spends and paines the gowtie takes A peasant for a Princesse he would choose That he might find the greatnesse she should loose An earnest Intercessor to his Neece Still is he and if he her thoughts may sway A prize surpassing far the golden fleece Which Iason gain'd the base must beare away Base thought he him the Prince no prince he thought Yet to confer this Iem on him he sought Should Edell now haue knowne for whom he spake In whose behalfe his arguments he fain'd As sometime greater sees will Lawyers make To counterplead the cause they late maintain'd So had he turn'd had he the truth discride Against the Prince with whom he so doth side The Lady pester'd was with his perswasions And Curans loue for both vpon her war'd Yet in her brest they could make no inuasions For resolution did her bosome gard That pleads and this perswades both intreat her Yet all they doe but makes her griefe the greater That Edell knowes not Curans worth she knowes And yet in his behalfe doth pleade so much From hence her griefe from hence her sorrow growes This great vnkindnesse doth her nearely touch That he should hold her in from men of worth And to so base a match should thrust her forth Curan perceyuing now his loue offends And that he happy hath no hope to proue He letteth fall his sute his wooing ends For in a sort his loue doth curbe his loue Because he loues he will not giue offence Therefore though louing not his sute commence Her beauty breedes his amorous loue her griefe Compassionate affection in him breedes And though his loue-sicke heart doth lacke reliefe Yet he forbeares to seeke the salue he needes For to that floud he addes if it hee seeke Which her fayre eye distils on her fayre cheeke His passions from his amourous loue do grow But such a blessed loue in him is found As makes him to compassionate her woe And in his better loue his worse is drownd His passions vrge to prosecute his sute Compassion thoe preuayles and makes him mute That loue that from his amorous thoughts doth rise Doth vnto that that pittie breedes giue place Glances and teares goe both from Curans eyes Caus'd by her beautie and her wretched case And sith his amourous loue her griefe increast His tender loue so wrought that that loue ceast At least he close conceal'd it in his brest What though it seem'd to scald his heart within In signes nor syllables he it exprest For to augment her griefe he helde it sinne Curan she hates thy loue ah cruell shee And lest it moue her it must martyr thee The King now sees how he his loue restraines He sees it though to see it he is loath For this Apostacie put 's him to paines More then before for now hee wooes them both He wooeth her to loue and him to wooe O auarice what putst thou him vntoo Curan that lou'd the Lady with his soule To recommence his suite is easily brought The ashes are remou'd and now the cole Is found aliue that dead before was thought They grieue againe the Lady but in vaine They plow the sands where there wil grow no grain But why was Argentile so much vnkinde She knew the Prince his worth his Loue and these More powrefull Orators to bend the minde But Women will not loue before they please She will not No she will not loue and why Because she will not Women so reply What a strong hold strong Resolution is Where this chaste Dames chast loue immured lyes Not Danaes brasen tower was like to this Ione entred there by sleights and subtilties But here a Gard doth euen the key-hole keepe Lest slie insinuation in should creepe A Womans will is like to Danaes tower Nay more impregnable is womans will Was neuer man that yet by strength or power Could win this Fort that force repulseth still A womans will can neuer be constraind Nor can her loue against her will be gain'd The will is strong but yet the sences weake Weake is the Gard although the Fortresse strong Yet its impossible the Gate to breake Or skale the wall if true themselues among But lyking-oft which is Loues Vsher slye Gaines entrance here when flattered is the eye Therefore wise Ioue when he to Dardan came Engin nor instrument of war he brought He knew if so he should assault the same He neuer should obtaine the thing he sought No thundring-wide-mouthd CaÌ„non doth he bring Nor Ramme for battrie nor no such like thing In stead of these he brings a Peâ—lars packe Full of fine toyes that did for shew exceed And many a gawd and many a goodly knacke Which not necessitie it selfe doth neede Her Female-gard corrupteth hee with these Who fauouring him he enters there with ease For he had pleased them so well that day That they to lodge him there doe all agree While one vnboults another turnes the key Ope is the wicket and in leapeth hee So Danaes tower was wonne and fancies Fort Is neuer wonne but t' is in such like sort The weakest Virgins will is of more strength Then is a gate of steele or wall of brasse For to compulsion those may yeeld at length This will not be compell'd nor neuer was But it is strange that still Prince Curan fayles Who by preuailing meanes his Loue assayles He fittes her humors vaine he giues her guifts That she may fauor him he flatters her And to the skye her praises vp he lifts Fore Hellen's beautie he doth hers prefer He grieueth sore he sighs exceedingly He pules he pines he tells her he will dye He prayes and he perswades and all hee sayes And all he doth that may be said or done He tryes to winne her Loue a thousand wayes A thousand womens loues some times are wonne With fewer words and with far lesser paines Then Curan spends and takes ere her's he gaines Some winne as soone as they beginne to wooe And straight the Clarkes Amen confirmes the match And then to bed there is no more to doe Yea marry sir here is a quicke dispatch And so they speed when humor serues that speake But Curan hath a harder shell to breake Nay of so strange a humour some there are That he that loues and loue for loue desires Doth quite vnlike as Souldiers doe in warre Fayle when he fights and foyle when he retires So him that followes it his shadow shunnes And followes after him that from him runnes And Curans practise argu'd that he knew This secret for as I haue sayde before From beauties barre his action he withdrew Yet shee to loue inclined nere the more From this strange humour Argentile is free It is not vniuersall then we see And some will stifly stand in their deniall So that a man would thinke the clocke went true When it God wot agrees not with the Dyall As would be seene if thoughts lay ope to view But Argentile doth not coyne coynesse so Her
of them Luna raign'd Did not I pray thee Luna Ioue Endimion And was not she with loues sweet passions pain'd yes Luna's selfe did loue else Poets faine Then how can Luna's influence loue restraine No I not feare the enmitie of those Be thou but willing I desire but this They cannot my wish't happinesse oppose Nor be a barre to my desired blisse Let churlish and malignant starres repine I care not so thy will to loue incline Therefore as erst I sayd I say againe Giue pride no place I pray thee in thy brest Away with soornefulnesse and coy disdaine Which most do plague the kindest men and best For the best natures still most subiect be To loue-sicke passions most in this agree As thou art fayre so be thou kind my deare Should pride which heauen forbid contracted be To thy sweet beautie it would cause I feare A separation twixt my ioyes and me Iâ— kindnesse from thy beautie thou shouldst seuer My ioyes and I are then diuerst for euer As beautie doth euen so let mercy rest In thy fayre eye for these are two fayre twins Denie not lodging to so kind a guest At that sayre signe where her faire sister Innes Beauties kind sister must keepe with her still Else where she conquers cruelly shee-lâ—kill Thus still hee pleades and though shee still withstand Yet doth not his affection change or varrie For why his loue is winnowed clens'd and fan'd No light inconstant chaffe with it doth tarrie In vaine doth she denie for still he tries In vaine he tries her for she still denies What bootes it her although her tongue denie Forbidding loue refusing loue to grant Sith the meane while her lip her cheeke her eye Plant that which she endeuours to supplant Her tongue forbids her beautie bids