reward With al respects of ioyes regard Here I forsweare 47. Where reason makes request ther wisedome ought supply With freendly aunswere prest to grant or els deny I Sigh why so for sorrowe of her smart I morne wherfore or greefe that she complaynes I pitie what her oppressed hart I dread what harme the danger she sustaines I greeue whereat at her oppressing paines I feele what force the fittes of her disease Whose harme doth me and her alike displease I hope what happe her happy healthes retyre I wish what wealth no wealth nor worldly store But craue what craft by cunning to aspire Some skil whereto to salue her sickly sore What then why then would I her health restore Whose harme me hurtes how so so workes my will To wish my selfe and her like good and yll What moues thy mind whereto to such desire Ne force ne fauour what then free fancies choyse Art thou to chose my charter to require Each Ladyes loue is fred by custumes voyce Yet are there grauntes the euidence of their choyse What then our freedome is at large in choosing As Womens wils is froward in refusing Wotes shee thy wil she knowes what I protest Daynde she thy sute she daungerd not my talke Gaue she consent she graunted my request What didst thou craue the roote the fruite the stalke I asked them all what gaue shee Cheese or chalke That tast must try what tast I meane the proofe Of freendes whose wils withhold ther bowe aloofe Meanst thou good faith what els hopest thou to speede Why not O foole vntaught in carpel trade Knowest not what proofes from such delayes proceede Wilt thou like headlesse Cocke be caught in glade Art thou like asse too apt for burden made Fy fy wilt thou for saint adore the shrine And woo her freend eare she be wholy thine Who drewes this drift moued she or thou this match T was I oh foole vnware of womens wyles Long maist thou waite like hungry hounde at hatch She crafty Foxe the seely Goose beguiles Thy sute is shaped so fit for long delay That she at wil may chek from yea to nay But in good soothe tel me her freendes intent Best learne it first their purpose I not know Why then thy wil to worse and worse is bent Dost thou delight the vnkindled cole to blow Or childlike louest in anckred bote to rowe What meane these termes who sith thy sute is such Know of or on or thou afect too much No haste but good why no the meane is best Admit she loue mislike in lingring growes Suppose she is caught then Woodcocke on thy crest Til end approues what skorneful seedes she sowes In loytring loue such daugers ebbes and flowes What helpe herein why wake in dangerous watch That too nor fro may make thee marre the match Is that the way to end my weary worke By quicke dispatch to lesson long turmoyle Well wel though losse in lingering wontes to lurke And I a foole most fitte to take the foyle Yet proofe from promise neuer shall recoyle My words with deedes and deedes with wordes shall wend Til shee or hers gainsay that I intend Art thou so fond not fond but firmely fast Why foole her freendes wote how thy wil is bent Yet thou like doult whose witte and sence is past Sest not what frumpes do follow thy entent Ne know how loue in lewe of skorne is lent Adewe for sightes such folly should preuent Wel wel their skoffes with scornes might be repayd If my requestes were fully yead or nayd Wel wel let these with wisedomes payse be wayd And in your chest of cheefest secreates layd FINIS My lucke is losse 48. What ioy to a contented mind THe faith that fayles must needes bethought vntrue The freend that faines who holdeth not vniust Who likes that loue that changeth stil for new Who hopes for trueth where troth is voyde of trust No faith no freend no loue no troth so sure But rather failes then stedfastly endure What head so stayed that altereth not intent What thought so sure that stedfast doth remaine What witte so wise that neuer needes repent What tongue so true but sometime wonts to faine What foote so firme that neuer treades awrie What soner dimde then sight of clearest eye What hart so fixt but sone enclines to change What moode so milde that neuer moued debate What faith so strong but lightly likes to range What loue so true that neuer lernd to hate What life so pure that lasts without offence What worldly minde but moues with ill pretence What knot so fast that may not be vntide What seale so sure but fraude or force shall breake What prop of stay but one time shrinkes aside What ship so stauche that neuer had a leke What graunt so large that no exception makes What hoped helpe but freend at neede forsakes What seate so high but low to ground may fall What hap so good that neuer found mislike What state so sure but subiect is to thrall What force preuailes where Fortune list to strik What wealth so much but time may turne to want What store so great but wasting maketh skant What profites hope in depth of dangers thrall What ruste in time but waxeth worse and worse What helpes good harte if Fortune froun withall What blessing thriues against heauenly helples curse What winnes desire to get and can not gayne What botes to wish and neuer to obtaine FINIS My lucke is losse 47. Donec eris Felix multos numerabis amicos Nullus ad a missus ibit amicus opes EVen as the Rauen the Crow and greedy Kite Do swarming flocke where carren corpes doth fall And tiring teare with beak and talentes might Both skin and flesh to gorge their guttes withall And neuer cease but gather moe to moe Doe all to pull the carkase to and froe Till bared bones at last they leaue behinde And seeke elsewhere some fatter foode to find Euen so I see where wealth doth waxe at will And Gold doth grow to heapes of great encrease There freendes resort and profering freendship still Ful thicke they throng with neuer ceasing prease And slilie make a shewe of true intent When nought but guile and inward hate is ment For when mischance shall change such wealth to want They packe them thence to place of richer haunt FINIS My lucke is losse 49. Amantium irae amoris redinti graciae est IN going to my naked bed as one that would haue slept I hard a wife sing to her child that long before had wept She sighed sore and sang ful sweete to bring the babe to rest That would not cease but cryed stil in sucking at her brest She was full wearie of her watch and greeued with her child She rocked it and rated it til that on her it smilde Then did she say now haue I found this prouerbe true to proue The falling out of faithfull frends renuing is of loue Then tooke I
