lyes in mine owne proofe Were she not Hand-maide to Diuinity Which makes the Ly to keep the more aloofe But ah the smart I haue endurd through loue Hath like that Loue bin long and extreame great And all for thee too Sweet which sowre I proue Which woundst me while thou dost me well intreate If Ioab ô had plaid that part alone Thou shouldst in Deed and Show haue bin mine owne 39 VVHen I assaie to blaze my louely Love And to expresse Hir alin Colors quaint I rob Earth Sea Aire Fire and all aboue Of their best Parts but her worst parts to paint Staidnesse from Earth from Sea the cleerest part From Aire her subtilty from Fire her light From Sonne Moone Stars the glory they impart So rob and wrong I All to do her right But if the beauty of her Mind I touch Sith That before toucht touch but parts externe I ransack Heaun a thousand times as much Sith in that mind we may that Mind discerne That 's all in All that are or faire or good And so shee s most diuine in Flesh and bloud 40 NOw Taper-pointed Night began to pierce The bending forehead of our Horizon When as I tooke my Pen in blackest verse To shadow foorth my blacker Passion I told thee then in Words as dark as Hell The Torments Sweet I for thy Loue abide And gaue thee light to see their Substance well By Lynes that were al flame thy Sence to guide Yet canst thou not or rather wilt not see The VVhite whereat in this dark-light I driue Then know deer Sweet directly it is thee Lo knowst thou now no no thou stil wilt striue Against thy knowledge not to know the same Yet know thy Fashion puts me out of Frame 41 THere was a Time when the most sacred Saint That euer wedded was his VVife did woo And with loue-passions did hir Eares acquaint To moue hir mind to Loue and mariage too VVhen he would not haue thought it mortal sin If so he could to haue lynd out his loue In mouing measures so her loue to win For all that measure well of force must moue He did or would haue told her his desires And measurd them in Numbers were alone Those Edens out-casts left vnto their Heirs By marriage Rights for Generation Then sith that Church and Common weale encrease By This should Lynes that lead to this surcease 42 IF Speech the noblest action of the wil Be turnd to Silence Loues best speech in me Iâ— wit be quickned or made good of ill By that good will which I do beare to thee Then what auailes good wit if it be mute More then good will that want good words to show it Suters speed not that cannot shew their sute So sue I to Thee but thou wilt not know it Yet Dumb-men do and may wed lawfully But wed they do not without first they woo Then let me dumb through Loue that speaks therby Do as by Lawes of Heaun and Earth they do They woo then Wiue I woo then let me Wed For Words in Deede best fit the mariage bed 43 MY Mind to me a mighty Kingdom is Which I possesse but not enioy in peace For if I did I were a King of This But Loue my right doth force me to release If thou great Loue vsurpe anothers Right Thou art a Tyrant and thou must resolue By fight to keep what Thou hast got by fight If so of force Thou must thy force dissolue For with Thy force thou canst not winne from me My Mind vnlesse Her force Thou quite defeate VVhich it Thou do it is the worse for thee For thoâ— defeatest That that makes thee Great Then ô be not too sell but let that Shee For and by whom I liue raign there with Thee 44 Cannot that fire that burns me warm thy Hart Art thou turnd Salamander in desire To liue in my Harts flames and feel no fire But rather takst thou pleasure in my smart My hart is little and the flames are great It s litâ—e made by thy great cruelty The Fuel spent as now the same is ny The fier needs must lose both hold and heat My Hart the fuel is not Adamant That can indure the fury of this flame But it is Flesh and soon melts in the same VVherof I wot thou art not ignorant Then if thy knowledge wil not help my Hart I wil condemn thy VVil and curse thyne Art 45 SOme say they loue because their Loues are faire And other some sith they are wise and kind The first loue but the hue of Flesh or Haire But the last loue the beauty of the Mind But my loue kindled is at both those fires For VVit and Beauty in my Loue doth flame Without al noisom Smoake of dark Desires So bright she is in Beauty Wit and Fame If all these do concur to cause my Loue That Loue so caus'd shold bring forth rare effects And so it doth for me it so doth moue As I do rest in restlesse rare Affects Then sith deer Sweet thy Graces and my Loue Are like alike let our Affections moue 46 THey write and speak wel that can wel expresse In either kind what Fancy doth suggest But I the more I fancy speake the lesse So in my Hart my hartlesse Tongue doth rest But ô deer Hart sith thou art Lord of life On paine of death command my Pen to make Ynk of thy bloud to Chronicle the strife Which thou endurest for thy true loues sake And thou my Fancy so thy selfe bestir Who stir'st about the Center of my Loue That future Times in loue may pitty hir Sith graces such vnpittiful should proue And make my Pen in lasting Colours paint The Picture of my Loue and sullen Saint 47 THe fatall beames thou dartest from thine Eyes Like Basilisks work on me in effect Yet from them doth my remedy arise By glassing mine in thine them to reflect For in mine Eyes shouldst thou thy self but see Thy Beames would make thee in self-loue to burn Then harm me not and I wil not hurt thee Els on thy selfe thy Beauties Beames I le turne Thinke not because thy Hart is Adamant That thy bright Raies wil but thereon rebound No to thy selfe thei l make thee mercy grant And loue that grace that hurts heals the wound Then let thine Eye-beames grace infuse in mine Or for thy plague I le riuet mine in Thine 48 PArdon me Loue sith what for Thee I do Although it breaks thy Precepts oft too strict Is to attaine what to attaine vnto Thou sholdst no Course how ere crosse coÌ„tradict For shee I loue is too too like a Saint But that shee 's most vnlike in hir disdaine Who loues but loues to cause my iust complaint As if her pride tooke pleasure in my paine Then though my prostrate old Deuotion I do forbeare forbeare to blame my Course For some do climb to high'st promotion By scorning Scorne and offering Fury force She 's stiff and I
