Rebels to nature striue for their owne smart True that true beautie vertue is indeede Whereof this beautie can but be a shade Which Elements with mortall mixture breede True that on earth we are but Pilgrimes made And should in soule vp to our Country moue True and most true that I must Stella loue SOme Louers speake when they their Muses entertaine Of hopes begott by feare of wot not what desires Of force of heauenly beames infusing hellish paine Of lyuing deathes deere woundes faire stormes and flashing fyres Some one his songes in Ioue and Ioues straunge tales attyres Bordered with Bulles and Swannes poudered with golden raine An other humbler witte to shepheards pipe retyres Yet hiding royall blood full oft in Rurall vaine To some a sweetest plaint a sweetest stile assordes Whiles teares poure out his inke and sighes breath out his wordes His paper pale despaire and paine his penne doth moue I can speake what I feele and feele as much as they But thinke that all the mappe of my state I display When trembling voice bringes foorth that I do Stella loue WHen nature made her chiefe worke Stellas eyes In collour blacke why wrapt she beames so bright Would she in beamy blacke like Painter wise Frame daintiest lustre mixte with shaddowes light Or did she els that sober hewe deuise In obiect best to strength and knitt our sight Least if no vaile these braue beames did disguise They Sun-like would more dazell than delight Or would she her miraculous power shewe That whereas blacke seemes Beauties contrarie Shee euen in blacke doth make all Beauties flowe But so and thus she minding Loue should bee Plaste euer there gaue him this mourning weede To honour all their deathes who for her bleede LOue borne in Greece of late fled from his natiue place Forst by a tedious proofe that Turkish hardned harts Were no fit markes to pearce with his fine pointed darts And pleasd with our soft peace staide here his fleeting race But finding these colde climes too coldlie him imbrace Not vsde to frosen lippes he straue to finde some part Where with most ease and warmth he might imploy his art At length himselfe he pearch'd in Stellas face Whose faire skinne beamie eyes like morning Sunne in snowe Deceiu'd the quaking boy who thought from so pure light Effects of liuelie heate in nature needes must growe But she most faire most colde made him there take his flight To my close hart where while some fire brands he did lay He burnt vnwares his winges and cannot fly away QVeene Vertues Court which some call Stellas face Prepar'd by Natures cheefest furniture Hath his front built of Alablaster pure Golde is the couering of that statelie place The doore by which sometimes runnes forth her grace Red Porphire is which locke of Pearle makes sure Whose Porches rich with name of chekes indure Marble mixt red and white doe enterlace The Windowes now through which this heauenly guest Lookes on the world and can finde nothing such Which dare claime from those sightes the name of best Of touch they are that without touch doe touch Which Cupids selfe from Beauties mine did drawe Of touch they are and poore I am their strawe REason in faith thou art well seru'd that still Would'st brabling be with sence and loue in me I rather wish thee climbe the Muses hill Or reach the fruite of Natures chiefest tree Or seeke heauens course or heauens vnusde to thee Why should'st thou toyle our thornie grounde to till Leaue sence and those that sences obiectes be Deale thou with powers of thoughts leaue thou to will But thou wouldst needes fight both with Loue and sence With sworde of witte giuing woundes of dispraise Till downe right blowes did foyle thy cunning fence So soone as they strake thee with Stellas rayes Reason thou knewst and offered straight to proue By reason good good reason her to loue IN truth oh Loue with what a boyish kinde Thou doost proceede in thy most serious waies That when thy heauen to thee his best displaies Yet of that best thou leau'st the best behinde That like a Childe that some faire booke doth finde With gilden leaues of colloured Velom playes Or at the most on some faire picture staies But neuer heedes the fruite of Writers minde So when thou sawest in Natures cabinet Stella thou straight lokest babies in her eyes In her chekes pit thou didst thy pitfall set And in her brest to peepe a lowting lyes Playing and shining in each outward part But foole seekst not to get into her hart CVpid because thou shin'st in Stellas eyes That from her lookes thy dimnesse nowe scapes free That those lips swelde so full of thee they be That sweet breath maketh oft the flames to rise That in her brest thy pap well sugred lyes That grace euen makes thy gracious wrongs that she What word so ere shee speakes perswades for thee That her cleere voice lifteth the Sunne to Skyes Thou countest Stella thine like those whose powres Hauing got vp a breach by fighting well Cry victory this happy day is ours Oh no her heart is such a Cytadell So fortified with wit stor'd with disdaine That to winne it is all the skill and paine PHoebus was Iudge twixt Ioue and Mars in loue Of those three Gods whose armes the fairest weare Ioues golden shielde did Eagle Sables beare Whose talents holde young Ganimede aboue But in verde fieldes Mars beares a golden Speare Which through a bleeding heart his point did shoue Each had his Crest Mars carried Venus gloue Ioue on his Helme the Thunder bolte did reare Cupid then smiles for on his crest there lyes Stellas fayre haire her face he makes his shielde Where Roses gules are borne in siluer fielde Phoebus drewe wide the Curtaine of the skyes To blase the last and swore deuoutly then The first thus macht were scarcely Gentlemen ALas haue I not paine enough my friend Vppon whose breast a fiercer gripe doth tyre Than did on him who first stole downe the fyre While Loue on me doth all his quiuer spend But with your rubarbe wordes you must contend To greeue me worse in saying that desier Doth plunge my well form'd soule euen in the mier Of sinfull thoughtes which doe in ruine ende If that be sinne which doth the manners frame Well stayed with trueth in worde and faith of deede Readie of wit and fearing nought but shame If it be sin which in sixt hart dooth breede A loathing of all loost true chastitie Then loue is sin and let me sinfull bee YOu that doe search for euery purling spring Which from the rybs of old Pernassus flowes And euery flower not sweete perhaps which growes Neere there about into your Poems wring You that doe dictionary method bring Into your rymes running in ratling rowes You that old Petrarchs long deceased woes With new borne sighes and wit disguised sing You take wrong wayes those far-fet helps be such As doe bewray a
onely such delight To witles things then Loue I hope since wit Becomes a clogge will soone ease me of it WHen my good Angell guides me to the place Where's al my good I doe in Stella see That Heauenly ioyes throwes onely downe on me Thundred disdaines and Lightning of disgrace But when the ruggedst step of Fortunes race Makes me fall from her sight then sweetly she With words wherein the Muses Treasures be Shewes loue and pittie to my absent case Now I with beating long by hardest fate So dull am that I cannot looke into The ground of this fierce loue and louing hate Then some good body tell me how to do Whose presence absence absence presence is Blest in my curse and curssed in my blisse OFt with true sighes oft with vncalled teares Now with slow words now with dumbe eloquence I Stellas eyes assailde I closde her eares But this at last is her sweetest defence That who indeede a sound affection beares So captiues to his Saint both soule and mind That wholie Hers all selfnes hee forbeares Thence his desire he learnes his liues course thence Now since this chast loue hates this loue in mee With chastned minde I needes must shew that shee Shall quickly me from what she hates remoue O Doctor Cupid thou for me reply Driuen els to graunt by Angell Sophistry That I loue not without I leaue to loue LAte tyr'd with woe euen ready for to pine With rage of loue I call my Loue vnkinde Shee in whose eyes loues fyres vnfelt doe shine Sweetlie saide I true loue in her shoulde finde I ioy but straight thus watred was my wine That loue she did but with a loue not blinde Which would not let me whome she lou'd decline From Nobler course fit for my birth and minde And therefore by her loues Authoritie Wilde me these Tempests of vaine loue to flee And Anchor fast my selfe on vertues shore Alas if this the onelie mettall be Of loue newe coyn'd to helpe my beggery Deere loue me not that you may loue me more OH Grammer rules oh now your vertues showe So Children still read you with awfull eyes As my younge Doue may in your precepts wise Her graunt to me by her owne vertue knowe For late with hart most hie with eyes most lowe I crau'd the thing which euer she denies Shee lightening Loue displaying Venus skyes Least one should not be heard twise saide no no. Harken Enuy not at my high triumphing But Grammers force with sweete successe confirme For Grammer sayes ah this deere Stella way For Grammer sayes to Grammer who sayes nay That in one speech two negatiues affirme NO more my deere no more these Counsels try O giue my passions leaue to runne their race Let Fortune lay on me her worst disgrace Let Folke orechargde with braine against me cry Let Cloudes be dimme my fate bereaues myne eyes Let me no steps but of lost labour try Let all the earth in scorne recount my race But doe not will me from my loue to fly I doe not enuye Aristotles wit Nor doe aspire to Caesars bleeding fame Nor ought to care though some aboue me sit Nor hope nor wish an other course to frame But that which once may winne thy cruell hart Thou art my wit and thou my vertue art LOue by sure proofe I may call thee vnkinde That giues no better eares to my iust cryes Thou whom to me such my good turnes shouldst binde As I may well account but cannot prise For when nak'd boy thou couldst no harbour finde In this olde world growne now so too too wise I lodg'de thee in my heart and being blinde By nature borne I gaue to thee my eyes Mine eyes my light my life my hart alas If so great seruices may scorned be Yet let this thought thy Tygirsh courage passe That I perhaps am somewhat kin to thee Since in thine armes of Fame most truely spred Thou bearst the Arrowe I the Arrowhed AND doe I see some cause of hope to finde Or doth the tedious burthen of long woe In weakned mindes quicke