needes must grieue me for it cuts my heart as if my soule from body should depart He was my soule my body cannot breath When as my soule is seised on by death Why should I haue such curious regard to Nightern robes wheÌ„ meaner would haue serud For well I know it was my loues desire to meete my selfe and not my curious tire Fie on this nice precisenesse weomen vse in garish dressings men should weomen chuse Not by their bodies habit but their minde in lists of vertue and respect confinde We that doe loue as we protest we doe must not get husbands with a painted show Like puppets in a play addres'd to play strange acts by night to purchase loue by day Best honour that beseems a countrey maide is to be modest in her actions staid 21 He might command and haue what he commanded but death pale death now swaies she 'l withstand it Then honourd hearse if hearses honour haue yeeld to my sute and perfect what I craue Doe not denie me to deny me this were to depriue thee honour me of blisse Nay doe not smile for I doe see thee smile if that our bones thou in thy brest compile And recollect them after Thysbes death the Nimphes themselues shall set a laurell wreath Vpon thy back e'r honourd shalt thou be for this good turne thou did my loue and me But if thou scorne my vows and cal them vaine yeelding no eare to louers that complaine Rest Well assured the Nimphs reueng'd will be And for our sakes will quite demolish thee When trusty Aiax Achilles came to Patrocles tombe with teares they bath'd the same For euery word they spake of Patrocles drew teares from them as streames from Caucasus Whose ragged top sends riuers out amaine and being sent renews her springs againe So they deplor'd his death his sacred hearse ranck set with embleames and with dolefull verse The swanes of Caister and eke of Poe came to ensable him in songs of woeâ— Since which sad time the Poets haue reported that each daie twice the swannes haue there resorted Passing by flockes along the Greequish plaine seeking by songs to make him liue againe But when it would not be the Swans there swore that from that time they nere would warble more But at their 23 death which they performe for why they neuer sing but hower before they die Why should a Grecian haue such honour done that neuer any Trophies ere had wonne But slaine by Hector for no fame he had of doing greatly good or greatly bad And yet forsooth he must characters haue in golden letters ore his worthlesse graue In polisht marble must his shrine be set in saphires 24 tophies and in british ieate Thus must he haue respect when we god wot must lie obscure as if men knew vs not And yet our fame deserues more praise then he more grace more glorie and more memorie Time shall race out that marble hearse of his time shall amend what time hath done amisse For we shall liue in spite of Fates decree when lowe interr'd this famous Greeke shall be Loue cannot die we loued and therefore death shall crowne our hearse with times immortal wreath And though we die we loue and liue in dying loue to pale death perpetuall life applying Why should prince Ilus acts haue such respect whose toomb with precious emeralds bedeckt For well I know such acts did neuer he In amorous passions of true loue as we 25 Yet Batias toomb must haue inscriptions faire to shew what man of birth was buried there And yet in death we languish not in louing though 27 death depriue vs of all vitall 〈◊〉 For we conceiue more ioy in toomb'd together then if we liâ—'d depriu'd the one of other More must I say to seale these obsequies for death is fearefull and inuents delaies And most of all in vs a weaker brood the talke of death yeeldes feare to woman-hood And yet me thinkes I stay from him too long and in my stay I doe him double wrong First to depriue him life and then begin with tardie pâ—â—e aloofe to follow him Well I le prepare my selfe the â—ates decres two Louers 〈◊〉 sustaine their crueltie And yee not crâ—â—â— cruelty is showne when either is 〈◊〉 of his owne But we by 28 Cupidâ— mâ—anes that pur blind boy obtaine by 〈…〉 could not earst enioy Death yeelds 〈◊〉 comfort then our life time did shewing our 〈◊〉 which long before was hidâ— No 〈…〉 secret â—hinks need we finde 〈◊〉 nor fearefull need we shrinke For Parents 〈◊〉 persuite we rest secure since 〈…〉 hearts as earth our corp◠〈◊〉 Wee need not haue our Parents in suspect they 〈◊〉 rest â—â—relesse now wheâ—â— we affect For well I know we can be hardly seene twixt 〈◊〉 and earth so great a space between Thus 〈…〉 enly motion doth ascend from earth to heauen to graâ—ulate her friend Thysbees EPICAEDIVM YEt Thysbe stay thine hand thine obsequies desire more celebrating exequies Die not intestate in this desert groue but consecrate in token of thy loue Thine hests to Vesta yet let Vesta know Thys be vnwilling is enforced so Then let thy 29 Parents Parents though vnkinde By Natures lawe some short memorials finde Of thy affection Swannes before they die leue pensiue odes and warble merrily 30 Yet must I needs declaime against your feare iealous of hurt where no hurt could appeare For I am sure nere was your thriuing blissing more deere to me then was my louers kissing Oh then vnkind vâ—kindnâ—sse did not fit our chaste desires that couâ—d not bridle it Loue was the hott'st when it did seeme conceal'd and hid in ashes yet in time reueal'd Then blame your selues not vs you caus'd our end barring a louer from her long sought friend Which we doe pardon if you le let vs haue our toomb in one our ashes in one graue Which it you shall performe our hope extends out disâ—oâ—n'd corps conioin'd you make amends Well do I know our funerals renew currents of teres and streames of griefe in you And many pagent mixd with liquid teares will make attendance on our desolate beres Many distreaming drops will dim your eie to see two louers end so suddenly Yet all in vaine being dead your teares restraine for teeres cannot recall vs back againe The 31 Nimphes themselues with Poplar twigs will make an osier basket for Idalias sake Wherein collect you may such fragrant flowers as shall adorne our monumentall bowers Yet when you spreade your flowers ech in degree Strow more on his side then you strow on me He was more constant he did first begin I like his shadow did but follow him He came vnto the place and spite of death seeing my tire engor'd did lose his breath I like an Ape to imitate my loue follows his worth his presence to approue A glorious presence where the gods accord all wealth all ioy Elizium can affoord Fruitfull Elysis where ech constant mate raignes in fruition
