men as maye confesse with me How contrary the lots of loue to all true louers bée Let Patience be the Priest the Clarke be Close conceipt The Sertin be Simplicitie which meaneth no disceipt Let almes of Loue be delt euen at the Chaunsell doore And feede them there with freshe delayes as I haue bene of yore Then let the yongest sort be set to ring Loues Bels And pay Repentance for their paines but giue thē nothing else Thus when the Dirge is done let euery man depart And learne by me what harme it is to haue a faithfull hart Those litle landes I haue mine heyre must needes possesse His name is Lust the landes be losse few louers scape with lesse The rest of all my goodes which I not here rehearse Giue learned Poets for their paines to decke my Tombe with verse And let them write these wordes vpon my carefull chest Lo here he lies that was as true in loue as is the best Alas I had forgot the Parsons dewe to paye And so my soule in Purgatorye might remaine alway Then for my priuie Tythes as kysses caught by stealth Sweete collinges such other knackes as multiplied my wealth I giue the Vickar here to please his gréedie wyll A deintie dishe of suger soppes but saust with sorrow stil And twise a wéeke at least let dight them for his dishe On Fridayes and on wednesdaies to saue expence of fishe Nowe haue I much bequeathed and litle left behinde And others mo must yet be serued or else I were vnkinde Wet eyes and wayling wordes Executours I make And for their paines ten pound of teares let either of them take Let sorrow at the last my Suprauisor be And stedfastnesse my surest steade I giue him for his fée Yet in his pattent place this Sentence of prouiso That he which loueth stedfastly shall want no sauce of sorrow Thus now I make an ende of this my wearie wyll And signe it with my simple hand and set my seale there tyll And you which reade my wordes although they be in rime Yet reason may perswade you eke Thus louers dote sometime The Subscription and seale MY mansion house was Mone from Dolours dale I came I Fato Non Fortuna hight lo now you know my name My seale is sorrowes sythe within a fielde of flame Which cuts in twaine a carefull heart that sweltreth in the same Fato non Fortuna ALas lo now I heare the passing Bell Which Care appointeth carefullye to knoule And in my brest I féele my heart now swell To breake the stringes which ioynde it to my soule The Crystall yse which lent mine eyes their light Doth now waxe dym and dazeled all with dread My senses all wyll now forsake me quite And hope of health abandoneth my head My wearie tongue can talke no longer now My trembling hand nowe leaues my penne to hold My ioynts nowe stretch my body cannot bowe My skinne lookes pale my blood now waxeth cold And are not these the very panges of death Yes sure sweete heart I know them so to bée They be the panges which striue to stop my breath They be the panges which part my loue from thée What sayd I Loue Nay life but not my loue My life departes my loue continues styll My lothed lyfe may from my corpse remoue My louing Loue shall alwayes worke thy wyll It was thy wyll euen thus to trye my truth Thou hast thy wyll my truth may now be sene It was thy wyll that I should dye in youth Thou hast thy wyll my yeares are yet but grene Thy penaunce was that I should pine in paine I haue performde thy penaunce all in wo Thy pleasure was that I should here remaine I haue bene glad to please thy fansie so Nowe since I haue performed euery part Of thy commaunde as neare as tongue can tell Content thée yet before my muse depart To take this Sonet for my last farewell Fato non fortuna His Farewell FArewell déere Loue whome I haue loued and shall Both in this world and in the world to come For proofe whereof my sprite is Charons thrall And yet my corpse attendant on thy toome Farewell déere swéete whose wanton wyll to please Eche taste of trouble séemed mell to me Farewell swéete deare whose doubtes for to appease I was contented thus in bale to be Farewell my lyfe farewell for and my death For thee I lyu'd for thee nowe must I dye Farewell from Bathe whereas I feele my breath Forsake my breast in great perplexitie Alas how welcome were this death of mine If I had dyde betweene those armes of thine Fato non Fortuna The Reporters conclusion WHere might I now find flooddes of flowing teares So to suffice the swelling of mine eyes How might my breast vnlode the bale it beares Alas alas how might my tongue deuise To tell this weary tale in wofull wise To tell I saye these tydinges nowe of truth Which may prouoke the craggy rockes to rush In depth of dole would God that I were drownde Where flattering ioyes might neuer find me out Or graued so within the gréedy grounde As false delights might neuer bréede my doubt Nor guilefull loue hir purpose bring about Whose trustlesse traines in collours for to paint I find by proofe my wittes are all to faint I was that man whome destinies ordeine To beare eche griefe that groweth on the mold I was that man which proued to my paine More panges at once than can with tongue be told I was that man hereof you maye be hold Whome heauen and earth did frame to scoffe and scorne I I was he which to that ende was borne Suffized not my selfe to taste the fruite Of sugred sowres which growe in gadding yeares But that I must with paine of lyke pursute Perceiue such panges by paterne of my peares And féele how fansies fume could fond my pheares Alas I find all fates against me bent For nothing else I lyue but to lament The force of friendship bound by holy othe Dyd drawe my wyll into these croked wayes For with my frend I went to Bathe though loth To lend some comfort in his dollie dayes The stedfast friend stickes fast at all assayes Yet was I loth such time to spend in vaine The cause whereof lo here I tell you playne By proofe I found as you may well perceiue That all good counsell was but worne in wast Such painted paines his passions did deceiue That bitter gall was mell to him in tast Within his will such rootes of ruine plast As graffes of griefes were only giuen to growe Where youth did plant and rash conceite did sowe I sawe at first his eares were open aye To euery tale which fed him with some hope As fast againe I sawe him turne away From graue aduise which might his conscience grope From reasons rule his fancie lightly lope He only gaue his mind to get that gaine Which most he wisht and least could yet attaine Not I
ryme called ryding rime and that is suche as our Mayster and Father Chaucer vsed in his Canterburie tales and in diuers other delectable and light enterprises but though it come to my remembrance somewhat out of order it shall not yet come altogether out of time for I will nowe tell you a conceipt whiche I had before forgotten to wryte you may see by the way that I holde a preposterous order in my traditions but as I sayde before I wryte moued by good wil and not to shewe my skill Then to returne too my matter as this riding rime serueth most aptly to wryte a merie tale so Rythme royall is fittest for a graue discourse Ballades are beste of matters of loue and rondlettes moste apt for the beating or handlyng of an adage or common prouerbe Sonets serue aswell in matters of loue as of discourse Dizaymes and Sixames for shorte Fantazies Verlayes for an effectuall proposition although by the name you might otherwise iudge of Verlayes and the long verse of twelue and fouretene sillables although it be now adayes vsed in all Theames yet in my iudgement it would serue best for Psalmes and Himpnes I woulde stande longer in these traditions were it not that I doubt mine owne ignoraunce but as I sayde before I know that I write to my fréede and affying my selfe therevpon I make an ende FINIS VVyll is dame bevvties chiefe Iustice of Oyre and terminer Common Bayll There is in deede suche a kinde of feuer Lenuoye Such a sect there is that desire no longer lyfe theÌ„ vvhiles they are in loue Astolf being the goodliest personne in the vvorlde founde a dvvarfe lying vvith his vvife * Apeece of golde like the Crusado * The chiefe Cittie in Cyprus * The gouernour of Famagosta * The generall of the Turkes The foure to che bearers that came in vvith the Actor The Actor had a token in his cap like to the Mountacutes of Italie The token that he dyd vveare in his cappe The Montacutes and capels in Italye do vvere tokens in their cappes to be knovven one from another * Venetian hotes * Knovv not * Good quaâ—â—â—ies * Am not * Lacke * As vvho should say These thinges are mistical and not to bee vnderstoode but by Thaucthour him selfe Another misterie Another misterie Another misterie Another similitude Hope is euer contrary to a louers Passion à definito Poetes Astronomers definition Painters description Common peoples opinion The Authors definition Prince Nobilitie Prelacie Lawyers Merchants Husbandmen CoÌ„munaltie Haughty harts ☞ Caesar Pompey Montacute Earle of Salisbury Borbon Borbons Epitaph Aristotle Cicero Auicene Greedy minde Miser Vnthriftes Praters Felons Hope is cup-bearer to war. Flushyng frayes fleesing of Flaunders Aerdenburgh Tergoes * The Prince of Orenge his name is Guillam of Nassau ☜ Ramykins * A Coronel of the kings side (a) An Iland so called which was sore spoyled by our countrymen (b) A Coronel of the kings side whiche was gouernour of Middelburgh next before MouÌ„tdragon * A towne in Holland * Christmas The frute of fansie The pleasauntest village as I thinke that is in Europe (a) forbidden (b) the Greene captaine (c) a prouerbe (a) protestauÌ„ts (b) The Iland wherein Flushing doth stand (c) Rigged vp and fully furnished (d) a Towne (e) a Riuer (f) Lusty gallants (g) The admiral of flushing (h) Iulian de Romero (i) The castellane of Anwerp (k) A Riuer Hope is the herbenger of mishappe * footemen ☜ ☞ * A coronell of the kings side ☜ Prince Nobilitie Prelacie Lawyers Merchaunts The first supose grownd of all the suposes An other supose Another supose An other supose A dottish supose An other supose Erostra Du. ex improuiso Dulipo is espied by Erostrato The seruants come in An other suppose Pasi subito improuiso venit An other suppose Another suppose Another suppose A stoute suppose A pleasant suppose A true suppose A shamelesse suppose A needelesse suppose An other suppose A shrewde suppose An other suppose Another suppose Another plain and homely suppose Erostrato exit A knauishe suppose Lawyers are neuer weary to get money A gentle suppose A crafty suppose A right suppose The first suppose brought to conclusion * Fygure The courte liuely painted A glasse for yong women ArgumentuÌ„ â maiore Bacchus Bacchus was the God whom they most honored in Thebes Neuer Sworde Lamenting Exile an exceding griefe to an honest mynde All exyles are like bondmen Hope the help in miserye Fuw frends in miserye Smal causes may moue the needy to contend The dames did loue Polynice and hate Eteocles One of the furies Rehersall of olde grudges doâ— hâ—â—der al reconcilition (b) Cruell or vengeable Truth pleadeth simply when falssehood vseth eloquence (c) Crown 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sundrye men sundry minds Onely rule Wil not Tullyes opinyon Youth seeth not so much as age Ambition doth destroye al equalytte doth maynteyne al things If the head be euill the body cannot be good Content to riche Riches are but borowed ware More care to loose than plesure to posses Small glory for a rebel to see his owne countrey spoyled Kyll Promisse Age must be helped by youth Venus made him blynde for giuing sentence against hir Great follye to accuse the gods A thankles office to foretell a mischiefe No greater honor than to dye for thy countrey Death indeed yeldeth more pleasure than lyfe Comaundements Any messeÌ„ger is welcome that bringeth tydings of aduancement Cesers tears We harken somtimee willingly to wofull news * would not She sheweth the frutes of true kyndly loue The duty of a childe truly perfourmed She giueth him a staffe and stayeth hym hir self also Iustice sleepeth A Glasse for brittel Beutie and for iusty limmes A mirrour for Magistrates (a) The Hill where poetes fayne thâ—t the Muses sleepe (a) A true exposition (b) Querweening There are to many of them in euery countrey A Misterie (a) Sir William Morgan of Pencoyde (a) bettâ—â— (a) best beloued (b) in good worth (a) Fadom a half three ho. (b) When all sayles are takeÌ„ downe (c) You be to soone (d) It is not good tide (e) the Duke (a) vnknowen (a) It is good tide that know I well (b) Lusty gallants Yorke and Herle (a) care (a) A Small bote The ayre of that Countrie did by all likelyhood seeme colder to him than the streetes of Venice (a) as who sayeth She vvas an Egiptian Angelica refusing the most famous knights in the vvhole vvorlde chose at last Medoro a poore seruing man.