apprehension breede Of euery Image which may comfort showe I cannot brag of word much lesse of deede Fortunes windes still with me in one sorte blowe My wealth no more and no whit lesse my neede Desier still on stilts of feare doth goe And yet amids all feares a hope there is Stolne to my hart since last faire night nay day Stellas eyes sent to me the beames of blisse Looking on mee I looke an other way But when mine eyes blacke to their heauen did moue They fled with blush which guiltie seem'd of loue HOpe art thou true or doost thou flatter me Doth Stella now beginne vvith pitteous eye The raigne of this her conquest to espie Will she take time before all wracked be Her eye speech is translated thus by thee But failste thou not in phrase so heauenly hye Looke ore againe the faire text better prie What blushing notes dost thou in Margent see What sighes stolne out or kild before full borne Hast thou found such and such like arguments Or art thou els to comfort me forsworne Well how so ere thou doost interpret my contents I am resolu'd thy error to maintaine Rather than by more trueth to get more paine STella the onely Plannet of my light Light of my life and life of my desire Cheife good vvhereto my hope doth sole aspire World of my wealth and heauen of my delight Why doost thou spend the Treasure of thy sprite With voice more fit to vved Amphyons Lyre Seeking to quench in me the noble fyre Set by thy wrath and kindled by thy sight And all in vaine for while thy breath so sweete With choisest words thy wordes with reasons rare Thy reasons firmely set are vertues feete Labour to kill in me this killing care Oh thinke I then what Paradise of ioy It is so faire a vertue to annoy OH ioy too high for my Loue still to showe Oh blisse fit for a nobler seat than mee Enuie put out thine eyes least thou doe see What Ouans of delight in me doth flowe My friend that oft saw'st through all maskes my woe Come come and let me poure my selfe in thee Gone is the winter of my miserie My Spring appeares loe see what heere doth growe For Stella hath with wordes where faith doth shine Of her high hart giuen me the Monarchie And Io I may say that she is mine And though she giue but this condicionally This Realme of blisse while vertues course I take No Kings be Crownd but they some couenant make MY Muse may well grudge at my heauenly ioy Yf still I force her thus in woe to weepe She oft hath drunke my teares now hopes t'enioy Nectar of mirth since I Ioues Cupid keepe Sonnets be not bound Prentice to annoy Trebbles sing high so well as bases deepe Griefe but Loues winter liuerie the boy Hath cheekes to smile so well as eyes to weepe Come then my Muse
you they moddels be Moddels such be wood globes of glistering skyes Deare therefore be not iealous ouer me If you heare that they seeme my heart to moue Not them no no but you in them I loue BE your wordes made good sir of Indian ware That you allowe them mee by so small rate Or do you the Caconians imitate Or do you meane my tender eares to spare That to my questions you so totall are When I demaund of Phoenix Stellaes state You saie forsooth you left her well too late O God thinke you that satisfies my care I would know whether shee did sit or walke How cloathd how waited on sighd shee or smilde VVhereof with whome how often did shee talke VVith what pastimes times iorneys shee be guild If her lips daine to sweeten my poore name Saie all and all well said saie still the same O Fate or fault O curst child of my blisse VVhat sobs can giue wordes grace my griefe to show VVhat inke is black enough to paint my woe Through mee wretch mee euen Stella vexed is Yet Trueth if Caitiues brath might call thee his VVitnes with mee that I foole stumbling fell For carelesnes did in no manner growe But wit confusd with too much care did misse And do I then my selfe this vaine scuse giue I do sweete Loue and knowe this harmed thee The world quit mee shal I my selfe forgiue Onely with paines thy paines thus eased be That all thy hurtes in my hearts wracke I reed I crye thy sighs my deare thy teares I bleed GReefe find the words for thou hast made my vaine So darke with mistie vapours which arise From out thy heauie mould that euen mine eyes Can scarce discerne the shape of mine owne paine Do thou then for thou canst do thou complaine For my poore soule which wit that sicknes tries VVhich euen to sense sense of it selfe denies Though harbengers of death and of his traine The execution of my fate forbeares As of a Caitife not vouchsaft to die Yet shewe thy hate of life in liuing teares That though in wretchednes thy life doth lie Thou maist more wretched be than nature beares As being plast in such a wretch as I. YEt sighes deare sighes indeede true friends you are That do not leaue your best friend at the wurst But as you with my brest I oft haue nurst So gratefull now you wait vpon my care Faint coward Ioye no longer tarrie dare Seeing hope did yeeld when this woe strake him first Delight exclaims is for my fault curst Although my mate in Armes himselfe he sware Nay Sorrow in as great a rage as hee Kills his owne children Teares finding that they By Loue were made apt to consort with mee Onely true Sighes you do not go away Thank may you haue for such a thankfull part Thank worthiest yet when you shall breake my heart THough with good cause thou lik'st so well the night Since kind or chaunce giues both one libertie Both sadly blacke both blackly darkned be Night bard from Sunne thou from thine own Sunnes light Silence in both displaies his sullen might Slowe Heauens in both do hold the one degree That full of doubts thou of perplexitie Thy teares expresse nights natiue moysture right In both a wofull solitarines In night of Spirits the gastly power sturr And in our sprites are Spirits gastlines But but alas nights sights the ods hath furr For that at length inuites vs to some rest Thou though still tyr'd yet still dost it detest DIan that faine would cheare her friend the Night Doth shewe her oft at full her fairest face Bringing with her those starrie Nymphs whose chace From heauenly standing hurts eche mortall wight But ah poore Night in loue with Phoebus light And endlesly dispairing of his grace Her selfe to shewe no other ioy hath place Sylent and sad in moorning weeds doth dight Euen so alas a Ladie Dians peere VVith choise delight and rarest company VVould faine driue clouds from out my heauie cheere But woe is mee though ioy her selfe were shee Shee could not shewe my blind braine waies of ioy While I dispaire my Sunnes light to enioy AH bed the feeld where ioyes peace some do see The feeld where al my thoughts to war be traind How is thy grace by my strange fortune staind How thy low shrowdes by my sighs stormed be With sweet soft shades thou oft inuitest mee To steale some rest but wretch I am constrained Spurd with Loues spurr this held shortly rained With Cares hard hand to turne and tosse in thee VVhile the black horrors of the silent night Paint VVoes black face so liuely in my sight That tedious leasure markes eche wrinckled line But when Aurora leades out Phoebus daunce Mine eyes then onely winke for spite perchaunce That wormes should haue their Sunne I want mine WHen farre spent night perswades each mortal eie To whome nor Art nor Nature graunted light To laye his then marke wanting shaftes of sight Clos'd with their quiuers in Sleeps armorie VVith windowes ope then most my heart doth lye Viewing the shape of darknes and delight And takes that sad hue with which inward might Of his mazde powres he keepes iust harmony But when birds chirpe aire and sweete aire which is Mornes messenger with rose enameld skyes Calls each wight to salute the heauen of blisse Intombd of lids then buried are mine eies Forst by their Lord who is ashamd to find Such light in sense with such a darkned mind OH teares no teares but shoures from beauties skies Making those Lilies and those Roses growe VVhich aie most faire now fairer needs must show VVhile grateful pitty Beauty beautifies Oh minded sighs that from that breast doe rise VVhose pants doe make vnspilling Creame to slow VVinged with woes breath so doth Zephire blow As might refresh the hel where my soule fries Oh plaints conseru'd in such a sugred phrase That eloquence enuies and yet doth praise VVhile sightd out words a perfect musicke giue Such teares sighs plaints no sorrow is but ioy Or if such heauenly sighs must proue annoy All mirth farewel let me in sorrow liue STella is sicke and in that sick-bed lyes Sweetenes that breathes and pants as oft as she And Grace sicke too such fine conclusions tries That Sicknes brings it selfe best grac'd to bee Beautie is sicke but sicke in such faire guise That in that palenes Beauties white we see And Ioy which is vnseuer'd from those eyes Stella now learnes strange case to weepe with me Loue moues thy paine and like a faithful page As thy looks sturre runs vp and downe to make All folkes prest at thy wil thy paine to swage Nature with care seeks for hir darlings sake Knowing worlds passe ere she enough can finde Of such heauen stuffe to cloath so heauenly minde WHere be those Roses which so sweetned earst our eies VVhere be those red cheekes which fair increase did frame No hight of honor in the kindly badge of shame