againe Loue yeelds to louelinesse and words are vaine Though she her name her state her tire her traine Had so dismist cast off forgone and chang'd Yet her owne thoughts she still doth entertaine Curan had sped if they had beene estrang'd They told her she that lately did disdaine A Princes loue now must not loue a Swaine Of all her outward worth with her remaines Onely her beauty all the rest is gone But that by lawfull meanes she still maintaines And blame her not if she preserude her owne Rather blame them if such be to be found That lay dead colours on a liuely ground Her beauty will abide the touch t is true Her louely cheekes haue beauties dye in graine For they their sweet eye-pleasing natiue hue In spight of Phaebus fierie eye retaine Her beautie hath a strange rare qualitie Subiect to nothing but mortality And it is Curans hungry eye 's repast Yea and a pleasing dish to it indeed And fith when she is absent it must fast When she is present it doth frankly feede To it that can with fasting not away A Lent in length seemes euery fasting day Officiously heserues his mistresse coy He runs for her he helps her guide her drone Proud is the Prince if she will him imploy See here the power and potencie of loue Her for no better then she seemes he takes yet willingly himselfe her slaue he makes And if she doe but daigne him one kind looke Quite ouerpayde he holds himselfe to be For all the paines that he for her hath tooke So pleased with a gentle looke is he And on her smiles and frownes doth he attend As life and death did on her lookes depend As fares it with a ship tost on the maine When windes and waues conspire her ouerthrow Shee 's hoysed vp and then cast down againe From tops of liquid mounts with Curan so Her smiles do hoyse his hopes into the ayre Her frownes do beat them down beneath despaire Yet not her smiles his hopes do him beguile For he his hopes doth from mistaking take She but derides his folly with a smile Which he an argument of loue doth make Alas for him how desperate is his state When his best signes of loue are signes of hate Well let him rest content though thus forlorne And not repine though now he pine and droope He shall ere long enioy a Princesse borne But the high towring Eagle will not stoope To the base Kite nor she to him till hee Being vnvaild a Peasont cease to be But her deare Loue he first must dearely buye T' will cost him many a sigh and many a teare That hauing bought it at a price so high Accordingly he then may holde it deare The more is now his griefe and his annoy When shee is his the more will be his ioy Leander kinde as hee to Herâ— went The paines hee tooke the perills that hee past The more they were the more was his content VVhen in his weary armes he her imbrac't So when Prince Carans present sufferings cease They to his future Ioyes shall giue increase Well may he while he hath her Ioue in chace Endure the worst that Fortune can inflict For Fates haue mark't her his though for a space His Fortune seemes his Fate to contradict And now the more he suffers for her sake The more shall he of comfort then pertake Shee must be his but yet some miserie For her deare sake he must endure before That Ioyes succeeding griefe their contrarie May to his apprenension seeme the more But that she shall be his did hee but knowe Then in his bosome were no place for woe But this he doth not know nay there is throwne So thicke a mist before his iudgements-eye That she her selfe is still to him vnknowne Though he be daylie in her companie He must not know her his nor know her neither Till hee twise happie then know both together Daylie as duely as hee goes to fielde He Courts his wench but not at all preuailes Yet still he hopes that shee at last will yeelde Therefore he plyes her still but still he failes One day at last beneath a shady tree He closely siding her thus pleadeth he Why art thou still vnkinde why cruell still Why is thy brest so empty of remorse My heart thou mayst with thy vnkindnesse kill But thou canst not diuert Loues constant course Still doe I loue though still thou doest disdaine me Beauty doth so perswade nay so constraine mee My Loue if it but ordinary were Mixt with a negligent indifferencie Why thy vnkindnes then I well could beare Nor could it once so much as trouble mee Some cannot loue vntill they kindnesse finde Nor longer then their Loues continue kinde He that loues so nor are such Louers strange Can sport at her that falsly doth deceyue Smile at the change if smiles to frownes do change Loue while shee loues and leaue when she doth leaue T' is harmlesse Loue on kindnes that depends To loue the vnkinde that 's the loue offends This I finde true yet hopefully suppose Thou bearst not such an vnrelenting minde But that thou wilt compassionate my woes And wilt not proue eternally vnkinde While
her face her mind But I must leaue her beauty so excelling For I would hast and therefore shun delayes Yet on this theame is such delightfull dwelling That I am loath to leaue her beauties prayse How she was lou'd Loue waites on beauty so As shadow doth on substance now I le show A sweet young Prince of Danske by fame cal'd forth Curan he hight this Prince to England came To see the Dame whose matchlesse beauties worth Was brought to him vpon the wings of Fame He sees the Dame her beautie seeth he And prayseth in his thoughts what he doth see And though report had so extol'd her name And prais'd her for sweet louelinesse so much He findes that Fame but lispt and was to blame For seeing her hee see 's her beautie such As sores aboue her prayse yea I may say Aboue superlatiue if beautie may And now in him his progresse loue beganne From looking liking loue from liking grew The spacious world could not produce a man That loued with a loue so firme so true But for her loue much woe he vnderwent Ere shee vnkind would to his sute consent This sweet young louely Prince is such another As was Adonis in his greatest pride This Dame is Venus that was Capid's mother That by Adonis was of loue denide One like that Adon here doth Venus loue One like this Venus there did Adon proue Not Clcopatra's sonne and daughter fayre Whom their proud sire the Sunne and Moone did stile Could match for beauty with this princely payre Prince Curan to the Princesse Argentile Comes neere in comlinesse he happy were If she in kindnesse came to him as neere With Ganimede and with Narcissus hee May take his place that were the fairst of men And with the ratest she may ranked be That euer yet was prays'd by Poets penne How will the world be grac't with beauty sweet When in their children both their beauties meet Well he is now in Loue vp to the heart Yet can hee not obtaine a second view From Princes eyes and men of high desart Her iealous Gardian keepes his Neece in miew Betweene the world and Beauties-sunne so bright He interposeth clowds as blacke as night Her beauty which doth all mens eyes delight Saue onely his he seekes to keepe vnknowne Lest Beauties same should men of Fame invite To seeke her Loue he wisheth she had none To stop Fames mouth and dim her Beauties beame He therefore striues but striues against the streame Her beautyes praise breakes forth in his despight And almost like the ayre it selfe extends Hee 'd stop the current hyding her from sight But so her beauty hee the more commends The more shee 's in her Closet kept retyrde The more shee 's talkt of and the more admyrde So quite his endes are crost he would suppresse Her beautyes praise but see how he mistakes His course though hee intended nothing lesse Her famous but himselfe infamous makes This fact of his doth more divulge her Fame But to posteritie records his shame For it directly showes his thoughts are base And such as ill beseeme a bosome Royall Argues him consciencelesse and voyde of grace And prooues him to be periur'd and disloyall His thoughts desires ambitious auaritious Vicious his life his proiects are pernicious O was it not inough Kinsman vnkind That he from her should so withhold her right But to her chamber she must be confinde To see and to bee seene doe maides delight But Aegentile is hid behind a skreene Shee is not must not where she would be seene But the base minded King to Peasants