To love where love should be inspired Since there 's no more to be desired In this great glory and great gladness Thinkst thou to have no touch of sadness Good fortune gave me not such glory To mock my love or make me sory If my firm love I were denying Tell me with sighs wouldst thou bedying Those words in jest to hear thee speaking For very griefe my heart is breaking Yet wouldst thou change I pray thee tell me In seeing one that doth excell me O no for how canst thou aspire To more then to thy owne desire Such great affection thou dost bear me As by thy words thou seemst to swear me Of thy desert to which a Debter I am thou maist demand this better Sometimes me thinks that I should swear it Sometimes me thinks thou shouldst not hear it Onely in this the pip doth greive me And thy desire not to believe me Sir yours very dubiously affectionated not to be cammanded or waited on by you c. The Lover being discontented at the absence of his Mistress he being in the City she in the Countrcy Dearest THe lesser people of the aire conspire to kep thee from mee Philomel with higher And sweeter notes wooes thee to weep her rape Which would appease the gods change her shape The early Larke preferring for soft rest Obsequious duty leaves his downy nest And doth to thee harmonious duty pay expecting from thy eyes the break of day From which the Owle is frighted and doth rove As never having felt the warmth of love In uncouth vaults and the chill shades of night Not ' biding the great lustre of thy sight With him my Fate agrees not viewing thee I 'm lost in mists at best but Meteors see Soul of sweetness thy humble creature c. The Lover angry at his Mistress unsufferable contempt may if he will thus vent himself in an invective manner Scornful Tit SInce just disdaine began to rise And cry revenge for spiteful wrong What once I prais'd I now despise And think my love was all too long I tread to durt that scornful pride Which in thy looks I have descride Thy beauty is a painted skin For fooles to see their faces in Thy eyes that some as stars esteeme From whence themselves they say take light Like to the foolish fire I deeme That leads men to their death by night Thy Words and Oaths are light as wind And yet far lighter is thy mind Thy friendship is a broken reed And thou a gigling maukes indeed My owne and can command my self H. D The Lover betwixt hope and despaire to attaine his Mistress love she telling him she hath vowed never to marry Dearest mistress EVen as my hand my pen to paper laies My trembling hand my pen from paper staies Lest that thine eys which shining made me love you Should frowning on my suit bid cease to love you So that my nurfing murth'ring pen affords A grave a cradle to my new-born words But whilst like clouds tofs'd up and down by aire I wracked hang 'twixt hope and sad despaire Dispaire is beaten vanquisht from the feild And unto conqu'ring hope my heart doth yeild If of my eyes you also could bereave me As you already of my heart deceive me Or could shut up my ravisht ears through which You likewise did my inchanted heart bewitch To root out love all means you can invent Were all but labour lost and time ill spent For as these sparks being spent which fire procure The fire doth brightly burning still indure Though absent so your sparkling eyes remove My heart still burnes in endless flames of love Then strive not gainst the stream to no effect But let due love yeild love a due respect Nor seek to ruine what your self begun Or loose a knot that cannot be undon Why were you fair to be sought of so many If you live chaste not to be lov'd by any For if that Nature love to Beauty offers And Beauty shun the love that Nature proffers Then either unjust Beauty is to blame With scorne to quench a lawful kindled flame Or else unlawfully if love we must And be unlov'd then Nature is unjust A marble heart under an amorous look Is of a flattering bait the murth'ring hook For from a Ladies shining frowning eyes Death's sable dart with Cupids arrow flies Since then from chastity and beauty spring Such various streams where each a bide as kin Let Tyrant Chastitie's usurped throne Be made the seat of beauties grace alone And let your beauty be with this suffis'd That my heart's City is by it surpriz'd Raze not my heart nor to your beauty raise Blood-gilded Trophies of your beauties praise For wisest Conquerours do Towns desire On honourable tearmes and not with fire Cruel faire one thy bleeding servant T. P. The Lover having word brought him of his Mistress departure Dearest I Am engag'd to sortow and my heart Feels a distracted rage Though you depart And leave me to my feares let love in spight Of absence our divided souls unite But you must go the me lancholy Doves Draw Venus chariot hence the sportive loves That wont to wanton here hence with you flie And like false friends forsake me when I die For but a walking Tombe what can he bee Whose best of life is sorc'd to part with thee Bright Goddess your humble admirer The Lover absent from his Mistress beyond the Seas sollicites her thus My dearest Mistress STar of my life if these sad lines do hap The raging fury of the Sea to scape O let your hand then be their blessed Port From whence they may unto your cies resort Fountain of bliss yet well-spring of my wo O would I might not justly tearm you so My dearest dear behold the portraicture Of him that doth all kind of woes indure Of him whose head is made a hive of woes Whose swarming number dayly greater grows Of him whose senses like a rack are bent With divers motions my poor heart to rent Whose mind a mirrour is which onely shows The ugly image of my present woes Whose memory 's a poyson'd knife to teare The ever-bleeding wound my brest doth bear And that poor heart so faithful constant true That onely loves and serves and honours you Is like a feeble Ship which toine and rent The mast of hope being broke and tackling spent Reason the Pilot dead the stars obscured By which alone to sail it was inured No Port No Land no comfort once expected All hope of safety utterly neglected With dreadful terror tumbling up and down Visions uncertain waves to mountaines grown I must confess that when I do consider How ill alas how ill agree together So peerless beauty and so fierce a minde So hard an inside and so soft a rinde A heart so bloody and so white a brest Such proud disdain with so mild looks supprest And how my dear O would it had been never Accursed word O would it had been ever How once I say
sue Follow intreat nay fly to you But if stiff and strong you stand You may treat them at command But lye down the pretty Elves Will streight fall under you of themselves Like my Spaniel beaten they Will lick your lips and with you play This is the sole reason why They love me so doggedly Women are slippery as Eels Their mindes are light as are their heels And every one's for what she feels JACOMO Who would trust a woman when They are the onely curse of men Syrens sing but to entice The men to a fools paradice Hyenas spake but to betray To certain ruine so do they Crocodiles shed teares of slaughter Women weep when they mean laughter Inconstant cruel false unkind Are attributes that suit their mind A Dialogue between GALFREDO and ROSANA ROSANA SIr I cannot sinde how I am guilty of any cause may prompt you to suspect either my love on duty Gal. I believe thee dear Rosana but this injunction is so severe and strange it cannot chuse but puzzle thy consent at first Ros Sir make it known I cannot be so flow in the performance of your will as you are to reveal it Gal. Thy breath is far more sweeter then the smoak ascending from the Phenix funeral-pile I could kiss thee even engender on thy lips Ros You were not wont to be thus pleas'd shew me good Sir which way I may require your passion speak the suit you talk on Gal. Dear Rosana I do love thee love thee and would enjoy thee Ros How Sir dare you divulge to me such brutishness indeed the beasts promiscuously do mix but man made in the likeness of the Gods orders his actions to a safer end Fare you well Sir I dare not hear you further A Dialogue between DANDALO and LAURIANA DANDALO DEarest Mistress when shall my ardent love be made compleatly happy by the enjoying that which it makes the object of desire shall this fair morning be consecrated to Hymen Lau. Worthy Sir so great is the Antipathy betwixt your birth and fortune and my condition whose inferiour aime dares not be levell'd higher then its equality makes cowards policy fear to be sole and true excuse of my delay for Sir were you once satiated with the thing you call pleasure your edge taken off I know not what there is in me can whet new appetite or revive a dying love Dan. Why I 'll keep thee like my wife be constant to my pleasure be sure I 'll serve thy will with full content my credit 's safe to keep a Mistress youths excuse may serve but an inferiour match brands my posterity Lau. Sir I do hate your base desires may your soul lusts still keep you companie until abuse and shame teach you amendment what a brave Orator is sin how it can paint it self with golden words of pleasure and delight Dan. I never could brook these women-preachers Fare you well Lady Lau. Would you could Sir so soon take leave of Lust A rough Souldier in discourse with a soft Lady ALLINDRO and IPHIGENIA ALLINDRO NOw Lady are you in hast or do you slight a presence may challenge your observance I am come confident of my merit to inform you you ought to yeild me the most strict regard your love can offer Iphi. Sir I am not though I affect not self-conceited boast so ignorant of my worth but I deserve from him who will enjoy me a respect more fair and court like Allin The blunt phrase of war is my accustom'd language yet I can tell you y' are very handsome and direct your looks with a becoming posture I must speak in the Heroick Dialect as I use to court Bellona when my desires aime at a glorious victory Iphi. You 'll scarce conquer a Lady with this stern discourse Mars did not woo the Queen of love in armes but wrapt his batter'd limbs in Persian silkes or costly Tyrian purples spoke in smiles to win her tempting beauty Allin I 'll bring well-manag'd troops of Souldiers to the fight draw big battalia's like a moving field of standing corn blown one way by the winde against the frighted enemy the Van shall save the Rere a labour and by me marshal'd shall fold bright conquest in the curles Peneian Daphne who did fly the Sun shall give her boughes to me for ravishment to invest my awful front and this shall prostrate spight of all opposition your nice soul to my commanding merit Iphi. These high tearms were apt to fright an enemy or beget terrour in flinty bosomes Can you think a timerous Lady can affect her feare yield the security of her peace and life to the protection of her horrour you must not perswade my thoughts that you who vary to the scene of love can act it presently Allin Slighted Lady 't is a contempt inhumane and deserves my utmost scorne I must finde one more pliant Some person of honour being enamoured on a country-Genilewoman a dispute supposed between MONTALTO and GENTILLA MONTALTO YOu have no fear Gentilla to trust your self with me Gent. I can Sir forget my self so much as to forget you are my Lord c. and in a wilderness could have no thought with the least prejudice upon your vertue Mon. You have the greater innocence at home my intents are fair enough and you may stand the danger of a question pray how old are you Gent. Although it be not held a welcome complement to our sex my duty bids me not dispute I am Fifteen my mother says my Lord. Mon. And are you not in love Gen. I must not charge my self with so much Ignorance to answer that I understand not what it meanes I know the word but never could apply the sence or finde in it a passion more then ordinary Mon. Cupid hath lost his quiver then he could not be arm'd and let you scape whose sole captivity would be more glory then the conquest made as Poets feigne upon the Gods Gen. 