so had these payns of myne The furies past and I my wits restord by length of tyme. Then as I could deuise to seke I thought it besâ— Where I might finde some worthy place for suâ—â—â— corse to rest And in my minde it came from thence not far away Where Creseids loue king Priams sonne y e worthy Troilus laâ— By him I made his tomb in token he was true And as to him belongeth well I couered it with blew Whose soule by angels power departed not so sone But to the heauens lo it fled for to receiue his dome Complaint of the absence of her louer being vpon the sea GOod Ladies ye that haue your pleasures in exile Step in your fote come take a place moorne with me a whilâ— And such as by their lordes do set but little price Let them sit still it skilles them not what chance come on y e dice. But ye whom loue hath bound by order of desire To loue your lords whose good deserts none other wold require Come ye yet once again and set your fote by mine Whose wofull plight and sorowes great no tong may well deâ—â—ne My loue and lorde alas in whom consistes my wealth Hath fortune sent to passe the seas in hazarde of his health Whom I was wont tembrace with well contented mindeâ— Is now amid the fomyng floods at pleasure of the winde Where God well him preserue and sone him home me send Without which hope my life alas were shortly at an end Whose absence yet although my hope doth tell me plaine With short returne he comes anone yet ceaseth not my payne The fearefull dreames I haue ofâ— times do greue me so That when I wake I lye in dout where they be true or no. Sometime the roaring seas me semes do grow so hye That my dere Lord ay me alas me thinkes I see him dye An other time the same doth tell me he is come And plaing where I shall him finde with his faire little sonne So forth I go apace to se that leefsome sight And with a kisse me thinke I say welcome my lord my knight Welcome my swete alas the stay of my welfare Thy presence bringeth forth a truâ—â— aâ—wâ—xt me and my care Then liuely dothe he loke and saluâ—th me againe And saith my dere how is it now that you haue al this raine wherewith the heauy cares that heapt are in my brest Breake forth and me dischargen clene of all my huge vnrest But when I me awake and finde it but a dreme The anguish of my former wo beginneth more extreme And me tormenteth so that vnneath may I finde Some hidden place wherin to slake the gnawing of my minde Thus euery way you se with absence how I burn And for my wound no cure I finde but hope of good return Saue when I thinke by sowre how swete is felt the more It doth abate some of my paines that I abode before And then vnto my self I say when we shall mete But little while shall seme this paine the ioy shall be so swete Ye windes I you coniure in chiefest of your rage That ye my Lord safely sende my sorowes to asswage And that I may not long abide in this excesse Do your good will to cure a wight that liueth in distresse A praise of his loue wherein he reproueth them that compare their Ladies with his GEue place ye louers here before That spent your bostes and bragges in vaine My Ladies beauty passeth more The best of yours I dare wel sayen Then doth the sonne the candle light Or brightest day the darkest night And therto hath a troth as iust As had Penelope the faire For what she saith ye may it trust As it by writing sealed were And vertues hath she many moe Than I with pen haue skill to show I could reherse if that I wold The whole effect of natures plaint when she had lost the perfite mould The like to whom she could not paint with wringing handes how she did cry And what she said I know it I. I know she swore with raging minde Her kingdome onely set apart There was no losse by law of kinde That could haue gone so nere her hart And this was chiefly all her paine She could not make the like againe Sith nature thus gaue her the praise To be che chefest worke she wrought In faith me think some better waies On your behalfe might wel be sought Then to compare as ye haue done To matche the candle with the sunne To the ladie that scorned her louer ALthough I had chek To giue the mate is hard For I haue found a neck To kepe mi men in gard And you that hardy are To giue so great assay Unto a man of warre To driue his men away I rede you take good hede And marke this folish verse For I will so prouide That I wyll haue your ferse And when your ferse is had And all your warre is done Then shall yonr selfe be glad To ende that you begon For if by chance I winne Your person in the felde To late then come you in Your self to me to yeld For I will vse â—y power As captaine full of might And such I will deuour As vsâ— to shew me spight And for because you gaue Me chek in your degre This vanâ—age loe I haue Now checke and gard to the Defend it if thou may Stand stiffe in thine estate For sure I will assay If I can giue the mate A warning to the louer how he is abused by his loue TO derely had I bought my grene and youthfull yeres If in mine age I could not finde when craft for loue apperes And seldome though I come in court among the â—est Yet can I iudge in colours dim as depe as can the best Where griefe torments the man that suffreth secret smart To breake it forth vnto some frende it easeth well the hart So standes iâ— now with me for my beâ—ened frinde Thie case is thine for whom I fele such torment of my minde And for thy sake I burne so in my secret brest That till thou know my whole disease my hart can haue no rest I se how thine abuse â—ath wrestâ—d so thy wittes That all it yeldes to thy desire and folowes the by fittes Where thou hast loued so long with hart and all thy power I se thee fedde with fained wordes thy fredome to deuower I knowâ— though she say nay and would iâ— well wâ—thstand Whâ—n in her grace thou heldest the moâ—t she bare the but in hand I se her pleasant chere in chiefest of thâ— sâ—â—e When thou art gone I se him come that gathers vp the fruite And eke in thy respect I se â—he base degâ—e Of him to whom she gaue the harâ— that promised was to the I se what would you moreâ— stode neuer mâ—n so sure On womans word but wisedome would miâ—â—â—ust iâ— to endure The forsakeu louer describeth and foâ—saketh loue O Lothsome place where I
to cry aloud There might you heare the cannons rore Eche pece discharged a louers loke Which had the power to rent and tore In any place wheras they toke And euen with the trumpets sowne The scaling ladders were vp set And beauty walked vp and downe with bow in hand and arrowes whet Then first desire began to scale And shrowded him vnder his targe As on the worthiest of them all And aptest for to geue the charge Then pushed souldiers with their pikes And holbarders with handy strokes The hargabushe in flesh it lightes And dims the ayre with misty smokes And as it is the souldiers vse When shot and powder gins to want I hanged vp my flagge of truce And pleaded for my liues graunt When fansy thus had made her breach And beauty entred with her band with bag and baggage seâ—y wretch I yelded into beauties hand Then beauty bad to blow retrete And euery soldiour to retire And mercy wilde with spede to fet Me captiue bound as prisoner Madame quoth I sith that this day Hath serued you at all assaies I yelde to you without delay Here of the fortresse all the kaies And sith that I haue ben the marke At whom you shot at with your eye Nedes must you with your handy warkeâ— Or salue my sore or let me dye The aged louer renounceth loue I Lothe that I did loue In youth that I thought swete As time requires for my bâ—houe Me thinkes they are not mete My lustes they do me leaue My fansies aâ—l be fled And tract of time begins to weaue Gray heares vpon my hed For age with â—teling steps Hath clawed me with his crowch And lusty life away she leapes As there had bene none such My muse doth not delight Me as she did before My hand and pen are not in plight As they haue bene of yore