base Admits accesse to noble men denide To view and wooe be grants them time and place And his best furtherance affords beside To marry her to some base Groome he thought That so her right might rest vnclaim'd vnsought Curan perceyning this what did he doe He chang'd his rich attire for base aray O Loue what shifts thou putst the Prince vnto His name he chang'd his Titles put away And so transform'd himselfe into a drudge Now if he lou'd or not the world may iudge Thus liu'd he there and thus accesse he gain'd And on her beauty now his eye hee feedes But in his thoughts full sore the Prince is pain'd Loue in his brest a thousand passions breedes And to expresse his loue dumbe signes he vs'd He look't he blusht he sigh'd he plain'd he mus'd She whose chast thoughts euen equall loue reiec't Doth see but will not see his loue vnfit She thinkes it is not worthie of respect And therefore will no notice take of it Making a show of pride though pride she hate Because she knowes pride best doth pride abate Scarse knowes she how to looke disdainefully For neuer pride and she acquainted were Beauty hath got possession in her eye And will not suffer scornefulnes come there Fain would she frown and yet she knowes not how So calme a smoothnes dwels on her fayre brow When most of all shee him would terrifie That he should dare to loue or looke no more Then doth she frowne ah but so pleasingly That more he loueth then he lou'd before Between her smiles and frowns small ods there lyes for both of them her beauty beautifies Her frownes cannot her beauty bright obscure For such sweet louelinesse doth them adorne That they entice and powerfully allure Although they argue coynes pride and scorne The more she frownes the more he loues her still His loue they kindle though his hopes they kill At last loue boyling in his brest compels him Himselfe and his affection to bewray And craues her loue but to his griefe she tels him That husbandlesse she is resolu'd to stay Still seeking his solicitings to shunne So do they still that still would be vnwunne When meeting her he kindly bids good morrow She strangely doth salute him with farewell And so his ioy is ouertooke with sorrow To meete seemes heauen to him to part seemes hell Parting which pleaseth her doth him displease Meeting which he desires is her disease He ioyes to see her grieues to see her coynesse Her voyce is heauenly musicke in his eares Yet are her words vnkind and make him ioylesse Thus are poore Louers tost t'wixt hopes and feares Twixt care and comfort paine and pleasure still So pallats taste the sweet displeasing pill In his assumed shape he still remaines Nor doth the gentle Lady him disclose He courts her oft but at her hands he gaines Nothing but that that doth augment his woes At last for hearty loue is hard to hide His loue but not himselfe the King discride From him to her past many an amorous glance Which did his loue vnto the King explaine Glad is the King and doth his slaue aduance So to incourage more the sawcie swaine And him prefers vnto promotions high To make the Groome more gracious in her eye Nay the base-minded guilty-thoughted King Himselfe an interambulator makes That he the match might to conclusion bring The miser
thoughts direct her tongue to answere no. It fits not here to be Satyricall More of their humours I would else reueale And sith fayre Argentile is free from all Her sexes faults I le for her sake conceale As for her coynesse beare with her therein If t' was a fault why yet t' was not a sinne Her Gardian now perceyuing that intreates Are bootlesse spent as stones against the winde He now begins to menace her with threates And in his countenance she reades his mind He now no more doth flatter her but now Seekes by compulsiue meanes her will to bow They that haue tasted of the like distresse May iudge of hers her griefe cannot be spoke Yet it she wisely striueth to suppresse Lest else her close intendments should be broke But yet shee in this Aprill of her yeares Sheds in her closet Aprill showers of teares Griefes property is beauty to impayre For beautie 's but a casuall good they say But on her face so fixed is the fayre That it will not to griefe it selfe giue way Through sorrowes vayle her beauty shineth so That beauty seemeth grac't by beauties foe Obseruers might haue reason to surmise Seeing her lookes so louely yet so sad That some such humour did Loues queene surprise When shee for supreme fayre the verdet had For t is the tuch that doth true beautie trie When in sad lookes sweet louelinesse doth lie Her griefe so well becomes her that the teares Distil'd vpon her cheekes fayre white and red Appeare as that same morning dew appeares Which sable night on freshest flowers hath shed Which falling from her cheeke a man may say Her eyes do seeme with pearles to strew her way And she perceyning now what small good will Her griple minded Gardian to her beares Fearing constraint or else some worser ill She practis'd how she might preuent her feares From Curans loue from King frō Court she steales While she her selfe in strange disguise conceales When Curan heard she was departed so His loue before the chiefe of his affections Is matcht nay ouermatched now with woe Reason in vaine prescribes his griefe directions For boundlesse and confus'd his sorrowes be And after her from Court departeth he The Lady late and Curan now are gone Blinde loue and fortune blinde leade them astray They pace vnused pathes to them vnknowne But ranging rouers cannot loose their way Nor know they whereunto theyr iournyes tend Nor when nor where their Pilgrimage shall end Vaine findes he his pursuite and feares as vaine His sute would proue if he should finde his loue From further quest he therefore doth refraine And cast's what course is best for his behoue To Court hee 'l not returne there is he knowes Dawes not his Doue brambles but not his rose Long doth the Prince debate long doth he muse Long are his busie thoughts in him at strife Before he doth resolue what course to chuse At last he doth prefer the Shepheards life A flocke a dogge a sheepehooke he prouides Tar-box and all his implements besides He who while in his fathers Court he stay'd Was then a Martialist although but young Hath chang'd his launce for lou◠must be obay'd For tooles that to the Shepheards trade belong From warlike Mars to rusticke Pan hee s sweru'd But will returne to him that first he seru'd T is strange he in contempt should find content Yet that he found in this despis'd estate Disgrace the Prince with pleasure vnderwent For ceased is the discord and debate That was between his thoughts ere they declin'd And those hope crossing haps to him assign'd A brace of yeeres well pleas'd he thus remaines His thoughts are setled and his mind is free Suiting himselfe vnto the country Swaines Courtship for clownishnesse exchangeth he He that late strooke the Citternes filuer strings Now pipes on oaten strawes and Iigs he sings Time griefe and labour by this time did change The Princes thoughts his Loue is quite forgot His reason will not let his loue there range Where can no comfort fall vnto his lot Her absence like good Physicke to the sickly Makes him more sicke at first yet cures him quickly Most loath was he the sight of her to loose For as fond Patients cherish their diseases And will no Physicke if themselues may choose Because perhaps the Pallat it displeases Her absence so fit physicke for his fit Is forc't on him ere hee I giue way to it Her fight and presence he did 〈…〉 And was vnwilling to forgo the same Yet that the suell was maintain'd the fire Causing his heart to frie in Cupids flame But that remou'd whereon his harme depended He finds his scorching dog-dayes now are ended Now see the course of things sayre Argentile Who when she left the Court left not her cares Disguised wanders like a poore exile And with the most distrest distresse she shares Now here now there she soiourneth a space But yet she findes no certaine biding place But now at last behold the Princesse sweet Is by a Country Neatheard entertain'd To feede his droues a worke for her vnmeet Yet glad is she that she the place hath gain'd For here she hopes to find content of mind Which in King Edels