faith of priuiledge could no whit protect it That was with bloud and three yeres witnes signed VVhereby she had no cause once to suspect it For well she saw my loue and how I pined Yet no hopes letter would her brow reueale mee No comforts hue which falling spirits erecteth VVhat bootes to lawes of succour to appeale mee Ladies and tyrants neuer lawes respecteth Then there I die where I had hope to liuen And by her hand that better might haue giuen Sonnet 18. LOoke in my griefes blame me not to mourne From thought to thought that lead a life so bad Fortunes Orphan hers and the worlds scorne VVhose clowded brow doth make my daies so bad Long are their nights whose cares doo neuer sleepe Lothsome their dayes whom neuer sunne yet ioyed A pleasing griefe impressed hath so deepe That thus I liue both day and night annoyed Yet since the sweetest roote doth yeeld thus much Her praise from my complaint I must not part I loue the effect because the cause is such I praise hir face and blame hir flintie hart VVhilst that we make the world admire at vs Her for disdaine and me for louing thus Sonnet 19. HAppie in sleepe waking content to languish Imbracing cloudes by night in day time mourne All things I loth saue hir and mine owne anguish Pleasd in my heart mooued to liue forlorne Nought doe I craue but loue death or my Ladie Horce with crying mercie mercie yet my merit So manie vowes and praiers euer made I That now at length to yeeld meere pittie were it Yet since the Hidra of my cares renewing Reuiues still sorrowes of hir fresh disdaining Still must I goe the Summer winds pursuing And nothing but hir loue and my harts paining Weep howrs grieue daies sigh months still mourn yearly Thus must I doe because I loue hir dearelie Sonnet 20. IF Beautie bright be doubled with a frowne That Pitie cannot shine through to my blisse And Disdaines vapors are thus ouergrowen That my liues light to me quite darkened is VVhy trouble I the world then with my cries The aire with sighs the earth below with teares Since I liue hatefull to those ruthfull eyes Vexing with my vntuned mone her daintie eares If I haue lou'd her dearer than my breath My breath that cals the heauens to witnes it And still hold her most deare vntill my death And if that all this cannot mooue one whit Yet let hir say that shee hath done me wrong To vse me thus and know I lou'd so long Sonnet 2. COme Death the Anchor hold of al my thoughts My last resort whereto my Soule appealeth For all too long on earth my fancie dotes Whiles dearest blood my fierie passions sealeth That hart is now the prospectiue of horror That honoured hath the cruelst Faire that liueth The cruelst Faire that knowes I languish for her And neuer mercie to my merite giueth This is the Laurell and her tryumphes prise To tread mee downe with foote of her disgrace Whilst I did build my fortune in her eyes And laid my soules rest on so faire a face That rest I lost my Loue my life and all Thus high attempts to lowe disgrace do fall Sonnet 22. IF this be Loue to drawe a wearie breath To paint on flods till the shore crie to the aire With prone aspect still treading on the earth Sad horror pale griefe prostrate dispaire If this be Loue to warre against my soule Rise vp to waile lie downe to sigh to grieue me With ceaseles toyle Cares restlesse stones to roule Still to complaine and mone whilst none relieue me If this be Loue to languish in such care Loathing the light the world my selfe and all VVith interrupted sleepes fresh griefes repaire And breath out horror in perplexed thrall If this be Loue to liue a liuing death Loe then loue I and draw this wearie breath Sonnet 23. MY cares drawes on my euerlasting night And horrors sable clowds dims my liues sunne That my liues sunne and thou my worldly light Shall rise no more to me my daies are donne Ile goe before vnto the myrtle shades To attend the presence of my worldes deare And dresse a bed of flowers that neuer fades And all things fit against her comming there If anie aske why that so soone I came Ile hide her fault and say it was my lot In life and death Ile tender her good name My life and death shall neuer be her blot Although the world this deed of hirs may blame The Elisian ghoasts shall neuer know the same Sonnet 24. THe Starre of my mishap imposd my paining To spend the Aprill of my yeares in crying That neuer found my fortune but in wayning VVith still fresh cares my bloud and bodie trying Yet her I blame not though she might haue blest me But my desiers wings so high aspiring Now melted with the Sunne that hath possest me Downe doo I fall from of my high desiring And in my fall doo crie for mercie speedie No piteous eye lookes backe vpon my mourning No helpe I finde when now most fauour neede I My Ocean teares drowne me and quench my burning And this my death must christen her anew Whiles faith doth bid my cruell Faire adieu Sonnet 25. TO heare the impost of a faith not faining That dutie paies and her disdaine extorteth These beare the message of my wofull paining These Oliue braunches mercie still exorteth These tributarie plaints with chast desires I send those eyes the cabinets of loue The paradise where to my soule aspires From out this hell which my afflictions proue Wherein poore soule I liue exil'd from mirth Pensiue alone none but dispaire about me My ioyes liberties perisht in their birth My care's long liu'd and will not die without me What shall I doo but sigh and waile the while My martyrdome exceedes the highest stile Sonnet 26. I Once may I see when yeares may wrecke my wrong And golden haires may change to siluer wyer And those bright rayes that kindle all this fier Shall faile in force their power not so strong Her beautie now the burden of my song VVhose glorious blaze the worlds eie doth admire Must yeeld her praise to tirant times desire Then fades the flower which fed her pride so long VVhen if she grieue to gaze her in her glasse VVhich then presents her winter withred hieu Goe you my verse goe tell her what she was For what she was she best may finde in you Your fierie heate lets not her glorie passe But Phoenix like to make her liue anew Sonnet 27. RAising my hope on hills of high desire Thinking to scale the heauen of her hart My slender meane presumes too high a part For disdaines thunderbolt made me retire And threw me downe to paine in all this fire Where lo I languish in so heauie smart Because th'attempt was far aboue my Art Hir state brooks not poore soules should come so nie hir Yet I protest my high aspiring will Was
not to dispossesse hir of hir right Hir Soueraigntie should haue remained still I onely sought the blisse to haue hir sight Hir sight contented thus to see me spill Fram'd my desires fit for hir eies to kill Finis Daniel Canto primo HArke all you Ladies that doo sleepe The Fairie Queene Proserpina Bids you awake and pitie them that weepe You may doo in the darke What the day doth forbid Feare not the doggs that barke Night will haue all hid But if you let your Louers mone The Fairie Queene Proserpina Will send abroad hir Fairies euerie one That shall pinch blacke and blew Your white hands and faire armes That did not kindly rewe Your Paramours harmes In myrtle arbours on the downes The Fairie Queene Proserpina This night by Moone shine leading merrie rounds Holds a watch with sweete Loue Downe the dale vp the hill No plaints nor grieues may moue Their holy vigill All you that will hold watch with Loue The Fairie Queene Proserpina Will make you fairer than Dianas Doue Roses red Lillies white And the cleere damaske hue Shall on your cheekes alight Loue will adorne you All you that loue or lou'd before The Fairie Queene Proserpina Bids you increase that louing humour more They that haue not yet fed On delight amorous She vowes that they shall lead Apes in Auernus Canto Secundo WHat faire pompe haue I spide of glittering Ladies With locks sparckled abroad and rosie Coronet On their yuorie browes trackt to the daintie thies VVith roabs like Amazons blew as Violet VVith gold Aglets adornd some in a changeable Pale with spangs wauering taught to be moueable 2 Then those Knights that a farre off with dolorous viewing Cast their eyes hetherward loe in an agonie All vnbrac'd crie aloud their heauie state ruing Moyst cheekes with blubbering painted as Ebonie Blacke their feltred haire torne with wrathfull hand And whiles astonied starke in a maze they stand 3 But hearke what merry sound what sodaine harmonie Looke looke neere the groue where the Ladies doe tread VVith their knights the measures waide by the melodie VVantons whose trauesing make men enamoured Now they faine an honor now by the slender wast He must lift hir aloft and seale a kisse in hast 4 Streight downe vnder a shadow for wearines they lie VVith pleasant daliance hand knit with arme in arme Now close now set aloof they gaze with an equall eie Changing kisses alike streight with a false alarme Mocking kisses alike powt with a louely lip Thus drownd with iollities their merry daies doe slip 5 But stay now I discerne they goe on a Pilgrimage Toward Loues holy land faire Paphos or Cyprus Such deuotion is meete for a blithesome age With sweet youth it agrees well to be amorous Let olde angrie fathers lurke in an Hermitage Come weele associate this iollie Pilgrimage Canto Tertio MY Loue bound me with a kisse That I should no longer staie VVhen I felt so sweete a blisse I had lesse power to passe away Alas that women do no not knowe Kisses make men loath to goe Canto Quarto LOue whets the dullest wittes his plagues be such But makes the wise by pleasing doat as much So wit is purchast by this dire disease Oh let me doat so Loue be bent to please Canto Quinto A Daie a night an houre of sweete content Is worth a world consum'd in fretfull care Vnequall Gods in your Arbitrement To sort vs daies whose sorrowes endles are And yet what were it as a fading flower To swim in blisse a daie a night an hower 2 VVhat plague is greater than the griefe of minde The griefe of minde that eates in euerie vaine In euerie vaine that leaues such clods behind Such clods behind as breed such bitter paine So bitter paine that none shall euer finde What plague is greater than the griefe of minde 3 Doth sorrowe fret thy soule ô direfull spirit Doth pleasure feede thy heart ô blessed man Hast thou bin happie once ô heauie plight Are thy mishaps forepast ô happie than Or hast thou blisse in eld ô blisse too late But hast thou blisse in youth ô sweete estate Finis CONTENT Megliora spero FAction that euer dwelles in Court where wit excelles hath set defiance Fortune and Loue haue sworne that they were neuer borne of one alliance Cupid which doth aspire to be God of Desire Sweares he giues lawes That where his arrowes hit some ioy some sorrow it Fortune no cause Fortune sweares weakest hearts the bookes of Cupids Arts turnd with hir wheele Sensles themselues shall proue venter hath place in Loue aske them that feele This discord it be got Atheists that honor not Nature thought good Fortune should euer dwell in Court where wits excell Loue keepe the wood So to the wood went I with Loue to liue and die Fortune's forlorne Experience of my youth made me thinke humble Truth In desarts borne My Saint I keepe to mee and Ioane her selfe is shee Ioane faire and true Shee that doth onely moue passions of loue with Loue Fortune adieu Finis E. O. If flouds of teares could clense my follies past And smokes of sighs might sacrifice for sin If groning cries might salue my fault at last Or endles mone for error pardon win Then would I crie weepe sigh and euer mone Mine error fault sins follies past and gone I see my hopes must wither in their bud I see my fauours are no lasting flowers I see that words will breath no better good Than losse of time and lightning but at howers Then when I see then this I say therefore That fauours hopes and words can blinde no more FINIS