For reason me denies This youthly idle timâ— And day by day to me she cries Leaue of these toyes in time The wrinkles in my brow The furrowes in my face Say limping age will hedge him now Where youth must geue him place The harbinger of death To me I see him ride The cough the cold the gasping breath Doth bid me to prouide A pikeax and a spade And eke a shrowding shete A house of clay for to be made For such a gest most mete Me thinkes I heare the clarke That knoles the carefull knell And bids me leaue my wofull warke Ere nature me compell My kepers knit the knot That youth did laugh to scorne Of me that clene shalbe forgot As I had not bene borne Thus must I youth giue vp Whose badge I long did weare To them I yelde the wanton cup That better may it beare Lo here the bared scull By whose balde signe I know That stouping age away shall pull which youthfull yeres did sow For beauty with her â—and These croked cares hath wrought And shipped me into the land From whence I first was brought And ye that bide behinde Haue ye none other trust As ye of claye were cast by kinde So shall ye waste to dust Of the ladie went worthes death TO liue to dye and dye to liue againe With good renowne of fame well led before Here lieth she that learned had the lore Whom if the parfect vertues wolden daine To be set forth with foile of worldly grace was noble borne and match in noble race Lord Wentworthes wife nor waÌ„ted to attaine In natures giftes her praise among the rest But that that gaue her praise aboue the best Not fame her wedlocks chastnes durst distain Wherein with child deliueryng of her wombe Thuntimely birth hath brought theÌ„ both in tomb So left she life by death to liue againe The louer accusing his loue for her vnfaithfulnesse purposeth to liue in libertie THe smoky sighes the bitter teares That I in vaine haue wasted The broken slepes the wo and feares That long in me haue lasted The loue and all I owe to thee Here I renounce and make me free Which fredome I haue by thy guilt And not by my deseruing Since so vnconstantly thou wilt Not loue but still be swering To leaue me of which was thine owne â—ithout cause why as shalbe knowen The frutes were faire the which did grow Within thy garden planted The leaues were grene of euery bough And moysâ—ure nothing wanted Yet or the blossoms gan fall The caterpiller wasted all Thy body was the garden place And â—ugred wordes it beareth The blossomes all thy faith it was which as the canker wereth The caterpiller is the same That hath wonne thee and lost thy name I meane thy louer loued now By thy pretented folye which will proue like thou shalt finde how Unto a tree of holly That barke and bery beares alwayes The one birdes feedes the other slayes And right well mightest thou haue thy wish Of thy loue new acquaynted For thou art lyke vnto the dishe That Adrianus paynted Wherin were grapes portraid so faire That fowles for foode did there repaireâ— But I am lyke the beaten fowle That from the net escaped And thou art lyke the rauening owle That all the night hath waked For none intent but to betray The slepyng fowle before the day Thus hath thy loue been vnto me As pleasant and commodious As was the fyre made on the sea By Naulus hate so odious Therwith to train the grekish host From Troyes return where they wer lost The louer for want of his desire sheweth his death at hand AS Cypres tree that rent is by the roote As branch or slippe bereft froÌ„ wheÌ„ce it growes As wel sowen seede for drought that can not sprout As gaping ground that raineles can not close As moules that want the earth to do them bote As fishe on land to whom no water flowes As Thameleon that lackes the aier so sote As flowers do fade when Phebus rarest showes As Salamandra repulsed from the fire So wanting my wish I dye for my desire A happy end excedeth all pleasures and riches of the world THe shining season here to some The glory in the worldes sight Renowmed fame through fortune wonne The glitteryng golde the eyes delight The sensuall life that semes so swete The hart with ioyful dayes replete The thyng wherto eche wight is thrall The happy ende exceadeth all Against an vnstedfast woman O Temerous tauntres that delights in toyes Tumbling cockboat totring to and fro Ianglyng iestres deprauers of swete ioyes Groud of the graffe whence al my grief doth grow Sullen serpent enuironned with dispite That yll for good at all times doest requite A praise of Petrarke and of Laura his ladie O Petrarke hed and prince of poets al Whose liuely gift of flowing eloquence Wel may we seke but finde not how or whence So rare a gift with thee did rise and fal Peace to thy bones and glory immortall Be to thy name and to her excellence whose beauty lighted in thy time and sence So to be set forth as none
I lye at the point of death I call to minde the nauie great That the Grekes brought to Troye town And how the boysteous windes did beate Their ships and rent their sayles adown Till Agamemnons daughters blood Appeaâ—de the Gods that them withstood And how that in those ten yeres warre Full many a bloodie dede was done And many a lord that came full farre There caught his bane alas to soone And many a good knight ouerron Before the Grekes had Helene won Then thinck I thus sithe such repaire So long time warre of valiant men Was all to winne a lady faire Shall I not learne to suffer then And thinck my life well spent to be Seruing a worthier wight than she Therfore I neuer will repent But paines contented still endure For like as when rough winter spent The pleasant spring straight draweth in vre So after raging stormes of care Ioyfull at length may be my fare Complaint of the absence of her louer being vpon the sea O Happy damâ—s that may embrace The frute of your belight Help to bewaile the wofull case And eke the heauy plight Of me that wonted to reioyce The fortune of my pleasant choyce Good ladies help to fill my moorning voycâ— In ship freight with remembrance Of thoughts and pleasures past He sailes that hath in gouernance My life while it will last With scalding sighes for lack of gale Furdering his hope that is his sail Toward me the swete port of his auailâ— Alas how oft in dreames I see Those eyes that were my food Which somtime so delited me That yet they do me good Wherwith I wake with his returne Whose absent flame did make me burne But when I finde the lacke Lord how I mourne When other louers in armes acrosse Reioyce their chiefe delight Drowned in teares to mourne my losse I stand the bitter night In my window where I may see Before the windes how the clowdes â—lee Lo what a Mariner loue hath made me And in grene waues when the salt flood Doth rise by rage of winde A thousand fansies in that mood Assaile my restlesse minde Alas now drencheth my swete fo That with the spoyle of my hart did go And left me but alas why did he so And when the seas ware calme againe To chase fro me annoye My doutful hope doth cause me plaine So dread cuts of my ioye Thus is my wealth mingled with wo And of eche thought a dout doth growe Now he comes will he come alas no no. Complaint of a diyng louer refused vpon his ladies iniust mista king of his writing IN winters iust returne when Borâ—as gan his raigne And euery tree vnclothed fast as nature taught them plaine In misty morning darke as sheepe are then in holde I hyed me fast it sat me on my sheepe for to vnfolde And as it is a thing that louers haue by fittes Under a palme I heard one cry as he had lost his wittes Whose voyce did ring so shrill in vttering of his plaint That I amazed was to heare how loue could him attaint Ah wretched man quod he come death and ridde this wo A iust reward a happy end if it may chauuce thee so Thy pleasures past haue wrought thy wo without redresse If thou hadst neuer felt no ioy thy smart had bene the lesse And retchlesse of his life he gan both sighe and grone A rufull thing me thought it was to hear him