Nymphes that daunce vpon the Plaines You Discontents whose deep ouer deadly smart Haue without pitie broke the truest heart Sighs Teares and euery sad annoy That erst did with me dwell And all others Ioy Farewell Adue Faire Shepherdesses Let Garlands of sad Yewe Adorne your daintie golden Tresses I that loud you and often with my Quill Made musick that delighted Fountain Groue Hill I whom you loued so and with a sweet and chast embrace Yea with a thousand rarer fauors would vouchsaf to grace I now must leaue you all alone of Loue to plaine And neuer Pipe nor neuer Sing againe I must for euermore bee gone And therefore bid I you And euery one Adue I dye For oh I feele Deaths horrors drawing nie And all this frame of Nature reele My hopelesse heart dispairing of reliefe Sinks vnderneath the heauy weight of saddest griefe Which hath so ruthles torn so rackt o torturd ' euery vaine All comfort comes too late to haue it euer cur'd againe My swimming head begins to dance Deaths giddy round A shuddering chilnes doth each sence confound Benum'd is my cold-sweating brow A dimnesse shuts my eye And now oh now I die SO mouingly these Lines He did expresse And to a Tune so full of heauinesse As if indeed his purpose had bin past To liue no longer then the Song did last Which in the Nymphs such tender passion bred That some of them did teares of pitty shed This she perceiuing who first craud the Song Shepheard she said although it be no wrong Nor griefe to you those passions to recall Which heretofore you haue beene paind withall But Comforts rather since they now are ouer And you it seemeth an enioying Louer Yet some young Nymphs among vs I doe see Who so much mooued with your passions be That if my aime I taken haue aright Their thoughts wil hardly let them sleepe to night I dare not therefore beg of you againe To sing another of the selfesame Straine For feare it breed within them more vnrest Then womens weakenesses can well disgest Yet in your Measures such content you haue That one Song more I will presume to craue And if your Memorie preserues of those Which you of your Affections did compose Before you saw this Mistresse Let vs heare What kind of passions then within you were To which request he instantly obaid And this ensuing Song both sung and plaid Sonnet 2. YOu gentle Nymphs that on these meadows play And oft relate the loues of Shepherds young Come sit you downe for if you please to stay Now may you heare an vncouth Passion sung A Lad there is and I am that poore Groome That faln in loue cannot tell with whom Oh doe not smile at sorrow as a Iest With others cares good Natures mooued be And I should weepe if you had my vnrest Then at my griefe how can you merry be Ah where is tender pitie now become I am in loue and cannot tell with whom I that haue oft the rarest features viewd And Beautie in her best perfection seene I that haue laught at them that Loue pursude And euer free from such affections beene Lo now at last so cruell is my doome I am in loue and cannot tell with whom My heart is full nigh bursting with desire Yet cannot find from whence these longings flow My brest doth burne but she that lights the fire I neuer saw nor can I come to know So great a blisse my fortune keepes my from That though I dearly loue I know not whoÌ„ Ere I had twice foure Springs renewed seene The force of Beautie I began to proue And ere I nine yeares old had fully beene It taught me how to frame a Song of Loue. And little thought I this day should haue come Before that I to loue had found out whom For on my Chinn the mossy downe you see And in my vaines well-heated blood doth glow Of Summers I haue seene twice three times three And fast my youthfull time away doth goe That much I feare I aged shall become And still complaine I loue I know not whom Oh! why had I a heart bestow'd on me To cherish deare affections so enclind Since I am so vnhappy borne to be No Obiect for so true a Loue to find When I am dead it will be mist of some Yet now I liue I loue I know not whom I to a thousand beautious Nymphs am knowne A hundred Ladies fauours doe I weare I with as many halfe in loue am growne Yet none of them I find can be my Deare Me thinks I haue a Mistresse yet to come Which makes me sing I loue I know not whom There liues no Swaine doth stronger passion proue For her whom most he couets to possesse Then doth my heart that being full of Loue Knowes not to whom it may the same professe For he that is despisd hath sorrow some But he hath more that loues and knowes not whom Knew I my Loue as many others doe To some one obiect might my thoughts be bent So they diuided should not wandring goe Vntill the Soules vnited force be spent As his that seekes and neuer finds a Home Such is my rest that loue know not whom Those whom the frownes of iealous friends diuide May liue to meet and descant on their woe And he hath gaind a Lady for his Bride That durst not woe her Mayd a while agoe But oh what end vnto my Hopes can come That am in loue and cannot tel with whom Poore Collin grieues that he was late disdaind And Cloris doth for Willy's absence pine Sad Thirsis weeps for his sicke Phaebe paind But all their sorrowes cannot equall mine A greater care alas on me is come I am in loue and cannot tell with whom Narcissus-like did I affect my shade Some shaddow yet I had to dote vpon Or did I loue some Image of the dead Whose substance had not breathed long agone I might dispaire and so an end would come Bâ—t oh I loue and cannot tell you whom Once in a Dreame me thought my Loue I view'd But neuer waking could her face behold And doubtles that Resemblance was but shew'd That more my tyred heart torment it should For since that time more grieu'd I am become And more in loue I cannot tell with whom When on my bed at night to rest I lye My watchfull eyes with teares bedew my cheeke And then oh would it once were day I crie Yet when it comes I am as far to seeke For who can tell though all the earth he rome Or when or where to find hee knowes not whom Oh! if she be among the beautious traines Of all you Nymphs that haunt the siluer â—ills Or if you know her Ladies of the Plaines Or you that haue your Bowers on the Hills Tell if you can who will my loue become Or I shal die and neuer know for whom THe Ladies smiled oft when this they heard Because the Passion strange to them
yet vnequal'd spirit Nor to quaffe the sacred Well Halfe so deepe as Astrophill Though the much commended Celiâ— Louely Laura Stella Delia Who in former times excell'd Liue in Lines vnparaled Making vs beleeue 't were much Earth should yeeld another such Yet assisted but by Nature I assay to paint a Creatnre Whose rare worth in future yeares Shall be praysd as much as theirs Nor let any thinke amisse That I haue presumed this For a gentle Nimph is shee And hath often honor'd me Shee s a noble sparke of light In each part so exquisit Had she in times passed beene They had made her beauties Queene Then shall cowardly despaire Let the most vnblemisht faire For default of some poore Art Which her fauour may impart And the sweetest Beauty fade That was euer borne or made Shall of all the faire ones shee Onely so vnhappy be As to liue in such a Time In so rude so dull a Clime Where no spirit can ascend High enough to apprehend Her vnprized excellence Which lies hid from common sense Neuer shall a staine so vile Blemish this our Peets I le I my selfe will rather runne And seeke out for Helicon I will wash and make me cleane In the waues of Hyppocrene And in spight of Fortunes barres Climbe the Hill that braues the starres Where if I can get no Muse That will any skill infuse Or my iust attempt prefer I will make a Muse of Her Whose kind heat shall soone distill Art into my ruder quill By her fauour I will gaine Helpe to reach so rare a Straine That the learned Hils shall wonder How the vntaught vallies vnder Met with Raptures so diuine Without knowledge of the NINE I that am a Shepheards Swaine Piping on the lowly plaine And no other Musique can Then what learn'd I haue of Pan. I who neuer sung the Layes That deserue Apollo's bayes Hope not onely here to frame Measures which shall keepe Her name From the spight of wasting Times But enshrin'd in sacred Rimes Place her where her forme diuine Shall to after ages shine And without respect of Odds Vye renowne with Demy-Gods Then whilst of her praise I sing Harken Vally Groue and Spring Listen to me sacred Fountaines Solitarie Rocks and Mountaines Satyres and you wanton Elues That doe nightly sport your selues Shepheards you that on the Reede Whistle while your lambes doe feed Aged Woods and Floods that know What hath beene long times agoe Your more serious Notes among Heare how I can in my Song Set a Nâ—mphs perfection forth And when you haue heard her worth Say if such another Lasse Euer knowne to mortall was Listen Lordlings you that most Of your outward honors boast And you Gallants that thinke scorne We to lowly fortunes borne Should attaine to any graces Where you looke for sweet embraces See if all those vanities Whereon your affection lies Or the Titles or the power By your Fathers virtues your Can your Mistresses enshrine In such state as I will mine Who am forced to importune Fauours in despight of Fortune Beauties listen chiefly you That yet know not Virtues due You that thinke there are no sports Nor no honours but in Courts Though of thousands there liues not Two but dye and are forgot See if any Palace yeelds Ought more glorious then the Fields And consider well if we May not as high-flying be In our thoughts as you that sing In the Chambers of a King See if our contented minds Whom Ambition neuer blinds We that clad in home-spun gray On our owne sweet Meadowes play Cannot honour if we please Where we list as well as these Or as well of worth approue Or with equall passions loue See if beauties may not touch Our soone-louing hearts as much Or our seruices effect Fauours with as true respect In your good conceits to rise As our painted Butterflies And you Fairest giue her roome When your Sexes pride doth come For that Subiect of my song I inuoke these Groues among To be witnesse of the Layes Which I carroll in her praise And because shee soone will see If my Measures faultie be Whilst I chaunt them let each Rime Keepe a well proportioned time And with straines that are diuine Meet her thoughts in euery line Let each accent there present To her Soule a new content And with rauishings so ceaze her She may feele the height of pleasure You enchanting spells that lye Lurking in sweet Poesie And to none else will appeare But to those that worthy are Make Her know there is a power Ruling in these Charmes of your That transcends a thousand heights Ordinary mens delights And can leaue within her brest Pleasures not to be exprest Let her linger on each straine As if shee would heare 't againe And were loth to part from thence Till shee had the quintessence Out of each conceit shee meets And had stord her with those sweets Make her by your Art to see I that am her Swaine was he Vnto whom all beauties here Were alike and equall deare That I could of freedome boast And of fauours with the most Yet now nothing more affecting Sing of Her the rest neglecting Make her heart with full Compassion Iudge the merit of true passion And as much my loue prefer As I striue to honor Her Lastly you that will I know Heare me wh'ere you should or no. You that seeke to turne all Flowers By your breathes infectious powers Into such ranke lothsome weedes As your dunghill nature breeds Let your hearts be chast or here Come not till you purge them cleare Marke and marke then what is worst For what ere it seeme at first If you bring a modest minde You shall nought immodest finde But if any too seuere Happ to lend a partiall eare Or out of his blindnesse yawne Such a word as Oh prophane Let him know thus much from me If here 's ought prophane t is he Who applies these excellences Onely to the touch of senses And dimm sighted cannot see Where the soule of this may bee Yet that no offence may grow T is their choice to stay or goe Or if any for despight Rather comes then for delight For his presence I le not pray Nor his absence come he may Critticks shall admitted be Though I know thei le carpe at me For I neither feare nor care What in this their censures are If the Verse heere vsed be Their dislike it liketh me If my Methode they deride Let them know Loue is not tide In his free Discourse to chuse Such strict rules-as Arts-men vse These may prate of Loue but they Know him not for Hee will play From the matter now and then Off and on and off agen If this Prologue tedious seeme Or the rest too long they deeme Let them know my loue they win Though they goe ere I begin Iust as if they should attend me Till the last and there commend me For I will for no mans pleasure Change a Syllable or