liue and such a life leade I. The Sunny dayes which gladde the saddest wightes Yet neuer shine to cleare my misty moone No quiet sléepe amidde the mooneshine nightes Can close mine eyes when I am woe begone Into such shades my péeuishe sorrowe shrowdes That Sunne and Moone are styll to me in clowdes And feuerlike I féede my fancie styll With such repast as most empaires my health Which feuer first I caught by wanton wyll When coles of kind dyd stirre my blood by stealth And gazing eyes in bewtie put such trust That loue enflamd my liuer al with lust My fits are lyke the feuer Ectick fits Which one daye quakes within and burnes without The next day heate within the boosoms sits And shiuiring colde the body goes about So is my heart most hote when hope is colde And quaketh most when I most heate behold Tormented thus without delayes I stand All wayes in one and euermore shal be In greatest griefe when helpe is nearest hand And best at ease if death might make me frée Delighting most in that which hurtes my heart And hating change which might relieue my smart Yet you deare dame to whome this cure pertaines Deuise by times some drammes for my disease A noble name shall be your greatest gaines Whereof be sure if you wyll worke mine ease And though fond fooles set forth their fittes as fast Yet graunt with me that my straunge passion past Euer or neuer ¶ A straunge passion of a Louer AMid my Bale I hath in blisse I swim in heauen I sinke in hell I find amends for euery misse And yet my moane no tongue can tell I liue and loue what wold you more As neuer louer liu'd before I laugh sometimes with little lust So iest I oft and féele no ioye Myne ease is builded all on trust And yit mistrust bréedes myne anoye I liue and lacke I lacke and haue I haue and misse the thing I craue These things séeme strange yet are they trew Beléeue me sweete my state is such One pleasure which I wold eschew Both slakes my grief and breedes my grutch So doth one paine which I would shoon Renew my ioyes where grief begoon Then like the larke that past the night In heauy sleepe with cares opprest Yit when shee spies the pleasaunt light She sends sweete notes from out hir brest So sing I now because I thinke How ioyes approch when sorrowes shrinke And as fayre Philomene againe Can watch and singe when other sleepe And taketh pleasure in hir payne To wray the woo that makes hir weepe So sing I now for to bewray The lothsome life I lead alway The which to thée deare wenche I write That know'st my mirth but not my moane I praye God graunt thée déepe delight To liue in ioyes when I am gone I cannot liue it wyll not bée I dye to thinke to part from thée Ferendo Natura ¶ The Diuorce of a Louer DIuorce me nowe good death from loue and lingring life That one hath bene my concubine that other was my wife In youth I liued with loue she had my lustye dayes In age I thought with lingering life to stay my wādering wais But now abusde by both I come for to complaine To thée good death in whom my helpe doth wholy now remain My libell loe behold wherein I doe protest The processe of my plaint is true in which my griefe doth rest First loue my concubine whome I haue kept so trimme Euen she for whome I séemd of yore in seas of ioy to swimme To whome I dare auowe that I haue serued as well And played my part as gallantly as he that heares the hell She cast me of long since and holdes me in disdaine I cannot pranke to please hir nowe my vaunting is but vaine My writhled chéekes bewraye that pride of heate is past My stagring steppes eke tell the trueth that nature fadeth fast My quaking crooked ioyntes are combred with the crampe The boxe of oyle is wasted wel which once dyd féede my lampe The gréenesse of my yeares doth wyther now so sore That lusty loue leapes quite awaye and lyketh me no more And loue my lemman gone what lyking can I take In lothsome lyfe that croked croane although she be my make Shée cloyes me with the cough hir comfort is but cold She bids me giue mine age for almes wher first my youth was sold No day can passe my head but she beginnes to brall No mery thoughts conceiued so fast but she confounds them al. When I pretend to please she ouerthwarts me still When I would faynest part with hir she ouerwayes my will. Be iudge then gentle death and take my cause in hand Consider euery circumstaunce marke how the case doth stand Percase thou wilte aledge that cause thou canst none sée But that I like not of that one that other likes not me Yea gentle iudge giue eare and thou shalt see me proue My concubine incontinent a common whore is loue And in my wyfe I find such discord and debate As no man liuing can endure the tormentes of my state Wherefore thy sentence say deuorce me from them both Since only thou mayst right my wronges good death nowe he not loath But cast thy pearcing dart into my panting brest That I may leaue both loue and life thereby purchase rest Haud ictus sapio ¶ The Lullabie of a Louer SIng lullaby as women doe Wherewith they bring their babes to rest And lullaby can I sing to As womanly as can the best With lullaby they still the childe And if I be not much beguild Full many wanton babes haue I Which must be stild with lullabie First lullaby my youthfull yeares It is nowe time to go to bed For croocked age and hoary heares Haue wone the hauen with in my head With Lullaby then youth be still With Lullaby content thy will Since courage quayles and commes behind Go sleepe and so beguile thy minde Next Lullaby my gazing eyes Which wonted were to glaunce apace For euery Glasse maye nowe suffise To shewe the furrowes in my face With Lullabye then winke awhile With Lullabye your lookes beguile Lette no fayre face nor beautie brighte Entice you efte with vayne delighte And Lullaby my wanton will Lette reasons rule nowe reigne thy thought Since all to late I finde by skyll Howe deare I haue thy fansies bought With Lullaby nowe tak thyne ease With Lullaby thy doubtes appease For trust to this if thou be styll My body shall obey thy will. Eke Lullaby my louing boye My little Robyn take thy rest Since age is colde and nothing coye Keepe close thy coyne for so is best With Lullady be thou content With Lullaby thy lustes relente Lette others pay which hath mo pence Thou art to pore for such expence Thus Lullabye my youth myne eyes My will my ware and all that was I can no mo delayes deuise But welcome payne let pleasure passe With Lullaby now take your leaue
towardes the ground toke good aduisement in his aunswere when a fayre gentlewoman of the company clapped him on the shoulder saying how now sir is your hand on your halfpeny To whome he aunswered no fayre Lady my hand is on my harte and yet my hart is not in myne owne hands wherewithall abashed turning towards dame Elinor he sayde My souereigne and Mistresse according to the charge of your command and the dutie that I owe you my tongue shall bewraye vnto you the truthe of mine intent At this present a rewarde giuen me without desert doth so reioyce mée with continuall remembraunce that though my minde be so occupied to thinke thereon as that daye nor night I can bée quiet from that thought yet the ioye and pleasure whiche I conceiue in the same is such that I can neyther be cloyed with continuaunce thereof nor yet afraide that any mishappe can counteruayle so greate a treasure This is to me suche a heauen to dwell in as that I féede by day and repose by night vppon the freshe recorde of this reward This as Bartello sayeth he ment by the kisse that she lent him in the Gallery and by the profession of hir laste letters and woordes Well though this aunswere bee somewhat mistie yet let his excuse be that taken vppon the sodaine he thought better to aunswere darkly than to be mistrusted openly Hir second question was what thing in this life did moste gréeue his harte and disquiet his minde whervnto he answered That although his late rehersed ioy were incomparable yet the greatest enimie that disturbed the same was the priuie worme of his owne giltie conscience which accused him euermore with great vnworthinesse and that this was his greatest griefe The Lady biting vpon the bitte at his cunning answeres made vnto these two questions ganne thus replie Seruaunt I had thought to haue touched you yet nearer with my thirde question but I will refrayne to attempt your pacience and nowe for my third demaund aunswere me directly in what manner this passion doth handle you and howe these contraries may hang together by any possibilitie of concorde for your woordes are straunge Ferdinando now rousing himselfe boldly tooke occasion thus to handle his aunswere Mistresse quod he my woordes in déede are straunge but yet my passion is muche straunger and thervpon this other day to conteÌ„t mine owne fantasie I deuised a Sonet which although it bée a péece of Cocklorels musicke and suche as I might be ashamed to publish in this company yet bicause my truth in this answere may the better appeare vnto you I pray you vouchsafe to receiue the same in writing and drawing a paper out of his pocket presented it to hir wherin was written this Sonet LOue hope and death do stirre in me such strife As neuer man but I led such a life First burning loue doth wound my hart to death And when death comes at call of inward griefe Colde lingering hope doth feede my fainting breath Against my will and yeeldes my wound reliefe So that I liue but yet my life is such As death would neuer greue me halfe so much No comfort then but only this I tast To salue such sore such hope will neuer want And with such hope such life will euer last And with such life such sorrowes are not skant Oh straunge desire O life with torments tost Through too much hope mine onely hope is lost Euen HE F.I. THis sonet was highly commended and in my iudgement it deserueth no lesse His dutie thus perfourmed their pastimes ended and at their departure for a watch worde hée couÌ„selled his Mistresse by little and little to walke abrode saying that the Gallery neare adioyning was so pleasaunt as if he were halfe dead he thought that by walking therin hée might be halfe more reuiued Think you so seruaunt quod she and the last tyme that I walked there I suppose I toke the cause of my malady but by your aduise for that you haue so clerkly steynched my bléeding I will assay to walke there to morow Mistres quod he and in more ful accomplishment of my duetie towards you and in sure hope that you will vse the same onelie to your owne priuate commoditie I will there awaite vpon you and betwene you and me wil teach you the ful order how to steynch the bléeding of any creature wherby you shal be as cuÌ„ning as my self Gramercy good seruant quod she I thinke you lost the same in writing here yesterday but I caÌ„not vnderstand it therfore to morrow if I féele my self any thing ameÌ„ded I wil sende for you thither to enstruct me throughly thus they departed And at supper time the Lord of Valasco finding fault that his gestes stomacke serued him no better began too accuse the grosnesse of his vyands to whom one of the geÌ„tlewomen which had passed the afternoone in his company answered Nay sir quod she this gentleman hath a passion the which once in a day at the least doth kill his appetite Are you so well acquainted with the dispositioÌ„ of his body quod the Lord of the house by his owne saying quod she not otherwise Fayre ladie quod FerdinaÌ„do you either mistoke me or ouerheard me theÌ„ for I told of a coÌ„fortable humor which so fed me with coÌ„tinuall remeÌ„braÌ„ce of ioy as that my stomack being ful therof doth desire in maner none other vittayles Why sir quod the host do you theÌ„â—iue by loue God forbid sir quod Ferdinando for then my cheekes wold be much thinner thaÌ„ they be but there are diuers other greater causes of ioy than the doubtful lots of loue for mine own part to be playn I caÌ„not loue I dare not hate I would I thought so quod the gentlewoman And thus with prety nyppes they passed ouer their supper which ended the Lord of the house required Ferdinando Ieronimi to daunce and passe the time with the gentlewomen which he refused not to doe But sodenly before the musicke was well tuned came out Dame Elynor in hir night attyre and said to the Lord the supposing the solitarinesse of hir chamber had encreased hir maladie she came out for hir better recreatioÌ„ to sée them daunce Well done daughter quod the Lorde And I Mistres quod Ferdinando would gladly bestowe the leading of you about this great chamber to driue away the faintnesse of your feuer No good seruaunt quod the Lady but in my stéede I pray you daunce with this fayre Gentlewoman pointing him too the Lady that had so taken him vp at supper Ferdinando to auoyd mistrust did agrée too hir request without furder entreaty The daunce begon this Knight marched on with the Image of S. Frances in his hand and S. Elynor in his hart The violands at end of the pauion staied a whyle in whiche time this Dame sayde to Ferdinando Ieronimi on this wise I am right sory for you in two respects although the familiarity haue hytherto had