the chaunce might neuer change successe Were such a life to lead or state to proue Who would not wish that such a life were loue But O the soury sauce of sweete vnsure When pleasures flye and flit with wast of wind The trustlesse traynes that hoping harts allure When sweete delightes do but allure the mind When care consumes and wastes the wretched wight Whyle fancie feedes and drawes of her delight What life were loue if loue were free from paine But O that paine with pleasure match should meete Why did the course of nature so ordayne That sugred sowre must sause the bitter sweete Which sowre from sweete might any meanes remoue What hap what heauen what life were like to loue FINIS W. R. 13. Who mindes to bring his Shippe to happy shore Must care to know the lawes of wisedomes love MY freend if thou wilt credite me in ought To whom the truth by tryall well appeares Nought worth is wit til it be dearely bought There is no wisedome but in hoary heares Yet if I may of wisedome oft define As well as others haue of happinesse Then to my words my freend thy eare encline The thinges that make thee wise are these I gesse Feare God and know thy selfe in each degree Be freend to all familiar but to fewe To light of credite see thou neuer be For tryall ought in trust dooth treason shewe To others faultes cast not too much thy eye Accuse no man of guilt amend thy owne Of medling much doth mischiefe ought arise And oft debate by tickle tongue is sowne What thing thou wilt haue hyd to none declare In word or deede beware of had I wist So spend thy good that some thou euer spare For freendes like Haukes doo soare from emptie fist Cut out thy coate according to thy cloth Suspected persons see thou alwayes flee Beleeue not him that once hath broke his troth Nor yet of gift with out desert be free Time quickly slips beware how thou it spend Of wanton youth repents a paynful age Begin nothing without an eye to th end Nor how thine eare from counsell of the sage If thou too farre let out thy fancy slip And witlesse will from reasons rule outstart Thy folly shall at length be made thy whip And sore the stripes of shame shall cause the smart To doo too much for old men is but lost Of freendship had to women comes like gayne Bestow not thou on children too much cost For what thou doest for these is all in vaine The olde man or he can requite he dyes Vnconstant is the womans wauering mind Ful soone the boy thy freendship will despyse And him for loue thou shalt vngreatfull sind The aged man is like the barraine ground The woman like the Reede that wagges with wind There may no trust in tender yeeres be found And of the three the boy is most vnkind If thou haue found a faithful freend in deede Beware thou lose not loue of such a one He shall sometime stand thee in better steede Then treasure great of gold or precious stone FINIS Iasper Heywood 14. Of the vnconstant stay of Fortunes giftes Jf Fortune be thy stay thy state is very tickle She beares a double face disguised false and fickle This day she seemes to smile to morow will she frowne What now shee sets aloft anone she throweth downe Fly Fortunes slye deceytes let Vertue be thy guide If that you doo intend in happy state to abide Vpon the setled rocke thy building surest standes Away it quickly weares that resteth on the sandes Dame Vertue is the rocke that yeeldes assured stay Dame Fortune is the sand tha skoureth soone away Choose that is certaine let thinge vncertayne passe Preferre the precious gold before the brittle glasse Sly Fortune hath her slightes she plaies vpon the packe Looke whom she fauours most at length she turnes to wracke But Vertue simply deales she shuns deceitful trayne Who is by Vertue raysed vp shall neuer fal agayne Sticke fast to Vertue then that giues assured trust And flye from Fortunes frekes that euer proue vniust FINIS F. K. 15. Promise is debt JN my accompt the promise that is vowed Among the good is holden such a debt As he is thought no whit to be allowed That setteth light his promise to forget And for my part I will not linke in loue With fickle folke whose fancies ought remoue My happy gaine I do esteeme for such As fewe haue found in these our doubtful dayes To find a freend I thinke it be as much As to win a fort ful fraught of noble prayse Of all the goods that there may be possest A faithfull freend I iudge to be the best O freendly league although to late begun Yet time shall trye our troth as well imployed And that we both shall see that we haue won Such fastned faith as can not be destroyed By enuious rage or slaunders bitter blowe That alwayes seekes the good to ouerthrowe FINIS R. Hill. 16. No words but deedes THE wrong is great the payne aboue my power That yeeldes such care in doubtfull dens to drowne Such hap is hard wher Fortune doth so lower As freendly looke is turnd to froward frowne Is this the trust that faithfull freendes can finde With those that yet haue promise broke By deedes in dout as though no wordes can binde A vowed freend to hold him to his yoke O faithlesse freend what can assure your mind That doubtes so soone before you haue cause why To what hard hap doth Fortune here me bind When words nor deedes can no where satisfye What can I write that hath not oft bine saide What haue I sayd that hath not bind affyrmed What not approued that ought to be assayed Or what is vowed that shall not be perfourmed Cast of mistrust in hast no credite giue To this or that that breedeth freendes vnrest No doubt at all but trust me if I liue My deedes shall proue that all is for the best And this beleeue the Sea shall cease to flowe The Sunne to shine within the setled skye All thinges on earth shall leaue to spring and growe Yea euery Foule shall want his winges to flye Eare I in thought shall seeme once to retyre If you my freend remaine as I desyre Nowe lose no time but vse that while you may Forget not this a dogge shall haue a day FINIS R. D. 17. He desyreth exchange of life THE day delayed of that I most do wishe Wherewith I feede and starue in one degree With wish and want still serued in one dishe Aliue as dead by proofe as you may see To whom of old this prouerbe wel it serues While grasse dooth grow the selly horse he sterues Tweene these extreames thus doo I rome the race Of my poore life this certaynly I know Tweene would and want vnwarely that do passe More swift then shot out of Archers bow As Spider drawes her line all day I watch the net and others
