Flocke such one forgoe Vnto whom mirth is displeasure Onely rich in measures treasure 3 Yet alas before you goe Heare your wofull Masters storie VVhich to stones I else would showe Sorrow onely then hath glorie VVhen tis excellently sorie 4 Stella fairest Shepheardesse Fairest but yet cruelst euer Stella whom the heauens still blesse Though against me she perseuer Though I blisse inherit neuer 5 Stella hath refused mee Stella who more loue hath proued In this caitiffe hart to bee Than can in good to vs be moued Towards Lambkins best beloued 6 Stella hath refused mee Astrophel that so well serued In this pleasant Spring Muse see While in pride flowers be preserued Himselfe onely winter starued 7 VVhy alas then doth she sweare That she loueth me so deerly Seeing me so long to beare Coales of loue that burne so cleerly And yet leaue me hopelesse meerly 8 Is that loue forsooth I trow If I saw my good dogg grieued And a helpe for him did know My loue should not be beleeued But he were by me releeued 9 No she hates me welaway Faining loue somewhat to please me Knowing if she should display All her hate death soone would seaze me And of hideous torments ease me 10 Then my deare Flocke now adieu But alas if in your straying Heauenly Stella meete with you Tell her in your piteous blaying Her poore Slaues iust decaying The tenth Sonnet O Deere Life when shall it bee That mine eyes thine eyes shall see And in them thy minde discouer VVhether absence haue had force Thy remembrance to diuorce From the image of thy Louer 2 O if I my selfe finde not By thine absence oft forgot Nor debard from Beauties treasure Let no tongue aspire to tell In what high ioyes I shall dwell Onely thought aimes at the pleasure 3 Thought therefore will I send thee To take vp the place for mee Long I will not after tarrie There vnseene thou maist be bold Those faire wonders to behold VVhich in them my hopes doo carrie 4 Thought see thou no place forbeare Enter brauely euerie where Seaze on all to her belonging But if thou wouldst garded bee Fearing her beames take with thee Strength of liking rage of longing 5 O my Thoughts my Thoughts sure ease Your delights my woes encrease My life fleetes with too much thinking Thinke no more but die in mee Till thou shalt receiued bee At her lips my Nectar drinking Finis Syr P.S. Poems and Sonets of sundrie other Noble men and Gentlemen The Author of this Poeme S. D. GO wayling verse the infant of my loue Minorua like brought foorth without a mother That beares the image of the cares I proue Witnesse your fathers griefe exceeds all other Sigh out a Storie of her cruell deedes With interrupted accents of dispaire A monument that whosoeuer reedes May iustly praise and blame my loueles Faire Say her disdaine hath dried vp my blood And sterued you in succours still denying Presse to her eyes importune me some good Waken her sleeping crueltie with crying Knock at her hard hart say I perish for her And feare this deed wil make the world abhor her Sonnet 1. IF so it hap the Ofspring of my care These fatall anthemes and afflicted songs Come to their view who like to mee doo fare May moue them sigh there at and mone my wrongs But vntoucht hearts with vnaffected eye Approach not to behold my soules distresse Cleere sighted you will note what is awry Whilst blind ones see no error in my verse You blinded soules whom hap and error leades You outcast Eglets dazeled with the Sunne Ah you and none but you my sorrow reads You best can iudge the wrong that shee hath done That shee hath done the motiue of my paine Who whilst I loue doth kill me with disdaine Sonnet 2. THese sorrowing sighs the smokes of mine annoy These teares which heate of sacred fire distills These are the tributes that my faith doth pay And these my tyrants cruell minde fulfills I sacrifice my youth and blooming yeares At hir proud feete that yet respects no whit My youth vntimely withered with my teares By winter woes for spring of youth vnfit She thinkes a looke may recompence my care And so with lookes prolongs my long lookt ease As short the blisse so is the comfort rare Yet must that blisse my hungrie thoughts appease Thus she returnes my hopes to fruitlesse euer Once let her loue indeed or eye me neuer Sonnet 3. THe onely bird alone that Nature frames When weary of the tedious life shee liues By fier dies yet finds new life in flames Hir ashes to hir shape new essence giues When onely I the onely wretched wight Wearie of life that breaths but sorrows blasts Pursues the flame of such a beautie bright That burnes my heart and yet my life still lasts O Soueraigne light that with thy sacred flame Consumes my life reuiue me after this And make me with the happie bird the same That dies to liue by fauour of thy blisse This deede of thine shall shew a Goddesse power In so long death to grant one liuing hower Sonnet 4. TEares vowes and praiers gaines the hardest hearts Teares vowes and praiers haue I spent in vaine Teares cannot soften flint nor vowes conuert Praiers preuaile not with a quaint disdaine I loose my teares where I haue lost my loue I vowe my faith where faith is not regarded I pray in vaine a merciles to moue So rare a faith ought better be rewarded Though frozen will may not be thawed with teares Though my soules Idol skorneth all my vowes Though all my praiers be made to deafned eares No fauour though the cruel faire allowes Yet will I weepe vowe praie to cruel shee Flint frost disdaine weares melts and yeelds we see Sonnet 5. WHy doth my Mistres credit so hir glasse Gasing hir beautie dein'd hir by the skies And doth not rather looke on him alas Whose state best shewes the force of murthering eies The broken tops of loftie trees declare The furie of a mercie-wanting storme And of what force your wounding graces are Vpon my selfe you best may finde the forme Then leaue your glasse and gaze your selfe on mee That myrror showes the power of your face To admire your forme too much may danger bee Narcissus changd to flower in such a case I feare your change not flower nor Hiacynth Medusas eye may turne your heart to flint Sonnet 6. THese amber locks are those same nets my Deare Wherewith my liberty thou didst surprise Loue was the flame that fierd me so neare The darts transpersing were these Christal eies Strong is the net and feruent is the flame Deepe is the stroke my sighs can well report Yet doe I loue adore and praise the same That holds that burnes that wounds me in that sort I list not seeke to breake to quench to heale This bond this flame this wound that festereth so By knife by liquor or by salue to deale So much I please
faith of priuiledge could no whit protect it That was with bloud and three yeres witnes signed VVhereby she had no cause once to suspect it For well she saw my loue and how I pined Yet no hopes letter would her brow reueale mee No comforts hue which falling spirits erecteth VVhat bootes to lawes of succour to appeale mee Ladies and tyrants neuer lawes respecteth Then there I die where I had hope to liuen And by her hand that better might haue giuen Sonnet 18. LOoke in my griefes blame me not to mourne From thought to thought that lead a life so bad Fortunes Orphan hers and the worlds scorne VVhose clowded brow doth make my daies so bad Long are their nights whose cares doo neuer sleepe Lothsome their dayes whom neuer sunne yet ioyed A pleasing griefe impressed hath so deepe That thus I liue both day and night annoyed Yet since the sweetest roote doth yeeld thus much Her praise from my complaint I must not part I loue the effect because the cause is such I praise hir face and blame hir flintie hart VVhilst that we make the world admire at vs Her for disdaine and me for louing thus Sonnet 19. HAppie in sleepe waking content to languish Imbracing cloudes by night in day time mourne All things I loth saue hir and mine owne anguish Pleasd in my heart mooued to liue forlorne Nought doe I craue but loue death or my Ladie Horce with crying mercie mercie yet my merit So manie vowes and praiers euer made I That now at length to yeeld meere pittie were it Yet