'T is language with which you are pleas'd to mock your humble hand-maid Mon. But this assures him blind Gen. He would deserve to lose his eyes indeed if he should aime a shaft at me Mon. Lady you have a heart Gen. To which no other flame can approach then that which shall light it to obedience of your will and my good mothers Mon. Obedience to my will what if it were my will that you should love Gen. Sir I do love Mon. Love with the warm affection of a Mistress Gen. Him whom I affect Sir must not presume to fold me in his arms till Hymens torches shall burn bright Him whom I love must be my husband Sir Mon. What if some great man court you for his friend This age affords few women but they will now and then hold up their laps and let love enter in a golden showre But I shall take a fitter time for this Your servitor Gen. Your Hand-maid A rich but simple Gentleman thus wooes and wins a counterfeit Lady who not unwillingly
do testifie the least unto me and that by reason of my affection but I chuse rather to be little obedient to them to be the more faithful to you Live you then in this assurance if you will not that I die and become assured likewise that my life shall sooner be extinct then that fair flame that dayly does consume it Divine Mistress your humble creature happy to serve you A. S. A Maid or Widow having afforded her Suiter a final answer perhaps contemned and affronted him may upon change of thoughts seek toregain his love thus Worthy Sir IF there be no greater Cor'sive unto the mind of one then that which forceth us despight of our selves to seek to those whom we have before and that without just cause notoriously offended then certainly am I the most wretched creature living for as now there is no means left for me to escape from ruine but onely by thy help sweet friend alone who hast more reason to wish my overthrow then my good fortune or health any way at all in that thou hast found such extream and barbarous discourtefie in me Nevertheless if thygenerous and gentle mind cannot feel this injury done unto thee by a silly Maid then I beseech thee think no more upon my offence but burying it deep under thy feet do that for my sake which the bearer hereof shall make thee privy to and then shalt thou quickly perceive what great satisfaction I will make thee for my fault committed granting unto thee that which thou shalt most desire Give credit unto this Messenger assuring thy self that I am Thine most obliged M. L. A Captain Colonel or common Souldier falling in love with some gentlewoman thus manifests his passions Fair gentlewoman IF it be an irrevocable doom that men be they never so valiant or couragious shall be subject unto a braver and more livelier force then their owne I hope you will not marvel overmuch that I humbly yeild to your divine graces and as a captive your to beauty prostrate my self a prisoner at your feet But as mortal men deserve no countenance from the heavens until they have by many proofs testified their faithful and dutious service towards them so I will not presume to importune you to affect me at all much less to yeild me any guerdon for my paines until that by my dutious service I show my self in some part worthy your gratious smiles Mine onely request to you is that it would please you to have me in your lively remembrance and not to entertaine another as your loyal Servant before you shall have just occasion to discard and give me over for as no doubt it will be little pleasing unto you hereafter to repent you that you have made a worse choice then of my self so it will be far more bitter unto me then a most desperate death to be discharged from serving her whom I love more then my owne heart and cherish more then my owne life yea then my owne soul which is now wholly yours seeing that he that is the owner of the same is the inviolable slave to your incomparable self A. R. LETTERS in Verse With other curious Conceits and fine Fancies To the Reader Behold Apollo doth invite thee Yet a third time to delight thee A pleasant Tempe planted well With Flowers of odoriferous smell In the midst whereof do chill Aganippe waters drill The Muses whose sweet melody Drawes Jove down from the arched Sky Charm Pluto's self and all the Fiends To heaven climbes to hell descends Hand in hand now in a Ring Invite thee for to hear them sing Enter and take thy free delight And ' cause perhaps thy Appetite Cannot with one dish sated be I give thee here Varietie The Lover being forced from his Mistress presence Mistress BAnisht from you I charg'd the nimble wind My unseen messenger to speak my mind In am'rous whispers to you but my Muse Lest the unruly spirit should abuse The trust repos'd in him said it was due To her alone to sing my love to you Hear her then speak bright Lady from whose eye Shot lightning to his heart who joys to dye A Martyr in your flames O let your love Be great and firm as his then nought shall move Your setled faiths that both may grow together Or if by Fate divided both may wither Be constant as y' are faire for I foresee A glorious Triumph waits o' th' victorie Your love will purchase shewing us to prize A true content there onely love hath eyes Divine Lady yours more then his owne c. The Lover being anxious of his Mistress constancy Faire SWeet if you like and love me still And yeild me love for my good will And do not from your promise start When your fair hand gave me your heart If dear to you I be As you are dear to me Then your I am and will be ever Nor time nor place my love shall sever But faithful still I will persever Like the constant marble-stone Loving but you alone But if you favour more then me Who loves thee still and none but thee If others do the harvest gaine That 's due to me for all my paine If that you love to range And often for to change Then get you some new-fangled mate My doating love shall turne to hate Esteeming you though too too late Not worth a pebble-stone Loving not me alone The Lover being transported in his fancy complements in an high stile with his Mistress FOrsake with me the earth my fair And travel nimbly through the aire Till we have reacht th' admiring skies Then lend sight to those heav'nly eyes Which blind themselves make creatures see And taking view of all When we Shall find a pure and glorious sphere We 'll fix like stars for ever there Nor will we still each other view We 'll gaze on lesser stars then you See how by their weak influence they The strongest of mens actions sway In an inferiour orbe below We 'll see Calipso loosely throw Her hair abroad as she did weare The self-same beauty in a Beare As when she a cold Virgin stood And yet inflam'd Joves lustful blood Then look on Leda whose faire beams By their reflection gild those streams Where first unhappy she began To play the wanton with a Swan If each of these loose beauties are Transform'd to a more beautious star By the adulterous lust of Jove Why should not we by purer love Life of my life a devoted servant to your excellent perfections c. Dearest Let one griefe harme us Let one joy fill us Let one love warme us Let one death kill us A Maid or widow returnes this merry answer to her hot Lover whom she affect not I See thee gentle Franke most merry Though firm thy faith and sound as berry Love gave me joy and fortune gave it As my desire could wish to have it What didst thou wish tell me sweet lover Whereby thou mightst such joy recover