Field Though they lend content to many Vnto me can comfort yeeld I haue wept and sighed to For compassion to make triall Yea done all that words can doe Yet hane nothing but denyall What way is there then to wooe Shall I sweare protest and vow So haue I done most extreamely Should I die I know not how For from all attempts vnseemely Loue and Virtue keepes me now I have heard that Time preuailes But I feare mee t is a fable Time and all endeavour failes To beare more my heart 's vnable Yet none careth what it ayles Lines to some haue op't the dore And got entrance for affection Words well spoken much implore By the Gestures good direction But a Looke doth ten times more T is the Eye that onely reades To the heart loues deepest Lectures By a moouing looke it pleads More then common sence coniectures And a way to pittie leades This I knowing did obserue both by Words Looks complayning Yet for pittie I may starue There 's no hope of my obtaining Till I better can deserue Yea and he that thinkes to winne By desert may bee deceiued For they who haue worthiest bin Of their right haue beene bereaued And a Groome admitted in Wherefore Muse to thee I call Thou since nothing else auailes me Must redeeme mee from my thrall If thy sweet enchauntment failes me Then adue loue life and all 2. TEll me my hart what Thoughts these pantings moue My Thoughts of LOVE What Flames are these that set thee so on fire Flames of DESIRE What Meanes hast thou contentments floure to crop No Meanes but HOPE Yet let vs feed on Hope and Hope the best For they amid their griefes are something blest Whose Thoughts Flames Meanes haue such free scope They may at once both LOVE DESIRE and HOPE But say what Fruit will loue at last obtaine Fruitlesse DISDAINE What will those Hopes proue which yet seeme so faire Hopelesse DESPAIRE What End shall runne those passions out of breath An endlesse DEATH Oh can there be such crueltie in Loue And doth my Fortune so vngentle proue Shee will no Fruit nor Hope nor End bequeath But cruellest DISDAIN DISPAIRE and DEATH Then what new Studie shall I now apply Studie to DIE. How might I end my Care and dye content Care to REPENT And what good Thoughts may make my end more holy Thinke on thy FOLLY Yes so I will and since my Fate can giue No Hope but euer without Hope to liue My Studies Cares and Thoughts I le all apply To weigh my FOLLY well REPENT and DIE. 3. SAD Eyes what doe you ayle To be thus ill disposed Why doth your sleeping faile Now all mens else are closed Wast I that nere did bow In any seruile dutie And will you make me now A slaue to Loue and Beautie What though thy Mistresse smile And in her loue affects thee Let not her eye beguile I feare shee disrespects thee Doe not poore heart depend On those vaine thoughts that fill thee They le faile thee in the end So must thy passions kill thee What hopes haue I that shee will hold her fauours euer When so few women be That constant can perseuer What ere shee doe protest When Fortunes doe deceiue me Then shee with all the rest I feare alas will leaue me Whil'st youth strength remains With art that may commend her Perhaps she nought disdaines Her seruant should attend her But it is one to ten If crosses ouertake me Shee will not know me then But scorne and so forsake mee Shall then in earnest truth My carefull eyes obserue her Shall I consurne my youth And short my time to serue her Shall I beyond my strength Let passions torments prooue me To heare her say at length Away I cannot loue thee Oh rather let me dye Whil'st I thus gentle finde her T were worse then death if I Should finde shee prooues vnkinder One frowne though but in iest Or one vnkindnes fained Would rob me of more rest Then ere could be regained But in her eyes I finde Such signes of pitie moouing Shee cannot be vnkinde Nor erre nor faile in louing And on her forehead this Seemes written to relieue me My heart no ioy shall misse That Loue or Shee can giue me Which if I finde I vow My seruice shall perseuer The same that I am now I will continue euer No others high degree Nor beautious looke shall change me My Loue shall constant bee And no estate estrange me When other noble Dames By greater men attended Shall with their Liues and Names Haue all their glories ended With fairest Queenes shall she Sit sharing equall glory And Times to come shall be Delighted with our Story In spight of others hates More honour I will doe her Then those that with Estates And helpes of Fortune wooe her Yea that true worth I spie Though Monarchs stroue to grace it They should not reach more hie Then I dare hope to place it And though I neuer vaunt What fauours are possessed Much lesse content I wan Then if they were expressed Let others make their mirth To blab each kisse or toying I know no blisse on earth Like seeret Loue enioying And this shall be the worst Of all that can betide me If I like some accurst Should finde my hopes deride me My Cares will not be long I know which way to mend them I le thinke who did the wrong Sigh breake my heart and end them HAile faire Beauties and againe Haile to all your goodly traine What I promisd yesterday If it please you heare yee may For now once begun haue I Sing I will though none were by And though freely on I runne Yet confused paths to shunne First that part shal be disclos'd That 's of Elements compos'd There the two vnequall paire Water Fire Earth and Ayre Each one suting a Complexion Haue so cunning a Commixtion As they in proportion sweet With the rarest temper meete Either in as much as needeth So as neither ought exceedeth This pure substance is the same Which the Body we doe name Were that of immortall stuffe T is resin'd and pure enough To be cald a Soule for sure Many Soules are not so pure I that with a serious looke Note of this rare Moddel tooke Find that Nature in their places So well couched all the Graces As the Curioust eies that be Can nor blot nor blemish see Like a Pine it groweth streight Reaching an approued height And hath all the choice perfections That inflame the best affections In the motion of each part Nature seemes to striue with Art Which her gestures most shall blesse With the guifts of Pleasingnesse When she sits me thinkes I see How all virtues fixed be In a frame whose constant mould Will the same vnchanged hold If you note her when she moues Cytherea drawne with doues May come learne such winning motions As will gaine to loues deuotions More then all her painted wiles Such as teares or
sighs or smiles Some whose bodies want true graces Haue sweete features in their faces Others that doe misse them there Louely are some other where And to our desires doe fitte In behauiour or in witte Or some inward worth appearing To the soule the soule endearing But in her your eie may find All that 's good in Womankind What in others we preferre Are but sundry parts of her Who most perfect doth present What might one and all content Yea he that in loue still ranges And each day or howrly changes Had he iudgement but to know What perfection in her grow There would find the spring of store Sweare a faith and change no more Neither in the totall frame Is she only void of blame But each part suruei'd a sunder Might beget both loue and wonder If you dare to looke so high Or behold such maiestie Lift your wondring eies and see Whether ought can better'd be Ther 's her Haire with which Loue angles And beholdes eies intangles For in those faire curled snares They are hampred vnawares And compeld to sweare a duty To her sweete inthrauling beauty In my mind t is the most faire That was euer called haire Somewhat brighter then a browne And her Tresses wauing downe At full length and so dispread Mantles her from foote to head If you saw her Arched Brow Tell me pray what Art knowes how To haue made it in a line More exact or more diuine Beauty there may be diseri'd In the height of all her pride T is a meanly rising plaine Whose pure white hath many a vaine Interlacing like the springs In the earths enamilings If the tale be not a toy Of the little winged Boy When he meanes to strike a heart Thence he throwes the fatall dart Which of wounds still makes a paire One of Loue one of Dispaire Round her visage or so neare To a roundnes doth appeare That no more of length it takes Then what best proportion makes Short her Chinne is and yet so As it is iust long enow Louelines doth seeme to glory In that Cyrcling Promontory Pretty mouing features skip Twixt that hillocke and the lip If you note her but the while She is pleas'd to speake oâ— smile And her Lips that shew no dulnes Full are in the meanest fulnes Those the leaues be whose vnfolding Brings sweete pleasures to beholding For such pearles they doe disclose Both the Indies match not those Yet are so in order placed As their whitenesse is more graced Each part is so well disposed And her dainty mouth composed So as there is no distortion Misbeseemes that sweete proportion When her Iuorie Teeth she buries Twixt her two enticing cherries There appeares such pleasures hidden As might tempt what were forbidden If you looke againe the whiles She doth part those lips in smiles T is as when a flash of light Breakes from heauen to glad the night Other parts my pencill craue But those lips I cannot leaue For me thinkes I should goe And forsake those Cherries so Ther 's a kind of excellence Holds me from departing hence I would tell you what it were But my cunning failes me there They are like in their discloses To the mornings dewie roses That beside the name of faire Cast perfumes that sweet the Aire Melting-soft her kisses be And had I now two or three More inspired by their touch I had praisd them twise asmuch But sweete Muses marke yee how Her faire eies doe checke me now That I seem'd to passe them so And their praises ouer goe And yet blame me not that I Would so faine haue past them by For I feared to haue seene them Least there were some danger in them Yet such gentle lookes they lend As might make her foe a friend And by their allurings moue All beholders vnto loue Such a power is also there As will keepe those thoughts in feare And command enough I saw To hold impudence in awe There may he that knowes to loue Read contents which are aboue Their ignoble aimes who know Nothing that so high doth grow Whilst she me beholding is My hart dares not thinke amisse For her sight most peircing cleare Seemes to see what 's written there Those bright Eies that with their light Often times haue blest my sight And in turning thence their shining Left me in sad darkenes pining Are the rarest loueliest gray And do cast forth such a ray As the man that black prefers More would like this gray of hers When their matchles beames she shrouds T is like Cynthia hid in Clouds If againe she shew them light T is like morning after night And t is worthy well beholding With how many a pretty folding Her sweet eye lids grace that faire Meanly fring'd with beaming haire Whereby neatly ouerspread Those bright lamps are shaddowed Twixt the Eyes no hollow place Wrinkle nor vndecent space Disproportions her in ought Though by Enuy faults were sought On those Eye-browes neuer yet Did disdainefull scowling sit Loue and Goodnesse gotten thither Sit on equall thrones together And doe throw iust scorne on them That their gouernment contemne Then almost obscur'd appeares Those her Iewell-gracing Eares Whose owne Beauties more adome Then the richest Pearle that 's worne By the proudest Persian Dames Or the best that Nature frames There the voice in loues Meanders Those their pretty cirklings wanders Whose rare turnings will admit No rude speech to enter it Stretching from mount Forhead lies Beauties Cape betwixt her eyes Which two Chrystall-passing lakes Loues delightfull Isthmus makes Neither more nor lesse extending Then most meriteth commending Those in whom that part hath beene Best deseruing praises seene Or surueid without affection Came the neerest to perfection Would scarce handsome ones appeare If with her compar'd they were For it is so much excelling That it passeth meanes of telling On the either side of this Loues most louely Prospect is Those her smiling Cheekes whose colour Comprehends true Beautie fuller Then the curioust mixtures can That are made by art of Man It is Beauties Garden plot Where as in a True-loue-knot So the Snowy Lilly growes Mixed with the Crimson Rose That as friends they ioyned be Yet they seeme to disagree Whether of the two shall raigne And the Lillies oft obtaine Greatest sway vnlesse a blush Helpe the Roses at a push Hollow fallings none there are Ther 's no wrinkle ther 's no scar Onely ther 's a little Mole Which from Venus cheeke was stole If it were a thing in Nature Possible that any Creature Might decaying life repaire Onely by the helpe of Aire There were no such Salue for death As the balme of her sweet breath Or if any humane power Might detaine the Soule an houre From the flesh to dust bequeathing It would linger on her breathing And be halfe in mind that there More then mortall pleasures were And whose fortune were so faire As to draw so sweet an ayre Would no doubt let sleighted lie The perfumes of Arabie
