to winde A new found gest hath got The Fort which once to vndermine And win I planted shot Her fréend that ment her well Out of conceyt is quite While other beares away the bell By hitting of the white In this our wauering age So light are womens mindes As Aspen leafe that stil doth rage Though aeole calme his windes No place hath due desart No place hath constancy In eueri mood their mindes back start As dayly wée may sée What paps did giue them food That weue sutch webs of wo What beast is of so cruell mood That countes his fréend for fo Yet women doo reward With cares the louing wight They constancy no whit regard In change is their delight You gallant youths therfore In time beware by mée Take héed of womeÌ„s subtil lore Let mée example bée FINIS ¶ The Louer hauing sustayned ouermuch wrong at his Ladyes hande wisheth speedy death TO féeble is the thread That holdeth mée in lyfe That if it bee not succoured Short end shal stint the stryfe For though the spindle ronne To draw the thread on length Alas therby what hold is wonne If it be weake of strength Or how can it haue ayde Since rigor is so rife In her whose handes to cut the thread Gaue cruelly the knife Whose edge of Enuy hard In Venus forge hath wrought Wherby his deth is thus preferd Whose life offended nought But sithe thy chéefe delite My cheefe delightfull fo Is with such wrong to work the spite With spéed come end this wo. And when my death hath done My duty at her will A greater gréefe be not begonne To last therafter still For after death if strife Should still my life pursue What theÌ„ doth death but breed a life Of mone mischéefe new Wherfore if néedes thou wilte Thy spindle spin no more But that this thred with spoyle bee spilt Which led my life before Prouide then for the nonâ—e Prouide for mée the best That I may dye at once From all thy mindes vnrest And let not presente death Prefer an after paine But let the paines pas with my breath And not reuiue againe For thus by this you shall Two thinges at once fulfill I shal be frée that haue bin thrall And you shall haue your will. FINIS ¶ The Louer exhorteth his Lady to bee constant To the Tune of Attend thee go play thee NOt light of loue lady Though fancy doo prick thée Let constancy possesse thy hart Well worthy of blamyng They bee and defaming From plighted troth which backe do start Deare dame Then ficklenesse bannish And folly extinguish Bee skilfull in guiding And stay thee from slidinge And stay thee c. The constant are praysed Their fame high is raysed Their worthynesse doth pearce the skye The fickle are blamed Their light loue shamed Theyr foolishnesse doth make them dye As well Can Cressid beare witnesse Fordge of her owne distresse Whom Leprosy paynted And penury taynted And penury c. Still Muses are busie To tell vs of Thisbe Whom stedfastnesse doth much commend And Camma is placed To blame the defaced That light of loue doo sende Phedra Is checked most duly Because that vntruly Forst therto by loue light Shée slayeth Hippolite Shée slayeth c. A spring of annoyance And well of disturbance New fanglenesse in loue hath bin It killeth the Master It poysons the taster No worldly wight by it doth win Therfore Good lady bée constant So shall you not bee shent But woorthely praysed As you haue deserued As you haue c. FINIS The Louer wounded with his Ladies beauty craueth mercy To the Tune of where is the liâ—e that late I led IF pitty once may mooue thy hart To rew a wofull wight If curtesy can force thy minde To vew my doulfull plight Sith I cannot deuise To quench this raging fier With trickling teares I craue of thee Attend to my dâ—sier Whom Venus fethered boy Hath crasde with deadly dart Sent from the rayes of those thy eyes Which bread my wo and smart In vewing thee I tooke sutch ioy As wofull wight in rest Untill the blinded boy I felte Assault my captiue brest And since that time alas Such pinching payne I taste That I am now remedilesse If mercy make not haste For hid in deepe dispayre My teares are all my ioy I burne I fréese I sinke I swim My wealth is mine annoy Lyke as the tender turtle Doue Doth wayle the losse of mate In mourning wéed so spend I tyme Lamentinge mine estate The night renewes my cares When weary limmes would rest And dreadfull dreames abandon slepe Which had my gréefes represt I drench my couch with teares Which flow from gushing eyes A thousand heapes of hidden thoughtes In minde I doo deuise Full often times it dooth mée good To haunt and vew the place Where I receiued my wound alas