since the Hidra of my cares renewing Reuiues still sorrowes of hir fresh disdaining Still must I goe the Summer winds pursuing And nothing but hir loue and my harts paining Weep howrs grieue daies sigh months still mourn yearly Thus must I doe because I loue hir dearelie Sonnet 20. IF Beautie bright be doubled with a frowne That Pitie cannot shine through to my blisse And Disdaines vapors are thus ouergrowen That my liues light to me quite darkened is VVhy trouble I the world then with my cries The aire with sighs the earth below with teares Since I liue hatefull to those ruthfull eyes Vexing with my vntuned mone her daintie eares If I haue lou'd her dearer than my breath My breath that cals the heauens to witnes it And still hold her most deare vntill my death And if that all this cannot mooue one whit Yet let hir say that shee hath done me wrong To vse me thus and know I lou'd so long Sonnet 2. COme Death the Anchor hold of al my thoughts My last resort whereto my Soule appealeth For all too long on earth my fancie dotes Whiles dearest blood my fierie passions sealeth That hart is now the prospectiue of horror That honoured hath the cruelst Faire that liueth The cruelst Faire that knowes I languish for her And neuer mercie to my merite giueth This is the Laurell and her tryumphes prise To tread mee downe with foote of her disgrace Whilst I did build my fortune in her eyes And laid my soules rest on so faire a face That rest I lost my Loue my life and all Thus high attempts to lowe disgrace do fall Sonnet 22. IF this be Loue to drawe a wearie breath To paint on flods till the shore crie to the aire With prone aspect still treading on the earth Sad horror pale griefe prostrate dispaire If this be Loue to warre against my soule Rise vp to waile lie downe to sigh to grieue me With ceaseles toyle Cares restlesse stones to roule Still to complaine and mone whilst none relieue me If this be Loue to languish in such care Loathing the light the world my selfe and all VVith interrupted sleepes fresh griefes repaire And breath out horror in perplexed thrall If this be Loue to liue a liuing death Loe then loue I and draw this wearie breath Sonnet 23. MY cares drawes on my euerlasting night And horrors sable clowds dims my liues sunne That my liues sunne and thou my worldly light Shall rise no more to me my daies are donne Ile goe before vnto the myrtle shades To attend the presence of my worldes deare And dresse a bed of flowers that neuer fades And all things fit against her comming there If anie aske why that so soone I came Ile hide her fault and say it was my lot In life and death Ile tender her good name My life and death shall neuer be her blot Although the world this deed of hirs may blame The Elisian ghoasts shall neuer know the same Sonnet 24. THe Starre of my mishap imposd my paining To spend the Aprill of my yeares in crying That neuer found my fortune but in wayning VVith still fresh cares my bloud and bodie trying Yet her I blame not though she might haue blest me But my desiers wings so high aspiring Now melted with the Sunne that hath possest me Downe doo I fall from of my high desiring And in my fall doo crie for mercie speedie No piteous eye lookes backe vpon my mourning No helpe I finde when now most fauour neede I My Ocean teares drowne me and quench my burning And this my death must christen her anew Whiles faith doth bid my cruell Faire adieu Sonnet 25. TO heare the impost of a faith not faining That dutie paies and her disdaine extorteth These beare the message of my wofull paining These Oliue braunches mercie still exorteth These tributarie plaints with chast desires I send those eyes the cabinets of loue The paradise where to my soule aspires From out this hell which my afflictions proue Wherein poore soule I liue exil'd from mirth Pensiue alone none but dispaire about me My ioyes liberties perisht in their birth My care's long liu'd and will not die without me What shall I doo but sigh and waile the while My martyrdome exceedes the highest stile Sonnet 26. I Once may I see when yeares may wrecke my wrong And golden haires may change to siluer wyer And those bright rayes that kindle all this fier Shall faile in force their power not so strong Her beautie now the burden of my song VVhose glorious blaze the worlds eie doth admire Must yeeld her praise to tirant times desire Then fades the flower which fed her pride so long VVhen if she grieue to gaze her in her glasse VVhich then presents her winter withred hieu Goe you my verse goe tell her what she was For what she was she best may finde in you Your fierie heate lets not her glorie passe But Phoenix like to make her liue anew Sonnet 27. RAising my hope on hills of high desire Thinking to scale the heauen of her hart My slender meane presumes too high a part For disdaines thunderbolt made me retire And threw me downe to paine in all this fire Where lo I languish in so heauie smart Because th'attempt was far aboue my Art Hir state brooks not poore soules should come so nie hir Yet I protest my high aspiring will Was
minde is Stellas Image wrought By Loues owne selfe but with so curious draught That she mee thinks not onely shines but sings I start looke hart harke but what inclos'd vp sence Was helde in open view it flyes away Leauing me nought but wayling eloquence I seeing bitter sights in sighes decay Cald it anew and woed Sleepe againe But him her hoast her vnkind guest had slaine COme Sleepe ô Sleepe the certaine knot of peace The bathing place of wits the balme of woe The poore mans wealth the prysoners release The indifferent Iudge betweene the hie and lowe With shielde of proofe shielde me from out the presse Of these fierce dartes Dispayre at me doth throw O make in me those ciuill warres to cease I will good trybute pay if thou doe soe Take thou of me smooth pillowes sweetest bed A chamber deafe of noyse and blinde of light A rosie garland and a wearie head And if these things as being thine in right Mooue not thy heauie grace thou shalt in mee Liuelier then els rare Stellas Image see AS good to write as for to lie and groane O Stella deere how much thy power hath wrought That hast my minde now of the basest brought My still kept course while others sleepe to moane Alas if thou the height of Vertues throane Canst but vouchsafe the influence of a thought Vpon a wretch which long thy grace hath sought Way then by thee how I am ouerthrowne And then thinke thus although thy beautie be Made manifest by such a victorie Yet noblest Conquerers doe wreaks auoide Since then thou hast so farre subdued me That in my hart I offer still to thee O doe not let thy Temple be destroide HAuing this day my horse my hand my Launce Guided so well that I obtaind the prize Both by the iudgement of the English eyes And of some sent by that sweet enmie Fraunce Horsmen my skill in horsmanship aduaunce Towne folke my strength a daintier Iudge applies His praise to slight which from good vse doth rise Some luckie wits impute it but to chaunce Others because from both sides I doe take My blood from them that doe excell in this Thinke Nature me a man at Armes did make How farre they shoote awry the true cause is Stella lookt on and from her heauenly face Sent forth her beames which made so faire a race O Eyes which doe the Spheres of beautie moue Whose beames all ioyes whose ioyes all vertues be Who while they make Loue conquer conquer Loue The Schooles where Venus hath learnd Chastitie O eyes where humble lookes most glorious proue Onely loue tasting of your crueltie Doe not doe not from me poore me remoue Keepe still my Zenith euer shine on me For thoughts eye neuer sees them but straight waies My life forgets to nourish languisht sprights Yet still on me ô eyes dart downe your rayes And if from Maiestie of sacred Lights Oppressing mortall sence my death proceede Wreckes tryumphs best which Loue hie set doth breed FAire eyes sweet lips deere hart that foolish I Could hope by Cupids helpe on you to pray Since to himselfe he doth your gifts apply As his maine force chiefe sport and easefull stay For when