gold needes no mans praise ye know And euery coyne is iudgde and found by weight by stamp or show Yet doth the prayse of men giue gold a double grace And makes both pearls and Iewels rich desirde in euery place The horse full finely formde whose pace and traine is true Is more esteemde for good report than likte for shape and view Yea sure ech man himselfe for all his wit and skill If world bestow no lawde on him may sleepe in silence still Fame shewes the value first of euerie precious thing And winnes with lyking all the brute that doth the credit bring And fame makes way before to workes that are vnknowne And peoples loue is caried ther where fame hir trump hath blown A cunning workman fine in Cloyster close may sit And carue or paint a thousand things and vse both art and wit Yet wanting worldes renowne may scape vnsought or seene It is but fame that outruns all and gets the goall I weene The learned Doctors lawd that heales where other harmes By cōmon prayse of peoples voyce brings pacients in by swarmes A goodly stately house hath seldome any fame Till world behold the buildings through and people see the same The Flowers and Posies sweete in better price are held VVhen those haue praysde their vertues rare that haue their odor smeld So by these foresayd proofes I haue a pardon free To speake to write and make discourse of any worke I see That worthie is of prayse for prayse is all we get Present the worlde with labors great the world is in your det It neuer yeeldes rewarde nor scarce iust prayse will giue Then studie out to stand on fame and striue by fame to liue Our olde forefathers wise saw long before these dayes How sone faint world would fail deserts and cold would wax our prayse And knowing that disdeyne for toyle did rather rise Than right renowne whose goldē buds growes vp to starry skies Betooke their labors long and euery act they did Vnto the Gods from whose deepe sight no secret can be hid And these good gracious Gods sent downe from heauens hie For noble minds an endlesse fame that throw the world doth flie VVhich fame is due to those that seeke by new deuice To honor learning euery way and Vertue bring in price From Knowledge gardeyn gay where science sowes hir seedes A pretie Posie gathered is of Flowers Hearbes and VVeedes The Flowers by smel are found the hearbs their goodnes showes The VVeedes amid both hearbs flowers in decēt order growes The soft and tender nose that can no weedes abide May make his choise of holesome hearbes whose vertues well are tride The fine and flowing wittes that feede on straunge delites May tast for seasning daintie mouthes the bitter weede that bites The well disposed minde and honest meaning man Shall finde in floures proude Peacoks plumes and feathers of the Swan The curst and crabbed Carle that Posies flings away By this perhaps may find some cause with prettie floures to play The kinde and louing worme that woulde his ladie please My light on some such medcin here shal do them both much ease The Lad that lykes the schoole and will good warning take May snatch some rules oute of this booke that may him doctor make The hastie trauayling head that flies to foreyne place May wey by this what home is woorth and stay his rouing race The manly courage stoute that seeketh fame full farre Shall find by this how sweete is peace and see how soure is warre This Posie is so pickt and choysely sorted throw There is no Flower Herbe nor VVeede but serues some purpose now Then since it freely comes to you for little cost Take well in worth these paynes of him that thinkes no labor lost To do his countrie good as many others haue VVho for their toyles a good report of worlde did onely craue Grudge not to yeeld some fame for fruites that you receyue Make some exchaunge for franke good will some signe or token leaue To shew your thankfull harts For if you loue to take And haue a conscience growne so great you can no gift forsake And cannot giue againe that men deserue to reape Adieu we leaue you in the hedge and ore the stile we leape And yet some stile or verse we after shape in ryme That may by arte shewe you a Glasse to see your selues in tyme. Thus wish I men their right and you that iudge amisse To mend your minds or frame your Muse to make the like of this G.VV. In prayse of Gascoigne and his Posies REader rewarde nought else but onely good report For all these pleasant Posies here bound vp in sundrie sort The flowers fayre and fresh were set with painefull toyle Of late in Gascoignes Garden plot a passing pleasant soyle Now weedes of little worth are culde from out the rest VVhich he with double paine did work to gleane the bad frō best The state is very straunge and fortune rare in vse VVhose heauie happe he neither helpes nor blazeth their abuse In thundring verse he wrayes where highest mindes be thrall VVhere mischeefe seekes to rayse it selfe by force of others fall He pluckes the visour of from maskes of peeuish pride And wrayes what sowre in sweet pretēce the coustly corts cā hide In euerie gallant flower he setteth forth to show Of Venus thralles the hap the harme the want the weale the woe He finely findes their faultes whose welth doth foster wrong VVho toucheth sinne without offence must plainly sing his song His loftie vaine in verse his stately stile in prose Foretelles that Pallas ment by him for to defende hir foes VVherwith to Mars his might his lustie limmes are knit A sight most rare that Hectors mind should match with Pallas wit. By proofe of late appeared how so reportes here ran That he in field was formost still in spoyle the hynmost man. No backward blastes could bruse the valour of his thought Although slie hap forestoode his hope in that he credite sought In fortunes spight he straue by vertues to aspire Resolude when due deserts might mount then he should haue his hire Thus late with Mars in field a lustie Souldiour shewde And now with peace in Pallas schoole he freendly hath bestowde On thee this heape of flowers the fruites of all his toyle VVhereof if some but simple seeme consider well the soyle They grew not all at home some came from forreyne fieldes The which percase set here againe no pleasant sauour yeeldes Yet who mislyketh most the worst will hardly mend And he were best not write at all which no man will offend P.B. to such as haue heretofore found fault with Gascoignes Posies GAynst good deserts both pride and enuie swell As neede repines to see his neighbour ritche And slaunder chafes where vertues prosper well As sicke men thinke all others health to mitch Such filthie faultes mens harts ofttymes inflame That spight presumes to stayne the worthies
louer forsaken written by a gentlewoman who passed by him with hir armes set bragging by hir sides and lefte it vnfinished as followeth WEre my hart set on hoygh as thine is bent Or in my brest so braue and stout a will Then long ere this I coulde haue bene content With sharpe reueng thy carelesse corpes to kill For why thou knowest although thou know not all What rule what raygne what power what segnory Thy melting minde did yéeld to me as thrall When first I pleasd thy wandring fantifie What lingring lookes bewray'd thyne inward thought What panges were publisht by perplexcitie Such reakes the rage of loue in thée had wrought And no gramercie for thy curtesie I list not vaunt but yet I dare auowe Had bene my harmelesse hart as harde as thine I coulde haue bounde thée then for starting nowe In bondes of bale in pangs of deadly pyne For why by profe the field is eath to win Where as the chiefteynes yéeld them selues in chaynes The port or passage plaine to enter in Where porters list to leaue the key for gaynes But did I then deuise with crueltie As tyrants do to kill the yéelding pray Or did I bragge and boast triumphauntly As who should saye the field were mine that daye Did I retire my selfe out of thy sight To beat afresh the bulwarkes of thy brest Or did my mind in choyce of change delight And render thée as reffuse with the rest No Tygre no the lyon is not lewd He shewes no force on seely wounded shéepe c. VVhiles he sat at the dore of his lodging deuising these verses aboue rehersed the same Gentlewoman passed by againe and cast a longe looke towardes him whereby he left his former inuention and wrote thus HOwe long she lookt that lookt at me of late As who would say hir lookes were all for loue When God he knowes they came from deadly hate To pinch me yit with pangs which I must proue But since my lokes hir liking maye not moue Looke where she likes for lo this looke was cast Not for my loue but euen to see my last Si fortunatus infoelix Another Sonet written by the same Gentlewoman vppon the same occasion I Lookt of late and sawe thée loke askance Vpon my dore to sée if I satte there As who should say If he be there by chance Yet maye he thinke I loke him euery where No cruell no thou knowest and I can tell How for thy loue I layd my lokes a side Though thou par case hast lookt and liked wel Some newe founde lookes amide this world so wide But since thy lookes my loue haue so in chaynd That to my lokes thy liking now is past Loke whâ—re thou likest and let thy hands be staynd In true loues bloud which thou shalt lack at last So looke so lack for in these toyes thus tost My lookes thy loue thy lookes my life haue lost Si fortunatus infoelix ¶ To the same gentlewoman because she challenged the Aucthour for holding downe his head alwaies and for that hee looked not vppon hir in wonted manner YOu must not wonder though you thinke it straunge To sée me holde my lowring head so lowe And that myne eyes take no delyght to raunge About the gleames which on your face doe growe The mouse which once hath broken out of trappe Is sildome tysed with the trustlesse bayte But lyes aloofe for feare of more mishappe And féedeth styll in doubte of deepe deceipte The skorched flye which once hath scapt the flame Wyll hardlye come to playe againe with fyre Whereby I learne that greeuous is the game Which followes fansie dazled by desire So that I wynke or else holde downe my head Because your blazing eyes my bale haue bred Si fortunatus infoelix ⧠The Recantacion of a Louer NOw must I needes recant the wordes which once I spoke Fond fansie fumes so nie my noose I nedes must smel the smoke And better were to beare a Faggot from the fire Than wylfully to burne and blaze in flames of vaine desire You Iudges then giue eare you people marke me well I saye both heauen and earth record the tale which I shall tell And knowe that dread of death nor hope of better hap Haue forced or perswaded me to take my turning cap But euen that mightye Ioue of his great clemencie Hath giuen me grace at last to iudge the trueth from heresie I saye then and professe with free and faithfull heart That womeÌ„s vowes are nothing els but snares of secret smart Their beauties blaze are baites which séeme of pleasant taste But who deuoures the hidden hooke eates poyson for repast Their smyling is deceipt their faire wordes traines of treason Their wit alwaies so full of wyles it skorneth rules of reason Percase some present here haue heard my selfe of yore Both teach preach the contrary my fault was then the more I graunt my workes were these first one Anatomie Wherein I painted