well sedd now thy Motion 's Kind Beware thou double not a single friend Cannot endure suche Trickes but let thy Feete Bee placâ—d â—o please yet please not to offend And in their motion Rime and Reason meete I loue Thee for thy Loue lo ther 's my Reason Nay did'st thou hate mee as thou maist in time Yet should I loue VVitts Salt which Thee doth season And thy rare other Guifâ—s lo here 's my Rime Thus farre in measure hath my prancing Peâ— To Thee approcht Pen homage now why so So should it bee for still the worser men Must paie the better reurence which they owe. Now Sir if my rude Pen may fetch yours in After the manner of a Cooshin-dance Leaue when you will and as you liâ—t begin Your Discords to mine breede no variance But how so ere your Feete bee placd they shall In Loue iumpe with my Feete Hand Hart and all Bee thou my Damon then and I will bee At least a Pitâ—ias if not more to Thee An Epitaph or what you will on the death of Maister Mâ—ece an harmelesse professed Foole who shall decease when it shall please God and him made at his ernest request HEre low he lies that sate still with the Hie For foolish Witt and honest Knauerie Neuer poore-Foole him selfe more wisely bare For hee gott loue of All and tooke no care Then neueâ— Foole on this World reeling Stage Plaid his Part better till forescore of age Then Time and Death on him their force did proue And tooke him from this Life but not our loue Now make Wormeâ— mirry Meece as Thou mad'st Men Vâ—till in endlesse Mirth Wee meere agen For to that Mirth if now thou be not gon God knowes what is become of Salomon Who though Hee knew much Good and did it to Yet knew much Ill which hee much worse did doo But Thou like Adam Meece in innocence Knewst not so much as how to giue offence Or if thou knewst thou did'st conceale the same So like a wise-Foole liudâ—st thou with-out blame Then Meece sith Death doth play the Foole with Thee Showing his Teeth laughiâ—g ill fauour'dly Put on his Pate thy Capp and on his Back Thy pideâ—Coate put with eu'rie foolish â—nack And say â—ith hee sittes quite be fide the Stoole Looke on she Foole that cannot kill a Foole For I poore Meece that was a Foole to Death Haue made Death now my Foole eu'n with a Breath Sith I haue Couâ—nd him with only That That made mee to bee mocks and laughed at Namely but with mine onely outward* Weede Whereof poore naked Snake hee stood in needâ— And I beeing wearie of it gaue it then When I was like to liue with God and Men. For what hath the wise-man more then the Foole Eccles 6. 8. 〈…〉 serious and sacred Subiects Mortall Life compared to Post and Pare WHen well I weigh the state of mortall Life Mee seemes it seemes but too like Post and Pare Where eache Man seekes to winn by ciuill strife While most make show of more then what they are One vies it beeing but a Knaue perchance Against a King or Queene or Paires of both Our-brauing Cowardize and Ignorance And others part Stakes that to lose are loth Some Nothing seeme to gett Some-thinge by it These some passe all to goe beyond the rest These better their Goods-fortunes by good Witt Who crouch as being worst till they are best Some some-what giue to fetch some others in That so at last they may bee furthest out These little giue by small guifts much to winne Yet oft so loose they all to winne a Flout Some beeing Paâ—riall dare to do what not Vy and reâ—uy and weene they all shall winn When some One other better Cards hath gott That they are furthest out when furthest in Some Elders for re-uies passe Pare and Post When lo the Yonger shares or Doubles it Then fretts the VVinner for his wynning lost Sith foolish Fortune Conny-catched VVitt Some vy and reuy faceing so to foile That haue no Games but game some seem with griefe The while the rest haue game to see their spoile Who yet out brau'd do blush sith they were chiefe Some being Cock like Crauens giue it ore To them that haue the worst Cards in the Stock For if the one be ritch the other poore The Cock proues Crauen and the Crauen Cock Some hauing lost the double Pare and Post Make their aduantage on the Purrs they haue Whereby the Winners winnings all are Loâ—t Although at best the other 's but a Knaue Pur Ceit deceaues the expectation Of him perhaps that tooke the Stakes away Then to pur Tanthee's in subiection For Winners on the Losers oft do play Flush is oreâ—boren oft by a better Flush And Kings do conquer Kings but by the hand As Stronger do the weaker euer crush And still win of them Glory Goods and Land Some look awry to see it they can spie Anothers Cards thereby to make their game Then on a Nine ten times perhaps they vy Knowing the other's blind though they are lame Some Pack and others Cut to breake the Pack Some shuffle cunningly and shift thereby Some take a Card and some a Card put back More then they should to back their vice and Vie Some haue Confedrates of the Lookers on Whol ook as friends they were to all alike Then with a signe of least suspition They note the Conny which they meane to strike And if the Gamsters do play ouer-long All drawne by all the Butlers Box doth drawe As Lawiers gett all bee it right or wronge That 's wonne and lost it Men bee long in Lawe Thus properlie we may this Life compare Vnto the bragging game of Post and Pare My Corollarie WEalth like a Pegasus doth runne or Flee As swift as Thought especially from those That nere are gladd but when at game they bee Though all their Wealth thereby in Post they loose And so when Wealth away is posted quite They runne away or else play least in sight Written to the Right Noble and well accomplished Ladie the Countesse Dowager of Pembroke I Grace inuoke which had would make me pray To Thee great Ladie greate and glorious to I pray to Thee 〈◊〉 to a Comforts Staie Then lett my comfort still bee tyde thereto To Thee my whole Man is dyaphanall The Raies of whose Witts Eyes pierce through mee quite Who like a Goddesse seeth all in All Which in me is or Fowle Faire Wrong or Right If ought be Faireâ— or Right in mee it is Not mine but Thine whose Woorth possesseth mee But if ought fowle bee in mee or amisse I hate for That for that it s not for Thee If I bee All amisse I All assigne To Shame and Sorow sith no part is Thine Your Honors while he is worthie of that Honor I. D. Againe to Hir. FAine would I write that Wiâ—t nere yet concea'ud But abiect Witt withstands my highe Deâ—ire So diuerse write and weene yet
