strike Loue. O no her heart and thine are not alike XX. Such are thy parts of body and of minde That if I should not loue thee as I doe I should too much degenerate from kinde And thinke the world would blame my weaknes to For he whom such perfections cannot moue Is eyther senslesse or not borne to loue XXI Alcilia's eyes haue set my heart on fire The pleasing obiect that my paine doth feede Yet still to see those eyes I doe desire As if my helpe should from my hurt proceede Happy were I might there in her be found A will to heale as there was power to wound XXII Vnwise was hee that painted Loue a Boy VVho for his strength a Gyant should haue beene It 's strange a childe should worke so great annoy Yet howsoeuer strange too truely seene But what is he that dares at Loue repine VVhose workes are wonders and himselfe diuine XXIII My faire Alcilia gladly would I know it If euer louing passion pierc'd thy hart Oh no for then thy kindnesse soone would shew it And of my paines thy selfe would beare some part Full little knoweth hee that hath not proued VVhat hell it is to loue and not be loued XXIIII Loue art thou blinde nay thou canst see too well And they are blinde that so report of thee That thou doest see my selfe by proofe can tell A haplesse proofe thereof is made by mee For sure I am had'st thou not had thy sight Thou neuer could'st haue hit my heart so right XXV Long haue I languish'd and indur'd much smart Since haplesse I the cruell faire did loue And lodg'd her in the center of my heart VVho there abiding reason should her moue Though of my paines she no compassion take Yet to respect me for her owne sweet sake XXVI In midst of VVinter season as the Snow VVhose milk-white mantle ouer-spreds the ground In part the colour of my loue is so Yet their effects I haue contrary found For when the unneappeares Snow melts anone But I melt alwayes when my Sunne is gone XXVII The sweet content at first I seem'd to proue VVhile yet Desire vnfledg'd could scarcely flye Did make me thinke there was no life to Loue Till all too late Time taught the contrarie For like a Flye I sported with the flame Till like a Foole I perish'd in the same XXVIII After darke night the chearfull day appeareth After an ebbe the riuer flowes againe After a storme the cloudy heauen cleareth All labours haue their end or ease of paine Each creature hath reliefe and rest saue I VVho onely dying liue and liuing dye XXIX Sometimes I seeke for company to sport VVhereby I might my pensiue thoughts beguile Sometimes againe I hide me from resort And muse alone but yet alas the while In changing place I cannot change my minde For where so e'er I flye my selfe I finde XXX Faine would I speak but straight my hart doth trēble And checkes my tongue that should my griefes reueale And so I striue my passion to dissemble VVhich all the Art I haue cannot conceale Thus standing mute my hart with longing sterueth It grieues a man to aske what he deserueth XXXI Since you desire the cause of me to know For which these diuers passions I haue proued Looke in your glasse which will not faile to show The shadowed portrait of my best beloued If that suffice not looke into my hart VVhere it 's ingrauen in a new-found Art XXXII The painefull Plow-man hath his hearts delight VVho through his daily toyle his body tyreth Yet merrily comes whistling home at night And sweetly takes the ease his paine requireth But neyther dayes nor nights can yeeld me rest Borne to be wretched and to liue opprest XXIII O well were it if Nature would deuise That men with men together might engender As Grafts from Trees one from another rise Then nought of due to women should we render But vaine conceit that Nature should doe this Since well wee know her selfe a woman is XXIIII Vpon the Altar where Loues fire burned My sighs and teares for sacrifice I offer'd When Loue in rage from me his countenance turned And did reiect what I so humbly proffer'd If hee my heart expect alas it 's gone How can a man giue that is not his owne XXXV Alcilia said she did not know my minde Because my words did not declare my loue Thus where I merit most least helpe I finde And her vnkindnesse all too late I proue Grant Loue that shee of whom thou art neglected May one day loue and little be respected XXXVI The Cynicke being ask'd when he would loue Made answere when hee nothing had to doe For Loue was sloath but he did neuer proue By his experience what belong'd thereto For had he tasted but as much as I He would haue soone reform'd his heresie XXXVII O iudge me not sweet Loue by outward show Though sometimes strange I seeme and to neglect thee Yet didst thou but my inward passions know Thou shouldst perceiue how highly I respect thee When lookes are fixed the hart oft times doth tremble Little loues he that cannot much dissemble XXXVIII Parting from thee euen from my selfe I part Thou art the starre by which my life is guided I haue the body but thou hast the hart The better part is from it selfe diuided Thus doe I liue and this doe I sustaine Till gracious fortune make vs meet againe XXXIX Open the sluces of my feeble eyes And let my teares haue passage from their fountain Fil all the earth with plaints the aire with cries Which may pierce rocks reach the highest mountain That so Loues wrath by these extreames appeased My griefes may cease and my poore heart be eased XL. After long sicknes health brings more delight Seas seem more calm by storms once ouerblowne The day's more chearfull by the passed night Each thing is by his contrary best knowne Continuall ease is paine Change somtimes meeter Discords in Musicke make the Musicke sweeter XLI Feare to offend forbids my tongue to speake And signes and sighes must tell my inward woe But aye the while my heart with griefe doth break And she by signes my sorrowes will not know The stillest streames we see in deepest foords And loue is greatest when it wanteth words XLII No paine so great but may be eas'd by Art Though much we suffer yet despair we should not In midst of griefes Hope alwayes hath some part And Time may heale what Art Reason could not Oh what is then this passion I indure VVhich neither Reason Art nor Time can cure XLIII Pale Iealousie fiend of eternall night Mishapen creature borne before thy time The Impe of horror foe to sweet delight Making each error seeme a haynous crime Ah too great pittie were there remedie That euer Loue should keepe thee companie XLIIII The dayes are now come to their shortest date And must in time by course increase againe But onely I continue at one