make such mone Thou cursed pen sayd he wo worth the bird thee bare The man the knife and all that made thee wo be to their share Wo worth the time and place where I so could enditâ— And wo be it yet once againe the pen that so can write Unhappy hand it had ben happy time for me If when to write thou learned first vnioynted hadst thou be Thus cursed he himself and euery other wight Saue her alone whom loue him bound to serue both day night Which when I heard and saw how he himself fordid Against the ground with bloody strokes himself euen ther to rid Had ben my heart of flint it must haue melted tho For in my life I neuer sawe a man so full of wâ— With teares for his redresse I rashly to him ran And in my armes I caught him fast and thus I spake him than What woful wight art thou that in such heauy case Tormentes thy selfe with such despite here in this desert place Wherwith as al agast fulfâ—ld with irâ— and dred He cast on me â—â—â—ring loke with colour pale and ded Nay wh 〈…〉 ou quod he that in this heauâ— plight Doest find 〈◊〉 most wofull wretch that life hath in despighte I am quot◠〈◊〉 out poore and simple in degre A shepardes charge I haue in hand vnworthy though I be With that he gaue a sighe as though the skie shold fall And lowd alas he shriked oft and Shepard gan he call Come hie the fast at ones and print it in thy hart So thou shalt know and I shall tell the giltlesse how I smart His back against the tree sore febled al with faint With weary sprite he stretcht him vp and thus he told his plaint Ones in my hart quoth he it chaunced me to loue Such one in whom hath nature wrought her cuÌ„ning for to proue And sure I can not say but many yeres were spent with such good will so recompenst as both we were content Wherto then I me bound and she likewise also The sunne should runne his course awry ere we this faith forgo who ioied then but I who had this worldes blisse Who might compare a life to mine that neuer thought on this But dwelling in this truth amid my greatest ioy Is me befallen a greater losse then Priam had of Troy She is reuersed clene and beareth me in hand That my deserts haue geuen her cause to breke this faithful band And for my iust excuse auaileth no defence Now knowest thou all I can no more but shepheard hie the heÌ„ce And geue him leaue to dye that may no lâ—nger liue Whose record lo I claime to haue my death I do forgeue And eke when I am gone be bolde to speake it plaine Thou hast seen dye the truest man that euer loue did paine Wherwith he turned him round and gaspyng oft for breath Into his armes a tree he raughtâ— and said welcome my death welcome a thousand folde now dearer vnto me Than should without her loue to liue an emperour to be Thus in this wofull state he yelded vp the ghost And little knoweth his lady what a louer she hath lost Whose death when I beheld no maruail was it right For pitye though my hart did blede to se so piteous sight My blood from heat to colde oft changed wonders sore A thousande troubles there I found I neuer knew before Twene drede and dolour so my sprites were brought in feare That long it wâ—s ere I could call to minde what I did there But as ech thing hath end
chance was so At the threshold hersely fote did trippe And ere she myght recouer it againe The traitour cat had caught her by the hippe And made her there against her wyll remayne That had forgot her power suerty and rest For seking welth wherein she thought to raigne Alas my Poyns how men do seke the best And finde the worse by errour as they stray And no maruell when sight is so opprest And blindes the guide anone out of the way Goeth guide and all in seking quiet life O wretched mindes there is no golde that may Graunt that you seke no warre no peace no strife No no although thy head were hoopt with golde Sergeant with mace with hawbart sword nor knife Can not repulse the care that folow should Ech kinde of life hath with him his disease Liue in delits euen as thy lust would And thou shalt finde when lust doth most thee please It irketh straight and by it selfe doth fade A small thing is it that may thy minde appease None of you al there is that is so madde To seke for grapes on brambles or on bryers Nor none I trow that hath a wytte so badde To set his haye for coneies ouer riuers Nor ye set not a dragge net for an hare And yet the thing that most is your desire You do misseke with more trauell and care Make plaine thine haâ—t that it be not knotted With hope or dreade and se thy wil be bare From all affectes whom vice hath neuer spotted Thy selfe content with that is thee assinde And vse it well that is to thee alotted Then seke no more out of thy selfe to finde The thing that thou hast sought so long before For thou shalt feele it stickyng in thy minde Made if ye list to continue your sore Let present passe and gape on time to come And depe thy selfe in trauell more and more Henceforth my Poins this shall be all and summe These wretched foles shall haue nought els of me But to the great God and to his dome None other paine pray â— for them to be But when the rage doth leade them from the right That loking backward Uertue they may se Euen as she is so goodly fayre and bright And whilst they claspe their lustes in armes a crosse Graunt them good Lord as thou maist of thy might To freat inwarde â—or losyng such a losse Of the Courtiers life written to Ihon Poins MYne owne Ihon Poins sins ye delite to know The causes why that homeward I me draw And fle the prease of courtes where so they go Rather then to liue thrall vnder the awe Of lordly lokes wrapped within my cloke To will and lust learning to set a law It is not that because I scorne or mocke The power of them whom fortune here hath lent Charge ouer vs of ryght to strike the stroke But true it is that I haue alwayes ment Lesse to esteme them then the common sort Of outward thinges that iudge in their entent without regarde what inward doth resort I graunt sometime of glory that the fire Doth touch my hart Me list not to report Blame by honour and honour to desire But how may I this honour now attaine That can not dye the colour blacke a lier My Poyns I can not frame my time to fayn To cloke the truth for praise without desert Of them that list all vice for to retaine I can not honour them that set their part With Uenus and Bacchus all their life long Nor holde my peace of them although I smart I can not crouch nor knele to such a wrong To worship them like God on earth alone That areas wolues these sely lambes among I can not with my wordes complaine and mone And suffer nought nor smart without complaynt Noâ— turne the word that from my mouth is gone I can not speake and loke â—â—ke as a saint Use wiles for wit and make disceyt a pleasure Call craft counsaile for lucre still to paint I can not wrest the law to fill the coffer with innocent bloud to fede my selfe fatte And do most hurt where that most helpe I offer I am not he that can alow the state Of hye Ceasar and damne Cato to dye That with his death did scape out of the gate From Ceasars handes if Liuye doth not lye And would not liue where libertie was lost So did his hart the common wealth apply I am not he such eloquence to bost To make the crow in singyng as the swanne Nor call the lyon of coward beastes the most That can not take a mouse as the cat can And he that dieth for honger of the golde Call him Alexander and say that Pan Passeth Appollo in musike manifold Praise syr Copas for a noble tale And scorne the story that the knight tolde Praise him for counsell that is dronke of ale Grinne when he laughes that â—eareth al the sway Frowne when he frownes and grone when he is pale On others lust to hang both night and day None of these poyntes would euer frame in me My wit is nought I can not learne the way And much the lesse of thinges that greater be That asken helpe of colours to deuise To ioyne the meane with ech extremitie With nearest