on his Launce is still kept greene in the Temple of Pallas Thou only sacrificest thy soule to contemplation thou only entertainest emptie handed Homer keepest the springs of Castalia from being dryed vp Learning wisedom beautie and all other ornaments of Nobilitie whatsoeuer seeke to approue themselues in thy sight and get a further seale of felicity from the smiles of thy fauour O Ioue digna viro ni Ioue nata fores I feare I shall be counted a mercenary flatterer for mixing my thoughts with such figuratiue admiration but generall report that surpasseth my praise condemneth my rethoricke of dulnesse for so colde a commendation Indeede to say the truth my stile is somewhat heauie gated and cannot daunce trip and goe so liuely with oh my loue ah my loue all my loues gone as other Sheepheards that haue beene fooles in the Morris time out of minde nor hath my prose any skill to imitate the Almond leape verse or sit tabring fiue yeres together nothing but to bee to hee on a paper drum Onely I can keepe pace with Grauesend barge and care not if I haue water enough to lande my ship of fooles with the Tearme the tyde I shoulde say Now euery man is not of that minde for some to goe the lighter away will take in their fraught of spangled feathers golden Peebles Straw Reedes Bulrushes or any thing and then they beare out their sayles as proudly as if they were balisted with Bulbiefe Others are so hardly bested for loading that they are faine to retaile the cinders of Troy and the shiuers of broken trunchions to fill vp their boate that else should goe empty and if they haue but a pound weight of good Merchandise it shall be placed at the poope or pluckt in a thousande peeces to credit their carriage For my part euery man as he likes Mens cuinsque is est quisque Tis as good to goe in cut fingerd Pumps as corke shooes if one were Cornish diamonds on his toes To explain it by a more familiar example an Asse is no great state-man in the beastes common-wealth though he weare his eares vpseuant musse after the Muscouy fashion hange the lip like a Capcase halfe open or looke as demurely as a six penny browne loafe for he hath some imperfections that do keepe him frō the cōmon Councel yet of many he is deemed a very vertuous mēber and one of the honestest sort of men that are So that our opinion as Sextus Empedocus affirmeth giues the name of good or ill to euery thing Out of whose works latelie translated into English for the benefit of vnlearned writers a man might collect a whole booke of this argument which no doubt woulde proue a worthy commonwealth matter and far better than wits waxe karnell much good vvorship haue the Author Such is this golden age vvherein vve hue and so replenisht vvith golden Asses of all sortes that if learning had lost it selfe in a groue of Genealogies vvee neede doe no more but sette an olde goose ouerhalfe a dozen pottle pots vvhich are as it vvere the egges of inuention and vvee shall haue such a breede of bookes within a little vvhile after as vvill fill all the vvorld vvith the vvilde fovvle of good vvits I can tell you this is a harder thing then making golde of quicksiluer and vvill trouble you more then the Morrall of Aesops Glovv-vvorme hath troubled our English Apes vvho striuing to vvarme themselues vvith the flame of the Philosophers stone haue spent all their vvealth in buying bellovves to blovve this false fyre Gentlemen I feare I haue too much presumed on your idle leysure and beene too bold to stand talking all this vvhile in an other mans doore but novv I will leaue you to suruey the pleasures of Paphos and offer your smiles on the Aulters of Venus Yours in all desire to please Tho Nashe SIR P. S. HIS ASTROPHEL AND STELLA LOuing in trueth and fayne my loue in verse to show That the deere Shee might take some pleasure of my paine Pleasure might cause her reade reading might make her know Knowledge might pittie winne and pittie grace obtaine I sought fit wordes to paint the blackest face of woe Studying inuentions fine her wittes to entertaine Oft turning others leaues to see if thence would flowe Some fresh and fruitfull showre vpon my Sunne-burnt braine But wordes came halting out wanting inuentions stay Inuention Natures childe fledde Stepdames studies blowes And others feete still seem'de but straungers in my way Thus great with Childe to speake and helplesse in my throwes Byting my tongue and penne beating my selfe for spite Foole saide My muse to mee looke in thy heart and write NOt at first sight nor with a dribbing shot Loue gaue the wound which while I breath will bleede But knowne worth did in tract of time proceede Till by degrees it had full conquest got I sawe and lik'd I lik'd but loued not I lou'd but did not straight what Loue decreede At length to Loues decrees I first agreede Yet with repining at so partiall lot Now euen that foot-steppe of lost libertie Is gone and now like slaue borne Muscouite I call it praise to suffer tyrannie And nowe imploy the remnant of my wit To make my selfe beleeue that all is well While with a feling skill I paint my hell LEt Dainty wittes cry on the Sisters nine That brauely maskt their fancies may be tolde Or Pinders Apes flaunt in their phrases fine Enameling their pride with flowers of golde Or els let them in stately glorie shine Ennobling new founde tropes with problemes old Or with straunge similes inricht each line Of hearbes or beasts which Inde or Affricke hold For me in sooth no Muse but one I know Phrases and Problemes from my reach doe growe And straunge things cost too deere for my poore sprites How then euen thus in Stellas face I reede What loue and beauty be then all my deede But coppying is what in her nature writes VErtue alas now let me take some rest Thou set'st a bate betweene my loue and me If vaine loue haue my simple soule opprest Leaue what thou lik'st and deale thou not with it Thy Scepter vse in some olde Catoes brest Churches and Schooles are for thy seat most fit I doe confes pardon a fault confest My mouth too tender is for thy hard bit But if that needes thou wilt vsurping bee That little reason that is left in mee And still the effect of thy perswasions prooue I sweare my heart such one shall shew to thee That shrines in flesh so true a deitie That Vertue thou thy selfe shalt be in loue It is most true what wee call Cupids dart An Image is which for our selues we carue And fooles adore in Temple of our hart Till that good God make church and Churh-men starue It is most true that eyes are bound to serue The inward part and that the heauenly part Ought to be King from whose rules who doth swerue
want of inward tutch And sure at length stolne goods doe come to light But if both for your loue and skill you name You seeke to nurse at fullest brest of Fame Stella behold and then begin to write IN nature apt to like when I did see Beauties which were of many Carrects fine My boyling spirits did thether then incline And Loue I thought that I was full of thee But finding not those restles flames in me Which others said did make theyr soules to pyne I thought those babes of some pins hurt did whine By my loue iudging what loues pains might be But while I thus with this young Lyon plaid Myne eyes shall I say curst or blest beheld Stella now she is nam'de neede more be sayd In her sight I a lesson new haue speld I now haue learnd loue right and learnd euen so As they that beeing poysoned poyson know HIs mother deere Cupid offended late Because that Mars grew slacker in her loue With pricking shot he did not throughly moue To keepe the place of their first louing state The boy refusde for feare of Marses hate Who thretned stripes if he his wrath did proue But she in chafe him from her lappe did shoue Broke bowe broke shaftes where Cupid weeping sate Till that his Grandam Nature pittying it Of Stellas browes made him two better bowes And in her eyes of arrowes infinit O how for ioye he leapes ô how he crowes And straight therewith like wagges new got to play Falls to shrewde turnes and I was in his way WIth what strange checkes I in my selfe am shent When into Reasons Audit I doe goe And by such counts my selfe a Banckerowt know Of all those goods which heauen to me hath lent Vnable quite to pay euen Natures rent Which vnto it by birth-right I doe owe And which is worse no good excuse can showe But that my wealth I haue most idly spent My wit doth waste my knowledge bringes forth toyes My wit doth striue those passions to defende With my rewarde the spoile of vaine annoyes I see my course to loose my selfe doth bende I see and yet no greater sorrowe take Than that I loose no more for Stellas sake ON Cupids bowe how are my hart strings bent That see my wracke and yet imbrace the same When most I glory then I feele most shame I willing run yet when I runne repent My best wittes still their owne disgrace inuent My verie yncke turnes straight to Stellas name And yet my wordes as them my penne doth frame For though she passe all things yet what is all That vnto me that fare like him that both Lookes to the skyes and in a ditch doth fall O let me proue my mind yet in his grouth And not in nature for best fruites vnfit Scholler saith Loue bend hitherward thy wit FLy flye my friendes I haue my deathes wound flye See there that boy that murthering boy I say Who like a thiefe hid in a bush doth lye Tyll blooddy bullet get him wrongfull pray So tyrant he no fitter place could spy Nor so farre leuell in so secrete stay As that sweete blacke which walles thy heauenly eye There he himselfe with his shot close doth laye Poore passenger passe now thereby I did And staid to see the prospect of the place While that black hue from me the bad guest hid But straight I saw motions of lightnings grace And there discried the glisterings of his dart But ere I could flie thence it pearst my hart YOur words my freends me causelesly doe blame My young minde marde whō Loue doth menace so That my owne writings like bad seruants shew My wits quick in vaine thoughts in vertue lame That Plato I haue reade for nought but if he tame Such coltish yeeres that to my birth I owe Nobler desires least els that to my foe Great expectation were a trayne of shame For since mad Mars great promise made to me If now the May or my yeeres much decline What can be hop'd my haruest time will be Well said your wit in vertues