yee Without delayer pannelled a Iurie Where those 12. men the number scarse holds right Rising to 12 that were before but eight Found that our ancestry did hold in pottage Now I imagine he did meane in Soccage Which to make sure this Custom speakes for vs And he with that draws forth a Mittimus This I may sweare more then a sennet after I could not thinke on but was forc't to laughter But now to thee for I haue done thee wrong To keepe me from discourse with thee so long Whom I resolu'd to haue aduertised Of these precedent errors mentioned Conforme thy will vnto thy Lords commaund In fitting things thou liu'st vpon his land And art his liedge-man therfore thou shouldst sho Thy selfe to him as thou thy selfe doest owe. Vnto the Heyre to a respect is due For time may come when he shall pleasure you Yet meane I not that thou shouldst pay a Fine Vnto the heire now in his Fathers time For if I were an heire as I am not Believe it I would thinke that fine ill got What I doe wish to the is briefely this Successe in thy estate as thou wouldst wish Conformed so vnto thy Lands Lordheire That with heauens Landâ—lord thou may liue elsewherâ— FINIS LOVES LABYRINTH OR The true-Louers knot INCLVDING The disastrous fals of two star-crost Louers PYRAMVS THYSBE A Subiect heeretofore handled but now with much more proprietie of passion and varietie of inuention continued By RICHARD BRATHWAYTE Res est soliciti plena timoris amor At London printed by I. B. for Richard Redmor and are to be sold at the West dore of Pauls at the Starre 1615. CANDIDO ET cordato Amico faelici Genio perspicaci ingenio Richardo Musgraue de Harcley Baronetto coque titulo vere digno Richardus Brathwaite hosce extremos Amatorum amplexus grati animi permitias solennique officio perfunctas humillime Dedit Dicauit Dedicauit Richardus Musgraueensis ANAGRAMM Charus musis diurna reges Dystichon Sicut amas Musas Musis redamaris ab ipsis Charus vt es Musis secla diurna reges Vpon the Dedicatorie I Heare one aske me if I could finde none To dedicate this Poeme to but one That 's now transplanted to another sphere And better measures sings then anie 's here It s true indeede the world 's large and wide And many were there I confesse beside My now deceased Patron I could finde But none so well agreeing with my minde He was one that I honour'd and his worth Deseru'd a pregnant Muse to set it forth Which though I haue not I will shew my best To crowne him sleeping in the bed of rest Where while I write my passion shall appere By each lines accent mixed with a tere But you will say this subiect cannot moue Such firme impression cause it treats of loue A sadder straine would better fitting be Drain'd from the streames of graue Melpomene Where euery sentence might that passion breede as if himselfe were here portraide indeed This I could doe and so expresse him too But that his worth would be a shame to you That are desertlesse to see him by Fate Lopt that has left you much to imitate Of honour I dare say which ere 't be long May be a subiect to a better song But I would haue you know how ere this is It was from th'cradle nat'ralized his Nor would I raze my Patrons dedicate How ere he seem'd to be obscur'd by Fate But as I lou'd him liuing my desire Is to expresse my loue vnto him higher Being now dead that though my friend be gone Yet life and death to friendship may be one For th'print of loue if it be stampt aright Is most in heart when it is least in sight FINIS VPON THE PREMAture death of the most Generous and Ingenious the right Worshipfull Sir RICHARD MVSGRAVE Knight-Barronett of Hartley Who died in Italy being preuented of his religious purpose intending to visit the holy Sepulchre of our Sauiour in Ierusalem an EPICEDIVM The Author Dedicates these Obit-teres vnto his vertuous and modest Lady the much honoured FRANCIS MVSGRAVE Daughter to the truly honourable PHILIP LORD WHARTON His Ladies Obit-teres TEres I do shedde yet are they shedde in vaine Nor can they call him backe to life againe A funerall Elegy Yet sigh I will to wake him from his sleep Thus whilst he sleepes in Earth on Earth I le weepe So my sad groanes sent forth vnfeignedly May moue the hardest heart to pitty me To pittie me that though I cannot haue The priuiledge to see my husbands graue Yet may my teres as me it doth behâ—ue Transported be to testifie my loue My loue which euer shall these obites keepe She can doe verie little cannot weepe Richardus Musgrauiensis ANAGRAMM Vnis resurgam charus diis Dystichon Nascimur morimur sed tu moriendo resurges Gratior sanctis charior atque deis De profectione eius ad Sanctiss Christi Sepulchrum Christus erat pretium Christi quia morte sepulchruÌ„ perlustrare cupis quem moriendo capis Richard Musgraue ANAGRAMM Graces reward him or We admire his grace Two Anagrammes included in one verse Dystich Graces reward him we admire his grace Serue both as proper Mottoes for this place A funerall Elegie The first t' expresse the hope of his reward Whence is implie'd our comfort afterward Vpon his Graue In Musgraues hearse I finde the Muses graue For by his losse a Patron lost they haue Yet he 's not lost but is ascended higher And sings with Muses of the heauenly quire His Character Faire England gaue me breeding birth and name Ierusalem was th'place where I did ayme But loe my Sauiours graue I could not see For my owne graue was made in Italy Vnto the Italian Doe not contemne my corps Italian I am th'remainder of a Gentleman Who knew what honour was so after-time May shew like loue to thee thou showes to mine Vnto Report To speake well of the dead is charitie If thou be then a Christian taxe not me Of what I did if men we 're prone to fall Speake what is well or do not speake at all More fidelium est Transitus de Morte ii Vitam de Fide ii Noritiam de Agone ii Brauium de Peregrinatione ii Patriam de Labore ii Refrigerium de Expectatione ii Praemium de Mundo ii Deum BERNARDVS Peregi officium morientis amici To all vnhappy Louers COme neere me louers crost by louers fate And see these star-crost louers that their sight May somthing cheere the drowping of your state Showing such beames of comfort in the night Of your discomforts that both loue and hate May make you happy louers by renew Had to these louers crost as well as you You say you lou'd it 's true and so did these You say you lou'd a faire one so did he Who fancied Thisbee you say louers peace Is seldome purchas'd but by enmity Deriu'd from parents so did loue encrease In these
needes must grieue me for it cuts my heart as if my soule from body should depart He was my soule my body cannot breath When as my soule is seised on by death Why should I haue such curious regard to Nightern robes wheÌ„ meaner would haue serud For well I know it was my loues desire to meete my selfe and not my curious tire Fie on this nice precisenesse weomen vse in garish dressings men should weomen chuse Not by their bodies habit but their minde in lists of vertue and respect confinde We that doe loue as we protest we doe must not get husbands with a painted show Like puppets in a play addres'd to play strange acts by night to purchase loue by day Best honour that beseems a countrey maide is to be modest in her actions staid 21 He might command and haue what he commanded but death pale death now swaies she 'l withstand it Then honourd hearse if hearses honour haue yeeld to my sute and perfect what I craue Doe not denie me to deny me this were to depriue thee honour me of blisse Nay doe not smile for I doe see thee smile if that our bones thou in thy brest compile And recollect them after Thysbes death the Nimphes themselues shall set a laurell wreath Vpon thy back e'r honourd shalt thou be for this good turne thou did my loue and me But if thou scorne my vows and cal them vaine yeelding no eare to louers that complaine Rest Well assured the Nimphs reueng'd will be And for our sakes will quite demolish thee When trusty Aiax Achilles came to Patrocles tombe with teares they bath'd the same For euery word they spake of Patrocles drew teares from them as streames from Caucasus Whose ragged top sends riuers out amaine and being sent renews her springs againe So they deplor'd his death his sacred hearse ranck set with embleames and with dolefull verse The swanes of Caister and eke of Poe came to ensable him in songs of woeâ— Since which sad time the Poets haue reported that each daie twice the swannes haue there resorted Passing by flockes along the Greequish plaine seeking by songs to make him liue againe But when it would not be the Swans there swore that from that time they nere would warble more But at their 23 death which they performe for why they neuer sing but hower before they die Why should a Grecian haue such honour done that neuer any Trophies ere had wonne But slaine by Hector for no fame he had of doing greatly good or greatly bad And yet forsooth he must characters haue in golden letters ore his worthlesse graue In polisht marble must his shrine be set in saphires 24 tophies and in british ieate Thus must he haue respect when we god wot must lie obscure as if men knew vs not And yet our fame deserues more praise then he more grace more glorie and more memorie Time shall race out that marble hearse of his time shall amend what time hath done amisse For we shall liue in spite of Fates decree when lowe interr'd this famous Greeke shall be Loue cannot die we loued and therefore death shall crowne our hearse with times immortal wreath And though we die we loue and liue in dying loue to pale death perpetuall life applying Why should prince Ilus acts haue such respect whose toomb with precious emeralds bedeckt For well I know such acts did neuer he In amorous passions of true loue as we 25 Yet Batias toomb must haue inscriptions faire to shew what man of birth was buried there And yet in death we languish not in louing though 27 death depriue vs of all vitall 〈◊〉 For we conceiue more ioy in toomb'd together then if we liâ—'d depriu'd the one of other More must I say to seale these obsequies for death is fearefull and inuents delaies And most of all in vs a weaker brood the talke of death yeeldes feare to woman-hood And yet me thinkes I stay from him too long and in my stay I doe him double wrong First to depriue him life and then begin with tardie pâ—â—e aloofe to follow him Well I le prepare my selfe the â—ates decres two Louers 〈◊〉 sustaine their crueltie And yee not crâ—â—â— cruelty is showne when either is 〈◊〉 of his owne But we by 28 Cupidâ— mâ—anes that pur blind boy obtaine by 〈…〉 could not earst enioy Death yeelds 〈◊〉 comfort then our life time did shewing our 〈◊〉 which long before was hidâ— No 〈…〉 secret â—hinks need we finde 〈◊〉 nor fearefull need we shrinke For Parents 〈◊〉 persuite we rest secure since 〈…〉 