of all I am not as once I was When Eliza first did suite me Nor when that same red-hair'd lasse Faire Bellina did inuite me To a Garden there to play Cull kisse clip and toy all day O then come Heare a tongue That in wooing termes was flowing But through Wo has spoil'd his woing All I can or will desire ye When my breath of life is spent That in loue you would interre me For it will my soule content Neare vnto my Fathers hearse And bestow some comely verse On my Tombe Then my tongue Shall throb out this last adeu Nere were truer swaines then you A verse Admetus I will be the swaine Though most vnfit to vndertake that paine Which in faire letters shall engrauen be Ouer thy hearse t' expresse thy memory And thus it is Heere is a Shepheard layd Who lou'd was lou'd yet liu'd and died a Maid Yet gainst his will pray then good spirits tell Whether he must or no lead Apes in Hell How Fancie is a Phrensie An Epigram ANd thou Euenus whose renowm's disperst About chose fertile coasts which border thee Whose well-tun'd Current runs so pretily That Fame her selfe nor shall it be reuerst Ha's thus enacted that thy liquid brest Should make my consort vp for there appeares Euen in thine eyes continuing streames of teares Still may thy Sliding-foord and spacious course Wash those adioyning vales encircle thee Which by thy meanes yeeld crops so fruitfully That thy pure sand may be of Ganges force Golds pure Elixir for thou hast remorse And pitties my hard hap to loue a swaine That hates my loue and makes my sute in vaine Oft by thy Sliding Channell haue I stood Bathing my selfe in teares teares were the drinke That quench't my thirst wheÌ„ thou seem'd to sink Into some hollow cauerne streight my blood That little bloud I had made thy course good And sinke into the Cesternes of mine eyes Filling thy streams with teares thy banks with cries Streight fell I downe vpon thy floury shore As if the shore had beene my mistris brest Where I a while conceau'd that sweetned rest As it expell'd the care I felt before Seeming to make my comforts so much more Because so long delay'd but lasse the while My thoughts chekt me I chekt my thoghts of guile For well I found this was a goulden dreame Yet but a Dreame that seem'd to represent Vnto mine eyes that sacred Continent Which shadowes my content but this has beene Euer most true Dreames are not as they seeme And if they were I 'me sure they mist in this Taking thy Banke for where my mistres is Oft did I cull and clip and kisse and doe God wot full madly for reposing there I call'd the grasse the tresses of her haire And bound it vp yet well I knew not how Making a bracelet on 't which I would show To euery Sheepheard so distract'd was I And euery rurall Syluane that past by All this thou saw and thou did pitty me For thy distreaming teares explan'd no lesse Surcharged brests must needs their greefes expresse Which once exprest suppressed seeme to be Teares unto griefe yeeld soueraignst remedy For Teares doe silence greefe but where appeares Extent of griefe there griefs doe silence teares And such were mine sometimes I could not weep But like one sence-lesse laughed at my distresse Mixing a straine of Mirth with heauinesse Or as one casten in a deadly sleepe That neither sence nor faculty can keepe Euen such was I but streight I chang'd my song Making my ioyes short but my sorrowes long Her fancie was the phrensie that surprisd My idle brain with these distracted passions Ten thousand shapes I had ten thousand fashions Despising louing loue where I despisd'e Prising her most where I was lowest pris'de Thus my affections to distractions turn'd Made me mourne more then louer euer morn'd And Reason too for some I had my Friends At least they seem'd so which contemnd my griefe Nor sought to yeeld my silly heart releefe With one poore comfort but as diuers ends Occasion strange effects so Loue depends If I may call in constant Friendship Loue On Fortune heere below not truth aboue Let mee vnrippe my sorrowes that my brest May void such Scarabees that vse to sit Vpon each vlcer whose contagious witte Is worse then Hellebore for they infest The purest Mansion louing euer lest Where they show most Affection for their straine Is not for loue but profit and their gaine Record them sweet Euenus for they hate Thy sacred streams wash not their soyled sin With thy pure liquor for the Aethiops skin Will be blacke still the doome of enuious fate Like Mammons heires sits skouling ore their state Their Summer-Swallows flourish they make one But if thy state he blasted they are gone And thou Blest Hymen that confirmes the loue Of Mortall soules with thy diuinest rites Knows whom I mean by for they quench thy lights By their abuse but there 's a power aboue Will dash their gainefull tradings and remoue Their Bartring from the earth to th'depth of hell That teach in Marriage how to buy and sell. Yet deere Euenus I haue more to speake For I would haue thee carry me commends To such as be my true approoued friends For some I haue will neither bow nor breake Mid'st my afflictions but by all meanes seeke To re-infuse life in mee pray the tell When by their house thou goest that I am well And if they aske thee how I brook this place Where I 'me retired to say as louers vse Pent from their loues they cannot will nor chuse But liue an Hermits life and in disgrace Of beauty and her name hath made his face Like times annatomie poore Sceleton An obiect fit for Ruth to looke vpon Tell them the bookes I reade be such as treate Of Amadis de Gaul and Pelmerin Furious Orlando and Gerilion Where I obserue each fashion and each feate Of amorous humors which in my conceipt Seeme to to rare That they that were so strong Should be so mad and I be tame so long But presently I recollect my sense And findes a reason questionles I 'me mad But who cares for 't or markes it if I had Land like an elder brother Eminence Of some Court-Comet would haue presidence Ouer my braineâ—pan and would beg my wit Though neither he nor I could mannage it So though I loose my wits I cannot loose My lands they rest secure where can you tell VVhere yes where not wil 't please thee buy I 'le sel VVhat wit I haue none counsell neither house The arch of Heauen 's my couer pray excuse My Error I am pore I'haue naught to sell But teares and those I cannot part with well But pray thee spare thy speech to such as be And euer were professed foes to loue And Bayne to marriage for by them I proue The depth of discontent they loue not me Nor doe I care for'â— once I hope to see Enuie