least yet among you some Thinke she may behind these come Stay a little more and here me In another straine I le reare me I le vnmasque a beauty now Which to kisse the Gods may bow And so feelingly did moue That your soules shall fall in loue I haue yet the best behind Her most faire vnequald Minde This that I haue here exprest Is but that which vailes the rest An incomparable shrine Of a Beauty more diuine Whereof ere I farther speake Off againe my Song I le breake And if you among the Roses Which yoâ— quickset hedge incloses Will with plucking flowres beguile Tedious-seeming Time awhile Till I step to yonder Greene Whence the sheep so plaine are seen I wil be returned ere You an howre haue stayd there And excuse me now I pray Though I rudely goe away For Affaires I haue to doe Which vnlesse I looke into I may sing out Summer here Like the idle Grashopper And at Winter hide my head Or else fast till I am dead Yet if Rusticke Past'rall Measures Can ought adde vnto your pleasures I will leaue you some of those Which it pleasd me to compose When dispairing fits were ouer And I made a happy Louer Exercisd my louing passion In an other kind of fashion Then to vtter I deuised When I fear'd to be despised Those shall lye in gage for me Till I backe returned be And in writing here you haue them Either Sing or Read or leaue them Sonnet 1. ADmire not Shepheards Boy Why I my Pipe forbeare My sorrowes and my ioy Beyond expression are Though others may In Songs display Their passions when they wooe Yet mine doe flie A pitch too high For words to reach vnto If such weake thoughts as those With others fancies moue Or if my breast did close But common Straines of Loue Or passions store Learnd me no more To feele then others doe I 'de paint my cares As blacke as theirs And teach my Lynes to wooe But oh thrice happy yee Whose meane conceit is dull You from those thoughts are free That stuffe my breast so full My loues excesse Le ts to expresse What Songs are vsed to And my delights Take such high flights My Ioyes will mee vndoe I haue a Loue that 's faire Rich Wise and Nobly borne Shee 's true Perfections heire Holds nought but Vice in scorne A heart to find More chast more kind Our Plaines affoord no moe Of her degree No blab I le be For doubt some Prince should wooe And yet I doe not feare Though shee my meannesse knowes The Willow Branch to weare No nor the yellow hose For if great Ioue Should sue for loue Shee would not me forgoe Resort I may By night or day Which brauer dare not doe You Gallants borne to pelfe To Lands to Titles store I me borne but to my Selfe Nor doe I care for more Adde to your earth Wealth Honors Birth And all you can thereto You cannot proue That height of Loue Which I in meannesse doe Great Men haue helpes to gaine Those fauours they implore Which though I winne with paine I finde my ioyes the more Each Clowne may rise And climbe the Skies When he hath found a Staire But ioy to him That dares to climbe And hath no helpe but ayre Some say that Loue repents Where Fortunes disagree I know the high'st contents From low beginnings be My loue 's vnfain'd To her that daignd From Greatnesse stoope thereto Shee loues cause I So meane dar'dtrie Her better worth to wooe And yet although much ioy My Fortune seemes to blesse T is mixt with more annoy Then I shall ere expresse For with much paine Did I obtaine The Iem I le nere forgoe Which yet I dare Nor shew nor weare And that breeds all my woe But fie my foolish tongue How loosely now it goes First let my Knell be rung Ere I doe more disclose Mounts thoughts on high Cease words for why My meaning to diuine To those I leaue That can conceiue So braue a Loue as mine And now no more I le sing Among my fellow Swaines Nor Groues nor Hilles shall ring With Ecchoes of my plaines My Measures be Confus'd you see And will not sute thereto Cause I haue more Braue thoughts in flore Then words can reach vnto Sonnet 2. HEnce away you Syrens leaue me And vnclaspe your wanton Armes Sugred words shall ne're deceiue me Though thou proue a thousand Charmes Fie fie forbeare No common snare Could euer my affection chaine Your painted baits And poore deceits Are all bestowed on me in vaine I 'me no flaue to such as you be Neither shall a snowy Brest Wanton Eye or Lip of Ruby Euer robb me of my rest Goe goe display Your Beauties ray To some ore-soone enamour'd Swaine Those common wiles Of sighs and smiles Are all bestowed on me in vaine I haue elsewhere vowed a dutie Turne away thy tempting eyes Shew not me a naked Beautie Those Impostures I despise My Spirit lothes Where gawdy clothes And fained Othes may loue obtaine I loue Her so Whose looke sweares No That all your labours will be vaine Can he prize the tainted Posies Which on euery brest are worne That may plucke the spotlesse Roses From their neuer-touched Thorne I can goe rest On her sweet Brest That is the pride of Cynthia's traine Then hold your tongues Your Mermaid Songs Are all bestow'd on me in vaine Hee 's a foole that basely dallies Where each Peasant mates with him Shall I haunt the thronged Vallies Whilst ther 's noble Hils to climbe No no though Clownes Are skar'd with frownes I know the best can but disdaine And those I le proue So shall your Loue Be all bestowed on me in vaine Yet I would not daigne embraces With the greatest-fairest Shee If another shar'd those graces VVhich had beene bestowed on Me. I gaue that One My Loue where none Shall come to robb me of my gaine Your fickle Hearts Makes Teares and Arts And all bestowed on me in vaine I doe scorne to vow a Dutie VVhere each lustfull Lad may wooe Giue me Her whose Sun-like Beautie Buzzards dare not soare vnto Shee shee it is Affoords that Blisse For which I would refuse no paine But such as you Fond fooles adue You seeke to captiue me in vaine Prowd she seem'd in the beginning And disdaind my looking on But that coy one in the winning Proues a true one being wonne VVhat ere betide Shee 'l nere diuide The fauour shee to me shall daigne But your fond loue VVill fickle proue And all that trust in you are vaine Therefore know when I enioy One And for loue employ my breath Shee I Court shall be a Coy one Though I winne her with my death A fauour there Few ayme at dare And if perhaps some Louer plaine Shee is not wonne Nor I vndone By placing of my loue in vaine Leaue me then you Syrens leaue me Seeke no more to worke my harmes Craftie wiles cannot deceiue me Who
had rather priuat sporting Then allow of open courting Nor of theirs that would seeme holy By diuulging others folly Farther is she from their guise That delight to Tyrannize Or make boastings in espying Others for their fauours dying Shee a spirit doth possesse So repleat with Noblenesse That if shee be there beloued Where she ought not to be moued Equally to loue againe Shee doth so well entertaine That affection as ther 's none Can suppose it ill bestowne From deluding she is free From disdaine as farre is shee And so feelingly beares part Of what paines another heart That no curse of scorned dutie Shall draw vengeance on her Beautie Rather with so tender feare Of her Honour and their care Shee is toucht that neither shall Wrong vnto her selfe befall By the fauour she doth show Nor will shee neglect them so As may iust occafion giue Any way to make them grieue Hope she will not let them see Least they should presuming be And aspire to that which none Euer must enioy but One. From Dispaire shee keepes them to Fearing they might hap to doe Either through Loues indiscretions Or much ouer stirred passions What might with their hurt shame Into question call her name And a scandall on her bring Who is iust in euery thing Shee hath mark't how others runne And by them hath learn'd to shunne Both their fault who ouerwise Erre by being too precise And their folly that o're kind Are to all complaints inclind For her wit hath found the way How a while to hold them play And that in conuâ—nience shunne Whereinto both seeme to runne By allowing them a scope Iust betwixt Dispaire and Hope Where confin'd and reaching neither They doe take a part in either Till long liuing in suspence Tyr'd by her indifference Time at last their Passion weares Passions wearing Reason cleares Reason giues their Iudgement light Iudgement bringeth all to right So their Hope appearing vaine They become themselues againe And with high applauses fit For such Virtue with such Wit They that seruice onely profer Shee may take and they may offer Yet this course she neuer proues Saue with those whose virtuous Loues Vse the noblest meanes of gaining Fauours worthy the obtaining And if such should chance to erre Either 'gainst themselues or her In some ouer-sights when they Are through Passion led astray Shee so well mans frailtie knowes With the Darts that Beautie throwes As she will not adding terror Breake the heart for one poore error Rather if still good they be Twentie remedies hath she Gently to apply where Sense Hath inuaded Reasons Fence And without or wound or scarre Turnes to Peace a lawlesse Warre But to those whose baser fires Breath out smoke of such desires As may dimm with vnpure steames Any part of Beauties beames Shee will daigne no milder way Those foule burnings to allay Saue with such extreme neglect As shall worke her wisht effect And to vse so sharpe a cure Shee s not oft constrained sure Cause vpon her forhead still Goodnesse sits so fear'd of Ill. That the scorne and high disdaines Where with all she entertaines Those loth'd glaunces giueth ending To such flamings in the tynding That their cooled Hopes needs must Freeze Desires in heat of Lust. T is a power that neuer lies In the fair'st immodest eyes VVantons t is not your sweet eyings Forced Passions fained Dyings Gestures temptings Teares beguilings Dancings Singings Kissings Smilings Nor those painted sweets with which You vnwary men bewitch All vnited nor asunder That can compasse such a wonder Or to winn you loue preuailes Where her mouing Virtues failes Beauties t is not all those Features Placed in the fairest Creatures Though their best they should discouer That can tempt from Her a Louer T is not those soft-snowie Brests Where Loue rockt in pleasure rests And by their continuall motions Draweth hearts to vaine deuotions Nor the Nectar that we sip From a hony-dropping Lip Nor those Eyes whence Beauties Launces Wound the heart with wanton glances Nor those sought Delights that lye In Loues hidden Treasurie That can liking gaine where she Will the best beloued be For should those who thinke they may Draw my loue from her away Bring forth all their female Graces Wrapt me in their close embraces Practise all the Art they may Weepe or sing or kisse or pray And with sighs and lookes come woe me When they soonest may vndoe me One poore thought of Her would arme me So as Circe could not harme me Since beside those Excellences Wherewith others please the Senses She whom I haue prised so Yeilds delights for Reason to Who could Dote on thing so common As mere outward handsome Woman Those halfe-beauties only winne Fooles to let affection in Vulger wits from Reason shaken Are with such impostures taken And with all their Art in Loue Wantons can but Wantons moue But when vnto those are Ioind Those things which adorne the Mind None their excellences see But they