and with It the Pagan play By off'ring vp thy selfe to It and dy In Flames but of Selfe-loue condempn'd eache waie Then better thou hadst nere bin borne sith birth Thy diuiue Beauty so condempnes to Earth 28 IF as the Pithagoreans do beleeue The Sea be nought but one of Saturnes Teares Its not vnlike sith still I weeping grieue That myne Eyes Seas should shed in many years This is the seaunth Sunne hath seen my loue As firm as flaming towards thy Beauties Heaun Yet ouerthwartly that Heauns Sunnes do moue Through euil Signes that to no grace are giun Nere did they shine on me but to exhale A Sea of Teares from my stil-springing Eyes Or els to parche my Bloud and make me pale So fall my Teares that still do falling rise And if those Sunnes thou Cloude still with disdainâ— Myne eyes shall end the World with endlesse Raine 29 SOme say the Weezel-masculine doth gender With the Shee-Weezel only at the Eare And she her Burden at hir Mouth doth render The like sweet Loue doth in our loue appeare For I as Masculine beget in Thee Loue at the Eare which thou bearst at the Mouth And though It came from Hart and Reynes of me From the Teeth outward It in thee hath growth My Mouth thine Eares doth euer chastly vse With putting in hot Seed of actiue Loue Which streight thine Ear conueyeth like a Sluce Into thy Mouth and there but Aire doth proue Yet Aire is actiue but not like the fire Then ô how should the Sonne be like the Sire 30 IF Fire hath oft Barbarian Honors done it By reason it resembles so the Sunne Yet scarse is seene when his Raies ouer-runne it What would Barbarians to thine Haire haue donne Which ô faire Sweete oreshines Fire Sunne and all Whose rare resplendance no Eyes can behold That are not like it most Angellicall And being so will them in wonder hold Then sith that Nature Crown'd Thee with such Light As makes all Eyes adoreing wonder at Bee not ô bee not then in loue so light As makes thee darke by being This to That My speach is darke yet what by light I meane Is more vnconstant then it is vncleane 31 IT is as true as strange els Triall faines That whosoeuer in the Moone-shine sleepes Are hardly wak't the Moone so rules the Braines For Shee is Soueraigne of the Braines aud Deepes So thou faire Cynthia with thy borrowed Beames Borrow'd of Glories Sunne great Lord of Light Makst me still sleepe in Loue Whose golden Dreames Giue Loue right Currant sith well-Coyn'd Delight I cannot wake while thou on me dost shine Thy shyning so makes mee so sweetly Dreame For still me thinks I kisse those lippes of thine And nothing els for I will not blaspheame But thought is free and Dreames are Dreames and so I dreame and dreame and dreame but let That go 32 LVst is a Tyrant Loue a Seruant Is This is the Sentence of Proofes euidence For I nere see you Sweete but feele by This Both Cold and Hâ—ate through Loue and reuerence VVhat Eye can look through cleere Loues Spectacle On Vertues Maiestie that shines in Beauty But as to Natures diuin'st Miracle Performes not to It all subiectiue dutie BEAVTIES Diuinitie none dare prophane That are of Humane or of Brutish Kinde But when It s full where Vertue 's in the wane VVhere a faire Body hids a filthie Minde But were thy Mind and Bodies beauty one T were Natures Maiesties diuinest Throne 33 YNough fell Faire for thou hast donne the Deede That thou hast longe bin doing which doth make Thy mercy lesse for that to kill with speede Shewes more remorce then they that leasure take How and how longe hast thou bin mart'ring mee To make my Deathe beyond my death to stand Who haue bin so Anatomiz'd by Thee That eu'ry Nerue hath felt thy Rigors hand Out of my Hart and Braines that Hand hath squiz'd The Spirits that either Life or Sence maintaine For I am all as dead as vnaduiz'd Only for Thee I Life in show retaine And if thou wilt haue That sith That 's for Thee Then take Thou All and leaue the rest for mee 34 OMemorie the Relicke of my Sence Whie yet remainst to make me yet remaine A Relike of my Fancies sowle offence That lov'd for hate and woo'd but for disdaine Carowse of Loethe make thie Cuppe my Scull Vntill thou bee dead-drunke then like the Blest I shall bee full of rest as thou art full Of that forgetfulnes which myndes but rest And thou relentlesse Diamond too deere Too deere for mee that offer'd mee for thee Shal to the World in woorth the lesse appeare Sith thou proust nothing woorth to wronged mee Then sith thou art nought woorth but in th' Exchange I will not mee for thee now interchange 35 NOw plaies my Mind vpon hir Instrument Thought-wasted Body Organ of my Minde No Parts but such as wholy discontent My Parts are so vntun'd by Thee Vnkinde My Longues the Bâ—llowes draw in nought but Aire That 〈◊〉 my Wind-pipes but with harshe Complaints Tending to Diapassons of Dâ—spaire Which often die for that Winde often faints My Hart and Braines the Stoppes that cause the Moode Do often stopp sith oft such Moodes they cause As by the Pangs of Death are oft with-stood Through which the Organs Voice doth sinking pause But if thou SWEET wilt haue It sweetly rise Then breathe sweet Aire into It as It dies 36 IN the' Abstract Nature is immutable But in the Subiect it doth varie still My Loue each way is to It sutable In th' Abstract firme the Subiect varie will Whie wilt thou varie Subiect of my Loue More sweete then Sweetnesse whie wilt alter Sweete Is it because thou wilt a Tyrant proue Or scornst Subiection or thy Match to meete If so it bee ô fayrest Faire then know I am thy Subiect though thou subiect bee To my high Loue that makes me subiect so Then thy Subiection giues thee Sou'raigntie Sith so it is then firme to me remaine Whose Loue doth make thee Subiect so to Raign 37 IF two Sunnes should at once adorne the Skies All in Combustion would bee soone beneath Then t is no wonder though thy Sunne-bright Eyes O most faire Faire make all to burne that breath For in thy Faces midd-heau'n so they shine As comforts Nature in her workes of grace Yet makes It flame with furie oft Diuine While it as Heanu'ly doth adorne thy Face Then sith I am great Mother Natures Sonne Let thine Eyes comfort mee with grace to moue As if I were all flaming in the Sunne Vnto the endlesse Orbe of thy bright loue Wherein if quite thou melt me I shal be That which I wishe that is A parle of Thee 38 AS great paines are not durable at most So long Griefes are supportable at least For nought is violent but ends in post And that which dureth Nature may digest This is most true els lies Philosophy And I would say she