euery pang of louers perplexitye Next that I was araignde with George holde vp thy hand Wherein I yéelded Bewties thrall at hir commaund to stand Myne eyes so blinded were good people marke my tale That once I song I Bathe in Blisse amidde my weary Balâ— And many a frantike verse then from my penne dyd passe In waues of wicked heresie so déepe I drowned was All which I now recant and here before you burne Those trifling bookes from whose lewde lore my tippet here I turne And hencefoorth wyl I write howe mad is that mans minde Which is entist by any traine to trust in womankind I spare not wedlocke I who lyst that state aduance Aske Astolfe king of Lumbardie howe trim his dwarfe coulde daunce Wherefore fayre Ladies you that heare me what I saye If you hereafter see me slippe or séeme to goe astraye Of if my tongue reuolte from that which nowe it sayth Then plague me thus Beleeue it not for this is nowe my faith Haud ictus sapio ¶ In prayse of Bridges nowe Lady Sandes IN Court who so demaundes what Dame doth most excell For my conceyt I must néedes say faire Bridges beares the bell Vpon whose liuely chéeke to prooue my iudgement true The Rose and Lillie séeme to striue for equall change of hewe And therewithall so well her graces all agrée No frowning chéere dare once presume in hir swéete face to bée Although some lauishe lippes which like some other best Wyll saye the blemishe on hir browe disgraceth all the rest Thereto I thus replie God wotte they litle know The hidden cause of that mishap nor how the harme dyd grow For when Dame nature first had framde hir heauenly face And thoroughly bedecked it with goodly gleames of grace It lyked hir so well Lo here quod shée a péece For perfect shape that passeth all Apelles worke in Greece This bayte may chaunce to catche the greatest God of loue Or mighty thundring Ioue himself that rules the roast aboue But out
more faire than she for whome proud Troy was solde More constant to conteyne than Cresside to be eoy No Calcas can contriue the craft to traine hir out of Troye No Diomede can drawe hir setled harte to change No madding moode can moue hir mind nor make hir thoughtes to range For hir alone it is that Cupide blindfolde goes And dare not looke for feare least he his libertie should loose At hir dame Venus chafes and pines in ielowsie Least bloudy Mars should hir espie and chang his fantasie Of hir the Quene of Heauen doth stand in dreadfull doubt Least Ioue should melte in drops of gold if once he find hir out Oh that my tonge had skill to tell hir prayse aright Or that my pen hir due desertes in worthy verse could write Or that my minde could muse or happie heart conceiue Some words that might resound hir worth by high Mineruas leaue Oh how the blooming ioyes do blossome in my brest To think within my secret thought how far she steines the rest Me thinkes I heare hir speake me thinkes I sée hir still Me thinkes I feele hir féelingly me thinkes I know hir will. Me thinkes I sée the states which sue to hir for grace Me thinkes I sée one looke of hirs repulse them all apace Me thinkes that houre is yet and euermore shall be Wherein my happie happe was first hir heauenly face to sée Wherein I spide the writte which woond betwéene hir eyne And sayd behold be bold for I am borne to be but thine Me thinks I féele the ioyes which neuer yet were felt Whome flame before yet neuer toucht me thinks I feele them melt One word there an end me thinks she is the sunne Which only shineth now a daies she dead the world were done The rest are twinkling starres or Moones which borow light To comfort other carefull soules which wander in the night And night God knowes it is where other Ladies bée For sure my dame adornes the day there is no sunne but shée Then louers by your leaue and thinke it nothing strange Although I seme with calme content in seas of ioyes to range For why my sailes haue found both wind and waues at wyll And depthes of all delightes in hir with whome I trauell styll And ancors being wayed I leaue you all at large To steare this seemelye Shippe my selfe suche is my mistresse charge Fato non fortuna Dan Bartholmew his second Triumphe FYe pleasure fye thou cloyest me with delight Thou fylst my mouth with sweete meates ouermuch I wallow styll in ioye both daye and night I déeme I dreame I doe I taste I touch No thing but all that smelles of perfect blisse Fye pleasure fye I cannot like of this To taste sometimes a baite of bytter gall To drinke a draught of sower Ale some season To eate browne bread with homely handes in Hall. Doth much encrease mens appetites by reason And makes the swéete more sugred that ensewes Since mindes of men do styll seeke after newes The pampred horse is seldome séene in breath Whose maunger makes his greace oftimes to melt The crammed Fowle comes quickly to his death Such coldes they catche in hottest happes that swelt And I much like in pleasure scawled styll Doe feare to starue although I feede my fill It might suffice that loue hath built his bowre Betwene my Ladies liuely shyning eyes It were inough that Bewties fading flowre Growes euer freshe with hir in heauenly wise It had bene well that shée were faire of face And yet not robbe all other Dames of grace To muse in minde how wise how faire how good How braue howe franke how curteous and how true My Ladys is doth but inflame my blood With humors such as byd my health adue Since happe alwaies when it is clombe on hye Doth fall full lowe though earst it reachte the Skye Lo pleasure lo lo thus I leade a life That laughes for ioye and trembleth oft for dread Thy panges are such as call for changes knife To cut the twist or else to stretch the thread Which holdes yféere the bondell of my blisse Fye pleasure fye I dare not trust to this Fato non fortuna Dan Bartholmewes his third Triumphe YF euer man yet found the bathe of perfect blisse Then swimme I now amid the seas where nought but pleasure is I loue and am beloued without vaunt be it tolde Of one more faire then she of Greece for whome proud Troy was solde As bountifull and good as Cleopatra Queene As constant as Penelope vnto her make was séene What would you more my penne vnable is to write The least desert that séemes to shine within this worthy wight So that for nowe I ceasse with handes helde vp on hye And craue of God that when I chaunge I may be forst to dye Fato non Fortuna The Reporter THese vaunting verses with a many mo To his mishap haue come vnto my handes Whereof the rest bicause he sayled so In braggers boate which set it selfe on sandes And brought him eke fast bound in follyes bands Of curtesie I kéepe them from your sight Let these suffice which of my selfe I write The highest trée that euer yet could growe Although full fayre it slorisht for a season Founde yet at last some fall to bring it lowe This olde sayd sawe is God he knoweth not geason For when things passe the reach and bounds of reason They fall at last although they stand a time And bruse the more the higher that they clime So Bartholmew vnto his paine dyd proue For when he thought his hap to be most hye And that he onely reapt the fruictes of loue And that he swelt in all prosperitie His comfort chaunged to calamitie And though I doe him wrong to tell the same Yet reade it you and let me beare the blame The Saint he seru'd became a craftie deuill His goddesse to an Idoll séemde to chaunge Thus all his good transformed into euill And euery ioy to raging griefe dyd raunge Which Metamorphosis was maruels straunge Yet shall you seldome otherwise it proue Where wicked Lust doth beare the name of Loue. This sodaine chaunge when he began to spye And colde suspect into his minde had crept He bounst and bet his head tormentingly And from all company him selfe he kept Wherby so farre in stormes of strife he stept That nowe he séemed an Image not a man His eyes so dead his colour waxt so wan And I which alwayes beare him great good wyll Although I knew the cause of all his griefe And what had trainde and tysed him theretyll And plaine to speake what moued his mischiefe Yet since I sought to ease him with reliefe I dyd become importunate to knowe The secréete cause whereon this grudge should growe At last with much ado his trembling tonge Bewrayde theffect of his vnwylling wyll Which here to tell since it were all to longe And I therewith too barren am of skyll And trouble you with
O noble king to thée That I haue béene a Rebell in my youth I preast alwaies in pleasures court to bée I fled from that which Cupide still eschuth I fled from Care lo now I tell the truth And in delightes I loued so to dwell Thy heauenly house dyd séeme to me but hell Such was my rage the which I now repent And pardon craue My soule to saue Before the webbe of weary life be spent But marke what fruites dyd grow on such a trée What crop dyd rise vpon so rashe sowne séede For when I thought my selfe in heauen to bée In depth of hell I drowned was in déede Whereon to thinke my heauie hart doth bléede Me thought I swumme in Seas of all delight When as I sunke in puddles of despight Alas alas I thought my selfe belou'd When deadly hate Did play checke mate With me poore pawne that no such prancks had prou'd This when I tryed ay me to be to true I wept for woe I pined all for paine I tare my héere I often chaunged hewe I left delight with dollours to complaine I shund each place where pleasure dyd remaine I cride I calde on euery kinde of death I stroue eache way to stop my fainting breath Short tale to make I stept so farre in strife That still I sought With all my thought Some happie helpe to leaue my lothed life But hope was he that held my hande abacke From quicke dispatch of all my griping griefe When heate of hate had burnt my will to wracke Then hope was colde and lent my life reliefe In euery choice hope challengde to be chiefe When coldest crampes had cleane orecome my heart Then hope was hote and warnde my weary smart Then heart was heardie hope was still in dread When heart was faint With feares attaint Then hardie hope held vp my fearefull head Thus when I found that neither flowing teares Could drowne my heart in waues of wery wo Nor hardy hand could ouercome my feares To cut the sacke of all my sorrowes so Nor death would come nor I to death could go And yet I felt great droppes of secrete smart Distilling styll within my dying heart I then perceiude that onely care was he Which as my friend Might make an end Of all these paines and set my fansie frée Wherefore oh Care graunt thou my iust request Oh kyll my corpse oh quickly kyll me nowe Oh make an ende and bring my bones to rest Oh cut my thread good Care I care not howe Oh Care be kinde and here I make a vowe That when my life out of my brest shall part I wyll present thée with my faithfull hart And send it to thée as a Sacrifice Bicause thou hast Vouchsaft at last To ende my furies in this friendly wise Fato non Fortuna WHat greater glory can a Keysar gaine If madde moode moue his subiectes to rebell Than that at last when all the traytours traine Haue trode the pathe of déepe repentaunce well And naked néede with Cold and Hunger both Hath bitten them abrode in forren land Whereby they may their lewde deuises loth When hairbraind haste with cold aduise is scande If then at last they come vpon their knée And pardon craue with due submission And for this cause I thinke that Care of me Was moued most to take compassion For now I find that pittie prickes his mind To sée me plonged still in endlesse paine And right remorse his princely heart doth bind To rule the rage wherein I do remaine I féele my teares doe now begin to stay For Care from them their swelling springs doth soke I feele my sighes their labours now allaye For Care hath quencht the coles that made thē smoke I feele my panting heart begins to rest For Care hath staide the hammers of my head I feele the flame which blazed in my brest Is nowe with carefull ashes ouerspread And gentle Care hath whet his karuing knife To cut in twaine the thread of all my thrall Desired death nowe ouercommeth life And wo still workes to helpe in haste with all But since I féele these panges approching so And lothed life