Court she could not find And where feedes shee her heards euen on that plaine Where Curan shepheard now his flocks attends See against Destenie shee striues in vaine Fates haue decreed she cannot crosse their ends To that same place whereas the Prince abides Some power aboue her owne the Princesse guides This tricksie Gyrle the shepheard soone espide Like a plaine homely Countrey wench attirde Much did her base disguise her beauty hide And yet he saw so much that he admir'd The more he her admir'd the more he gas'd The more he look't the more he was amas'd For viewing her he thinkes her somewhat such As Argentile but this her strange disguise From that she was hath altered her so much Shee 's hid behind such darke obscurities That though his Lady Argentile he see The silly shepheard neuer thinkes her she Though so perhaps his eye would him perswade He will not thinke that this is Argentile That she should now professe so meane a trade So to conceiue of her he holds it vile He will not therefore entertaine a thought That this the Lady is that late he fought No more dare she giue credits to her eyes For seeing him a Shepheard so compleat That this should be the man shee 'l not surmise Whom Edell so aduanc't to honours seat Both are deceiu'd both take their aymes amisse Whereof their meanesse the maine reason is He lou'd and left but now he loues a new His loue to Argentile he hath forgot And yet to Argentile he still is true For Argentile he loues but knowes it not His loue hath found her out and sayth t is she But yet opinion sayth it cannot be As Phaebus beame when Winter new is fled Reuiues the withered hearbe and sapples plant Her
to rob it of a kisse For as it hath a power to please the eye Another tempting strength in it doth lye While this he speakes oft times he changeth hue Now red as blushing rose now pale againe And when she doth these variations view She is confirm'd the shepheard doth not faine Of Louers passions these are signes she knowes Therefore she thinkes the shepheard doth not glose Yet thus she answeres fie sayth she no more Forbeare this idle prayses to bestow Vndue to me a damsell playne and poore Nor is it like that you should beauty know How can a Shepheards skill extend to this That sees it not nor comes not where it is O yes sayth he a shepheard sees the skie The Sunne the Moone the stars a shepheard sees And these are beautifull none will denie So then of beautie he may iudge by these Whose vnmaskâ— beauties lye euen ope to swaines Yet fayrer Creatures then the Court containes May I not call her fayre whose face I see The Skie resemble so me thinks doth thine Saue that in this two Sunnes there seemes to be Which thy fayre face so grace with their fayre shine That ther 's no earthly thing that I can name Whose beauty comes so neare that heauenly frame Thy plainnesse plainely proues thee fayre for why T is the deluding property I know Of ornaments and art to mocke the eye By making them seeme fayre that are no so And of thy beauty I should haue suspition But that from these it taketh no addition And what although thou art of 〈◊〉 degree Yet may thy beauty meâ—â—â— commendation Though poore yet rich in beauty thou mayst be Is Nature partiall in the dispensation Of her fayre guists must they be needs restrain'd Onely to such as fortunes gifts haue gain'd T' were heresie to be of this opinion For she is oft as prodigall we see Euen to a Begger as to Fortunes minion And sith her fayrest gifts haue graced thee May I not prayse thee yes I 'me tide vnto it It were detraction if I should not doe it When her obiections he had answered thus He thus proceedes O thou art fayre in all I cannot in particular discusse The beauties of thy face which I may call A shop of seuerall beauties nay to me Euen beauties little world it seemes to be My necke beneath Loues yoke thy necke hath brought It is so fayre so soft so smooth so white Thy lower beauties they are seene in thought And in conceit are view'd with much delight Those Iuorie banks thy brests theÌ„ thought discries And Loues smooth shadie walke that twixt theÌ„ lies Thought wanders there wonders strange discouers Delightfull wonders wonderfull delights Ther 's no concealing from the thoughts of Louers For all lyes ope to their deepe-searching sights Loues pearcing thought through all oposure driues And where best pleasing obiects are ariues The whitest colour soonest takes a staine And therefore wonderment it breedes in me That still thy hand such whitenesse should retaine Whitenesse and it sure cannot parted be Whitenesse and softnesse which yet neuer fail'd Seeme to thy dainty hand to be intail'd So white that Lillies are not halfe so white So soft that Cignets Downe is nothing such The whitenesse serueth to bewitch the sight And yet it more inchanteth with the touch And for thy wrist the whitenesse there is grac't By azur'd veines that there are interlac't But to set out at full thy beauties prayse For my performance were a taske too great Though I about the same should spend my dayes I could not all thy beauties prayse repeate How fayre thou art sweet wench I cannot show Nor how much thee I loue for being so Little loues he that can declare how much Lou'd I but so my loue were then but small My loue sweet Lasse belieue it is not such As can in compasse of relation fall As thy much beauty drawes much loue from me Let my much Loue some kindnesse draw from thee Peace peace sayth she for praysing me so much You in the ayre your breath but idely scatter For knowing I am neyther so nor such How can I chuse but know that you but flatter It seemes that you suppose but you are wide That I le be pleas'd to heare my selfe belide You almost out of breath your selfe haue 〈◊〉 In seeking prayseforme vnworthy farre And rackt your wits yet all that you haue done But makes me thinke that you a flatterer are And to suspect the sequell this doth moue me you but dissemble when you say loue me O doe not harbour such a thought sayth he I doe not flatter doe not thinke I doe If with my thoughts my words doe disagree It is because they cannot reach vnto That ample height of prayse and adoration I giue to thee in thought and cogitation And for dissimulation wherewithall Thou chargest me O would thou knew'st my heart Then thou wouldst soone these words of thine recall Wherewith thou blamest me without desart And wouldst no doubt aske pardon with submission For this thy ouer hasty rash suspition Such there are some but I am none of those That will dissemble flatter lye and fayne If I be such then mayest thou me expose To thy eternal hate and coye disdayne And let thy kindnesse so with comfort store me As I sincerely loue thee and adore thee Fayre maydes by kind are kind and she doth goe A stray from her true Nature I am sure That is disdainefull scornefull proud or so For where sweet beauty wounds kindnes should cure But beauty kils loues arrow striketh dead When scornefull pride impoysoned hath the head Then be not thou my loue with pride 〈◊〉 T' will make thy beauty t is so vile a thing Like vnto pleasing cates with poyson taynted For hatefull pride is beauties hurtfull sting No matter though the beautilesse be proude But in the fayre pride cannot be allow'd For why if pride on pleasing beauty wayte There danger lyes and we haue cause to feare it Else pride is but a hooke without a bayte And hurteth none because ther 's none comes neare it Danger becomes more dangerous by bearing A pleasing forme not like it selfe appearing But thy fayre face perswades me not to doubt In thy fayre bosome much fayre kindnesse lyes The beames vvhereof through thy faire eyes shine out If these fayre likelyhoods proue certaineties Fayre hap will crowne fayre hope and I shall then Reioyce in my fayre choyce Fates say Amen From out a world of women thee alone For soueraigne of my thoughts doe I select So high a place in my hearts loue hath none As hath thy selfe whom onely I respect And sith I loue in no vndue regard The rather let my loue haue due reward Respect of riches which with most beare sway No motiue is at all in my Election On Natures not on fortunes gifts I lay The base and groundworke of my firme affection I count those natiue riches thou dost owe More worth then all that fortune