naked and appeare In grisly sort as if they frenticke were Then you that make vs man-like should not need Nor your profession stand in any fleed For why the clymate which we then should haue No Bombast Cotten or the like would craue Since scorching beames would smoulder so about them As th'dwellers might be hot enuffe without them But heer 's an Island that so temprate is As if it had plantation to your wish Neither so hote but that we may abide Boâ—h to be clad and bombasted beside Neither so cold but we may well allow it To weare such yarne a blind man may looke through it It s true indeed well may it be confest If all our parts were like some womens brest Bared and painted with pure Azure veines Though of themselues they haue as many staines And riueld wrinkles with some parts as badde Then th' crooked Greeke Thersytes euer had It might be thought your gaines would be so small As I me perswad'd they would be none at all But thanks be giuen to heauens supernall powers Which sways this Masse of earth that trade of yours Hath her dependance fixt in other places Then to be tide to womens brests or faces Let Painters and Complexion sellers looke To their crackt ware you haue another booke To view into then they haue to looke in For yours's an honest trade but their's is sin Next I expresse your worth in shall be these First your supportance of poore families Which are so weake in state as I much doubt me They would be forc't to begge or starue without ye The second is wherein you 'ue well deserued The care you haue to see your Country serued Not as such men who liue by forraine Nations Impouerishing this Land by transportations For their depraued Natures be well showne By louing strangers better then their owne Or as it seemes to sucke their Mothers bloud Their Natiue Countrie for a priuate good The third and last which heere exprest shall be Shall reference haue to your Antiquity All which I will dilate of and though I Cannot describe ech thing so mouingly As I could wish yet take it in good part Proceeding from the centre of a heart That did this taske and labour vndertake For your profession and your countries sake Whose ayre I breath'd O I were worthy death Not to loue them who suck't with me one breath How many Families supported be Within the compasâ—e of one Barronry By your profession I may boldly show For what I speake I by obseruance know Yea by eye-witnesse where so many are Prouided for by your peculiar care As many would the beggars be I wot If your religious care releeu'd them not For there young brats as we may well suppose Who hardly haue the wit to don their clothes Are set to worke and wâ—ll can finish it Being such labours as doe them befit Winding of spooles or such like easie paine By which the least may pretty well maintaine Themselues in that same simple manner clad As well agrees with place where they were bred Each plies his worke one cards another spins One to the studdles goes the next begins To rauell for new wefte thus none delay But make their webbe-vp 'gainst each Market-day For to preserue their credit but pray see Which of all these for all their industry Their early rising or late sitting vp Could get one bit to eat or drop suppe If hauing wrought their webbes their forc't to stand And not haue you to take them off their hand But now by th' way that I my loue may shew Vnto the poorer sort as well as you Let me exhort you in respect I am Vnto you all both friend and Countriman And one that wisheth if hee could expresse What 's wishes be vnto your Trade successe As to himselfe these pooremen vnder fauour Who earne their meanes so truly by their labour Should not obserue me bee enforc't to wait For what you owe and what 's their due so late Time vnto them is pretious yea one houre If idlye spent is charges to the poore Whose labour 's their Reuenue doe but goe To Salomon and he will tell you so Who willeth none expresly to fore-slow To pay to any man what they doe owe But if they haue it not to let them stand Crauing their due but pay it out a hand Say not vnto thy friend saith Salomon I have not for thee now but come anon For why shouldst thou that hast wherewith to pay Put of till morrow what thou maist to day Beleeue me friends I could not choose but speake And caution you of this for euen the weake And impotent whose soules are full as deere As be the Monarchs whisper in mine eare And bid mee tell you yet to haue a care Not to expresse their names what men they are For then they doubt that you to spite them more Would make them stay farre longer then before That you would see their iniuries redrest Of which they thinke you were not yet possest But in transferring of the charge to such As be your Factors which haue had small tutcâ— Of others griefes your selues haue had the blaâ—â— Though 't seems your Factors wel deserud the sat Nor would I haue you thinke I me feed for this For they do plead in Forma pauperis That bee my Clyents yea I me tied too In countries loue to doe that which I doe For eâ—en their teares monâ—s and distressed state Haue made me for them so compassionate That my soule yern'd within me but to heare Their mones despisd that were esteem'd so deere To their Creator see their Image then And make recourse to him that gaue it them Whose mansion is aboue the highest sphere And bottles vp the smallest trickling teare Shed by the poorest soule which in a word Shall in that glorious synod beare record Where for the least non-payment which we owe Shall passe this doome Away ye cursed goe But I do know by my Experience The most of you haue such a Conscience As in that day what euer shall befall Your sincere soules will as a brazen wall Shield you from such a censure for to me Some doe I know bore such integrity As I dare well auow't t is rare to find In such a crazie time so pure a mind But now I must descend as seemes to me From the releefe of many Familie By you supported to your speciall care To see your country serued with good Ware Which of all others if well vnderstood Seemes to haue ayme most at a publique good VVell it appeares euen by your proper worth That you were borne for her that brought you forth Not for your selues which instanced may be In that you ayme at no Monopoly No priuate staples but desire to sell VVhich of all other seem's approu'd as well Your Ware in publique places which may stand No more for your auaile then good of th' land Nor are you carelesse what it is you bring Vnto your Country for