golden myne Digs deepe with learnings spade now tell me this Hath this world ought so faire as Stella is IN highest way of heauen the Sunne did ride Progressing from fayre Twynns in golden place Hauing no maske of Clowdes before his face But streaming forth of his heate in chiefest pride When some faire Ladies by hard promise tyde On horsebacke met him in his furious race Yet each prepar'de with Fannes well shading grace From that foes wounds their tender skinnes to hide Stella alone with face vnarmed marcht Either to doe like him as carelesse showne Or carelesse of the welth because her owne Yet were their hid and meaner beauties parcht Her daintiest bare went free the cause was this The Sunne that others burnt did her but kisse THe curious wits seeing dull pensiuenes Bewray it selfe in my long setled eyes When these same fumes of mellancholie rise With idle paines and missing paines doth gesse Some that know how my spring I did adresse Deeme that my Muse some fruite of knowledge plyes Others because the Prince my seruice tryes Thinke that I think State errors to redresse But harder Iudges iudge ambitious rage Scourge of it selfe till clyming slippery place Holds my young braine captiu'd in golden cage O fooles farre otherwise alas the case For all my thoughts haue neither stop nor start But onely Stellas eyes and Stellas hart RIch fooles there be whose base and filthy hart Lyes hatching still the goods wherein they flow Damning themselues to Tantalus his smart Welth breeding want more rich more wretched grow Yet to those fooles heauen doth such wit impart As what their hands doe hold their heads doe know And knowing loue and louing lay apart As scattered things farre from all dangers show But that rich foole whom by blinde Fortunes lot The richest gem of loue and life enioyes And can with foule abuse such beauties blot Let him depriued of sweet but vnfelt ioyes Exilde for aye from those high treasures which He knowes not grow in onely follie rich THE wisest scholler of the wight most wise By Phoebus doome with sugred sentence sayes That vertue if it once meete our eyes Strange flames of loue it in our soules would rayse But for that man with paine this truth discries While he each thing in sences ballance wayes And so nor will nor can behold those skyes Which inward Summe to heroicke minds displaies Vertue of late with vertuous care to stir Loue of himselfe take Stellas shape that hee To mortall eyes might sweetly shine in her It is most true for since I did her see Vertues great beautie in her face I proue And finde defect for I doe burne in loue THough duskie wits doe scorne Astrologie And fooles can thinke those lampes of purest light Whose number waies greatnes eternitie Promising wondrous wonders to inuite To haue for no cause birth-right in the skyes But for to spangle the blacke weedes
of Night Or for some braue within that Chamber hie They shold still daunce to please a gazers sight For me I nature euery deale doe know And know great causes great effects procure And know those bodies high raigne on the low And if these rules did fall proofe makes me sure Who oft bewraies my after following case By onely those two starres in Stellas face BEcause I oft in darke abstracted guise Seeme most alone in greatest company With dearth of words and aunswers quite awry To them that would make naked speech arise They deeme and of their doome the rumor flies That poyson foule of bubling pride doth lie So in my swelling brest that onely I Faune on my selfe all others doe dispise Yet pride I thinke doth not my soule possesse Which lookes too oft in this vnflattering glasse But one worse fault ambition I confesse That makes me oft my best freendes ouer-passe Vnseene vnheard while thought to highest place Bends all his powers euen vnto Stellas grace YOu that with allegories curious frame Of others children changlings vse to make With me those paines for God-sake doe not take I list not dig so deepe for brasen fame When I see Stella I doe meane the same Princesse of beautie for whose onely sake The raynes of loue I loue though neuer slake And ioy therin though Nations count it shame I begge no subiect to vse eloquence Nor hidden waies to guide Philosophie Looke at my hands for no such quintessence But know that I in pure simplicitie Breathe out the flames which burne within my hart Loue onely leading me into this arte LIke some weake Lords neighbours by mighty kings To keepe themselues and their chiefe Citties free Doe easily yeelde that all theyr coast may be Readie to serue their Campe of needfull things So Stellas hart finding what power Loue brings To keepe it selfe in life and libertie Doth willing graunt that in the Frontire he Vse all to helpe his other conquerings And thus her hart escapes but thus her eyes Serue him with shot her lips his Herralds are Her brests his Tents legges his tryumphall Chare Herselfe his foode her skin his Armor braue But for because my chiefest prospect lyes Vpon the coast I am giuen vp for a slaue WHether the Turkish new Moone minded be To fill her hornes vppon the Christian coast How Polands King mindes without leaue of hoast To warme with ill made fire cold Musconie If French can yet three parts in one agree What now the Dutch in their full diets boast How Holland harts now so good Townes are lost Wherewith my Father made it once halfe tame If in the Scottish Court be weltering yet These questions busie wits to me do frame I combered with good manners aunswere doe But know not how for still I thinke on you WIth how sad steps ô Moone thou clim'st the skyes How silently and with how meane a face What may it be that euen in heauenly place That busie Archer his sharpe Arrowes tryes Sure if that long with loue acquainted eyes Can iudge of loue thou feelst of Louers case I reade within thy lookes thy languisht grace To mee that feele the like my state discries Then euen of fellowship ô Moone tell me Is constant loue deemde there but want of wit Are beauties there as proude as heere there be Doe they aboue loue to be lou'd and yet Those Louers scorne whom that loue doth possesse Doe they call vertue there vngratefulnesse MOrpheus the liuely sonne of deadlie Sleepe Witnes of life to them that liuing die A Prophet oft of hidden mysterie A Poet eake as humors flye and creepe Since thou in me so sure a hold doost keepe That neuer I with clos'd vp sence doe lye But by thy worke my Stella I discry Teaching blind eyes both how to smile and weepe Vouchsafe of all acquaintance this to tell Whence hast thou Iuorie Rubies Pearle and Golde To shew her skin lips teeth and head so well Foole aunswers he no Indes such treasures hold But from thy hart while my Sire charmeth thee Sweete Stellas Image I doe steale to me I Might vnhappy word woe me I might And then would not or could not see my blisse Tyll now wrapt in a most infernall Night I finde how heauenly day wretch did I misse Hart rent thy selfe thou doost thy selfe but right No louely Paris made thy Helen his No force no fraude robd thee of thy delight No Fortune of thy fortune Author is But to my selfe my selfe did giue the blow While too much wit forsooth so troubled me That I respects for both our sakes must showe And could I not by rysing morne fore-see How faire a day was neere ô punisht eyes That I had beene more foolish or more wise COme let me write and to what end to ease A burthened hart how can words ease which are The glasses of thy daily vexing care Oh cruell fights well pictured forth doe please Art not asham'd to publish thy disease Nay that may breede my fame it is so rare But will not wise men thinke thy words fonde ware Then be they close and they shall none displease What idler thing than speake and not be heard What harder thing than smart and not to speake Peace foolish wit with wit my wit is marde Thus write I while I doubt to write and wreake My harmes in ynkes poore losse perhaps some finde Stellas great power that so confus'd my minde WHat may words say or what may words not say Where truth it selfe must speake like flattery Within what boundes can one his lyking stay Where Nature doth with excellence agree What Nestors counsell can my flames allay Since Reasons selfe doth blow the coles to me And ah what hope that hope should once see day Where Cupid is sworne page to Chastitie Honour is honoured that thou dost possesse Him as thy slaue and now long needie Fame Doth euen grow rich meaning my Stellas name Wit learnes in thee perfection to expresse Not thou by praise but praise in thee is raised It is a praise to praise where thou art praysed STella whence doth these newe assaults arise A conquerd yeelding ransackt hart to win Whereto long since through my long battred eyes Whole Armies of thy beauties entred in And there long since Loue thy Lieuetenant lyes My forces raz'd thy banners rais'd within Of conquest what doe these effects suffise But wilt new warre vppon thine owne begin With so sweet voyce and by sweet nature so In sweetest strength so sweetly skild withall In all sweet stratagems sweete Arte can shew That not my soule which at thy foote did fall Long sithence forst by thy beames but stone nor tree By sences priuiledge can scape from thee THus night while sleepe begins with heauie wings To close mine eyes and that my troubled thought Doth fall to stray and my chiefe powers are brought To leaue the scepter of all subiect things The first that straight my fancies errour brings Vnto my