Heauens wold If they so happy were it to embrace Who breaths this Aire their breath most sweet must be Though it before the Aire made most vnsweet On It I le liue till She returne to me To take the aire which from hir first did fleet And then in Words she shall receaue the same That shall be sweetned with hir praise and Name 60 Parhaps I doo though you thinke otherwise Loue in the tenderst Bowels of my Soule But what Can I not loue vnlesse there lies Loue in my Front while yours in hate doth scoule If no faith in the Front doth lie no loue Lies where no faith is for loue liues thereby Then the Fronts Arguments doo nothing proue But showe of trueth inuolu'd in Falacie And if the Front saie true and true it bee That Womens Naies are euer double Yeas Then your Front euer giuing Naies to mee Doo giue me twice as many yeas by These But in true loue I hold that Skill vnfit That discontents the Will to please the Wit 61 VVIll you your Will be done haue me loue so That by my Looks the same you best may see And wil you loue in Deed and hate in show Do as you will your wil is law to me Yet Show hath much deceite but Substance none Then most substantiall is the truest loue The foreheads falshood is more seen then known Yet known of most that least thereof approue Then sith the Front 's so full of Falacy I cannot trust yours more then you can myne But if you would our Harts should open lye Change Harts with me or let vs them combine Then feelingly our harts we so shall kno To This Sowr Sweet say double yea or No. 62 MY Tongue is turn'd to Eyes mine Eyes to Eares In the dread presence of my deeerest Loue Who while shee speakes my very seeing heares Hir Tongue and Bodie do so sprightly moue My Tongue Eares are deaff dumbe the whiles Orewhelm'd with Loue and Ioy and Hope in each Only my Lookes applaude hir Words with smiles As if they onely heard and saw Their reache And sith with hir I cannot interpleade But mâ—erely by the mâ—ane of speaking-Lookes Sith Lookes alone must stand me then in steade My Lookes shal be Loue and Witts record Bookes Wherein shee still may reade what I conceaue Of her sweete words and what replies I giue 63 SAie you deere Sweetâ— my Lines are labour'd sore My Lines I know will tell you no such thing Though euery Line doâ—h laboure more and â—ore Till they my Griefe conceal'd to light do bring But for my Lines themselues they labor'd are With no more paine then paine in pleasure takes Sith they my Hart vnburden of much care That yet for want of better yssue akes A Labour'd Line 's too busie for my Braine That is well 〈◊〉 distracted with muh Thought Let those Lines laboure that by Lines do gaine â—or I haue labour'd Lines too loage for nought Sith my best labouâ—'d Lines you still reward VVith saying tushe this paines might well be spar'd 64 VVHile Words I weigh in Scales of my Conceite To know their weight that merit most respect And while I vse some Arte without Deceite To place them where they may haue most effect I finde the weightiest Words are farre too light To weigh the Will resolu'd not to be waid And though their placâ— make infinite their might Yet stirre they not a Mind peruersly staid Then whie seeke I to mooue you by my Words I know not I because I know so much Yet this lost labour my Loue you affords Which â— It draw not shall your hardnesse touche For were you Steele the Magnes of my Loue Would draw you too 't but harder you I proue 67 YOur Soules rough Calmes that neither hate nor â—oue Your Minde vnmou'd with praises or reproofe The lesse they moued are the more they moue My froward loue to stand the more aloofe Yet looks it back when it is well-ny gone Supposing It should not so giue you or'e Then tries some other kinde Conclusion Which speeds no better then those tride before You hate me not for well you vse me still You loue me not sith you feele not my paine This like your mortall hate offends my Will Yet this is all the loue my Loue doth gaine What Mettell are you off sure fleshe and Blood Are not so staid that nought can moue their moode 66 VVHere shall I hide me from Loues Pow'r ô where If to th' Antipodes from him I fly Hee Pricks his Flights at me and hitts me there If neere at hand his Torche my Flesh doth fry In Earth his Shafts haue all fubdu'd to Him The Sea 's his Mothers Contrie and beside He naked is and so can faster swymme And through the Aire he on his Wings doth glide If to the Fire I flie it s to himselfe Then Heau'n and Hell if Poetts fable not Haue felt the great force of the little Elâ—e Thus all in all are subiect to his Shot Then sith no where I can be safe from these I le hide me no where That is in mine ease 67 BVt This and then my Pen shall make aboade In endlesse Rest For euen now the same Goes stradling vnderneathe a heauie Loade For Heauinesse his forme doth quite vnframe Who sheddeth sable Teares well mixt with Bryne To rue his owners sorrowes bitter state And maketh happlesse Blotts in eu'ry Line To Simbolize his Loue vnfortunate The sincking Paper makes them spreading runne As â—râ—efe runnes spreading in his sincking Hart Pen Yâ—ke and Paper then are quite vndone As is their Master with sad Sorrowes smart And all that smart I feele through your disdaine Who wounds my Hart with loue yet scornes my paine 68 VVOrke on my Hart sterne Griefe and do thy worst Draw it togeather till his Strings do crack My Minde will nere be whole till they bee burst Then breake breake Hart ere broken bee my Back Which vndergoes a VVorld of heauie Harmes That well might breake It and an Hart of Oke Then Griefe extend the vigor of thine Armes To crush his substance into Sighings smoke Hope thou dost hurt It with thy helping Hand Who Ape-like kilst it with a kind embrace Thy Charge wan Hope yeeld to pale Deaths Command That Hee my vitall Spirits may haue in Chase For sith good Lucke proues lucklesse in my Loue Go hange thee Hope yet stay lest I it proue 69 GIue mee faire Sweete the Mapp well coâ—lored Of that same little World your selfe to see Whether those Zones of hott Loue and cold Dreade Bee so extreame in you as th' are in mee If on the Hatt that small Worlds Center greate Such Heate and Cold their vtt'most Powers imploy No Thoughts could dwell therein for Cold and Heaâ—e Which my distem'pred-dismall Thoughts annoy But if I finde the Climes more temperate In your World then in mine I le thether send My Thoughts by Colonies in wretched State Sith there for'thwith they cannot choose