with folly kept me blind Yet as the Egle casts her bill whereby her age renueth So Lorde with mercie doe forgiue the follies of my youth FINIS M. Hunnis No pleasure without some paine HOw can the tree but wast and wither awaie That hath not sometyme comforte of the Sunne How can that flower but fade and sone decaie That alwaies is with darcke clouds runne Is this a life naye death you maie it call That feeles eche paine and knoweth no ioye at all What foodlesse beast can liue long in good plight Or is it life where sences there be none Or what auaileth eyes without their light Or els a tongue to hym that is alone Is this a life naye death you maie it call That féeles eche paine and knowes no ioy at all Wherto serue eares if that there be no sound Or suche a head where no deuise doeth growe But all of plaints since sorrowe is the grounde Whereby the harte doeth pine in deadlie woe Is this a life naye death you maie it call That feles eche paine and knowes no ioy at al. FINIS L. Vaux The fruite of feined frendes IN choise of frends what hap had I to chuse one of Cirēs kind whose harp whose pipe whose melody could fede my ears make me blind Whose pleasant voice made me forget that in sure trust is gret deceit In trust I see is treason founde and man to man deceitfull is And whereas treasure doeth abounde of flatterers there doe not misse Whose painted speache outward show do seme as frends be not so Would I haue thought in thee to be the nature of the Crocadill Whiche if a man a slepe maie see with bloudie thirst desires to kill And then with teares a while gan wepe the death of him thus slain a slepe O fauell false thou traitor borne what mischief more might thou deuise Then thy deare frend to haue in scorne hym to wound in sundry wise Whiche still a frende pretends to bee and are not so by proofe I see Fie fie vpon suche trecherie W. H. If suche false Shippes doe haunte the shore Strike doune the saile and trust no more M. Edwardes A dialogue betwene a Gentleman and his Loue. A. SHall I no waie winne you to graunt my desire B. What woman will graunt you the thyng you require A. You onely to Loue me is all that I craue B. You onely to leaue me is all I would haue A. My deare alas now saie not so B. To Loue you beste I must saie no A. Yet will I not flitt B. then plaie on the bitt B. I will B. doe still A. yet kill not B. I will not A. Make me your man B. beshrewe me than A. The swifter I followe then you flie awaie B. Swift hauks in their fliyng oft tymes misse their praie A. Yet some killeth deadly that flie to the marke B. You shall touche no feather thereof take no carke A. Yet hope shall further my desire B. You blowe the coales and raise no fire A. Yet will I not flitt B. then plaie on the bitt B. I will B. doe still A. yet kill not B I will not A. Make me your man B. beshrewe me than A. To Loue is no daunger where true Loue is ment B. I will Loue no ranger least that I repent A. My Loue is no raunger I make God auow B. To trust your smothe saiyngs I sure knowe not how A. Moste truthe I meane as tyme shall well trie B. No truthe in men I ofte espie A. Yet will I not flitt B. then plaie on the bitt B. I will B. doe still A. yet kill not B. I will not A. Make me your man B. beshrewe me than A. Some women maie saie naie and meane Loue moste true B. Some women can make fooles of as wise men as you A. In tyme I shall catche you I knowe when and where B. I will sone dispatche you you shall not come there A. Some speds at length that ofte haue miste B. I am well armde come when you liste A. Yet will I not flitt B. then plaie on the bitt A. I will B. doe still A. yet kill not B. I will not A. Make me your man B. beshrewe me than A. Yet worke your kinde kindly graunt me Loue for Loue B. I will vse you frendly as I shall you proue A. Moste true you shall finde me I this doe protest B. Then sure you shall binde me to graunte your request A. O happie threede now haue I spunne B. You syng before the conquest wonne A. Why then will you swarue B. euen as you desarue A Loue still B. I will A. yet kill not B. I will not A. Make me your man B. come to me than FINIS M. Edwardes Exclamyng vpon his vnkinde Loue his frende replieth wittely M. WHat death maie bee compared to Loue H. What grief therein now doest thou proue M. My paines alas who can expresse H. I see no cause of heauinesse M. My Ladies looks my woe hath wrought H. Then blame thyne eyes that firste hath sought M. I burne alas and blowe the fire H. A foole consumes by his desire M. What shall I doe than H. come out and thou can M. Alas I die H. what remedie M. My sugred sweete is mixed with gall H. Thy Ladie can not doe with all M. The more I seeke the lesse I finde H. Then striue not with the streame and wind M. Her must I Loue although I smarte H. With her owne sworde thou slaiest thy hart M. Suche pleasaunt baits who can refraine H. Suche baits will sure breede thee greate paine M. What shall I doe than H. Come out and thou can M. Alas I die H. what remedie M. Her golden beames myne eyes doe daze H. Vpon the Sunne thou maiest not gaze M. She might reward my cruell smarte H. She thinks thou hardst a fained harte M. She laughs to heare my wofull cries H. Forsake her then in tyme bee wise M. No no alas that maie not bee H. No wise man then will pitie thee M. What shall I doe than H. come out and thou can M. Alas I die H. what remedie M A liuyng death loe thus I proue H. Suche are the fruits of froward Loue M. O that I might her Loue once gaine H. Thy gaine would not halfe quite the paine M. Her will I Loue though she be coye H. A foole hym self will still annoye M. Who will not die for suche a one H. Bee wise at length let her alone M. I can not doe so H. then be thy owne fo M. Alas I die H. what remedie FINIS E. S. The complaint of a Louer wearyng Blacke and Taunie A Croune of Baies shall that man weare That triumphs ouer me For Blacke and Taunie will I weare Whiche mournyng coulers bee The more I followe on the more she fled awaie As Daphne did full long agoe Apollos wishfull praie The more my plaints resounde the lesse she pities me The more I sought the lesse
brest appeares Hath sowen in thee such seedes you ought to weede with teares And life that shall succeede when death is worne and past Shall spring for euer then in ioy or payne to last Where death on life hath power ye see that life also Hath mowen the fruites of death which neuer more shall grow FINIS W. Hunis 2. Who wayteth on this wauering world and veweth each estate By tryall taught shall learne it best to liue in simple rate AMid the vale the sclender shrubbe is hid from all mishap When taller tree that standes aloft is rent with thunder clap The Turrets tops which touch the cloudes are beat with euery blast Soone shiuered are their stones with storme and quickly ouer cast Best bodyed tree in all the wood for tymber beame is found And to the axe the sturdiest Oxe dooth yeeld and fall to ground The highest hill dooth soonest feele the flash of lightnings flame And soone decayes the pomp and pryde of high renowmed name Of all the heard the huntman seekes by proofe as dooth appere With double forked arrowe head to wound the greatest Deare The hautiest head of all the droue enioyes the shortest life And staines the slaughter house with blood at pricke of butchers knife Thus what thing hyest place atteynes is soonest ouerthrowne What euer Fortune sets a loft she threates to throw it downe And though no force resist thy power nor seeke thee to confound Yet dooth the payse of weighty things decline it selfe to ground For restlesse tipe of roulling wheele example hath it tryde To heauy burden yeelde it must ful soone and slip asyde What vayles the rich his bed of down that sighes for sleplesse thought What time in couch of flock the poore sleepes sound feareth nought At homely boord his quiet foode his drinkes in treene be tane When oft the proud in cuppes of gold with wine receiue their bane The bed the boord the dread in dout with trayne to be opprest When fortune frounes their power must