ALCILIA Philoparthens louing Folly WHEREVNTO IS ADDED Pigmalions Image WITH The Loue of AMOS and LAVRA And also EPIGRAMMES BY Sir I. H. and others Neuer before imprinted LONDON Printed for Richard Hawkins dwelling in Chancery Lane neare Sarjeants-Inne 1613. A LETTER written by a Gentleman to the Author his friend FRiend Philoparthens in perusing your Louing-folly and your declining from it I doe behold Reason conquering Passion The infirmitie of louing argueth you are a man the firmenesse thereof discouereth a good wit and the best nature and the falling from it true vertue Beautie was alwayes of force to mislead the wisest and men of greatest perfection haue had no power to resist Loue. The best are accompanyed with Vices to exercise their Vertues whose glory shineth brightest in resisting motiues of pleasure and in subduing affections And though I cannot altogether excuse your Louing-folly yet I doe the lesse blame you in that you loued such a one as was more to be commended for her vertue then beautie albeit euen for that too shee was so well accomplished with the gifts of nature as in mine owne conceit which for good cause I must submit as inferiour to yours there was nothing wanting eyther in the one or the other that might adde more to her worth except it were a more due and better regard of your loue which â—hee requited not according to your deserts nor answerable to her selfe in her other parts of perfection Yet herein it appeareth you haue made good vse of reason that being heretofore lost in youthfull vanitie haue now by timely discretion found your selfe Let me intreate you to suffer these your passionate Sonnets to be published which may peraduenture make others possessed with the like humour of Louing to follow your example in leauing and moue other Alciliaes if there be any to imbrace deseruing loue while they may Hereby also she shall know and it may be inwardly repent the losse of your loue and see how much her perfections are blemished by ingratitude which will make your happinesse greater by adding to your reputation then your contentment could haue beene in inioying her loue At the least wise the wiser sort howsoeuer in censuring them they may dislike of your errors yet they cannot but commend and allow of your reformation and all others that shall vvith indifferency reade them may reape thereby some benefit or contentment Thus much I haue written as a testimony of the good will I beare you with whom I doe suffer or reioyce according to the qualitie of good hap or misfortune and so I take my leaue resting as alwayes Yours most assured PHILARETES Author ipse Philopartheos ad Libellum suum PArue Liber Domini vanos dicture labores Insomnes noctes sollicitosque dies Errores varios sanguentis taedia vitae Moerores certos gaudia certa minus Peruigiâ—es curas suspiria vota querelas Et quaecunque pati dura coegit amor I precor intrepidus duram comiterque salutans Haec me eius causa sustinuisse refer Te grato excipiet vultu rubicundula nomen Cum titulo inscriptum viderit esse suum Forsitan nostri miserebitur illa doloris Dicet ah quantum deseruisse dolet Seque nimis saeuam crudelemabque ipsa vocabit Cui non est fidei debita cura meae Quod siquidem eueniet Domino solaminis illud Et tâ—bi surremi muneris instar erit Si quis vt est aequum fâ—tuos damnauerit ignes Pigritiae fructus ingnijque leuis Tu Dominum caecis tenchris errasse sed ipsum Errâ—ris tandem pae 〈…〉 uisse sui Me quoque re vâ—ra nec tot nec tauta tulisse Seâ— ficta ad placitum multa fuisse refer Ab quanto satius nisi mens mihi vana fuisset Illa meo penitùs delituisse sinu Quam leuia in lucem prodire aut luce carentis Insanam Domini prodere stultitiam Nil Amor est aliud quà m mentis morbus error Nil sapienter agit nil bene quisquis amat Sed non cuique datur sapere aut melioribus vti Forte erit alterius qui meus error erat Cautior incedat quinanquam labitur atqui Iam proprio cuadam cautior ipse malo Si cui dilicto granior mea poena videtur Illius in laudes officiosus eris Te si quis simili qui carpituri iâ— ne videbit Ille suam sortem flebit ille meam ALCILIAE obsequium supplex praestare memento Non minima officij pars erit illa tui Te fortasse sua secura recondet in aâ—ca Et Solis posthaec luminis orbus eris Nil referet fateor me non prudenter amasse Vltima deceptae sors erit illa spei Bis proprio Phoebus cursu lustrouer at orbem Conscius erroris stultitiaeque meae A quo primus Amor coepit penetrare medullas Et falsa accensos nutrijt arte focos Desino iam nugas amplecti seria posthaec Vt Ratio monet ac vtiliora sequar AMORIS PRAELVDIVM VEL Epistola ad Amicam TO thee Alcilia solace of my youth These rude and scattered rimes I haue addressed The certaine witnesse of my loue and truth That truely cannot be in words expressed VVhich if I shall perceiue thou tak'st in gree I will from henceforth write of none but thee Here may you find the wounds your selfe haue made The many sorrowes I haue long sustain'd Here may you see that Loue must be obey'd How much I hop'd how little I haue gain'd That as for you the paines haue beene endur'd Euen so by you they may at length be cur'd I will not call for aide to any Muse It is for learned Poets so to doe Affection must my want of Art excuse My workes must haue their patronage from you VVhose sweet assistance if obtaine I might I should be able both to speake and wright Meane while vouchsafe to reade this as assignde To no mans censure but to yours alone Pardon the faults that you therein shall finde And thinke the Writers heart was not his owne Experience of examples daily proue That no man can be well aduis'd and loue And though the worke it selfe deserue it not Such is your worth with my great wants compar'd Yet may my Loue vnfained without spot Challenge so much if more cannot be spar'd Then louely Virgin take this in good part The rest vnseene is seal'd vp in the hart Iudge not by this the depth of my Affection VVhich farre exceedes the measure of my skill But rather note herein your owne perfection So shall appeare my want of Art not VVill. VVhereof this now as part in lieu of greater I offer as an insufficient debter Sic incipit stultorum Tragicomedia IT was my chance vnhappy chance to mee As all alone I wandred on my way Voyd of distrust from doubt of dangers free To passe a groue where LOVE in Ambush lay VVho ayming at mee with his feather'd Dart Conuey'd it by mine Eye vnto my
brests like polish'd Iuory appeare VVhose modest mount doe blesse admiring eye And makes him wish for such a Pillow beare Thus fond Pigmalion striueth to descry Each beauteous part not letting ouer-slip One parcell of his curious workmanship IX Vntill his eye descended so farre downe That it descryed Loues Pauillion VVhere Cupid doth inioy his onely crowne And Venus hath her chiefest mansion There would he winke and winking looke againe Both eies and thoughts would gladly there remaine X. VVho euer saw the subtle Citie Dame In sacred Church when her pure thoughts should pray Peire through her fingers so to hide her shame VVhen that her eye her minde would faine bewray So would he view and winke and view againe A chaster thought could not his eyes retaine XI Hee wondred that she blusht not when his eye Saluted those same parts of secrecie Conceiting not it was imagerie That kindly yeelded that large libertie Oh that my Mistresse were an Image too That I might blamelesse her perfections view XII But when the faire proportion of her thigh Beganne appeare O Ouid would he cry Did ere Corinna shew such Iuorie VVhen she appear'd in Venus liuorie And thus enamored doates on his owne Art VVhich he did worke to worke his pleasing smart XIII And fondly doating oft he kist her lip Oft would he dally with her Iuory brests No wanton Loue-tricke would he ouer-slip But still obseru'd all amorous behests VVhereby he thought he might procure the loue Of his dull Image which no plaints could moue XIIII Looke how the peeuish Papists crouch and kneele To some dumbe Idoll with their offering As if a senslesse carued stone could feele The ardor of his bootlesse chattering So fond he was and earnest in his sute To his remorcelesse Image dumbe and mute XV. He oft doth wish his soule might part asunder So that one halfe in her had residence Oft hee exclaimes ô beauties onely wonder Sweet modell of delight faire excellence