hearts as earth our corp◠〈◊〉 Wee need not haue our Parents in suspect they 〈◊〉 rest â—â—relesse now wheâ—â— we affect For well I know we can be hardly seene twixt 〈◊〉 and earth so great a space between Thus 〈…〉 enly motion doth ascend from earth to heauen to graâ—ulate her friend Thysbees EPICAEDIVM YEt Thysbe stay thine hand thine obsequies desire more celebrating exequies Die not intestate in this desert groue but consecrate in token of thy loue Thine hests to Vesta yet let Vesta know Thys be vnwilling is enforced so Then let thy 29 Parents Parents though vnkinde By Natures lawe some short memorials finde Of thy affection Swannes before they die leue pensiue odes and warble merrily 30 Yet must I needs declaime against your feare iealous of hurt where no hurt could appeare For I am sure nere was your thriuing blissing more deere to me then was my louers kissing Oh then vnkind vâ—kindnâ—sse did not fit our chaste desires that couâ—d not bridle it Loue was the hott'st when it did seeme conceal'd and hid in ashes yet in time reueal'd Then blame your selues not vs you caus'd our end barring a louer from her long sought friend Which we doe pardon if you le let vs haue our toomb in one our ashes in one graue Which it you shall performe our hope extends out disâ—oâ—n'd corps conioin'd you make amends Well do I know our funerals renew currents of teres and streames of griefe in you And many pagent mixd with liquid teares will make attendance on our desolate beres Many distreaming drops will dim your eie to see two louers end so suddenly Yet all in vaine being dead your teares restraine for teeres cannot recall vs back againe The 31 Nimphes themselues with Poplar twigs will make an osier basket for Idalias sake Wherein collect you may such fragrant flowers as shall adorne our monumentall bowers Yet when you spreade your flowers ech in degree Strow more on his side then you strow on me He was more constant he did first begin I like his shadow did but follow him He came vnto the place and spite of death seeing my tire engor'd did lose his breath I like an Ape to imitate my loue follows his worth his presence to approue A glorious presence where the gods accord all wealth all ioy Elizium can affoord Fruitfull Elysis where ech constant mate raignes in fruition
art thou much endeared to their Art Though they can say nought for the practick part Yet mongst our Albion Sibils that are more In number far then merit wit or power Some I doe know euen of the pregnant'st men That loue to trade with Venus now and then And this the cause why they obserue that vse As I haue heard for to enflame their Muse And some I could produce had their desire For they their Muse and all were on a fire More could I write to touch thee neerer'th quick But as thou loues those stroakes are short thick So I desire the very same to be In writing out that is concerning thee An Heroycke Embleme vpon the Warriour called HONORA TAra Tantara Honours signall come VVhose best of Musicke is the warlike Drumme Come braue Tyndarian spirit heare thy glorie Shrouded too long in pitchie darke whose storie Shall shine and shew it selfe more faire more bright Then chast Laâ—ona on the sablest night Now art thou much admird by euery eie Though lately vassâ—ld to captiuitie Now art thou showne to be a Monument Of former glorie and an ornament â—it for the eare of Kings now art thou one Highly esteemed that was of late as none Now canst thou shew thy merit and desert To be deriued from a royall heart Not chafd with perfumes like a Carpet Knight That cannot fight but in his Ladies sight Not sick ofth fashions like this amorous frie Of Nouice who nere knew Enemie Saue their disdainefull Mistres not enthrald To loue for loue thou knowst not how it s cald VVhat stile it has or what be louers charmes Saue that pure loue which thou dost beare to Armes Not seruile to each apish complement Saue Honours seruice and VVares mannagement Not slaue to Fortune nor engagd to fate But heire to resolution an estate More eminent and glorious to thy selfe Then all the raisers-Mammons mouldred-pelfe Noâ— vaine like proud of â—itles but hast Art To make thy waâ—â— to Honour by Desert Not gaâ—e to prostitution for the name Of Souldiour hate such an ignoble slaine Not lure to lucre but dost make thy blood An instrument vnto thy countriâ—s good Not in appearance or in outward show To seem to know what thou didst neuer know Not humorous occasioning offence But with pure valour mixing patience That two reduc't to one one drawen from two Might make thee apt to speake prompt to doe Long hast thou slept and some did thinke it ill To wake thee but to let thee sleepe on still But how can resolution lie inter'd Alas how far haue vulgar iudgements er'd To thinke the senselesnes No thou didst but winke For to obserue what other men would thinke Of thy retired silence now thou hâ—st Rub'd ore thy gummie eies runnes as fast To thy intendements forct from coast to coast As willing to redeeme what thou hast lost Hallow amaine downe by the flowrie vale Of honour and renowne display thy saile Trample on Bastard greatnesse bruite their shame That are esteemed onely great in name Without demerit tell them worth should be Drawn from our selues not from our familie Bid them wipe of that painting from their cheeke It s too effeminate and bid them seeke Actions that seeme them better it s not amber Sleeking or chasing in a Ladies chamber Phantastick humors amorous conceipts Fashion inuentors sinne seducing baits What such a Mounseyr wore or what Tyres be Of eminent request in Italie No no our perfum'd Gallants now must looke Like to the sonnes of Valour smer'd with smoke Steeled with spirit arm'd with best of youth Directly planted 'fore a Cannons mouth Shake not my dapper Courtier though thou heare Nought but the voice of thunder euery where Or if the noise of armes breed in thee feare No lesse then death go on and stop thine eare Bouge not a foot or if thou feare to kill Winke and then say thou murders gainst thy will How likest thou this This is no camp for loue Nor must thy wreath be heere a Ladies gloue Anticke and apish fashions will not serue In this enobled field such as deserue By a peculiar merit shall receiue The Guerdon of their Valour and in Graue Shall finde a liuing monument which men Admiring much shall euer honour them And is not this a nobler monument Then spend our time in fruitlesse complements Spend a whole age in making of a legge Or seeking how some office we may begge Trading for vndeserued Honour got By seruile meanes and by the simplest sot That knowes not Honours essence O may I Rather then be so Honor'd wish to dye In the obseurest manner that when Time Shall shroud my ashes in a homely shrine Some earthy vrne yet may my memorie Liue without reach of enuie after me Sacred Bellona valours choicest Saint For now by thee flie we vnto our tent Infuse true resolution in the mâ—nde Of thy professors that their spirits may finde What difference there is in honours sight Twixt a good Souldier and a carpet-Knight His perâ—ume's powder and his harmonie Reports of Cannons for his brauerie Barded with steele and Iron for the voice Of amorous Ganimedes the horrid noise Of clattering armour for a Downie bed The chill cold ground for pillow to their head Tincke with muske Roses Target and their shield For gorgeous Roomes the purprise of the field For nimble capring Marching for the tune Of mouing consorts striking vp a drumme For dainties hunger thus is honour fed VVith labour got and care continued Can this content my Courtier yes it may VVhen his laciuious night and fruitles day His manie idle howers employed worse Though better deem'd then such whose vagrant course Incurs a penal censure shall be past And he with whip of conscience throughly lash't Shall bid a due to Ladie vanitie To Coures applause to humors phantasie To honours vndeseru'd to parasites To fashions-brocage and to all delights VVhich reape no fruit no guerdon nor reward Saue care on earth repentance afterward VVhere Iustice oft is forc't from her intent Goodnesse being onely cause of punishment Where violence so strong be great men growne Makes right supprest ' and iustice ouerthrowne VVhere sinnes in cloth of Tissue faire descri'de Make that wise Sages Axiome verifi'de A great mans foe oft by experience proues Of all that be no thunder like to Ioues Heere Magistrates are clad in violet Because pure Iustice they doe violate Here vice is mounted vertue liues despis'd The worst esteem'd the better meanely priz'd Corruption rides on foote-cloth some auerre And vpright dealing shee does lackie her Honour 's afraide of Sergeants merits sad And liues as one without obseruance had VVisdom's out of request for temperance Shee 's neuer knowne but in a Moris daunce And purple Iustice seldom 's seene to passe To any Court but riding one an Asse VVhat then but valour should support the State And make a Realme by vice growne desolate See her owne shame and in her shame conceiue The blest
see thy quondam friend Hath cause to say his hopes are at an end How vainely then be our affections plaste On women-kinde that are so seeming chaste And priuately so forward-well-be gone If ere I marry I 'le finde such an one As in her modesty will thinke 't disgrace Others to loue when I am out of place But I do thank thee Franke th' hast taught me more Then I could learne in twice seauen yeere before For I did thinke your simple sexe did hate By double dealing to equiuocate Where by experience now I finde it common That fast and loose is vsuall with women Yet in these rites this line my loue shall tell Fare well or ill I wish my Franke farewell An Epigramme called the WOOER COme yee braue wooers of Penelope Doe not repine that you should crossed be For pregnant wits and ripest braines can show As much or more then euer you did know And that my storie better may appeare Attend to my discourse and you shall heare It chanc't vpon a time and then was'th time When the thigh-fraughted Bee gathered her thyme Stored her platted Cell her fragrant bower Crop't from each branch each blossom each flower When'th pretty Lam-kin scarce a fortnight old Skipped and froliked 'fore the neighbouring fold When'the cheerfull Robin Larke and Lenaret Tun'de vp their voices and together met When'th feâ—refull Hare to cheere her quaint delight Did make her selfe her owne Hermaphrodite When'th louely Turtle did her eies awake And with swift flight follow'd her faithfull make When euery Beast prepar'd her wonted den For her owne young and shade to couer them When Flora with her mantle tucked vp Gathred the dewie flow'rs and them did put In her embrodred skirts which were rancke set With Prime-rose Cow-slip and the violet The dill the dasie sweet breath'd Eglantine The