yeelde as wyre vnto the wrest If Icarus had not presumed to high to take his flight He had not yet ben drowned in Seas that now Itarion hight If Phaeton had not enterprised to guide his fathers seate His fires had not enflamed the world nor ben destroyed with heate But who so climes aboue the meane there is no hope of stay The higher vp the sonner downe and nearer his decay Then you that here in pompe or place to guide the golden mase Let crowne and Septer both obay the meane of Vertues race For neither shall renowmed Vertue see the pit of hell Nor yet in toombe of Marble stone she may abide to dwell But from Sepulcher flies she hence beyond the skies aboue And glistering in the blisful stares she raines with mighty Ioue FINIS Iasper Heywood 3. The perfect tryall of a faythfull freend NOt stayed state but feeble stay not costly robes but bare aray Not passed welth but presēt wāt not heped store but sclēder skāt Not plenties purse but poore estate not happy hap but troward fate Not wish at wil but wāt of ioy not harts good helth but harts annoy No fredomes vse but prisoners thrall not costly seate but lowest fall Not weale I meane but wretched wo doth truely try the feend frō foe And nowght but frowarde Fortune prooues who fauning faines or simply loues FINIS M. Yloop. 4. Being asked the occasion of his white head he annswereth thus WHere seething sighes and sorow sobbes Hath slaine the slippes that nature set And skalding showers with stony throbbes The kindly sappe from them hath fet What woonder then though that you see Vpon my head white heares to be Where thought hath thrild and throwne his speares To hurt the hart that harmeth him not And groning griefe hath ground forth teares Myne eyne to staine my face to spot What woonder then though that you see Vpon my head white heares to be Where pinching payne himselfe hath plaste There peace with pleasures were possest And where the walles of wealth lye waste And pouertye in them is prest What woonder then though that you see Vpon my head white heares to be Where wretched woe will weaue her webbe Where care the clewe can catch and cast And flooddes of ioy are fallen to ebbe So loe that life may not long last What woonder then though that you see Vpon my head white heares to be These heares of age are messengers Which bidde me fast repent and pray They be of death the harbingers That dooth prepare and dresse the way Wherefore I ioy that you may see Vpon my head such heares to be They be the lines that lead the length How farre my race is for to runne They say my youth is fled with strength And how olde age is weake begunne The which I feele and you may see Vpon my head such lines to be They be the stringes of sober sound Whose musicke is harmonicall Their tunes declare a time from ground I came and how there to I shall Wherefore I ioy that you may see Vpon my head such stringes to be God graunt to those that white heares haue No worse them take then I haue ment That after they be layde in graue Their soules may ioy their liues wel spent God graunt likewise that you may see Vpon your head such heares to be FINIS W. Hunis 5. Beware of had I wyst BEware of had I wyst whose fine brings care and smart Esteeme of all as they deserue and deeme as deemd thou art So shall thy perfect freend enioy his hoped hyre And faithlesse fawning foe shall misse theffect of his desyre Good will shall haue his gayne and hate shall heape despite A faithlesse freend shall find distrust and loue shall reape delite Thy selfe shall rest in peace thy freend shall ioy thy fate Thy foe shall fret at thy good happe and I shall ioy thy state But this my fond aduise may seeme purchaunce but vayne As rather teaching how to lose then howe a freend to gayne But this not my intent to teach to find a freend But safely how to loue and leaue is all that I entend And yf you prooue in part and find my counsell true Then wysh me well for my good wyll t is all I craue adue FINIS My lucke is losse 6. M. Edwards MAY. WHen MAY is in his prime then MAY eche hart reioyce When MAY bedecks eche branch with greene ech bird streins forth his voice The liuely sappe creepes vp into the bloming throne The flowres which cold in prison kept now laughes the frost to skorne All natures Impes triumphes whiles ioyful may doth last When MAY is gone of all the yeere the pleasant time is past MAY makes the cheerfull hue MAY breedes bringes new blood MAY marcheth throughout euery lim MAY makes the mery mood MAY pricketh tender harts their warbling notes to tune Ful strange it is yet some we see doe make their MAY in Iune Thus thinges
vertuous name By life or death what so betides The state of Vertue neuer slides FINIS M. Y. 22. Nothing is comparable vnto a faithfull freend SIth this our time of Freendship is so skant Sith Freendship now in euery place doth want Sith euery man of Freendship is so hollowe As no man rightly knowes which way to followe Sease not my Muse sease not in these our dayes To ring loude peales of sacred Freendships prayse If men be now their owne peculier freendes And to their neighbours freendship none pertendes If men of Freendship shewe them selues so bare And of their brethren take no Freendly care Forbeare not then my Muse nor feare not then To ring disprayse of these vnfreendly men Did man of Freendship know the mighty power How great effectes it worketh euery houre What store of hidden freendship it retaynes How still it powreth forth aboundaunt gaines Man would with thee my muse in these our dayes Ring out loude peales of sacred Freendships prayse Freendship releeueth mans necessitie Freendship comforteth mans aduersitie Freendship augmenteth mans prosperitie Freendship preferres man to felicitie Then ring my muse ring out in these our dayes Ring out loude peales of sacred freendships prayse Of Freendship growes loue and charitie By Freendship men are linked in amitie From Freendship springeth all commoditie The fruite of Freendship is fidelitie Oh ring my muse ring out in these our dayes Peale vpon peale of sacred Freendships prayse That man with man true freendship may embrace That man to man may shew a freendly face That euery man may sow such freendly seedes As freendship may be found in freendly deedes And ioyne with thee my Muse in these our dayes To ring loud peales of sacred Freendships prayse FINIS F. K. 23. Remember thy ende TO be as wise as CATO was or rich as CRESVS in his life To haue the strength of Hercules which did subdue by force or strife What helpeth it when Death doth call The happy ende exceedeth all The Rich may well the Poore releeue the Rulers may redresse each wrong The learned may good counsell giue but marke the end of this my song Who doth these thinges happy they call Their happy end exceedeth all The happiest end in these our dayes that all do seeke both small and great Is eyâ—ther for Fame or els for Prayse or who may sitte in highest seate But of these thinges hap what hap shall The happy end exceedeth all A good beginning