Be gracious vnto him that formed thee Compassionate his true-loues ardencie XVI Shee with her silence seemes to grant his sute Then he all iocund like a wanton Louer VVith amorous imbracements doth salute Her slender waste presuming to discouer The vale of Loue where Cupid doth delight To sport and dally all the sable night XVII His eyes her eyes kindely encountered His brest her brest oft ioyned close vnto His armes imbracements oft she suffered Hands armes eies tongue lips all parts did wooe His thigh with hers his knee plaid with her knee A happy consort when all parts agree XVIII But when he saw poore soule hee was deceiued Yet scarce he could beleeue his sense had failed Yet when he found all hope from him bereaued And saw how fondly all his thoughts had erred Then did he like to poore Ixion seeme That clipt a cloud in stead of heauens Queene XIX I oft haue smil'd to see the foolerie Of some sweet Youths who seriously protest That Loue respects not actuall luxurie But onely ioyes to dally sport and iest Loue is a childe contented with a toy A Busk-point or some fauour stils the Boy XX. Marke my Pigmalion whose affections ardor May be a mirror to posteritie Yet viewing touching kissing common fauour Could neuer satiate his loues ardencie And therfore Ladies thinke that they ne'er loue you VVho doe not vnto more then kissing moue you XXI For my Pigmalion kist view'd and imbraced And yet exclaimes VVhy were these women made O sacred Gods and with such beauties graced Haue they not power as well to coole and shade As for to heate mens hearts Or is there none Or are they all like mine relentlesse stone XXII VVith that hee takes her in his louing armes And downe within a Downe-bed softly laid her Then on his knees hee all his senses charmes To inuocate sweet Venus for to raise her To wished life and to infuse some breath To that which dead yet gaue a life to death XXIII Thou sacred Queene of sportiue dallying Thus he beginnes Loues onely Empresse VVhose kingdome rests in wanton reuelling Let me beseech thee shew thy powerfulnesse In changing stone to flesh make her relent And kindely yeeld to thy sweet blandishment XXIIII O gracious Gods take compassion Instill into her some celestiall fire That she may equalize affection And haue a mutuall loue and loues desire Thou know'st the force of Loue then pitty me Compassionate my true loues ardencie XXV Thus hauing said hee riseth from the floore As if his soule diuined him good fortune Hoping his prayers to pittie mou'd some Power For all his thoughts did all good lucke importune And therefore straight he strips him naked quite That in the bed he might haue more delight XXVI Then thus Sweet sheetes he sayes which now doe couer The Idoll of my soule the fairest one That euer lou'd or had an amorous Louer Earths onely modell of perfection Sweet happy sheetes daine for to take me in That I my hopes and longing thoughts may win XXVII VVith that his nimble limbs doe kisse the sheetes And now he bowes him for to lay him downe And now each part with her faire parts doe meet Now doth he hope for to inioy Loues crowne Now doe they dally kisse imbrace together Like Leda's Twinnes at sight of fairest weather XXVIII Yet all 's conceit but shadow of that blisse VVhich now my Muse striues sweetly to display In this my wondrous Metamorphosis Daine to beleeue mee now I sadly say The stony substance of his Image feature VVas straight transform'd into a liuing Creature XXIX For when his hands her faire form'd limbs had felt And that his armes her naked waist imbraced Each part like VVaxe before the Sunne did melt And now oh now he findes how he is graced By his owne worke Tut women will relent VVhen as thy finde such mouing blandishment XXX Doe but conceiue a Mothers passing gladnesse After that Death her onely sonne hath seazed And ouerwhelm'd her soule with endlesse sadnesse VVhen that she sees him gin for to be raised From out his deadly sound to life againe Such ioy Pigmalion feeles in euery veyne XXXI And yet hee feares he doth but dreaming finde So rich content and such celestiall blisse Yet when he proues and findes her wondrous kinde Yeelding soft touch for touch sweet kisse for kisse Hee 's well assur'd no faire Imagerie Could yeeld such pleasing loues felicitie XXXII O wonder not to heare me thus relate And say to flesh transformed was a stone Had I my Loue in such a wished state As was afforded to Pigmalion Though flinty hard of her you soone should see As strange a transformation wrought by mee XXXIII And now me thinkes some wanton itching eare VVith lustfull thoughts and ill attention List's to my Muse expecting for to heare The amorous description of that action VVhich Venus seekes and euer doth require VVhen fitnesse grants a place to please desire XXXIIII Let him conceit but what himselfe would doe VVhen that he had obtained
Hart. VVhere retchlesse Boy he let the Arrow sticke VVhere I as one amazed senselesse stood The hurt was great yet seemed but a pricke The wound was deepe and yet appear'd no bloud But inwardly it bleedes Proofe teacheth this VVhen wounds doe so the danger greater is Pausing a while and grieued with my wound I look'd about expecting some reliefe Small hope of helpe no ease of paine I found Like all at once to perish in my griefe VVhen hastily I plucked forth the Dart. But left the head fast fixed in my Hart. Fast fixed in my Hart I left the head From whence I doubt it will not be remoued Ah what vnluckie chance that way me lead O Loue thy force thou might'st else-where haue proued And shew'd thy power where thou art not obey'd The Conquest 's small where no resist is made But nought alas auayles it to complaine I rest resolu'd with Patience to endure The Fire being once disperst through euery veyne It is too late to hope for present cure Now Philoparthen must new follyes proue And learne a little what it is to loue These Sonnets following were written by the Author who giueth himselfe this fained name of Philoparthen as his accidentall attribute at diuers times and vpon diuers occasions and therefore in the forme and matter they differ and sometimes are quite contrary one to another considering the nature and qualitie of LOVE which is a Passion full of varietie and contrarietie in it selfe I. VNhappy Eyes that first my Heart betraid Had you not seene my griefe had not bin such And yet how may I iustly you vpbraid Since what I saw delighted me so much But hence alas proceedeth all my smart Vnhappie Eyes that first betray'd my Hart. II. To seeke aduentures as Fate hath assign'd My slender Barke now flotes vpon the Maine Each troubled thought an Oare each sigh a winde VVhos 's often puffes haue rent my Sayles in twaine LOVE steeres the Boat which for that sight he lacks Is still in danger of tenne thousand wracks III. VVhat sodaine chance hath chang'd my wonted VVhich makes me other then I seeme to be chear My dayes of ioy that once were bright and cleare Are turn'd to night my mirth to miserie Ah well I weene that somewhat is amisse But sooth to say I know not what it is IIII. VVhat am I dead Then could I feele no smart But still in me the sense of griefe reuiueth Am I aliue Ah no I haue no heart For she that hath it me of life depriueth Oh that she would restore my heart againe Or giue mee hers to counteruayle my paine V. If it be LOVE to waste long houres in griefe If it be LOVE to wish and not obtaine If it be LOVE to pine without reliefe If it be