in fore-time a defence to th'land Yea such they were as when they did appeare They made their foes perfume their hose for feare Experienst Archers and so practis'd it As they would seldome shoot but they would hit So that though th'darters of rude Scythia The golden-Archers of rich Persia The Siluer-shields of Greece haue borne the name Blaz'd by the partiall trumpe of lying fame Yet in behalfe of Kendall I durst sweare it For true renovvne these Countries came not nere it As for this name of White-coate vs'd to fore It came from th' milk-white furniture they wore And in good-sooth they vvere but home-spun fellovvs Yet would these white-coats make their foes dy yellows VVhich might by latter times be instanced Euen in those border-seruices they did But this t' expresse since it is knowne were vaine Therefore my friends I le turne to you againe And of some speciall matters caution you Which being done I le bid you all adew Since God hath blest you with such benefits As the reliefe of nature well befits Hauing of euery thing sufficient store There 's reason Country-men you render more To your Creator who so kinde has been To you and yours aboue all other men Though all I say should thankfull be then such VVho nere receiued of him halse so much For well you know its in the Scripture said Accompt for euerie Talent must be made And how much more our Talents are shall we After this life exact Accomptants be Be good dispencers then of what you haue And doe not shut your Eares to such as craue Your charities Reliefe for in a word VVhat you giue th' poore you lend vnto the Lord And be you sure your loue is not in vaine For with encrease he le pay it you againe Put not your labourer off with long delay But satisfie him if you can this day For pittie 't is poore soule that he should sit VVaiting your time when he hath earned it And this belieue me many crimes produces Teeming of tenters and such like abuses VVhich they are forc't to cause they are delaide VVorking for more then ere they can be paide Be not too rigorous vnto your debtor If he be poore forbearance is far better For'lasse what gaine accrewes to you thereby If that his carkasse doe in prison lie Yea if you kept his bodie till 't should rot Th' name of hard-hearted men were all you got And sure if my opinion faile not me T' imprison debtors ther 's no policie Vnlesse they able be and obstinate And like our Bank-rupts break t' encrease their state For th' poore they better may discharge their debt VVhen they 're at libertie and freedome get For labour may they when they are inlarg'd But when they die in prison all 's discharg'd O then my friends if you haue such as these Remember to forgiue your trespasses At least be not extreame to th' poor'st of all Giue him but time and he will pay you all So Time shall crowne you with an happy end And consummate the wishes of a friend So each through peace of conscieÌ„ce rapt with pleasure Shall ioifully begin to dance his measure One footing actiuely VVilsons delight Descanting on this note I haue done what 's right Another ioying to be nam'd 'mongst them Were made Men-fishers of poore fisher-men The third as blith as any tongue can tell Because he 's found a faithfull Samuel The fowrth is chanting of his Notes as gladly Keeping the tune for th' honour of Arthura Bradly The 5. so pranke he scarce can stand on ground Asking who 'le sing with him Mal Dixons round But where haue been my sences all this while That he on whom prosperity doth smile And many parts of eminent respect Should be forgotten by my strange neglect Take heede my Muse least thou ingratefull be For well thou knowes he better thinkes of thee On then I say expresse what thou dost wish And tell the woreld â—ruely what he is He 's one has shar'd in Nature speciall part And though beholding little vnto art Yet beare his words more emphasis or force Then most of th'Schollers that I heare discourse His word keeps tutch and of all men I know He has th' best inside for so meane a shewe Outwardly bearing temperate yet will be A bonus socius in good company He vnderstands himselfe as I haue sayd And therefore aymes whereto he first was made In briefe'mongst all men that deserue applauding None hauing lesse â—f Art merits more lauding So that though true desert crowne all the rest Yet if ought want in them it s here exprest But th' Euening shade drawes on and damps the light Think friends on what I sayd and so good night To the Worshipfull Recorder of Kendall FOr Townes-abuses worshipfull Recorder I leaue them to your discreet selfe to order My Iourney 's at an end hic baculum fixi My Tale concluded nought now rests but Dixi Nor would I haue you speak that though you may Which I haue heard a countrie Maior did say Vnto a Scholler who concluded had His latine speech with Dixi I haue sayd To whom th'vnletter'd Maior to aproue the same Replying thus tooke Dixi for his name If that thy name be Dixi sure I am Dixi's a learned vnderstanding man To the Lands-lord wheresoeuer LAndsâ—lord to thee addrest to speake I am And full as much to thee as any man For many Errors and fowle crimes I knowe That thou art more then others subiect toe Which I le in part vnriâ— and so make cleere As in that day when all men shall appeare Before their heauenly Lands-lord where is had A dew accompt This now which I haue sayd May be a witnesse and beare record still That thou didst know before thy Maisters will Which not perform'd thou know'st what thou hast read With manie stripes thou shalt be chastised But first ere I proceed so great 's the cries Of widdowes and so many tere-swolne eyes Of Orphanes succourlesse that reach to heauen As I 'me well-nigh into amazement driuen And cannot perfect what I do entend Vntill I see their sorrowes at an end At least allayd for I am forc't to keepe A consort with these silly soules that weep So moouing is their passion as in briefe So strong 's compassion I do feele their griefe VVherefore I must so great is griefes extent Perswade these blubbert wretches be content And beare with patience till the Lord shall send In his good time vnto their sorrowes end VVhich to expresse the better I will moue them In mildest tearmes and thus will speak vnto them Cease cease poore iniur'd soule your teres to shed Weeping for that cannot be remeded 'Lasse you are farre deceiu'd if you suppose Teres can moue Lands-lords they are none of those Their dispositions are more harder far Then any other of Gods creatures are For tell me starueling hath thy trickling eye Pale-câ—lourdâ—â—sage heauen-ascending crie Earth bending knees hart throbbing languishment Eccoing sighs souls-fretting