he will see who dare him gainesay Then with those eyes he lookes loe by and by Each soule doth at Loues feete his weapons lay Glad if for her he giue them leaue to die When he will play then in her lips his eye Where blushing red that Loues selfe them doe loue With either lip he doth the other kisse But when he will for quiets sake remoue From all the world her hart is then his roome Where well he knowes no man to him can come MY words I know doe well sette forth my minde My minde bemones his sence of inward smart Such smart may pittie claime of any hart Her hart sweete hart is of no Tygers kinde And yet she heares and I no pittie finde But more I cry lesse grace she doth impart Alas what cause is there so ouerthwart That Noblenes it selfe makes thus vnkinde I much doe gesse yet finde no truth but this That when the breath of my complaints doe touch Those daintie doores vnto the Court of Blisse That once come there the sobs of my annoyes Are metamorphos'd straight to tunes of ioyes STella oft sees the very face of woes Painted in my bewrinckled stormie face But cannot skill to pittie my disgrace No though the cause heereof herselfe she knowes Yet Hermes late a Fable who did show Of Louers neuer knowne a pittious case Pittie thereof got in her breast such place As from her eyes a Spring of teares did flow Alas if Fancie drawne by fained things Though false yet with free store more grace doth breede Then Seruants wreck where new doubt honor bringes Than thinke my Deere that in me you doe reede Of Louers ruine some sad Tragaedie And if not me pittie the tale of me I Curst thee oft I pittie now thy case Blinde hitting Boy since shee that thee and me Rules with a becke so tyranniseth thee That thou must want or foode or dwelling place For she protests to bannish thee her face Her face ô Loue a roge then should'st thou bee If Loue learne not alone to loue and see Without desire to feede of further grace Alas poore wagge that now a Scholler art To such a Schoole-mistris whose lessons new Thou needes must misse and so thou needes must smart Yet deere let me this pardon get of you That he so long may sport him with desire Till without Fuell thou can make hote fire WHat haue I thus betraide my libertie Can those blacke beames such burning markes engraue In my free side or am I borne a slaue Whose necke becomes such yoke of tyrannie Or want I sence to feele my miserie Or spirit disdaine of such disdaine to haue Who for long faith some gentle pittie craue Yet get no almes but scorne of beggerie Vertue awake beautie but beautie is I may I must I can I will I doe Leaue following that which it is gaine to misse Let her goe soft but there she comes goe to Vnkind I loue you not woe me that I Must make my hart thus giue my tongue the lye SOules ioy bend not those morning starres from me Where vertue is made strong by beauties might Where loue is chastnes scorning youthes delight And humblenes is linckt with maiestie What euer may ensue ah let me be Copartner of the ritches of that sight Let not mine eyes be blinded from that light Oh looke oh shine ô let me die and see For though I oft my selfe of them bemone That through my hart their beamie darts be gone Whose curelesse woundes euen nowe most freshly bleede Yet since my deaths wound is already got Deere killer spare not thy sweete cruell shot A kinde of grace it is to kill with speede I On my horse and Loue on me doth trie Our horsmanship while two strong works I proue A horsman
Syr. P. S. His Astrophel and Stella Wherein the excellence of sweete Poesie is concluded To the end of which are added sundry other rare Sonnets of diuers Noble men and Gentlemen At London Printed for Thomas Newman Anno. Domini 1591. To the worshipfull and his very good Freende Ma. Frauncis Flower Esquire increase of all content IT was my fortune right worshipfull not many daies since to light vpon the famous deuice of Astrophel and Stella which carrying the generall commendation of all men of iudgement and being reported to be one of the rarest things that euer any Englishman set abroach I haue thought good to publish it vnder your name both for I know the excellencie of your worships conceipt aboue all other to be such as is onely fit to discerne of all matters of wit as also for the credite and countenaunce your patronage may giue to such a worke Accept of it I beseech you as the first fruites of my affection which desires to approoue it selfe in all dutie vnto you and though the Argument perhaps may seeme too light for your graue viewe yet considering the worthines of the Author I hope you will entertaine it accordingly For my part I haue beene very carefull in the Printing of it and where as being spred abroade in written Coppies it had gathered much corruption by ill Writers I haue vsed their helpe and aduice in correcting restoring it to his first dignitie that I knowe were of skill and experience in those matters And the rather was I moued to sette it forth because I thought it pittie anie thing proceeding from so rare a man shoulde bee obscured or that his fame should not still be nourisht in his works whom the works with one vnited griefe bewailed Thus crauing pardon for my bold attempt desiring the continuance of your worshippes fauour vnto mee I ende Yours alwaies to be commaunded Tho Newman Somewhat to reade for them that list TEmpus adest plausus aurea pompa venit so endes the Sceane of Idiots and enter Astrophel in pompe Gentlemen that haue seene a thousand lines of folly drawn forth ex vno puncto impudentiae two famous Mountains to goe to the conception of one Mouse that haue had your eares deafned with the eccho of Fames brasen towres when only they haue been toucht with a leaden pen that haue seene Pan sitting in his bower of delights a number of Midasses to admire his miserable hornepipes let not your surfeted sight new come frō such puppetplay think scorne to turn aside into this Theater of pleasure for here you shal find a paper stage streud with pearle an artificial heau'n to ouershadow the faire frame christal wals to encounter your curious eyes whiles the tragicommody of loue is performed by starlight The chiefe Actor here is Melpomene whose dusky robes dipt in the ynke of teares as yet seeme to drop when I view them neere The argument cruell chastitie the Prologue hope the Epilogue dispaire videte queso et linguis animisque fauete And here peraduenture my witles youth may be taxt with a margent note of presumption for offering to put vp any motion of applause in the behalfe of so excellent a Poet the least sillable of whose name sounded in the eares of iudgement is able to giue the meanest line he writes a dowry of immortality yet those that obserue how iewels oftētimes com to their hands that know not their value that the cockscombes of our daies like Esops Cock had rather haue a Barly kernell wrapt vp in a Ballet then they wil dig for the welth of wit in any ground that they know not I hope wil also hold me excused though I open the gate to his glory inuite idle eares to the admiration of his melancholy Quid petitur sacris nisi tantum fama poetis Which although it be oftentimes imprisoned in Ladyes casks the president bookes of such as cannot see without another mans spectacles yet at length it breakes foorth in spight of his keepers and vseth some priuate penne in steed of a picklock to procure his violent enlargement The Sunne for a time may maske his golden head in a cloud yet in the end the thicke vaile doth vanish and his embellished blandishment appeares Long hath Astrophel Englands Sunne withheld the beames of his spirite from the common veiw of our darke sence and night hath houered ouer the gardens of the nine Sisters while Ignis fatuus and grosse fatty flames such as commonly arise out of Dunghilles haue tooke occasion in the middest eclipse of his shining perfections to wander a broade with a wispe of paper at their tailes like Hobgoblins and leade men vp and downe in a circle of absurditie a whole weeke and neuer know where they are But nowe that cloude of sorrow is dissolued which fierie Loue