begin to take his leaue Me thinkes it meete to giue before I go Such landes and goodes as I behind me leaue So to discharge my troubled conscience And eke to set an order for my heyre Who might perhaps be put to great expence To sue for that which I bequeath him here Wherefore déere wenche with all my full intent I thus begin to make my Testament Fato non fortuna His last wyll and Testament IN Ioue his mighty name this eight and twentith day Of frosted bearded Ianuar the enemy to May Since Adam was create fiue thousand yéeres I gesse Fiue hundreth forty more and fiue as stories do expresse I being whole of minde immortall Gods haue praise Though in my body languishing with panges of paine alwayes Do thus ordaine my wyll which long in woes haue wepte Beséeching mine executours to sée it duely kept Fyrst I bequeath my soule on Charons boate to tende Vntill thy life my loue at last may light on luckye ende That there it may awaite to wayte vpon thy ghost Whē thou hast quite clene forgot what pranks now please thée most So shall it well be séene whose loue is like to mine For so I meane to trye my truth and there tyll then to pine My body he enbalmde and cloased vp in chest With oyntments and with spiceries of euery swéete the best And so preserued styll vntill the day do come That death diuorce my loue from life trusse hir vp in tombe Then I bequeath my corps to couche beneathe hir bones And there to féede the gréedy wormes that linger for the nones To frette vppon her fleshe which is to fine therefore This seruice may it doe hir yet although it do no more My heart as heretofore I must bequeathe to Care And God he knowes I thinke the gift to simple for his share But that he may perceiue I meane to pay my dew I will it shall be taken quicke and borne him bléeding new As for my funerals I leaue that toye at large To be as mine executours wyll giue thereto in charge Yet if my goodes will stretche vnto my strange deuice Then let this order be obseru'd mine heyre shall pay the price First let the torche bearers be wrapte in weedes of woe Let all their lightes be virgin waxe because I lou'de it so And care not though the twist be course that lends them light If fansie fume frée wil flame then must they néeds burn bright Next them let come the quier with psalmes and dolefull song Recording all my rough repulse and wraying all my wrong And when the deskant singes in tréeble tunes aboue Then let fa burden say by lowe I liu'd and dyde for loue About my heauy hearse some mourners would I haue Who migh the same accompany and stand about the graue But let them be such
vp Thus yere by yere the one succéeding other This royall crowne should vnto bothe remayne Ser. Oh th unbridled mindes of ambicious men Ioca. Etocles thus plast in princely seate Drunke with the sugred taste of kingly raigne Not onely shut his brother from the crowne But also from his natiue country soyle Alas poore Polynice what might he doe Vniustly by his brother thus betrayed To Argos he with sad and heauie cheere Forthwith conuayde him selfe on whom at length With fauning face good fortune smyled so As with Adrastus king of Argiues there He founde such fauour and affinitie As to restore my sonne vnto his raigne He hath besiedge this noble citie Thebes And hence procéedes my most extreme annoye For of my sonnes who euer doe preuaile The victorie will turne vnto my griefe Alas I feare such is the chaunce of warre That one or both shall purchase death therby Wherfore to shunne the worst that may befall Thoughe comfortlesse yet as a pitifull mother Whom nature binds to loue hir louing sonnes And to prouide the best for their auaile I haue thought good by prayers to entreate The two brethren nay rather cruel foes A while to staie their fierce and furious fight Till I haue tried by meanes for to apease The swelling wrath of their outraging willes And so with much to doe at my request They haue forborne vnto this onely houre Ser. Small space good wot to stint so great a strife Ioca. And euen right now a trustie man of mine Returned from the campe enforming me That Polynice will straight to Thebes come Thus of my woe this is the wailefull sūme And for bycause in vaine and bootelesse plainte I haue small néede to spend this litle time Here will I cease in wordes more to be wray The restlesse state of my afflicted minde Desiring thée thou goe to Eteocles Hartly on my behalfe beseching him That out of hand according to his promise He will vouchsafe to come vnto my courte I know he loues thée well and to thy wordes I thinke thou knowst he will giue willing eare Ser. O noble Quéene sith vnto such affayres My spedie diligence is requisite I will applie effectually to doe What so your highnesse hath commaunded me Ioca. I will goe in and pray the Gods therwhile With tender pitie to appease my griefe Iocasta goeth off the stage into hir pallace hir foure handmaides follow hir the foure Chorus also follow hir to the gates of hir pallace after comming on the stage take their place where they cōtinue to the end of the Tragedie SERVVS SOLVS THe simple man whose meruaile is so great At stately courts and princes regall seate With gasing eye but onely doth regarde The golden glosse that outwardly appeares The crownes bedeckt with pearle and precious stones The riche attire imbost with beaten golde The glittering mace the pompe of swarming traine The mightie halles heapt full of flattering frendes The chambers huge the goodly gorgeous beddes The gilted roofes embowde with curious worke The faces swéete of fine disdayning dames The vaine suppose of wanton raigne at luste But neuer viewes with eye of inward thought The painefull toile the great and greuous cares The troubles still the newe increasing feares That princes nourish in their iealous brestes He wayeth not the charge that Ioue hath laid On princes how for themselues they raigne not He wéenes the law must stoope to princely will But princes frame their noble wills to lawe He knoweth not that as the boystrous winde Doth shake the toppes of highest reared towres So doth the force of frowarde fortune strike The wight that highest sits in haughtie state Lo Oedipus that sometime raigned king Of Thebane soyle that wonted to suppresse The mightest Prince and kepe him vnder checke That fearefull was vnto his forraine foes Now like a poore afflicted prisoner In dungeon darke shut vp from chéerefull light In euery part so plagued with annoy As he abhorrs to leade a longer life By meanes wherof the one against the other His wrathfull sonnes haue planted all their force And Thebes here this auncient worthy towne With threatning siege girt in on euerie side In daunger lyes to be subuerted quite If helpe of heuenly Ioue vpholde it not But as darke night succedes the shining day So lowring griefe comes after pleasant ioy Well now the charge hir highnesse did commaund I must fulfill though haply all in vaine Seruus goeth off the stage by the gates called Electrae Antygone attended with .iij. gentlewomen and hir gouernour commeth out of the Queene hir mothers Pallace BAILO ANTIGONE O Gentle daughter of King Oedipus O sister deare to that vnhappie wight Whom brothers rage hath reaued of his right To whom thou knowst in yong and tender yeares I was a friend and faithfull gouenour Come forth sith that hir grace hath graunted leaue And let me knowe what cause hath moued nowe So chaste a maide to set hir daintie foote Ouer the thresholde of hir secrete lodge Since that the towne is furnishte euery where With men of armes and warlike instrumentes Vnto our eares there cōmes no other noyse But sounde of trumpe and neigh of trampling stedes Which running vp and downe from place to place With hideous cries betoken bloude and death The blasing sunne ne shineth halfe so brighte As it was wont to doe at dawne of day The wretched dames throughout the wofull towne Together clustring to the temples goe Beseching Ioue by way of humble plainte With tender ruthe to pitie their distresse An. The loue I beare to my swéete Polynice My deare brother is onely cause hereof Bai. Why daughter knowst thou any remedie How to defend thy fathers citie here From that outrage and fierce repyning wrathe Which he against it iustly hath conceiued An. Oh gouernour might this my faultlesse bloude Suffise to stay my brethrens dyre debate With glad content I coulde afford my life Betwixte them both to plant a perfect peace But since alas I cannot as I woulde A hote desire enflames my feruent mind To haue a sight of my swéete Polynice Wherfore good guide vouchsafe to guide me vp Into some tower about this hugie court From whence I may behold our enemies campe Therby at least to féede my hungry eyes But with the sight of my beloued brother Then if I die contented shall I die Bai. O princly dame the tender care thou takste Of thy deare brother deserueth double praise Yet crau'st thou that which cannot be obtainde By reason of the distance from the towne Vnto the plaine where th armie lies incampte And furthermore besemeth not a maide To shew hir selfe in such vnséemly place Whereas among such yong and lustie troupes Of harebrainde souldiers marching to and fro Both honest name and honour is empairde But yet reioyce sith this thy great desire Without long let or yet without thy paine At wishe and will shortly may be fulfillde For Polynice forthwith will hither come Euen I my selfe was lately at
is the mightie quéene Of all good workes growes by experience Which is not founde with fewe dayes séeking for Ete. And were not this both sounde and wise aduise Boldly to looke our foemen in the face Before they spred our fields with hugie hoste And all the towne beset by siege at once Cre. We be but few and they in number great Ete. Our men haue yet more courage farre than they Cre. That know I not nor am I sure to say Ete. Those eyes of thine in little space shall sée How many I my selfe can bring to grounde Cre. That would I like but harde it is to doe Eto I nill penne vp our men within the walles Cre. In counsell yet the victorie consistes Ete. And wilt thou then I vse some other reade Cre. What else be still a while for hast makes wast Ete. By night I will the Cammassado giue Cre. So may you do and take the ouerthrowe Ete. The vauntage is to him that doth assaulte Cre. Yet skirmishe giuen by night is perillous Ete. Let set vpon them as they sit at meat Cre. Sodayne assaults affray the minde no doubt But we had néede to ouercome Ete. So shall we do Cre. No sure vnlesse some other counsell helpe Ete. Amid their trenches shall we them inuade Cre. As who should say were none to make defence Ete. Should I then yéeld the Citie to my foes Cre. No but aduise you well if you be wise Ete. That were thy parte that knowest more than I. Cre. Then shall I say that best doth séeme to me Ete. Yea Creon yea thy counsell holde I deare Cre. Seuen men of courage haue they chosen out Ete. A slender number for so great emprise Cre. But they them chose for guides and capitaynes Ete. To such an hoste why they may not suffise Cre. Nay to assault the seuen gates of the citie Ete. What then behoueth so bestad to done Cre. With equall number sée you do them match Ete. And then commit our men in charge to them Cre. Chusing the best and boldest blouds in Thebes Ete. And how shall I the Citie then defende Cre. Well-with the rest for one man sées not all Ete. And shall I chuse the boldest or the wisest Cre. Nay both for one without that other fayles Ete. Force without wisedome then is little worth Cre. That one must be fast to that other ioynde Ete. Creon I will thy counsell follow still For why I hold it wise and trusty both And out of hand for now I will departe That I in time the better may prouide Before occasion slip out of my hands And that I may this Polynices quell For well may I with bloudy knife him slea That comes in armes my countrie for to spoyle But if so please to fortune and to fate That other ende than I do thinke may fall To thée my frend it resteth to procure The mariage twixt my sister Antygone And thy deare sonne Haemone to whom for dowre At parting thus I promise to performe As much as late I did beheste to thée My mothers bloude and