two suspicious dames one subtile father Then would they kisse the wall and oft entreat that in compassion it would let them meet We willl not tell our parents nor expresse who t was gaue way vnto our happinesse Louers be faithfull of our faiths beleeue vs since this straight durance cannot chuse but grieue vs. The wall replyde not yet their words had force piersing her hardnesse foftned with remorse For euer since as well it may appeare the marble sheds each morne a Trickling teare Thus did these louers passe the weary morne depriu'd of that which louers best adorne And that is priuate meeting which being missing we beat the aire but with conceit of kissing A vaine conceit to dally with delight Expecting sun-shine in a clowdy night Imparadis'd in ioyes he cannot be that 's clad in sable roabs of misery Oh then conceiue what sorrow he sustaines that in perpetuall languishment remaines O what distractions do his ioyes disseuer feeding like vultures on his hart for euer If c Zeuxes pictured grapes so liuely were That many birds in flocks repaired there Pecking vpon his statues and did brow se vpon his liuely grapes meere liueles showes Well may we thinke that Ioue himselfe can make a farre more liuely and proportion'd shape Then a poore painter though his Grapes seeme ripe yet they were drawne from Ioues first Archetype Then Ioues best picture Natures admiration Thysbe euen Thysbe made for recreation May well be thought to draw each bird each beast from Pastures greene vpon her lippes to feast It were a festiue banquet there to be whose breath is Nectar breathing deity Here Pyramus would be if heauens would grant it for he esteemes no treasure whilest he wants it Since such a Iewell such a pretious Gem in that it 's rare is more admired by men Thus Tantalised the Gods doe seeme to loue him setting him fruite but fruite too farre aboue him For when his lips pure lips should but com ny them they mocke his lips and in dirision flie them Dost flie my lips quoth he ô doe not flie me for what I doe I doe it but to trie thee To trie thy loues which though our parents thwarted our conioin'd loue disioin'd shall nere be parted Well may our bodies be disioin'd a sunder but loue 's to head-strong none can keepe it vnder Loue is free-borne it cannot seruile be to begge for curtesie with a bended knee Thysbe kept concord for each word he spake seem'd her retired passions to awake Stird vp her spirit as inspir'd by fate making her stout that was effeminate Continue thy intendments sweete quoth she and as thy shadow I will follow thee Passing a sea of dangers launching deepe â—ill â— the shadow to the substance creepe Passe or 't as forrest snow-cliued Caucasus Thysbe will follow steps of Pyramus The c Ripheaâ— Mountaines or the Hetririan plaines Each morne resounding with the notes of swains If thou loue Vinâ—lus with her fragrant spices or Ericâ—hea famous for deuices Thysbe will follow thee with speed she may only her trauaile with thy loue repaie But these are but discourses of our ill which if not cured be augmented still For that you know renues the maladie which rubs the sore and yields no remedie For why should any labour me remoue From that admired mirror whom I loue And I am of that nature more they hold me from fancying thee more passions do enfould me Then plot my Pyramus contriue inuent that we may harbour loue in loues content Till wearied with ioy wearyed too soone thou leaue adoring of the watrie Moone Where being cloyed with the sweetes of loue mayst leaue the vale and taste the fruits aboue Thou art my sheepheard I will be thy plaine I the poore cottage thou the homely swaine Thou shalt refresh thy selfe vpon my banckes which hauing don I know thou'le giue me thanks For my diffused streames streams meerely sent not much enforc'd from Thysbes continent Come then for why should any marble wall being materiall substance so appall Our ardent wishes wishes which proceede from loue-sick passions which more passions feed Let our distilling teares congeal'd in one dissolue the hardnes of this flinty stone Remorse may moue this stone by diuine wonder to let vs meet diuide herselfe a sunder This said maine riuers of distreaming teares in their woes-torrents purblinde eies appeares Seeking but seeking all in vaine God wot to moue that shrine which weeping moued not It wept to see true loue so straite confinde disioyn'd by fates which fauours had combinde It wept to see their parents so vnkinde to curbe their bodies presence whose pure minde Rapt with content of seeing not enioying acts discontent debard of further toying It wept to see their minds so well agreeing in one selfe place not to haue one selfe-being It wept and much repin'd that dismall fate Should crosse pure loue by loue-disioyned hate And pittying their case shed many a teare Shedding so many she her selfe did were Oh what hard harted parents had these two since what the stones allow'd they 'l not allow Reproouing that in theirs themselues affected soiling their youth with what their youth respected Are these the fruits and honours of our time the fruitlesse blossomes of a sterile clyme Are these our louing Sires oh no they are hard to presse downe loue that cannot be debar'd You high resplendent heauens whose cherishing heat with seasoned warmth our spacious borders greet Temper such parents hearts as are not won till both their line and linnage be vndone Soften their stifned minds oppress'd with rage playing sharpe tyrants in declining age For why should they find fault their children play since in their prime they playd as much as they Decrepit age stilted for want of strength with brinish teares deplores their sins at length But thus I conster't They their age deplore theyr youth is spent and they can doe no more And like an enuious viper would haue none to vse their strength because their strength is gone But old age ers in this experienc'd wit swaies their proceedings youth abandons it Nor doe they know what hurt poore maides receiue to pen them vp from that they wish to haue For though they be immur'd in walles of Brasse Loue hath her loope-holes by which she will passe Inspite of iealous dotage and espies some priuy chinke though wacht by g Linceus eies For loue enclos'd like raging elements of fire and water though imprisoned vents And must eruption haue it cannot be an heauenly motion should want libertie h Eurydice though shes enforc't to dwell in Stygian Plutoes court infernall hell Yet her transmounting passions doe remoue themselues from hell vnto the earth aboue Poore swaine Dorinda though by Satires kept in a vast caue whose watchfull eies nere slept But with reflexion both by night and day had speciall care lest she should get awaie Comforts her selfe in louing fearing not but chast desires ore long would get her out Loue is enfranchisd not in bonds