straight enthralled be Fooles and wisemen worst and best Subiect are to Loues Arrest For when Virtue wooes a Louer Shee 's an vnresisted moouer That will haue no kind of Nay And in Loue brookes no delay She can make the Sensuall Wights To restraine their Appetites And her beautie when they see Spight of Vice in Loue to be Yea although themselues be bad Praise the good they neuer had She hath to her seruice brought Those that Her haue set at nought And can fayre enough appeare To enflame the most seueare She hath oft allured out The religiously deuout From their Cloysters their Vowes To embrace what She allowes And to such contentments come As blind zeale had bard them from While her lawes mis-vnderstood They did ill for loue of Good Where I finde true worth to be Sweetest are their lipps to me And embraces tempt me to More then outward Beauties doe That my firme beleefe is this If euer I doe amisse Seeming-Good the bayt will lay That to ill shall me betray Since where shewes of Goodnesse are I am oft emboldned there Freedomes so permit and vse Which I else-where doe refuse For because I thinke they meane To allow no deed vncleane Yet where two loue Virtue shall Both at once they seldome fall For when one hath thoughts of ill Tother helpes eâ—ile them still My faire Virtues powre is this And that powre the Beauty is Which doth make Her here exprest Equally both Faire and Blest This was that contenting Grace Which affection made me place With so deare respect that neuer Can it faile but last for euer This a Seruant made me sworne Who before time held in scorne To yeeld Vassilage or Duty Though vnto the Queene of Beauty Yet that I her Seruant am It shall more be to my fame Then to owne these Woods and Downes Or be Lord of fiftie Townes And my Mistresse to be deem'd Shall more honor be esteem'd Then those Titles to acquire Which most women most desire Yea
FAIRE-VIRTVE THE MISTRESSE OF PHIL'ARETE Written by George Wither Catul. Carm. xv nihil veremur Istos qui inplatea modâ— huc modo illuc Iâ— re pretereunt sua occupati LONDON Printed for Iohn Grismand M.DC.XXII THE STATIONER TO THE READER THis being one of the Authours first Poems was composed many yeares agone and vnknown to him gotten out of his custodie by an acquaintance of his And comming lately to my hands without a Name it was thought to haue so much resemblance of the Maker that many vpon the first sight vndertooke to guesse who was Author of it And perswaded that it was likely also to become profitable both to them and mee Whereupon I got it authorised according to Order intending to publish it without further inquiry But attaining by chance a more perfect knowledge to whom it most properly belonged I thought it fitting to acquaint him therewithall And did so desiring also both his good will to publish the same and leaue to passe it vnder his Name Both which I found him very vnwilling to permit least the seeming lightnesse of such a Subiect might somewhat disparage the more serious Studies which he hath since vndertaken Yet doubting this being got out of his Custodâ—â— some imperfecter Coppies might hereafter be scattered abroad in writing or be vnknowne to him imprinted He was pleased vpon my importunities to condescend that it might be published without his Name And his words were these When said he I first composed it I well liked thereof and it well enough became my yeares but now I neither like nor dislike it That therefore it should be diâ—ulged I desire not and whether it be or whether if it happen so it bee approoued or no I care not For this I am sure of howsoeuer it be valued it is worth as much as I prize it at likely it is also to be as beneficial to the World as the World hath been to me and will be more then those who like it not euer deserued at my hands These were his speeches And if you looked for a Prologue thus much he wished me to tell you in stead thereof because as he sayd hee himselfe had somewhat else to doe Yet to acknowledge the truth I was so earnest with him that as busie as he would seeme to be I got him to write this Epistle for me And haue therunto set my Name Which he wished me to confesse Partly to auoid the occasion of belying my Inuention and partly because hee thought some of you would suppose so much I entreated him to explaine his meaning in certaine obscure passages But he told me how that were to take away the employment of his Interpreters Whereas he would purposely leaue somewhat remaining doubtfull to see what Sir POLITICKE WOVLD-BEE and his Companions could picke out of it I desired him also to set downe to what good purposes this Poeme would serue But his Reply was How that would bee well enough found out in the perusing by all such as had honest vnderstandings and they who are not so prouided hee hopes will not read it More I could not get from him Whether therefore this MISTRESSE OF PHIL'ARETE bee really a Woman shaddowed vnder the name of VIRTVE or VIRTVE onely whose louelinesse is represented by the Beautie of an excellent Woman Or whether it meane both together I cannot tell you But thus much I dare promise for your money that heere you shall find familiarly expressed both such Beauties as young men are most intangled withall and and the excellency also of such as are most worthy their affection That seeing both impaâ—tially set foorth by him that was capable of both they might the better settle their loue on the best Heereby also those Women who desire to bee truely beloued may know what makes them so to be And seeke to acquire those accomplishments of the Mind which may endeare them when the sweetest Features of a beautifull Face shall bee conuerted into Deformities And here is described that Louelinesse of theirs which is the principall obiect of wanton affection to no worse end but that those who would neuer haue lookt on this Poeme if Virtue and Goodnesse had beene therein no otherwise represented then as they are obiects of the Soule might where they expected the satisfaction of their sensualitie onely meet with that also which would insinaute into them an apprehension of more reasonable and most excellent perfections Yea whereas the common opinion of Youth hath been that onely old men and such as are vnable or past delighting in a bodily louelinesse are those who are best capable of the Mindes perfections And that they doe therefore so much preferre them before the other because their Age or stupiditie hath depriued them of being sensible what pleasures they yeelde Though this be the vulger errour yet here it shal appeare that he who was able to conceiue the most excellent pleasingnesse which could be apprehended in a Corporall Beautie found it euen when he was most enamour'd with it far short of that vnexpressible sweetnes which he discouered in a virtuous and well-tempered Disposition And if this bee not worth your money keepe it IOHN MARRIOT PHIL'ARETE TO HIS MISTRESSE HAile thou fairest of all Creatures Vpon whom the Sun doth shine Modell of all rarest Features And perfections most diuine Thrice All-haile And blessed be Those that loue and honour thee Of thy worth this rurall Storie Thy vnworthy Swaine hath pend And to thy ne're-ending glory These plaine Numbers doth commend Which ensuing Times shall warble When 't is lost that 's writ in Marble Though thy praise and high deseruings Cannot all be here exprest Yet my loue and true-obseruings Someway ought to be profest And where greatest loue we see Highest things attempted be By thy Beautie I haue gained To behold the best perfections By thy Loue I haue obtained To enioy the best affections And my tongue to sing thy praise Loue and Beautie thus doth raise What although in rusticke shaddowes I a Shepheards breeding had And confined to these Meadowes So in home-spunn Russet clad Such as I haue now and then Dar'd as much as greater men Though a stranger to the Muses Young obscured and despis'd Yet such Art thy Loue infuses That I thus haue Poetiz'd Read and be content to see Thy admyred Powre in me And oh grant thou Sweetest Beautie Wherewith euer Earth was grac't That this Trophee of my Dutie May with Fauour be imbrac't And disdaine not in these Rymes To be sung to after-Times Let those doters on Apollo That adore the Muses so And like Geese each other follow See what Loue alone can doe For in Loue-layes Groue and Field Nor to Schools nor Courts wil yeeld On this Glasse of thy perfection If that any Women pry Let them thereby take direction To adorne themselues thereby And if ought amisse they view Let them dresse themselues anew Young-men shall by this acquainted With the truest Beauties grow So the
therefore to this Swaine They him saluted and he them againe In such good fashion as well seemd to be According to their state and his degree Which greetings being passed and much chat Concerning him the place with this and that He to an Arbor doth those beauties bring Where he them prayes to sit they him to sing And to expresse that vntaught Country Art In setting forth the Mistresse of his hart Which they oreâ—eard him practise when vnseene He thought no eare had witnesse of it beene At first as much vnable he refusd And seemed willing to haue beene excusde From such a taske For trâ—st me Nimphs quoth he I would not purposely vnciuill be Nor churlish in denying what you craue But as I hope Great Pan my flocke will saue I rather wish that I might heard of none Enioy my Musick by my selfe alone Or that the murmers of some little Flood Ioynd with the friendly Ecchoes of the wood Might be th'impartialâ— Vmpires of my wit Then vent it where the worla might heare of it And doubtlesse I had sung lesse loud while-ere Had I but thought of any such so neere Not that I either wish obscurifide Her matchlesse Beanty or desire to hide Her sweet perfections For by Loue I sweare The vtmost happinesse I ayme at here It but to compasse worth enough to raise A high-built Trophee equall with her praise Which fairest Ladies I shall hope in vaine For I was meanly bred on yonder Plaine And though I can well prooue my Blood to be Deriu'd from no ignoble Stems to me Yet Fate and Time them so obscur'd and crost That with their Fortunes their esteeme is lost And whatsoere repute I striue to win Now from my selfe alone it must begin For I haue nor estate nor friends nor fame To purchase either credit to my name Or gaine a good Opinion though I doe Ascend the height I shall aspire vnto If any of those virtues yet I haue Which honour to my Predecessors gaue Ther 's all that 's left me And though some contemnâ— Such needy Iewels yet it was for them My Faire-one did my humble suit affect And dayned my aduenturous loue respect And by their helpe I passage hope to make Through such poore things as I dare vndertake But you may say what goodly thing alas Can my despised meannesse bring to passe Or what great Monument of honour raise To Virtue in these Vice abounding dayes In which a thousand times more honor finds Ignoble gotten meanes then noble minds Indeed the world affoordeth small reward For honest minds and therefore her regard I seeke not after neither doe I care If I haue blisse how others thinke I fare For so my thoughts haue rest it yrkes not me Though none but I doe know how blest they be Here therefore in these groues and hidden plaines I pleased sit alone and many straines I carroll to my selfe these hills among Where no man comes to interrupt my Song Whereas if my rude layes make knowne I should Beyond their home perhaps some Carpers would Because they haue not heard from whence we be Traduce abuse and scoffe both them and me For if our great and learned Shepheards who Are grac't with wit and fame and fauours to With much adoe escape vncensurd may What hopes haue I to passe vnscoft I pray Who yet vnto the Muses am vnknowne And liue vnhonoured heere among mine owne A gadding humour seldome taketh me To range out further then yonn mountaines be Nor hath applausiue Rumour borne my name Vpon the spreading wings of sounding Fame Nor can I thinke faire Nymphs that you resort For other purpose then to make a sport At that simplicitie which shall appeare Among the rude vntutor'd Shepheards here I know that you my Noble Mistresse weene At best a homely Milk-maid on the Greene Or some such Country Lasse as tasked stayes At seruile labour vntill Holy dayes For poore mens vertues so neglected grow And are now prized at a rate so low As t is impossible You should bee brought To