exhaled from his dewie haire and affection hath vnburthened the labouring streames of her wombe in the lowe cesterne of his graue the night hath resigned her iettie throne vnto Lucifer and cleere daylight possesseth the skie that was dimmed wherfore breake of your daunce you Fayries and Elues and from the fieldes with the torne carcases of your Timbrils for your kingdome is expired Put out your rush candles you Poets and Rimers and bequeath your crazed quaterzayns to the Chaundlers for loe here he cōmeth that hath broēk your legs Apollo hath resigned his Iuory Harp vnto Astrophel he like Mercury must lull you a sleep with his musicke Sleepe Argus sleep Ignorance sleep Impudence for Mercury hath Io onely Io Paean belongeth to Astrophel Deare Astrophel that in the ashes of thy Loue liuest againe like the Phoenix ô might thy bodie as thy name liue againe likewise here amongst vs but the earth the mother of mortalitie hath snacht thee too soone into her chilled colde armes and will not let thee by any meanes be drawne from her deadly imbrace and thy diuine Soule carried on an Angels wings to heauen is installed in Hermes place sole prolocutor to the Gods Therefore mayest thou neuer returne from the Elisian fieldes like Orpheus therefore must we euer mourne for our Orpheus Fayne would a seconde spring of passion heere spende it selfe on his sweet remembrance but Religion that rebuketh prophane lamentation drinkes in the riuers of those dispaireful teares which languorous ruth hath outwelled bids me looke back to the house of honor where frō one the selfe same roote of renowne I shal find many goodly branches deriued such as with the spreading increase of their vertues may somwhat ouershadow the griefe of his los. Amongst the which fayre sister of Phoebus eloquent secretary to the Muses most rare Countesse of Pembroke thou art not to be omitted whom Artes doe adore as a second Minerua and our Poets extoll as the Patronesse of their inuention for in thee the Lesbian Sappho with her lirick Harpe is disgraced the Laurel Garlande which thy Brother so brauely aduaunst
Rebels to nature striue for their owne smart True that true beautie vertue is indeede Whereof this beautie can but be a shade Which Elements with mortall mixture breede True that on earth we are but Pilgrimes made And should in soule vp to our Country moue True and most true that I must Stella loue SOme Louers speake when they their Muses entertaine Of hopes begott by feare of wot not what desires Of force of heauenly beames infusing hellish paine Of lyuing deathes deere woundes faire stormes and flashing fyres Some one his songes in Ioue and Ioues straunge tales attyres Bordered with Bulles and Swannes poudered with golden raine An other humbler witte to shepheards pipe retyres Yet hiding royall blood full oft in Rurall vaine To some a sweetest plaint a sweetest stile assordes Whiles teares poure out his inke and sighes breath out his wordes His paper pale despaire and paine his penne doth moue I can speake what I feele and feele as much as they But thinke that all the mappe of my state I display When trembling voice bringes foorth that I do Stella loue WHen nature made her chiefe worke Stellas eyes In collour blacke why wrapt she beames so bright Would she in beamy blacke like Painter wise Frame daintiest lustre mixte with shaddowes light Or did she els that sober hewe deuise In obiect best to strength and knitt our sight Least if no vaile these braue beames did disguise They Sun-like would more dazell than delight Or would she her miraculous power shewe That whereas blacke seemes Beauties contrarie Shee euen in blacke doth make all Beauties flowe But so and thus she minding Loue should bee Plaste euer there gaue him this mourning weede To honour all their deathes who for her bleede LOue borne in Greece of late fled from his natiue place Forst by a tedious proofe that Turkish hardned harts Were no fit markes to pearce with his fine pointed darts And pleasd with our soft peace staide here his fleeting race But finding these colde climes too coldlie him imbrace Not vsde to frosen lippes he straue to finde some part Where with most ease and warmth he might imploy his art At length himselfe he pearch'd in Stellas face Whose faire skinne beamie eyes like morning Sunne in snowe Deceiu'd the quaking boy who thought from so pure light Effects of liuelie heate in nature needes must growe But she most faire most colde made him there take his flight To my close hart where while some fire brands he did lay He burnt vnwares his winges and cannot fly away QVeene Vertues Court which some call Stellas face Prepar'd by Natures cheefest furniture Hath his front built of Alablaster pure Golde is the couering of that statelie place The doore by which sometimes runnes forth her grace Red Porphire is which locke of Pearle makes sure Whose Porches rich with name of chekes indure Marble mixt red and white doe enterlace The Windowes now through which this heauenly guest Lookes on the world and can finde nothing such Which dare claime from those sightes the name of best Of touch they are that without touch doe touch Which Cupids selfe from Beauties mine did drawe Of touch they are and poore I am their strawe REason in faith thou art well seru'd that still Would'st brabling be with sence and loue in me I rather wish thee climbe the Muses hill Or reach the fruite of Natures chiefest tree Or seeke heauens course or heauens vnusde to thee Why should'st thou toyle our thornie grounde to till Leaue sence and those that sences obiectes be Deale thou with powers of thoughts leaue thou to will But thou wouldst needes fight both with Loue and sence With sworde of witte giuing woundes of dispraise Till downe right blowes did foyle thy cunning fence So soone as they strake thee with Stellas rayes Reason thou knewst and offered straight to proue By reason good good reason her to loue IN truth oh Loue with what a boyish kinde Thou doost proceede in thy most serious waies That when thy heauen to thee his best displaies Yet of that best thou leau'st the best behinde That like a Childe that some faire booke doth finde With gilden leaues of colloured Velom playes Or at the most on some faire picture staies But neuer heedes the fruite of Writers minde So when thou sawest in Natures cabinet Stella thou straight lokest babies in her eyes In her chekes pit thou didst thy pitfall set And in her brest to peepe a lowting lyes Playing and shining in each outward part But foole seekst not to get into her hart CVpid because thou shin'st in Stellas eyes That from her lookes thy dimnesse nowe scapes free That those lips swelde so full of thee they be That sweet breath maketh oft the flames to rise That in her brest thy pap well sugred lyes That grace euen makes thy gracious wrongs that she What word so ere shee speakes perswades for thee That her cleere voice lifteth the Sunne to Skyes Thou countest Stella thine like those whose powres Hauing got vp a breach by fighting well Cry victory this happy day is ours Oh no her heart is such a Cytadell So fortified with wit stor'd with disdaine That to winne it is all the skill and paine PHoebus was Iudge twixt Ioue and Mars in loue Of those three Gods whose armes the fairest weare Ioues golden shielde did Eagle Sables beare Whose talents holde young Ganimede aboue But in verde fieldes Mars beares a golden Speare Which through a bleeding heart his point did shoue Each had his Crest Mars carried Venus gloue Ioue on his Helme the Thunder bolte did reare Cupid then smiles for on his crest there lyes Stellas fayre haire her face he makes his shielde Where Roses gules are borne in siluer fielde Phoebus drewe wide the Curtaine of the skyes To blase the last and swore deuoutly then The first thus macht were scarcely Gentlemen ALas haue I not paine enough my friend Vppon whose breast a fiercer gripe doth tyre Than did on him who first stole downe the fyre While Loue on me doth all his quiuer spend But with your rubarbe wordes you must contend To greeue me worse in saying that desier Doth plunge my well form'd soule euen in the mier Of sinfull thoughtes which doe in ruine ende If that be sinne which doth the manners frame Well stayed with trueth in worde and faith of deede Readie of wit and fearing nought but shame If it be sin which in sixt hart dooth breede A loathing of all loost true chastitie Then loue is sin and let me sinfull bee YOu that doe search for euery purling spring Which from the rybs of old Pernassus flowes And euery flower not sweete perhaps which growes Neere there about into your Poems wring You that doe dictionary method bring Into your rymes running in ratling rowes You that old Petrarchs long deceased woes With new borne sighes and wit disguised sing You take wrong wayes those far-fet helps be such As doe bewray a