The water-nimphs replide with curtuous cheere they knew none such nor any did apeare But if it pleasd him they their springs would seeke exquire each bushie shade each priuate creeke To see if she were in their mansions hid which he assented to all which they did But when with watrie tripping they had sought both brake and brier yet could not finde her out Wearied with their diurnall labour left Pyramus sighing of all ioy bereâ—t Yet did these nimphes bemone his hard mishap for sitting downe vnder Nereus lap They turnd their Warbling strings to that sad straine that all the woods re-eccoed them againe Each in their order sung their dolefull verse as if it had been ouer Thysbes hearse And tun'd their odes with that vnseasoned time as that brute beasts to pittie did incline For they in sable colours did portend that their two loues were neere a tragick end Thus shadie night Sea-nimphs stars plan'ts all presage to them and to their loues a fall Yet Pyramus though sad for he was sad to haue those hopes extinguisht which he had Seeks still about the tombe sad tombe quoth hee that hides my loue so much admir'd of me Yet if thou wilt but tell me where she is I vow by Heauens I le pardon what 's amisse Yea I 'le remit thine error and thy wrong for keeping her within thy chest so long Say wilt thouâ— tell me what became of her Didst thou her bewty in thy shrine inter Didst thou immure her in thy marble toombe what makes thee silent bewty makes thee dumb Wilt thou so wrong a louer to conceale From him the mirrour of his ioy his weale His heart his liking euen the flower of youth and yet conceiues within thy heart no ruth Fie fie for shame i st fit that monuments should so ecclipse natures best ornaments As to obscure the glory of her face that where she is giues honor to the place Thou much abstracts from trophies Ninus won in doing that which he would nere haue done Thou lessens much the honour he obtained loosing that fame which Ninus conquests gained For what great gaine or conquest i' st t' haue said I haue possession of a countrey maide A young vnnurtur'd girle fit for men vnfit for liuelesse tombes which couer them This said this doting young man blind with louing thinking ould mouldy shrines had liuely mouing Mou'd with her loue whom he did more esteeme then any gem that ere on earth was seene But when he saw into his error well He seem'd those loue-sick passions to dispell And to repaire vnto his search againe seeking each couert each vnhaunted plaine Each thick-set hill each groue that he might finde the diapason of his troubled minde At last too soone by seeking long he found Thysbe not Thysbe but her tire on ground Vnhallowed ground vnseasoned her attire â— to crosse the passions of an hot desire Oh now conceiue what sorrows gall his brest to see the tire of her he loued best Be smeard with bloud for it all bloudy shews her sanguine colour tinctâ— with Lyons iawes Oft would hee looke vpon it and would kisse the tire besmear'd with blood wishing it his His fate his fortune to remaine with her since his long absence thus had iniur'd her How to remaine quoth he since she is dead oppress'd by death inclos'd in mourneful weede How should I liue with her whose life is gone and hath left me vnhappy me alone Die die with her with whom thou canst not liue For thou by dying shalt thy life repriue And haue her presence that enthroned is in perfect ioies of heauens Elisian blisse Yet stay awhile this is not Thysbes tire stay there fond wretch against thy tongue a lyer This was her roabe this was her comely weede which hauing lost her owner gins to bleede Oh Ioue what cause hadst thou thus to remoue two that had their intentions voud to loue Or why should thou this faire occasion show vs which being showne dost seeke for to vndoe vs Be gods so iron-hearted to require constant affection with a dismall spite A sharpe reuenge it is to set vs on and then to leaue vs when we are begun Did not high Ioue yeeld vs more hopes then these when he commanded Phoebus to sure ease For to diffuse his beames bidding him go retire in hast vnto the shades below Calling for Luna to supply his place shrowding heauens lustre with her clowdy face That our escape suspected lesse might be by the darke vaile of nights obscurity But heauens I see repine at our successe since Gods themselues by Fates haue shew'd no lesse To plunge my weale in woe my loue in teares producing nought but sighes and fruitlesse feares Thou harsh tun'd Nemesis thou tragicke ghost against whose acts my loue declaimeth most What cause hadst thou to sing this dolefull song vpon her herse that neuer did thee wrong She neuer raild against thy Soueraigne power but like an harmelesse doue a fragrant flower Flourish'd secure at home yeelding content by gracefull smiles a maids best ornament She neuer curb'd thy rage nor did she mell with ought but loue which made worst for her sell. But Fates haue made the instrument of sinne respectlesse of our losse so they may win The pretious spoyle of Thysbes bleeding soule whose sad mishap the plants themselues condole Yet thou remorselesse art ill may betide thee that wold haue none to loue that liue beside thee Yet for all this thou canst not me depriue of louing her whose life did mee reuiue For being dead I le rather chuse to die then liuing lose her loving company This said he takes her tyre and kissing it vpon the fountaine banks did water it With dewie moisture of still-flowing teares which being shed renuing drops appeares Teares liquefied the arbour where he sate which water nimphs perceiuing wondred at Oft would he beat his brest and teare his haire shutting his hopes in clouds of deepe despaire Oft would he curse the day the houre the night that banisht him from Thisbes gladsome sight Wishing that night had neuer beene descride for nere did night more harsh euents betide Oh Pyramus and then he sigh'd to speake for gusts of sorrow made his hart-strings breake What meant thou to allure a simple maid to these vvild woods her loue is well repaid That she should come vnto the place assignd and thou base coward come so farre behind Thou with a tardy pace came at thy leasure such slow-pac'd coursers ill deserue such pleasure Thou too precise made bones of what thou did such fond precisenes seldome hath good speed Shee to enioy her ioy cut off delay that she her minds perfection might display And with a course as quicke as Pegasus run ore these plaines to meet with Pyramus Which thou requited ill basest of men which time shall character with scandalls pen. A scandall to thy sexe and to thy state to leaue thy loue in deserts desolate Oh what mishap had she to