let it with beleefe possesse your thought That any Nymph whose loue might worthy be Would daigne to cast respectiue eyes on me You see I liue possessing none of those Gay things with which the world enamor'd grows To woo a Courtly Beautie I haue neither Rings Bracelets Iewels nor a Scarfe nor Feather I vse no double dyed Cloth to weare No Scrip embroydered richly doe I beare No silken Belt nor Sheephooke layd with pearles To win me fauour from the Shepherds Girles No place of office or Command I keepe But this my little Flocke of homely sheepe And in a word the summe of all my pelfe Is this I am the Master of my selfe No doubt in Courts of Princes you haue beene And all the pleasures of the Palace seene There you beheld braue Courtly passages Betweene Heroës and their Mistresses You there perhaps in presence of the King Haue heard his learned Bards and Poets sing And what contentment then can wood or field To please your curious vnderstandings yeeld I know you walked hither but to prooue What silly Shepheards doe conceiue of loue Or to make triall how our simplenesse Can passions force or Beauties power expresse And when you are departed you will ioy To laugh or descant on the Shepheards boy But yet I vow if all the Art I had Could any more esteeme or glory add To her vnmatched worth I would not weigh What you intended Prethee lad quoth they Distrustfull of our Courtsie doe not seeme Her Noblenesse can neuer want esteeme Nor thy concealed Measures be disgrac't Though in a meaner person they were plac't If thy too-modestly reserued Quill But reach that height which we suppose it will Thy meannesse or obscurenesse cannot wrong The Nymph thou shalt eternize in thy Song For as it higher reares thy glory that A noble Mistresse thou hast aymed at So more vnto her honour it will prooue That whilst deceauing shaddowes others moue Her constant eyes could passe vnmoued by The subtill times bewitching brauery And those obscured virtues loue in thee That with despised meannesse clouded be Now then for her sweet sake whose Beautious eye Hath filled thy soule with heauenly Poesie Sing in her praise some new inspired straine And if within our power there shall remaine A fauour to be done may pleasure thee Aâ—ke and obtaine it whatsoere it be Faire Ladies quoth the lad such words as those Compell me canâ— and therewithall he rose Return'd them thanks obeisance made and than Downe sate againe and thus to sing began YOV that at a blush can tell Where the best perfections dwell And the substance can coniecture By a shaddow or a Picture Come and try if you by this Know my Mistresse who she is For though I am farre vnable Here to match Apelles table Or draw Zeuxes cunning Lines Who so painted Bacchus Vines That the hungry Byrds did muster Round the counterfeited Cluster Though I vaunt not to inherit Petrarchs
her Mantle she doth grace You would presently protest Irish dressings were the best If againe she lay it downe While you view her in a gowne And how those her dainty limbs That close-bodied garment trims You would sweare and sweare agen She appeared loueliest then But if she so truely faire Should vntie her shining haire And at length that treasure shed Ioues endured Gammed Neither Cythereas Ioy Nor the sweet selfe-louing Boy Who in beauty did surpasse Nor the fair'st that euer was Could to take you prisoner bring Lookes so sweetly conquering She excells her whom Appollo Once with weeping eies did follow Or that Nimph who shut in Towers Was beguild with golden showers Yea and She whose loue was wont To swime ore the Hellispont For her sake though in attire Fittest to enflame desire Seem'd not halfe so faire to be Nor so louely as is she For the man whose happy eye Viewes her in full Maiesty Knowes she hath a power that mooues More then doth the Queene of Loues When she vseth all her power To inflame her Paramour And sometime I doe admire All men burne not with desire Nay I muse her seruants are not Pleading loue but oh they dare not And I therfore wonder why They doe not grow sicke and die Sure they would doe so but that By the ordinance of Fate There is some concealed thing So each gazer limiting He can see no more of merit Then beseemes his worth and spirit For in her a Grace there shines That o're-daring thoughts confines Making worthlesse men dispaire To be lou'd of one so faire Yea the Destinies agree Some good iudgments blind should be And not gaine the power of knowing Those rare Beauties in her growing Reason doth as much imply For if euery iudging eye Which beholdeth her should there Find what excellencies are All orecome by those perfections Would be captiue to affections So in happinesse vnblest Shee for Louers should not rest This well heeding thinke vpon And if there be any one Who alloweth not the worth Which my Muse hath painted forth Hold it no defect in her But that hee 's ordaind to erre Or if any female wight Should detract from this I write Shee I yeeld may shew her wit But disparage her no whit For on earth few women be That from Enuies touch are free And who euer Enuy knew Yeeld those honours that were due Though sometime my Song I raise To vnused heights of praise And breake forth as I shall please Into strange Hyperboles T is to shew Conceit hath found Worth beyond expressions bound Though her breath I doe compare To the sweet'st perfumes that are Or her Eies that are so bright To the mornings cheerefull light Yet I doe it not so much To inferre that she is such As to shew that being blest With what merrits name of best She appeares more faire to me Then all Creatures else that be Her true beauty leaues behind Apprehensions in my mind Of more sweetnes then all Art Or inuentions can impart Thoughts too deepe to be exprest And too strong to be supprest Which oft raiseth my conceits To so vnbeleeued heights That I feare some shallow braine Thinkes my Muses doe but faine Sure he wrongs them if he doe For could I haue reached to So like Straines as these you see Had there beene no such as She Is it possible that I Who scarce heard of Poesie Should a meare Idea raise To as true a pitch of praise As the learned Poets could Now or in the times of old All those reall-beauties bring Honord by their Sonneting Hauing Arts and fauors to More t' encourage what they doe No if I had neuer seene Such a beauty I had beene Piping in the Country shades To the homely Dary-maides For a Country Fidlers fees Clouted creame bread and cheese I no skill in Numbers had More then euery Shepheards Lad Till She taught me Straines that were Pleasing to her gentle eare Her faire splendor and her worth From obscurenes drew me forth And because I had no Muse Shee her selfe daignd to infuse All the skill by which I clime To these praises in my Ryme Which if she had pleasd to add To that Art sweet Drayton had Or that happy Swaine that shall Sing Britanias Pastorall Or to theirs whose Verse set forth Rosalind and Stella's worth They had doubled all their skill Gained on Apollos Hill And as much more set her forth As I' me short of them in worth They had vnto heights aspired Might haue iustly been admired And in such braue Straines had moued As of all had been approued I must praise her as I may Which I doe mine owne rude way Sometime setting forth her glories By vnheard of Allegories Thinke not tho my Muse now sings Meere absurd or fained things If to gold I like her Haire Or to Starres her Eyes so faire Though I praise her Skin by snow Or by Pearles her double-Row T is that you might gather thence Her vnmatched excellence Eyes as faire for eyes hath she As starres faire for starres may be And each part as faire doth show In it kind as white in Snow T is no grace to her at all If her Haire I Sunne-beames call For were there a power in Art So to pourtrait euery part All men might those beauties see As they doe appeare to me I would scorne to make compare With the glorioust things that are Nought I ere saw faire enow But the Haire the haire to show Yet some thinke him ouerbold That compares it but to Gold He from Reason seemes to erre Who commending of his Deare Giues her Lips the Rubies hue Or by Pearles her Teeth doth shew But what Pearles what Rubies can Seeme so louely faire to man As her Lipps whom he doth loue When in sweete discourse they moue Or her louelier Teeth the while She doth blesse him with a smile Starres indeed faire Creatures be Yet amongst vs where is he Ioyes not more the while he lies Sunning in his Mistresse Eies Then in all the glimmering light Of a starrie winters night Him to flatter most suppose That preferrs before the Rose Or the Lillies while they grow Or the flakes of new-falne suow Her complextion whom he loueth And yet this my Muse approueth For in such a beauty meets Vnexpressed mouing sweets That the like vnto them no man Euer saw but in a Woman Looke on Moone on Starrs on Sunne All Gods Creatures ouer-runne See if all of them presents To your mind such sweet contents Or if you from them can take Ought that may a beauty make Shall one halfe so pleasing proue As is Hers whom you doe loue For indeed if there had beene Other mortall Beauties seene Obiects for the loue of man Vaine was their creation than Yea if this could well be granted Adam might his Eue haue wanted But a woman is the Creature Whose proportion with our nature Best agrees and whose perfections Sympathize with our affections And not onely
all their due I can most contentments see That in loue or women be Though I dote not on the features Of our daintiest female creatures Nor was ere so void of shames As to play their lawlesse games I more prize a snowye Hand Then the gold on Tagus strand And a daintie Lippe before All the greatest Monarcks store Yea from these I reape as true And as large contents as you Yet to them I am not tide I haue rarer sweets espide Wider prospects of true pleasure Then your curbed thoughts can measure In her Soule my Soule descries Obiects that may feede her eyes And the beauty of her mind Shewes my Reason where to finde All my former pleasure doubled Neither with such passion troubled As wherewith it oft was crost Nor so easie to be lost I that rauisht lay wel-nigh By the lustre of her eye And had almost sworne affection To the fore exprest perfection As if nothing had been higher Whereunto I might aspire Now haue found by seeking nearer Inward worth that shining clearer By a sweet and secret mouing Drawes me to a dearer louing And whilst I that loue conceiue Such impressions it doth leaue In the Intellectiue part As defaceth from my hart Eu'rie thought of those delights Which allure base appetits And my mind so much imploies In contemplating those ioyes Which a purer sight doth find In the beauty of her Mind That I so thereon am set As me thinkes I could forget All her sweetest outward graces Though I lay in her imbraces But some thinking with a smile What they would haue done the while Now suppose my words are such As exceed my power too much For all those our Wantons hold Void of Vigor dull and cold Or at best but fooles whose flame Makes not way vnto their shame Though at length with griefe they see They the fooles doe proue to be These the body so much minded That their Reason ouer-blinded By the pleasures of the Sence Hides from them that excellence And that sweetnes whose true worth I am here to blazon forth T is not t is not those rare graces That doe lurke in womens faces T is not a displayd perfection Youthfull eyes nor cleare complexion Nor a skin smooth-satten like Nor a daintie Rosie cheeke That to wantonnesse can moue Such as vertuously doe loue Beautie rather gently drawes Wild Desires to Reasons Lawes And oft frights men from that sin They had else transgressed in Through a sweet amazement stroke From an ouer-ruling looke Beautie neuer tempteth men To lasciuiousnes but when Carelesse Idlenesse hath brought Wicked longings into thought Nor doth youth or heat of blood Make men prooue what is not good Nor the strength of which they vaunt T is the strength and power they want And the basenesse of the Mind Makes their bruit desires enclind To persue those vaine delights Which affect their Appetites And so blinded doe they grow Who are ouertaken so As their dulnes cannot see Nor beleeue that better be Some haue blood as hot as their Whose affections loosest are Bodies that require no art To supply weake Natures part Youth they haue and sure might to Boast of what some shamelesse doe Yet their Minds that aime