shewe the force of delight In well raisde noates my pen the best it may Shall paint out ioy though but in blacke and white Cease eager Muse peace pen for my sake stay I giue you heere my hand for truth of this Wise silence is best Musique vnto blisse WHo will in fayrest booke of nature knowe How Vertue may best lodgde in Beautie bee Let him but learne of loue to read in thee Stella those faire lines which true Beautie showe There shall he finde all vices ouerthrowe Not by rude force but sweetest soueraigntie Of reason from whose light the night birdes flie That inward Sunne in thine eyes shineth so And not content to be perfections heir Thy selfe dost striue all mindes that way to moue Who marking thee which art indeede most faire See while thy beautie driues my hart to loue As fast thy vertue bends that loue to good But ah Desire still cries giue me some food DEsire though thou my olde commpanion art And oft so clinges to my pure Loue that I One from the other scarcely can discry While each doe blowe the fier of my hart Novv from thy fellovvship I needes must part Venus is taught vvith Dians vvings to flye I must no more in thy sweet passions lye Vertues golde now must head my Cupids dart Seruice and honour wonder vvith delight Feare to offend well worthy to appeare Care shining in mine eyes faith in my spright These thinges are left me by my onely deare But thou Desire because thou vvouldst haue all Now banisht art but yet within my call LOue still a Boy and oft a vvanton is Schoolde only by his Mothers tender eye What vvonder then if he his lesson misse When for so soft a rod deare play he trye And yet my starre because a sugred kisse In sport I sucke while she a sleepe doth lye Doth lowre naye chide nay threat for onely this Sweet it was saucy loue that prest so nye But no scuse serues she makes her vvrath appeare In Beauties throne see now who dares come neere Those scarlet Iudges threatning blooddie paine O heauenly Foole thy most kisse worthy face Anger invests with such a louely grace That Angers selfe I needes must kisse againe I Neuer dranke of Aganippe well Nor neuer did in shade of Tempe sit And Muses scorne with vulgar braines to dwell Poore Lay-man I for sarcred rites vnfit Some doe I heare of Poets fury tell But God wot wot not what they meane by it And this I sweare by blackest brooke of hell I am no Pickepurse of an others wit How fals it than that with so smooth an ease My thoughts I speake And what I speake I showe In verse and that my verse best wittes doth please Gesse we the cause What is it this fie no. Or so much lesse How then sure thus it is My Lips are sure inspir'd with Stellas kisse OF all the Kings that euer heere did raigne Edward namde fourth as first in praise I name Not for his faire outside nor well linde braine Although lesse guift are fethers of high fame Nor that he could young wise wise valliant frame His Syres reuenge ioynde with a kingdomes gaine And gaind by Mars could yet make Mars so tame That ballance waide what sword did late obtaine Nor that he made the Flower deluce so fraide Though strongly hedgd of bloody Lyons pawes That wittie Lewes to him a tribuite paide Nor this nor that nor any such small cause But onely for this worthy King durst proue To loose his Crowne rather then loose his Loue. SHee comes and straight therewith her shining twins do moue Their raies to me who in her tedious absence lay Bath'de in cold woe but now appeares my shining day The onely light of ioy the onely warmth of Loue. Shee comes with light and warmth which like Aurora proue Of gentle face so that my eyes dare gladly play With such a rosy Morne whose beames both fresh and gay Scorch not but onely doe darke chillinge spirits remoue But loe while I doe speake it groweth noone with me Her flamy glittering lights increase with time and place My heart cryes oh it burnes mine eyes now dazled be No winde no shade no coole what helpe then in my case But with short breath long lookes staide feete and waking hed Pray that my Sunne goe downe with meeker beames to bed Those lookes whose beames my ioy whose motion is delight That face whose lecture shewes what perfect Beautie is That presence which doth giue darke hearts a liuing light That grace which Venus weepes that she her selfe did misse That hand which without touch holdes more than Atlas might Those lips which makes deathes pay a meane prise for a kisse That skin whose passing hue scornes this poore tearme of white Those words that doe sublime the quintessence of blisse That voice which makes the soule plant himselfe in the eares That conuersation sweet where such high comforts be As constru'd in true speech the name of heauen it beares Makes me in my best thoughts and quiet iudgements see That in no more but this I mightt be fully blest Yet ah my mayden Muse doth blush to tell the best OH how the pleasant ayres of true Loue bee Infected by those vapours which arise From out that noysome gulfe which gaping lies Betweene the iawes of hellish Ielousey A Monster others harmes selfe misery Beauties plague Vertues scurdge succour of lyes Who his owne ioy to his owne heart applyes And onely cherrish doth with iniuries Who since he hath by natures speciall grace So pearsing pawes as spoyle when they embrace So nimble feete as stirre though still on thornes So manie eyes as seeking their owne woe So ample eares that neuer good newes knowe Is it not ill that such a beast wants hornes SWeete kisse thy sweetes I faine would sweetely indite Which euen of sweetnes sweetell sweeter art Pleasing consort where each sense holdeth part With coopling Doues guides Venus chariot right Best charge and brau'st retraite in Cupids sight A double key which openeth to the harts Most ritch when most his ritches it impartes Nest of yong ioyes Scholemaster of delight Teaching the meanes at once to take and giue The friendly fray where blows do wound and heale The prettie death while each in other liue Poore haps first wealth a pledge of promised weale Breakfast of loue but loe loe where shee is Cease we to praise now praie wee for a kisse SWeet swelling lip well maist thou swell in pride Since best wittes thinke it best thee to admire Natures praise vertues stall Cupids cold fire Whence words not words but heauenly graces slyde The newe Pernassus where the Graces byde Sweetnes of Musique Wisedomes beautifier Breather of life and fastnesse of desire Where Beauties blush in Honors graine is dyde Thus much my heart my mouth compeld to say But now spite of my heart my tongue will stay Loathing all lyes doubting this flattrie is And no spurre can this restie