loue a swaine that could not yeeld her loue for loue againe Hard was her fortune to affect that creature who for a childish feare delaid to meet her The gods I know more forward would haue beene to meet loues Parragon so faire a Queene As for her beauty aye me beauties faire with Ericina she might well compare And farre more modest Venus had her mole but nere was Thysbe stain'd with bewties soile But thou hast stain'd her beauty by thy fault ruin'd that fort which neuer had assault But by thy selfe and by thy selfe too soone since by thy meanes her shrine is razed downe Turne thee to heauen and loe the heauens dismaid to see the tragicke downefall of a maide Frowning at thee that was the cause of this causing her end that was thy Soueraigne blisse Turne thee to earth and see her turn'd to earth which makes the caues below resound with mirth That they enioy which thou didst once enioy reaping their comfort from thy deepe annoy Turne thee vnto the Sea and thou shalt see The Nymphes and Syrens crying out 'gainst thee That should make promise yet not promise hold calling thee coward but thy Thysbe bold Bold to aduenture on the gloomy night bold to encounter with Latonas light Bold in her course swift in her cursiue mouing bold to escape and constant in her louing Thus heauen earth Sea concording all in one do simpathize with thy discording mone And wilt thou liue for this O doe not liue but to requite her loue let earth receiue This little All of thine which when they haue they may interre two louers in one graue Adioyning to this fount a rocke there was so steepe and craggy that no man could passe To which wild beasts repair'd making their den in th'â—ollow cauâ—rnes which did couer them Which seene by him â— what doe not louers see with face deiected thus discoursed he If any Lion or fierce sauage Beare lodge in this ragged rocke or coucheth neere Let him come out for heere is amorous food 9 and cooling streames to wash away our blood That this may beare record by euery wight two faithfull louers perisht on one night But these are but delaies which cowards vse 10 their trembling passions seeking to excuse Cast off vaine feare feare is a vassalls weede and place true Resolution in her steed She wil prescribe the rules with fruits of woing for fruitlesse be those fruits that haue no doing We that doe hazard our good names for men if they 'l not pleasure vs what profit then Of all our toylsome labour we sustaine that reape no haruest from such gusts of pain We patient are to beare and what we bore we doe accept and wish it ten times more That we might pleasure you how fond are we The weaker sort beares your infirmity But it s our Nature Nature hath ordain'd mans strâ—ngth by womans weaknesse is sustain'd In this same cloudy night with what desire did all my thoughts and my intents aspire To that same treasure thou hast promis'd me promise is debt it must be kept by thee With what affection haue I cross'd these plaines cheered by wood-nimphs singing plesant strainâ— And dans'd Laualto till I came to thee longing for that which thou didst promise mee Sad Philomela skared from her rest sung with a pricking slothorne at her brest And sung of Tereus something what I know not which if I knew yet would I neuer show it 12 For Tereus impious in his prophane life to wrong a sister and so chast a wife Sustains the torture of his wickednesse transform'd into a Bird whose filthinesse Loues marish places flies the solid ground good reason why his conscience was not sound 13 For Tireus was a King and for his lust by Ioue himselfe was from his scepter thrust A sensuall Prince to wanton motions stirr'd chang'd from a prince vnto a loathsome bird Thus did I passe the silence of the night till I arriu'd within my louers sight Which yet I cannot doe oh why should we 14 to get a little sport paune modesty These shady thickets and that secret caue those pratling Sea-nimphes this marble graue Beare all record what trauell I haue taken yet like a Turtle of her make forsaken Cannot enioy my loue aye me vnkind that seemes inconstant to a constant mind VVhy should our fauors so deuoted rest to them whose hardned harts bred our vnrest And make vs subiect to more inward griefe then ere their comforts can affoord releefe But thou art too too rash beleeue me sweet in more remisse Appearance doe I greete Thy diuine beauty pardon what is said conceyue no harme spoke by a harmelesse maide For if thou should as surâ— I thinke thou dost lie hid vnder some bush and hearst this nois'd This shrowd inueâ—â—ioâ— gainst thy loue and thee thou might as well condemne my speech and me VVhy should I speake against so hallowed shrine to whom I haue bequeath'd both me and mine Or why should I detract from that faire sunne vvhich if ecclips'd my glistring raies bee done For this same Tree beares record of our wracke decolored quite from white to dismall black And this same ground all in a gore of bloud No chiâ—ping bird within this fatall wood And this for loue of him that now is gone leauing his forlorne Thysbe all alone Hard was mine hap to see his dolefull end at whose sad hearse the Fates themselues attend Hard was mine hap more haâ—sh the course of time to crop my loue my dazie in his prime Hard was his hap to extinguish his desire with apparition of a bloody tire Hard was his hap to forrage heere so late to misse his loue and meete so soone with Fate Turne to thy loue see if thy vitall breath can call him from the slumber of pale death See if thou canst reuiue his gasping soule for loe his eies within his head doe rowle Embrace his iuory necke with foulded armes destill life in him by thy louing charmes Buzze in his eares of loue it will not bee his dying sences haue no mind of thee Thus round empalld with greefe was Thysbes mind no hope of life in him can Thysbe find For he grew stiffe engor'd with bloudy wound and by hâ—s bloud fast glâ—ed to the ground â—hysbe espied her Tire which hee did hould 〈◊〉 in his hand and did the same enfould As 〈…〉 Antidote to cure his gaping wo 〈…〉 make him ere endure Vnhappy Tire quoth she vnhappy were that gaue occasion to my loue of feare Thou that hast prest my soule in anguish more then all the robes which ere I wore before Thou wandring stragler sliding from mine head gaue the first onset to this vgly deede For if thou hadst not been my loue had liu'd that now of sence mouing is depriu'd What hap had I at first to put thee on when darke Latonas lights were drawing on Or what misfortune had I for to leaue thee since thy departure doth so greatly grieue mee It