your pastures and come neer me Come away you need not fear By my soul as I affect you I have nought that can infect you O then come Hear a tongue That in discord keeps a part With a wo-surcharged heart Ne'r was Swain on plain more loved Or could do more feats then I Yet one griefe hath now removed All my whilome Jollity All my layes be quite forgotten Sheep-hook broken pipe bag rotten O then come Hear a tongue That with flatt'ring speech doth call To take long farewel of all I am not as once I was When my Chloris first did suite me Nor when that same red-hair'd Lass Fair Bellina did invite me To a garden there to play Cull kiss clip and toy all day O then come Hear a tongue That in wooing termes was flowing But through wo hath spoyl'd his wooing All I can or will desire you When my breath of life is spent That in love you would inter me For it will my soul content Near unto my Father herse And bestow some comely verse On my Tombe Then my tongue Shall throb out this last adieu Ne'r were truer Swain then you A Dialogue between two Lovers Question WEre ever chaste and honest hearts Expos'd unto so great distresses Answer Yes they that have the worthiest parts Most commonly have worst successes Great fortunes follow not the best It 's Vertue that is most distrest Then Fortune why do we admire The glory of thy great excesses Since by thee what men acquire Thy works and not their worths expresses Nor dost thou raise them for their good But t' have their ills more understood The Authors suit to Cupid I Will not love I love to rest Cupid is an ungentle guest Except without his weapon's he Will lodge in my tyr'd Phantasie Better stand the shock of thunder Which cleaves hardest Rocks in sunder Then oppose the sturdy blow When the blind Boy bends his Bow Prethee Cupid cease to smile 'T is a courtship base and vile To laugh and stab unto the heart I will praise thee and thy dart While at others thou dost throw it I love to hear on 't not to know it A Salyrical Description of Love LOve is of man the fatal rock On which his ship of ease doth knock And splits him with the sturdy shock He never yet felt any pain That hath not known the lovers vain Whose greatest griefe is greatest gain No Ill so nigh the heart doth sit As doth this fierce tormenting fit Death is more pleasing far then it Our souls with hope it doth torment Whilst nought but massacres are sent To dye is better far content Love then most cruel void of grace Ought to be curst in every place No God but Devil in this case The Changes Or all think not of love alike Worthi's hee the bright of day Who doth loyal love obey CVpid onely I do love Him I worship still above Happi's he that by the same Wisdome to himself doth gain Worthi's he the bright of day Who doth loyal love obey O how sweet is that warm fire Which our hearts heats with desire To our souls no sweetness is Halfe so dulcet as is this Worthi's he c. Blessed love without all crime Two souls pleaseth at one time Then doth love his lover right When his love he doth requite Worthi's he c. Of two souls he makes but one In two bodies all alone Love more happy cannot bee Then when we loving couples see Worthi's he c. Pleasure none upon the ground Like to love is to be found Pleasures pass as transitory Love doth still remain in glory Worthi's he c. The answer being a contradiction of the former assertion Worthy is he of dark night That in Cupid doth delight NOthing in this world can be Sweeter then our libertie Which love often takes away And then all our joyes decay Worthy is he of dark night That in Cupid doth delight Love doth never sorrow miss Who grieves male-contented is But love thus doth Lovers sting Doth not love then sorrow bring Worthi's he c. Who that soul hath ere seen eas'd Upon whom fierce love hath ceaz'd The Mistress and the Servant both Oft through love their lives do loath Worthi's he c. Gods from heaven have chas'd and sent This vile Boy us to torment Nor are we him to indure That such plagues doth us procure Worthi's he c. Then most wretched him I deem That of this blind Boy doth esteem Worser plague there 's not of Ills That consumes still yet ne'er kills Worthy is he of dark night That in Cupid takes delight A Farewel to Love To my most courteous Friend Mr. John Phillipson Love fare thee well live will I now Quiet amongst the green-wood bow ILl betide him that love seeks He shall live but with lean cheeks He that fondly falls in love A slave still to griefe shall prove Love fare thee well live will I now Quiet amongst the green-wood bow What an Ass and fool is he That may and yet will not go free I can love her that is fair But so as if I grasp'd the aire Love fare thee well c. I like not these Dames so smooth As would have men court and love For as constant I them find As the Sea is or the wind Love fare thee well c. Once I lov'd one that was kind But she did what pleas'd her mind Better 't is ne'r to be born Then live as anothers scorn Love fare thee well c. To lovers what good doth the Sun If by his beams they be undon Love 's as bitter as is Rue Blest are those that ne'er it knew Love fare thee well c. A fond Lover doth not merit Name or fame of man t' inherit Since he is foe to his own health And huggs diseases as his wealth Love fare thee well live will I now Quiet amongst the green-wood bow A Rhapsody Now must the Gods above And all the heavens that move Of my Mistress praises sing Such as through the earth may ring Now must we frame chaplets fine And with the Lawrel green combine The fruitful Olive that our haire May yeild a persume through the aire My Love maist thou alwaies flourish Although my self do die and perish To the same If nothing faire I see but what 's thy face If thy bright look is loadstone to my eyes If thy rare parts as blessings I embrace Have I not reason then in dutious wise Thy gracious self for to implore Since thee a Goddess I adore He that finds salve to cure him of his griefe By a fair hand of that shall he not make Account when he thereby may get reliefe Whereby his sickness from him he may shake The wounded Deer to herbs doth go Love wounds us love must cure our wo. So then in this my worse then captive state These lines I offer to thy deity Not doubting but though hapless be my fate I from my self shall find some remedy Of
thee I beg some help to have In thee it lies to kill or save The dying Lover NOw that Boreas with his cold Doth this County round infold And his Isicles displaies Whilst the verdure green he slayes I must end my life ere long With a sad and mournsul song Now that more then cruel pain Makes my hopes to be but vain And that love makes me distil Salt tears signes of my kind will Needs now must my lives term end Unto the heavens to ascend Now that such is my sad care That I 'm droven to dispaire That cross Fates me strive to greive Why shòuld I desire to live Better 't is to dye then still Follow us what works more ill Now that sighs and sobs and teares The subject of my verses bears And whilst this plague usurps my heart I 'll try if I can make it smart By a death that one day may Make me victor every way Now that skies with lightning blast Force my pleasures not to last And that the sun no more doth shine I must yeild to tempest Time Loyally I lay me down And go willing to my Tomb. Now that cold and chilly fear Still doth dog me everywhere Seek I must by cruelty For to end my misery For an end to every thing Gentle death none else doth bring Now that burning fire o'r-bright Hath my sense consumed quite Leaving nought with me but groanes Thus I do rid all at once The Lover to his Mistress LUckloss and lucky both at once am I With fear and hope I tremble as a reed Luckless by beauty thine by destiny Lucky because I am thy slave indeed For then thy face there 's nothing is more faire Then thy sweet eyes nought more divine or rare One while I hope another while I fear Nor can there any thing my fancy please It grieves me to see the heavens though clear So much I doubt thy favour to displease Then thy fair face there 's nothing is more fair Then thy sweet eyes nought more divine or rare The united Lovers WHo ever saw so faire a sight Love and Vertue met aright And that wonder Constancy Like a comet to the eye Sound aloud so rare a thing That all the Hills and Vales may ring Look lovers look with passion see If that any such there be As there cannot but be such Who do feel this noble touch Sound aloud so rare a thing That all the hills and vales do ring The Lover to his Mistress upon her apparelling her self in black SInce that thou hast victory Ore my dearest liberty Why with black that form of thine Dost thou cloath so rich and fine If thou wear'st it for to witness As a friend my sad distress Happy I since for my sake Thou the colour sad dost take Sweet my life content be thou That this black weed I bear now Hapless was my life and so Sad my life i' th' end should show To me these sad cloaths alone Appertain as signes of mone Nature in one body ne'r Black and white at once doth bear From my black all hate be wide With which I my crosses hide He that in despair doth rest Black doth bear for colour best Cruel this not colour 's thine Since thine eyes bright and divine Sacred as the hallowed day Chase the gloomy night away My heart wounded thou dost make The habit of a conquerour take And let me alone with this Since my fitting colour ' t is Live thou in eternal glory While I dye as desp'rate sory Whilst this dye thou put'st on thee Thou depriv'st of comfort me Change then this same weed of dole Fit for a departing soul Give to me the colour black With it the flitting Ghosts to track The forsaken Lovers complaint 1 UNto the soundless vaults of hell below I 'll with my greifes remediless amaine Whilst frighted Ghosts as pitiful shall show And flinty rocks remorse take of my paine Yea death it self my bitter paines shall know To witness that my life in hell hath lame For Lovers true can never dye indeed Whose loyal hearts a heavenly fire doth feed 2 My body laid along within my grave Shall show its tears its torment and its love And for my mind did never change nor wave Far brighter then the sun the same shall prove By me my Ladies picture I will have Which though being dead afresh will make me love Like to the fire in ashes covered Which though it show no flame yet is not dead 3 Love is not tam'd by death but still doth live Although that life doth flit and pass away Then Lady think not though by death thou grieve My body that thou love canst make decay As long as fancy doth by beauty drive Into my soul no this will ' bide for aye Within my heart the beauty printed is Love in my Tombe to harbour will not miss 4 Thinkst thou I 'll leave to love thee being dead When thy faire portraicture revives my sight Voices from Tombs they say have some men lead Restoring them unto their senses right Then how much more ought love be honoured Whom then the greatest Gods is more of might Then think not when my corps bury'd you see That from thy love as thou wouldst I am free 5 List to my monument and thou shalt hear How I will sigh for without soul thy fire Shall hold me up whilst living I appear Being dead as 'fore my death I did desire Nor deadly pangs thereof will I once fear Nor part from thee as thou wouldst fain require For in thy life so cruel th' hast not been But in my death as loyal I 'll be seen 6 Yet is my fortune better far then thine For without breach of saith as thou hast done I shall have leave to plaine those Ills of mine Thou thinkst in killing me a martyrdome More tedious then before me to assigne But th' art deceiv'd a wrong race hast thou run For whilst I liv'd thy rigour was my bane But being dead I am freed from my pain The despairing Lover ELsewhere declare Thy wosul care And leave the skies Thy wosul plaints Thy heart that taints They do despise See they look red With rage o'respread And horror too 'T is they in griefe Without reliefe That us undoo He is a sot That thinketh not That from that place Through destiny Most wretchedly Comes our disgrace Then better 't is For death to wish And end our daies Then still in strife Lead such a life So plagu'd alwaies For death 's our friend When he doth end Our bitter smart And through the same Doth rid our paine With his keen dart A Knell GOme list and hark The bell doth toul For some but new Departing soul And was not that Some ominous fowle The Bat the Night Crow or Skreech-owle To these I hear The wild wolfe howle In this black night That seems to scowle All these my black Book shall inrowle For hark still still The bell doth towl For some but now