ought we see but seeldome standing at one stay For few do like the meane degree then prayse at parting some men say The thinges wherto each wight is thrall The happy end exceedeth all The meane estate that happy life which liueth vnder gouernance Who seekes no hate nor breedes no strife but takes in worth his happy chance If contentation him befall His happy end exceedeth all The longer-life that we desire the more offence doth dayly grow The greater payne it doth require Except the Iudge some mercy shew Wherfore I thinke and euer shall The happy end exceedeth all FINIS D. S. 24. He perswadeth his freend from the fond Affectes of loue WHY art thou bound maist go fre shal reason yeld to raging wil Is thraldom like to libertye wilt thou exchange thy good for ill Then shalt thou learne a childish play and of each part to tast and proue The lookers on shall iudge and say loe this is he that liues by loue Thy wittes with thoughts shall stand at stay thy head shall haue but heauy rest Thy eyes shal watch for wanton prayes thy tongue shall shew thy harts request Thy eares shall heare a thousand noyse thy hand shall put thy pen to payne And in the ende thou shalt disprayse thy life so spent for such small gaine If loue and list might euer cope or youth might runne in reasons race Or if strong sute might win sure hope I would lesse blame a louers case For loue is hotte with great desire and sweete delight makes youth so fond That little sparkes will proue great fyre and bring free harts to endlesse bond First count the care and then the cost and marke what fraude in faith is found Then after come and make thy bost and shew some cause why thou art bound For when the wine doth runne full low you shall be faine to drinke the lies And eate the flesh ful well I know that hath ben blowne with many flies We see where great deuotion is the people kneele and kisse the crosse And though we find small fault of this Yet some will gilld a bridles bosse A foole his bable will not change not for the septer of a king A louers life is nothing strange for youth delightes none other thing FINIS Tho. Churchyard 25. Wanting his desyre he complayneth THe sayling ships with ioy at length doo touch their long desired port The hewing axe the Oke doth wast the battring Canon breakes the fort Hard hagard haukes stoope to the lure wild coltes in time the bridle tames There is nothing so out of vre but to his kind long time it frames Yet this I find in time no time can winne my sute Though oft the tree I climbe I can not catch the fruite And yet the pleasant branches oft in yeelding wise to me do bow When I would touch they spring aloft soone are they gone I wot not how Thus I present the fleeting floode like Tantalus in hel below Would God my case shee vnderstoode whirh can full soone releeue my woe Which if to her were knowen the fruite were surely mine She would not let me grone and brouse vpon the rine But if my ship with tackle torne with rented sailes must needs retire And streame and wind hath plainly sworn by force to hinder my desire Like one that stricks vpon the rocks my wearie wracke I shoulde bewayle And learn to knowe false fortunes mockes who smiles on me to small auaile Yet sith she onely can my rented ship restore To helpe her wracked man but once I seeke no more FINIS M. Ewardes 26. Trye before you truste IN freendes are found a heape of doubts that double dealing vse A swarme of such I could find out whose craft I can accuse A face for loue a hart for hate these faigned freendes can beare A tongue for troth a head for wyles to hurt each simple eare In humble port is poyson pact that plainenesse can not spie Which creadites all and can not see where stinging serpents lye Through hastie trust the harmelesse heart is easely hampred in And made beleeue it is good gold when it is lead and tin The first deceit that bleares myne eyes is faigned faith profest The second trappe is grating talke that gripes each strangers brest The third deceite is greeting wordes with colours painted out Which bids suspect to feare no smart nor dread no dangerous doubt The fourth and last is long repaire which creepes in freendships lap And dayly hauntes that vnder trust
deuiseth many a trap Loe how false freendes can frame a fetch to win the will with wils To sauce their slightes with sugred sops and shadow harme with smiles To serue their lustes are sundry sorts by practise diuers kindes Some carries honnie in their mouthes and venime in their mindes Mee thinkes the stones within the streetes should cry out in this case And euery one that doth them meete should shunne their double face FINIS D. S. 27. A Lady forsaken complayneth JF pleasures be in paynfulnes in pleasures dooth my body rest If ioyes accord with carefulnes a ioyful hart is in my brest If prison strong is libertie in libertie long haue I bene If ioyes accord with miserye who can compare a life to mine Who can vnbind that is sore bound who can make free that is sore thrall Or how can any meanes be found to comfort such a wretch withall None can but he that hath my hart conuert my paynes to comfort then Yet since his seruant I became most like a bondman haue I beene Since first in bondage I became my words deedes were euer such That neuer once he could me blame except from louing him too much Which I can iudge no iust offence nor cause that I deserue disdaine Except he mean through false pretence through forged loue to make a train Nay nay alas my fained thoughts my frēded my fained ruth My pleasures past my present plaints shew wel I mean but to much truth But since I can not him attain against my wil I let him goe And lest he glory at my paine I will attempt to cloke my woe Youth learn by me but do not proue for I haue proued to my paine What greeuous griefes do grow by loue what it is to loue in vaine FINIS M. D. 28. Finding worldly ioyes but vanities he wisheth death FOrlorne in filthy froward fate wherin a thousand cares I find By whom I do lament my state annoid with fond afflicted minde A wretch in woe and dare not cry I liue and yet I wish to dye The day in dole that semeth long I pas with sighes heauy cheere And with these eyes I vewe the wrong that I sustain by liuing here Where my mishaps as rife doo dwell As plagues within the pit of hell A wailing wight I walke alone in desart dennes there to complaine Among the sauage sort to mone I flee my freends wher they remain And pleasure take to shun the sight Where erst I felt my great delight A captaine clapt in chaynes of care lapt in the lawes of lethal loue My flesh and bones consumed bare with crauling greefes full strange to proue Though hap doth bid me hope at least Whyles grasse doth grow yet starues the beast A seeged fort with forrain force for want of ayde must yeeld at last So must my weried pined corse submit it selfe to bitter tast Of crauling care that carkes my brest Till hope or death shall breede my rest FINIS F. M. 29. A replie to M. Edwards MAY. J Read a maying rime of late