race refraine Wherefore to trie if that I said be true How can I better proue then with a kisse O Kisse which doth those ruddie gems impart Or ioyes or fruits of new found Parradise Breathing all blisse and sweetnes to the hart Teaching dumbe lips a nobler exercise O kisse which soules euen soules together ties By linkes of loue and onely natures Art How faine would I paint thee to all mens eies Or of thy gifts at least set out some part But shee forbids with blushing words shee saies Shee builds hir fame on higher seated praise But my heart burnes I cannot silent be Then since deare kisse you faine would haue me peace And I mad with delight want wit to cease Stop you my mouth with still still kissing me NYmph of the garden where all beauties be Beauties which doe in excellence surpasse His whose till death lockt in a watry glasse Or hir whom nak'd the Troian boy did see Sweete garden Nymph which keepes the Cherry tree Whose fruit doth far the Hesperian tast surpasse Most sweete faire most faire sweete doe not alasse From comming neere these Cherries banish mee For though full of desire emptie of wit Admitted late by your best graced grace I caught at one of them a hungry bit Pardon that fault once more graunt me the place And so I sweare by the selfe same delite I will but kisse I neuer more will bite GOod brother Phillip I haue for borne you long I was content you should in fauour creepe While craftely you seemed your Cut to keepe As though that faire soft hand did you great wrong I beare with enuy yet I heare your song When in hir necke you did loue ditties peepe Nay more foole I oft suffred you to sleepe In lillies nest where Loues selfe lies along What doth high place ambitious thoughts augment Is saucines reward of curtesie Cannot such grace your silly selfe content But you must needes with those lips billing be And through those lips drinke Nectar from that tung Leaue that Syr Phillip lest your necke be wrung HIgh way since you my chiefe Pernassus be And that my Muse to some eares not vnmeete Tempers hir words to trampling horses feete More often than a Chamber mellodie Now blessed you beare onwards blessed me To hir where my heart safeliest shall meete My Muse and I must you of duety greete With thanks and wishes wishing thankfully Be you still carefull kept by publike heede By no encrochment wrongd nor time forgot Nor blam'd for bloud nor sham'd for sinfull deede And that you know I enuie you no whit Of highest wish I wish you so much blisse Hundreds of yeares you Stellas feete may kisse BEhold my heart the house that thee contains Beware full Sailes drown not thy tottering Barge Least ioy by nature apt spirites to colarge Thee to thy wracke beyond thy limits straines Nor doe like Lords whose weake confused braines Not pointing to fit folks each vndercharge Striue in themselues each office to discharge With doing all leaue nothing done but paine But giue apt seruants their due place let eies See beauties totall sum found in their face Let eares heare speach which will to wonder tyes Let breath suck vp those sweets let armes imbrace ALas whence comes this change of lookes If I haue chang'd deserts let mine owne conscience be a still felt plague to selfe condemning mee Let woe grype on my heart shame load mine eyes But if all faith like spotles Ermine lye Safe in my soule which onely doth to thee As his sole obiect to felicitie VVith wings of Loue in aire of wonder flie Cease your hard hand threat not so hard your slaue In Iustice paines come not till faults do call Or if I needes sweet Iudge must torments haue Seeke some thing else to chasten mee withall Than those blest eyes where all my hopes do dwell No doome shall make ones Heauen become his Hell VVHen I was forst from Stella euer deare Stella soode of my thoughts hurt of my heart Stella whose eyes make all my temples cleare By Stellaes lawes of duetie to impart Alas I found that shee with mee did smart I sawe that teares did in her eyes appeare I sawe that sighes her sweetest lips did part And her sad wordes my sad deare sense did heare For mee I weepe to see Pearles scattered so I sighd her sighes and wailed for her woe Yet swamme in ioy such loue in her was seene Thus while the effect most bitter was to mee And than the cause nothing more sweet could be I had beene vext if vext I had not beene OVt Traytour absence dar'st thou counsell mee From my deare Conquerour to runne awaie Because in braue arraye here marcheth shee That to entice mee profers present paye Is Faith so weake or is such force in thee VVhen Sunne is hid can Starres such beames displaie Cannot Heauens foode once felt keepe stomacks free From base desire on earthly cates to praie VVhen absence with her mistes obscures her light My Orphan sense slides to the inward sight VVhere memorie feeds foorth the beames of Loue That where before heart lou'd and eyes did see In heart my sight and Loue both coupled be Vnited powres make eche the stronger proue NOw that of absence the most yrksome night VVith darkest shade doth ouercome the daie Since Stellaes eyes that wont giue mee my daie Leauing my Hemisphere o'recast with night Each day seemes long and longs for long staied night The night as tedious wooes th'approch of day Toyled with dustie toyles of busie day Languisht with horrors of the silent night Suffering the euils both of daie and night VVhile no night is more darke than is my daie Nor no daie hath lesse quiet than my night VVith such bad mixture of my night and daie That liuing thus in blackest VVinter night I feele the gleames of hottest Sommers daie STella thinke not that I by verse seeke fame VVho seeke who hope who loue who like but thee Thine eyes my pride thy lips my historie If thou praise mee all other praise is shame Nor so ambitious am I as to frame A nest for my yong praise in Lawrell tree In trueth I sweare I wish not there should be graued in my Epitaph a Poets name Nor if I would could I iust title make That anie laud thereof to me should growe Without my Payns from others wings I take For nothing from my wit or will doth flowe Since all my wordes thy beautie doth indite And Loue doth hold my hand makes me write STella while now by honours cruell might I am from you light of my light misled And whiles faire you my Sunne thus ouerspred With absence vale I liue in sorrowes night If this darke place yet shewe by candle light Some Beauties peece as amber collourd hed Milke hands rose cheekes or lips more sweet more red Or seeming iett black yet in blacknes bright They please I do confesse they please mine eyes But whie because of
her iust and high disdaine Now will I alas refraine Loue feares nothing else but anger 6 Yet those lippes so sweetly swelling Do inuite a stealing kisse Now but venture will I this VVho will read must first learne spelling 7 Oh sweet kisse but ah shee is waking Lowring beautie chastens mee Now will I for feare hence flee Foole more Foole for no more taking Third Sonnet IF Orpheus voyce had force to breathe such musicks Loue Through pores of senseles trees as it could make them moue If stones good measure daunst the Thebane walls to builde To cadence of the tunes which Amphions Lyre did yeeld More cause a like effect at least wise bringeth O stones ô trees learne hearing Stella singeth 2 If Loue might sweeten so a boy of Shepheards brood To make a Lyzard dull to taste Loues food If Eagle fierce could so in Grecian maide delight As her eyes were his light her death his endlesse night Earth gaue that Loue heauen I trow Loue refineth O Beasts ô Birds looke Loue for Stella shineth 3 The beasts birds stones trees feele this feeling loue And if the trees nor stones stirre not the same to proue Nor beasts nor birds doo come vnto this blessed gaze Know that smal Loue is quick and great Loue doth amaze They are amaz'd but you with reason armed O eies O eares of men how are you charmed Fourth Sonnet ONely Ioy now here you are Fit to heare and ease my care Let my whispering voyce obtaine Sweete rewards for sharpest paine Take me to thee and thee to mee No no no no my Deare let bee 2 Night hath closde all in her cloke Twinckling starres loue thoughts prouoke Danger hence good care doth keepe Iealozie himselfe doth sleepe Take me to thee and thee to mee No no no no my Deare let bee 3 Better place no wit can finde Cupids knot to loose or binde These sweete flowers our fine bed too Vs in their best language wooe Take mee to thee and thee to mee No no no no my Deare let be 4 This smal light the Moone bestoes Serues thy beames for to disclose So to raise my heart more hie Feare not els none can vs spie Take me to thee and thee to mee No no no no my Deare let bee 5 That you heard was but a mouse Dumbe Sleepe holdeth all the house Yet a sleepe me thinkes they say Yong fooles take time while you may Take me to thee and