thy vnkindnes wounds my mind with griefe Hope of redresse is all my hearts reliefe My Loue with thy vnkindnes long hath striu'd Except these proue to be of equall strength Well may I hope my griefe is not long liu'de For one of these will sure be foyl'd at length When eyther shall be foyl'd and ouerthrowne Then ends my griefe and sad lamenting-mone Till or my Loue or thy vnkindnesse cease Needs must my griefe and languishment still last It is not possible I should finde ease Till I can eyther say the fit is past Or till thou doest my Loue with Loue repay Which would to thy vnkindnesse not giue way But that my Loue will cease and so my woe I haue small hope though still vnkinde thou proue I know my I oue more lasting is then so Nor is it fit that wee by fittes should Loue. Then all my hope of comfort doth depend On this that thy vnkindnes once will end Then when desire my Fantasie doth sway Such as I wish thou art to it presented My Loue with Loue me thinkes thou doest repay And from thy vnkinde selfe thou seem'st absented But when I wake thy kindnesse is away No longer then I dreame my Ioyes will stay To finde thee kinde thus in my idle Dreames What Comfort in thy kindnesse ly'es doth show Whereby my woes wax on to worse extreames That good I must not tast I would not know So to the damned soule in hell that is Hell's the more hell because he knowes ther 's blisse And though I know that Decâ—mes are idle fictions And that they much in them do â—â—ldome carry But still succede like Alâ—anackes Prodictions VVhich tell how winde and weathers state will varrie Kindnesse to come they promise tho in thee And comfort in reuersion so to mâ—â— Yet they perhaps doe but delude mâ— tho And do no more but seeme to promise this Then is my hope but vaine if this be so And that I catch but Comforts shaddow is Feare doth consound the hope that hence doth rise Sith Dreames are but such meere incertainties Disdaine to mee is like infectious ayre As that of health so this of hope depriues As that disease so this doth breed dispaire Yet against that there are preseruatiues But none gainst this disdaine the heart doth kill Euen in dispight of Drug and Doctors skill Thus pules the Prince and thus doth he complaine Euen melted with the Sun-shine of her eye Nor can his manly heart the stroke sustaine Of Cupids Childish-dart fie Curan fie From a weake womans Fading-beauty hee Deriues his strength yet he hath foyled thee And is it 〈…〉 Thâ—â—â—â—ding beauty should be of sâ—ch force The nature of this Impe of Mars to change And from his warlike Patron him diuoâ—ce T' is strange yet beauty hath this seace affected 〈◊〉 the which he hath himselfe subiected Beauty beâ—itcheth him and makes him â—ote Then Cheâ—â—ltie be ceaseth to pursue Himselfe to Cupid seâ—â—ice to denote To Mars and Martiall feates he bids adue But when he shall his Ladyes loue obtaine The warlike Prince will be himselfe againe But yet she him denyes and answereth thus Do you not thinke my wayes are negatiues Scarce are they so indeede in some of vs Scandall too-much from such our selues deriues Bâ—â— doe â—ot thinke me such such am not I I hate the tongue that doth the thoughts belye I alwayes strongly haue oppos'de your tryalls Not like to her that yeeldingly denyes I wrap not vp consent in nice denyalls Nor haue I prun'd your hopes with my replyes But rather to supplant them I haue sought For I to yeeld to Loue will not be brought Such were her words her thoughts were also such She doth not loue she meaneth to loue neuer But on her strength she doth relye too-much For in her power it is not to perseuer Strong is her resolution yet too-weake The high disposers purposes to breake You doe sayth she but vaine 〈…〉 While thus you 〈…〉 loue with worth Loues Harbengâ—â— still enters by the eye Small comfort knâ—â—king at the 〈◊〉 affordes For till the eye let liking in the brest Nere lodgeth Lâ—â—â— that thought disturbing guest Câ—â—se therefore thus to spend your breath in vaine Auert your Loue because you are not lou'd Loue not where Loue for Loue you cannot gaine Let your ill placed liking be remou'd Shut in your wandring eye your thoughts restraine Refuse to giue your rash desires the raine Thus counsels she yet courts he her againe But cannot tho her resolution shake Onely her eares his words doe entertaine But to her heart they no intrusion make Nor feares nor shuns she his assaults for why On her approued strength she dare relye From his assaults she held her selfe aloose At first but now she doth not feare nor doubt Against Loues darts she thinks her brest is proose Because that it so long hath held them out Yet oportunitie the Prince doth fayle Nor can his importunity preuaile But now behold when she to Loue thinkes least And thinks her selfe best able to withstand And now his hopes that languisht are deceast Now Loue himselfe doth take his cause in hand Dispayre makes Curan now leaue off to wooe her yet wins her as he tels his fortunes to her Growne despâ—â—â—â— now he thus to her complain'd Of all mens Foâ—â—â—mes mine is sure the worst Thus twise to loue and twise to be disdai'nd Ah Wretch was euer man so much accurst Loue that imparadiâ—eth some to me Giues hell it selfe if hell on earth there be Pigmâ—lion was more blest then I for he Succesfully an Iuorie Image lou'd Venus wrought miracles for him but she Is deafe to my intreates shee 'l not be mou'd To turne to flesh that flintie heart of thine And to reioycings these complaints of mine Loue vnto some much happinesse doth bring But vnto me it bringeth nothing lesse My Loue 's a bitter root from whence doth spring Anguish griefe sorrow woe and wretchednesse And that I twise should loue the Fates haue cast And so should twise these hellish torments tast Shee that first caus'd my anguish and my smart Was fayre like thee and thou vnkind as shee She had thy beauty and thou hast her heart Shee tooke thou tak'st my ioyes my life from me I lou'd I loue in both vnhappy I I languisht then but now for loue I die The Neatresse yet vnsatisside enquires What wench it was he first affected so He vrdg'd to speake of her his bloud retires Pale were his lookes scarse could he speake for woe T' was Argentile so much admir'd sayth he Onely in state an ouermatch to thee Did you saith she know that young Lady fine I did sayth he and dearely I her loud She was my Saint I offered at her shrine Teares vowes and sighes and for her sake I prou'd A torment worse then death it selfe can be And now a torment worse then that for thee At Kirkland in my Fathers Court my dayes In sweet content I spent vntill
THE MOST PLEASANT AND DELIGHTFVL HISTORIE of Curan a Prince of Danske and the fayre Princesse Argentile Daughter and Heyre to Adelbright sometime King of Northumberland SHEWING His first Loue vnto her his succeslesse suite and the low deiections he vnderwent for her sake His second loue to the same Lady vnknowne taking her for a poore Countrie damsell She by reason of the vnkindnesse of King Edell her vnckle and Gardian hauing forsooke the Court and vndertooke the profession of a Neatheardes Mayde His constant loue after her long continued vnkindnes rewarded with her wished consent their happie Nuptials and mutuall reioycings his valour and victorious warre with King Edell And lastly his peacefull installment in the Kingly Throne ENTERLACTE With many pritty and pithie prayses of beauty and other amorous discourses pleasing smooth and delightfull By WILLIAM WEBSTER LONDON Printed by Barnard Alsop for Richard Higgenbotham and are to be solde at his shop at the signe of the Cardinals Hatte neere S. Sepulchres Church 1617. TO THE WORSHIPFVL Mr. THOMAS EVErard of Heather in the Countie of Leycester Esq all increase of such Blessings as make this life happie and comfortable and of such Graces as may make the next Blessed and Glorious SYR purposing to impose some taske on my wandring thoughts so to reuerse their somewhat vncomfortable strayings my rasher election suddainly singled out this subiect which though suting too neerely with my braine in barrennes the product is this Pamphlet which perused by some friends of iudgement was pronounced worthy the Presse Wherevnto I the rather referr'd it that dedicating the same