vertue ay to cloke the vice And as to purpose likewise it shall fall To presse the vertue that it may not rise As dronkennesse good fellowship to call The frendly foe with his faire double face Say he is gentle and curties therewithall Affirme that fauel hath a goodly grace In eloquence And cruelty to name Zeale of Iustice And change in time and place And he that suffereth offence without blame Call him pitifull and him true and plaine That rayleth rechlesse vnto ech mans shame Say he is rude that can not lye and faine The letcher a louer and tyranny To be the right of a Princes raygne I can not I no no it will not be This is the cause that I could neuer yet Hang on their sleues that weygh as thou mayst se A chippe of chance more then a pounde of wit This maketh me at home to hunt and hauke And in fowle wether at my booke to sit In frost and snow then with my bowe to stalke No man doth marke where so I ride or go In lusty leas at libertie I walke And of these newes I fele nor weale nor wo Saue that a clogge doth hang yet at my heele No force for that for it is ordred so That I may leape both hedge and dike full wele I am not now in Fraunce to iudge the wine with sauery sauce those delicates to fele Nor yet in Spaine where one must him incline Rather then to be outwardly to seme I meddle not with wyttes that be so fyne Nor Flaunders chere lettes not my syght to deme Of blacke and white nor takes my wittes away wyth beastlinesse such do those beastes esteme Nor I am not where truth is geuen in pray For money poyson and treason
must them obay And yoke hymself with pacient heart to dryue and draw that wâ—â—â— Yet such as long ago great rulers wer assynde Both liues and lawes are now forgot worne clene out of myndâ— So that by this I see no state on earth may last But as their times appointed be to rise and fall as fast The goodes that gotten be by good and iust desart Yet vse them that so neady handes may help to spend the part For looke what heape thou hordst of rusty gold in store Thine enemies shall waste the same that neuer swat therfore The repentant sinner in durance and aduersitie VNto the liuing Lord for pardon do I pray From whom I graunt euen froÌ„ the wel haue run 〈◊〉 astray And other liues there none my death shall well declare On whom I ought to grate for grace as faulty folkes do fare But thee O Lord alone I haue offended so That this small scourge is much to scant for mine offence I know I ranne without returne the way the world likte best And what I ought most to regard that I respected lest The through wherin I thrust hath throwen me in such case That lord my soule is sore beset without thy greater grace My gyltes are growen so great my power doth so appayre That with great force they argue oft and mercy much dispayre But then with faith I flee to thy prepared store Where there lyeth helpe for euery hurt and saâ—â—e for euery sore My lost time to lament my vayne waies to bewaile No day no night no place no hower no moment I shall fayle My soule shall neuer cease with an assured fayth To knocke to craue to call to crye to thee for helpe which sayth Knock and it shalbe heard but aske and geuen it is And all that lyke to kepe this course of mercy shall not misse For when I call to minde how the one wandring shepe Did bring more ioy with his returne then al the flocke did 〈◊〉 It yeldes ful hope and trust my strayed and wandring ghoâ—â—â— Saâ—he receiued and hâ—ld more dere then those wer neuer lost O Lord my hope behold and for my helpe make haste To pardon the forepassed race that carelesse I haue past And but the day draw neare that death must pay the detâ— For loue of life which thou hast lent and time of payment set From this sharpe showre me shielde which threatned is at hande Wherby thou shalt great power declare I the storme withstande Not my will Lord but thine fulfilde be in eche case To whose gret wil mighty power al powers shal once geue place My faith my hope trust my God and eke my guide Stretch forth thy hande to saue the soule what so the body hide Refuse not to receiue that thou so deare hast bought For but by thee alone I know all safetie in vaine is sought I know and knowledge eke albeit very late That thou it is I ought to loue and dreade in eche estate And with repentant heart dâ—elaude the Lord on hye That hast so gently set me straight that erst walkte so awry Now graunt me grace my God to stande thine strong in sprite And leâ— y e world theÌ„ worke such waies aâ—â—o the world semes metâ— The louer here telleth of his diuers ioyes and aduersities in loue and lastly of his ladies death SYth singyng gladdeth oft the harts Of them that fele the panges of loue And for the while doth ease their smarts My self I shall the same way proue And though that loue hath smit the stroke wherby is lost my libertie Which by no meanes I may reuoke Yet shall I sing how pleasantly Ny twenty yeres of youth I past Which al in libertie I spent And so from first vnto the last Ere aught I knewe what louing ment And after shal I syng the wo The paine the greefe the deadly smart When loue this lyfe did ouerthrowe That hydden lyes within my hart And then the ioyes that I dyd feele When fortune lifted after this And set me hye vpon her whele And changde my wo to pleasant blisse And so the sodeyn fall agayne From all the ioyes that I was in All you that list to heare of payne Geue care for now I doe beginne Lo first of all when loue began With hote desires my heart to burne Me thought his might auailde not than From libertie my heart to turne For I was free and dyd not knowe How much his might mannes hert may greâ—â— I had profest to be his fo His law I thought not to beleue I went vntied in lusty leas I had my wish alwaies at will Ther was no wo might me displease Of pleasant ioyes I had my fill No paynfull thought dyd passe my hart I spilt no teare to wet my brest I knew no sorow sigh nor smart My greatest griefe was quiet rest I brake no slepe I tossed not Nor dyd delite to syt alone I felt no change of colde and hote Nor nought a nightes could make me mone For al was ioy that I did fele And of voide wandering I was free I had no clogge tied at my hele This was my life at libertie That yet me thinkes it is a blisse To thinke vpon that pleasure past But forthwithall I finde the misse For that it might no lenger last Those daies I spent at my desire Without wo or aduersitie Till that my hart was set a fire With loue with wrath and ielousie For on a day alas the while Lo heare my harme how it began The blinded Lord the God of guile Had list to end my fredome than And through mine eye into my hart All sodenly I felt it glide He shot his sharped fiery dart So hard that yet vnder my side The head alas doth still remaine And yet since could I neuer know The way to wring it out againe Yet was it nye three yere ago This soden stroke made me agast And it began to vexe me sore But yet I thought it would haue past As other such had done before But it did not that wo is me So depe imprinted in my thought The stroke abode that yet I see Me thinkes my harme how it was wrought Kinde taught me streight that this was loue And I perceiued it perfectly Yet thought I thus Nought shall me moue I will not thrall my libertie And diuers waies I did assay By flight by force by frend by fo This firie thought to put away I was so lothe for to forgo My libertie that me was leuer Then bondage was where I hard say Who once was bounde was sure neuer Without great paine to scape away But what for that there is no choice For my mishap was shapen so That those my dayes that did reioyce Should turne my blisse to bitter wo. For with that stroke my blisse toke ende In stede wherof forth with I caught Hotte burnyng sighes that sins haue brend My wretched hart almost to naught And sins that day O Lord