more high Then those baser pleasures lye Taught by Virtue can suppresse All attempts of wantonnesse And such powerfull motiues frame To extinguish Passions flame That by Reasons good direction Quallifying loose affection Thei le in midst of Beauties fires Walke vnscorcht of ill Desires Yet no such as stupid shame Keeps from actions worthy blame But in all so truly Man That their apprehensions can Prize the bodies vtmost worth And find many pleasures forth In those Beauties more then You That abuse them euer knew But perhaps her outward grace Here discrib'd hath tane such place In some ore-enamourd breast And so much his hart possest As He thinkes it passeth telling How shee may be more excelling Or what worth I can prefer To be more admir'd in Her Therefore now I will be briefe To preuent that misbeliefe And if there be present here Any one whose nicer eare Taskes my Measures as offending In too seriously commending What affects the Sense or may Iniure Virtue any way Let them know t is vnderstood That if they were truly good It could neuer breed offence That I shewd the excellence With the power of God and Nature In the beauty of his Creature They from thence would rather raise Cause to meditate his praise And thus thinke How faire must He That hath made this Faire-one be That was my proposed End And to make them more attend Vnto this so much excelling As it passeth meanes of telling But at worst if any Straine Makes your Memories retaine Sparks of such a banefull fire As may kindle ill desire This that followes after shall Not alone extinguish all But eu'n make you blush with shame That your thoughts were so to blame Yet I know when I haue done In respect of that bright Sunne Whose inestimable light I would blazon to your sight These ensuing flashes are As to Cynthia's beames a Starre Or a petty Comets ray To the glorious Eye of Day For what power of words or Art Can her worth at full impart Or what is there may be found Plac'd within the Senses bound That can paint those sweets to me Which the Eyes of Loue doe see Or the Beauties of that Mind Which her body hath enshrin'd Can I thinke the Guide of Heauen Hath so bountifully giuen Outward features cause he meant To haue made lesse excellent Her diuine part Or suppose Beautie Goodnesse doth oppose Like those fooles who doe despaire To find any Good and Faire Rather There I seeke a mind Most excelling where I find God hath to the body lent Most-beseeming Ornament But though he that did inspire First the true Promethean fire In each seuerall soule did place Equall Excellence and Grace As some thinke yet haue not they Equall Beauties euery way For they more or lesse appeare As the outward Organs are Following much the temp'rature Of the Body grosse or pure And I doe beleeue it true That as we the Body view Nearer to perfection grow So the Soule her selfe doth show Others more and more excelling In her powre as in her dwelling For that purenesse giueth way Better to disclose each Ray To the Dull conceit of man Then a grosser substance can Thus through spotlesse Christall wee May the Dayes full glory see When if clearest Sunbeames passe Through a foule polluted glasse So discollerd the 'il appeare As those Staines they shone through were Let no Critticke cauill then If I dare affirme agen That her Minds perfections are Fairer then her Bodie 's farr And I need not proue it by Axioms of Philosophy Since no proofe can better be Then their rare effect in me For while other men complaining Tell their Mistresses disdaining Free from care I write a storie Only of her worth and glory While most Louers pining sit
Rob'd of libertie and wit Vassaling themselues with shame To some proud imperious Dame Or in Songs their Fate bewailing Shew the world their faithles fayling I enwreath'd with boughs of Myrtle Fare like the beloued Turtle Yea while most are most vntoward Peeuish vaine inconstant froward While their best contentments bring Nought but after-sorrowing She those childish humors slighting Hath conditions so delighting And doth so my blisse indeauour As my ioy encreaseth euer By her actions I can see That her Passions so agree Vnto Reason as they erre Seldome to distemper her Lone she can and doth but so As she will not ouerthrow Loues content by any folly Or by deeds that are vnholy Dotingly she nere affects Neither willingly neglects Honest loue But meanes doth find With discretion to be kind T is nor thundring Phrase nor Othes Honors wealth nor painted Clothes That can her good liking gaine If no other worth remaine Neuer tooke her heart delight In your Court-Hermaphrodite Or such frothy Gallants as For the Times Heroes passe Such who still in loue doe all Faire and Sweet and Lady call And where e're they hap to stray Either prate the rest away Or of all discourse to seeke Shuffle in at Cent or Gleek Goodnesse more delights her than All their Maske of Folly can Fond she hateth to appeare Though she hold her friend as deare As her part of life vnspent Or the best of her content If the heat of youthfull fires Warme her blood with those desires Which are by the course of Nature Stird in euery perfect Creature As those Passions kindle so Doth Heauens grace and Reason grow Abler to suppresse in her Those rebellions and they stirre Neuer more affection then One good thought allayes agen I could say so chast is shee As the new-blowne Roses be Or the drifts of Snow that none Euer toucht or lookt vpon But that were not worth a Flie Seeing so much Chastitie Old Pigmalion Picture had Yea those Eunuchs borne or made Ne're to know Desire might say Shee deseru'd no more then they Wheras whilst their worth proceeds From such wants as they must needs Be vnmou'd cause Nature fram'd No affections to be tam'd Through her daintie Limbs are spread Vigour heat and freely shed Life blood into euery vaine Till they fill and swell againe And no doubt they striue to force Way in some forbidden Course Which by Grace she still resists And so Courbs within their lists Those Desires that she is chaster Then if she had none to master Malice neuer lets she in Neither hates she ought but sin Enuy if she could admit Ther 's no meanes to nourish it For her gentle heart is pleas'd When she knowes anothers eas'd And ther 's none who euer got That perfection she hath not So that no cause is there why Shee should any one enuy Mildly angry shee le appeare That the baser Rout may feare Through presumption to misdoe Yet she often faines that to But let wrong be whatsoeuer She giues way to Choller neuer If she e're of Vengeante thought T was nor life nor blood was sought But at most some prayer to moue Iustice for abused Loue Or that Fate would pay againe Loues neglectors with disdaine If she euer crau'd of Fate To obtaine a higher State Or ambitiously were giuen Sure t was but to climbe to heauen Pride is from her heart as farre As the Poles in distance are For her worth nor all this praise Can her humble spirit raise Lesse to prize me then before Or her selfe to value more Were she Vaine she might alledge T were her Sexes priuiledge But shee 's such as doubtlesse no man Knowes lesse folly in a woman To preuent a being Idle Sometime with her curious Needle Though it be her meanest glory Shee so limnes an Antique Story As Minerua would she take it Might her richest Sample make it Other while againe she rather Labors with delight to gather Knowledge from such learned Writs As are left by famous Wits Where Shee chiefly seekes to know God Her selfe and what we owe To our Neighbour since with these Come all needefull Knowledges Shee with Adam neuer will Long to learne both Good and Ill But her state well vndestood Rests her selfe content with Good Auarice abhorreth shee As the lothsom'st things that be Since she knowes it is an ill That doth ripest vertue kill And where ere it comes to rest Though in some strict Matrons brest Be she ne're so seeming iust I le no shewes of Goodnesse trust For if you but gold can bring Such are hir'd to any thing If you thinke she Iealous be You are wide For credit me Her strong'st Iealousies nought are Other then an honest care Of her friends And most can tell Who so wants that loues not well Though some little feare she showes T is no more then loue allowes So the passion doe not moue her Till she greeue or wrong her louer Shee may thinke He may doe ill Though shee 'l not beleeue he will Nor can such a harmelesse thought Blemish true affection ought Rather when as else it would Through security growe cold This her Passion keeping measure Strengthens Loue and sweetens Pleasure Crueltie her soule detests For within her Bosome rests Noblest Pitty vsherd by An vnequall'd Courtesie And is grieu'd at good mens moane As the griefe were all her owne Iust shee is so iust that I Know she would not wrong a Flye Or oppresse the meanest thing To be Mistresse to a King If our Painters would include Temperance and Fortitude In one Picture She would fitt For the nonce to paterne it Patient as the Lambe is she Harmelesse as the Turtles be Yea so largely stor'd with all Which we Mortals Goodnesse call That if euer Virtue were Or may be incarnate here This is she whose praises I Offer to Eternitie Shee 's no Image trimd about Faire within and foule without But a Iemm that doth appeare Like the Diamond euery where Sparkling rayes of Beautie forth All of such vnblemisht worth That wert possible your eye Might her inmost thoughts espie And behold the dimmest part Of the lustre in her heart It would find that Center passe What the Superficies was And that euery angle there Like a Diamonds inside were For although that Excellence Passe the piercingst Eye of Sence By their operations we Guesse at things that hidden be So beyond our common reach Wise men can by Reason teach What the influences beene Of a Planet when vnseene Or the Beautie of a Starre That doth shine aboue vs farre So by that wide-beaming Light Wherewith Titan Courts our sight By his clothing of the Earth By the wondrous various Birth Of new Creatures yearely bred Through his heat and nourished And by many Virtues moe Which our Senses reach vnto We conclude they are not all Which make faire that goodly Ball. Though shee prize her honour more Then the far-fetcht precious store Of the rich Molucchi or All the wealth
foule Desires doth make thy touches sweet But my Soule striueth with thy Soule to meet Sonnet 4. SHall I wasting in Dispaire Dye because a Womans faire Or make pale my cheekes with care Cause anothers Rosie are Be shee fairer then the Day Or the Flowry Meads in May If She be not so to me What care I how faire shee be Should my heart be grieud or pin'd Cause I see a Woman kind Or a well disposed Nature Ioyned with a louely Feature Be shee meeker kinder than Turtle-Doue or Pelican If shee be not so to me What care I how kind she be Shall a Womans Virtues moue Me to perish for her loue Or her well-deseruing knowne Make me quite forget mine owne Be shee with that Goodnesse blest Which may gaine her name of Best If she be not such to me What care I how good she be Cause her Fortune seemes too high Shall I play the foole and dye Those that beare a Noble minde Where they want of Riches find Thinke what with them they would doe That without them dare to wooe And vnlesse that mind I see What care I though Great she be Great or Good or Kind or Faire I will ne're the more dispaire If She loue me this beleeue I will die er'e she shall grieue If she slight me when I wooe I can scorne and let her goe For if shee be not for me What care I for whom she be Sonnet 5. I Wandred out awhile agone And went I know not whither But there doe Beauties many a one Resort and meet together And Cupids power will there be showne If euer you come thither For like two Sunnes two Beauties bright I shining saw together And tempted by their double light My eyes I fixt on either Till both at once so thral'd my sight I lou'd and knew not whether Such equall sweet Venus gaue That I prefer'd not either And when for loue I thought to craue I knew not well of whether For one while This I wisht to haue And then I That had leifer A Louer of the curioust Eye Might haue been pleasd in either And so I must confesse might I Had they not been together Now both must loue or both denie In one enioy I neither But yet at last I scapt the smart I feard at comming hither For seeing my diuided heart I chusing knew not whether Loue angry grew and did depart And now I care for neither