thee to mee No no no no my Deare let bee 6 Niggard time threates if we misse This large offer of our blisse Long stay ere she graunt the same Sweet then while ech thing doth frame Take me to thee and thee to mee No no no no my Deare let bee 7 Your faire Mother is a bed Candles out and curtaines spred She thinkes you doo letters write VVrite but first let me endite Take mee to thee and thee to mee No no no no my Deare let be 8 Sweete alas why striue you thus Concord better fitteth vs Leaue to Mars the force of hands Your power in your beautie stands Take me to thee and thee to mee No no no no my Deare let bee 9 VVoe to mee and doo you sweare Me to hate but I forbeare Curst be my destnies all That brought mee so high to fall Soone with my death Ile please thee No no no no my Deare let bee The fifth Sonnet WHile fauour fed my hope delight with hope was brought Thought waited on delight speach did folow thought Then drew my tongue and pen records vnto thy glorie I thought all words were lost that were not spent of thee I thought each place was darke but where thy lights would be And all eares worse than deaffe that hard not out thy storie 2 I said thou wert most faire and so indeed thou art I said thou wert most sweete sweete poyson to my hart I said my soule was thine ô would I then had lied I said thy eyes were starres thy breasts the milken way Thy fingers Cupids shafts thy voyce the Angels lay And all is said so well that no man it denied 3 But now that hope is lost vnkindnes kils delight Yet thought and speach do liue thought metamorphisde quite For rage now rules the reynes which guided were by pleasure I thinke now of thy faults who late wrote of thy praise That speech falls now to blame which did thy honour raise The same key open can which can locke vp a treasure 4 Then thou whom partiall heauens conspir'd in one to frame The proofe of beauties worke the inheritance of fame The mansion state of blisse and iust excuse of louers See now those feathers pluckt wherewith thou flewst most hie See what cloudes of reproach shall darke thy honours skie Whome fault once casteth downe hardly high state recouers 5 And ô my Muse though oft you luld her in your lap And then a heauenly Childe gaue her Ambrosian pap And to that braine of hers your highest gifts infused Since she disdaining me doth you in me disdaine Suffer not her to laugh and both we suffer paine Princes in subiects wrongs must deeme themselues abused 6 Your client poore my selfe shall Stella handle so Reuenge reuenge my Muse desiance trumpet blowe Threate threat what may be done yet do no more but threaten Ah my sute granted is I feele my breast doth swell Now Childe a lesson new you shall begin to spell Sweet babes must babies haue but shrewd girles must be beaten 7 Thinke now no more to heare of warme fine shining snow Nor blushing Lillyes nor pearles Rubie hidden row Nor of that golden sea whose waues in curles are broken But of thy soule fraught with such vngratefulnesse As where thou soone mightst help most there thou dost oppresse Vngrateful who is cald the worst of ills is spoken 8 Yet worse than worse I say thou art a Thiefe A thiefe Now God forbid a thiefe and of worst thieues a thiefe Thieues steale for need steale for goods which pain recouers But thou rich in all ioyes dost rob my goods from mee Which cannot be restorde by time nor industrie Of foes the spoyle is euill farre more of constant louers 9 Yet gentle English thieues doo rob and will not slay Thou English murdring thiefe wilt haue hearts for thy pray The name of murdrer now on thy faire forhead sitteth And euen while I do speake my death wounds bleeding bee Which I protest proceed from onely cruell thee Who may and wil not saue murther in trueth committeth 10 But murthers priuate fault seemes but a toy to thee I lay then to thy charge vniustice Tirannie If rule by force without all claime a Tyrant sheweth For thou art my hearts Lord who am not borne thy slaue And which is worse makes me most guiltles torments haue A rightfull Prince by vnrightfull deeds a Tyrant groweth 11 Loe you grow proud with this for Tyrants makes folk bow Of foule rebellion then I do appeach thee now Rebels
by Natures lawes rebel by way of reason Thou sweetest subiect wert borne in the Realme of Loue And yet against thy Prince thy force dost daily proue No vertue merits praise once toucht with blot of Treason 12 But valiant Rebels oft in fooles mouths purchase fame I now then staine thy white with blackest blot of shame Both Rebel to the Sonne and vagrant from the Mother For wearing Venus badge in euery part of thee Vnto Dianaes traine thou runnaway didst flie Who faileth one is false though trustie to another 13 VVhat is not this enough nay farre worse commeth here A Witch I say thou art though thou so faire appeare For I protest mine eyes neuer thy sight enioyeth But Im mee am chang'd I am aliue and dead My feete are turn'd to rootes my heart becommeth lead No witchcraft is so ill as which mans minde destroyeth 14 Yet Witches may repent thou art farre worse than they Alas that I am forst such euill of thee to say I say thou art a Diuel though cloathd in Angels shining For thy face tempts my soule to leaue the heauens for thee And thy words of refuse doo powre euen hell on mee Who tempts and tempted plagues are Diuels in true desining 15 You then vngrateful theefe you murthering Tyrant you You Rebel runnaway to Lord and Lady vntrue You witch you Diuel alas you still of me beloued You see what I can say mend yet your froward minde And such skill in my Muse you reconcil'd shall finde That by these cruell words your praises shalbe proued The sixth Sonnet O You that heare this voice O you that see this face Say whether of the choice Deserues the better place Feare not to iudge this bate For it is voide of hate 2 This side doth Beautie take For that doth Musicke speake Fit Orators to make The strongest iudgements weake The barre to plead the right Is onely true delight 3 Thus doth the voice and face The gentle Lawiers wage Like louing brothers case For Fathers heritage That each while each contends It selfe to other lends 4 For Beautie beautifies With heauenly view and grace The heauenly harmonies And in this faultles face The perfect beauties bee A perfect harmonie 5 Musicke more lustie swels In speeches noblie placed Beautie as farre excels In actions aptly graced A friend each partie drawes To countenance his cause 6 Loue more affected seemes To Beauties louely light And Wonder more esteemes Of Musicks wondrous might But both to both so bent As both in both are spent 7 Musicke doth witnes call The eare his truth to trie Beauty brings to the hall The iudgement of the eie Both in their obiects such As no exceptions tuch 8 The common Sense which might Be arbitrer of this To be forsooth vpright To both sides partiall is He laies on this chiefe praise Chiefe praise on that he laies 9 Then reason Princesse hie Whose throne is in the minde Which Musicke can in skie And hidden Beauties finde Say whether thou wilt crowne With limitlesse renowne The seuenth Sonnet WHose senses in so euill comfort their step dame Nature laies That rauishing delight in them most sweete tunes doth not raise Or if they doe delight therein yet are so cloid with wit As with sententious lips to set a little vaine on it O let them hear these sacred tunes learn in wonders scholes To be in things past boūds of wit fooles if they be not fooles VVho haue so leaden eyes as not to see sweete Beauties showe Or seeing haue so wooden wits as not that worth to knowe Or knowing haue so muddie mindes as not to be in loue Or louing haue so frothie hearts as easie thence to moue O let them see these heauenly beames and in faire letters reed A lesson fit both sight and skill Loue firme Loue to breed 3 Hear then but then with wonder hear see but admiring see No mortal gifts no earthly frutes now here discerned bee See doo you see this face a face nay image of the skyes Of which the two life-giuing lights are figured in her eyes Heare you this soule-inuading voyce count it but a voyce The verie