dost give no birth Yet with them both thou dost support thine arms Lyons we have not as in other parts But we have men with Beares and Lyons hearts A Song FOolish I why should I grieve To sustaine what others feel What suppose frail women leave Those they lov'd should I conceal Comforts rest From my brest For a fickle brittle woman No no no Let her go Such as these be true to no man 2. Long retired hast thou been Sighing to the barren Rocks Nor by sheep nor Shepherd seen Now returne unto thy flocks For shame away Do not stay With these moving loving women They remove From their love Such as these do oft undo men ODES ODE I. A Dialogue between a Lover and his Mistress Lov. HEnce loose alluring looks no more of love No more thy seeming vertues shall deceive Mis I know my dearest speaks but this to prove me How well I love thou thinkst it doth not grieve me Lov. Thy beauty was a bait to draw mine eye Mis And with thy look my heart was set on fire Lov. I thought to find a suiting soul in thee Mis Thy love 's the I mit that bounds my desire Lo. Thy loosness makes my love's date now expire Mis Where then thy vowes Lov. Gone with thy seeming worth Mis And made to me Lov. no vertue brought them forth Which failing now no fewel feeds my fire Mis My heart 's the harbour where thy hopes must stay Lov. The ground not good the Anchor draws away ODE 2. Adrastus Clariana Adrastus Dost not thou Clariana read Am'rous volumes in my eyes Doth not every motion plead What I 'd show and yet disguise Senses act each others part Eyes as tongues reveal the heart Clariana I saw love as lightning break From thy eyes and was content Oft to hear thy silence speak Silent love is eloquent So the sense of learning hears The dumb musick of the sphears Adrastus Then there 's mercy in your kind Listning to an unfeign'd love Or strives he to tame the wind Who would your compassion move No y' are pitious as y' are fair Heaven relents o'recome by pray'r Clariana But loose man's too prodigal In the expence of vowes And thinks to him kingdoms fall When the heart of women bowes Frailty to your armes may yeild Who resists you win the field Adrastus Triumph not to see me bleed Let the Bore chas'd from his den On the wounds of mankind feed Your soft Sex should pity men Malice well may practise art Love hath a transparent heart Clariana Yet is love all one deceit A warm frost a frozen fire She within her selfis great Who is slave to no desire Let youth act and age advise And then love may find his eyes Adrastus Hymen's Torch yeilds a dim light When ambition joynes our hands A proud day but mournful night She sustaines who marries lands Wealth slaves man but for their ore The Indians had been free though poor Clariana And yet wealth the fuel is Which maintaines the Nuptial fire And in honour there is bliss They are immortal who aspire But Truth saies No joyes are sweet But where united hearts do meet Adrastus Roses breath not such a sent To persume the neighb'ring groves As when you affirm content In no spheare of glory moves Glory narrow souls combines Noble hearts love onely joynes ODE 3. A Lover expecting his Mistress presence BRight dew which dost the field adorn As the earth to welcome in the morn Would hang a jewel on each corn Did not the pitious night whose eares Have oft been conscious of my feares Distil you from her eyes as teares Or that my Mistress for your zeal When she her beauties shall reveal Might you to Diamonds congeal If not your pity yet howere Your care I praise ' gainst she appear To make the wealthy Indies here But see shee comes bright lamp o' th' skie Put out thy light the world shall spie A fairer Sun in either eye And liquid pearl hang heavy now On every grass that it may bow In veneration of her brow Yet if the wind should curious be And were I here should question thee He 's full of whispers speak not me But if the busie teltale day Our happy enterview betray Lest thou confess too melt away ODE 4. 1. I Can love and love entirely And can prove a constant friend But I must be lov'd as dearly And as truly to the end For her love no sooner slaketh But my fancy farewell taketh 2. I cannot indure delaying I must have her quickly won Be she nice though not denaying By her leave I then have don For I am not yet at leasure To wait for a doubtful pleasure 3 With beauty I will not be blinded Yet I will none foul affect With wealth I will not be winded If in behaviour be defect Beauty stamed such love dieth Wealth decayed such love flieth 4 Gifts do good yet he is silly That therein expendeth store If he win not tell me will he Not be meerly mockt therefore It is better to be keeping Then to sow not sure of reaping 5 Be she rich and fair and gained If I sickleness do find My desires are quickly wained I can steer with other wind For vertue I have vow'd to chuse her When that failes I will refuse her A Riddle WHat * Bythebird ones thought is understood which flies with such swiftness that it is not seen of any but conjectured known by the outward signes and gestures of body Bird is that so light Her place that never changeth She flies by day and night In all the world she rangeth Over the Sea at once she flies Mounting above the lofty skies She 's never seen by eyes And who doth seek to show her Hath been accounted wise Yet sometimes we do know her Onely the walls by viewing well Of her close house where she doth dwel Another NOr life nor vertue have * The corne which being sown in the earth and seeming dead casteth forth a green blade and in time groweth to be ripe in despight of all stormes and foul weather It nourishetch mankind and therefore is honoured by them as a father I lest I dye I borrow of my buried Trunk chiefe strength Though I am dead ore time yet triumph I Ore time that every thing consumes at length What 's dead disdained is yet all afford Me honour and their chiefe preserver name All men may rightly call me their best Lord Since without me the world they can't maintain Yet though so much good doth from me proceed Yet thankless worldlings do not stick at all To cut me off in summer with great speed And beat me into little powder small Yet had I rather cruelly thus perish Then fail with my best strength mortals to cherish Poesies for Rings THou art my star Be not irregular Without thy love I backward move Thine eyes so bright Are my chiefe light This intimates True Lovers states My life is done When thou
art gone A double Poesie This hath no end My sweetest friend Our loves be so No ending know Poesies upon Bracelets AS love gives life to every part So this gives life unto my heart This chastly lies and lives with me Oh that I might do so with thee Another How might I triumph in my bliss If love were where my Bracelet is For then should love do no such harm To wring my heart but wreath my arm A wish Eies hide my love and do not show To any but to her my notes Who onely doth that cypher know Wherewith we pass our secret thoughts Belye your looks in others sight And wrong your selves to do her right Songs and Sonnets Song 1. TAke O take those lips away That so sweetly were forsworth And those eyes like break of day Lights that do mislead the morn But my kisses bring again Seals of love though seal'd in vain 2. Hide O hide those hills of snow Which thy frozen blossoms beares On whose tops the pinks that grow Are of those that April weares But first set my poor heart free bound in those joy-chaines by thee Song 2. O for a Bow I of rich Canary Fat Aristippus sparkling Sherry Some Nectar else from June's dairy O these draughts would make us merry O for a wench I deal in faces And in other daintier things Tickled am I with her imbraces Fine dancing in such fairy rings O for a plump fat leg of Mutton Veal Lamb Capon Pig and Coney None is happy but a Glutton None an Ass but who wants money Wines indeed and Girles are good But brave victuals seast the blood For wenches wine and lusty cheere Jove would come down to surfeit here Song 3. Tell me Jove should she disdain Whether it were greater pain Silent in thy flames to dye Or say I love and she deny Flames supprest do higher grow Should she scorn when she does know Thy affection thou shalt prove A glorious martyrdom for love Better to loves mercy bow She may burn as well as thou Oh then tim'rous heart proceed For wounds are death that inward bleed Song 4. Charm O charm thou God of sleep Her fair eyes that waking mourn Frightful visions from her keep Such as are by sorrowes born But let all the sweets that may Wait on rest her thoughts obey Fly O fly thou God of love To that brest thy dart did wound Draw thy shaft the smart remove Let her wonted joyes be found Raise up pleasure to a flood Never ebbing new joyes bud Song 5. When that I poor soul was borne I was born unfortunate Presently the Fates had sworne To foretel my hapless state Titan his fair beams did hide Phaebe clipt her Silver light In my birth my mother dide Young and fair in heavy plight And the nurse that gave me suck Hapless was in all her life And I never had good luck Being maid or married wife I lov'd well and was belov'd And forgetting was forgot This a hapless marriage mov'd Greiving that it kills me not With the earth would I were wed Then in such a grave of woes Daily to be buried Which no end nor number knows Song 6. The Fisher-mans Ditty THough the weather jangles With our hooks and angles Our nets be shaken and no fish taken Though fresh Cod and Whiting Are not this day biting Gurnet nor Cunger to satisfie hunger Yet look to our draught Hale the main bowling The Seas have left their rowling The waves their huffing the winds their puffing Up to the top-mast Boy And bring us news of joy Here 's no demurring no fishes stirring Yet something we have caught Song 7. What motions times and changes What waies what uncouth ranges What slights what delusions What gladness in conclusions Have risen of such sorrows One faith yet all these borrowes And one good love assureth And all misfortune cureth And since from griefe they vary Good Fortune come and tarry Song 8. My heart in flames do fry Of thy beauty While I Dye Fie And why Shoulst thou deny Me thy sweet company My braines to teares do flow While all below Doth glow Foe If so How canst thou go About to say me no Song 9. 