LOVE to hope and neuer gaine Then may you thinke that he hath truely lou'd VVho for your sake all this and more haue prou'd VI. If ought that in mine Eyes haue done amisse Let them receiue deserued punishment For so the perfect rule of Iustice is Each for his owne deedes should be prais'd or shent Then doubtlesse it is both 'gainst Law and sence My Heart should suffer for mine Eyes offence VII I am not sicke and yet I am not sound I eate and sleepe and yet me thinkes I thriue not I sport and laugh and yet my griefes abound I am not dead and yet me thinkes I liue not What vncouth cause hath these strange passions bred To make at once sicke sound aliue and dead VIII Some thing I want but what I cannot say O now I know it is my selfe I want My Loue with her hath tane my Heart away Yea Heart and all and left me very scant Such power hath LOVE nought but LOVE alone To make diuided Creatures liue in one IX Philo. Come gentle Death strike me with thy dart Life is but loathsome to a man opprest Death How can I kill thee when thou hast no heart That which thou hadst is in anothers breast Philo. Then must I liue and languish still in paine Death Yea till thy Loue restore thy heart againe X. VVere Loue a fire my teares might quench it lightly Or were it water my hot heart might dry it If Ayre then might it passe away more slightly Or were it Earth the world would soone descry it If Fire nor VVater Ayre nor Earth it be VVhat then is it that thus tormenteth me XI To paint her outward shape and gifts of minde It doth exceed my wit and cunning farre She hath no fault but that she is vnkinde All other parts in her so compleate are That who to view them thoughly would deuise Must haue his body nothing else but Eyes XII Faire is my Loue whose parts are so well framed By Natures speciall order and direction That shee her selfe is more then halfe ashamed In hauing made a worke of such perfection And well may Nature blush at such a feature Seeing her selfe excelled in her creature XIII Her bodie is straight slender and vpright Her visage comely and her lookes demure Mixt with a chearfull grace that yeelds delight Her eyes like starres bright shining cleare and pure VVhich I describing Loue bids stay my pen And sayes it 's not a worke for mortall men XIIII The auncient Poets write of Graces three VVhich meeting altogether in one Creature In all points perfect make the same to bee For inward vertues and for outward feature But smile Alcilia and the world shall see That in thine eyes an hundred graces bee XV. As Loue had drawne his Bow ready to shoote Ayming at me with resolute intent Straight Bow and Shaft he cast downe at his foote And said why needlesse should one Shaft be spent I le spare it then and now it shall suffice In stead of Shafts to vse Alciliaes eyes XVI Blush not my Loue for feare least Phoebus spie VVhich if he doe then doubtlesse he vvill say Thou seek'st to dim his clearnesse with thine eye That clearnesse which from East brings gladsome day But most of all least Ioue should see I dread And take thee vp to heauen like Ganymede XVII Philo. VVhat is the cause Alcilia is displeased Lo. Because she wants that which shold most content her Phil. O did I know it soone should she be eased Loue. Perhaps thou dost and that doth most torment her Phil. Yet let her aske what she desires to haue Loue. Gesse by thy selfe for maidens must not craue XVIII My Loue by chance her tender finger pricked As in the darke I striued for a kisse VVhose bloud I seeing offerd to haue licked But halfe in anger she refused this O that she knew the difference of the smart Twixt her prick'd finger and my wounded hart XIX Philo. I pray the tell what makes my hart to tremble VVhen on a sodaine I Alcilia spye Loue. Because thy heart cannot thy ioy dissemble Thy life and death are both lodg'd in her eye Phil. Dost thou not her with self-same passion
state Voide of all hope of helpe or ease of paine For dayes of ioy must still be short with me And nights of sorrow must prolonged be XLV Sleepe now my Muse and henceforth take thy rest VVhich all too long thy selfe in vaine hast wasted Let it suffice I still must liue opprest And of my paine the fruit must ne'er be tasted Then sleepe my Muse Fate cannot be withstood It's better sleepe then wake and doe no good XLVI VVhy shold I loue since she doth proue vngrateful Since for reward I reape nought but disdaine Loue thus to be requited it is hatefull And Reason would I should not loue in vaine Yet all in vaine when all is out of season For Loue hath no societie with Reason XLVII Harts-ease and I haue beene at ods too long I follow fast but still he Hyes from mee I sue for grace and yet sustaine the wrong So gladly would I reconciled bee Loue make vs one so shalt thou worke a wonder Vniting them that were so farre asunder XLVIII Vncouth vnkist our auncient Poet said And he that hides his wants when hee hath neede May after haue his want of wit bewraid And faile of his desire when others speede Then boldly speake the worst is at first entring Much good successe men misse for lack of ventring XLIX Declare thy griefes wherewith thou art opprest And let the world be witnesse of thy woes Let not thy thoughts lye buryed in thy brest But let thy tongue thy discontents disclose For who conceales his paine when he is grieued May well be pittied but no way relieued L. VVretched is hee that louing sets his hart On her whose loue from pure affection swerued VVho doth permit each one to haue a part Of that which none but he alone deserueth Giue all or none For once of this be sure Lordship and Loue no partners may endure LI. VVho spends the weary day in pensiue thought And night in dreames of horror and affright Whose welth is want whose hope is come to nought Himselfe the marke for Loue and Fortunes spight Let him appeare if any such there bee His case and mine most fitly will agree LII Faire tree but fruitlesse sometimes full of sap VVhich now yeelds nought at all that may delight me Some cruell frost or some vntimely hap Hath made thee barren onely to despite me Such Trees in vaine with hope doe feede desire And serue for fuell to increase Loues fire LIII In company while sad and mute I sit My thoughts else-where then there I seeme to be Possess'd with some deepe Melancholy fit One of my friends obserues the same in me And sayes in iest which I in earnest proue Hee lookes like one that had lost his first Loue. LIIII Twixt Hope and Feare in doubtfull ballance peazed My Fate my Fortune and my Loue depends Sometime my Hope is rais'd when Loue is pleased Which feare weighs down whē ought his wil offends The heauens are somtimes cleer and somtimes lowre And he that loues must tast both sweet and sowre LV. Retyre my wandring thoughts vnto your rest Doe not henceforth consume your selues in vaine No mortall man in all poynts can be blest VVhat now is mine may be anothers paine The watry clouds are cleere when stormes are past And things in their extreames long cannot last LVI The fire of Loue is first bred in the eye And thence conuayes his heate vnto the hart VVhere it lies hid till Time his force descry The tongue thereto addes fuell for his part The touch of lips which doth succeed the same Kindles the rest and so it proues a flame LVII The tender sprigs that sprowted in the field And promis'd hope of fruit to him that planted In stead of fruit doth nought but blossomes yeeld Though care and paine to prune it neuer wanted