loue did him forsake In mourning wise amid the wods thus gan his plaint to makâ— Ah woful man quod he fallen is thy lot to mone And pyne away with careful thoughtes vnto thy loue vnknowâ—â— Thy lady thee forsakes whom thou didst honor so That ay to her thou were a frend and to thy selfe a foe Ye louers that haue lost your heartes desired choyse Lament with me my cruell happe helpe my trembling voice Was neuer man that stode so great in fortunes grace Nor with his swete alas to deare possest so high a place As I whose simple hart aye thought him selfe full sure But now I se hie springing tides they may not aye endure She knowes my giltelesse hart and yet she lets it pine Of her vntrue professed loue so feble is the twine What wonder is it than if I berent my heares And caruing death continually do bathe my selfe in teares When Cresus king of Lide was cast in cruell bandes And yelded goodes and life also into his enemies handes What tong could tell his wo yet was his griefe much lesse Then mine for I haue lost my loue whych might my woe redresseâ— Ye woodes that shroud my limes giue now your holow sound That ye may helpe me to bewaile the cares that me confound Ye riuers rest a while and stay the streames that runne Rew Thestilis most woful man that liues vnder the sunne Transport my sighes ye windes vnto my plesant foe My tricklyng teares shal witnesse beare of this my cruel woeâ— O happy man wer I if all the goddes agreed That now the susters three should cut in twaine my fatall threde Till life with loue shall ende I here resigne al ioy Thy pleasant swâ—te I now lament whose lacke bredes myne anoy Farewell my deare therfore farewell to me well knowne If that I die it shalbe said that thou hast slaine thine owne An answere of comfort THestilis thou sely man why dost thou so complayne If nedes thy loue wyll thee forsake thy mourning is in vaine For none can force the streames against â—heir course to ronne Nor yet vnwilling loue with teares or wâ—â—lyng can be wonneâ— Câ—ase thou therefore thy plaintes let hope thy sorowes ease The shipmen though their sailes be rent yet hope to scape the seas Though straunge she serue a while yet thinke she wil not chaunge Good causes driue a ladies loue sometime to seme full straunge No louer that hath wit but can forsee such happe That no wight can at wish or will slepe in his ladies lappe Achilles for a time faire Brises did forgo Yet did they mete with ioye againe then thinke thou maist do so Though he and louers al in loue sharpe stormes do finde Dispaire not thou pore Thestilis though thy loue seme vnkinde Ah thinke her graffed loue cannot so sone decay Hie springes may cease from swelling styll but neuer dry away Oft stormes of louers yre do more their loue encrease As shinyng sunne refreshe the fruites wheÌ„ raining gins to cease When springes are waxen lowe then must they flow againe So shall thy hart aduaunced be to pleasure out of paine When lacke of thy delight most bitter griefe apperes Thinke on Etrascus worthy loue that lasted thirty yeres Which could not long atcheue his hartes desired choice Yet at the ende he founde rewarde that made him to reioyce Since he so long in hope with pacience did remaine Can not thy feruent loue forbeare thy loue a moneth or twaine Admit she minde to chaunge and nedes will thee forgo Is there no mo may thee delyght but she that paynes thee so Thestilis draw to the towne and loue as thou hast done In time thou knowest by faythful loue as good as she is wonne And leaue the desert woodes and waylyng thus alone And seke to salue thy sore els were if all her loue be gone ¶ The louer praieth pity showing that nature hath taught his dog as it were to sue for the same by kissing his ladies handes NAture that taught my silly dog god wat Euen for my sake to like where I do loue Inforced him whereas my lady sat With humble sute before her fallyng flat As in his sorte he might her pray and moue To rue vpon his lord and not forgete The stedfast faith he beareth her and loue Kissing her hand whom she could not remoue A way that would for frowning nor for threte As though he would haue sayd in my behoue Pity my lord your slaue that doth remaine Lest by his death you giltles slay vs twaine Of his ring sent to his ladie SInce thou my ring mayst go where I ne may Since thou mayst speake where I must hold my peace Say vnto her that is my liues stay Grauen within which I do here expresse That sooner shall the sunne not shine by day And with the raine the floods shall waxen lesse Sooner the tree the hunter shall bewrayâ— Then I for change or choyce of other loue Do euer seke my fansy to remoue The changeable state of louers FOr that a restles hed must somwhat haue in vre Wherwith it may acquainted be as falcon is with lure â—ansy doth me awake out of my drowsy slepe In seing how the litle Mouse at night begins to crepe So the desirous man that longes to catch his pray In spying how to watch his time lyeth lurking still by day In hoping for to haue and fearing for to finde The salue that should recure his sore soroweth but the minde Such is the guise of loue and the vncertain state That some should haue their hoped hap and other hard estate That some should seme to ioy in that they neuer had And some againe shall frown as fast where causeles they be sad Such trades do louers vse when they be most at large That gide the stere when they theÌ„selues lye fettred in the barge The grenesse of my youth cannot therof expresse The processe for by proofe vnknowen all this is but by gesâ—â— Wherfore I hold it best in time to hold my peace But wanton will it cannot hold or make my pen to cease A pen of no auaile a fruitles labour eke My troubled hed with fanâ—ies fraught doth pain it selfe to seke And if perhaps my wordes of none auaile do pricke Such as do feele the hidden harmes I wold not they shold kicke As causeles me to blame which thinketh them no harme Although I seme by â—thers fire somtime my selfe to warme Which clerely I deny as giltles of that crime And though wrong denide I be therin truth it will try in time A praise of Audley VVHen Audley had run out his race and ended wer his daies His fame stept forth â—ad me write of him som wortht praise What life he â—ad what actes he did his vertues and good name Wherto I calde for true report as witnes of the same Wel born he was wel beÌ„t by kinde whose minde did neuer sweruâ— A skilfull head a valiant hart a ready hand
The louer hauing enioyed his loue humbly thanketh the god of loue and auowing his hart onely to her faithfully promiseth vtterly to forsake all other THou Cupide God of loue whom Uenus thralles do serue I yeld thee thankes vpon my knees as thou dost well deserue By thee my wished ioyes haue shaken of despaire And all my storming dayes be past and weather waxeth faire By thee I haue receiued a thousand ttmes more ioy Then euer Paris did possesse when Helen was in Troy By thee haue I that hope for which I longde so sore And when I thâ—â—ke vpon the same my hart doth leap therefore By thee my hâ—â—â—y doubtes and trembling feares are fled And now my wits y t troubled wer with plesant thoughts are fed For dread is banisht cleane wherein I stoode full oft And doubt to speake that lay full low is lifted now aloft With armes bespred abrode with opende handes and hart I haue enioyed the fruite of hope reward for all my smart The seale and signe of loue the key of trouth and trust The pledge of pure good will haue I which makes the louers iust Such grace sins I haue found to one I me betake The rest of Uenus deelinges all I vtterly forsake And to performe this vow I bid mine eyes beware That they no straungers do salute nor on their beauties stare My wits I warn ye all from this time forth take hede That ye no wanton toyes deuise my fansies new to fede Mine cares by ye shit vp and heare no womans voyce That may procure me once to smile or make my hart reioyce My fete full slow be ye and lame when ye should moue To bring my body any where to seke an other loue Let all the Gods