Grace to me is good Free from vnkind desires of Flesh and Bloud Inuentions Life Death and Funerall 102 Busie Inuention whie art thou so dull And yet still doing Are no Conceits ensconst within thy Scull To helpe my woing Canst not with Iudgments aide once â—ally out with Words of power My Ladies dreaded Forces to disrout and make way to her Or can'st thou vse no Stratagem of VVitt That may entrappe her To yeeld vnto Conditions faire as fitt els loue enwrappe her Fy fy thou lin'st my hedd-peece to no end Sith by thy Lyninge I cannot in Loues warres my Witt defend from foule declyning Doth Loue conâ—ound thee that thy Founder is Bewitcht Inuention Can she which can but make thee pregnant misse of hir inâ—ention The powers of Witt cannot defend thee then from Shames confusion But thou must die with shame and liue agen By Hopes infusion Hope hold my Hart and Head for they are sick Inuention dyeth Loue-sicke they are and neede an Emperick which Loue denieth Inuention now doth draw his latest breath for comfort crying Hee dies and yet in dying striues with Death To liue still dying Ring out his Knell for now he quite is dead Ding dong bell well ronge Sing out a Dirge for now hee 's buried Farewell Hee well songe This Epitath fix on his senslesse Head Here lies Inuention That stood his louing Master in no steade In Loues contention Yet for his Soule lest it should quite bee dam'd Some Dole bestow yee Giue my poore Witts which he hath â—owly sham'd what he doth owe me So Mortus et sepultus now he is Heau'n graunt his rising Bee not to vtter darknesse but to Blisse of highe Deuising 103 DIe dâ—e Forbidden Hopes ô die Foâ— while you liue in Death liue I Sith from Forbidden Hope Death first had life and scope Ambitious hope forbidden Then if thou liu'st needes die I must For Death doth liue in hope vniust Or at the least Dispaire Whereof Death is the Haire Then die or still liue hidden 104 NOw to this Sea of Cittie-Common-wealth Lymitâ—lesse London am I come obscu'rd Where twofold Plagues endanger may the health Of Soule and Bodie of the most securd The Bodies Plague's an Ill which God can do For is Ill in the Cirtie hee doth not But Synne the Plague which doth the Soule vndo He cannot do though how he well doth wott Then now my Soule stand stiffly on thy gâ—ard Sith many mortall Dangers thee surrouâ—d Lett Grace thy guide thy House still watch warde To keepe thy Habitation cleane as sound And if thou canst with Loâ—t liue chastlie here Angels will fetche thee hence when Plagues are neere Other Sonnets vpon other Subiects The Trinity illustrated by a three-square perspectiue Glasse 1 IF in a three-square Glasse as thick as cleare Be'ing but dark Earth though made Diaphanall Beauties diuine that rauish Sence appeare Making the Soule with ioy in Trance to fall What then my Soule shalt thou in Heau'n behold In that cleare Mirror of the TRINITY What ô It were not THAT could it be told For t is a glorious yet dark Mistery It is THAT which is furthest from description Whos 's beaming-beauty's more then infinite It's Glories Monument whose Superscription Is Here lies LIGHT alone indefinite Then ô Light limitlesse let me poore me Still liue obscure so I â—ay still see Thee 2 I Loue the life that Loue doth most mislike That is the life which is most like to Death On Lifes Haâ—r-strings when Death at last shall strike Soules Organs then do sound with sweetest breath The Discords of this Life annoy their Eares Where but Faithes Concords onely sweetly sound From Discords Dangers rise from Dangers Feares Which Three these Three the Soule Minde Body wound I would therefore liue dead to sâ—ch a life Within the Graue of most obscure estate So dead to liue as farre from State as Sâ—riâ—â— To check those Lusts that would giue Loue the Mate But ô this Faith fraile faith and Loue selfe-Loue Be dead sith they but liue for selfe-behoue 3 TIme faster then my Thought away doth hast Who thought not to haue lost It but for gaine But as that thought was present Time was past So left mee but to thinke that Thought was vaine While I am musing how my Time to spend Time spends It selfe and me but how I muse So still I muse while Time drawes on mine ende Thus Time doth me and I do it abuse I thinke and while I thinke I io'ly acte Yet Thought 's no idle action of the Minde So idle actions Time and mee haue wrackt Yet in these Ruines I my making finde For I am made by musing what I am That 's one that lynes the Ornaments of Fame 4 SIth Rest and Labour weares this Life away For Rest doth toile as Toile doth fatigate Sith Payne in Laboure stirres and rests in Play For Laboure paines That Rest doth satiate What maruell though the Hoast of Animalls Do groning longe to bee Life dispossest Sith their whole Pow'r by Natures forces falles Into the life of Laboure Death of Rest. Then how should Man but longe to leaue that Stage Where Paine doth plaie in Rest and Rest in Payne Sith Rest's his Home and Payne's his Pilgrimage Who cannot rest where hee cannot remayne It then remaines that wee this Life detest Sith it doth rest in Toile and toile in Rest 5 SIth glorious Princes like to Mirrours are As cleare as brittle how dare they contend Sith when they meete and light vpon the bare They may see their beginnings in their ende And sith base Vp-starts like to Bladders bee Puâ—t vp with winde which maks them stiffe as stout Mee thinkes each bound they should rise heauily Sith That which makes them mount may let It out Lastlie sith Men to Bubbles are compar'd Then which no Being's neerer kin to Nought Why from ill Thoughts do they their Wills not warde Sith they may bee extinguisht with a thought It is sith Bubbles do but weake appeare So in their VVeaknesse Men to Nought are neere 6 VVOrke on my Soule while Sleepes Soule takes hir rest And Sence held idle by hir heauy hand Acte in Dumbe-Showes which idle Spirits detest That Wit thy Wiâ—l thereby may vnderstand Let Fancy offer to Iâ—telligence The Shade of Shapes whose Substance thou dost loue So Sence shall sâ—e without the Seeing Sence When Reason is rest how thou dost moue Mount thee vppon thy Wings of Witt and Will Vnto the height of thy Wills true desires There worke thy pleasure bee it good or ill That wakeing Will may worke what Witt requires For t is VVitts worke in sleepe VVills worke to spy That wakfull VVitt may right what is awry 7 THe Match is double made where Man and Wife Of diuese Bodies make one perfect Minde Striuing to bee as farre from Hate as Strife In kindnesse constant of a diuerse kinde Hee gladd of hir Shee of his selfe more gladd Sith as hir better halfe shee Him