vnto you I might at least manifest my remembrance of that loue kindnesse and courtesie which while my residence was in loued Leycester-shire made mee so much affect that Familiaritie which you then pleased to affoord me in regard wherof my loue leades me to present this to your patronage and your affection to Poesie makes mee presume of your acceptance the grace you giue a Verse in reading it makes it pleasing if it be but passable therefore I doubt not your liking And if this which is not vnlike gaine your approbation I shall not passe for the Censures of such as are more apt to finde fault then able to finde a faulte Had I but the name of a Poet and opinion on my side I should relye therevpon as Caesar on his Fortune yet doth not my obscuritie discourage mee but rather the contrarie for Fame is rather to be ventred for then ventred An instigation to the writing hereof was the commendation which I heard a Iudicious diuine giue of a yong Student in diuinity for his dexteritie in English Poesie who affirming it to be an ornament to any profession I was thereby induced to reduce that affection I bore it to practise And in publishing the same I haue imitated Apelles who hauing drawne a picture pleasing to himselfe hang'd it in open viewe that he might heare the verdite of others Nor is it vnlike but I also shall haue a shoo-maker Censuring the Legge when his skill extends but to the latcher So referring it to your fauourable suruey and kinde acceptance I humbly desire Almightie God to Crowne you and your adopted-selfe with his best blessings in this life and with Immortall glory in the next Your Worships Kinsman to be commanded in a more acceptable seruice WILLIAM WEBSTER The Author to his Patron T To wish your hapinesse if that could giue H Happinesse vnto you I 'de make you blest O On Earth so long as you on Earth shall liue M May you bee euen of Earths best things possest A And may you ioyes enioy when this life 's ended S Such as can but by Saintes be apprehended E Euer may you and your Posteritee V Vntill dissolu de shall be this mortall frame E Euen till this world shall cease a world to bee R Retaine the lustre of this ancient Name A And be chiefe Pillors to support the same R Repaire and grace that House from whence to mee D Deriued is in part my Pedegree To M. Iohn Euerard Senior Gentleman YOu sole suruiuer yet the eldest brother Of fower and of a Sister my late Mother Who next before you tendred Natures debt Which yet you owe and long may owe it yet What i st your Courage keepes you still aliue To be the first and yet the last of fiue Sure t' is your valour Deaths approach thus stayes Which was admir'd in your more youthfull dayes If in a mortals lookes may boldnesse lye Which may the pale Horse-ryder terrifie Then it may be he shunnes because he feares you And vntill Age subdue you thus forbeares you Your oft-tryde valour valour oft did trye Which now intombed in your Age doth lye And if your grauitie thinke not vnsit Let these lines be the Epitah for it As for your Vertues they yet liue and they Shall be remembred in your Epitah TO THE READER READER Let not thy gentle eye disdaine To walke along my lines so smooth so plaine Delightfull walkes they happily may proue So they may catch thy liking I thy loue This volume though not large at large discouers The fortunes of a payre of princely Louers Prince Curan and the Princesse Argentile He stranger she a natiue of our Isle He one for lineaments and gifts of mind Such as the like to him was hard to find And sure if to be amorous be no blot To vertue then his vertues had no spot And shee a dame whose beauty so excell'd That in those dayes shee was not paralell'd And if she were not coy more then shee should No imputation could on her take hold How loue from Lordlinesse doth him debace And makes him to supply a peasants place And how his loue to shunne th' assaults of loue From Court to Cottage doth her selfe remoue These things are here discourst and here is showne How he the second time loues her vnknowne How long he wooes her how at last he sped Though not till then when all his hopes were dead Then how he conquered him in bloudie fight That wrongfully vsurpt his Ladyes right Then which his former taske was farre more hard This last was easie with the first compar'd T' was more to him his Ladyes loue to gaine Then to giue end vnto a tyrants raigne To conquer her affections was a thing More hard to him then to vncrowne a King Nay all the weapons in these wars imployde Against the Prince not him so much annoy'd As did his Ladies angry frownes for those Could daunt him more then all his armed foes How he was rays'd vnto a Kingly throne That low deiections long had vndergone Concludes this booke which read vnto the end Perhaps to thee it may it selfe commend Thus of thy wishes wishing thee possest For kind acceptance onely Thine I rest W. W. TO THE FAIRE READER OF THE FAYRER SEX YOu louely DAME whose beautie is as much As was this louely Dames faire Argentile For in the world where
beautie so reuiues his loue as dead And giues it life which it did seeme to want Now to his loue so withered and decay'd Is Iuyce sap life by beauties beame conuay'd He that was 〈◊〉 a Lord is now a swayne Nor that nor this estate from 〈◊〉 secures him For then he lou'd and now he loues againe A Lady then a Neatresse now allures him He lou'd her rich he loues her poore againe Wealth was no four nor want is now no raine He notes the Wench and sees her beauties rayes Which through sad clouds of discontent shine bright Such the new morning in the East displayes Which through som yet left darknes shew their light Beautie he knowes he sees but doth not know That Argentile doth that sweet beauty owe. Attractiue pleasing powerfull beautie here In him produce their true effects for why He lookes he likes he loues so captin'd were His eye his thoughts his heart and now hee 'l trye If she whose outside makes so fayre a show Beares kindnesse in her bosome yea or no. He frolicke is his thoughts prognosticate That he the Lasses Loue shall easily winne He thinkes of Loue he doth not dreame of hate He countes her wonne ere he to wooe beginne She cannot chuse but loue presumeth he Being though louely yet of low degree For such presumption thoe himselfe he check't When doubts into his cogitations came As a rash Writer doth his worke correct When he with more aduise survayes the same Now touching Women he doth thus debate That without reason why they loue and hate He thinks how they 〈…〉 their humors mouâ— them Are coy or kind to high or low degree How they that best defence and most do loue them Oft times by them the worst rewarded be And thinkes that he shall speed as be shall finde In her a humour to be coy or kind With this conceit he somewhat calm'd his loue When looking Eastward downe the hill descending He spies the Neatresse leading forth her Droue Her beautie bright with Titans beames contending Which sight reuiues his loue and in his brest Such passions breedes as breed his great vnrest And then he walkes to meet her on the plaine Where vsually she doth her cattell graize To shew his loue and sue her loue to gaine He meanes admitting now of no delayes But now behold when he is come vnto her Alas the shepheard faints and feares to wooe her Her beauty which allured him to loue her Now makes him fearefull to commence his suite Her beautie made him purpose now to proue her And now behold her beautie makes him mute For when he sees her beautie so exceeding He feares to speake because he doubts of speeding Beholding her he stands in silent pause Pleas'd is his eye his thoughts perplexed are For his much looking doth more liking cause So is his loue augmented so his care Yet mute he stands for doubts dismay his mind Lest beauty make her proud and pride vnkind Why wooes he not now thâ—e and place doth â—it Sith shâ—â— that may 〈◊〉 wee count halfe wonne He findes accesse but 〈◊〉 vse of it To gaine the which the great Alcides spunne But though long dâ—â—be at last beesilence breakes And hauing once begunne hee freely speakes Hee prais'd her first but why did hee doe so The faire need not be tolde that they are such T' were better they their beautyes did not know For in this point they