aboue and wicked sprites below And euery wight in earth acuse and curse me where I go If I do false my faith in any point or case A sodein vengeance fall on me I aske no better grace Away then sily rime present mine earnest faith Unto my lady where she is and marke â—hou what she saith And if she welcome thee and lay thee in her lap Spring thou for ioy thy master hath his most desired hap Totus mundus in maligno positus COmplaine we may much is amisse Hope is nye gone to haue redresse These daies ben ill nothing sure is Kinde hart is wrapt in heauinesse The sterne is broke the saile is rent The ship is geuen to winde and waue All helpe is gone the rocke present That will be lost what man can saue Thinges hard therefore are now refused Labour in youth is thought but vaine Duty by will not is excused Remoue the stop the way is plaine Learning is lewd and held a foole Wisdome is shâ—nt counted to raile Reason is banisht out of schoole The blinde is bold and wordes preuaile Power without care stepeth at ease Will without law runth where he list Might without mercy can not please A wise man saith not had I wist When power lackes care and forceth not When care is feable and may not When might is slouthfull and will not Wedes may grow where good herbes cannot Take wrong away law nedeth not For law to wrong is bridle and paine Take feare away law booteth not To striue gainst streame it is but vaine Wyly is witty brainsicke is wise Trouth is folly and might is right Wordes are reason and reason is lies The bad is good darknesse is light Wrong to redresse wisdome dare not Hardy is happy and ruleth most wilfull is witlesse and careth not Which end go first till all be lost Few right do loue and wrong refuse Pleasure is sought in euery state Liking is lust there is no chuse The low geue to the hye checke mate Order is broke in thinges of weight Measure and meane who doth not flee Two thinges preuaile money and sleight To seme is better then to be The bowle is round and doth downe slide Eche one thrusteth none doth vphold A fall failes not where blinde is guide The stay is gone who can him hold Folly and falshed prayeth apace Trouth vnder bushell is faine to crepe Flattry is treble pride singes the bace The meane the best part scant doth pepe This firy plage the world infectes To vertue and trouth it geues no rest Mens harts are burnde with sundry sectes And to eche man his way is best With floods and stormes thus be we tost Awake good Lord to thee we crye Our ship is almost sonk and lost Thy mercy help our miserye Mans strength is weake mans wit is dull Mans reason is blinde These thinges tamend Thy hand O Lord of might is full Awake betime and helpe vs send In thee we trust and in no wight Saue vs as chickens vnder the hen Our crokednesse thou canst make right Glory to thee for aye Amen The wise trade of lyfe DO all your dedes by good aduise Cast in your minde alwaies the end Wit bought is of to dere a price The tried trust and take as frend For frendes I finde there be but two Of countenance and of effect Of thone sort there are inow But few ben of the tother sect Beware also the venym swete Of crafty wordes and flattery For to deceiue they be most mete That best can play hypocrisy Let wisdome rule your dede and thought So shall your workes be wisely wrought That few wordes shew wisdome and work much quiet WHo list to lead a quiet life Who list to rid him self from strife Geue eare to me marke what I say Remember wel beare it away Holde backe thy tong at meat and meale Speake but few wordes bestrow them well By wordes the wise thou shalt espye By wordes a foole sone shalt thou trye A wise man can his tong make cease A foole can neuer holde his peace Who loueth rest of wordes beware Who loueth wordes is sure of care For wordes oft many haue ben shent For silence kept none hath repent Two eares one tong onely thou hast Mo thinges to heare then wordes to wast A foole in no wise can forbeare He hath two tonges and but one eare Be sure thou kepe a stedfast braine Lest that thy wordes put thee to paine Words wisely set are worth much gold The price of rashnesse is sone told If time require wordes to be had To hold thy peace I count thee mad Talke onely of nedefull verities Striue not for trifling fantasies With sobernesse the truth poult out Affirme nothing wherin is dout Who to this lore will take good hede And spend no mo words then he nede Though he be a fole and haue no braine Yet shall hâ— a name of wisdome gaine Speake while time is or hold thee still Words out of time do oft things spyll Say well and do well are thinges twaine Twise blest is he in whom both raigne The complaint of a hot woer delayed with doutfull cold answers A Kinde of coale is as men say Which haue assaied the same That in
For one good wife Ulisses slew A worthy knot of gentle blood For oneâ—yll wife Grece ouerthrew The towne of Troy Sith bad and good Bring mischief Lord let be thy will To kepe me free from either yll An answer THe vertue of Ulisses wife Doth liue though she hath ceast her race And farre surmountes old Nestors life But now in moe than then it was Such change is chanced in this case Ladies now liue in other trade Farre other Helenes now we see Than she whom Troyan Paris had As vertue fedes the roote so be The sap and rote of bough and tye Ulisses rage not his good wife Spilt gentle blood Not Helenes face But Paris eye did raise the strife That did the Troyan buildyng race Thus sith ne good ne bad do yllâ— Them all O Lord maintain my wyllâ— To serue with all my force and skill Against a gentil woman by whom he was refused TO false report and flying fame whilist my minde gaue credit light Beleuyng that her bolstred name Had stuffe to shew that praise did hight I finde well now I did mistake Upon report my ground to make I heard it said such one was she As rare to finde as parragon Of lowly chere of hart so free As her for bounty could passe none Such one were fair though forme and face Were meane to passe in second place I sought it neare and thinkyng to finde Report and dede both to agree But chaunge had tried her suttle minde Of force I was enforced to see That she in dede was nothing so Which made my will my hart forgo For she is such as geason none And what she most may boast to be I finde her matches mo then one What nede she so to deale with me Masteryng face with scornefull hart So yll reward for good desertâ— I will repent that I haue done To ende so well the losse is small I lost her loue that lesse hath won To vaunt she had me as her thrall What though a gillot sent that notâ— By cocke and pye I meant it not The answere WHom fansy forced first to loue Now frensy forceth forâ—o hate whose minde erst madnesse gan to moueâ— Inconstance causeth to abate No minde of meane dut heat of braine Bred light loue like heate â—ate againe What hurld your hart in so great heatâ— Fansy forced by fayned same Belike that she was light to getâ— For if that vertue and good name Moued your minde why changed your will Sithe vertue the cause abideth still Such Fame reported her to be As rare it were to finde her peere For vertue and for honestie For her free hart and lowly cheere This laud had lied if you had sped And fame bene false that hath ben spred Sith she hath so kept her good name Such praise of life and giftes of grace As brute self blusheth for to blame Such fame as fame feares to deface You sclaunder not but make it plaine That you blame brute of brutish traine If you haue found it looking neere Not as you toke the brute to be Bylike you ment by lowly cheere Bountie and hart that you call free But lewd lightnesse easy to frame To winne your will against her name Nay she may deme your deming so A marke of madnesse in his kinde Such causeth not good name to go As your fond folly sought to finde For brute of kinde bent ill to blase Alway sayth ill but forced by cause The mo there be such as is she More