1. THis Lady ripe and calm and fresh As Eastern Summers are Must now forsake both time and flesh T' add light to some small star 2. Whil'st that alive each star decay'd She may relieve with light But death sends beauty to a shade More cold more dark then night 3. The sawcy faith of man doth blind His pride till it conduce To destine all his abject-kind For some eternall use 4. But ask not bodies doom'd to die To what abode they go Since knowledge is but sorrows Spy It is not safe to know Song 10. The constant Lover TImes change and shall as we do see And life shall have an end But yet my faith shall ever be Whereon mine eyes depend The days and moments and their scope The hours with their changes wrought Are cruel enemies to hope And friends unto a loving thought Thoughts still remain as we do see And hope shall have an end But yet my Faith sha'n't wanting be My hope for to defend Sonnet I. Cupids craft I Play'd with Love Love play'd with me again I mock'd at him but he mock'd me indeed He would not let my heart his art exceed For though a boy yet mocks he doth disdain A friend he is to those that do not fain My jests it seems do true affection breed And now if Love is not reveng'd with speed My heart can witness it with earnest pain That one may love and jest it out again Song II. Being a Pastoral Ditty 1. IN this green mead Mine eyes what do you see The Bagpipe of my Nymph so passing fair Unless my senses dream so should it be For sure this is the Oak where with despair She lean'd unto and here the grass yet lies And field which she did water with her eyes 2. Jove I thee pray if this I do but fear And if my dream do fall out sure or no By all the love to Nympths that thou didst bear Open mine eyes the truth that I may know Help me to pray him green and flow'ry Mead Help me to pray him Oak with branched head 3. This Bagpipe of my Nymph I will devise To hang it here fair Oak to honour thee A worthy Trophee though before mine eyes Lying disgrac'd For tears they cannot see If it be sure or if I dream in vain Spoil'd in this mead with parching sun and rain 4. That gracious Nymph who gave my heart the stroak In this green Mead I saw a heav'nly Prize And if I dream not leaning to that Oak Nay sure I did behold her with mine eyes O that she had but seen me then again Or that I had but seen and dream'd in vain Sonnet II. CVpid was angry with my merry face Because I ever laughed him to scorn And all his followers hapless and forlorn I mockt in publike
be told Mel. Yet I have heard thee heretofore Thy joys in open songs report Erg. I said I had of joy some store But not how much or in what sort Mel. Yet when a joy is in excess It self it will unfold Erg. Thus then my joies I do express I clip my Arnageld Sonnet VII SHe that denies me I would have Who craves me I despise Venus hath power to rule my heart But not to please my eyes Temptations offer'd still I scorn Deny'd I wish them still I 'll neither glut my appetite Nor seek to starve my will Diana double cloath'd offends So Venus naked quite The last begers a surfet and The other not delight That crafty girl shall please me best That No for Yea can say And ev'ry wanton willing kiss Can season with a Nay Song 17. 1. WHen to her Lute Althea sings Her voice revives the leaden strings And doth in highest notes appear As any chaleng'd eccho clear But when she doth of mourning speak Ev'n then her sighs the strings do break 2. And as her Lute doth live or die Led by her passions so must I For when of pleasure she doth sing My thoughts enjoy a sudden spring But if she do of sorrow speak Ev'n fresh my heart the strangs do break Sonnet VIII 1. LIke the Violet which alone Prospers in some happie shade My dear Mistress lives unknown To no looser eye betray'd For she 's to her self untrue Who delights i' th' publike view 2. Such her beauty as no arts Hath enrich'd with borrow'd grace Her high birth no pride imparts For she blushes in her place Folly boasts a noble blood She is noblest being good 3. She 's cautious and ne'er knew yet What a wanton courtship meant Nor speaks loud to boast her wit In her silence eloquent Of her self survey she takes But 'tween men no diff'rence makes Song 18. A Country-Courtship written during my abode at S.r. E. D's house in Wilishire 1. CHloris my onely Goddess and my good Whiter then is th' untrodden snowie way And redder then the rose but late a bud Half blown and pluckt with dew by break of day To view more comely then the Plane-tree's shape And sweeter then the ripe and swelling grape More pleasant then the shade in summer-time Or the sun-beams in winters coldest prime 2. More fresh then any cool and trembling winde Morenoble then the fruit that Orchards yeeld More jocund then the tender Kid by kind When full it skips and traverseth the fields More flowry then the rich and pleasant mead With painted flowers in midst of May bespread More sost then spotless down on Cygnets brest Or the sweet milk and cheese-curds yet unprest 3. Clusters of Grapes do beautify my Vines Some golden purple-red all fair and full Of part whereof I make most dainty wines And part of them I keep for thee to pull And with thy hands most delicate and fair Gather thou may'st ripe Plums by goodly pairs Under the shadow of thy boughes to ease thee 4. Here I have Damsens Nuts and colour'd Peares With Peaches fine that would each eye invite And every tree and fruit this Island bears All for thy service pleasure and delight And as my heart to please thee I have bowed So have all these the self-same office vowed In Autumn if thy husband I might be Chesnuts and Medlers I would keep for thee Sonnet IX The Lover imbracing his Mistress A Bout the husband-Oak the Vine Thus wreaths to kiss his leavy face Their streams thus Rivers joyn And lose themselves in the mbrace But Trees want sense when they infold And waters when they meet are cold Thus Turtles bill and groan Their loves into each others eare Two flames thus burn in one When their curl'd heads to heaven they reare But Birds want soul though not desire And flames material soon expire Song 19. Sung by three Beggers IRUS BRUNELLO FURBO IRUS BRight shines the Sun play Beggers play Here 's seraps enough to serve to day What noise of Vials is so sweet As when our merry clappers ring What mirth doth want where Beggers meet A Beggers life is for a King Eat drink and play sleep when we list Go where we will so stocks be mist Bright shines the Sun play Beggers play Here 's scraps enough to serve to day BRUNELLO The world is ours and ours alone For we alone have world at will We purchase not all is our own Both fields and streets we Beggers fill Nor care to get nor fear to keep Did ever break a Beggers sleep Bright shines the Sun c. FURBO A hundred head of black and white Upon our downes securely feed If any dare his Master bite He dies therefore as sure as creed Thus Beggers lord it as they please And none but Beggers live at ease Bright shines the Sun c. Sonnet X. DIsdain that so doth fill me Hath surely sworn to kill me And I must die Desire that still doth burn me To life again will turn me And live must I. O kill me then Disdain That I may live again 2. Thy looks are life unto me And yet those looks undo me O death and life Thy smile some rest doth shew me Thy frown doth soon o'erthrow me O peace and strife Nor life nor death is either Then give me both or neither 3. Life onely cannot please me Death onely cannot case me Change is delight I live that death may kill me And die that life may fill me Both day and night If once Desire decay Despair will wear away Song 20. Sung by a Shepherd and a Shepherdess AMYNTAS AMARILLIS Amynt THe cause why that thou dost deny To look on me sweet Fo impart Amar. Because that doth not please the eye Which doth offend and grieve the heart Amynt What woman is or ever was That when she looketh was not mov'd Amar. She that resolves her life to pass Neither to love nor to be lov'd Amynt There is no heart so fierce or hard That can so much torment a soul Amar. Nor Shepherd of so small regard That Reason will so much controul Amynt How falls it out love doth not kill Thy Cruelty with some remorse Amar. Because that Love is but a Will And Free-will doth admit no force Amynt Behold what reason now thou hast To remedy my loving smart Amar. The very same bindes me as fast To keep such danger from my heart Amynt Why dost thou thus torment my minde And to what end thy beauty keep Amar. Because thou call'st me still unkinde And pitiless when thou dost meet Amynt Is it because thy cruelty In killing me doth never end Amar. No but because I mean thereby My heart from sorrow to defend Sonnet XI 1. Amphion O thou holy shade Bring Orpheus with thee That wonder may you both invade To hear my melody You who are soul not rudely made Up with material ears Are fit to hear the musick of these spheares 2. Hark when my Mistress Orbes do move By my