Crowfoote pausie and the Columbine The pinke the plantaine milfoile euery one With Mariâ—gold that opens with the Sunne Euen then it was ill may I say it was VVhen young Admetus woed a countrey lasse A countrie lasse whom he did woe indeede To be his Bride but yet he could not speede VVhich forc't him grieue heare but his cause of woe And you 'le not wonder why he should doe so Vertuous the maide was and so grac't by fate As she was wise and did degenerate From her weake witted father modesty Lodg'd on her cheeke and showd virginity In a faire Rosie colour which was spread By equall mixture both of white and red So as no white it seem'd but Idas snow No red but such where Roses vse to grow And though of Hero many one doe write Styling her soueraigne Goddesse of delight So faire as she was taken for no other Of all that saw her then Adonis mother So pure her skin so motiue to the eie As it did seeme compos'd of Iuorie So high and broad her front so smoth so eueâ— As it did seeme the Frontispice of Heanen So purely mixt her cheekes as it might seeme She was by nature made for natures Queene So pretty dinted was her dimpled chin As 't seem'd a gate to let affection in So sweete her breath as I haue hard them tell That like to Cassia she did euer smell So louely were those mounts of pure delight That Gods themselues wer cheered with their sight So as great Ioue for so our Poets say Fain'd himselfe sicke for her vpon a day Wise Aesculapius he was sent forthwith VVho felâ— Ioues pulse yet found no signe of death Or any great distemper yet to please Ioue For he perceiu'd his malady was loue Said Sir I 'aue found your grief what i' st quoth he A meere consumption yet be rul'd by me And follow my directions though with paine And then no doubt you shall be well againe Fiue mornes must you to ' Abidoes towne repaire And suck pure milke from th' fair'st virgin there Ioue hearing what he wisht obey'd bis hest And war soone well by sucking Heroes brest Yet what was Hero though the fair'st that was In all her time vnto Admetus lasse Though Heroes beuty did allure all men The time is chang'd now 's now and then was then Each milk-maide in fore time was thought a Queen So rare was perfect bewty to be seene But now where is no Venus to be had Such store I wot there be thet euery lad Can haue his tricksie lasse which wantonlie Scarce crept from shell he dandles on his knee But to my storie of such royall parts VVas she composed that the very hearts Of her attendants as it did apeare VVere spous'd to this pure virgin euery vvhere Vâ—ith what resolued silence would her wit Opâ—ose â—er tongue and seeme to bridle it VVith what discretion would she speakâ— her minde And nere transgesse those limits she assign'd But with that decencie of grace and speech As She might seeme the elder sort to teach VVhat a blest sexe were woman if this song VVere onely leaâ—nt them for to hold their tongue And speake no more O t' were a lesson good Then that were fit and what they vnderstood But when will that be taught them O I feare Neuer for womens tongues be euery where So as at first if they had no tongue Iâ— may be thought they would not haue been dumb Such is th'ternall motion that its sayd When women speechlesse lie they 're neerly dead Tâ—is virgin which Admetus sought to haue Beside her vertues then which who could craue A better portion had an ample dowre VVhich did enrich those gifts that were before Expressed and dilated and to tell The very trueth she lou'd Admetus well And could haue brook't all others t' haue denide So that she might haue been Admetus bride But he a shamefast lad though oft he sought Her loue yet durst not vtter what he thought Nor to her parents could impart his minde How he affected was and how incâ—inde Yet still was he respected and in grace Nor any sought to put him out of place Nor to withdraw th' affection of the maid From that foundation where it once was laid For three months space hung it in this suspence Neither conceald nor shâ—wne till 's Excellence For so was th' Title of a noble Squire Whose liuing bordered in th'adioyning shire By an intendment as he thought vpon 't Puâ— poore Admetus nose quite out of ioynt And thus it was for I meane to repeat By what deceit what cunning slight and cheat He bobd this simple Swaineling on a day When young Admetus had addrest his way To Trâ—inouant where be occasion had His Excellence in th' absence of the ladde Acquaints another with Bellinaes loue For so her name was he more prompt to moue Affection then Admetus ere could be VVins me Bellina's fort couragiously By new assaults incursions and displaid His youngling Colours when the breach was made O how methinks I see th'young Souldier sweat Till he hath done and perfected his fear How he assailes assaults ascends inclines Inuades inuirons
of their Sauiour Christ. Either to win that Cittie maugre th'vaunts Of all those hellish god lesse misâ—reants Or if they could not th' Cittie so surprize Resolv'd they were their liues to sacrifice Euen then I say when those that Marshall'd them Could not with-hold from flight their recreant men Saint George appear'd in a submissiue show Wishing them not to wrong their Countrie so And though a ghost and therefore lesse belieu'd Yet was his mouing presence so receiv'd As none to fight it out â—esolued more Then such as readiest were to flie before Vp went their sâ—aling-ladders to displant Th' abhorred of-spring of the miscreant And euer as some danger they espide God and S t George for England still they cride And how successiue that renowned warre Was to those Christians which enrolled are In an eternall register may well appeare By Godfrey Bulloyne who was stiled there King of Ierusalem yet as it s showne By auntient stories would receiue no crowne Thinking't vnfit that it should be rehearst Thaâ— where his masters head with thornes was pierst He that his seruant was should be so bold As haue his head girt with a crowne of gold What fame in forraine coasts this Hero got The lake Silene shewes if we should not Where in the reskew of a louely Mayde A fearefull Dragon he discomfited So as we haue portraide to euery viewe On signes of Innes-how George the Dragon slew Which story to expresse were too too long Being a subiect for each fidlers song Yet cause there is I cannot will nor chuse Comparison 'twixt him and Perseus VVho sonne to Ioue and show restain'd Danaâ— In reskew of the faire Andromade Encountred that seaâ—monster I le explane Each attribute of their peculiar fame And then conferring them one with the other Collect whose best their actions laide together And first for Perseus great I must confesse He was in name his birth inferres no lesse Being Ioues sonne yet can he no way shun The name of Bastard though he were his sonne Deflowr'd his mother was and in a showre Of gold to shew how gold has soueraigne power T' vnlocke the fort of fancy and how soone Women are wonne when golden bayts are showne Long Ioue had woo'd and yet he could not win What he desir'd till gold receiv'd him in Which seemes by easie consequence to proue Gifts be the giues that bindes the hands of loue Thus sprung the noble Perseus who in time To propagate the honour of that line From whence he came and that it might be sed That he from Ioue was rightly fathered Tooke on him strange aduentures as to right Iniur'd Ladies by a single fight Encounter Giants rescew men distrest In each where of his glory was exprest For valiant more worthy they doe shew them That wrongs redresse then such as vse to doe them But th' first and best attempt he did on Earth Was to wipe off th'blemish of his birth And th'staine of his corrupted mothers honour Which blushes blaz'd who euer look't vpon her On then along imagin'd it may be VVent he to th'reskew of Andromade Who now was markt for death and brought to th' shore Where many maids had bin deuour'd before By a sea-monster here the Virgin stood To free her Countrey with her guiltlesse blood Whom Perseus as he coasted by that way No sooner vew'd then he began to say Faire Virgin then he wept impart to vs What rude vnhallowed hand hath vs'd thee thus And by the honour of my heauenly Sire What ere he be he shall receiue his hire Giant or Monster in the earth or Sea Reueng'd he shall-sweete Virgin tell it me Kind Sir quoth she and then she staide her breath As one addrest to meditate of death Treate not with me of life nor aske who 't is Giant or Monster that 's the cause of this Onely know this thou gentle Knight that I Am doom'd to death and I' me resolu'd to die To die faire Maide quoth he if 't be thy fate I le sympathize with thee in equall state And die with thee onely giue griefe a tongue To tell me who 's the Author of thy wrong Know then sayd he I am that haplesse she The wretched pittied poore Andromade Who here am left of friends bereft of all To be a prey vnto a rauenous whale Many haue suffered ere it came to me Noâ— is my lot and welcome it shall be To expiate with my vnstained blood The Monsters wrath and doe my countrey good As she spake this vp from the Ocean Came that deuouring vaste Leuiathan Sweeping along the shore which being spide Good sir retire the noble Damsell cride Yonder he comes for loue of honour flie It 's I am doom'd then let me onely die But Perseus one better tempered Then to behold a Virgine slaughtered Without assayd reuenge did streight begin With man-like valour to encounter him Doubtfull the skirmish was on either side While th'Maide a sad spectator did abide Wooing with teares which from her cheeks did flow That Ioue would giue this Monster th' ouerthrow At last her prayers and teares preuail'd so well As vnder Perseus feete the Monster fell Whence came it as the story doth proceede The Virgin and her Countrey boâ—h were freede VVhich to requite in guerdon of her life She gaue her selfe to Perseus as wife Whom he receiu'd-ô he did ill in this Sith by the Auncient it recorded is Before that Perseus to her reskew came She was espoused to another man By name Vaxâ—dor ô it was a sinne To marrie her that was not dew to him And better had 't been to sustaine her fate Then by such breach of faith to violate Her former Spousals-which vniust offence God 's may winke at but neuer will dispence Yea to a barraine Rocke though she were tyde Yet better 't was then to be made a Bride To an vsurped Bed for that did laie That staine on her time cannot wipe away Thus haue you heard what noble Perseus was VVith greatest dangers that his worth did passe The imminence whereof merits due praise And such a Poet as deserues the Baies Laurell and Myrtle-though his Nuptiall knot Lost him more fame then ere his valour got For so deprau'd's the Nature of our will What 's good we laine what 's ill we harpe on still Now to thy English Saint my Muse repaire And lim him so that when thou shalt compare These two He Perseus may out-strip as farre As sunne the Moone or th'Moone a twinkling star GEORGE now enstil'd the Saint of Albion By linage was a Capadocian Whose valour was exprest in all his time That vertue might in euery action shine VVhich to induce beliefe by mouing sence I will produce his best description thence Both for th'resemblance which hath euer bin Twixt the renowned Perseus and him As also to make good that not one staine Eclipst that glory which his acts did gaine All which by instance seconded shall be Perseus was great yet