Euen so my hopes doe nought but blossomes proue And yeeld no fruits to recompence my loue LVIII Though little signe of loue in show appeare Yet thinke true loue of colours hath no neede It 's not the glorious garments which men weare That make them others then they are indeede In meanest show the most affection dwels And richest pearles are found in simplest shels LIX Let not thy tongue thy inward thoughts disclose Or tell the sorrowes that thy heart endures Let no mans eare be witnesse of thy woes Since pittie neyther helpe nor ease procures And onely hee is truely said to mone VVhose griefes none knoweth but himselfe alone LX. A thousand times I curse these idle rimes VVhich doe their makers follies vaine set forth Yet blesse I them againe as many times For that in them I blaze Alcilia's worth Meane while I fare as doth the Torch by night VVhich wastes it selfe in giuing others light LXI Enough of this for all is nought regarded And she not once with my complaints is moued Dye haplesse Loue since thou art not rewarded Yet ere thou dye to witnesse that I loued Report my truth and tell the faire vnkinde That she hath lost what none but she shall finde LXII Louers lament you that haue truely loued For Philoparthen now hath lost his loue The greatest losse that euer Louer proued O let his hard hap some compassion moue VVho had not rued the losse of her so much But that he knowes the world yeelds no more such LXIII Vpon the Ocean of conceited error My weary spirit many stormes haue past VVhich now in harbour free from wonted terror Ioy the possession of their rest at last And henceforth safely they may lye at road And neuer roue for had-I-wist abroad Loues Accusation at the Iudgement-seate of Reason wherein the Authors whole successe in his loue is couertly described IN Reasons Court my selfe being Plaintiffe there Loue was by processe summon'd to appeare That so the wrong which he had done to mee Might be made knowne and all the world might see And seeing rue what to my cost I proued While faithfull but vnfortunate I loued After I had obtained audience I thus began to giue in euidence The Authors Euidence against Loue. MOst sacred Queene and Soueraigne of mans heart Which of the minde doest rule the better part First bred in Heauen and from thence hither sent To guide mens actions by thy regiment Vouchsafe a while to heare the sad complaint Of him that Loue hath long kept in restraint And as to you it properly belongs Grant Iustice of my vndeserued wrongs I 〈◊〉 two yeeres as I remember well Since first this wretch sent from the neather hell To plague the world with new-found cruelties Vnder the shadow of two Christall eyes Betraid my sense and as I slumbring lay Felloniously conuay'd my heart away Which most vniustly he detain'd from me And exercis'd thereon strange tyrannie Sometime his manner was to sport and game With Bry'rs and Thornes to rase and pricke the same Sometime with Nettles of desire to sting it Sometime with Pinsons of despaire to wring it Sometime againe hee would annoynt
the sore And heale the place that hee had hurt before But hurtfull helps and ministred in vaine Which serued onely to renue my paine For after that more wounds hee added still Which pierced deepe but had no power to kill Vnhappy med'cine which in stead of cure Giues strength to make the patient more indure But that which was most strange of all the rest My selfe bâ—ing thus twixt life and death distrest Oft times when as my paine exceeded measure Hee would perswade mee that the same was pleasure My solemne sadnesse but contentment meete My trauell rest and all my sower sweet My wounds but gentle strokes whereat he smild And by these sleights my carelesse youth beguil'd Thus did I fare as one that liuing dy'd For greater paines I thinke hath no man try'd Disquiet thoughts like Furyes in my brest Nourish'd the poyson that my spirits possest Now griefe then ioy now warre then peace vnstable Nought sure I had but to be miserable I cannot vtter all I must confesse Men may conceiue more then they can expresse But to be short which cannot be excus'd With vaine illusions Loue my hope abus'd Perswading me I stood vpon firme ground When vnawares my selfe on sands I found This is the poynt which most I doe inforce That Loue without all pitty or remorse Did suffer me to languish still in griefe Void of contentment succour or reliefe And when I look'd my paynes should be rewarded I did perceiue that they were nought regarded For why alas these haplesse eyes did see Alcilia lou'd another more then mee So in the end when I expected most My Hope my Loue and Fortune thus were crost Proceeding further Reason bad me stay For the defendant had something to say Then to the Iudge for Iustice loud I cride And so I paused and Loue thus replide Loues Reply to the Author SInce Reason ought to lend indifferent eares Vnto both parts and iudge as truth appeares Most gracious Lady giue me leaue to speake And answere his complaint that seekes to wreake His spight and malice on me without cause In charging me to haue transgress'd thy Lawes Of all his Follies he imputes the blame To me poore Loue that nought deserues the same Himselfe it is that hath abused me As by mine answere shall well proued be Fond youth thou knowst what I for thee effected Though now I finde it little be respected I purg'd thy wit which was before but grosse The mettall pure I seuer'd from the drosse And did inspire thee with my sweetest fire That kindled in thee courage and desire Not like vnto those seruile Passions Which cumber mens imaginations With auarice ambition or vaine-glory Desire of things fleeting and transitorie No base conceit but such as Powers aboue Haue knowne and felt I meane th' instinct of Loue Which making men all earthly things despise Transports them to a heauenly Paradise Where thou complain'st of sorrowes in thy heart Who liues on earth but therein hath his part Are these thy fruits Are these the best rewards For all the pleasing glances slye regards The sweet stolne kisses amorous conceits So many smiles so many faire intreats Such kindnesse as Alcilia did bestow All for my sake as well thy selfe doest know That Loue should thus be vsed it is hatefull But all is lost that 's done for one vngratefull Where he alledgeth that hee was abus'd In that he truely louing was refus'd That 's most vntrue and plainely may be tride Who neuer ask'd could neuer be denide But he affected rather single life Then yoke in Marriage matching with a wife And most men now make loue to none but heyres Poore loue God wot that pouertie impaires Worldly respects Loue little doth regard Who loues hath onely loue for his reward He meriteth a Louers name indeede That casts no doubts which vaine suspicion breede But desperately at hazard threwes the Dice Neglecting due regard of friends aduice That wrestles with his Fortune and his Fate Which had ordain'd to better his estate That hath no care of wealth no feare of Iacke But venters forward though he see his wracke That with Hopes wings like Icarus doth flye Though for his rashnesse he like fortune trye That to his fame the world of him may tell How while hee soar'd aloft adowne he fell And so true Loue awarded him this doome In scaling heauen to haue the Sea his Tombe That making shipwracke of his dearest fame Betrayes himselfe to pouertie and shame That hath no sense of sorrow or repent No dread of perils farre or imminent But doth preferre