spots thou graced be The morning-air perfum'd in May The glory of the clearest day The first-born Rose of all the Spring The Down beneath the Turtles wing A Lute just reaching to the ear Whatere is soft or sweet or fair Are but her shreds who fills the place And sum of every single grace As in a childe the Nurse descries The mothers lips the fathers eyes The uncles nose and doth apply An owner unto every part so I In her could analyze the store Of all the choice ere Nature bore Each private piece to minde may call Some worth but none may match it all Poor emblems they can but express One element of Comeliness None are so rich to shew in one All simples of perfection Nor can the Pencil represent More then the outward lineament Then who can limn the Portraicture Of Beauties live behaviour Or what can figure ev'ry kinde Of Jewels that adorn her minde Thought cannot draw her picture sull Even thought to her is gross and dull A Song 1. KEep on your Mask and hide your eye For with beholding you I die Your fatal beauty Gorgon-like Dead with astonishment will strike Your piercing eyes if them I see Are worse then Basilisks to me 2. Shut from mine eyes those hills of snow Their melting valley do not show Those Azure paths lead to despair O vex me not forbear forbear For while I thus in torments dwell The sight of heav'n is worse then hell 3. Your dainty voice and warbling breath Sounds like a sentence pass'd for death Your dangling tresses are become Like Instruments of final doom Oh if an Angel torture so When life is done where shall I go A Poet to his Mistress THat I do love it comes to me by kinde That I love much it much delights my minde That I love you it is my choice of heart That I love you alone 't is your desert I love yea much yea you yea you alone By kinde minde heart desert and all in one Another HEr Face her Tongue her Wit So fair so sweet so sharp First drew then bent last knit Mine eye mine ear my heart On his Mistress IF any do desire to know Where the flow'rs of Vertue grow Where content delight or mirth Doth inhabit upon earth Let them resort to me and I The place thereof will soon descry Where 's Piety without deceit Where Love without Strife or debate Where Beauty 's mixt with comely grace Vertue resideth in that place And in my Love all these do meet No marvel then if she be sweet The Question 1. I Ask thee whence those ashes were Which shrine themselves in plaits of hair Unknown to me Sure each morn dies A Phoenix for a Sacrifice 2. I ask thee whence those ruddy blooms Perch'd on her cheek in scarlet gowns Unknown to me Sure that which flies From fading Roses her cheek dyes 3. I ask thee whence those Airs which flie From birds in sweetest harmony Unknown to me But sure the choice Of accents ecchoes from her voice 4. I ask thee of the Lily whence It gain'd the type of innocence Unknown to me Sure Nature's deck Was ravisht from her snowie neck 5. I ask thee whence those active fires Take light which glide through burnisht air Unknown to me unless there flies A flash of lightning from her eyes The Answer explicatory 1. O No heav'n saw mens fancy stray To idolize but dust and clay That embleme gave that they might see Your beauties date but dust should be 2. O no that Rose when June is past Looks pale as with a poyson'd blast And such your beauty whenas time Like winter shall o'rtake your prime 5. No Philomel when Summer 's gone Hasts to the woods her rape to mone Unwilling hers asham'd to see Your unlike hers unchastity 4. O no the Phoenix shuns that place And fears the lustful sires embrace Of your hot brest and barren womb As death or some perpetual Tomb. 5. O no those stars that flie but the sight Of what you act in dead of night Asham'd themselves should Panders prove To your insatiate beastly love The affirmative Answer 1. ASk me no more whither do stray The golden atomes of the day For in pure love heav'n did prepare Those powders to enrich your hair 2. Ask me no more whither doth haste The Nightingal when Summer's past For in your sweet dividing throte She winters and keeps warm her note 3. Ask me no more where those storms light Which downward stoop in dead of night For in your eyes they set and there Fixed become as in their Sphere 4. Ask me no more where Jove bestows When June is past the fading Rose For in your beauties orient deep All flow'rs as in their beds do sleep 5. Nor ask me more if East or West The Phoenix builds her spiced nest For unto you at last she flies And in your fragrant bosome dies The Moderatrix 1. I 'Ll tell you where 's another Sun That sets as rising it begun It is my self who keep one sphere And were the same if men so were 2. What need I tell that life and death May pass in sentence from one breath So issue from mine equal heart Both love and scorn on mens desert 3. I 'll tell you in what heav'nly hell An angel and a fiend do dwell It is mine eye whose glassie book Sends back the gazers divers look 4. I 'll tell you in a divers scale One weight can up and downward hale You call me Thistle you a Rose I neither am yet both of those 5. I 'll tell you where both frost and fire In peace of common seat conspire My frozen brest the flint is like Yet yeelds a spark if well you strike Conclusion Then you that love and you that loath With one respect I answer both For round about me glows a fire Can melt and harden cross desire A Dialogue between a Maid and a young Youth Maid STay lovely boy why flee'st thou me That languish in these flames for thee I 'm black 't is true and so is Night And Love doth in dark shades delight The whole world do but close thine eye Will seem to thee as black as I Or ope't and view what a dark shade Is by thine own fair body made That follows thee where-ere thou go Ah who allow'd would not do so Let me for ever dwell so nigh And thou shalt need no other shade but I. Boy Black maid complain not that I flie Since Fate commands antipathie Prodigious will that union prove Where night and day together move And the conjunction of our lips Not kisses make but an eclips In which the mixed black and white Portend more terrour then delight Yet if my shadow thou wilt be Enjoy thy dearest wish but see Thou take my shadows property Which hastes away when I come nigh Else stay while death hath blinded me And then I will bequeathe my self to thee Epigram in Amorem LOve is all eyes admits of no delay
The CARD OF Courtship OR The LANGUAGE OF LOVE Fitted to the Humours of all Degrees Sexes and Conditions Made up of all sorts of Curious and ingenious DIALOGUES Pithy and pleasant DISCOURSES Eloquent and winning LETTERS Delicious SONGS and SONNETS Fine FANCIES Harmonious ODES Sweet RHAPSODIES LONDON Printed by J. C. for Humphrey Moseley and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Prince's Arms in S. Paul's Church-yard 1653. To the longing Virgins amorous Batchelors blithe Widows kinde Wives and flexible Husbands of what Honour Title Calling or Conversation soever within the REALM of GREAT BRITAIN Soluble Souls THey say that Bacchus and Cupid as they were one day going on hunting took Minerva in a net giving us to understand that none so seemingly austere but one time or other hath an itching desire to sport himself in Adonis Grove I confess it comes neer to a Syllogisme in these times when Mars and Bellona sit as Rectors o're all hearts to set Venus and her Son in opposition against them as it were to thwart the current of the times but I hope you Gentlemen and Ladies Citizens and Lasses are not so far in love with the bellowing of the Drum or the clangor of the Trumpet that the sweet and harmonious tunes of Love shall prove unacceptable unto you for if so my self who have been forced through whole Forests of bryars by the malice of the times of all men living have the least reason to whisper these soft numbers in your eares I dare not so much injure the ensuing work as to crave pardon of the severest Stoick or austerest Cynick for my wantonness since not a loose line is scatter'd throughout this Volume as also because I know in private the curstest carper of them all will hug me for their pleasure if not for their profit For those nice Ignoramusses who slight all Courship as lascivious al Complements as trivial and enormous I shall onely say this unto them that love I mean not such as that of Semiramis or Messalina is the Author of all perfection The greatest Doctors are but Dunces till love hath refined them and they know what his power is they after that becoming witty and courtly Inditers for necessity findeth out the art the lovers ardent affection compelling him to finde out all waies for the attaining his Mistress love discoursing unto her his loyal affections in smooth or pleasing termes or else touching them sweetly or daintily in writing curiously and with a courtlike phrase which art because I here undertake to teach I have named my work The CARD of COURTSHIP wherein are included such variety of conceited Courtships that I dare boldly affirm it you cannot wish for that favour which you may not there gather I beseech you crop them with a courteous hand which shall for ever oblige me to importune for you at Loves footstool beseeching him to use you according to your several constitutions granting you the full fruition of your desires in all afety and tranquillity So wishes Your devoted servant Musophilus The Card of COURTSHIP OR The language of LOVE To the Reader Here Cupid in a quaint disguise Cover'd with leaves in slumber lies Yet doth he not himself so hide But all thy spirits will be tride If this Volume thou turn over And he awake wanting his cover Here many hearts as victims stand Here read how beauâ—y to command Though rugged like the Panthers skin Here thou maist learne to love and win Or if so happy 's thy condition Thou of thy love hast the fruition Here such pleasures thou mayst find So sweet and of so various kind That rockt into a pleasing dream Thou 'lt wish I 'd had an ampler theam The Arabian winde that gently blows Blushes to the bashful Rose Yeilds not an odour of more price Then flowers set in this Paradise Read I am sure thou 'lt not repent thee And I am happy to content thee Complemental Dialogues A Virgin licensed by her Father to make choice of whom she likes best for her husband Imagine you hear one who dearly affects her courting her after this manner their names suppose to be AMANDUS and JULIETTA Aman. NOw Lady your Fathers goodness hath left you to your owne dispose and I the admirer of your vertues have free leave to present my best affections Then save that creature whose life depends on you whose every power ownes not himself but you you are that Deity to whom my heart presents its first devotion and in a holy flame remaines a Sacrifice till you please to accept it Juliet I should prove to my self unjust in the neglect of one that nobly loves me therefore what affection I may bestow and yet retain my freedome I mean that freedom by which I may on just occasion withdraw my heart I were ingrateful should I not present it Aman. May I become the scorne of time and all mens hate pursue me when I prove so foul to give occasion you call back your love Juliet Cease these hasty protestations I assure my self the pureness of your soul is without spot or blemish and while you so continue I shall boast me happy i' th' glory of such a choice Aman. O let me fly into your bosome on your lip confirm my happiness there study some new way of number to multiply my bliss The treasuries of grace and nature were quite exhausted to accomplish your perfections Juliet Fie fie leave for shame Aman. What dearest Juliet This superfluous Language I am none of those Ladies that are enamoured on Poetick raptures hugging the Verse but spitting at the Author none of those that are taken with flattering Acrosticks and to have their names so disjoynted in an Anagram that 't would puzzle ten Magicians to put them together againe I esteem not Golden Language and I 'll tell you why because 't was seldome bestowed on man but to gild over a Copper Soul within him Aman. Can you be so cruel to deem my Language feign'd Juliet Nor am I. I grant you Love and Poesie are divine commonly infus'd together yet ordinarily 't is ty'd to rules of flattery Aman. Far be it from me to speak a Language should displease your ear Juliet Well more Oratory would but bring the rest into suspicion whether it be real let it suffice I love you and if all occurrents sute my expectation it sha'n't be long ere Hymen seal the contract Farewell Aman. Farewell excellent Mistress Eugenia and Flavia two neer neighbouring Damosels discourse of their loves resolving not to marry old men for money Eug. FLavia I kiss your hands Flav. Eugenia I pray you pardon me I saw you not Eug. I saith you have fixt thoughts draw your â—ys inward that you see not your friends before you Flav. True and I think the same that trouble you Eug. Then 't is the love of a young Gentleman â—nd bitter hatred of an old dotard Elav. 'T is so witness your brother Francisco and â—â—e rotten carcass of