thou's neuer Court in Heauen No Ahab no there is no place for such Whom poore mens grieues and sorrowes will not tutch Such as will haue compassion shall be there Receiud in mercy that had mercy heere But such as thou who in the Pride of heart Had little feeling of an others smart Shall heare that Ve Away thou cursed goe Repent in time or thou shalt finde it so For tell me why should whorish complement Force thee to soules eternall languishment Why should a minutes pleasure take from thee All after-hope of thy felicitie VVhy should a painted cheeke be so sought after Beleeu 't in common sense it merits laughter That her complexion should by thee be sought That knows its not her owne but that'twas bought Yea one would thinke more reason there 's to seeke Complexion in the shop then on the cheeke And better wil't with generous humors stand To buy 't at first then at the second hand Both's to be bought no difference in the sale The one in grosse the other in Retaile O then take heede mix not two sinnes in one Sinnes linkt together make the soule to groane Their burdens heauy yea t is such as they Draws in in Cart-ropes as the Prophets say But if thou wilt needes to perdition run And follow on that chase thou hast begun If thou wilt make thy body in few words A filthy Caske or Cage of vncleane birds If that same soule which should a Temple be And dedicated to Gods Maiesty Must now be made it grieues me to expres A stew for Harlots and licentiousnesse Yet let not thy oppression be the meanes For to maintaine such prostituted queanes That doe expose themselues to publique shame One sin 's enough shun thou oppressions name I know indeede what was of Ahab tould Is growne a story now exceeding old His mouldred bones and ashes who can finde Yea his example 's quite worne out of minde Since for most part mens corps 's no sooner rotten Then they and all their actions be forgotten The stories old indeed its true they say Yet is the vse experienst euerie day Ech day we see a silly Naboth slaine And euery day a wicked Ahab raigne Who if he see one plat of ground that is Delightfull in his eye or bordering his Whether 't be vineyard garden or that land The front I mean where Naboths house doth stand He cannot be content till he has got By fraud or violence that same neighbouring plot For like an eye-sore it did euer grieue him Nor till ge gain'd it would he euer leaue him Yet for all this our moderne Ahabs they No sooner heare what sacred Scriptures say Of that example then they straight begin To giue a curse to Ahab and his sinne Who made no bones poore Naboth to denye him To haue one little Vineyard lying by him Cruell he was say they and well deseru'd His punishment for he was rightly seru'd To be depriu'd of all life realme and crowne That would not suffer Naboth haue his owne Yea the reward did fit his Tyrant-hart Despoyl'd of all that spoyld the poore of part So their owne iudgements most vnhappy Elues That thus pronounce the sentence on themselues Their owne mouthes do condemn them for by this Each proue their guilt by th'guilt they show of his VVherefore as Nathan did to Dauid say Taking Vriahs life and wife away VVhere he proposd this question thereupon Of him had many Sheepe another one Wherein indeed the Prophet shadowed That fact which Dauid to Vriah did Which when that good King heard as th'Scripture saith He answered straight he hath deserued death Thou art the man quoth he so sure I am I may be bold to say thou art the man Thou Ahab thou that by extortion gaines Some Skreads of Land to better thâ— demains Thou that triumphes in wrongs and brings the crye And curse of widdowes to thy Family Thou that with dainties dost that carrian feede That maw of thine while such doe begge their bread As thou opprest to their extremest wrong Thou art the man I le sing no other song Dost thou not yet relent no streams of grace Thrilling or trickling from thy blubber't face No signe of reformation Las I see Custome in sinne cannot relinquisht be Vpon the instant wherefore I must set My resolution not to leaue thee yet And howsoere thou take it I will goe Yet further with thee I le not leaue thee so Two speciall motiues I might here proâ—uce To moue thee to a conscience and to vse A christian-lâ—ke respect to such as be Ordain'd by God for to liue vnder thee The first is to haue eye vnto that forme Oâ— image which doth euery man adorne Euen his creators image which might moue Vs to loue him for his creators loue The second is a due especiall care Or a consideration what wee are Men and in that we should be humbler still Since best of vs are Tennants but at will On which two branches briefly I le dilate Or rather cursiuely so shadow at As seeing his Forme thy little cause of pride This good surueigh may make thee mortified The comely feature which is giuen to man Implies the place from whence this creature came Euen from that fragrant garden of delight That Spicy Eden where in our makers sight He did enioy farre more then tongue can tell Till from that height he to corrupâ—ion fell Yet still retain'd his forme which first was giuen him In Paradise whence now the Lord had driuen him So precious was this forme as he who made it For as we reade in Scripture where he said it Let vs make man after our Image he Saw in this forme I say such maiestie As he who in his mercy fast did make it Becomming man of God vouchsaf'd to take it So that what th' first man Adam did before Christ th' second Adam as man did restore Thou sees this Image then how it was giuen And represented by the God of heauen Who in his great compassions thought 't no scorne That the Creator take the creatures forme And how canst thou irreuerent wretch disdaine That forme which thy Creator did retaine How canst despise that image or presume To wrong that shape thy Sauiour did assume How canst thou presse that soule with discontent Which thy Redeemer daign'd to represent How canst abuse that type for hope of pelfe Which Christ thy louer shadowed in himselfe How canst thou see that image rack't to be VVhich in thy Christ was ract and rent for thee How canst endure to haue that soule bereft Of all releefe and to haue nothing left Driuen from his house forc't from his Tenant-right VVhen he that is the way truth life and light Taking his forme to satisfie for sinne Had not so much as house to hide him in Birds had their nests and euery beast his denne Yet had not he what was permitt'd to them O let me now perswade be not extreame Its easie saies the Prouerb to wade the
all are summon'd fore that seat It 's better to be good then to be great For then as well it may be vnderstood They onely shall be great that are found good But thou wilt aske is there no comfort else Yes that there is thy daily labour tells There 's a reward of glory that 's reseru'd For such as haue their Maister duely seru'd In their vocation there 's a penny too Which though it be not giuen vnto thee now Yet be assur'd for he that spoke't is true When th' euening comes thou shalt receiue thy due And though thou seeme a little while to stay Doe not repine it 's th' euening crownes the day Wouldst know what I by th' Euening doe intend I meane the sun-set of thy life or end Of all thy pilgrime daies which though they bee A very death or Martyrdome to thee So little ioy conceau's thou vpon earth Yet wil thy Comicke end include thy mirth VVhen from this Vale of labour and of care Thou shalt vnto a mount of ioy repaire VVhen from this floting Sea this fading cell Thou shalt depart and with thy Sauiour dwell Yea on thy death-bed thou art comforted Thinking how truly thou hast laboured How many carefull nights thou hast orepast VVithout the least of rest how thy repast VVas not delighfull feeding with excesse But th' bread thou eate was mixt with carefulnesse Noe houre without affliction or some griefe And now to finde to all thy woes reliefe It may no little solace the when th' end Of discontents shall bring thee to a friend That will in armes of charitie receiue thee Where beeing lodg'd no woe no want can grieue thee Happy translation and by so much more In that those Lordings which triumph'd before And plaid vpon thy weakenesse now shall stand To th' doome which those oppressors of the land Are subiect to tell me poore wormeling then What difference there will bee twixt thee and them Great were they heere indeed and did resemble Those Bulls of Basan yet see how they tremble How quicke their powerfull greatnesse is made small For little is their pompe or none at all See see these Cedars now are strucke with thunder And thogh they once sate high their now broght vnder Those glorious titles which gaue wings to pride Those gorgeous buildings made them deifide Those many state-attendants more or lesse Like Sommer-Swallows following their successe Are vanish't ruin'd and dispersed quite Ther 's none of these can come into their sight Yea which is worse in-steed of Eminence There is an enemy called Conscience That still disturbs their quiet and their rest VVhich if at peace there were continuall feast But that 's impossible such meanes as these Haue in themselues a thousand Witnesses And these poore snakes cause they did heere contemn them Shall with their Conscience stand there to condemne theÌ„ VVhere that same place they are appointed to Shall Tophet be their word yee cursed goe Thou seest then no difference doth appeare Twixt thou and them saue onely when you 're heere A little garish vanity there is Which doth include that happinesse of his Who seemes so popular yet thou shalt see From thence is drawne his greatest miserie For tell me doth no that externall state Make him forget whereto he was create Doth 't not be â—ull his soule in sinnes delights Not knowing how the flesh gainst spirit fights VVhereby he comes which is the worst of all To bring his reason to his senses thrall Yea I haue heard of many great mens end So full of feare and horrour as God send Me lesse delights on earth so I may haue A quiet easie passage to my graue For reason doth informe me rare it is That earths delight should bring a man to blisse More could I speake to comfort thy distresse And more I was determinde I confesse To insist