YEt what a precious Pearle in Worlds account Pearle in the Worldes Eyes that doth blinde those Eyes Fraile Beautie is appeares by Beauties woont That Coulors now hir faults with Forgeries Did euer Sunne bright Eye of Heau'n yet see Complections in our Streets set Cried to sale Before these Times made them so vtter'd bee Which makes chast thoughâ—s good cheape as being stale If euer neuer was there such a Sunne Vnlesse the Deluge springing saw the same If then they coulord t was by it ore'runne To better it because it was too blame Those Waters varnisht it and made it cleane So wishe I varnisht euerie painted 39 BVt mad or desprate Muse what meanst thou thus To touch this Couloring with this hard Touch Sith that thou knowst some somwhat vertuous Do vse to Colour somwhat more then much Some good as great but neither great nor good For Greatnesse scornes hir goodnesse so to blot Do make their bloud dissemble with their bloud Which for a Colour seems what it is not Still worse worse ceasse ceasse foole-hardy Mue Thou art too biter so such Sweets to grieue Thinkst thou that those which thou dost so abuse Will euer grace thee much lesse thee relieue But ô did all as thou dost they should rest Rewards vnto themselues and please the best 40 LAte in a Lodging where I vs'd to lie A Picture pincht hung therein in my walk Which one way had a faire-Maides Phisnomy The other way an Apes which seemd to talk So that Face had two Faces in one Hood A faire Maides and an Apes which seem'd to me The Painter was not mad in mirry mood That vnder mirth hid graue morrahty For to my Thoughts that may with his agree He seem'd to touch our Apish painted Dames Who counterfet the Beauty which they see And make the Boords their faces to their shames But Wainscot Faces cannot blush a whit But when they lay on Red which feemeth It. 41 SWeet Beauty beare this bitterest abuse If thou abuse thy selfe why should not he Of whom thou hast in this Tract made good vse In gaudiest Colours by out-painting Thee Thou canst not hurt me more then by thy Looks Then thy good Looks I need not much to waigh My fight thy Back then Forepart better brooks Then when thou seest me turne some other way Vnto mine Eyes thou art a Cockatrice Who dost infuse through them into my Hart The vertue of thy powr which doth like Vice Wholy confound my single-double Part Then if thou wilt damnme for myne offence Look well on me to plague my Soule and Sence 42 SIth Good thou lou'st ô God Goods only Drift Why giu'st thou me a Mind which Ills depraue If Grace I cannot haue without thy guift Why plagu'st thou me for that I cannot haue Can my powr make thy Powr obedient be Myne being so fraile and Thine so infinite That maugre thine I might wrest Grace from Thee And with strong hand to rend from Thee thy Sprite O no! it cannot but it s in my powr To Sin and so to thrust thy Spirite from myne Then ô thou Fonnt of goodnesse on me powr What 's fâ—rre aboue my reache that Spirit of Thine If not I can but feare that can but fall So can despaire but cannot do withall 43 SOrrow the Salue and Sore of deadly Sin Sister of mercy Mother of Remorce Who by thy being lost dost Being win And through thy strengthes decay augmentst thy force Who while thou hurt'st thou healst together both So takst away thy Beeing with thy Beeing Who loath'st to loue because thou lou'st to loath That which doth giue thee sight or blinds thy seeing O thou sweet-Sowr-sowr sweet each way too true Sweeten that Sowr that sowrest death doth seek Make sweet sowr Sin by making Death hir due Dy sith I liue by Sin made truly meek For when-as Ill by Grace makes good our Mood Grace lets Ill Bee that so it may be good 44 TRue loue is Charity be gun to Be Which Is when Loue beginneth to be true But to the high'st growes louing-Charity When she the High'st alone doth loue to view O Charity that euermore dost flame In that dread Maiesties eternall Brest When by thy heate shal my Loue lose hir name And made to flame like Thee in restlesse rest Well featut'd Flesh too base a Subiect is For Sou'raign Loues diuine ay-blest imbrace The Loue of Flesh loues nought but flesh but this Loues nought that sauors of a thing so base Then be the Priest and as an Host I le dy Offerd to Heau'n in flames of Charity 45 SIth Truth it selfe cals this life sowr as vaine What is lesse sensible then Sence that deemes It Sweet sith so to sensual Sence it seems Which not a thought in one state doth remaine I see it such with Obseruations Eyes That ey the inside of all outward Showes Which cleerly showes Life ebs the more it flowes And when it longst hath lyued soonest dyes A King this Moment that Kings adorate The next a Corse Slaues loath to look vpon Then was he King but in opinion Which alters with the altring of his state O then sith Life is but a dreame of breath In this lifes Dream I le nought but dream of deth 46 THe Seas vnfit to saile on it too calme As it is when it is too turbulent Then the meane motion sets it so a walme As doth the Sailors Eare and Eye content So neither too calme nor too rough a Mind Giues Vertue VVay whose waies are in the Mean In Loue if Passion do not Reason bind Their Action to the Clouds commends the scean Hatred and Ire makes way and Le ts putback For Iustice and for Prowesse t' act their Parts Courage is cold and Iustice is but flack If Ire and Hatred did not stir their Harts Then sith Loues passâ—â—â— may with Reason hold Good reason we should loue as Reason would 47 IF Nature cannot make Desire to cease In Compasse of the Meane let Grace thy Guest Giue head where Excesse is the meane to peace And the Extreame the midst of endlesse rest For Grace hath Passion giu'n for Natures aide VVhile they in Vertues Compasse walke the Round And moue to Goodnesse when themselues are staid But otherwise they do their Stay confound For as excesse of Vertue is but Vice And too much of the best becomes the worst So extream Passion doth much preiudice And make them who haue most the most accurst Then if thou would â— be passionate and blest Passion must stir thee but in peace to rest 48 TO draw such Lines as will not hold the straine If they be stretcht vpon the Rack of Wit Is labour no lesse vilifide then vaine And for Times grac'd by finding fault vnfit But such to twist vpon the Wheele of Thought As may hold stretching though all Racks them straine Do grace their VVorker sith they are well wrought And â—â—â—wne of matter that drawes out the Braine Such Lines will reach if