before all pompe or pelfe The sweet of Loue as dearer then himselfe Who were his passage stop'd with sword or fire Would make way through to compasse his desire For which he would though heauen and earth forbad it Hazard to lose a Kingdome if he had it These be the things wherein I glory most Whereof this mine accuser cannot boast Who was indifferent in his losse or gaine And better pleas'd to faile then to obtaine All quallified Affection Loue doth hate And likes him best that 's most intemperate But hence proceedes his malice and despight While he himselfe barres of his owne delight For when as he Alcilia first affected Like one in shew thou little loue respected He masqu'd disguis'd and entertain'd his thought With hope of that which he in secret sought And still forbare to vtter his desire Till his delay receiu'd her worthy hire And well we know what Maides themselues would haue Men must sue for and by petitions craue But he regarding more his wealth then will Had little care his fancie to fulfill Yet when he saw Alcilia lou'd another The secret fire which in his brest did smother Began to smoake and soone had prou'd a flame If Temperance had not allay'd the same Which afterward so quench'd he did not finde But that some sparke remained still behinde Thus when time seru'd hee did refuse to craue it And yet enuy'd another man should haue it As though faire Maids should waite at yong mens pleasure While they twixt sport and earnest loue at leasure Nay at the first when it is kindly proffer'd Maides must accept lest twice it be not offer'd Else though their beauty seeme their good t' importune Yet may they lose the better of their fortune Thus as this fondling coldly went about it So in the end he cleerely went without it For while hee doubtfull seem'd to make a stay A Mungrell stole the Maidens heart away For which though he lamented much in show Yet was he inward glad it fell out so Now Reason you may plainely iudge by this Not I but he the false dissembler is Who while fond loue his luke-warme bloud did feede Made signe of more then he sustain'd indeede And fill'd his Rimes with fables and with lyes Which without passion he did oft deuise So to delude the ignorance of such That pittied him thinking hee lou'd too much And with conceit rather to shew his
wit Then manifest his faithfull loue by it Much more then this could I lay to his charge But time would faile to open all at large Let this suffice to shew his bad intent And proue that Loue is cleare and innocent Thus at the length though late he made an end And both of vs did earnestly attend The finall iudgement Reason should award When thus he gan to speake With due regard The matter hath beene heard on eyther side For Iudgement you must longer time abide The cause is waightie and of great import And so she smiling did adiorne the Court Little auail'd it then to argue more So I return'd in worse case then before Loue decyphered LOVE and I are now diuided Conceit by Error was misguided Alcilia hath my loue despised No man loues that is aduised Time at length hath Truth directed Loue hath miss'd what hee expected Yet missing that which long he sought I haue found that I little thought Errors in time may be redrest The shortest follies are the best Loue and Youth are now asunder Reasons glory Natures wonder My thoughts long bound are now inlarg'd My follies pennance is discharg'd Thus Time hath altered my state Repentance neuer comes too late Ah well I finde that Loue is nought But folly and an idle thought The difference is twixt Loue and mee That Loue is blinde and I can see Loue is honie mixt with gall A thraldome free a freedome thrall A bitter sweet a pleasant sowre Got in a yeere lost in an howre A peacefull warre a warlike peace VVhose wealth brings want whose want increase Full long pursuite and little gaine Vncertaine pleasure certaine paine Regard of neyther right nor wrong For short delights repentance long Loue is a sicknesse of the thought Conceit of pleasure dearely bought A restlesse passion of the minde A Labyrinth of errors blinde A sugred poyson faire deceit A baite for fooles a furious heate A chilling cold a wondrous passion Exceeding mans imagination VVhich none can tell in whole nor part But onely he that feeles the smart Loue is sorrow mixt with gladnesse Feare with hope and hope with madnesse Long did I loue but all in vaine I louing was not lou'd againe For which my heart sustain'd much woe It fits not Maides to vse men so Iust deserts are not regarded Neuer loue so ill rewarded But all is lost that is not sought Oft wit proues best that 's dearest bought VVomen were made for mens reliefe To comfort not to cause their griefe VVhere most I merit least I finde No maruell since that Loue is blinde Had she beene kinde as she was faire My case had beene more strange and rare But women loue not by desart Reason in them hath weakest part Then henceforth let them loue that list I will beware of had-I-wist These faults had better beene conceal'd Then to my shame abroad reueal'd Yet though my youth did thus miscarry My harmes may make others more wary Loue is but a youthfull fit And some men say it's signe of wit But he that loues as I haue done To passe the day and see no Sunne Must change his noate and sing Erraui Or else may chance to cry Peccaui The longest day must haue his night Reason triumphs in Loues despight I follow now Discretions lore Henceforth to like but loue no more Then gently pardon what is past For Loue drawes onward to his last He walkes they say with wary eye VVhose foote-steps neuer tread awry My Muse a better worke intends And here my Louing-folly ends After long stormes and tempests past I see the Hauen at the last VVhere I must rest my weary Barke And there vnlade my care and carke My paines and trauels long indur'd And all my wounds must there be cur'd Ioyes out of date shall be renew'd To thinke of perils past eschew'd VVhen I shall sit full blithe and iolly And talke of Louers and their folly Then Loue and Folly both adieu Long haue I beene misled by you Folly may new aduentures trie But Reason sayes that Loue must dye Yea dye indeede although it grieue him For my cold heart cannot relieue him Yet for her sake whom I once loued Though all in vaine as Time haue proued I le take the paines if shee consent To write his VVill and Testament Loues last Will and Testament MY spirit I bequeath vnto the ayre My body shall vnto the earth repaire My burning brond vnto the Prince of hell T' increase mens paines that there in darknes dwell For well I weene aboue nor vnderground A greater paine then that may not be found My sweet conceits of pleasure and delight To Erebus and to eternall night My sighs my teares my passions and laments Distrust despaire all these my hourely rents With other plagues that Louers mindes inthrall Vnto Obliuion I bequeath them all My broken Bow and Shafts I giue to Reason My cruelties my sleights and forged treason To women-kinde and to their seede for aye To wreake their spight and work poore mens decay Reseruing onely for Alcilia's part Small kindnesse and lesse care of Louers smart For shee is from the vulgar sort excepted And had shee Philoparthens loue respected Requiting it with like affection She might haue had the praise of all perfection This done if I haue any faith or troth To Philoparthen I assigne them both For vnto him of right they doe belong Who truely louing suffred too much wrong