on thy affliction but I found By my Experience this especiall ground Held euer firme when we doe comforts tutch Such is mans nature he will take too much Rather then too too little yea it s sed More haue through store of comforts surfeted Theâ— such as from all outward solace pâ—nt Haue famisht been through inward discontent With Gedeons souldier therefore prest I am Rather to lap and like a Ionathan To tutch the hony onely with my rod Then on this subiect make too long aboad Which that I may from comfort I le descend To faults in the which I would gladly mend That God commands from whoÌ„ proceeds all power Let each be subiect to 's Superiour For it would breed confusion in the Land If people did admit of no commaund But like a Platoes Common-wealth should be Subiect to none but in equalitie Therefore that Lord who of his grace doth loue vs Hath ranked some below vs some aboue vs. Aboue vs that we might be caution'd thence To shew vnto them due obedience Below vs that we might thereby expresse To them our loue to God our thankefulnesse Our loue that we might our affection show In loue to them that ranked are so low Our thankefulnesse that we should more receiue Then other some that more deserued haue Againe aboue vs to acknowledge here Without that power aboue how weake we are Below vs that if we vnhappy Elues Should grudge to see som greater then our selues By seeing these wee might suppose they 're sent By their degree to bid vs be content In this same decent comly order then Of high and low great and inferiour men Thou ranked art nor richest nor most pore For thou seest many goe from dore to dore Whose scrips their store whose wallet is their wealth Whose staffe's their stay whose treasure is their health Now in thy ranke there 's many things I wish Thou wouldst reforme which I doe see amisse As first for all thy pouerty and want Thou hast a disposition arrogant Rash heady-selfe-wild prouder then thy state Can well beare out extreamely obstinate Foolishly peremptory saucy with all Besides I see in thee I must tell all A factious wauering nature apt to rise Through discontent in any enterprise A very Iack Straw or a custome asâ—e Alleadging such records as neuer was A pest ' lent member to the Kingdomes quiet Prone to diuision enmity and riot Sower of discord selfe-conceitedly Wise yet I cannot weâ—l imagine why Yea I haue seene some of thy crew to gather Like wild-geese for the wagging of a feather Making strange combinations which did tend Still to their owne subuersion in the end Some Terme agoe on one I chanct to light Was come to towne to trie his tenant-right With whom discoursing he impart'd to me Mongst other things how most iniuriously He and the rest which held one tenure there About their state or title troubled were And therewithall alleadgd that he could show Customes and discords so he said enough And that from Noahs indignation when Of all the world there were but left 8 men No this is true quoth he I will assure
and kinsfolke to his nuptiall rite And faigning their replies thanks he would giue vowing requitall once if he should liue Oh what distractions haunt a louers minde passing those bounds which nature hath assign'd Nought vpon earth but limits hath we see but boundlesse loue can nere contained be Hearbs yeeld a soueraigne cure to euery wound but for loues cure in hearbs no vertue 's found Then blest is he and in an happie state who for loues dart is made inuulnerate Yet was it hard to see and not to loue Thysbe's admired beauty which could mooue SerpeÌ„ts birds plaÌ„ts brute beasts which grase feed more then ere Orpheus with his musicke did Her goulden tresses pure ambrosian Fairer then all the twists Arachne span Shone far more bright then Phoebus glistring raies by all mens iudgements meriting more praise Her corall lip no lip but ports of pleasure which seem'd to open to whole mines of treasure Appeard so sweet that all was sweet about it for I am sure nought could be sweet without it Her brests two iuory mounts mounts may I cal theÌ„ for many vales of pleasant veines empall'd them These like two borders did such sweets display that who lodg'd there lodg'd in the milkie way Below a shady vale aye mee that shade which nature in her owne despite had made Had made for glory of that sacred mount with the sweet Nectar of a liuely fount A still distilling fount an heauenly riuer for there 's no earthly spring can spring for euer Her wanton gate her glance her smile her toying all ioy'd in one shewed pleasure in enioying So as b Euphrates vvhere this city bounded vents vp his passions for he oft resounded Beating his bancks and eccoing in the aire and then retiring backe seem'd to despaire That Thysbe could not loue a sencelesse one at which repining he vvould make his mone Hath not my current ere renovvned beene for th' easie passage of my quiet streame Hath not my torrent yeelded much content to gild his meanes vvhose meanes vvhere vvholly spent Haue I not suffered much sustain'd great paines fraughting your trauaile with a double gaines And for supporting of so many shippes may not Euphrates graze vpon her lippes Whom thus he loues vnthankfull coast quoth he respecting least who did the most for thee This being said hee could expresse no more but in a loue-sicke passion bett the shore And to c confirme what I haue heard men say he left his course and tooke another way If sencelesse riuers that were neuer seene to loue or care for louing held no meane In their affecting Thisbe what should hee that had both sence and reasons purity Pure in his mind and faire in beauties shew Narcissus second for his comely hew Lipp'd like Ador is Frycina loued shaped like Alexis Pollyos approoued Grac'd with a smiling countenance which did breed a louely white mix'd with a comely red Two sparkling eyes pierciue as Diamond which whersoere they gas'd they seem'd to wouÌ„d That though the Sun were set yet his bright eies shone as the Beames which from the sun doe rise The night being gone too long god wot in going her wandring lights to Tethis banks bestowing Titan came peeping in at Thyisbes chamber whom she reflected with her locks of amber Each other greeting as if had beene there two Suns at once both in one hemysphere Hard was the combat but more hard it were to tell whose beams diffus'd their light most clear Yet in the end Titan in an angry mood seeming surpast did hide him in a cloud Thysbe puts on her cloths blest were those cloths thrice happy shade that shadow'd such a Rose Where being dressed not dress'd as shee would bee she tooke her to her praiers religiously High heauens quoth she from whence al pleasures flow deigne some of them on Thysbe to bestow For by your power which I doe much adore I loue but that which you haue lou'd before Thou thundring Ioue did dote as well as I when thou desired with Danae to lye Which to effect thou turn'd her to a showre a Goulden showre her beauty to defloure For cloth'd in lightning Danae denaied to ioyne with thunder afterward arrâ—id In dewie moisture moisture we do loue she cast off shame and did thy shape approue And Iuno lou's Ixion for his kisse Venus Adonis for his comelinesse Daphne poore Laurell chased by Apollo running as fast before as he did follow Thus did your loue your lust your thoughts renew if I thinke ill I thinke no worse then you And well may gods with womens sexe dispence Since they were first authoris'd their offence My loue 's not spotted with lasciuious tutch vnlesse it be by louing ouermuch Nor branded with the note of Infamie but pure as Delia Queene of Chastitie Thoughts are the worst my actions they be cleare he'se no man whose thoughts nere soyled were Then pardon if I loue suppose it zeale whose passions be too hote for to conceale Leauing her Orisons composed of Loue loue dallying praiers her eyes aside she moues And sees the chinke which she first saw before which did augment her dolors much the more For shee recall'd to minde to memory her mothers chiding fathers Ielousie Both which a streame of teares extract from her as if pale death her comforts should interre Oft would she call on louely Pyramus with smothered speech as one suspitious Lest the pure ayre and walls adioyning neere should prattle loue vnto her parents eare Oft would she nibble out a stone or two to make the crift seeme bigger to the show Of her deepe loue for they suspected were therefore debard lest they should come too neer Pyramus pent vp all this while at last gets out and hies him to the chinke as fast Where what discourse their mutuall loue affoorded seem'd by the Gods in heauen to be recorded Either with greedy eye gasing on other Thysbe look'd backe somtimes doubting her mother For she suspected much her iealous eye in her loues presence to be euer by Enuious vvall oft would these louers say diuide thy selfe and let vs haue a way To meete to kisse to parley and relate the solemne festiues of our nuptiall state Why should thy marble stuctures hold vs out vvhose loue encircles Babilon about Or why should terrene composition moue a breach or separaration of our loue Loue is celestiall thou a marble shrine why shouldst thou hinder loue that is diuine And yet we cannot so ingratefull be but we must offer vp our thanks to thee Our vowes our giftes our best pris'd sacrifice in that thou yeelds a passage to our eyes Yeelding some comfort in this gloomie night supplying kisses with the vse of sight Loue hath some harmonie some small agreeing for what it wants in tutch it hath in seeing Hesperias garden was by serpents kept whose euer watching eye-liddes neuer slept And Colchis Fleece was kept as warily till Iasons meanes obtain'd the victorie So be our loues immur'd interred rather by