minde is Stellas Image wrought By Loues owne selfe but with so curious draught That she mee thinks not onely shines but sings I start looke hart harke but what inclos'd vp sence Was helde in open view it flyes away Leauing me nought but wayling eloquence I seeing bitter sights in sighes decay Cald it anew and woed Sleepe againe But him her hoast her vnkind guest had slaine COme Sleepe ô Sleepe the certaine knot of peace The bathing place of wits the balme of woe The poore mans wealth the prysoners release The indifferent Iudge betweene the hie and lowe With shielde of proofe shielde me from out the presse Of these fierce dartes Dispayre at me doth throw O make in me those ciuill warres to cease I will good trybute pay if thou doe soe Take thou of me smooth pillowes sweetest bed A chamber deafe of noyse and blinde of light A rosie garland and a wearie head And if these things as being thine in right Mooue not thy heauie grace thou shalt in mee Liuelier then els rare Stellas Image see AS good to write as for to lie and groane O Stella deere how much thy power hath wrought That hast my minde now of the basest brought My still kept course while others sleepe to moane Alas if thou the height of Vertues throane Canst but vouchsafe the influence of a thought Vpon a wretch which long thy grace hath sought Way then by thee how I am ouerthrowne And then thinke thus although thy beautie be Made manifest by such a victorie Yet noblest Conquerers doe wreaks auoide Since then thou hast so farre subdued me That in my hart I offer still to thee O doe not let thy Temple be destroide HAuing this day my horse my hand my Launce Guided so well that I obtaind the prize Both by the iudgement of the English eyes And of some sent by that sweet enmie Fraunce Horsmen my skill in horsmanship aduaunce Towne folke my strength a daintier Iudge applies His praise to slight which from good vse doth rise Some luckie wits impute it but to chaunce Others because from both sides I doe take My blood from them that doe excell in this Thinke Nature me a man at Armes did make How farre they shoote awry the true cause is Stella lookt on and from her heauenly face Sent forth her beames which made so faire a race O Eyes which doe the Spheres of beautie moue Whose beames all ioyes whose ioyes all vertues be Who while they make Loue conquer conquer Loue The Schooles where Venus hath learnd Chastitie O eyes where humble lookes most glorious proue Onely loue tasting of your crueltie Doe not doe not from me poore me remoue Keepe still my Zenith euer shine on me For thoughts eye neuer sees them but straight waies My life forgets to nourish languisht sprights Yet still on me ô eyes dart downe your rayes And if from Maiestie of sacred Lights Oppressing mortall sence my death proceede Wreckes tryumphs best which Loue hie set doth breed FAire eyes sweet lips deere hart that foolish I Could hope by Cupids helpe on you to pray Since to himselfe he doth your gifts apply As his maine force chiefe sport and easefull stay For when he will see who dare him gainesay Then with those eyes he lookes loe by and by Each soule doth at Loues feete his weapons lay Glad if for her he giue them leaue to die When he will play then in her lips his eye Where blushing red that Loues selfe them doe loue With either lip he doth the other kisse But when he will for quiets sake remoue From all the world her hart is then his roome Where well he knowes no man to him can come MY words I know doe well sette forth my minde My minde bemones his sence of inward smart Such smart may pittie claime of any hart Her hart sweete hart is of no Tygers kinde And yet she heares and I no pittie finde But more I cry lesse grace she doth impart Alas what cause is there so ouerthwart That Noblenes it selfe makes thus vnkinde I much doe gesse yet finde no truth but this That when the breath of my complaints doe touch Those daintie doores vnto the Court of Blisse That once come there the sobs of my annoyes Are metamorphos'd straight to tunes of ioyes STella oft sees the very face of woes Painted in my bewrinckled stormie face But cannot skill to pittie my disgrace No though the cause heereof herselfe she knowes Yet Hermes late a Fable who did show Of Louers neuer knowne a pittious case Pittie thereof got in her breast such place As from her eyes a Spring of teares did flow Alas if Fancie drawne by fained things Though false yet with free store more grace doth breede Then Seruants wreck where new doubt honor bringes Than thinke my Deere that in me you doe reede Of Louers ruine some sad Tragaedie And if not me pittie the tale of me I Curst thee oft I pittie now thy case Blinde hitting Boy since shee that thee and me Rules with a becke so tyranniseth thee That thou must want or foode or dwelling place For she protests to bannish thee her face Her face ô Loue a roge then should'st thou bee If Loue learne not alone to loue and see Without desire to feede of further grace Alas poore wagge that now a Scholler art To such a Schoole-mistris whose lessons new Thou needes must misse and so thou needes must smart Yet deere let me this pardon get of you That he so long may sport him with desire Till without Fuell thou can make hote fire WHat haue I thus betraide my libertie Can those blacke beames such burning markes engraue In my free side or am I borne a slaue Whose necke becomes such yoke of tyrannie Or want I sence to feele my miserie Or spirit disdaine of such disdaine to haue Who for long faith some gentle pittie craue Yet get no almes but scorne of beggerie Vertue awake beautie but beautie is I may I must I can I will I doe Leaue following that which it is gaine to misse Let her goe soft but there she comes goe to Vnkind I loue you not woe me that I Must make my hart thus giue my tongue the lye SOules ioy bend not those morning starres from me Where vertue is made strong by beauties might Where loue is chastnes scorning youthes delight And humblenes is linckt with maiestie What euer may ensue ah let me be Copartner of the ritches of that sight Let not mine eyes be blinded from that light Oh looke oh shine ô let me die and see For though I oft my selfe of them bemone That through my hart their beamie darts be gone Whose curelesse woundes euen nowe most freshly bleede Yet since my deaths wound is already got Deere killer spare not thy sweete cruell shot A kinde of grace it is to kill with speede I On my horse and Loue on me doth trie Our horsmanship while two strong works I proue A horsman
race refraine Wherefore to trie if that I said be true How can I better proue then with a kisse O Kisse which doth those ruddie gems impart Or ioyes or fruits of new found Parradise Breathing all blisse and sweetnes to the hart Teaching dumbe lips a nobler exercise O kisse which soules euen soules together ties By linkes of loue and onely natures Art How faine would I paint thee to all mens eies Or of thy gifts at least set out some part But shee forbids with blushing words shee saies Shee builds hir fame on higher seated praise But my heart burnes I cannot silent be Then since deare kisse you faine would haue me peace And I mad with delight want wit to cease Stop you my mouth with still still kissing me NYmph of the garden where all beauties be Beauties which doe in excellence surpasse His whose till death lockt in a watry glasse Or hir whom nak'd the Troian boy did see Sweete garden Nymph which keepes the Cherry tree Whose fruit doth far the Hesperian tast surpasse Most sweete faire most faire sweete doe not alasse From comming neere these Cherries banish mee For though full of desire emptie of wit Admitted late by your best graced grace I caught at one of them a hungry bit Pardon that fault once more graunt me the place And so I sweare by the selfe same delite I will but kisse I neuer more will bite GOod brother Phillip I haue for borne you long I was content you should in fauour creepe While craftely you seemed your Cut to keepe As though that faire soft hand did you great wrong I beare with enuy yet I heare your song When in hir necke you did loue ditties peepe Nay more foole I oft suffred you to sleepe In lillies nest where Loues selfe lies along What doth high place ambitious thoughts augment Is saucines reward of curtesie Cannot such grace your silly selfe content But you must needes with those lips billing be And through those lips drinke Nectar from that tung Leaue that Syr Phillip lest your necke be wrung HIgh way since you my chiefe Pernassus be And that my Muse to some eares not vnmeete Tempers hir words to trampling horses feete More often than a Chamber mellodie Now blessed you beare onwards blessed me To hir where my heart safeliest shall meete My Muse and I must you of duety greete With thanks and wishes wishing thankfully Be you still carefull kept by publike heede By no encrochment wrongd nor time forgot Nor blam'd for bloud nor sham'd for sinfull deede And that you know I enuie you no whit Of highest wish I wish you so much blisse Hundreds of yeares you Stellas feete may kisse BEhold my heart the house that thee contains Beware full Sailes drown not thy tottering Barge Least ioy by nature apt spirites to colarge Thee to thy wracke beyond thy limits straines Nor doe like Lords whose weake confused braines Not pointing to fit folks each vndercharge Striue in themselues each office to discharge With doing all leaue nothing done but paine But giue apt seruants their due place let eies See beauties totall sum found in their face Let eares heare speach which will to wonder tyes Let breath suck vp those sweets let armes imbrace ALas whence comes this change of lookes If I haue chang'd deserts let mine owne conscience be a still felt plague to selfe condemning mee Let woe grype on my heart shame load mine eyes But if all faith like spotles Ermine lye Safe in my soule which onely doth to thee As his sole obiect to felicitie VVith wings of Loue in aire of wonder flie Cease your hard hand threat not so hard your slaue In Iustice paines come not till faults do call Or if I needes sweet Iudge must torments haue Seeke some thing else to chasten mee withall Than those blest eyes where all my hopes do dwell No doome shall make ones Heauen become his Hell VVHen I was forst from Stella euer deare Stella soode of my thoughts hurt of my heart Stella whose eyes make all my temples cleare By Stellaes lawes of duetie to impart Alas I found that shee with mee did smart I sawe that teares did in her eyes appeare I sawe that sighes her sweetest lips did part And her sad wordes my sad deare sense did heare For mee I weepe to see Pearles scattered so I sighd her sighes and wailed for her woe Yet swamme in ioy such loue in her was seene Thus while the effect most bitter was to mee And than the cause nothing more sweet could be I had beene vext if vext I had not beene OVt Traytour absence dar'st thou counsell mee From my deare Conquerour to runne awaie Because in braue arraye here marcheth shee That to entice mee profers present paye Is Faith so weake or is such force in thee VVhen Sunne is hid can Starres such beames displaie Cannot Heauens foode once felt keepe stomacks free From base desire on earthly cates to praie VVhen absence with her mistes obscures her light My Orphan sense slides to the inward sight VVhere memorie feeds foorth the beames of Loue That where before heart lou'd and eyes did see In heart my sight and Loue both coupled be Vnited powres make eche the stronger proue NOw that of absence the most yrksome night VVith darkest shade doth ouercome the daie Since Stellaes eyes that wont giue mee my daie Leauing my Hemisphere o'recast with night Each day seemes long and longs for long staied night The night as tedious wooes th'approch of day Toyled with dustie toyles of busie day Languisht with horrors of the silent night Suffering the euils both of daie and night VVhile no night is more darke than is my daie Nor no daie hath lesse quiet than my night VVith such bad mixture of my night and daie That liuing thus in blackest VVinter night I feele the gleames of hottest Sommers daie STella thinke not that I by verse seeke fame VVho seeke who hope who loue who like but thee Thine eyes my pride thy lips my historie If thou praise mee all other praise is shame Nor so ambitious am I as to frame A nest for my yong praise in Lawrell tree In trueth I sweare I wish not there should be graued in my Epitaph a Poets name Nor if I would could I iust title make That anie laud thereof to me should growe Without my Payns from others wings I take For nothing from my wit or will doth flowe Since all my wordes thy beautie doth indite And Loue doth hold my hand makes me write STella while now by honours cruell might I am from you light of my light misled And whiles faire you my Sunne thus ouerspred With absence vale I liue in sorrowes night If this darke place yet shewe by candle light Some Beauties peece as amber collourd hed Milke hands rose cheekes or lips more sweet more red Or seeming iett black yet in blacknes bright They please I do confesse they please mine eyes But whie because of