Knowledge got too much When Eue did taste the fruite that was denide For this too much infecteth them with pride Affection sure put out his Iudgements eye And made him take a course so indirect Alas his leuell quite was laide awrye Praise not her beauty whom thou doest affect For praise ore-sats their brests then there breeds Pride scorne disdaine and such pernicious weeds Some take in vndeserued praise a pride Who when their haire is like the black-byrds quill Will pleased bee to heare themselues belyde When it s compar'd vnto the black-byrds bill Say Crowe is white they credite all you say For their owne thoughts the parrasites doe play But we the faire should but commend in thought as Chapmen not commend what they would buye Let them alone they neede not to be taught To rate their beauties worths at prises high By praises their prowd thoughts are higher rais'd Who of themselues are prowd ynough vnprais'd Well curan 〈◊〉 begins to court his Lasse And though he Clownishâ—â—â— doe now 〈◊〉 Yet nerethelesse some shape of that he was His carriage while he Courts her doth expresse Better his gesture better are his words Then with his clownish Shepherds shape accords Faire neatresse Natures parragon saith hâ—e Mine eye when it thy beauty first discouer'd Made to my thoughts such faire report of thee that euer since about thee they haue houer'd Still will they dwell with thee for onely there Abounds all in this world that I hold deare Adonis Garden thou to them doost seeme Where all things pleasing plenteously abound What euer in this world is worth esteeme Is in this Land of Milke and Honie found For here all spices fruits and flowers doe grow That wholsome are for vse or faire for show Say shall I sweete empale this pleasng place For my possession I will aske but this Shall I be Neptune and with my imbrace Make it an Iland call 't the Ile of blisse But to come to the matter now more neerely Belieue it firmely I doe loue thee dearely If gentle kindnesse so adorne thy minde As beautie doth thy Face then vnto mee Thou wilt be pleasing debonnaire and kinde And hope perswades me thus and thus of thee For it would argue Nature much t oo-blame To giue a cruell-heart so faire a frame Should I but call theâ—â—ayre I should the while Seeme from thy glorious beauty to detract Fayre is for one so fayre too low a stile To shew her skill did nature thee compac't Louely thy locks thy forehead more then fayre Thy hayre thy temples temples grace thy hayre If by comparisons I would set forth The beauty of thy eye and thy fayre cheeke I cannot finde a Semile of worth Vnlesse aboue this earth for it I seeke Thine eyes doe grace thy face thy face thine eyes As Skies do grace the Sun and Sun the Skies Thy beauties natiue are not like to those That Natures Apes by art doe counterfet Vpon thy cheekes the Lillie and the Rose To set the truest fairenesse forth are met On thy fayre cheeke is that fayre colour fixt Which their faire colours make together mixt When thou dost smile then beauties skie is cleare Such were the smiles of louely Paphos Queene When thou dost blush vpon thy cheekes appeare Carnation cloudes the like so seldome seene That they the world may with amazement strike For great Olimpus cannot shew the like And who vnlesse the aged dull and dead Whose veines and bones do bloud and marrow misse Can looke vpon thy lippe so round so red And not desire
can bestow Yet Riches now a dayes are all in all Wealth goes before and beautie comes behinde Riches we see of Beautie takes the wall To Riches is the higher roome assignde Nay like a Cipher is poore beautie thought It must be Ioyn'd with wealth or stand for nought But I thou seest am of another minde I will not suffer so my thoughts to erre I am not with the world so much declin'de More Fortunes guifts then Natures to preferre More rich then Mynes of India thou doost seeme Thy Beauty makes thee such in my esteeme Though Fortune blinde her guifts from thee detaines Yet Nature prodigall hath bene to thee Thy For-head haire eye cheeke lip necke Skin vaines Smooth bright gray faire red white soft blew they be And there doth lye in euery one of these A greater power then is in Golde to please Thou need'st not Art not Richly proudly deckt Pearles haue no neede to be adorn'd with gold What needs supplyment where ther 's no defect Or what needst thou my Loue thy locks infold In costly Calles of gold and Laces gay When thy faire tresses are more rich then they Yet thinke not though thy Beautie so excell It is too Rich for vse and but for show Lest thou gainst Natures sacred lawes rebell Not for thy selfe dost thou such Beauty owe. Beautie hath not such strong attractiue power To fade vntoucht like an vngathered flower Nor let thy beauty so thy thoughts delude That thou shouldst thinke because thou art so fayre The heart of some great one shall be subdude To loue and list thee so to honours chayre Waine not for this let me in this direct thee Left beautie sade the while and none respect thee Or say that fayre desert should crowned be And thou for that sweet beauty thou dost owe Shouldst be aduanced vnto high degree Why many haue been rail'd for â—eauty so Who afterwards with woes acquainted grew Which ere their exaltation scarse they knew On high Estates huge heapes of cares attend But ther 's contenement in a shepheards life Not vs as them doth fortune nice offend Disdaine not then to be a sheapheards wife Nor am I beggerly although a Swaine The flocke is mine that mantles yonder plaine Our lowly sayles are free from enuies gust We doe not climbe nor doe we falling feare Our states with winds and waues we do not trust We haue two certaine haruests euery yeare By force some some by fraud rise we by neyther We conscience and plaine dealing liue together VVe liue contented we at none do grutch The labour our profession doth require Is not perplexiue to the body much Lesse to the mind which freely may aspire Nor is it clog'd with cares nor is it held Downe as are theirs that great affaires do weld We leasure and occasions too do find For contemplation as our flockes we feede Heauen still in fight is also still in minde The Life contemplatiue doth all exceede And nearest comes for comfort and content To that that shall be after this is spent Fresh wholesome ayre a shepheard wanteth not Which many thousands doe yet by the skies He is not persecuted when t is hot Some thicke broad branched tree him canopies VVhose green leau'd bowes that largely doe extend VVaft cooling ayre and pleasing shadow lend And his flockes fleeces cloath him from the cold And arme him gainst the sharpest Northerne blast The pleasures that we haue are manifold Our troubles such as soone are ouerpast If thou wouldest troubles shun and pleasurs proue Liue with a shepheard be a shepheards loue I promise if thou wilt but pleased be My loue with loue and kindnesse to repay I will resigne supremacie to thee Doe thou but loue I le honour and obey Yea were it possible if thou wear 't mine My very thoughts should suted be to thine Then you sayth she no more but loue do craue That which includeth all would you content You but the body of the sunne would haue VVhence light and heat cannot themselues absent VVhat need you more demaund Loue will not be A streamlesse fountaine nor a fruitlesse tree But I am not dispos'd to loue sayth she Which if I were I surely should disdaine You should preposterously resigne to me That which by right to you doth appertaine Of all dâ—e offices the chiefe is loue That 's the first moâ—er makes the rest to moue Not so disposd why dost thou then propound Such blâ—sse saith he to him that gaines thy loue Making the lougings of my mind abound By shewing that thou tractable wilt proue This is as if thou happinesse shouldst showe Then snatch it from me so to worke my woe Thy wordes to show thy loues worth thou dost frame And how much good doth on the same depend So kindling my desires to gaine the same While thou the same dost so to me commend I hope thou wilt this praysed ware forgo Though thou art yet dispos'd to answere no. I le buy thy loue if it be to be solde O that I may a happy Chapman proue But it 's too precious to be bought with gold What shall I giue I le giue thee loue for loue