loue a swaine that could not yeeld her loue for loue againe Hard was her fortune to affect that creature who for a childish feare delaid to meet her The gods I know more forward would haue beene to meet loues Parragon so faire a Queene As for her beauty aye me beauties faire with Ericina she might well compare And farre more modest Venus had her mole but nere was Thysbe stain'd with bewties soile But thou hast stain'd her beauty by thy fault ruin'd that fort which neuer had assault But by thy selfe and by thy selfe too soone since by thy meanes her shrine is razed downe Turne thee to heauen and loe the heauens dismaid to see the tragicke downefall of a maide Frowning at thee that was the cause of this causing her end that was thy Soueraigne blisse Turne thee to earth and see her turn'd to earth which makes the caues below resound with mirth That they enioy which thou didst once enioy reaping their comfort from thy deepe annoy Turne thee vnto the Sea and thou shalt see The Nymphes and Syrens crying out 'gainst thee That should make promise yet not promise hold calling thee coward but thy Thysbe bold Bold to aduenture on the gloomy night bold to encounter with Latonas light Bold in her course swift in her cursiue mouing bold to escape and constant in her louing Thus heauen earth Sea concording all in one do simpathize with thy discording mone And wilt thou liue for this O doe not liue but to requite her loue let earth receiue This little All of thine which when they haue they may interre two louers in one graue Adioyning to this fount a rocke there was so steepe and craggy that no man could passe To which wild beasts repair'd making their den in th'â—ollow cauâ—rnes which did couer them Which seene by him â— what doe not louers see with face deiected thus discoursed he If any Lion or fierce sauage Beare lodge in this ragged rocke or coucheth neere Let him come out for heere is amorous food 9 and cooling streames to wash away our blood That this may beare record by euery wight two faithfull louers perisht on one night But these are but delaies which cowards vse 10 their trembling passions seeking to excuse Cast off vaine feare feare is a vassalls weede and place true Resolution in her steed She wil prescribe the rules with fruits of woing for fruitlesse be those fruits that haue no doing We that doe hazard our good names for men if they 'l not pleasure vs what profit then Of all our toylsome labour we sustaine that reape no haruest from such gusts of pain We patient are to beare and what we bore we doe accept and wish it ten times more That we might pleasure you how fond are we The weaker sort beares your infirmity But it s our Nature Nature hath ordain'd mans strâ—ngth by womans weaknesse is sustain'd In this same cloudy night with what desire did all my thoughts and my intents aspire To that same treasure thou hast promis'd me promise is debt it must be kept by thee With what affection haue I cross'd these plaines cheered by wood-nimphs singing plesant strainâ— And dans'd Laualto till I came to thee longing for that which thou didst promise mee Sad Philomela skared from her rest sung with a pricking slothorne at her brest And sung of Tereus something what I know not which if I knew yet would I neuer show it 12 For Tereus impious in his prophane life to wrong a sister and so chast a wife Sustains the torture of his wickednesse transform'd into a Bird whose filthinesse Loues marish places flies the solid ground good reason why his conscience was not sound 13 For Tireus was a King and for his lust by Ioue himselfe was from his scepter thrust A sensuall Prince to wanton motions stirr'd chang'd from a prince vnto a loathsome bird Thus did I passe the silence of the night till I arriu'd within my louers sight Which yet I cannot doe oh why should we 14 to get a little sport paune modesty These shady thickets and that secret caue those pratling Sea-nimphes this marble graue Beare all record what trauell I haue taken yet like a Turtle of her make forsaken Cannot enioy my loue aye me vnkind that seemes inconstant to a constant mind VVhy should our fauors so deuoted rest to them whose hardned harts bred our vnrest And make vs subiect to more inward griefe then ere their comforts can affoord releefe But thou art too too rash beleeue me sweet in more remisse Appearance doe I greete Thy diuine beauty pardon what is said conceyue no harme spoke by a harmelesse maide For if thou should as surâ— I thinke thou dost lie hid vnder some bush and hearst this nois'd This shrowd inueâ—â—ioâ— gainst thy loue and thee thou might as well condemne my speech and me VVhy should I speake against so hallowed shrine to whom I haue bequeath'd both me and mine Or why should I detract from that faire sunne vvhich if ecclips'd my glistring raies bee done For this same Tree beares record of our wracke decolored quite from white to dismall black And this same ground all in a gore of bloud No chiâ—ping bird within this fatall wood And this for loue of him that now is gone leauing his forlorne Thysbe all alone Hard was mine hap to see his dolefull end at whose sad hearse the Fates themselues attend Hard was mine hap more haâ—sh the course of time to crop my loue my dazie in his prime Hard was his hap to extinguish his desire with apparition of a bloody tire Hard was his hap to forrage heere so late to misse his loue and meete so soone with Fate Turne to thy loue see if thy vitall breath can call him from the slumber of pale death See if thou canst reuiue his gasping soule for loe his eies within his head doe rowle Embrace his iuory necke with foulded armes destill life in him by thy louing charmes Buzze in his eares of loue it will not bee his dying sences haue no mind of thee Thus round empalld with greefe was Thysbes mind no hope of life in him can Thysbe find For he grew stiffe engor'd with bloudy wound and by hâ—s bloud fast glâ—ed to the ground â—hysbe espied her Tire which hee did hould 〈◊〉 in his hand and did the same enfould As 〈…〉 Antidote to cure his gaping wo 〈…〉 make him ere endure Vnhappy Tire quoth she vnhappy were that gaue occasion to my loue of feare Thou that hast prest my soule in anguish more then all the robes which ere I wore before Thou wandring stragler sliding from mine head gaue the first onset to this vgly deede For if thou hadst not been my loue had liu'd that now of sence mouing is depriu'd What hap had I at first to put thee on when darke Latonas lights were drawing on Or what misfortune had I for to leaue thee since thy departure doth so greatly grieue mee It
state more blest in that they had their wish Thysbe had hers and Pyramus had his They were depriv'd of louing in their liuing but by their deaths the gods themselues were giuing Tokens of loue for they enioied their loue which no transparent iealous eye could moue Empass'd by diuine power heauens maiesty to honour them that honour'd constancie And which was more dame Venus as we read yoking her Doues came to high Ioue with speed Her milke-white doues with ayrie coloured wings vnto Ioues throne their beawteous lady brings Where she with smiling countenance for her smile all foggie mists Olympus did exile Thus spake to Ioue who seeing her did grace her and with enfolded arms'gan to embrace her Heauen-habiting Ioue that in compassion sees louer inflamed passions on my knees Doe I entreate as I am Queene of loue for shipwrackt louers that thou wilt remoue Their earthly members to participate the glorious sunshine of one heauenly sâ—ate For they were constant constancy thou loues and in thy selfe their passions thou approues Deigne to eternize them with sacred Baise It 's fit such mirrors should haue endlesse daies That consecrate their vâ—wes to gods diuine then so propitious to these praiers of mine They were enobled with a constant minde Such sacred lights it 's hard on earth to finde They were adorn'd with Vestas puritie Vestas pure shape deserues eternitie They liu'd in louing and in louing did'e nor did two Vrns their ioyned loue diuide But both inter'd together they haue wonne a fame recorded in all times to come She was as faire as fairenes could be laid on mortall colours though a country maide Yet for her thoughts as pure as was her face she well deserues to haue an heauenly place Doe not frown deare Sire me thinks that frowne doe ill beseeme to such as be your owne I am your daughter and I know you loue me and I presume my praiers needs must moue you Or else I should despaire e're to resort from Idas mount vnto your heauenly court Then yeeld assent vnto your daughters suite if you denie it me I will be mute And neuer make recourse vnto your shrine which cannot choose but gall this heart of mine This earthly goddesse will full well beseeme in Iunoes absence to supply as Queene Ioue smilde at this for he desired change and therfore oft from heaueÌ„ to earth would range For pleasure and delight variety willing vnwilling wrested this reply You speake of wonders daughter quoth high 37 Ioue of mortall wights so constant in their loue These two in constant louing you surpasse For they 'r more constant then ere Venus was Death cannot part asunder their desires which like bright flames vnto our throne aspires They 're worthy daughter of a glorious crowne and they shall haue it for we le vse our owne But to enioy that ioy that amorous die of bewties sweete complexion how should I Disioyne these two both would I gladly grace if I could distance them in seuerall place That faire form'd creature thou dost so much praise I doe remember in her former daies For she entirely wisht she might haue time to vse her loue and offred to my shrine Great store of incense incense it was sweete that I would giue them time and place to meete Which I did promise but I did not pay for seeing her more bewtious then the day Faire as Orgon purer then that white louely 38 Alcmena wore vpon the night When she suppos'd Amphitrio her deare loue possest the place which was supplide by Ioue Being thus faire for Thysbe was more faire I much amazed stood oppres'd with care Seeming asleepe yet sleeping I did moane my too large promise which was past and gon Oft did I wish I had been Pyramus oft I resolu'd the night so tedious For to transhape my selfe and to descend and meete with Thysbe as her pointed friend But Iuno iealous Queene with open eie slept not all night but fâ—aught with iealousie Askt me full oft what aild me turne quoth she and with my â—ectar lips I le comfort thee Are you in loue I blush'd that blush displaies you are inclind quoth she some otherwaies You haue some tricksie Girle that doth keepe your heart enchain'd your powrefull eies from sleepe Fie fie quoth she as you are Ioue affect her that affoords to you the most respect I am celestiall 39 wife and sister both vnto your selfe and Iuno would be loth To violate the glory of her spouse with euery swaine in eu'ry brothell house And can you then without regard of me or of your selfe disgrace your deitie With euery Leda euery milke-maide toie while Iuno is depriued of her ioye Now by my God head mortall men adore I 'aue borne so much that I can beare no more Either content you with your choice your Queene or I le tell that which would ful ill beseeme The glory of your state the Gods shall heare what heretofore to tell I did forbeare Then as you tender th' honour of your name Be charie henceforth how you soile the same This said dame Iuno but I curbd her speech with brows contracted till shee did beseech With trickling teares that I would pardon giue protesting she would neuer after grieue My royall person wishing my delight if it pleas'd me euen in my Iunos sight Wherewith I seemd appeasd and fayning 40 sleepe with eie-lids shut my heart a watch did keep Euer conceiuing somthing what I know not which if I knew it's shame for Gods to show it Being lasciuious passions which were bred of the distempred humors of my head But to be briefe I did by meanes contriue their long sought loues fruition to depriue Which thus accomplish'd I am glad of this Venus intreates what Ioue himselfe did wish This I will doe which done may seeme a wonder equall their ioies yet distance them asunder He from his Thysbe Thysbe from her loue Ioue for his Thysbe Thysbe for her Ioue This said bright Venus happy to receiue The full accomplisht sute which she did craue Takes leaue of Ioue and taking leaue he 4â— kist her amidst his kisses with his prayres he blist her Venus to 42 Ida hies Idas she sends Embassadour to Thysbe who attends The Gods decree where hauing come at last tels to Thysbe all discourse was past Twixt Ioue Venus yet â—ot all she told for Venus bade him Ioues intendments hold Lest his narration should more sorrow breede then any comfort drawne from humane seede For well I know no Ioue so prâ—cious to her as was her louely Pyramus When Idas had exprest what Ioue decreed he tooke his leaue of Thysbe and with speede Return'd to Venus Venus Queene of loue whom he with Mars found lying in a groue Of leauy Poplars sporting midst their pleasure Vulcan was absent they had time and leisure Where we will leaue them and swift Idas traine and to our loue-sick Thysbe turne againe Thysbe address'd to die yet long in dying Draws courage to her