VVho hath the crimson weeds stoln frō the morning skies How doth the coullor fade of those vermillion eies VVhich Nature self did make and self engraue the same I would know by what right this palenes ouercame That hue whose force my heart in so great thraldome ties Gallens adopted sonnes who by a beaten way Their iudgements hackney on the fault of sicknes lay But feeling proofe makes me say they mistake it sure It is but loue that makes this paper perfect white To write therein more fresh the storie of Delight VVhiles Beauties reddest incke Venus for him doth stir O Happie Thames that didst my Stella beare I saw thee with full many a smiling line Vpon thy cheereful face Ioues Liuery weare VVhile those faire Plannets on thy streames did shine The boat for ioy could not to dance forbeare VVhile wanton winds with beautie so diuine Rauisht staid not til in her golden haire They did themselues ô sweetest prison twine But faine those friendly windes there would their stay Haue made but forst by Nature still to flie First did with puffing kisse those Lockes display She so discouered blusht From window I with sight thereof cride out Ah faire disgrace Let honours selfe to thee graunt highest place ENuious wits what hath beene mine offence That with such poisoned care my wits you marke That to each word nay sigh of mine you harke As grudging me my sorrows eloquence Ah is it not enough that I am thence Thence so farre thence that scantly anie sparke Of comfort dare come to this dungeon darke VVhere rigorous exile lockes vp al my sense But if I by a happie window passe If I but Starres vpon mine Armour beare Sicke thirstie glad though but of empty glasse Your morals note straight my hid meaning there From out my ribs a whirlewind proues that I Doe Stella loue fooles who doth it denie VNhappie sight and hath shee vanisht by So neere in so good time so free a place Dead glasse dost thou thine obiect so imbrace As what my heart still sees thou canst not spie I sweare by hir Loue and my lacke that I Was not in fault that bent my dazling race Onely vnto the heauen of Stellaes face Counting but dust that in hir way did lie But cease mine eies your teares doe witnes well That you guiltles therefore your necklace mist Curst be the Page from whom the bad torch fell Curst be the night which did your will resist Curst be the Cochman that did driue so fast With no lesse curse then absence makes me tast O Absent presence Stella is not here False flattering hope that with so faire a face Bare me in hand that in this Orphane place Stella I saw my Stella should appeare VVhat saist thou now where is that dainty cleare Thou wouldst mine eies should helpe their famisht case But how art thou now that selfe felt disgrace Doth make me most to wish thy comfort nere But heere I doe store of faire Ladies meete VVho may with charme of conuersation sweete Make in my heauie mould new thoughts to grow Sure they preuaile as much with me as he That bad his friend but then new maimed to be Merrie with him and so his forget woe STella since thou so right a Princesse art Of all the Powers which life bestowe on me That ere by them ought vndertaken be They first resort vnto that soueraigne part Sweete for a time giue respite to my heart VVhich pants as though it stil should leape to thee And on my thought giue the Lieuetenancie To this great cause which needes both wit and Art And as a Queene who from hir presence sends VVhom shee emploies dismisse from thee my wit Still to haue wrought that thy owne will attends For seruants shame of Maisters blame doth sit O let not Fooles in me thy works approue And scorning say see what it is to loue When sorrow vsing my owne Siers might Melts downe his lead into my boyling brest Through that darke Furnace of my heart opprest There shines a ioy from thee my onely light But soone as thought of thee breeds my delight And my young soule once flutters to hir nest Most dead dispaire my daily vnbidden guest Clips strait my wings strait wraps me in his night And makes me then bow downe my head and say Ah what doth Phoebus gold that wretch auaile VVhom Iron darts doth keepe from vse of daie So strangely alas thy works on me preuaile That in my woes for thee thou art my ioy And in my ioyes for thee my onel'anoy Other Sonnets of variable verse First Sonnet DOubt you to whom my Muse these notes intendeth Which now my brest surchargd with musick lendeth To you to you all song of praise is due Onely in you my song begins and endeth 2 Who hath the eyes which marrie state with pleasure Who keepes the key of Natures chiefest treasure To you to you al song of praise be due Onely for you the heauens forget all measure 3 VVho hath the lips where wit with fairenes raigneth VVho womenkinde at once both decks and staineth To you to you al song of praise is due Onely by you Cupid his crowne maintaineth 4 Who hath the feet whose steps al sweetnes planteth VVho els for whom Fame worthie trumpets wanteth To you to you all song of praise be due Onely to you her scepter Venus granteth 5 Who hath the brest whose milk doth patience nurish VVhose grace is such that when it chides doth cherish To you to you al song of praise be due Onely through you the tree of life doth slourish 6 VVho hath the hand which without stroke subdueth VVho long hid beautie with encrease renueth To you to you al song of praise is due Onely at you al enuie hopelesse endeth 7 VVho hath the haire which most loose most fast tieth VVho makes a man liue then glad when he dieth To you to you al song of praise is due Onely of you the flattrer neuer lieth 8 VVho hath the voyce which soule from senses sunders VVhose force but yours the bolt of beautie thunders To you to you al song of praise is due Onely with you no miracles are wonders 9 Doubt you to whom my Muse these notes intendeth VVhich now my breast orechargd with musicke lendeth To you to you al song of praise is due Onely in you my song begins and endeth Second Sonnet HAue I caught my heauenly Iuel Teaching Sleepe most faire to be Now wil I teach her that she VVhen she wakes is too too cruel 2 Since sweete Sleep her eyes hath charmed The two onely darts of Loue Now will I with that Boy proue Some play while he is disarmed 3 Her tongue waking stil refuseth Giuing franklie niggard no Now wil I attempt to knowe VVhat no her tongue sleeping vseth 4 See the hand that waking gardeth Sleeping grants a free resort Now I wil inuade the fort Cowards Loue with losse rewardeth 5 But O foole thinke of the danger Of
her iust and high disdaine Now will I alas refraine Loue feares nothing else but anger 6 Yet those lippes so sweetly swelling Do inuite a stealing kisse Now but venture will I this VVho will read must first learne spelling 7 Oh sweet kisse but ah shee is waking Lowring beautie chastens mee Now will I for feare hence flee Foole more Foole for no more taking Third Sonnet IF Orpheus voyce had force to breathe such musicks Loue Through pores of senseles trees as it could make them moue If stones good measure daunst the Thebane walls to builde To cadence of the tunes which Amphions Lyre did yeeld More cause a like effect at least wise bringeth O stones ô trees learne hearing Stella singeth 2 If Loue might sweeten so a boy of Shepheards brood To make a Lyzard dull to taste Loues food If Eagle fierce could so in Grecian maide delight As her eyes were his light her death his endlesse night Earth gaue that Loue heauen I trow Loue refineth O Beasts ô Birds looke Loue for Stella shineth 3 The beasts birds stones trees feele this feeling loue And if the trees nor stones stirre not the same to proue Nor beasts nor birds doo come vnto this blessed gaze Know that smal Loue is quick and great Loue doth amaze They are amaz'd but you with reason armed O eies O eares of men how are you charmed Fourth Sonnet ONely Ioy now here you are Fit to heare and ease my care Let my whispering voyce obtaine Sweete rewards for sharpest paine Take me to thee and thee to mee No no no no my Deare let bee 2 Night hath closde all in her cloke Twinckling starres loue thoughts prouoke Danger hence good care doth keepe Iealozie himselfe doth sleepe Take me to thee and thee to mee No no no no my Deare let bee 3 Better place no wit can finde Cupids knot to loose or binde These sweete flowers our fine bed too Vs in their best language wooe Take mee to thee and thee to mee No no no no my Deare let be 4 This smal light the Moone bestoes Serues thy beames for to disclose So to raise my heart more hie Feare not els none can vs spie Take me to thee and thee to mee No no no no my Deare let bee 5 That you heard was but a mouse Dumbe Sleepe holdeth all the house Yet a sleepe me thinkes they say Yong fooles take time while you may Take me to thee and thee to mee No no no no my Deare let bee 6 Niggard time threates if we misse This large offer of our blisse Long stay ere she graunt the same Sweet then while ech thing doth frame Take me to thee and thee to mee No no no no my Deare let bee 7 Your faire Mother is a bed Candles