Time shall be sole Executor of my Will Who may these things in order due fulfill To warrant this my Testament for good I haue subscrib'd it with my dying bloud And so hee dy'd that all this bale had bred And yet my heart misdoubts hee is not dead For sure I feare should I Alcilia spie She might eftsoones reuiue him with her eye Such power diuine remaineth in her sight To make him liue againe in Deaths despight The Sonnets following were written by the Author after he beganne to decline from his passionate affection and in them he seemeth to please himselfe with describing the vanitie of LOVE the frailtie of Beautie and the sower fruits of Repentance I. NOw haue I spun the web of my owne woes And labour'd long to purchase my owne losse Too late I see I was beguil'd with showes And that which once seem'd gold now proues but drosse Thus am I both of help and hope bereaued He neuer tryed that neuer was deceiued II. Once did I loue but more then once repent When vintage came my grapes were sower or rotten Long time in griefe and pensiue thoughts I spent And all for that which Time hath made forgotten O strange effects of Time which once being lost Makes men secure of that they loued most III. Thus haue I long in th' ayre of error houer'd And runne my ship vpon Repentance shelfe Truth hath the vale of Ignorance vncouer'd And made me see and seeing know my selfe Of former follies now I must repent And count this worke part of my
time ill spent IIII. VVhat thing is Loue A Tyrant of the minde Begot by heate of youth brought forth by sloth Nurst with vain thoughts changing as the wind A deepe dissembler voyd of faith and troth Fraught with fond errors doubts despite disdaine And all the plagues that earth and hell containe V. Like to a man that wanders all the day Through waies vnknown to seeke a thing of worth And at the night sees he hath gone astray As neare his end as vvhen he first set forth Such is my case whose hope vntimely crost After long errors proues my labour lost VI. Fail'd of that hap whereto my hope aspired Depriu'd of that which might haue bin mine owne Another now must haue that I desired And things too late by their euents are knowne Thus doe vve vvish for that cannot be got And vvhen it may then vve regard it not VII Ingratefull Loue since thou hast plaid thy part Enthralling him vvhom Time hath since made free It rests for me to vse both wit and Art That of my wrongs I may reuenged be And in those eyes where first thou took'st thy fire Thy selfe shalt perish through my cold desire VIII Grieue not thy selfe for that can not be had And things once curelesse let them carelesse rest Blame not thy fortune though thou deeme it bad VVhat 's past and gone can neuer be redrest The onely helpe for that can not be gained Is to forget it might haue beene obtained IX How happy once did I my selfe esteeme VVhile Loue with hope my fond desire did cherish My state as blissefull as a Kings did seeme Had I beene sure my ioyes should neuer perish The thoughts of men are fed with expectation Pleasures themselues are but imagination X. VVhy should we hope for that which is to come VVhere the euent is doubtfull and vnknowne Such fond presumptions soone receiue their doome VVhen things expected we count as our owne VVhose issue oft times in the end proues nought But hope a shadow and an idle thought XI In vaine doe we complaine our life is short VVhich well dispos'd great matters might effect VVhile wee our selues in toyes and idle sport Consume the better part without respect And carelesse as though time should neuer end it Twixt sleepe and waking prodigally spend it XII Youthfull desire is like the Summer season That lasts not long for winter must succeede And so our passions must giue place to reason And riper yeares more ripe effects must breed Of all the seede youth sowed in vaine desires I reaped nought but thistles thornes and bryers XIII To erre and doe amisse is giuen to men by kinde VVho walkes so sure but sometimes treads awry But to continue still in errors blinde A bad and beastiall nature doth descry Who proues not fails not and brings nought to end VVho proues and failes may afterward amend XIIII There was but one and doubtlesse she the best VVhom I did more then all the world esteeme She hauing fail'd I disauow the rest For now I finde things are not as they seeme Default of that wherein our will is crost Oft times vnto our good auaileth most XV. I fare like him who now his land-hope spent By vnknowne Seas sayles to the Indian shore Returning thence no richer then he went Yet cannot much his fortune blame therefore Since who so venters forth vpon the Mayne Makes a good Mart if he returne againe XVI Louers conceits are like a flatt'ring Glasse That makes the lookers fairer then they are VVho pleas'd in their deceit contented passe Such one was mine who thought there was none faire None witty modest vertuous but she Yet now I finde the Glasse abused me XVII Adiew fond Loue the mother of all error Repleate with hope and feare with ioy and paine False fire of fancy full of care and terror Shadow of pleasures fleeting short and vaine Dye loathed loue receiue thy latest doome Night be thy graue Obliuion be thy tombe XVIII VVho so would be rapt vp into the heauens To see a world of strange imaginations VVho carelesse would leaue all at sixe and seauen To wander in a Labyrinth of passions VVho would at once all kindes of folly proue VVhen he hath nought to doe then let him loue XIX VVhat thing is Beautie Natures dearest Minion The snare of youth like the inconstant Moone VVaxing and wayning error of opinion A mornings flower that withereth ere noone A swelling fruit no sooner ripe then rotten Which sicknes makes forlorne and time forgotten XX. The Spring of youth which now is in his prime VVinter of age with hoary frosts shall nip Beautie shall then be made the prey of Time And sower remorse deceitfull pleasures whip Then henceforth let Discretion rule Desire And Reason quench the flame of Cupids fire XXI O what a life vvas that sometime I led VVhen Loue vvith passions did my peace incumber VVhile like a man neyther aliue nor dead I was rapt from my selfe as one in slumber VVhose idle senses charm'd with fond illusion Did nourish that vvhich bred their owne confusion XXII The childe for euer after dreads the fire That once therewith by chance his finger burned VVater of Time distill'd doth coole desire And farre hee ran they say that neuer turned After long stormes I see the Port at last Folly farewell for now my loue is past XXIII Base seruile thoughts of men too much deiected That seek and crouch kneele for womens grace Of vvhom your paine and seruice is neglected Your selues despis'd Riuals before your face The more you sue the lesse you shall obtaine The lesse you win the more shall be your gaine XXIIII In looking backe vnto my follies past VVhile I the present with times past compare And thinke how many houres I then did wast Painting on clouds and building in the ayre I sigh within my selfe and say in sadnes This thing which fooles call Loue is nought but madnes XXV The things we haue we most of all neglect And that we haue not greedily we craue The things we may haue little vve respect And still we couet that we cannot haue Yet howsoe'er in our conceit we prise them No sooner gotten but vve straight despise them XXVI VVho seates his loue vpon a womans will And thinkes thereon to build an happy state Shall be deceiu'd vvhen least he thinkes of ill And rue his folly vvhen it is too late He plowes on sand and sowes vpon the winde That hopes for constant loue in women kinde XXVII I will no longer spend my time in toyes Seeing Loue is error folly and offence An idle fit for fond and retchlesse boyes Or else for men depriu'd of common sense Twixt Lunacy and Loue these ods appeare Th' one makes fools monthly th' other all the yeare XXVIII VVhile season seru'd to sow my plough lay still My Grafts vnset when others Trees did bloome I spent the Spring in sloath and slept my fill But neuer thought of Winters colde to come Till