secret vvars VVith Men poore Men that still the Brunt abide But yet ô Passion tax not All for Some Some are so far from being Fiends that they Are Saints and Angels yet such so become Through Grace not Nature which their Natures sway Many a vertues Virgin Grace hath made The chief whereof was that wife full of grace Who was a Mother-maide which may perswade All womens foes their friendship to embrace Yet many Maries full of Fiends there be But no such Maries as this Saint we see Suum cuique pulchrum WHy Self concâ—it canst thou not brooke to see Or heare or read or scarse once think vpon The Parts which in another praised be Wouldst like God only wise be praisd alone And why so praisd wouldst be for being blind Seeing not thy selfe on whom alone thou lookst Or els for clawing thine ownâ—itching Mind Or which is worse sith thou thy selfe mistookst If these besides which I know nought thou haâ—t Be them for which thou wouldst be lawded so Thy Wits are gone and thou thy selfe art past For these do fleet where staied Wit doth flo Thou art but blind yet scornst thou other guide But leadst thy selfe in VVays most hard to hit So thou thy selfe still leadst thy selfe aside VVhere Error robs thee of Grace Art and VVit Yet can the witty hardly shake thee ofâ— So hardly to their Headpeece thou dost cleaue That though thou blindst thou makst them see to scoff Yet hardly take what they so freele giue Thou lou'st the Learned sith they loue thee wel Yea makst them oft to dote for loue of thee Thou makst them ween their Art doth Art excell VVhen they see not they deepe Arte cannot see For thou and enny ay Consociates VVill not admitte that Arte her selfe should show By others fingers but the mynde inflates VVhich scornes to looke for highest Arte so lowe VVell take thi pleasure so thon me displease Displease me as tho loust me sith thou art A mental pleasant ticling damnd Disease And I le loue that thou hatst this louing part Hang not aboute me tempt me not too much For I though fraile doe hold vp hangers on VVhile I can stand if me in loue théie touch Though some such oft seeke my subuersion And rest assur'd if me thou wilt not leaue I le muse on nought bnt thy hopes to deceiue Stultus Stulta loquitur THoughts wel conceiued and words as faire as fitt Al souldred with substancial semitry Best showes the life of judgement Arte and Wit Which best Pens haue worst labor to discrye This is a grace that glorifies the Pen That imps Fames wings to make her further flee This is like god but seldome seene with men Though in men by his power and grace he be Yet al suppose thot cân but draw a Line That they can drawe the picture of this Power And that their workmanship is so diuine That like that Grace it euer should endure And through that self-conceit That is conceaud Which they do daily labour in great paine To bring to light which by the World recean'd Makes her Armes wery long it to sustaine It often proues such spritelesse heauy Stuffe As much mishapt as black or Mistical Yet ween they They giue Rudenesse such a Cuff As turns him round and breaks his neck withal For Self-conceit will not perswaded be But that hir Bird is fairst though black and fowle Cheifly if she in night of Mystery See best abrode to wander like an Owle Pens whither will you whither will ye flee Aboue the Compasse of your natiue powr O senselesse Things will you still Doing be The Muses to their shame thus to deflowr Cease or take Nectar out of Helicon And let it flow from you as from that Fount Such only such do Fames Wings pynion But others make but gaggling Geese to mount Yet if you ween you were for Motion made And were in motion while in Wings you were Fall to a Notary or Scriuners Trade Then may you moue right being in your Spheare But ô to register the Acts of Wit Forbeare deer Pens that make your selues so cheape Sith for that Office you are far vnfit And for your Laboure sowne but Laughter reape But if you 'l needs be Lyning yet take breth Least all the World do laugh your Lynes to death Candidae musarum ianuae AMong the faults we fell to by our fall No one diuides vs more from Piety Then doth self-self-Loue which is the sum of all The fowl Deformities we caught thereby Hence flow our Follies and crimesâ—capitall This Fount wherein Narcissus-like we looke Drownes vs in Blame which Heaun nor Earth can brook Hence is it that we others glorious Guifts Do hold as base and ours though meer Defects We do adore and vse all cnnning shifts To haue them held for glorious Effects To this tend all our Wit-purloyning Drifts Which we in others held nor Wit nor Sense But being Ours Stolne both haue excellence Hence is it that we can no more eudure Another praises then our owne dispraise Hence seek we others blemish to procure That on their foile we may our glory raise We cannot shine directly being obscure Then indirectly do we send some Beames Of glory-vaine on Self-loues vainer Streames Hence Men of Art depraue each others Skill Sith it they view with Luciferian Eyes Hence Poets do each others praises kill With keen Inuectiues that from hence arise Hence spare thay none whom they haue powr to spill And they haue powr to spill themselues and all If they be great that stand but neer their fall That Poets should be made to vomit words As being so rawe Wittes Mawe could not disgest Hath to Wittes praise bin as so many Swords To kill it quite in earnest and in Iest Then to vntrusse him before Knights and Lords VVhose Muse hath power to vnâ—russe what not VVas a vaine cast though cast to hitt a Blott O Imps of Phoebus whie ô why doe yee imploy the Pow'r of your Diuinity Which should but foyle Vice from which we should flee Vpon impeaching your owne Quality O grace the gracelesse you that glorious bee Who cannot grace your selues more then to give A large allowance poore wittes to relieue Written to my deere Friend Maister Nicholas Deeble I Am about it good Will giue me leaue Stirre mee not faster then my Witt caÌ„ moue What though Hee bee my selfe my selfe must giue My selfe some time to show my selfe my loue Show ah how Show with Worthlesse Pen anâ— Alas poore Show No Nic it shall not bee And yet it must my Pen must drinke or shrink Sith it doth thirst so sore to write to Thee Then Ynckpott by your leaue a Draught or twâ— Of gaully Liquor you must yeeld my Pen Which like â— Potion drunke will make him do His busnesse kindlie A Hall Gentlemen Now on spruse Pen fall now into your Measures But stay let 〈◊〉 first number them in Minde You are too hastie soft bee rul'd take leysure Now Single