brother deare thou arte Ne néede I craue of thée to gard hir well As for my father care I not for if So chaunce I dye it may full well be sayd His bitter curses brought me to my bane Cre. The Lord defend for that vnworthy were Ete. Of Thebes towne the rule and scepter loe I néede nor ought it otherwise dispose Than vnto thée if I dye without heyre Yet longs my lingring mynde to vnderstand The doubtfull ende of this vnhappie warre Wherfore I will thou send thy sonne to seke Tyresias the deuine and learne of him For at my call I knowe he will not come That often haue his artes and him reprovde Cre. As you commaund so ought I to performe Ete. And last I thée and citie both commaund If fortune frendly fauour our attemptes And make our men triumphant victors all That none there be so hardie ne so bolde For Polynices bones to giue a graue And who presumes to breake my beste herein Shall dye the death in penaunce of his paine For though I were by bloud to him conioynde I paâ—t it now and iustice goeth with me To guide my steppes victoriously before Pray you to Ioue he deigne for to defende Our Citie safe both now and euermore Cre. Gramercie worthie prince for all thy loue And faithfull trust thou doest in me repose And if should hap that I hope neuer shall I promise yet to doe what best behoues But chieflie this I sweare and make a vowe For Polynices nowe our cruell foe To holde the hest that thou doest me commaunde Creon attendeth Eteocles to the gates Electrae he returneth and goeth out by the gates called Homoloydes CHORVS O Fierce and furious Mars whose harmefull harte Reioyceth most to shed the giltlesse blood Whose headie wil doth all the world subuert And doth enuie the pleasant mery moode Of our estate that erst in quiet stoode Why doest thou thus our harmelesse towne annoye Which mightie Bacchus gouerned in ioye Father of warre and death that dost remoue With wrathfull wrecke from wofull mothers breast The trustie pledges of their tender loue So graunt the Gods that for our finall rest Dame Venus pleasant lookes may please thée best Wherby when thou shalt all amazed stand The sword may fall out of thy trembling hand And thou maist proue some other way full well The bloudie prowesse of thy mightie speare Wherwith thou raisest from the depth of hell The wrathfull sprites of all the furies there Who when the weake doe wander euery where And neuer rest to range about the coastes Tenriche that pit with spoile of damned ghostes And when thou hast our fieldes forsaken thus Let cruell discorde beare thée companie Engirt with snakes and serpents venemous Euen she that can with red virmilion dye The gladsome gréene that florisht pleasantly And make the gréedie ground a drinking cup To sup the bloud of murdered bodyes vp Yet thou returne O ioye and pleasant peace From whence thou didst against our wil depart Ne let thy worthie minde from trauell cease To chase disdaine out of the poysned harte That raised warre to all our paynes and smarte Euen from the brest of Oedipus his sonne Whose swelling pride hath all this iarre begonne And thou great God that doest all things decrée And sitst on highe aboue the starrie skies Thou chiefest cause of causes all that bée Regard not his offence but heare our cries And spedily redresse our miseries For what cause we poore wofull wretches doe But craue thy aide and onely cleaue therto Finis Actus secundi Done by G. Gascoygne The order of the thirde dumbe shevve BEfore the beginning of this .iij. Act did sound a very dolefull noise of cornettes during the which there opened and appeared in the stage a great Gulfe Immediatly came in .vj. gentlemeÌ„ in their dublets hose bringing vpon their shulders baskets full of earth and threwe them
Of which conflicte the ende must néedes be this That one do liue that other die the death Ioca. Alas alas this did I euer feare Nun. Now sith in summe I haue reuealed that Which you haue heard with great remorse of mind I will procéede at large to tell the whole When your victorious sonne with valiant force Had chast his foes into their ioyning tents Euen there he staide and straight at sound of trumpe With stretched voice the herault thus proclaimde You princely Gréekes that hither be arriued To spoile the fruite of these our fertile fields And vs to driue from this our Natiue soile O suffer not so many giltlesse soules By this debate descend in Stygian lake For priuate cause of wicked Polynice But rather let the brethren hand to hand By mutuall blowes appease their furious rage And so to cease from sheding further bloud And to the end you all might vnderstand The profite that to euery side may fall Thus much my Lord thought good to profer you This is his will if he be ouercome Then Polynice to rule this kingly realme If so it happe as reason would it should Our rightfull prince to conquere Polynice That then no one of you make more adoo But straight to Argos I le hast home againe This thus pronounst vnto the noble Gréeks No soner did the sound of trumpet cease But Polynice stept forth before the host And to these words this answere did he make O thou not brother but my mortall foe Thy profer here hath pleased me so well As presently without more long delay I yeld my selfe prepared to the field Our noble King no soner heard this vaunt But forth as fast he prest his princely steppes With eger mind as hoouering falcon woonts To make hir stoope when pray appeares in sight At all assayes they both were brauely armed To eithers side his sword fast being girt In eithers hand was put a sturdy launce About Eteocles our souldiers cloong To comforte him and put him then in mind He fought for safetie of his country soile And that in him consisted all their hope To Polynice the king Adrastus swore If he escaped victor from the fielde At his returne he would in Greece erecte A golden Image vnto mightie Ioue In signe of his triumphing victorie But all this while séeke you O noble quéene To hinder this your furious sonnes attempte Intreat the Gods it may not take effecte Els must you néedes ere long depriued be Of both your sonnes or of the one at least Nuncius returneth to the camp by the gates Homoloydes IOCASTA ANTIGONE ANtigone my swete daughter come forth Out of this house that nought but woe retaines Come forth I say not for to sing or daunce But to preuent if in our powers it lie That thy malicious brethren swolne with ire And I alas their miserable mother Be not destroide by stroke of dreadfull death Antigone commeth out of hir mothers Pallace Anti. Ah swete mother ah my beloued mother Alas alas what cause doth moue ye now From trembling voice to send such carefull cries What painefull pang what griefe doth gripe you now Ioca. O deare daughter thy most vnhappie brethren That sometimes lodgde within these wretched loynes Shall die this day if Ioue preuent it not Anti. Alas what say you alas what do you say Can I alas endure to sée him dead Whom I thus long haue sought to sée aliue Ioca. They both haue vowde I quake alas to tell With trenchant blade to spill eche others blood Antig. O cruell Eteocles ah ruthlesse wretch Of this outrage thou only art the cause Not Polynice whom thou with hatefull spight Hast reaued first of crowne and countrie soyle And now doest séeke to reaue him of his life Ioca. Daughter no more delay le ts go le ts go Anti. Ah my swéete mother whither shall I go Ioca. With me déere daughter to the gréekish host Anti. Alas how can I go vnles I go In daunger of my life or of good name Ioca. Time serues not now my well beloued childe To way the losse of life or honest name But rather to preuent if so we may That wicked déede which only but to thinke Doth hale my hart out of my heauie brest Anti. Come then le ts go good mother let vs go But what shall we be able for to doe You a weake old woman forworne with yeares And I God knowes a silly simple mayde Ioca. Our wofull wordes our prayers our plaintes Pourde out with streames of ouerflowing teares Where Nature rules may happen to preuayle When reason power and force of armes do fayle But if the glowing heate of boyling wrath So furious be as it may not relent Then I atwixt them both will throw my selfe And this my brest shal beare the deadly blowes That otherwise should light vpon my sonnes So shall they shead my bloud and not their owne Well now déere daughter let vs hasten hence For if in time we stay this raging strife Then haply may my life prolonged be If ere we come the bloudy déede be done Then must my ghost forsake this féeble corps And thou deare childe with dolour shalt bewaile Thy brothers death and mothers all at once Iocasta with Antigone and all hir traine excepte the Chorus goeth towards the campe by the gates Homoloydes CHORVS WHo so hath felt what faith and feruent loue A mother beares vnto hir tender sonnes She and none other sure can comprehende The dolefull griefe the pangs and secret paine That presently doth pierce the princely brest Of our afflicted Quéene alas I thinke No martyrdome might well compare with hirs So ofte as I recorde hir restlesse state Alas me thinkes I féele a shiuering feare Flit to and fro along my flushing vaines Alas for ruth that thus two brethren shoulde Enforce themselues to shed each others bloud Where are the lawes of nature nowe become Can fleshe of fleshe alas can bloud of bloud So far forget it selfe as slay it selfe O lowring starres O dimme and angrie skies O geltie fate suche mischiefe set aside But if supernall powers decréed haue That death must be the ende of this debate Alas what floudes of teares shall then suffise To wéepe and waile the néere approching death I meane the death of sonnes and mother both And with their death the ruine and decay Of Oedipus and his princely race But loe here Creon cōmes with carefull cheare T is time that now I ende my iust complaint Creon commeth in by the gates Homoloydes CREON. NVNCIVS ALthough I straightly charge my tender childe To flée from Thebes for safegarde of him selfe And that long since he parted from my sight Yet doe I greatly hang in lingring doubt Least passing through the gates the priuie watch Hath stayed him by some suspect of treason And so therewhile the prophets hauing skride His hidden fate he purchast haue the death Which I by all meanes sought he might eschewe And this mischaunce so much I feare
now ere long in brauery The tender buddes whom colde hath long kept in Will spring and sproute as they do now begin But I alas within whose mourning minde The graffes of grief are onely giuen to growe Cannot enioy the spring which others finde But still my will must wither all in woe The cold of care so nippes my ioyes at roote No sunne doth shine that well can do them boote The lustie Ver which whilome might exchange My griefe to ioy and then my ioyes encrease Springs now else where and showes to me but strange My winters woe therefore can neuer cease In other coasts his sunne full cleare doth shine And comforts lends to eu'ry mould but mine What plant can spring that féeles no force of Ver What floure can florish where no sunne doth shine These Bales quod she within my breast I beare To breake my barke and make my pith to pine Néedes must I fall I fade both roote and rinde My braunches bowe at blast of eu'ry winde This sayed shée cast a glance and spied my face By sight whereof Lord how she chaunged hew So that for shame I turned backe a pace And to my home my selfe in hast I drew And as I could hir woofull wordes reherse I set them downe in this waymenting verse Now Ladies you that know by whom I sing And feele the winter of such frozen wills Of curtesie yet cause this noble spring To send his sunne aboue the highest hilles And so to shyne vppon hir fading sprayes Which now in woe do wyther thus alwayes Spraeta tamen viuunt An absent Dame thus complayneth MVch like the séely Byrd which close in Cage is pent So sing I now not notes of ioye but layes of déepe lament And as the hooded Hauke which heares the Partrich spring Who though she féele hir self fast tied yet beats hir bating wing So striue I now to shewe my feeble forward will Although I know my labour lost to hop against the Hill. The droppes of darke disdayne did neuer