essence of their tunes when Angels doo reoyce The eighth IN a groue most rich of shade Where birds wanton Musicke made Maie then young his pide weeds shewing New perfumes with flowrs fresh growing 2 Astrophel with Stella sweete Did for mutual comfort meete Both within themselues oppressed But either in each other blessed 3 Him great harmes had taught much care Her faire necke a foule yoke bare But hir sight his cares did banish In his sight hir yoke did vanish 4 Wept they had alas the while But now teares themselues did smile While their eyes by Loue directed Interchangeablie reflected 5 Sighd they had but now betwixt Sighs of woe were glad sighs mixt VVith armes crost yet testifying Restles rest and liuing dying 6 Their eares hungrie of each word VVhich the deare tongue would afford But their tongues restraind from walking Till their harts had ended talking 7 But when their tongues could not speak Loue it selfe did silence breake Loue did set his lips asunder Thus to speake in loue and wonder 8 Stella Souereigne of my ioy Faire Triumphres in annoy Stella Starre of heauenly fire Stella loadstarre of desire 9 Stella in whose shining eyes Are the lights of Cupids skyes VVhose beames where they are once darted Loue there with is straight imparted 10 Stella whose voyce when it speakes Senses all asunder breakes Stella whose voyce when it singeth Angels to acquaintance bringeth 11 Stella in whose bodie is Writ the caracters of blis VVhose sweete face all beautie passeth Saue the minde which it surpasseth 12 Graunt ô graunt but speach alas Failes me fearing on to passe Graunt to me what am I saying But no sinne there is in praying 13 Graunt ô Deare on knees I pray Knees on ground he then did stay That not I but since I proue you Time and place from me nere moue you 14 Neuer season was more fit Neuer roome more apt for it Smiling aire allowes my reason These birds sing now vse the season 15 This small winde which so sweete is See how it the leaues doth kis Each tree in his best attyring Sense of Loue to Loue inspiring 16 Loue makes earth the water drinke Loue to earth makes water sinke And if dumb things be so wittie Shall a heauenly Grace want pittie 17 There his hands in their speach faine Would haue made tongues language plaine But her hands his hands compelling Gaue repulse all grace expelling 18 Therewithall away she went Leauing him with passion rent VVith what she had done and spoken That therewith my song is broken The ninth Sonnet GOe my Flocke goe get you hence Seeke a better place of feeding VVhere you may haue some defence From the stormes in my breast bleeding And showers from mine eyes porceeding 2 Leaue a wretch in whom all woe Can abide to keepe no measure Merrie
not to dispossesse hir of hir right Hir Soueraigntie should haue remained still I onely sought the blisse to haue hir sight Hir sight contented thus to see me spill Fram'd my desires fit for hir eies to kill Finis Daniel Canto primo HArke all you Ladies that doo sleepe The Fairie Queene Proserpina Bids you awake and pitie them that weepe You may doo in the darke What the day doth forbid Feare not the doggs that barke Night will haue all hid But if you let your Louers mone The Fairie Queene Proserpina Will send abroad hir Fairies euerie one That shall pinch blacke and blew Your white hands and faire armes That did not kindly rewe Your Paramours harmes In myrtle arbours on the downes The Fairie Queene Proserpina This night by Moone shine leading merrie rounds Holds a watch with sweete Loue Downe the dale vp the hill No plaints nor grieues may moue Their holy vigill All you that will hold watch with Loue The Fairie Queene Proserpina Will make you fairer than Dianas Doue Roses red Lillies white And the cleere damaske hue Shall on your cheekes alight Loue will adorne you All you that loue or lou'd before The Fairie Queene Proserpina Bids you increase that louing humour more They that haue not yet fed On delight amorous She vowes that they shall lead Apes in Auernus Canto Secundo WHat faire pompe haue I spide of glittering Ladies With locks sparckled abroad and rosie Coronet On their yuorie browes trackt to the daintie thies VVith roabs like Amazons blew as Violet VVith gold Aglets adornd some in a changeable Pale with spangs wauering taught to be moueable 2 Then those Knights that a farre off with dolorous viewing Cast their eyes hetherward loe in an agonie All vnbrac'd crie aloud their heauie state ruing Moyst cheekes with blubbering painted as Ebonie Blacke their feltred haire torne with wrathfull hand And whiles astonied starke in a maze they stand 3 But hearke what merry sound what sodaine harmonie Looke looke neere the groue where the Ladies doe tread VVith their knights the measures waide by the melodie VVantons whose trauesing make men enamoured Now they faine an honor now by the slender wast He must lift hir aloft and seale a kisse in hast 4 Streight downe vnder a shadow for wearines they lie VVith pleasant daliance hand knit with arme in arme Now close now set aloof they gaze with an equall eie Changing kisses alike streight with a false alarme Mocking kisses alike powt with a louely lip Thus drownd with iollities their merry daies doe slip 5 But stay now I discerne they goe on a Pilgrimage Toward Loues holy land faire Paphos or Cyprus Such deuotion is meete for a blithesome age With sweet youth it agrees well to be amorous Let olde angrie fathers lurke in an Hermitage Come weele associate this iollie Pilgrimage Canto Tertio MY Loue bound me with a kisse That I should no longer staie VVhen I felt so sweete a blisse I had lesse power to passe away Alas that women do no not knowe Kisses make men loath to goe Canto Quarto LOue whets the dullest wittes his plagues be such But makes the wise by pleasing doat as much So wit is purchast by this dire disease Oh let me doat so Loue be bent to please Canto Quinto A Daie a night an houre of sweete content Is worth a world consum'd in fretfull care Vnequall Gods in your Arbitrement To sort vs daies whose sorrowes endles are And yet what were it as a fading flower To swim in blisse a daie a night an hower 2 VVhat plague is greater than the griefe of minde The griefe of minde that eates in euerie vaine In euerie vaine that leaues such clods behind Such clods behind as breed such bitter paine So bitter paine that none shall euer finde What plague is greater than the griefe of minde 3 Doth sorrowe fret thy soule ô direfull spirit Doth pleasure feede thy heart ô blessed man Hast thou bin happie once ô heauie plight Are thy mishaps forepast ô happie than Or hast thou blisse in eld ô blisse too late But hast thou blisse in youth ô sweete estate Finis CONTENT Megliora spero FAction that euer dwelles in Court where wit excelles hath set defiance Fortune and Loue haue sworne that they were neuer borne of one alliance Cupid which doth aspire to be God of Desire Sweares he giues lawes That where his arrowes hit some ioy some sorrow it Fortune no cause Fortune sweares weakest hearts the bookes of Cupids Arts turnd with hir wheele Sensles themselues shall proue venter hath place in Loue aske them that feele This discord it be got Atheists that honor not Nature thought good Fortune should euer dwell in Court where wits excell Loue keepe the wood So to the wood went I with Loue to liue and die Fortune's forlorne Experience of my youth made me thinke humble Truth In desarts borne My Saint I keepe to mee and Ioane her selfe is shee Ioane faire and true Shee that doth onely moue passions of loue with Loue Fortune adieu Finis E. O. If flouds of teares could clense my follies past And smokes of sighs might sacrifice for sin If groning cries might salue my fault at last Or endles mone for error pardon win Then would I crie weepe sigh and euer mone Mine error fault sins follies past and gone I see my hopes must wither in their bud I see my fauours are no lasting flowers I see that words will breath no better good Than losse of time and lightning but at howers Then when I see then this I say therefore That fauours hopes and words can blinde no more FINIS