outside 's faire but you may finde a farre more beauteous inside of his minde Constant he is witnesse Peritheus whose two combined hearts so well vnited Haue eterniz'd the loue of Theseus Mirrour of men that men should be exiled To passe such shelfes of perrils dangerous With sight of poore Proserpina delighted Whom to exempt with Pluto they remaine the one imprison'd close the other slaine Yet could not Pluto barr his eies from teares which he pourd out each morne vpon the hearse Of his deare friend loue after death appeares which like an Ecco earths abysse did pierce Oppress'd with woe surmises of vaine feares Maugre the furie of those Furies fierce And Fiends below which could not him surprise with dastard feare 63 Braue Spirits feare despise O doe not then expose his vertuous age to such dishonour adde no discontent Vnto his outworne strength lest you enrage his patient spirit aboue his element Doe not corrupt your honour nor engage the glory of your birth so eminent Scandalls are soâ—ne engendred sooner bred then after-times can make extinguished Doe not degrade your Theseus from his throne Which he enioies conceiuing more delight In that he hath this little of his owne reaping contented harbour on the night Then th'husband man to reape what he hath sowne or the poore Turtle in her Turtles sight Beleeue me Quâ—eue more doth your presence please Your Theseus heart then any one of these If you would haue Hippolitus to loue Loue aged Theseus for Hippolitus sake For by those heauenly powers that raigne aboue more comfort shall Hyppolitus partake By that affection then Idalias groue ere reap'd in Venus when he did awake And rous'd from silent flumber to returne vnto her Birds which for their Queen did mourn Alas faire queene why should you thus assault the vnprouided fortresse of mine hart Or why should you your colours thus exalt displaying ruine to my chiefest part And vnder ground as in some secret vault laying your shot intending to subuert The Bulwarke which supports my slender being to raze my Fort and put my friends to fleeing The fort which I possesse is my pure heart my friends the vertues which do keepe my fort The first in all my dolours beares a part the second in distresse do make resort To arme my soule against inuasions dart vpon their foe their furie to retort Were 't not a pittie then to see that fall which doth sustaine my selfe my meanes and all But sure you see in me some shew of pleasure and gladly would haue me expresse my thought Obiecting to my senses time and leasure seldome are such delights so lightly bought High is the price of such a precious treasure and well deserues it to be throughly sought But I reply that pleasure lasts not long that t is vsurp't by force and tane by wrong I loue no bitter sweets immixd with gall whose sharp repentance drowns the pleasure past A pure vnspotted soule whose 64 Brasenwall can hold out battrie and wil euer last That feare no ruine no declining fall soilde with no blemish of her mindes distaste But fraught with wealth thrice happy in her wealth feeding on free delights not got by stelth What is that pleasure where attendeth feare As faith-infringers doe who violate The faith they owe whereby it doth appeare they rest respect lesse of their future state Preferring lust before their Spousals deare their shame with shamelesse Acts to aggrauate O none God wot no pleasure can be there where there is nought but actions of despaire O let those hests inuiolable stand which heauens aboue confirme and let them be As Charactres writ by dame Natures hand to eleuate our senses purity Proceeding from the immortall powers command to consummate our liues integrity That loue 's well squared by an equall line whose ground-worke is grounded on the lawes diuine But if these motiues cannot caution you not to adulterise your Nuptiall bed Be you assur'd to Theseus I will shew those indigested humors which are bred By your vnsetled thoughts which doe renew an heape of passions in your troubled head All which concording make that discord true No faith more faithlesse then the Faith of you Your brittle sexe so brittle is your mould you cannot long be free from alteration Grounds her foundation on no certaine hold but tost with sundrie gusts of times mutation Expos'd to shame and to confusion sold infringing loue to purchase recreation Which we by nature do accompt a shame to set them light that haue esteemed them Vertues surpriser chastities depriuer sower of discord refuge to the worst Forge of ambition enmities contriuer an hatefull monster vipers birth accurst Friendships dissoluer simple soules deceiuer which from perdition had her birth-right first The soile and sale of honour soonest showen where men affect all pleasure saue their owne And what be those but vaine vnsauourie ioyes whose fruits vnseas'ned yeeld but small delight When comforts are conuerted to annoies the beauty of our day obscur'd by night And that we iudg'd for serious seeme as toies which haue eclips'd the glory of their light And then reuoluing what we did admire let fall our hopes to greater things aspire O be asham'd to blemish that faire Roote which had deriuall from the powers aboue Staine not your bed with your polluted foot loue him alone whom you are bound to loue Giue no occasion to your Spouse to doubt of your licentious passion but remoue Both guilt and guilts suspicion whose bright eyes Iealouse of nought your secret'st councels spies Will you for any pleasure lose respect of all your kindred that attend your fame Which once surpriz'd by infamies suspect will call your acts augmenters of their shame O doe not so let not your lust effect the ruine of that house from whence you came But as your glorie doth surpasse the rest so in your heart let vertue build her nest Vaine is the flower soone fading soone forgot which you do pamper to your ouerthrow Time will be when those beautious corps shall rot their poore remainder to the earth bestowe Then you shall be as if you flourish'd not plac'd in earths centre Stigian lake belowe Where Minos iudgement giues of euery sin that those are guiltie may remaine with him He was your father yet his equitie will not permit his Phaedra to transgresse His lawes haue no exception puritie onely exempted is whose eminence Was first ordain'd to raigne eternally in the Elisian fields Ioues residence Then chuse which two you please whether you 'le dwel in heauen with Ioue or with your Sire in bâ—ll Erect your thoughts depressed downe belowe and let them soare vnto an higher pitch Then terrene pleasures let that beauteous show of outward colours your affection teach To taste the Spring of sweetes from whence doth flowe such mines of treasure as will more enrich The Ars'nall of your minde then vaine delight which lopped is before it come to height Recall to minde Ixions punishment see in a