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 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
write Mineruaes mate I doo not boast to bée Parnassus Mount I speake it for no spite Can cure my cursed cares I playnly see For why my hart contaynes as many woes As euer Hector did amongst his foes Eche man doth mone when faythfull 〈…〉 And paynt them out as well as wits doo serue â–ª But I a Mayde am forst to vse my head To wayle my fréend whose fayth did prayse deserue Wit wants to will alas no skill I haue Yet must I néedes deplore my Gruffithes graue For William white for Gruffith gréene I wore And red longe since did serue to please my minde Now blacke I weare of mee not vs'd before In liew of loue alas this losse I finde Now must I leaue both White and Gréene and Red And wayle my fréend who is but lately dead Yet hurtfull eyes doo bid mée cast away In open show this carefull blacke attyre Because it would my secret loue bewray And pay my pate with hatred for my hyre Though outwardly I dare not weare thesame Yet in my hart a web of blacke I frame You Ladyes all that passe not for no payne But haue your louers lodged in your laps I craue your aydes to helpe mee mourne amayne Perhaps your selues shall feele such carefull claps Which God forbid that any Lady taste Who shall by mee but only learne to waste My wits be weake an Epitaphe to write Because it doth require a grauer stile My phrase doth serue but rudely to recite How Louers losse doth pinch mee all this while Who was as prest to dye for Gruffithes sake As Damon did for Pithias vndertake But William had a worldly freend in store Who writ his end to small effect God knowes But I. and H. his name did show no more Rime Ruffe it is the common sentence goes It hangs at Pawles as euery man goes by One ryme too low an other rampes too hye Hée prays'd him out 〈…〉 doo vse And vttered all the 〈◊〉 that God had sent But I am shée that neueâ— will refuse But as I am so will I still bee bent No blastes shall blow my lincked loue awry Oh? would the Gods with Gruffith I might dye Then had it been that I poore silly Dame Had had no neede to blot this scratched scroule Then Virgins fist had not set forth the fame How God hath gripte my Gruffithes sacred soule But wee is mée I liue in pinching payne No wight doth know what sorowes I sustayne Unhappy may that drowsie day bée nam'd Wherin I first possest my vitall breath And eke I wish that day that I was fram'd In stead of life I had receiued death Then with these woes I needed not to waste Which now alas in euery vayne I taste Some Zoylus sot will thinke it lightly doone Because I mone my mate and louer so Some Momus match this scroule will ouerronne But loue is lawlesse euery wight doth know Sith loue doth lend mee such a freendly scope Disdaynfull dogs I may despise I hope Wherfore I doo attempt so much the more By this good hope to shew my slender arte And mourne I must who neuer marckt before What fretting force doo holde eche heauy hart But now I see that Gruffithes greedy graue Doth make mee feele the fits which louers haue My mournfull Muse good Ladyes take in worth And spare to speake the worst but iudge the best For this is all that I dare publish forth The rest recorded is within my brest And there is lodg'd for euer to remayne Till God doth graunt by death to ease my payne And when that death is 〈…〉 With all the paynes that 〈…〉 Yet to my Gruffith will I 〈…〉 Hap death holde life my 〈…〉 Before I will our secret loue 〈…〉 To Tantals paynes my body I 〈◊〉 So liue I shall when death hath spit heâ— spâ—ght And Lady Fame will spread my prayse I know And Cupids Knights will neuer cease to write And cause my name through Europe for to flow And they that know what Cupid can preuayle Will blesse the ship that floates with such a sayle If I had part of Pallas learned skill Or if Caliope would lend her ayde By tracte of time great volumes I would fill My Gruffithes prayse in wayling verse to spread But I poore I as I haue sayd before Doo wayle to want Mineruaes learned lore By helpe I hope these ragged rymes shall goe Entituled as louers lyues should bee And scape the chyding chaps of euery foe To prayse that man who was best likte of mee Though death hath shapte his most vntimely end Yet for his prayse my tristiue tunes I send In hope the Gods who guide the heauens aboue His buryed corps aliue agayne will make And haue remorce of Ladyes lincked loue As once they did for good Admetus sake Or change him els into some flower to weare As erst they did transforme Narscissus fayre So should I then possesse my former freend Restor'd to lyfe as Alcest was from Hell Or els the Gods some flagrant flower would send Which for his sake I might both weare and smell Which flower out of my hand shall neuer passe But in my harte shall haue a sticking place But wo is mee 〈…〉 in 〈…〉 Adue delight come 〈…〉 To bluntish blockes I see I doo 〈◊〉 playne And reape but onely sorrow for â—y share For wel I know that Gods noâ— sprites can cure The paynes that I for Gruffith doo endure Since wayling no way can remedy mee To make an ende I therfore iudge it best And drinke vp all my sorrow secretly And as I can I will abide the rest And sith I dare not mourne to open showe With secret sighes and teares my hart shall flow Some busie brayne perhaps will aske my name Disposed much some tidings for to marke That dare I not for feare of flying fame And eke I feare least byting bugs will barke Therfore farewell and aske no more of mee For as I am a Louer will I dye FINIS