drench my hart For well I know I am belou'd if that might ease my smart Ne yet the priuy coales of glowing iellosie Could euer kindle néedlesse feare within my fantasie The rigor of repulse doth not renew my playnt Nor choyce of change doth moue my mone nor force me thus to faint Onely that pang of payne which passeth all the rest And cankerlike doth fret the hart within the giltlesse brest Which is if any bee most like the panges of death That present grief now gripeth me striues to stop my breath When friendes in mind may méete and hart in hart embrace And absent yet are faine to playne for lacke of time and place Then may I compt their loue like séede that soone is sowen Yet lacking droppes of heauēly dew with wéedes is ouergrowē The Greyhound is agréeu'd although he sée his game If stil in slippe he must be stayde when he would chase the same So fares it now by me who know my selfe belou'd Of one the best in eche respect that euer yet was prou'd But since my lucklesse lot forbids me now to taste The dulcet fruites of my delight therfore in woes I wast And Swallow like I sing as one enforced so Since others reape the gaineful crop which I with pain did sow Yet you that marke my song excuse my Swallowes voyce And beare with hir vnpleasant tunes which cannot wel reioyce Had I or lucke in loue or lease of libertie Then should you heare some swéeter notes so cléere my throte would be But take it thus in grée and marke my playnsong well No hart féeles so much hurt as that which doth in absence dwell Spraeta tamen viuunt In prayse of a Countesse DEsire of Fame would force my féeble skill To prayse a Countesse by hir dew desert But dread of blame holds backe my forward will And quencht the coales which kindled in my hart Thus am I plongd twene dread and déepe desire To pay the dew which dutie doth require And when I call the mighty Gods in ayd To further forth some fine inuention My bashefull spirits be full ill afrayd To purchase payne by my presumption Such malice reignes sometimes in heauenly minds To punish him that prayseth as he finds For Pallas first whose filed flowing skill Should guyde my pen some pleasant words to write With angry mood hath fram'd a froward will To dashe deuise as oft as I endite For why if once my Ladies gifts were knowne Pallas should loose the prayses of hir owne And bloudy Mars by chaunge of his delight Hath made Ioues daughter now mine enemie In whose conceipt my Countesse shines so bright That Venus pines for burning ielousie She may go home to Vulcane now agayne For Mars is sworne to be my Ladies swayne Of hir bright beames Dan Phoebus stands in dread And shames to shine within our Horizon Dame Cynthia holds in hir horned head For feare to loose by like comparison Lo thus shée liues and laughes them all to skorne Countesse on earth in heauen a Goddesse borne And I sometimes hir seruaunt now hir friend Whom heauen and earth for hir thus hate and blame Haue yet presume in friendly wise to spend This ragged verse in honor of hir name A simple gift compared by the skill Yet what may séeme so déere as such good will. Meritum petere graue The Louer declareth his affection togither with the cause thereof WHen first I thée beheld in colours black and white Thy face in forme wel framde with fauor blooming stil My burning brest in cares did choose his chief delight With pen to painte thy prayse contrary to my skill Whose worthinesse compar'd with this my rude deuise I blush and am abasht this worke to enterprise But when I call to mind thy sundry gifts of grace Full fraught with maners méeke in happy quiet mind My hasty hand forthwith doth scribble on apace Least willing hart might thinke it ment to come behind Thus do both hand and hart these carefull méetres vse Twixt hope and trembling feare my duetie to excuse Wherfore accept these lines and banish darke disdayne Be sure they come from one that loueth thée in chief And guerdon me thy friend in like with loue agayne So shalt thou well be sure to yéeld me such relief As onely may redresse my sorrowes and my smart For proofe whereof I pledge deare Dame to thée my hart Meritum petere graue A Lady being both wronged by false suspect and also wounded by the durance of hir husband doth thus bewray hir grief GIue me my Lute in bed now as I lie And lock the doores of mine vnluckie bower So shall my voyce in mournefull verse discrie The secrete smart which causeth me to lower Resound you walles an Eccho to my mone And thou cold bed wherein I lie alone Beare witnesse yet what rest thy Lady takes When other sléepe which may enioy their makes In prime of youth when Cupide kindled fire And warmd
his taile And leaping ouer hedge and ditch I sawe it not preuaile To pamper him so proude Wherfore I thought it best To trauaile him not as I woont yet nay to giue him rest Thus well resolued then I kept him still in harte And founde a pretie prouander appointed for his parte Which once a day no more he might a little tast And by this diet made I youth a gentle iade at last And foorth I might him ride an easie iourneying pace He neuer straue with middle age but gently gaue him place Then middle age stept in and toke the helme in hande To guide my Barke by better skill into some better lande And as eche noble heart is euermore most bent To high exploites and woorthie déedes where honor may be hent So mine vnyolden minde by Armes gan séeke renowne And sought to rayse that recklesse youth had rashly tūbled downe With sworde and trustie targe then sought I for to carue For middle age and hoarie haires and both their turnes to sarue And in my Caruers roome I gan to cut suche cuttes And made suche morsels for their mouthes as well might fill their guttes Beside some ouerplus which being kept in store Might serue to welcome al their friends with foison euermore I meane no more but this my hand gan finde such happe As made me thinke that Fortune ment to play me in hir lappe And hope therwith had heavde my heart to be so hie That still I hoapt by force of armes to climbe aboue the Skie I bathed still in blisse I ledde a lordelie life My Souldiers lovde and fearde me both I neuer dreaded strife My boord was furnisht stil with cates of dainty cost My back wel clad my purse wel lynde my woonted lack was lost My bags began to fil my debtes for to discharge My state so stoode as sure I séemde to swim in good lucks barge But out and well away what pleasure bréedes not paine What sun cā shine without a cloud what thūder brings not rain Such is the life of man such was the luck of me To fall so fast from hiest hap where sure I séemde to be Fiue hundred sundrie sunnes and more could scarcely serue By sweat of brows to win a roome wherin my knife might carue One onely dismall day suffised with despite To take me from my caruers place and from the table quite Fiue hundred broken sleepes had busied all my braynes To find at last some worthy trade that might increse my gaynes One blacke vnluckie houre my trade hath ouerthrowen And marrde my marte broke my bank al my blisse oreblowen To wrappe vp all in woe I am in prison pent My gaines possessed by my foes my friends against me bent And all the heauy haps that euer age yet bare Assembled are within my breast to choake me vp with care My modest middle age which lacks of youth the lust Can beare no such gret burdēs now but throwes them in the dust Yet in this piteous plight beholde me Louers all And rewe my grieues least you your selues do light on such a fal I am that wearie wretch whom loue always hath tyred And fed me with such strange conceytes as neuer man desired For now euen now ay me I loue and cannot chuse So strangely yet as wel may moue the wisest mindes to muse No blasing beautie bright hath set my heart on fire No ticing talke no gorgeous gyte tormenteth my desire No bodie finely framde no haggarde Falcons eie No ruddie lip no golden locks hath drawne my minde awrie No téeth of shining pearle no gallant rosie hiew No dimpled chinne no pit in chéeke presented to my view In fine no such delights as louers oft allure Are cause why thus I do lament or put my plaintes in vre But such a strange affect as both I shame to tell And all the worlde may woonder much how first therin I fell Yet since I haue begonne quoth he to tell my griefe I wil nought hide although I hope to finde no great reliefe And thus quoth he it is Amongst the sundrie ioyes Which I conceivde in feates of warre and all my Martial toyes My chaunce was late to haue a péerlesse firelock péece That to my wittes was nay the like in Turkie nor in Greece A péece so cleanly framde so streight so light so fine So tempred and so polished as séemeth worke diuine A péece whose locke yet past for why it it neuer failde And though I bent it night and day the quicknesse neuer quailde A péece as well renforst as euer yet was wrought The brauest péece for bréech and bore that euer yet was bought The mounture so well made and for my pitch so fit As though I sée faire péeces moe yet fewe so fine as it A péece which shot so well so gently and so streight It neyther bruzed with recule nor wroong with ouerweight In fine and to conclude I know no fault thereby That eyther might be thought in minde or wel discernde with ey This péece then late I had and therin tooke delight As much as euer proper péece did please a warlike wight Nowe though it be not lost nor rendred with the rest Yet being shut from sight therof how can I thinke me blest Or which way should I hope that such a iewell rare Can passe vnséen in any campe where cunning shooters are And therewith am I sure that being once espied It neuer can escape their hands but that it will be tried And being once but prooued then farewel frost for me My péece my locke and all is lost and I shall neuer sée The like againe on earth Nowe Louers speake your minde Was euer man so strangely stroke or caught in such a kinde Was euer man so fonde was euer man so mad Was euer man so woe begone or in such cares yclad For restlesse thus I rest the wretchedst man on liue And when I thinke vpon this péece then still my woes reuiue Nor euer can I finde good plaister for my paine Vnlesse my lucke might be so good to finde that péece againe To make my mourning more where I in prison pine I daily sée a pretie péece much like that péece of mine Which helps my hurt much like vnto a broken shinne That when it heales begins to ytch and then rubs off the skinne Thus liue I still in loue alas and euer shall As well content to loose my péece as gladde to finde my fall A wonder to the worlde a griefe to friendlie mindes A mocking stocke to Momus race and al such scornefull hindes A loue that thinke I sure whose like was neuer séene Nor neuer warlike wight shal be in loue as I haue béene So that in sooth quoth he I cannot blame the Dames Whome I in youth did moste estéeme I list not foile their fames But there to lay the fault from whence it first did flowe I say my Fortune is the root whence all these griefes did grow Since Fortune