and in private place Wherefore he arm'd himself to my disgrace When time a fit occasion did suborn But I despis'd his flames his power did scorn Nor did I any of his hests embrace Who seeing that he built upon the sand Since by a face he could me not devour He shew'd me then a fine and dainty hand Which once beheld it lay not in my power For to remaine unconquer'd no nor would I be deliver'd now although I could Song 12. An invitation to love PLeasures beauty youth attend ye Whiles the spring of nature lafteth Love and melting thoughts befriend ye Use the time ere Winter hasteth Active blood and free delight Place and privacie invite Do do be kind as fair Loose not opportunity for air She is cruel that denies it Bounty best appears in granting Stealth of sport as soon supplies it Whiles the dues of love are wanting Here 's the sweet exchange of bliss When each whisper proves a kiss In the game are felt no paines For in all the loser gaines Sonnet III. THey say love sware he never would be friend If mortal jealousie were not in a place And beauty never be in any face Unless that pride did on her thoughts attend These are two hags which hideous hell doth send Our sweet content to troube and disgrace The one the joy of love to pain doth chase The other pity from the heart defend Beauty and love were both forsworne by me And thee my making my unsure estate In joy and happiness so fortunate Because since first thy figure I did see Being so faire yet prouder wast thou never Nor I in love that could be jealous ever Song 13. LOve if a God thou art Then evermore thou must Be mercifull and just If thou be just O wherefore doth thy dart Wound mine alone and not my Mistress heart If merciful then why Am I to pain reserv'd Who have thee truely serv'd While she that for thy power cares not a flie Laughs thee to scorn and lives in liberty Then if a God thou woulst accounted be Heal me like her or else wound her like me Sonnet IIII. THe Bat that lurketh in a stony wall Flies here and there assured of her sight When that the signes of darksome night she sees Approaching on contented therewithall But when she spies Apollo's beames so bright Her fault she doth acknowledge and recal So now of late it did to me befal And with my wandring mind it well agrees For I did think there was no other light Nor beauty but in her who did invite My senses first to love but to my thrall When I beheld my Mirabel bedight With beauties and such grace angelical Then by and by I knew that heretofore I plainly err'd but never could do more Song 14. ARe women fair yes wond'rous fair to see too Are women sweet yea passing sweet they be too Most fair and sweet to them that inly love them Chaste discreet to all save those that prove them Are women wise not wise but they be witty Are women witty yea the more the pitty They are so witty and in wit so wily That be you ne'er so wise they will beguile ye Are women fools not fools but fondlings many Can women fond be faithful unto any When snow-white Swans do turn to colour sable Then women fond will be both firm and stable Are women Saints no Saints nor yet no Devils Are women good not good but needful evils So Angel-like that Devils I do'n't doubt them So needful Ills that few can live without them Are women proud I passing proud praise them Are women kinde I wond'rous kind please them Or so imperious no man can endure them Or so kind-hearted any may procure them Sonnet V. AS many stars as heav'n containeth strive To frame my harm and luckless hap to show And in the earth no grass nor green doth grow That to my grief the least of comfort gives Love unto fear subjected ever drives A soul to coldest ice O bitter wo That he whom Fortune contradicteth so Continually with Jealousie must live The fault dear Mistress I must lay on thee And all my grief on thee I do complain O cruel soul that pity dost disdain For if thou hadst but taken part with me I would not care though ' gainst me did conspire Heav'n Earth and Love and Fortune in their ire Song 15. All woman are not evil 1. THey meet but with unwholesome Spring And Summers which infectious are They hear but when the Mer-maid sings And onely see the falling star Whoever dare Affirm no woman chaste and fair 2. Go cure your Fevers and you 'll say The Dog-days scorch not all the yeer In Copper-mynes no longer stay But travel to the West and there The right ones see And grant all Gold 's not Alchymie 3. What mad-man canse the glo-worm's flame Is cold swears there 's no warmth in fire ' Cause some make forseit of their name And slave themselves to mans desire Shall the sex free From guilt damn'd to the bondage be Sonnet 6. Written to the Authors first Love IS' t that my pocl-hol'd face doth beauty lack No. Your sweet sex sweet beauty praiseth Ours wit and valour chiefly raiseth Is' t that my muskless cloaths are plain and black No. What wise Ladies love fine noddies With poor-clad mindes and rich-clad bodies Is' t that no costly gifts mine Agents are No. My free heart which I present you Should more then Gold or Peal content you Is' t that my Verses want invention rare No. I was never skilful Poet I truly love and plainly show it Is' t that I vaunt or am effiminate O scornful Vices I abhor you Dwell still in Court the place fit for you Is' t that you fear my love soon turns to hate No. Though disdain'd I can hate never But lov'd where once I love love ever Song 16. A Pastoral Dialogue Penned at the command of my noble freind M. Theodorus Loe Esquire on the attaining his Mistress love MELIBEUS ERGASTUS Mel. SHepherd why dost thou hold thy peace Sing and thy joy to us report Erg. My joy good Shepherd would be less If it were told in any sort Mel. Though such great savours thou dost win Yet deigne thereof to tell some part Erg. The hardest thing is to begin In enter prises of such art Mel. It is not just we should consent That thou should'st not thy joys recite Erg. The soul that felt the punishment Can onely feel this great delight Mel. That joy is small and doth not shine That is not told abroad to many Erg. If it be such a joy as mine It cann't be pensill'd out by any Mel. How can that heart of thine contain A joy that is of so great force Erg. I have it where I did retain My passions of so great remorse Mel. So great and rare a joy as this No man is able to withhold Erg. But that the greatest pleasure is That in low language cann't
at least to beg which is most sutable one salve from those Srar-shining eyes which have shot forth their conquering darts at my love-sick heart making me acknowledge the conquest yours my self happy in your being victorious O heavenly Adrastina govern and direct me for I am wholly given over unto thee Adra. Sir Were I but ascertained of the truth and reality of your affection I might perhaps meet your love with an equal burning but Fortu. Pardon sweet soul my interrupting you If my love be not real let me be an object of all mens scorn and let the heavens as a just guerdon of my dissembling showre down upon me their most horrible plagues but if it be love chaste and real love let our souls meet in a reciprocal affection and be imparadized into fruition of each other Adrast As far as a Virgins modesty will permit her hereafter I shall be ever ready to accomplish your desires and obey your commands and in the mean time be confident that I am entirely yours But time calls me away All happiness attend you Fortu. And as in you all vertues shine so upon you may all the blessings both of heaven and earth wait A Letter to a Gentlewoman requesting Love COnsidering with my self most divine Lady the many vertues wherewith nature hath in a superabundant measure adorned you and then weighing the insufficiency of any service I can do you my trembling hand is scarce able to hold the pen and my stammering tongue dare hardly express that which my afflicted heart desireth to manifest unto you yet love which holds in his dominion my enflamed heart forceth me to lay open to your sweetest self the secrets of my love-tormented brest Excuse then I humbly beseech you these humble lines that invisibly present to your sair hands an humbler suit then can be expressed I beseech you to extend a gratious hand to stay a fainting soul from sinking that without you is as nothing whose worth and remembrance gives me being for I desire not to be where your being is not It is that only that betters my joy and makes me sensible of content there being no content equal to the enjoying a companion of so great worth To conclude I shall expect the sentence of my life or death in your answer and remain so perfectly yours that I can say nothing neer it when I say I am Madam your most faithful most obedient and most affectionate servant Another to a Gentlewoman desiring his forbearance to visit her c WIth what words sufficiently to set forth my affection and with what expressions high enough to manifest the constancy of my love because I cannot tell I shall appeal to your self whether the sincerity of my actions and the integrity of my words be