out and curtaines spred She thinkes you doo letters write VVrite but first let me endite Take mee to thee and thee to mee No no no no my Deare let be 8 Sweete alas why striue you thus Concord better fitteth vs Leaue to Mars the force of hands Your power in your beautie stands Take me to thee and thee to mee No no no no my Deare let bee 9 VVoe to mee and doo you sweare Me to hate but I forbeare Curst be my destnies all That brought mee so high to fall Soone with my death Ile please thee No no no no my Deare let bee The fifth Sonnet WHile fauour fed my hope delight with hope was brought Thought waited on delight speach did folow thought Then drew my tongue and pen records vnto thy glorie I thought all words were lost that were not spent of thee I thought each place was darke but where thy lights would be And all eares worse than deaffe that hard not out thy storie 2 I said thou wert most faire and so indeed thou art I said thou wert most sweete sweete poyson to my hart I said my soule was thine ô would I then had lied I said thy eyes were starres thy breasts the milken way Thy fingers Cupids shafts thy voyce the Angels lay And all is said so well that no man it denied 3 But now that hope is lost vnkindnes kils delight Yet thought and speach do liue thought metamorphisde quite For rage now rules the reynes which guided were by pleasure I thinke now of thy faults who late wrote of thy praise That speech falls now to blame which did thy honour raise The same key open can which can locke vp a treasure 4 Then thou whom partiall heauens conspir'd in one to frame The proofe of beauties worke the inheritance of fame The mansion state of blisse and iust excuse of louers See now those feathers pluckt wherewith thou flewst most hie See what cloudes of reproach shall darke thy honours skie Whome fault once casteth downe hardly high state recouers 5 And ô my Muse though oft you luld her in your lap And then a heauenly Childe gaue her Ambrosian pap And to that braine of hers your highest gifts infused Since she disdaining me doth you in me disdaine Suffer not her to laugh and both we suffer paine Princes in subiects wrongs must deeme themselues abused 6 Your client poore my selfe shall Stella handle so Reuenge reuenge my Muse desiance trumpet blowe Threate threat what may be done yet do no more but threaten Ah my sute granted is I feele my breast doth swell Now Childe a lesson new you shall begin to spell Sweet babes must babies haue but shrewd girles must be beaten 7 Thinke now no more to heare of warme fine shining snow Nor blushing Lillyes nor pearles Rubie hidden row Nor of that golden sea whose waues in curles are broken But of thy soule fraught with such vngratefulnesse As where thou soone mightst help most there thou dost oppresse Vngrateful who is cald the worst of ills is spoken 8 Yet worse than worse I say thou art a Thiefe A thiefe Now God forbid a thiefe and of worst thieues a thiefe Thieues steale for need steale for goods which pain recouers But thou rich in all ioyes dost rob my goods from mee Which cannot be restorde by time nor industrie Of foes the spoyle is euill farre more of constant louers 9 Yet gentle English thieues doo rob and will not slay Thou English murdring thiefe wilt haue hearts for thy pray The name of murdrer now on thy faire forhead sitteth And euen while I do speake my death wounds bleeding bee Which I protest proceed from onely cruell thee Who may and wil not saue murther in trueth committeth 10 But murthers priuate fault seemes but a toy to thee I lay then to thy charge vniustice Tirannie If rule by force without all claime a Tyrant sheweth For thou art my hearts Lord who am not borne thy slaue And which is worse makes me most guiltles torments haue A rightfull Prince by vnrightfull deeds a Tyrant groweth 11 Loe you grow proud with this for Tyrants makes folk bow Of foule rebellion then I do appeach thee now Rebels
Flocke such one forgoe Vnto whom mirth is displeasure Onely rich in measures treasure 3 Yet alas before you goe Heare your wofull Masters storie VVhich to stones I else would showe Sorrow onely then hath glorie VVhen tis excellently sorie 4 Stella fairest Shepheardesse Fairest but yet cruelst euer Stella whom the heauens still blesse Though against me she perseuer Though I blisse inherit neuer 5 Stella hath refused mee Stella who more loue hath proued In this caitiffe hart to bee Than can in good to vs be moued Towards Lambkins best beloued 6 Stella hath refused mee Astrophel that so well serued In this pleasant Spring Muse see While in pride flowers be preserued Himselfe onely winter starued 7 VVhy alas then doth she sweare That she loueth me so deerly Seeing me so long to beare Coales of loue that burne so cleerly And yet leaue me hopelesse meerly 8 Is that loue forsooth I trow If I saw my good dogg grieued And a helpe for him did know My loue should not be beleeued But he were by me releeued 9 No she hates me welaway Faining loue somewhat to please me Knowing if she should display All her hate death soone would seaze me And of hideous torments ease me 10 Then my deare Flocke now adieu But alas if in your straying Heauenly Stella meete with you Tell her in your piteous blaying Her poore Slaues iust decaying The tenth Sonnet O Deere Life when shall it bee That mine eyes thine eyes shall see And in them thy minde discouer VVhether absence haue had force Thy remembrance to diuorce From the image of thy Louer 2 O if I my selfe finde not By thine absence oft forgot Nor debard from Beauties treasure Let no tongue aspire to tell In what high ioyes I shall dwell Onely thought aimes at the pleasure 3 Thought therefore will I send thee To take vp the place for mee Long I will not after tarrie There vnseene thou maist be bold Those faire wonders to behold VVhich in them my hopes doo carrie 4 Thought see thou no place forbeare Enter brauely euerie where Seaze on all to her belonging But if thou wouldst garded bee Fearing her beames take with thee Strength of liking rage of longing 5 O my Thoughts my Thoughts sure ease Your delights my woes encrease My life fleetes with too much thinking Thinke no more but die in mee Till thou shalt receiued bee At her lips my Nectar drinking Finis Syr P.S. Poems and Sonets of sundrie other Noble men and Gentlemen The Author of this Poeme S. D. GO wayling verse the infant of my loue Minorua like brought foorth without a mother That beares the image of the cares I proue Witnesse your fathers griefe exceeds all other Sigh out a Storie of her cruell deedes With interrupted accents of dispaire A monument that whosoeuer reedes May iustly praise and blame my loueles Faire Say her disdaine hath dried vp my blood And sterued you in succours still denying Presse to her eyes importune me some good Waken her sleeping crueltie with crying Knock at her hard hart say I perish for her And feare this deed wil make the world abhor her Sonnet 1. IF so it hap the Ofspring of my care These fatall anthemes and afflicted songs Come to their view who like to mee doo fare May moue them sigh there at and mone my wrongs But vntoucht hearts with vnaffected eye Approach not to behold my soules distresse Cleere sighted you will note what is awry Whilst blind ones see no error in my verse You blinded soules whom hap and error leades You outcast Eglets dazeled with the Sunne Ah you and none but you my sorrow reads You best can iudge the wrong that shee hath done That shee hath done the motiue of my paine Who whilst I loue doth kill me with disdaine Sonnet 2. THese sorrowing sighs the smokes of mine annoy These teares which heate of sacred fire distills These are the tributes that my faith doth pay And these my tyrants cruell minde fulfills I sacrifice my youth and blooming yeares At hir proud feete that yet respects no whit My youth vntimely withered with my teares By winter woes for spring of youth vnfit She thinkes a looke may recompence my care And so with lookes prolongs my long lookt ease As short the blisse so is the comfort rare Yet must that blisse my hungrie thoughts appease Thus she returnes my hopes to fruitlesse euer Once let her loue indeed or eye me neuer Sonnet 3. THe onely bird alone that Nature frames When weary of the tedious life shee liues By fier dies yet finds new life in flames Hir ashes to hir shape new essence giues When onely I the onely wretched wight Wearie of life that breaths but sorrows blasts Pursues the flame of such a beautie bright That burnes my heart and yet my life still lasts O Soueraigne light that with thy sacred flame Consumes my life reuiue me after this And make me with the happie bird the same That dies to liue by fauour of thy blisse This deede of thine shall shew a Goddesse power In so long death to grant one liuing hower Sonnet 4. TEares vowes and praiers gaines the hardest hearts Teares vowes and praiers haue I spent in vaine Teares cannot soften flint nor vowes conuert Praiers preuaile not with a quaint disdaine I loose my teares where I haue lost my loue I vowe my faith where faith is not regarded I pray in vaine a merciles to moue So rare a faith ought better be rewarded Though frozen will may not be thawed with teares Though my soules Idol skorneth all my vowes Though all my praiers be made to deafned eares No fauour though the cruel faire allowes Yet will I weepe vowe praie to cruel shee Flint frost disdaine weares melts and yeelds we see Sonnet 5. WHy doth my Mistres credit so hir glasse Gasing hir beautie dein'd hir by the skies And doth not rather looke on him alas Whose state best shewes the force of murthering eies The broken tops of loftie trees declare The furie of a mercie-wanting storme And of what force your wounding graces are Vpon my selfe you best may finde the forme Then leaue your glasse and gaze your selfe on mee That myrror showes the power of your face To admire your forme too much may danger bee Narcissus changd to flower in such a case I feare your change not flower nor Hiacynth Medusas eye may turne your heart to flint Sonnet 6. THese amber locks are those same nets my Deare Wherewith my liberty thou didst surprise Loue was the flame that fierd me so neare The darts transpersing were these Christal eies Strong is the net and feruent is the flame Deepe is the stroke my sighs can well report Yet doe I loue adore and praise the same That holds that burnes that wounds me in that sort I list not seeke to breake to quench to heale This bond this flame this wound that festereth so By knife by liquor or by salue to deale So much I please