should be gods thank for his grace The more is her ioy it to see Good should by geason earne no place Nor nomber make nought that is good Your strange lusting hed wants a hoode Her dealing greueth you say ye Byside your labour lost in vaine Her dealing was not as we see Sclaunder the end of your great paine Ha lewd lieng lips and hatefull hart What canst thou desire in such desart Ye will repent and right for done Ye haue a dede deseruing shame From reasons race farre haue ye ronne Hold your rayling kepe your tong tame Her loue ye lye ye lost it not Ye neuer lost that ye neuer got She rest ye not your libertie She vaunteth not she had your thrall If ought haue done it let it lye On rage that rest you wit and all What though a varlets tale you tell By cock and pye you do it well The louer dredding to moue his sute for dout of deniall accuseth all women of disdaine and ficklenesse TO walke on doutfull ground where daunger is vnsene Doth double men that carelesse be in depe dispaire I wene For as the blinde doth feare what footing he shall finde So doth the wise before he speake mistrust the straungers minde For he that blontly runnes may light among the breers And so be put vnto his plunge where danger least apperes The bird that selly foole doth warne vs to beware Who lighteth not on euery bush he dreadeth so the snare The Mouse that shons the trap doth shew what harme doth lye Within the swete betraying bait that oft disceiues the eye The fish auoydes the hooke though hunger bids him bite And houereth still about the worme whereon is his delite If birdes and beastes can see where their vndoing lies How should a mischief scape our heades y t haue both wit eyes What madnesse may be more then plow the barreyn fieldeâ— Or any frutefull wordes to sow to eares that are vnwild They heare and than mislike they like and then they lothe They hate thei loue thei scorn thei praise yea sure thei caÌ„ do both We see what falles they haue that clime on trees vnknowne As they that trust to rotten bowes must nedes be ouerthrowne A smart in silence kept doth ease the hart much more Than for to playn where is no salue for to recure the sore Wherfore my grief I hide within a holow hart Untill the smoke thereof be spred by flaming of the smart An answere TO trust the fayned face to rue on forced teares To credit finely forged tales wherin there oft appeares And breathes as from the brest a smoke of kindled smart Where onely lurkes a depe deceit within the hollow hart Betrayes the simple soule whom plaine deceitlesse minde Taught not to feare that in it selfe it selfe did neuer finde Not euery trickling teare doth argue inward paine Not euery sigh doth surely shew the sigher not to faine Not euery smoke doth proue a presence of the fire Not euery glistring geues the gold that gredy folke desire Not euery wayling word is drawen out of the depe Not grief for want of graunted grace enforceth all to wepe Oft malice makes the minde to shed the boyled brine And enuies humor oft vnlades by conduites of the eyen Oft craft can cause the man to make a seming show Of hart with dolour all distreined where grief did neuer grow As cursed Crocodile most cruelly can tole With truthlesse teares vnto his death the silly pitying soule Blame neuer
him vnkouth wayes If so deceaue Antonius cruell gleaues They might and threats of folowyng routs escape Thus lo that Tullie went that Tullius Of royall robe and sacred senate prince When he a far the men approch espieth And of his â—one the ensignes doth aknow And with drawn swoord Popilius threatning death Whose life and holl estate in hazard once Hee had preserude when Room as yet to free Herd him and at his thundring voyce amazde Herennius eek more eyger than the rest Present enflamde with furie him purseews What might hee doo Should hee vse in defense Disarmed hands â—or pardon ask for meed Should he with wordes attempt to turn the wrath Of tharmed knight whose safegard hee had wrought No age forbids and fixt within depe brest His countryes loue and falling Romes image The charret turn sayth hee let loose the rayns Roon to the vndeserued death mee lo Hath Phebus fowl as messenger forwarnd And Ioue desires a neew heauensman to make Brutus and Cassius soulls liue you in blisse In case yet all the fates gaynstriue vs not Neither shall we perchaunce dye vnreuenged Now haue I liued O Room ynough for mee My passed life nought suffreth me to dout Noysom obliuion of the lothesome death Slea mee yet all the ofspring to come shall know And this deceas shall bring eternall life Yea and onlesse I fayl and all in vain Room I soomtime thy Augur chosen was Not euermore shall frendly fortune thee Fauour Antonius once the day shall coom When her deare wights by cruell spight thus slain Uictorious Room shall at thy hands require Me likes therwhile go see the hoped heauen Speech had he left and therwith hee good man His throte preparde and held his hed vnmouedâ— His hasting to those fates the very knightes Be lothe to see and rage rebated when They his bare neck beheld and his horeheyres Scant could they hold the teares that forth gan burst And almost fell from bloody hands the swoords Onely the stern Herennius with grym looke Dastards why stand you still he sayth and straight Swaps of the hed with his presumptuous yron Ne with that slaughter yet is he not fild Fowl shame on shame to heape is his delite Wherefore the handes also doth hee of smyte Which durst Antonius life so liuely paynt Him yeldyng strayned goste from welkin hye With lothy chere lord Phebus gan behold And in black clowd they say long hid his hed The latinâ— Muses and the Grayes they wept And for his fall eternally shall weep And lo hertpersing Pitho straunge to tell Who had to him suffisde both sense and words When so he spake and drest with nectar soote That flowyng toung when his windpipe disclosde Fled with her fleeyng frend and out alas Hath left the earth ne will no more return Popilius flyeth therwhile and leauing there The senslesse stock a grizely sight doth bear Unto Antonius boord with mischief fed Of M. T. Gicero FOr Tullie late a tomb I gan prepare When Cynthie thus bad mee my labour spare Such maner things becoom the ded quoth hee But Tullie liues and styll alyue shall bee N. G. A ALas so al things now 5 Although I had a chek 10 As oft as I behold 12 Auising the bright 22 Alas madam for steling 23 Accused though I be 29 All in thy loke my life 34 A face that shold content 35 A lady gaue me a gift 42 A spending hand 47 Alas that euer death 62 A sâ—udent at his boke 64 As cypresse tree 74 Among dame natures 77 All ye that frendship 78 As I haue ben so wil 79 At libertie I sit and see 80 As laurel leaues 83 A kinde of cole is 97 A man may liue thrise 100 Ah loue how waiward 102 A cruel Tiger 107 Ah libertie now haue I 107 Adieu desert how art 108 Alas when shal I ioy 112 B BRitle beautie that 5 Because I stil kept 21 Behold loue thy power 28 By fortune as I lay 55 Behold my picture 70 Bewail with me 70 C CEsar when that the. 21 Cruel vnkinde 74 Complain we may 96 D DIuers thy death 16 Disdain me not 31 Desire alas my maister 41 Driuen by desire I did 44 Death and the king 78 Do all your dedes by 97 Do way your phisick 106 E ECh beast can choose 14 Eche man me telth 21 Euer my hap is slack 36 Experience now doth 67 Ech thing I see hath 69 F FRom Tuscan came 5 Farewell the hart of 24 From these hye hilles 25 For want of will in wo. 31 Farewell loue 37 For shamefast harme 43 Full faire and white she is 61 For that a restlesse hed 69 Flee from the prease 82 For loue Apollo 8â— False may he be 83 From worldly wo 99 Farewell thou frosen hart 111 For Tully late 117 G GOod ladies ye that 9 Geue place ye louers 10 Girt in my giltlesse gown 13 Go burning sighes 38 Geue place ye ladies 67 H HE is not dead that 29 How oft haue Iâ— 36 Holding my peace 107 I IN Cyprus springes 5 I neuer saw my L. lay 6 In winters iust return 8 