that blade espying VVhich was be crimsond with the bloudy gore of that same murder it had done before Takes it into her hand â—her hand God wot as soft as downe such weapons handled not Before this time and this time was too soon to vanquish bewty and to cut it downe 43 Poore wench she knew not how to vse the blade for other armour Nature had her made But like an vntraind Souldier wanting skill knows not to fight yet vseth his good will Trauerse his ground as other souldiers doe yet hath no method for he knows not how Euen so this heauenly creature handled it long time vncertaine how to mannage it At last by reason 44 reason did acquaint which was the pummell which the satall point Grasping the blade which she before did take to th'shade which shadowed Pyramus shee spake Thou shadowing tree that 45 shadowes this dark tombe shelter vs two that passengers which come Vnto this forrest may thy pitty praise and memorise thy loue in after daies Thou seest we are depriu'd of friend or make which may deplore with teres our forlorne state Supply our want with thy remorsefull shade since as it seemes for pitty thou was made Couer vs two two louers that would be gladly ore-cannoped with th'leaues of thee Thou 46 couerst him already happy time that twists about him with those spraies of thine If Nature had accorded to our vowes these armes had clept that necke those flowry bowes Doe now enfold but heauens haue so decreed to haue two louers clad in sable weed Which I accord vnto heauens purge my sinne hee 's gone before and I must follow him Which said she fix'd the sword vnto her Brest with more then womans spirit which exprest Her loue vnto her Saint who lay along congeal'd in bloud whose trunke shee fell vpon The tree sent out her Branches which did couer their corps with vernant blossomes shadowed ouer Aurora breath'd vpon them whose sweet breath perfum'd their bodies seazd vpon by death Siluan Epicaedium THis done in silent passage of the Night when stars shone fair bright in Thetis sight The rural Wood-nimphes did their Odes display sabled with woes which woes to take away They sung these verses verses ominous Ore Thisbes hearse and louely Pyramus Long may your fame 48 and glory heer remain honour'd by vs and by each country Swaine Long may you liue renowned for your loue hath made perpetuall eccoes in this groue A thrice blest groue blest graue for such blest Saints That in this flowry pale heere pitch their tents Wherein loues warre eternized for aye lost that by night which was restor'd by day Smell sweet for euer sweetest of all sweets you springing blossoms which the spring-time greets Send out your fragrant sauor and releeue our troubled springs which be adddress'd to grieue Let not your vernant bosome so retaine all comfort from the oat-pipe of a Swaine That no release of sorrow or distresse makes diminution of his wretchednesse What should we sing no hymne of melody shall ere possesse our desert empery No tune of ioy no pleasant straine of mirth shall yeeld contentment to Nereus birth For farre more faire more beautious Thysbe was then any wood-Nimph my Country Lasse 49 Campaspe shee was faire and was belou'd of potent Monarchs her proportion mou'd Doting Apelles loues effects to shew to that same picture which his Pencile drew Yet if Campasâ—e were enshrined heere no cause of loue would in her frame appeare More diuine feature was in Thysbes face a more delightfull smile more comely grace Then ere Apelles though in skill most rare could make his picture any way compare Bring mirtle branches let vs couer them shrowding their corps with wreaths laid ouer them And euery time and tide let 's shed a teare ouer the sad memoriall of their Bere Well doe these odes of sorrow vs beseeme and better would they please Arcadias Queene Then if with feasts and triumphs we should spend our dismall houres about a louers end Wee are not for Dianas cheerefull game though we foretime haue well approou'd the same No quiuer nor no bow will we receiue till wee haue spent our dirges on their graue Whose glorious loues so well conioyn'd in one makes their two teares distill into one stone For euery drop of bloud which doth descend from Thisbes wound flies to her louing friend And those same streames which issued out amaine from Pyramus make their recourse againe And ioyne with Thysbe whose respectiue wound licks vp the blood was shed vpon the ground Eternall Trophies hung vpon your hearse made euerlasting by our pensiue verse And let this marble which doth couer you her teares each morne with moistned drops renew Which in remorse compassionate may spend some dewie drops to witnesse yoâ—r sad end You pretty gliding streames which run apace leaue off your course and flow vnto this place That you may moisten this sad monument this desert herse with watry element And gratifie our loue that loue you deare and wish entirely your sweet presence heere Leaue off to wash those cliues and ruggy caues and now repaire to monumentall graues To rinse all foule infection which did staine the corps deceas'd by your still streaming vaine Why doe you stay why seeme you so hard harted to shed no teares at constant loue departed If that our Queene should heare as shee shall heare this your remorsâ—lesse hart would cost you deare Doe you not see how we in sable weeede to weepe amaine haue heere repair'd with speed And in distresse enclos'd full fraught with woe may aske of you what 's cause you doe not soe See how ech sprig 50 sends out a pearled drop and when the prâ—ner seemes their height to crop They seeme to thanke him for it wishing death to decke these louers with a flowry wreath See how each bird resorts vnto their shrine as if it were vnto some power diuine And dedicates vnto their mournfull tombe laies which shal serue in after times to come They warble out their dolefull funeralls hauing forgot their forepast festiualls Their sad 51 aspects such sorrow doth affoord that we our selues their sorrows may record Time yeelds no tune nor tune obseru's no time time tune nor measure keep we ore this shrine We cannot descant descant there is none to such as know no descant but to mone Like spouse-lost Turtles do we flocke together and on each morn by time consort we hither To celebrate their deaths with memorie whose constant loues make them charactred be Nor will we cease or make an â—nd of griefe till that their parents yeeld them some reliefe To consummate their wishes and supply their former hardnes by their clemency For in no time did euer children find parents more wilfull to their loues vnkind Yet for that Fate hath done her worst of ill in that she did the bloud of louers spill And tyrannis'd in shewing of her force raging gainst loue depriued of remorse Let
Muse hath shown The answere of Hipolitus vnto Phaedra The Argument Hyppolitus son to Theseus by the AmazoÌ„ Hippolite solicited by his step mother Phedra to sensuality seckes by all meanes to represse her inordinate lust by exemplifying the worth resolution and magnanimity of his father her husband Theseus as also aggrauating the foulenes of the fact she intended producing reasons to disswade her from prosecuting her purpose any further as more particularly the scandall of the world which of necessity would ensue vpon committing of a fact so detestable to the supreame deâ—tie so exorbitant to the law of nature Next he propouÌ„deth the ineuitable reuenge of the Gods aboue who could not suffer such impieties to passe which impunity but would chastise incestuous actions with the exquisitest punishments they reserue for any delinquent concluding his Epistle more emphatically assuring her if she would not desist from her lasciuious intendments Theseus should be acquainted with her entirest thoughts who in no wise could brooke her insatiable desires but ere long would expiate the guilt of her sin with the sacrifice of her blood The Epistle of Hyppolitus vnto Phaedra If modest lines send out a modest smile and those immodest vows you dedicate Vnto my youth youths frailâ—y to beguile my vertuous blossoms to extenuate What should I write or in what tempred stile should I describe the ruine of my starâ— Since vertue is my centre truth the scope At which I aime the leuell of my hope I will not call you wanton but you seeme too too respectles of your glorious fame That once in Creet for bewty deem'd a Queene should now grow carelesse to eclipse the same O better fruits should in that groue be seene then to neglect the glory of your name Minos esteemed was more pure more iust then to expose his house to shamefull lust Turne to your spouse my father and obsâ—rue his worth his meâ—its and disclaime your vow See what respect your Theseus doth deserâ—e who consecrates his loue life to you Then I am sure you will be Ioth to swerue from your allegeance which is Theseus dew He thinkes him blest in you O doe not then impaire the blessing of such blessed men But if you will distaine my fathers bed make it a brothel prostitute to sinne Rest well assur'd I le neuer heare it said that I his sonne that leudnesse did begin To poynâ— the prime rose or to see it fade within his bed where I haue nourish'd been For ill it would be seeme both him and me that his gray head should weare my liuerie Let not the glory of your ancient house attainted be or dazed by your staine For after ages would speake worse of vs and this our shame would euermore remaine Which