not able to justify me And I dare appeal to heaven whether or no my words have in the least manner tended to dissimulation swerving from professed truth or my actions digressed from nature but since your rigor pleases to command I shall withdraw my person yet in lieu of return will leave my heart with you and maugre fate subscribe my self Mistress ever thine in an unalterable affection A Gentleman debarred the society of his Mistress thus writes to her SInce my misfortunes are so great that those most happy opportunities we formerly enjoyed by a mutual intercourse and converse are at present vanished I cannot but by these manifest the constancy of my affection which shall remain even to my latest gaspe I hope nay am confident that you will not now after the heaping on me so many and so great favours estrange your self and for my part I am and even will be wholly thine And since my endeavours have been so happy to win your favour they will double in length and redouble in goodness the remainder of my daies All my right in all things is yours and your demand my content you are my joy and my greatest height of happiness is to enjoy you Your person is the food of my thoughts the relief of my wishes and the repast of my desires Your love to me is a continual hunger after which I daily earnestly more and more long your absence my extreme famine which makes me pine away with grief And if any poor endeavours of mine may be but pleasing to your most vertuous self I shall esteem my self most happie when most serviceable to you And in the mean while shall rest assured of your love as you may of having his heart who is Yours inseparably A Gentleman having made his suit by speech thus seconds it by writing THat I should begin my Letter with the declaration of my love seems to me altogether preposterous and unnecessary sith I manifested it to you so long since But I may well bemoan my ill fortune that cannot yet gain your good opinion of me to credit your words but that you still think me one of those who are altogether faithless Is it my lot for Love to reap Disdain Let me but know wherein I have offended and my life shall answer my misdemeanour All I desire is love your love because nothing can satisfie love but love I could enlarge but lest I be too troublesome I will say no more but that I am Your affectionate servant Her Answer Sir I Received a Paper from you which I here answer to clear my self of that accusation of being scornful which you cast upon me That I do not forget you witness this but yet I am so far from being pleased with your Letters that I can hardly bear the reading them especially since they proceed from a deceitful heart as I believe yours is If then you love me as you profess shew it in this That you trouble me no more with your Letters in hopes whereof I remain Sir Your c. His Reply My Dearest THat you do not forget me is my onely my chief happiness but that to think of me should move you to impatience is my greatest misery What greater torment then to love and not to be loved again Heaven and earth are not able to parallel so great cruelty But your words that you cannot believe my seigned vows carry with them a killing accent O heavens bear ye witness of my reality and sincere affection I love you as I profess but by obeying your command a breach might be made into the love of Yours while he lives and even in death Another ACcording to my duty and the obligements that lic upon me for the manifestation of my loyal constancie I do hereby humbly kiss your hands protesting that my love increases and renews with the day more and more The Sun in its greatest splendor hath been over-pow'red with clouds and darkned with mists and sometimes even the most constant affection has been scandalized with disloyalty Let Envie then pine it self to death and let Malice burst it self with rage yet will I remain constant yet will I be unremoveable never to be altered from my
hath taken me whose resolution was quite retired from such apprehensions c. Another I Beseech you Madam excuse my boldness in taking in hand to discover unto you the Martyrdom I suffer for your excellencie which is so much the more ardent in that I keep it close and covert yet cannot the reverence I bear you have so great a sway but that my affection forces me to discover it self unto you Be pleased then in your most milde nature and more temperate consideration to vouchsafe with patience to hear my humble suit and to apply some Cordial to my wounded heart which lies both hopeless and hapless unless your mercy daign a cure O bitter constant onely to aversness in all that tends to my consolation unconstant One day promising success to my well-cherished and aspiring hopes the next day punishing my desires with cruelty now wringing my hopes with a willing consent and making my soul bathe in the stream of heavenly contentment and immediately thrusting my heart out of Paradise into the wilde desart of Discourtesie thus continuing rather to kill than cure the wound given by thy dear self c. A Letter from one friend to another IF I had begun my friendship with thee for the increase of thy riches it should now have vanished because Fortune frowns on thee in the decay of thy wealth but such could never have been rightly called Friendship but meer Flattery but you know my heart is yours in a perpetual friendship insomuch that if there be any thing wherein I may employ my self to pleasure you you may command me as him who is gladly ready to accomplish your will and to wait upon your commands One writes after this manner to a Slander UNto thee which speakest evil of me I intend not to answer evil lest thereby thou shouldst be deterred from saying evil by me that is to say from praising me for who is more rightly praised then he of whom evil is spoken by an evil man And be not angry that I call thee evil since it is so far from being evil said that nothing can be said better A short and witty Letter to a friend THou supposest thy self to be contemned because I visit thee not by my Letters I might despise though I should write unto thee for if I contemned thee then durst I write unto these Answers either that I am busied or that I cannot spare so much time for thee Farewel A Letter to a forgetful friend I See in thee the old Proverb shall be verified for thou hast sent me that which at my last being with thee thou didst promise I finde my self grieved if thou hast forgotten it but it increaseth my trouble if thou hast not forgotten it To forget is the property scarce of a friend but not to give according to promise when it is remembred is the known or at least suspected badge of an enemy Hereafter either never promise or perform better for much more friendly had it been to have absolutely denied that which I so earnestly requested then not to perform that which you so liberally promised then had we still been pares equal for I had received no injury in regard you owed me nothing but now I take my self to be wronged because you are and must be in my debt seeing you promised it me And yet it will not enter into my belief nay nor into my thoughts that you are of those people whom their promises binde not But that hereafter I may not have cause to believe it I would wish you to keep such promises to your self Onely this I request that if you will perform unto me that benefit yet leave off to be injurious in forbidding me to hope any longer in vain To conclude I shall think my self obliged to you if you give me that which I request and shall greatly wonder if you give it me not Farewel A Letter of Thanks for courtesies Sir I Had thought by my Letters several times to have returned you thanks for those many favors I have and do daily receive from your hands lest I might have been thought ingrateful or esteemed rude yet still deferred I the time as not willing by my haste to trifle time from your more serious affairs But now the thought of the greatness of your friendly love to me makes me break my long-kept silence to avoid the stain of uncivil proud and to give you thanks not onely because you bestow on me so great commendations but in regard of your friendship To you ought I to make recompence even above my power for whose sake no labour should be spared but even the most difficult things atchieved by Sir Your most affectionate friend A Letter to a friend to put him in minde of some business IT is very well known unto me that no neglect hath at any time kept you back from satisfying my desires which through your innate goodness you have ever reputed as your own And now not onely the offer which with a willing minde you have many times made but also the experience which I have had of you emboldens my Pen to trouble you My business therefore and the urgency of mine occasions constraining me to make use of that love and affection whick I know you bear me in being mindful of those things whereof you know that they may not fail for want of a manager hoping to be pleasured of you as of him in whose care I fix my trust in all things in return whereof you shall dispose of me as of Your perfect and real friend A Letter of request to a friend THe hopes and fidelity which I have always had in you and the offers which many times with an affectionate minde you have made unto me doth comfort me in my affliction and move me in this my necessity to have recourse unto you remaining confident that your deeds will be correspondent unto your words and that you will help me Hoping therefore your willingness and not doubting your ability I desire that you would aid me against the contrarieties of my adverse fortune whose impetuousness without your assistance will make me lose my self and you Your ready friend to serve you A Letter to a friend COnsidering with my self the small puissance of my weak Pen and with what authorized eloquence it were necessary to fill my Letters to you I am as it were astonished and especially for the receipt of your copious Epistles but my unable hand being unable that way knows onely how to teach me to subscribe my self Yours c. The Answer YOur phrase of speech is so neatly adorned and so eloquently compacted that it will ask much time of a knowing Pen to make a sufficient and sutable answer therefore I who am ignorant must not think to do it But though I have not that Oratory that were requisite yet must I enforce my self for duty-sake to write you some part of an Answer that so you might rather blame me for insufficiency