Reason vvould Many that haue nought els but daring Harts And leafe their Liues for Nothing to Dispaire On this Worlds Stage do oft play Princes parts To which they climb by Bloud a slppry Staire And desprate Resolution so is held Vp by the Chin while it doth bath in bloud By Greatnesse of smal worth that it doth weld The world at wil and sâ—ld if ere withstood Yea oft it makes Authority to shake Sith they owe others liues that loath their owne And so it doth his owne Conditions make As if it could at wil put vp and downe This Ladies loue for this doth Ladies win Faint Hart they say I le ow the rest for shame This is a VVorld-commanding gracefull sin In the Conceit of each conceited Dame He that dares ioule togeâ—her highest Heades Though he may faile in that too high attempt The High his haughty Resolution dreads VVhile he as Crauens holds them in Contempt â—o thus may Reason reason gainst a Wrong That Passion doth approue and vse as right I vs'd the more my vice this vertue long If it be Veâ—tue vitiously to fight VVhat now vaunts VVit and vailes the same with skil Would it be knowne it was to Courage Knit Do I condemn yet glory in mine ill So crack of Courage with and without Wit Here lie I open to Wits priuy Nips Or open Thumps lay on Wit spare me not And I le oreturne as thou shalt offer Trips Sith through my weaknesse thou the best hast got Yet stay thy Wisedome wit and hold thy hand Vse thou the Conquest like a Conqueror That is foile thou the ill which thee withstand But let the faultlesse neuer feel thy powr For t is not simply ill a truth to tell Though it perhaps be told for scarce good end And doubtful words with Letters Loue doth spel That alwaies only doth the best intend But sith al those that know me knew me such As once I was my Line sare of lesse force Vnlesse my hate of what I was I touch To dravv Sword-dravvers to a quiet Course For stealst thou Theefe and yet exhorst to Truth Or Kilst thou Butcher yet dehortst from Bloud Shal he perswade vs who reuenge pursuth That mercy is the best reuenging mood I am turnd Crauen and am held-therein By Loue which holds for true diuinity That Faiths Deuotion is but deadly sin If it be not deuout in Charity Then he that makes his life a lasting Brall And seems to feed on nought but Wounâ—s and Gore May pray for grace to change his life withall But other praiers make his sins the more And they that loue their sins to mulâ—iply Stil let â—hem pray in Hate and thirst of Bloud So shal they liue while they make others die To dy the death of Dogs in damned moode Now if this Charme of Words want violence To make these brauing Spirits lesse bloudy-bold And bring them into Loues Circumference Sufficeth me I Coniur'd as I could But if thereby they wax more turbulent I can but rue but they shall more repent Blessed is the Man that doth meditate honest things by Wisedome Ecclus. 14. 21. DId Wisedome write or speake the world to please Shee were not wisedom in a pleasing Sence Then who doth please with any one of these Doth please vnwÃsely but the World or Sence Then áre they worldly wise or sensual That doe soe write òr speake but none of those Can be in them whose words can sweeten Gall Which Sweets do rest where sweetest Soules repose And they repose but in the Sweet of Sweets God only wise or Bodies of the Blest In whom true Wisedome Grace and Nature meets Whose gracefull VVords are naturally exprest If VVords inchaunt the Sense and not the Soule That Charme of VVords coniures no holy Spright For Such such VVords not Such such VVords controules Soule-pleasing VVords must then bee rare and right Yet though a Sonnet bee as right as rare For Number Measure VVaight or Nouclâ—â—â— Yet if it sounds so but to Senses Eare The Soule as harshe doth hold that Hermonie Then all our Straines that relishe double Loue Sweet double-Relishe worthie treble praise To Soule and Bodie Soule and Body moue VVith ioy to listen as to Angells Lâ—ies These bee the Aires that gett the Aire of Fame Of Fame whose Aire diuinely is refinde That feeds with purest praise immâ—rt all Name Fitting the nature of each mightie Minde And they are only mightie that disdaine All that that disagrees with Mightinesse As is light Loue fraile Fancies Shadowes vaine VVeake VVitt base Blisse VVorlds weale or VVretchednes Then as to Nature curst but kind to Grace I herehaue made a Rodd my selfe to beate VVhose highest reach in Straines of Loue is base Sith Lightnesse incasures them with heauie Feete Yet if this Lightnesse heauy make the Light In Summing vp my Numbers totall Summe I hope the weight thereof will bee of weight Their Lightnesse if it rise to ouercome For they are too Light that in Those but waigh VVhat Lusters not what Louers ought to say Sic transit gloria Mundi LIfe stay or if thou wilt not let my Soule Moue with thee to the Rest Thou mouest to The Twyne by which thou hangst Time vp doth rowle On Heau'ns round reeling Spheares which thee vndâ—os Thenô my Soule let Truth thy Vertues woo To ioyne their Force t' inforce th' infirmitie Of this Lifes excesse in Deficiency For truth to say wee Bee and Bee not bothe Wee Bee in show but Bee not as wee ought If then wee Bee not but in show in sooth Wee Are as if wee Were not Ought and Nought Dying as soone as wee to Life are brought Twixt Generation and Corruption The Meane inclines but to destruction And if we straine the Circle of our Thoughâ— To comprehend some Essence of the same It is as if to catch a Shade we sought Or clos'd our Fist to hold the blast of Fame Yet that is Aire but Man is but in Nameâ— Then looke how much a Name hath beeing found So much hath Man which is a Sound vnsound Vnsound it is for were it sound it were That which fraile Man is nothing lesse then like For Sounds haue Beeing yea they plaine appeare And on the Organs of our Hearing strike Of which those Organs are with vs to seeke For while the Sound resoundeâ—h wee are gonne So are wee SouÌ„ds that haue not Time nor Toneâ— Then Reason seeking for a reall Thing Of Humane-nature fowly is deceau'd Because the same hath no continuing But runnes hir Race ere really perceau'd Whose Life of Life is instantlie bereau'dâ— A Dreame a Shade ô no it s not so much A shadow of a Dreame at most is such That 's the Similitude the Lord of Life Doth vse to show our Liues vnbeeing Beeing What! in the World where all things are so â—ife Is nought but Nothing to the same agreeing Which not appeares nor scarse suppos'd by Seeing And beeing scarse supposed then it is To Nothing next or