could not chuse but grow pernicious to the renowme your Theseus did attaine That he who many monsters vanquished should let a monster liue within his bed Employ those thoughts so wantonly inclin'd to th' comfort of your spouse let him receaue Th' elixir of your loue anew resin'd your loues the haruest which your Lord doth craue Then keepe not from him that which is assigned by powers supernall for his worth to haue Adore no shrine but his let mine alone I am his image he and I are one How ill would it be seeme distastfull youth to wrong the winter of his reuerend age Whom if not gracelesse would it not moue to'ruthâ— to sâ—â—le his bed Whose nie-spent Pilgrimage Craues pitty by prescription grac'd bs truth and vertues colours making fam his page To follow euery action with her breath to giue him life when seaz'd vppon by death Looke at the trophies Cressa doth possesse times monumentall characters of worth And you shall see his spoiles deserue no lesse then adoration deifi'd on earth Since euery act proclaimes his mightinesse as if descended from Ioues diuine breath His wars his conquest each expresse his merit indude with more then Adamantine spirit Leaue of inuiting your Hyppolitus to festiue banquets of incestuous meeting Well loues he Phaedra better Theseus then to wrong age with such licentious greeting To make his owne to be most trecherous the sowrest tast from him that seemd his sweeting In working shame 'gainst him who first sustained far more for me then in me is contained Much do I wonder how you should conceiue such a suspicious thought of my neglect Vnto my fathers age or how you haue grounded â—he reasons of your fowle suspect That I his childe my childehood should depraue affecting that which loue cannot effect Which loathed pleasures loath'd they are God wot to vse those sports which Nature fancieth not These 60 pastimes which I follow yeelde content without repentance heere 's no Parents shame No worlds Rumor dangers imminent haue no repose mongst those admired fame Followes the Court and places eminent each seeking how they might dilate their name But I respectlesse of Fames admiration reape the content of harmelesse recreation Heere steepy clifts and heauen-aspiring Hilles Yeeld a sweet aier to relish my delight There pleasant springs from whence sweet streames destills to quench my thirst and when the glomie night Shuts vp the raies of Phoebus rest we still till rosie cheek'd Aurora shew her light Then we addresse vs to our sports againe For where we take delight there is no paine Then pardon me if pâ—rdon I may aske that knowes no other pleasure then is heere That neuer tooke vpon me any taske but the pursuing of the harmelesse Deere I need not shame my blush requires no maske I haue no obiects of affection neere But the true splendor of a Natiue face not mix'd with colours to augment her grace If Ariadne desolate forlorne should heare of your intendments what would she Reply but ieast that he who had forsworne those solemne vowes which should obserued be Hath well deseru'd to weare his wantons horne that dedicates her selfe to luxurie O sie for shame let shame represse that sinne which not repress'd will shame both you and him How glad would Ariadne heare of this who rests deiected rob'd of that same Gem Which you respect not she conceiu'd a blisse in his sweet smile whose sweetnesse did regaine Her much prisd loue her spels explan'd no lesse In the subduing him who more had slaine Then any monster that in Crâ—te was bred yet by her Art was soone discomfited But she vnhappy she as Bacchus would depriu'd of him for whom such paneâ—s she tooke In Chios left neere after to behold her darling Theseus who you know forsooke Her much distress'd distresses did enfold the very mansion pitch'd on 62 high to looke At that vnhappy place where Theseus left her whose absent steps all comfort had bereft her Then you that are preferr'd before her loue set not at sale the treasure you possesse Let Ariadnes exile something moue that fickle minde of yours whose wantonnesse Seemes more transparant in that you approue more of my loue then of his excellence Whose beautious
of his happie state VVhere Hero smiles to grapple with her deere Iealous of nothing for no cause of feare Can crosse loues action there 's no Helespont But the sweet relish of a Nectar fount Hight the Castalian fount which Gods adore where hauing drunke thei 're neuer thirsty more By this renowmed brooke shall he and I prattle of loue and parents cruelty Hang not the willow token of disdaine vpon our Toome for that each country swaine Can set vpon his shrine let Venus tree the louely mirtle shew our constancie If you want any rites or solemne hestes which may be seem our graues the birds protests Each in their order to solemnise them and gods themselues for to eternize them Each mourning Turtle hauing lost her make will mourning make resort for Venus sake And sweet Leucothoe will represent of Vmolus odours a delicious sent The Nighterne owle that night wil cease from prey howling by night as she did howle by day The little Batt though fearefull heretofore will flocke amongst the rest and feare no more Thus euery Bird for it is Gods desire will with their presence decke our funerall fire To purge our guilt dame Venus promis'd me she le goe to heauen with lowe and bended knee And well I know Ioue Venus loues so well he will belieue what tale so ere she tell Then for her loue let Venus altars smoke and in each corner of her Temple looke No ornament which best may her be-fit Be there a wanting but to perfect it You know our Cittie much relies on her for by her succour no distresse can sturre The prosperous sailes of our prosperitie but like a sterne she 's euer fixed nie To rid her from those rocks vnto the shore in liew whereof we do her shrine adore Yet ere I die I must take leaue of you you sacred mansions which my woes renew Thou oliue-tree that planted was so nie vnto my fathers house where I came by This last vnhappie night thou render vine whose supple slips these fingers oft did twine Thou 33 rosie border set with roses fayre to which each morne I vsed to repaire And rob thee of thy store to bewtifie my haplesse tire with crimson puritie Farewell at once farewell long may the dew of siluer hair'd Aurora water you Long may you flourish this I onely craue that with your flowres each morne you deck my graue Such sweetes such fragrant roses represent that your repose may make it redolent Send out your spicy odours and attend with Hyble fruites vpon my bleeding friend For manie time and oft hath he and I chas'd one another full lasciuiously And if he chaunc't to be too slow in running I would hold 34 back and linger for his comming But of all monuments I bid a dew broad shadowing beech-trees to the sight of you You many times haue yeelded sweet repose vnto our loue and seasoned haue our woes By your contented shades blest be you euer and like Elisian-shades fade may you neuer O many times haue we two sported there for we alone were priuiledged there And twisting nose-gaies we our flowers would hide them lest by some Satyre we should be espide Oft would we crop sweete flowers and hauing cut within our wicker baskets we would put them And when we more had gathered then we needed we gathred still for so our loue exceeded That euery flower we cropt we did apply vnto the flower of our virginitie For if such flowers such sweetnesse did bestowe flowers are much sweeter that do spring belowe Fare-well thou spacious plaine amongst the rest I haue no cause but to respect thee best For manie time and oft haue we two plaide at Barli-breake but now that sports decai'd Full many secret corners dost thou yeelde for Louers sports within thy louely field And thou vnhappy Pine that mounts so hie as if thou meant by height to tutch the skie Thou mai'st repine at fates that murdred me since Thysbees hand each morne did cherish thee Oft haue I planted grafts within thy stemme which now are growne so high they shadowe men And with a 35 Water pot which I did bring each morne by time I made thine arms to spring But now poore Pine pine maist thou now and die for none that I know cherish thee but I Now shall thy shadowing branches fall away their falling leues to winters fury paie And none remaines there now to pittie thee When I am dead that liuing nourisht thee But be content shed teres in loue of me and when thou hear'st my death deiected be Cast down some withered leues send them hither portending thus much we must die together This if thou dost I will thee thankfull call and wil with Laurel thy sad head empall That though thou die yet that thou diest with me in after-times still honoured thou maist be And thou straite chinke to which full many time we made repaire through thee our loue did shine And spearst her beames farewell for neuer more shall we resort to thee as heretofore Thou wast the author of our first vndoing for by thy meanes thou gauest vs means of woing Giuing eyes liberty which eyes so wounded that by their passions passions new rebounded Yet we do thank thee for thy fore-past loue for by our deaths the gods themselues approue Our constant minds recorded which must be in heauens conuentions to our memorie O happy thou whilst our two fragrant breaths made thee so rich impouerisht by our deaths For this I thinke this is my prophesie nere shall such lips bestowe their breath on thee When thou shalt heare of our discording end some softned teares vpon our funeralls spend Let thine hard marble be dissolv ' to streames of liquid water since those radiant beames Which our reflecting eyes the marble gaue might pierce him more then euer Lyricks haue The sauage beasts whose natures were made tame at the rehearsall of sweet Amphions name What then should Bewtie whose attractiue power commands stones serpenâ—s sweet budding flowr What should the Splendor of faire Beawties eie act since such acts were done by harmonie Open your flinty bosome let remorse shed riuolets of teres vpon my coarse Or if you will not so at least restraine your ayrie chinke and shut it vp againe Let not such Monuments liue when we die for they'â—e augment our Parents iealousie That as we lov'd kiss'd toy'd when we 're liuing so we may loue kisse toy at lifes depriuing Then shut that crany vp left after time impute the fault vnto that chinke of thine This last record by Thysbe thus recorded bred floods of teres for teres their sighs afforded the Balme-trees wept their teres concrete in one distilled into th'substance of a stone Which stone it seemes did after couer them for after times found it laid ouer them With many faire inscription which did shew of loue recorded neuer none more true Then this of Thysbe and her louing mate sâ—pposing mutuall death a blessed state A