delighted much my eare It may delight as many moe as it shall reade or heare To see how there is shewed how May is much of price And eake to May when that you may euen so is his aduice It seemes he meant to may himselfe and so to vse his skill For that the time did serue so well in May to haue his will. His onely May was ease of mind so farre as I can gesse And that his may his mind did please a man can iudge no lesse And as himselfe did reape the fruites of that his pleasant May He wils his freende the same to vse in time when as he may He is not for him selfe it seemes but wisheth well to all For that he would they should take May in time when it doth fall So vse your May you may it can not hurtful be And May well vsed in time and place may make you mery gle Modest maying mettest is of this you may be suer A modest maying quietnes to Mayers doth procure Who may and will not take may wish he had so done Who may and it doth take may thinke he tooke too sone So ioyne your May with wisedomes lore and then you may be suer Who makes his May in other sort his vnrest may procuer Some May before May come some May when May is past Some make their May to late and some doe May posthast Let wisedome rule I say your May and thus I make anende And May that when you list to May a good may God you sende FINIS M. S. 30. Hauing marryed a worthy Lady and taken away by death he complayneth his mishap JN youth when I at large did lead my life in lusty libertie When heuy thoughts no one did spread to let my pleasant fantasy No fortune seemd so hard could fall This freedome then that might make thrall And twentie yeeres I skarse had spent whē to make ful my happy fate Both treasures great were on me cast with lands titles of estate So as more blest then I stoode than Eke as me thought was neuer man. For of Dame Fortune who is he could more desire by iust request Then health with wealth and liberty al which at once I this possest But masking in this ioly ioy A soden syght prooud al a toy For passing on these mery dayes with new deuice of pleasures great And now and then to view the rayes of beauties works with cunning feat In heauenly hewes all which as one I oft behelde but bound to none And one day rowling thus my eyes vpon these blessed wights at ease Amongst the rest one did I se who straight my wādring lokes did sease And stayed them firme but such a sight Of beauty yet saw neuer wight What shal I seke to praise it more wher tongs cannot wel praise the sāe But to be short to louers lore I straight my sences all did frame And were it wit or were it chaunce I woonne the Garland in this daunce And thus wher I before had thought no hap my fortūe might encrese A double blis this chāce forth brought so did my ladies loue me please Her faith so firme and constant such As neuer hart can praise too much But now with torments strange I tast the fickle stay of fortunes whele And where shee raised from high to cast with greater force of grefe to feele For from this hap of soden frowne Of Princes face she threw me downe And thus exchange now hath it made by liberty a thing most deare In hateful prison for to fade where sundred from my louing feare My wealth and health stands at like stay Obscurely to consume away And last when humain force was none could part our loue wherin we liued My ladies life alas is gon most cruel death hath it bereued Whose vertues her to God hath wonne And left me here a man vndone FINIS F. G. 31. A worthy ditie song
before the Queenes Maiestie at Bristowe MIstrust not troth that truely meanes for euery ielous freke In stead of wrong condēne not right no hidden wrath to wreke Looke on the light of faultlesse life how bright her vertues shine And measure out her steppes each one by leuel and by line Deeme eche desert by vpright gesse wherby your prayse shall liue If malice would be match with might let hate no iudgement giue Enforce no feare with wresting wittes in quiet conscience brest Lend not your eares to busie tongues which breedeth much vnrest In doubtfull drifts wade not to farre it weries but the mind Seeke not to search the secreat harts whose thoughts are hard to finde Auoide from you those hateful heads that helpes to heape mishap Be slow to heare the flatterers voice that creepeth in your lap Embrace their loue that wills you good and sport not at their prayse Trust not too much vnto your selfe for feeble are your stayes How can your seate be setled faste or stand on stedfast ground so propped vp with hollow harts whose surety is vnsound Giue faith to those that feare for loue and not that loue for feare Regard not them that force compels to please you euery where All this well waid and borne away shall stablish long your state Continually with perfect peace in spite of pussing hate FINIS D. S. 32. An Epitaph vpon the death of Syr Edward Saunders Knight Lord cheefe Boron of the Exchequer YOV Muses weare your mourning weeds strike on the fatal Drome Sound Triton out the trumpe of fame in spite of Pareas dome Distill Parnassus pleasant drops possesse Pierides plase Apollo helpe with dolefull tune to wayle this wofull case Wring hard you hands waile on you losse lament the fate that fell With sobs and sighes to Saunders say oh Saunders now farewell Whom Phaebus fed with Pallas pappe as one of Sibils seede Loe here where death did rest his corpes the vermine foule to feede Whom Impes of Ioue with Necter sweete long in Libethres noursht Behold how dreadful death him brought to that whence he came first Lycurgus he for learned lawes Rhadamanthus race that ranne Another Nestor for aduise Zalucus fame that wanne A Damon deare vnto his freend in faith like Phocion found A Cato that could counsel giue to prince a subiect sound Not Athens for their Solon sage not Rome for Numa waile As we for Saunders death haue cause in fods of teares to saile Not Sparta card for Chilos death ne proud Prienna prest To weepe for Bias as we wayle for Saunders late possest His learned pathes his talentes rare so now by death appeares As he that Salomon sought to serue in prime and youthful yeeres His counsel sad his rules his lawes in country soyle so wrought As though in Cuma he had benn of sage Sibilla taught His vertuous life was such I say as Vertue did embrace By Vertue taught in Vertues schoole to grow in vertues race Might tender babes might orphants weak might widows rere that cry The sound thereof shoulde pearce the cloudes to skale the empire sky To bid the gods to battel bend and to dissend in sight Though ffarre vnfit and mates vnmeete with mortal men to fight Too late alas we wish his life to soone deceiued vs Death Too little wit we haue to seeke the dead agayne to breath What helplesse is must carelesse be as Natures course doth shewe For death shal reape what life hath sowen by nature this we know Where is that ferce Achilles fled where is king Turnus shroude What is be come of Priamus state where is Periander proude Hector Hanno Hanibal dead Pompei Pirrhus spild Scipio Cirus Caesar