Spring was spent and Summer well nigh gone Then I awak'd and saw my Haruest none XXIX Now Loue sits all alone in blacke attyre His broken Bow and Arrowes lying by him His fire extinct that whilome fed desire Himselfe the scorne of Louers that passe by him VVho this day freely may disport and play For it is Philoparthens Holy-day XXX Nay thinke not Loue with all thy cunning slight To catch me once againe thou com'st too late Sterne Industry puts Idlenesse to flight And Time hath changed both my name and state Then seeke else where for Mates that may befriend thee For I am busie and cannot attend thee XXXI Loose Idlenesse the nurse of fond Desire Roote of all ils that doe our youth betide That whilome didst through Loue my wracke conspire I banish thee and rather wish t' abide All austere hardnesse and continuall paine Then to reuoke thee or to loue againe XXXII The time will come when looking in a Glasse Thy riueled face with sorrow thou shalt see And sighing say it is not as it vvas These cheeks were wont more faire and fresh to be But now what once made me so much admired Is least regarded and of none desired XXXIII Though thou be faire thinke Beauty is a blast A mornings dewe a shadow quickly gone A painted flower vvhose colour vvill not last Time steales away when least we thinke thereon Most precious Time too vvastfully expended Of vvhich alone the sparing is commended XXXIIII How vaine is youth that cross'd in his desire Doth fret and fume and inwardly repine As though 'gainst heauen it selfe he would conspire And vvith his frailtie 'gainst his Fate combine VVho of it selfe continues constant still And doth vs good oft times against our will XXXV In prime of youth vvhen yeeres and vvit vvas ripe Vnhappy VVill to ruine led the vvay VVit daunc'd about vvhen Folly gan to pipe And VVill and hee together vvent astray Nought then but pleasure was the good they sought VVhich now Repentance proues too dearly bought XXXVI Hee that in matters of delight and pleasure Can bridle his outragious affection And temper it in some indifferent measure Doth proue himselfe a man of good discretion In conquering VVill true courage most is showne And sweet temptations make mens vertues known XXXVII Each naturall thing by course of kinde vve see In his perfection long continueth not Fruits once full ripe vvill then fall from the Tree Or in due time not gathered soone vvill rot It is decreed by doome of Powers diuine Things at their height must thence againe decline XXXVIII Thy large smooth forehead wrinckled shall appeare Vermilion hue to pale and wan shall turne Time shal deface what Youth hath held most deare Yea those clear eyes vvhich once my hart did burne Shall in their hollow circles logde the night And yeeld more cause of terror then delight XXXIX Loe here the record of my follies past The fruits of wit vnstaid and houres misspent Full wise is hee that perils can fore-cast And so by others harmes his owne preuent All worldly pleasure that delights the sense Is but a short sleepe and times vaine expence XL. The Sunne hath twice his annuall course perform'd Since first vnhappy I beganne to loue VVhose errors now by Reasons rule reform'd Conceits of Loue but smoake and errors proue VVho of his folly seekes more praise to winne VVhere I haue made an end let him beginne I. C. FINIS THE METAMORPHOSIS OF Pigmalions Image LONDON Printed for Richard Hawkins dwelling in Chancery-Lane neare Sarjeants-Inne 1613. THE ARGVMENT of the Poeme PIgmalion whose chaste minde all the beauties in Cyprus could not ensnare yet at the length hauing carued in Iuory an excellent proportion of a beauteous woman was so deepely enamored on his owne workemanship that he would oftentimes lay the Image in bed with him and fondly vse such petitions and dallyance as if it had beene a breathing creature But in the end finding his fond dotage and yet perseuering in his ardent affection made his deuout prayers to Venus that shee would vouchsafe to inspire life into his Loue and then ioyne them both together in marriage Whereupon Venus graciously condiscending to his earnest sute the Maid by the power of her Deitie was metamorphosed into a liuing woman And after Pigmalion being in Cyprus begat a Sonne of her which was called Paphus wheâ—eupon that Iland Cyprus in honour of Venus was after and is now called by the Inhabitants Paphos To his Mistresse MY wanton Muse lasciuiously doth sing Of sportiue loue of louely dallying O beauteous Angell daine thou to infuse A sprightly wit into my dulled Muse. I inuocate none other Saint but thee To grace the first bloomes of my Poësie Thy fauours like Promethean sacred fire In dead and dull conceit can life life inspire Oâ— like that rare and rich Elixar stone Can turne to Gold Leaden inuention Be gracious then and daine to show in mee The mighty power of thy Deitie And as thou read'st Faire take compassion Force me not enuy my Pigmalion Then when thy kindnesse grants me such sweet blisse I le gladly write thy Matamorphosis PIGMALION I. PIgmalion whose high Loue-hating minde Disdain'd to yeeld seruile affection Or amorous sute to any woman-kinde Knowing their wants and mens perfection Yet Loue at length forc'd him to know his Fate And loue the shade whose substance hee did hate II. For hauing wrought in purest Iuory So faire an Image of a womans feature That neuer yet proudest mortalitie Could shew so rare and beauteous a Creature Vnlesse my Mistresse all-exceeding face â—hich giues to beautie beauties onely grace III. He was amazed at the wondrous rarenesse Of his owne workmanships perfection He thought that Nature ne'er produc'd such fairenes In which all beauties haue their mansion And thus admiring was enamored Of that faire Image himselfe portrayed IIII. And naked as it stood before his eyes Imperious Loue declares his Deitie O what alluring beauties he descries In each part of his faire imagerie Her nakednesse each beauteous shape containes All beautie in her nakednesse remaines V. He though he saw the bloud run through the veyne And leape and swell with all alluring meanes Then feares he is deceiu'd and then againe He thinkes he sees the brightnesse of the beames VVhich shoote from out the fairenesse of her eye At which hee stands as in an extasie VI. Her Amber-coloured fayre shining hayre Makes him protest the Sunne hath spread her head VVith golden beames and made her far more faire But when her cheeks his amorous thoughts haue fed Then hee exclaymes such red and such pure white Did neuer blesse the eye of mortall sight VII Then view'd her lips no lips did seeme so faire In his conceit through which hee thinkes doth flye So sweet a breath that doth perfume the ayre Then next her dimpled chinne he doth descry And viewes and wonders and yet viewes her still Loues eyes in viewing neuer haue their fill VIII Her