And dayly pay though but in part for why Thou canst not haue full payment till I die For like as springing fountaines which do owe Their streames vnto the sea though still they pay Yet still they are in debt directly so Though I shall still be paying day by day Yet shall I be euen till I cease to be Thy debt or still still thou must credit me Not all the wealth that Crâ—ssus did possesse Should buy thy loue if it were mine from me No greater height of earthly happinesse Desire I then to be belou'd of thee A prize worth all the world fals to my Lot If thou to grant thy loue deâ—ie me not Once entertaine me in thine armes and then I le once be blest in spight of 〈◊〉 spight And then I le â—ell the world if tongue or penne Can giue expressure to so much delight What thy imbracements yeeld what Ioy what blisse But when ah when shall I discourse of this Oh hold not from me that felicitie Which they afford that do afford their loues And with their loues a multiplicitie Of pleasutes and delights sure it behoues That thou propound such for thing Imitation That answere thus the end of their Creation Good now no more I cannot loue saith she Against the Hayre then vrge me not vntoot Excuse me tho the fault is not in me My starres were opposite I cannot door Thus puts she off her fault and shewes the while A fault deriu'd from Eue to Argentile Shee will not loue yet lest he thinke her wilfull She answeres thus she cannot loue she sayes And as she were in constellations skilfull Her humours fault vpon the starres she layes But Curan though this answere makes him doubt Will not for this repulse of hers giue out Your starres saith he tush hold not this opinion Admit the chastest
mine eare Was filde with Argentiles sweet beauties prayse But then could I no longer tarry there I came to see I saw I lou'd and so For lucklesse was my loue began my woe And then for the vngentle King denide Accesse to Noble men of note and fame Forthwith my dignities I doft aside And for her sake a Peasant I became And by that meanes accesse I did obtaine Yet mist my end her loue I could not gaine I did as much as hearty loue could doo To gaine her loue but still was she vnkind The King himselfe in my behalfe did wooe Yet my intreats with vrgings his combinde Were still successesse for she still denide So still I dying liu'd and liuing dyde No thought no instigation of new loue Since her I lost did enter once my brest Vntill thine eye that would dull Saturne moue Replanted loue and robd me of my rest Thy powerfull beauty shouldered all a side That Loues reentrance hindered or deâ—â—'e With my new Loue alasse began new woes For nothing else but griefe and wretchednesse Doth haplesse hatefull loue on me impose But death I hope ere long will giue redresse Far off is comfort but despayre is nigh Ah then why doe I not despayre and dye Nay stay sayth she and tell me first your name Your own true name which you haue chang'd I know I haue quoth he for loue but not for shame For Curan is my name the truth is so Then griefe her heart teares her eyes ore-filde And down her cheekes some christall drops distild He wept to see her weepe and askt the cause Wherefore she did that precious liquor spill And why she sigh'd and why she so did pause Yet still she wept still sigh'd and mused still He seeing this with her will partner be He wept he sigh'd he mul'd as wel as she His wonder was to see her wonder so His sorrow was to see her sorrow such She mus'd he should his loue so twise bestow She grieu'd that she had made him grieue so much Thus they doe now each others harmes condole And sympathize as both had but one soule At last she spake the words that from her went Bore comfort with them on theyr ayrie wings And euery Messenger that so she sent To Curans eare a ioyfull burthen brings And Curans eare neere blest vntill that day Doth their deare present to his heart convay Câ—ran quoth she the Fort you sought to winne With this last battrie is so sore distrest That now the Gate is ope to let you in Be happy if my loue can make you blest Your twise beloued Argentile is yours In weale and woe so long as life endures The pallat vs'd to bitter tastes we see Can sweetnesse at the first scarse well en dure His eyes with light at first offended be That long hath line in dungeon deepe obscure So Curan vs'd to griefe and sad lamenting Offended is with ioy at first presenting As he that sleeping doth illusions see So fearefull that for dread thereof he quakes Seeming to be in dangers such that he Feeles fear's impression still when he awakes So Curan fares free from his seares hee 's set But cannot apprehend his safety yet But now by this he finds his Ioyes to be True and substantial though he late did feare So much transported from himselfe was he That they delusiue and fantasticke were But now the sunne of comfort shines out bright And feares and griefes like mists are put to flight Like as with him that in his sleepe doth proue That strange disease feeling vpon his brest A deadly waight which he would faine remoue But striues in vaine till he awakt finds rest With Curan so it far'd and so it fares Oppressed with and eased of his cares He would expresse his hearty ioy yet long He like a senselesse statue standeth mute Ioy doth so ouerwhelme him that his tongue Cannot as yet this office execute So when the heart is drown'd in sorrowes deepe The eye we see oft times forgets to weepe And much she ioy'd though not in so much measure Yet in this extasie a part she beares Now happy mutuall loue produceth pleasure Feares are remou'd ceased are sighs and teares The worse dependants now are banisht quite And on their loue attendeth sweet delight What hellish torments doth that man endure That coyly findes his hearty loue reiected Againe if earth yeeld ioy he tastes it sure That dearely loues and dearely is affected Curan late as the first now as the last Seemes snatcht from Limbo and in Eden plac't When to himselfe him Ioy and Wonder left He sayd and are you Argentile my deare In happy time was I of you bereft That I thus happily might find you here Twise blest may I my new blest knowledge call I know you now and know you mine withall A thousand griefes this heart of mine haue grip't By your vnkindnesse caus'd that your consent Hath them away as they had nere been wip't And in their place hath planted sweet content O happy suffrings whereupon depends Such happie Issue and such blessed ends By this her heart with Cupids dart is thrild Her coynesse earst is turn'd to kindnesse now With Loues sweet malladie her brest is side And many fauours she doth him allow Now strangenesse being banisht for his sake She frankly giues what she refus'd to take O what a Metamorphesis is this That here is wrought this Dâ—â—â—sell but of 〈◊〉 Would scarsly for a Kingdome giue a kisse Which now she vallues at an easie rate Her kindnesse was exceeding meane indeed But now almost it doth all meane exceed She now is moulded new and made most kind Kindnesse for kindnesse kindly she repayes In seeling syllables he shewes his mind And she in speaking tâ—ches hers bewrayes And now if he imbrace her tender wast About his necke her armes are kindly cast Why how now Argentile what is this he Whom you did say you would not loue ere while Yes this is Curan but you are not she That spake those words you are not Argentile At least that Argentile coy and vnkind you are not now for you haue chang'd your mind Nor shall she be condemn'd for this mutation Or held light and vnstable for this change No rather this deserues much commerdation When she growes kind that late was coy and strange Maids are not blam'd for this inconstancie But that which vnto this is contrary As she that makes much shew of much good-will And call's her selfe anothers not her owne Vowes and protesteth to be constant still Yet afterwards though she iust cause haue none She flyeth off and most vnkind doth proue Fie that fayre maydes should be so false in loue Well now in part are crowned Curanâ— wishes For Loues Feast-royall he begins to tast Where the first serâ—â—ce being such sweet dishes Superlatinely sweet must be the last Which now hee 's like to taste for who so wes kisses In soyle and season fit and haruest misses I vnexperienced