slaine and Alexander kild So long there Fortune fast did floe and charged Fame to sound Tyll frowning Fortune foyld by fate which fawning fortune found Shun Fortunes feates shake fortune of to none is fortune sound Sith none may say of Fortune so I Fortune faithful found Beholde where Fortune flowed so fast and fauoured Saunders lure Till fickle Fortune false again did Saunders death procure Lo clothed could in cloddes of clay in drossy dust remaine By fate returnd from whence he came to his mothers wombe againe Who welnigh thirtie yeeres was Iudge before a Iudge dyd fall And iudged by that mighty Iudge which Iudge shall iudge vs all The heauens may of right reioyce and earth may it bewayle Sith heauen wan and earth hath lost the guide and arke of vaile There gaine is much our losse is great there mirth our mone is such That they may laugh as cause doo yeeld and we may weepe as much O happy he vnhappy we his hap doth aye encrease Happy he and haplesse we his hap shall neuer cease We liue to dye he dyed to liue we want and he possest We bide in bands he bathes in blisse the Gods aboue him blest Being borne to liue he liued to dye and dyed to God so plaine That birth that life that death doo shew that he shall liue againe His youth to age his age to death his death to fame applied His fame to time his time to God thus Saunders liued and dyed O happy life O happier death O tenne times happy he Whose hap it was such hap to haue a Iudge this age to be Oh ioyfull time oh blessed soyle where Pallas rules with witte O noble state O sacred seate where Saba sage dooth sitte Like Susan sound like Sara sad with Hesters mace in hand With Iudiths sword Bellona like to rule this noble land I had my will you haue your wish I laugh reioyce you may I wan now much you gaine no lesse to see this happy day Wherein I dyed wherein you liue Oh treble happy cost Wherein I ioyed in glory great wherin you triumpth most Kneele on your knees knock hard your brests sound forth the ioyful drome Clap loude your handes sound Eccho say the golden world is come Reioyce you Iudges may of right your mirth may now be such As neuer earst you Iudges had in England mirth so much Here Cuma is here Sibill raignes on Delphos seat to sitte Here shee like Phaebus rules that can Gordius knot vnknitte I liued to nature long ynough I liued to honor much I liued at wish I died at will to see my country such As neither needes it Numas lawes nor yet Apollos sweard For Mauger Mars yet Mars shal be of this our Queene afeard O peerlesse pearle O Diamond deer O Queene of Queenes farwell Your royall maiestie God preserue in England long to dwell Farwell the Phaenix of the world farwel my soueraigne Queene Farwel most noble vertuous prince Mineruas mate I weene No Iuel Gemme no Gold to giue no pearles from Pactolus lo No Persian Gaze no Indian stones no Tagus sands to show But faith and will to natiue soyle a liue and dead I find My hart my mind my loue I leaue vnto my prince behind Farwel you nobles of this land farwel you
withall His pleasure sweete to staie when he to rest is bent An vgly shamble Flee approcheth to his tent And htere entendes by force his labours greate to win Or els to yelde his corse by fatall death therein Thus is the Spiders nest from tyme to tyme throwne downe And he to labour prest with endlesse paine vnknowne So suche as Louers bee like trauell doe attaine Those endlesse works ye see are alwaies full of paine FINIS M. Hunnis A Louers ioye I Haue no ioye but dreame of ioye and ioye to thinke on ioye A ioye I withstoode for to enioye to finishe myne annoye I hate not without cause alas yet Loue I knowe not why I thought to hate I can not hate although that I should dye A foe moste sweete a frende moste sower I ioye for to embrace I hate the wrong and not the wight that workt my wofull case What thyng it is I knowe not I but yet a thyng there is That in my fancie still perswads there is no other blisse The ioyes of life the pangs of death it make me feele eche daie But life nor death this humour can deuise to weare awaie Faine would I dye but yet in death no hope I see remaines And shall I liue since life I see a course of sorie paines What is it then that I doe seeke what ioye would I aspire A thyng that is deuine belike to high for mans desire FINIS F. K. Euill to hym that euill thinketh THe subtill stilie sleghts that worldly men doe woorke The friendly showes vnder whose shade moste craft doeth often lurke Enforceth me alas with yernfull voyce to saie Wo worthe the wilie heads that seeks the simple mans decaie The birde that dreads no guile is sonest caught in snare Eche gentle harte deuoide of crafte is sonest brought to care Good nature sonest trapt whiche giues me cause to saie Wo worthe the wilie heads that seeks the simple mans decaie I see the Serpent vile that lurkes vnder the grene How subtilly he shroods hym self that he maie not be sene And yet his fosters bane his leryng lookes bewraie Wo worthe the wilie heads that leeks the simple mans decaie Wo worthe the feinyng looks on fauour that we doe waite Wo worthe the feined frendly harte that harbours deepe deceite Wo worthe the Vipers broode oh thrise wo worthe I saie All worldlie wilie heads that seeks the simple mans decaie FINIS M. Edwardes He assureth his constancie WIth painted speache I list not proue my cunnyng for to trie Nor yet will vse to fill my penne with gilefull flatterie With pen in hand hart in brest shall faithful promise make To loue you beste and serue you moste by your greate vertuts sake And sure dame Nature hath you deckt with gifts aboue the reste Let not Disdaine a harbour finde within your noble breste For Loue hath lead his lawe alike to men of eche degrre So that the Begger with the Prince shall Loue as well as he I am no Prince I muste confesse nor yet of Princes line Nor yet a brutishe Begger borne that feeds emong the Swine The fruite shall trie the Tree at laste the blossomes good or no Then doe not iudge of me the worse till you haue tried me so As I deserue so then reward I make you iudge of all If I be false in woorde or deede let Lightnyng Thunder fall And Furies fell with franticke fiâ—ts bereue and stay my breathe For an example to the reste if I shall breake my faithe FINIS M. Hunnis Complainyng his mishapp to his frende he complaineth wittely A. THe fire shall freze the frost shall frie the frozen mouÌ„tains hie B. What straunge things hath dame natures force to turne her course awrie A. My Loue hath me left and taken a newe man B. This is not straunge it happes ofte tymes the truthe to scan A. The more is my paine B. her Loue then refraine A. Who thought she would flitt B. eche one that hath witt A. Is this not straunge B. light Loue will chaunge A. By skilfull meanes I here reclaime to stoope vnto my lure B. Suche haggard Haukes will soare awaie of them who can be sure A. With siluer bells and hoode my ioye was her to decke B. She was full gorgde she would the soner giue the checke A. The more is