SEe these Trees so ill did hide vs That the Shepheard hath espide vs And as iealous of his cunning All in hast away is running To entreat him backe againe Would be labour spent in vaine You may therefore now betake ye To the Musicke I can make ye Who doe purpose my Inuention Shall pursue my first Intention For in Her whose worth I tell Many excellences dwell Yet vnmention'd whose perfections Worthy are of best affections That which is so rare to find Both in Man and Womankind That whose absence Loue defaceth And both Sexes more disgraceth Then the spight of furrowed Age Sicknesses or Sorrowes rage That 's the Iewell so diuine Which doth on her Forehead shine And therewith endowed is Shee In an excellent degree CONSTANCY I meane the purest Of all Beauties and the surest For who e're doth that possesse Hath an endlesse Louelinesse All Afflictions Labours Crosses All our Dangers Wounds and losses Games of Pleasure we can make For that matchlesse Womans sake In whose brest that Virtue bideth And we ioy what e're betideth Most deiected Hearts it gladdeth Twenty thousand glories addeth Vnto Beauties brightest Ray And preserues it from decay T is the Salt that 's made to season Beautie for the vse of Reason T is the Vernish and the Oyling Keeps her Colours fresh from spoiling T is an Excellence whereby Age though ioyn'd with Pouertie Hath more deare Affection wonne Then fresh Youth and Wealth haue done T is a Louelinesse endearing Beauties scarce worth note appearing Whil'st a fairer fickle Dame Nothing gaines but scorne and shame Further t is a Beautie such As I can nor praise too much Nor frame Measures to expresse No nor any man vnlesse He who more then all men crost Finds it in that Woman lost On whose Faith he would haue pawnd Life and all he could commaund Such a Man may by that Misse Make vs know how deare it is When o're-charg'd with Griefe he shall Sigh and breake his heart withall This is that Perfection which In her fauour makes me rich All whose Beauties nam'd before Else would but torment me more And in hauing this I find What e're haps a quiet mind Yea t is that which I doe prize Farre aboue her Lips her Eyes Or that generall Beauty whence Shines each seuerall Excellence For alas what gaind hath he Who may clip the fairest Shee That the name of Woman beares If vnhappily he feares Any others Worth may win What he thought his owne had bin Him Base-minded deeme I should Who although he were in Hold Wrapt in chaines would not disdaine Loue with her to entertaine That both daughter to a Peere And most rich and louely were When a brainelesse Gull shall dare In her fauours with him share Or the Action of a Player Robb him of a Hope so faire This I dread not For I know Strained gestures painted show Shamelesse boastings borrowed Iests Female Looks gay-plumed Crests Vowes nor protestations vaine Wherwith fooles are made so vaine Moue her can saue to contemne Or perhaps to laugh at them Neither can I doubt or feare Time shall either change or weare This her Virtue Or impaire That which makes her Soule so faire In which Trust great Comforts are Which the feare of losse would marr Nor hath this my rare Hope stood So much in her being good With her loue to blessed Things As in her acknowledgings From a higher Power to haue them And her loue to Him that gaue them For although to haue a mind Naturally to Good inclin'd And to loue it would assure Reason that it might endure Yet since Man was first vniust Ther 's no warrant for such Trust. Virtues that most wonder winn Would conuerted be to Sin If their flourishings began From no better Root then Man Our best Virtues when they are Of themselues we may compare To the beautie of a Flower That is blasted in an howre And which growing to be fuller Turnes into some loathed Colour But those being freely giuen And confirm'd in vs from Heauen Haue a promise on them past And for euermore shall last Diamond-like their lustre clearing More and more by vse and wearing But if this rare Worth I praise Should by Fates permission raise Passions in some gentle Brest That distemper may his rest And be Author of such Treason As might nigh endanger Reason Or inforce his tongue to craue What another man must haue Marke in such a Streight as this How discreet her dealing is Shee is nothing of their humours Who their honor build on Rumours And
when you a woman shall Countesse or a Dutchesse call That respect it shall not moue Neither gaine her halfe such loue As to say Loe this is she That supposed is to be Mistresse to PHILâ—ARETE And that louelie Nymph which he In a Pastorall Poem fam'd And FAIRE-VIRTVE there hath nam'd Yea some Ladies tenne to one If not many now vnknowne Will be very well apaid When by chance She heares it said Shee that Faire-one is whom I Here haue prais'd concealedly And though now this Ages pride May so braue a Hope deride Yet when all their Glories passe As the thiug that neuer was And on Monuments appeare That they ere had breathing here Who enuy it Shee shall thriue In her Fame And honor'd liue Whilst Great-Briâ—taines Shepheards sing English in their Sonnetting And who ere in future dayes Shall bestow the vtmost praise On his Loue that any Man Attribute to Creature can T will be this that he hath dared His and Mine to haue compared Oh! what starres did shine on me When her Eyes I first did see And how good was their aspect When we first did both affect For I neuer since to changing Was enclind or thought of ranging Me so oft my Fancy drew Here and there that I nere knew Where to place Desire before So that range it might no more But as he that passeth by Where in all her iollitie Floras riches in a row Doth in seemely order grow And a thousand Flowers stand Bending as to kisse his hand Out of which delightfull store One he may take and no more Long he pausing doubteth whether Of those faire ones he should gather First the Primrose Courts his eyes Then the Cowslip he espies Next the Pansey seemes to wooe him Then Carnations bow vnto him Which whil'st that enamour'd Swaine From the stalke intends to straine As halfe fearing to be seene Prettily her leaues betweene Peepes the Violet pale to see That her Virtues sleighted be Which so much his liking winnes That to ceaze her he beginnes Yet before he stoopt so low He his wanton eye did throw On a Stemm that grew more high And the Rose did there espie Who beside her pretious sent To procure his eyes content Did display her goodly Brest Where he found at full exprest All the Good that Nature showers On a thousand other Flowers Wherewith he affected takes it His beloued Flowre he makes it And without desire of more Walkes through all he saw before So I wandring but erewhile Through the Garden of this I le Saw rich Beauties I confesse And in number numberlesse Yea so differing louely to That I had a world to doe Ere I could set vp my rest Where to chuse and chuse the best One I saw whose Haire excelled On anothers Brow there dwelled Such a Maiestie it seemed Shee was best to be esteemed This had with her Speeches won me That with Silence had vndone me On her Lips the Graces hung Tother charm'd me with her tongue In her Eyes a third did beare That which did anew insnare Then a fourth did fairer show Yet wherein I did not know Onely this perceiued I Somewhat pleas'd my Fantasie Now the Wealth I most esteemed Honour then I better deemed Next the loue of Beautie ceazd me And then Virtue better pleas'd me Iuno's loue I nought esteem'd Whilst a Venus fairer seem'd Nay both could not Me suffice Whilst a Pallas was more wise Though I found enough in One To content if still alone Amarillis I did wooe And I courted Phillis to Daphne for her loue I chose Cloris for that Damaske Rose In her Cheeke I held as deare Yea a thousand likâ— welneere And in loue with altogether Feared the enioying either Cause to be of one possest Bar'd the hope of all the rest Thus I fondly far'd till Fate Which I must confesse in that Did a greater fauour to me Then the world can malice doe me Shew'd to me that matchlesse Flowre Subiect for this Song of our Whose perfection hauing eied Reason instantly espied That Desire which rang'd abroad There would find a Period And no maruell if it might For it there hath all delight And in her hath Nature placed What each seuerall faire one graced Nor am I alone delighted With those Graces all vnited Which the Senses eie doth finde Scattered throughout Womankind But my Reason finds perfections To enflame my Soules affections Yea such virtues she possesseth As with firmest pleasures blesseth And keepes sound that Beauties state Which would else grow ruinate In this Flowre are sweets such store I shall neuer wish for more Nor be tempted out to stray For the fairest Budds in May. Let who lift for me aduance The admired Flowres of France Let who will praise and behold The reserued Marigold Let the sweet breath 't Violet now Vnto whom she pleaseth bow And the fairest Lillie spread Where she will her golden head I haue such a Flowre to weare That for those I doe not care Neuer shall my Fancie range Nor once thinke againe of change Neuer will I neuer more Greeue or sigh as heretofore Nor within the Lodgings lie Of Dispaire or Iealousie Let the young and happy Swaines Playing on the Britan Plaines Court vnblamd their Sheepherdesses And with their gold-curled Tresses Toy vncensur'd vntill I Grutch at their prosperitie Let all Times both Present Past And the Age that shall be last Vaunt the Beauties they bring forth I haue found in One such worth That content I neither care What the best before me were Nor desire to liue and see Who shall Faire hereafter be For I know the hand of Nature Will not make a fairer Creature Which because succeeding Dayes Shall confesse and adde their praise In approuing what my tongue Ere they had their being sung Once againe come lend an eare And a Rapture you shall heare Though I tast no Thespian Spring Will amaze you whilst I sing I doe feele new Straines inspiring And to such braue heights aspiring That my Muse will touch a Key Higher then you heard to day I haue Beauties to vnfold That deserue a Penn of Gold Sweets that neuer dream'd of were Things vnknowne and such as Eare Neuer heard a Measure sound Since the Sunne first ran his Round When Apelles limb'd to life Loathed Vulcans louely wife With such Beauties he did trim Each sweet Feature and each Limbe And so curiously did place Euery well-becomming Grace That t was said e're he could draw Such a Peece he naked saw Many women in their Prime And the fairest of that Time From all which he parts did take Which aright disposed make Perfect Beautie So when you Know what I haue yet to show It will seeme to passe so farre Those things which expressed are That you will suppose I 'ue beene Priuiledg'd where I have seene All the Good that 's spread in parts Through a thousand womens hearts With their fair'st conditions lye Bare without Hypocrisie And that I haue tooke from thence Each