If care do cause men cry 15 In the rude age 17 If waker carâ— 20 I finde no peace 21 It may be good 23 In faith I wote not 24 If euer man might him 32 If amorous faith 36 It burneth yet alas 40 I see that chaunce hath 41 If thou wilt mighty be 43 In court to serue 44 In doutfull brest 45 If euer wofull man 50 If right be rackt 51 In Grece sometime 52 It is no fire 62 I lent my loue to losse 64 In seking rest 66 I see there is no sort 71 I lothe that I did loue 72 If it wer so that God 75 In fredom was my fantasy 76 I rede how Troilus 81 I heard when fame 84 I ne can close in short 85 It was the day on which 90 I that Ulisses yeres 9â— If that thy wicked wife 99 I would I found not 104 I sâ—â—ly Haw 107 In bayes I bost 109 In court as I beheld 110 Imps of king Ioâ—â— 113 In working well 113 L LOue 〈◊〉 liueth 4 Layâ—â—n my quiet bed 18 Lux my fair falcon 35 Loue â—ortune my minde 36 Like vnto these vnmesu 36 Like as the bird with 43 Like as the Lark 52 Lo here the end of man 56 Like as the brake 78 Like as the rage of raine 80 Like the Phenix a bird 88 Loe ded he liues 89 Loe here lieth G. 98 M MArtial the thinges 16 My Ratclif when 18 My galley charged 22 Madame withouten 23 Myne old dere enmy 25 Maruell no'more altho 27 My loue to scorne 29 My lute awake 33 My hart I gaue thee 37 Mistrustfull mindes 40 My mothers maides 45 Mine own I. Poins 46 My youthfull yeres 70 N NAture that gaue the bee 34 Nature that taught 68 Not like a God came 95 No ioy haue I. 104 Now clattering armes 115 O O Happy dames that may 8 O lothsome
the fire will wast away And outward cast no flame Unto my self may I compare These coales that so consume Where nought is sene though men 〈◊〉 â—â—areâ— In stede of flame but fume They say also to make them burne Cold water must be cast Or els to ashes will they turne And half to sinder wast As this is wonder for to se Cold water warme the fire So hath your coldnesse caused me To burne in my desire And as this water cold of kinde Can cause both heat and cold And can these coales both breake and binde To burne as I haue told So can your tong of frosen yse From whence cold answers come Both coole the fire and fire entice To burne me all and some Like to the corne that standes on stake Which mowen in winter sunne Full faire without within is black Such heat therin doth runne By force of fire this water cold Hath bred to burne within Euen so am I that heat doth hold which cold did first begyn which heat is stint when I do striue To haue some ease sometime But flame a fresh I do reuiue Wherby I cause to clime In stede of smoke a sighing breath with sparkes of sprinkled teares That I should liue this liuyng death Which wastes and neuer weares The answer YOur borrowd meane to moue your mone of fume â—outen flame Being set from smithy smokyng coale ye seme so by the same To shew what such coales vse is taught by such as haue assayd As I that most do wish you well am so right well apayd That you haue such a lesson learnd how either to maintaine Your fredome of vnkindled coale vpheaped all in vaine Or how most frutefully to frame with worthy workmans art That cunnyng pece may passe there fro by help of heated hart Out of the forge wherin the fume of sighes doth mount aloftâ— That argues present force of fire to make the metall soft To yelde vnto the hammer hed as best the workman likes That thiron glowyâ—g after blast in time and temper strikes Wherin the vse of water is as you do seme to say To quenche no flame ne hinde heat ne yet to wast away But that which better is for youâ— and more deliteth me To saue you from the sodain waste vaine cinderlike to be Which lastyng better liâ—es in loue as you your semble ply Then doth the bauen blase that flames and fleteth by and by Sith then you know eche vse wherin your coale may be applide Either to lie and last on hoord in open ayre to bide wiâ—houten vse to gather fat by fallyng of the raines That makes the pitchy iucye to grow by sokyng in his veines Or lye on fornace in the forge as is his vse of right Wherin the water trough may serue and enteryeld her might By worke of smithes both hand and hed a cuÌ„nyng key to make Or other pece as cause shall craue and bid him vndertake Do as you deme most fit to do and wherupon may grow Such ioy to you as I may ioy your ioyfull case to know An epitaph made by w. G. lying on his death bed to be set vpon his owne tombe LO here lieth G. vnder the ground Among the gredy wormes Which in his life time neuer found But strife and sturdy stormes And namely through a wicked wife As to the worâ—d apperes She was the shortnyng of his life By many dayes and yeres He might haue liued long god wot His yerâ—s they were but yong Of wicked wâ—ues this is the lot To kill with spitefull tong Whoâ— memory shall still remayne In writiâ—g here with me That men may know whom she hath slayne And say this â—ame is she An answer IF that thy wicked wife had spon the thread And were the weauer of thy wo Then art thou double happy to be dead As happely dispatched so If rage did causelesse cause thee to complayne And mad moode mouer of thy mone If frensy forced on thy testy braine Then blist is she to liue alone So whether were the ground of others grefe Because so doutfull was the dome Now death hath brought your payne a right relefe And blessed be ye both become She that she liues no longer bound to beate The rule of such a froward hed Thou that thou liuest no lenger faine to feare The restlesse ramp that thou hadst wed Be thou as glad therfore that thou art gone As she is glad she doth avide For so ye be a sonder all is one A badder match can not betide An epitaph of maister Henry williams FRom worldly wo the mede of misbelefe From â—â—use of care that leadeth to lament From vaine delight the ground of greater grefe From feare for frendes from matter to repent From painefull pangs laâ—t sorowe that is sent From dred of death â—ith death doth set vs free With it the better pleased should we be This lothsome life where likyng we do finde Thencreaser of our crimes doth vs bereue Our blisse that alway ought to be in minde This wily world whiles here we breath aliue And flesh our fayned fo do stifly striue To flatter vs assuryng here the ioy Where we alas do finde but great annoy Untolde heapes though we haue of worldly wealth Though we possesse the sea and frutefull ground Strength beauty knowledge and vnharmed health Though at a wish all pleasure do abound It were but vaine no frendship can be found when death assalteth with his dredfull dart No raunsome can stay the home hastyng hart And sith thou cut the liues line in twaine Of Henry sonne to sir Iohn Williams knight whose manly hart and prowes none could staine Whose godly life to vertue was our light Whose worthy fame shall florish long by right Though in this life so cruell mightest thou be His spirite in heauen shall triumph ouer thee An other of the same STay gentle frend that passest by And learne the lore that leadeth all From whence we come with hast to hye To liue to dye and stand to fall And learne that strength and lusty age That wealth and want of worldly woe Can not withstand the mighty rage Of death our best vnwelcome foe For hopefull youth had hight me health My lust to last till time to dye And fortune found my vertue wealth But yet for all that here I lye Learne also this to ease thy minde when death on corps hath wrought his spite A time of triumph shalt thou finde with me to scorne him in delight For one day shall we mete againe Maugre deathes dart in life to dwell Then will I thanke thee for thy paine Now marke my wordes and fare thou well Against women either good or bad A Man may liue thrise Nestors life Thrise wander out Ulisses race Yet neuer finde Ulisses wife Such change hath chanced in this case Lesse age will serue than Paris had Small pein if none be small inough To finde good store of Helenes trade Such sap the rote doth yelde the bough