pleased not you I cannot my selfe therwith be pleased as one that seeketh not to please many and more desirous to please you than any The cause of myne affection I suppose you behold dayly For self loue auoyded euery wight may iudge of themselues as much as reason perswadeth the which if it be in your good nature suppressed with bashfulnesse then mighty loue graunt you may once behold my wan cheekes washed in woe that therein my salt teares may be a myrrour to represent your owne shadow and that like vnto Nacissus you may be constrayned to kisse the cold waues wherein your counterfait is so liuely purtrayed For if aboundance of other matters fayled to drawe my gazing eyes in contemplation of so rare excellency yet might these your letters both frame in me an admiration of such diuine esprite and a confusion too my dull vnderstanding whiche so rashly presumed too wander in this endles Laberinth Such I esteeme you and thereby am become such and euen HE. F.I. THis letter finished and fayre written ouer his chaunce was to méete hir alone in a Gallery of the same house where his manhood in this kinde of combat was firste tried and therein I can compare him to a valiant Prince who distressed with power of enemies had committed the safegard of his person to treaty of Ambassade and sodenly surprised with a Camassado in his owne trenches was enforced to yéeld as prisoner Euen so Ferdinando Ieronimi lately ouercome by the beautifull beames of this Dame Elynor and hauing now committed his moste secrete intent to these late rehearsed letters was at vnwares encountred with his friendly foe and constrayned either to prepare some new defence or else like a recreant to yéeld himselfe as already vanquished Wherefore as in a traunce he lifted vp his dazled eies and so continued in a certen kind of admiration not vnlike the Astronomer who hauing after a whole nights trauaile in the grey morning found his desired starre hath fired his hungry eies to behold the Comete long looked for wherat this gracious Dame as one that could discerne the sunne before hir chamber windowes were wide opeÌ„ did deign to embolden the fainting Knight with these or like woordes I perceiue nowe quod she howe mishap doth follow me that hauing chosen this walke for a simple solace I am here disquieted by the man that meaneth my destruction and therwithall as half angry began to turne hir backe when Ferdinando now awaked gan thus salute hir Mistresse quod he and I perceiue now that good hap hauÌ„ts me for being by lacke of oportuniâ—ie constreined to commit my welfare vnto these blabbing leaues of bewraying paper shewing that in his haÌ„d I am here recomforted with happy view of my desired ioy and therewithall reuerently kissing his hand did softly distreyne hir slender arme and so slayed hir departure The firste blow thus profered and defended they walked and talked trauersing diuerse wayes wherein I doubte not but that the Venetian coulde quite himselfe resonably well For after long talke shee was contented to accept his proffered seruice but yet still disabling hir selfe and séeming to maruell what cause had moued him to subiect his libertie so wilfully or at least in a prison as shée termed it so vnworthy Wherevnto I néede not rehearse his answere but suppose now that thus they departed sauing I had forgotten this shée required of him the last rehearsed letter saying that his firste was loste and nowe shée lacked a new bottome for hir silke the whiche I warrant you he graunted and so preffering to take an humble congé by Bezolas manos she graciously gaue him the Zuccado dez labros and so for then departed And there vppon recompting hir woordes he compiled these following whiche he termed Terza sequenza too sweete Mistresse SHE OF thee deare Dame three lessons would I learne What reason first persuades the foolish Fly As soone as shee a candle can discerne To play with flame till shee bee burnt thereby Or what may moue the Mouse to byte the bayte Which strikes the trappe that stops hir hungry breth What calles the bird where snares of deepe deceit Are closely coucht to draw hir to hir death Consider well what is the cause of this And though percase thou wilt not so confesse Yet deepe desire to gayne a heauenly blisse May drowne the minde in dole and darke distresse Oft is it seene whereat my hart may bleede Fooles play so long till they be caught in deede And then It is a heauen to see them hop and skip And seeke all shiftes to shake their shackles off It is a world to see them hang the lip Who earst at loue were wont to skorne and skoff But as the Mouse once caught in crafty trap May bounce and beate against the boorden wall Till shee haue brought hir head in such mishap That downe to death hir fainting lymbes must fall And as the Flie once singed in the flame Cannot commaund hir wings to waue away But by the heele shee hangeth in the same Till cruell death hir hasty iourney stay So they that seeke to breake the linkes of loue Striue with the streame and this by paine I proue For when I first beheld that heauenly hewe of thine Thy stately stature and thy comly grace I must confesse these dazled eies of mine Did wincke for feare when I first viewd thy face But bold desire did open them againe And had mee looke till I had lookt to long I pitied them that did procure my paine And lou'd the lookes that wrought me all the wrong And as the byrd once caught but woorks hir woe That striues to leaue the limed twigges behind Euen so the more I straue to parte thee fro The greater grief did growe within my minde Remedilesse then must I yeeld to thee And craue no more thy seruaunt but to bee Till then and euer HE. F.I. WHen he had well sorted this sequence he sought oportunitie to leaue it where shée might finde it before it were lost And nowe the coles began to kindle whereof but ere while shée feigned hir selfe altogither ignorant The flames began to breake out on euery side and she to quench them shut vp hir selfe in hir chamber solitarily But as the smithie gathers greater heate by casting on of water euen so the more she absented hir self from company the fresher was the griefe whiche galded hir remembrance so that at laste the report was spredde thorough the house that Mistresse Elinor was sicke At which newes Ferdinando tooke small comfort neuerthelesse Dame Venus with good aspect did yet thus much furder his enterprise The Dame whether it were by sodaine chaunge or of wonted custome fell one day into a greate bléeding at the nose For whiche accident the sayde Venetian amongst other pretie conceits had a present remedie Whereby he tooke occasion when they of the house had all in vayne sought many waies to stoppe hir bléeding to worke his feate in this wise
them shée layde also before him howe trusty she had bene vnto him in all professions she confessed also howe faithfullye he had discharged the duety of a friend in al respectes and therwithall she declared that her late alteration and pensiuenesse of minde was not without great cause for that she had of late such a mishap as might chaunge the disposition of any lyuing creature Yea and that the case was such as vnlesse she found present remedy hir death must needes ensue and that spedely for the preuenting whereof she alledged that she had beaten hir braines with al deuises possible and that in the ende she could thinke of no redresse but one the which lay only in him to acomplish Wherfore she besought him for all the loue and good will which had euer passed betwéene them nowe to shewe the fruites of true friendship and to gratifie hir with a frée graunt to this request The louer who had alwayes bene desirous to pleasure hir in any thing but now especially to recouer hir wonted kindnesse gan franklye promise to accomplishe any thing that might be to him possible yea though it were to his great detriment and therewithall dyd déepely blame hir in that shée would so long torment hir selfe with any griefe considering that it lay in him to helpe it The Ladye aunswered that she had so long kept it from his knowledge bicause she doubted whether hée would be content to performe it or not although it was such a thing as he might easely graunt without any manner of hurt to himself yet now in the ende she was forced to aduenture vppon his curtesie being no longer able to beare the burdē of hir griefe the louer solicited her most earnestly to disclose it and she as fast séemed to mistrust that he would not accomplish it In the ende she tooke out a booke which she had brought for the nonce bound him by othe to accomplishe it The louer mistrusting nothing lesse thā that ensued toke the othe willingly which done she declared al that had passed betwene hir hir husband his griefe hir repentance his pardon hir vowe and in the ende of hir tale enioyned the louer that from thenceforthwardes he should neuer attempt to breake her constant determinatiō the louer replied that this was vnpossible But she plainlye assured him that if he graunted hir that request she would be his friend in al honest godly wise if not she put him out of doubt that she would eschew his company and flée from his sight as from a scorpion The louer considering that hir request was but iust accusing his owne guiltye conscience remembring the great curtesies alwayes vsed by hir husband and therewithall séeing the case now brought to such an issue as that by no other meanes than by this it could be conceiled from the knowledge of the worlde but most of all being vrged by his othe dyd at last giue an vnwilling consent and yet a faithful promise to yelde vnto hir wyl in al thinges and thus being become of one assent he remaineth the derest friend most welcome gest that may be both to the Lady and hir husband and the man and the wife so kind each to other as if there neuer had bene such a breche betwen them Now of you noble Gouernor I would faine lerne whether the perplexity of the husband when he looked in at the keye hoole or of the wife when she knewe the cause why the Carolines were so scattered or of the louer when he knew what was his mistres charge was greater of the thrée I might haue put in also the troubled thoughts of the sisters the mayd when they saw their good wil reiected but let these thrée suffice Gentle Hope quod Ferdinando you haue rehearsed that right eloquētly a notable tale or rather a notable history because you séeme to affirme that is was done in dede of late not far hence Wherein I note fiue especial pointes that is a maruailous patience in the husband no lesse repentaunce in the wife no smal boldnesse of the mayde but muche more rashnesse in the sisters last of al a rare tractabilitie in the louer Neuerthelesse so returne vnto your question I thinke the husbands perplexity greatest because his losses abounded aboue the rest his iniuries were vncōparable The Lady Fraunces did not seme to contrary him but rather smiled in hir sléeue at Dame Pergo who had no lesse patience to here the tale recited then the Lady Fraunces had pleasure in telling of it By this time the sléeping houre aproched the Ladyes prepared their departure when as mistres Fraūces sayd vnto the Venetiane Although percase I shall not do it so hādsomly as your mistres yet good Trust quod she if you vouchsafe it I can be content to trim vp your bed in the best maner that I may as on who would be as glad as she to procure your quiet rest Ferdinando gaue hir great thāks desiring hir not to trouble hirself but to let his man alone with that charge Thus they departed how al partyes toke rest that night I knowe not but in the morning Ferdinando began to consider with himselfe that he might lye long ynough in his bed before his mistres would be apeased in hir peuishe conceipts wherfore he arose being aparelled in his night gowne tooke occation to walke in the gallery néere adioyning vnto his mistres chamber but there might he walke long inough ere his Mistresse would come to walke with him When dinner time came he went into the great chamber whereas the Lord of the Castle saluted him being ioyful of his recouerye Ieronimy giuing due thanks declared that his friēdly entertainement togeather with the great curtesie of the gentlewomen was such as might reuiue a man although he were halfe dead I would bée loath quod the hoast that any Gentleman comming to mee for good wyll shoulde want any curtesie of intertainement that lyeth in my power When the meate was serued to the table the Gentlewomen came in all but Dame Elynor and Mistresse Pergo the which Ferdinando marked very well and it dyd somewhat abate his apetite After diner his Hope came vnto him and demaunded of him howe hée would passe the daye for his recreation to whome he answered euen as it best pleased hir She deuised to walke into the parke and so by litle and litle to acquaint himself with the ayre he agréed and they walked togeather being accompanied with one or two other gentle women And although there were nowe more cause that hee shoulde mistrust his Mistresse than euer he had before receyued yet the vehement passions which he sawe in her when she first came to visite him and moreouer the earnest words which she pronounced in his extremitie were such a refreshing to his minde as that he determined no more to trouble him selfe with like conceiptes concluding further that if his mistresse were not faultie then had