dispersed Excellence To expresse Her who hath gained More then euer One obtained And yet soft I feare in vaine I haue boasted such a Straine Apprehensions euer are Greater then expression farre And my stryuing to disclose What I know hath made me lose My Inuentions better part And my Hopes exceed my Art Speake I can yet think I more Words compar'd with Thoughts are poore And I find had I begun Such a Straine it would be done When we number all the sands Washt ore periur'd Goodwins lands For of things I should indite Which I know are infinite I doe yeeld my Thoughts did clime Far aboue the powre of Ryme And no wonder it is so Since there is no Art can show Red in Roses white in Snow Nor expresse how they doe grow Yea since Bird Beast Stone and Tree That inferior Creatures be Beauties haue which we confesse Lines vnable to expresse They more hardly can enroule Those that doe adorne a Soule But suppose my Measures could Reach the height I thought they would Now relate I would not tho What did swell within me so For if I should all discrie You would know asmuch as I And those Clownes the Muses hate Would of things aboue them prate Or with their prophaning eies Come to view those Misteries Whereof since they disesteem'd them Heauen hath vnworthy deemd them And beside It seemes to me That your eares nigh tired be â— perceiue the fire that charmeth And inspireth me scarce warmeth Your chill harts Nay sure were I Melted into Poesie â— should not a Measure hit Though Apollo promted it Which should able be to leaue That in you which I conceaue You are cold and here I may Wast my vitall heat away E're you will be moou'd so much As to feele one perfect touch Of those Sweeâ—s which yet conceal'd Swell my brest to be reueal'd Now my Words I therefore cease That my mounting Thoughts in peace May alone those pleasures share Whereof Lines vnworthy are And so you an end doe see Of my Song though long it be NO sooner had the Shepheard Philaret To this Description his last period set But instantly descending from a Wood Which on a rising ground adioyning stood A troupe of Satyrs to the view of all Came dauncing of a new-deuised Brall The Measures they did pase by Him were taught thâ— Who to so rare a gentlenesse had brought them That he had learnd their rudenesse an obseruing Of such respect vnto the well-deseruing As they became to no men else a terrour But such as did persist in wilfull errour And they the Ladies made no whit affeard Though since that time they some great men haue scard Their Dance the Wâ—ipping of Abuse they nam'd And though the Shepherd since that hath bin blam'd Yet now t is daily seene in euery towne And ther 's no Countrey-Dance that 's better knowne Nor that hath gain'd a greater commendation â—Mongst those that loue an honest recreation This Scene presented from a Groue was heard A set of Viols and there was prepar'd A Countrey Banquet which this Shepheard made To entertaine the Ladies in the shade And t is supposd his Song prolonged was Of purpose that it might be brought to passe â—o well it was performd that each one deem'd The Banquet might the Citie haue beseem'd Yet better was their Welcome then their Fare Which they perceiued and the merrier were One Beautie tho there sate amongst the rest That lookt as sad as if her heart opprest With Loue had bene Whom Philaret beholding â—it so demurely and her Armes enfolding Lady quoth he am I or this poore cheere â—he cause that you so melancholy are â—or if the Obiect of your thoughts be higher â—t fits nor me to know them nor enquire 〈◊〉 if from me it commeth that offends â— seeke the Cause that I may make amends Kind Swaine said she it is nor so nor so No fault in you nor in your Cheere I know Nor doe I thinke there is a Thought in me That can too worthy of your knowledge be Nor haue I many a day more pleasure had Then here I find though I haue seemed sad My hart is sometime heauy when I smile And when I greeue I often sing the while Nor is it sadnesse that doth me possesse But rather musing with much seriousnesse Vpon that multitude of sighs and teares With those innumerable doubts and feares Through which you passed ere you could acquire A setled Hope of gaining your Desire For you darâ—d loue a Nymph so great and faire As might haue brought a Prince vnto Dispaire And sure the excellencie of your Passions Did then produce as excellent expressions If therefore Me the sute may well become And if to you it be not wearisome In name of all these Ladies I entreat That one of those sad Straines you would repeate Which you composd when greatest discontent Vnsought-for helpe to your Inuention lent Fayre Nymph said Philarer I will doe so For though your Shepheard doth no Courtship know He hath Humanitie And what 's in me To doe you Seruice may commanded be So taking downe a Lute that neere him hung He gaue't his Boy who plaid whilst this he sung Ah me Am I the Swaine That late from sorrow free Did all the cares on earth disdaine And still vntoucht as at some safer Games Plaid with the burning coals of Loue Beautis flames Wast I could diue souÌ„d each passions secret depth at will And froÌ„ those huge ouerwhelmings rise by help of Reason stil And am I now oh heauens for trying this in vaine So sunke that I shall neuer rise againe Then let Dispaire set Sorrows string For Strains that dolefulst be And I will sing Ah me But why Oh fatall Time Dost thou constraine that I Should perish in my youths sweet prime I but a while agoe you cruell Powers Inspight of Fortune cropt contentmeÌ„ts sweetest flowers And yet vnscorned serue a gentle Nymph the fairest Shee That euer was belou'd of Man or Eyes did euer see Yea one whose tender heart would rue for my distresse Yet I poore I must perish nay-the lesse And which much more augmeÌ„ts my care Vnmoaned I must dye And no man er'e Knâ—w why Thy leaue My dying Song Yet take ere griefe bereaue The breath which I enioy too long Tel thou that Fair-one this my soul prefers Her loue aboue my life and that I died hers And let Him be for euermore to her remembrance deare Who lou'd the very thought of Her whilst he remained here And now farewell thou Place of my vnhappy birth Where once I breathd the sweetest aire on earth Since me my wonted ioyes forsake And all my trust deceiue Of all I take My leaue Farewell Sweet Groues to you You Hils that highest dwell And all you humble Vales adue You wanton Brookes and solitary Rockes My deare companions all and you my tender flockes Forevvell my Pipe and all these pleasing Songs vvhose mouing straines Delighted once the fairest
many frailties tempt vs might But by this meanes shall also scape the blot Wherwith i◠toungs our names would seek to spot Which if you feare and would auoyd the wrongs That may befall you by malicious tongues Then seeke my absence for I haue in that Vnto my friends been too vnfortunate Yet as I loue faire-virtue there is no man Ere heard me boast the fauours of a woman To her dishonour neither by my soule Was I ere guiltie of an Act so foule As some imagine Neither doe I know That woman yet with whom I might be so For neuer kindnesses to me were show'd Which I dar'd thinke for euill end bestow'd Nor euer to this present houre did I Turne friendship fauour opportunitie Or ought vouchsaft me thereby to acquire Those wicked ends which 〈◊〉 doe desire For whensoeuer lust begun to flame It was extinguisht by true loue and shame But what would this my innocence preuaile When your faire Name 〈◊〉 should assayle And how abhord should I hereafter be If you should suffer infamy by me You feare it not one halfe so much you say As you are loth I should depart away And hap what will you thinke to be content Whilst I am here and you still innocent Indeed those friends approue I not which may By euery slanderous tongue be talkt away But yet I like not him that will not striue As much as in him lyeth free to liue From giuing iust occasions of offence For else he vainely braggs of innocence And so doe we vnlesse that without blame We purpose with our loue to keepe our fame Then let vs pleased part and though the dearenes Of our affection couets both a nearenes In mind and body let vs willingly Beget a Virtue of necessitie And since we must compelled be to liue By time and place diuided let vs striue In the despight of time and distance so That loue of virtue may more perfect grow And that this seperation we lament May make our meeting fuller of content Betwixt our bodies this I le not deny There is a deare respectiue sympathy Which makes vs mutually both ioy and grieue As there is cause And farther I belieue That our contentment is imperfect till They haue each other in possession still But that which in vs two I Loue dare name Is twixt our Soules and such a powerfull flame As nothing shall extinguish nor obsure Whilst their eternall substance doth endure No not our absence nor that mightie space Betwixt my home and your abiding place For ere your Eyes my eyes had euer seene When many thousand furlongs lay betweene Our vnknowne bodies And before that you Had seene my face or thought the same to view You most entirely loued me you say Which shewes our soules had then found out the way To know each other And vnseene of vs To make our bodies meet vnthought of thus Then much lesse now shall hill or dale or groue Or that great tract of ground which must remoue My body from you there my soule confine To keepe it backe from yours or yours from mine Nay being more aquainted then they were And actiue spirits that can any where Within a moment meet They to and fro Will euery minute to each other go And we shall loue with that deare loue wherein Will neither be offence nor cause of sinne Yea whereas carnall loue is euer colder As youth decayes and as the flesh growes older And when the body is dissolued must Be buried with obliuion in the dust We then shall dearer grow and this our loue Which now imperfect is shall perfect proue For there 's no mortall power can rob true Friends Of that which noblest Amitie attends Nor any seperation that is able To make the virtuous Louers miserable Since when disasters threaten most deiection Their Goodnesse maketh strongest their affection And that which works in others loues deniall In them more noble makes it by the triall T is true that whē we part we know not whether These bodies shall for euer meet together As you haue said Yet wherefore should we grieue Since we a better meeting doe belieue If we did also know that when we die This loue should perish euerlastingly And that we must as bruitish creatures do Lose with our bodies all our dearnesse to Our seperation then a sorrow were Which mortall heart had neuer power to beare And we should faint and die to thinke vpon The passions would be felt when I were gone But seeing in the soule our loue is plac't And seeing soules of death shall neuer tast No Death can end our loue Nay when we dye Our soules that now in chaines and fettters lie Shall meet more freely to pertake that ioy Compard to which our friendship 's but a toy And for each bitternesse in this our loue We shall a thousand sweet contentments proue Meane while we that together liuing may Through humane weaknesses be led astray And vnawares make that affection foule Which virtue yet keeps blamelesse in the soule By Absence shall preserued be as cleane As to be kept in our best thoughts wee meane And in our Prayers for each other shall Giue and receiue more kindnesses then all The world can yeeld vs. And when other men Whose loue is carnall are tormented when Death calls them hence because they robbed be Of all their hope for euermore to see The obiect of their Loue we shall auoid That bitter anguish wherewith they are cloyd And whensoer'e it happens thou or I Shall feele the time approaching vs to dye It shall not grieue vs at our latest breath To mind each other on the bed of death Because of any ouersight or sinne Whereof we guiltie in our soules haue bin Nor will death feare vs cause we shall perceiue That these contentments which we had not leaue To take now we are liuing shall be gaind When our imprison'd soules shall be vnchaind Nay rather wish to dye we might possesse The sweet fruition of that happinesse Which we shall then receiue in the perfection Of Him that is the fulnesse of Affection If Time preuented not I had in store To comfort thee so many Reasons more That thou wouldst leaue to grieue although we should Each others persons neuer more behold But there is hope And then that know you may True Friends can in their absence find the way To compasse their contentments whom they loue You shall ere long the powre it hath approue Meane while you still are deare yea liue or dye My soule shall loue you euerlastingly And howsoere there seeme such cause of sorrow Yet those that part and thinke to meet to morrow Death may diuide to night And as before Their Feare was lesse their Griefe will be the more Since therefore whether far I liue or nigh There is in meeting an vncertaintie Let vs for that which surest is prouide Part like those Friends whom nothing can diuide And since we Louers first became that we Might to our power each others comfort be Let 's not the sweetnesse of our loue destroy But turne these weepings into teares of ioy On which condition I doe giue thee this To be both Mine and Sorrowes parting-kisse PHIL'ARETE FINIS The Stationers Postscript THere bee three or foure Songs in this Poeme aforegoing which were stollen from the Authour and heeretofore impertinently imprinted in an imperfect and erronious Copie foolishly intituled His Workes which the Stationer hath there falsely affirmed to bee Corrected and Augmented for his owne Aduantage and without the said Authours knowledge or respect to his credit If therfore you haue seene them formerly in those counterfet Impressions let it not be offensiue that you finde them againe in their proper places and in the Poeme to which they appertaine Vale. I. M.