my paine B. her Loue then refraine A. Who thought she would flitt B. eche one that hath witt A. Is not this straunge B. light Loue will chaunge A. Her chirpyng lips should chirpe to me swete words of her desire B. Suche chirpyng birdes who euer sawe to preach still on one brire A. She saied she loued me beste and would not till she die B. She saied in wordes she thought it not as tyme doeth trie A. The more is my paine B. her Loue then refraine A. Who thought she would flitt B. eche one that hath witt A. Is not this straunge B. light Loue will chaunge A Can no man winne a woman so to make her Loue endure B. To make the Foxe his wiles to leaue what man will put in vre A. Why then there is no choise but all women will chaunge B. As men doe vse so some women doe Loue to raunge A. The more is my paine B. her Loue then refraine A. Who thought she would flitt B. eche one that hath witt A. Is not this straunge B. light Loue will chaunge A Sith slipper gaine falles to my lot farewell that glidyng praie B. Sith that the dice doeth runne awrie betymes leaue of thy plaie A. I will no more lamente the thyng I maie not haue B. Then by exchaunge the losse to come all shalt thou saue A. Loue will I refraine B. thereby thou shalt gaine A With losse I will leaue B. she will thee deceiue A. That is not straunge B. then let her raunge FINIS M. Edwardes No paines comparable to his attempt LIke as the dolefull Doue delights alone to bee And doeth refuse the bloumed branche chusyng the leaflesse tree Whereon wailyng his chaunce with bitter teares besprent Doeth with his bill his tender breaste ofte pearse and all to rent Whose greeuous gronyngs tho whose grips of pinyng paine Whose gastly lookes whose bloudie streams out flowyng froÌ„ ech vain Whose fallyng from the tree whose pantyng on the grounde Examples bee of myne estate tho there appere no wounde FINIS W. Hunnis He repenteth his follie A Lacke when I looke backe vpon my youth thatz paste And deepely pouder youthes offence and youths reward at laste With sighes and teares I saie O God I not denie My youth with follie hath deserued with follie for to die But yet if euer synfull man might mercie moue to ruthe Good Lorde with mercie doe forgiue the follies of my youthe In youth I rangde the feelds where vices all did growe In youth alas I wanted grace suche vise to ouerthrowe In youth what I thought swéete moste bitter now do finde Thus hath the follies of my youth
I founde that myne she meant to be Melpomene alas with dolefull tunes helpe than And syng Bis woe worthe on me forsaken man Then Daphnes Baies shall that man weare that triumphs ouer me For Blacke and Taunie will I weare whiche mournyng colours be Droune me you tricklyng teares you wailefull wights of woe Come helpe these hands to rent my heares my rewfull hap to showe On whom the scorchyng flames of Loue doeth feede you see Ah a lalalantida my deare Dame hath thus tormented me Wherefore you Muses nine with dolefull tunes helpe than And syng Bis woe worthe on me forsaken man Then Daphnes Baies shall that man weare that triumphs ouer me For Blacke and Taunie will I weare whiche mournyng colours be An Ancres life to leade with nailes to scratche my graue Where yearthly wormes on me shall feede is all the ioyes I craue And hide my self from shame sithe that myne eyes doe see Ah a lalalantida my deare dame hath thus tormented me And all that present bee with dolefull tunes helpe than And syng Bis woe worthe on me forsaken man FINIS E. O. Findyng no releef he complaineth thus INquest of my releef I finde distresse In recompence of Loue moste depe disdaine My langour suche as words maie not expresse A shower of teares my watrishe eye doeth raine I dreame of this and doe deuine of woe I wander in the thoughts of my sweete foe I would no peace the cause of warre I flie I hope I feare I burne I chill in Froste I lye a lowe yet mounts my mynde on hie Thus doubtfull stormes my troubled thoughts haue toste And for my paine this pleasure doe I proue I hate my self and pine in others Loue. The worlde I graspe yet holde I nought at all At libertie I seme in prison pent I taste the sweete more sower then bitter gall My shipp semes sounde and yet her ribbs bee rent And out alas on Fortune false I crie Looke what I craue that still she doeth denie Bothe life and death be equall vnto me I doe desire to die yet craue I life My witts with sondrie thoughts doe disagree My self am with my self at mortall strife As warmth of Sunne doeth melte the siluer Snowe The heate of Loue beholde consumes me so FINIS R. Hall. A Louer disdained complaineth IF euer man had loue to dearly bought Lo I am he that plaies within her maze And finds no waie to get the same I sought But as the Dere are driuen vnto the gaze And to augment the grief of my desire My self to burne I blowe the fire But shall I come nye you Of force I must flie you What death alas maie be compared to this I praie within the maze of my sweete foe And when I would of her but craue a kis Disdaine enforceth her awaie to goe My self I checke yet doe I twiste the twine The pleasure hers the paine is myne But shall I come nye you Of force I must flie you You courtly wights that wants your pleasaunt choyse Lende me a floud of teares to waile my chaunce Happie are thei in Loue that can reioyse To their greate paines where Fortune doeth aduaunce But sith my sute alas can not preuaile Full fraight with care in grief still will I waile Sith you will nedes flie me I maie not come nye you FINIS L. Vaux Beyng in Loue he complaineth IF care or skill could conquere vaine desire Or reasons raignes my strong affection staie Then should my sighs to quiet brest retire And shunne suche signes as secret thoughts bewraie Vncomely Loue whiche now lurks in my breast Should cease my grief through wisedomes power opprest But who can leaue to looke on Venus face Or yeldeth not to Iunos high estate What witt so wise as giues not Pallas place These vertues rare eche Gods did yelde amate Saue her alone who yet on yearth doeth raigne Whose beauties stryng no God can well destraine What worldly wight can hope for heauenly hire When onely sights must make his secret moue A silent sute doeth selde to grace aspire My haplesse happ doeth roule the restlesse stone Yet Phebe faire disdainde the heauens aboue To ioye on yearth her poore Edimions loue Rare is reward where none can iustly craue For chaunce is choise where reason maks no claime Yet lucke sometymes dispairyng soules doeth saue A happie Starre made Giges ioye attaine A slauishe Smithe of rude and rascall race Founde meanes in tyme to gaine a Goddes grace Then loftie Loue thy sacred sailes aduaunce My sithyng seas shall flowe with streames of teares Amidds disdaine driue forthe my dolefull chaunce A valiaunt mynde no deadly daunger feares Who loues alofte and setts his harte on hie Deserues no paine though he doe pine and die FINIS E. O. A Louer reiected complaineth THe tricklyng teares that falles along my cheeks The secret sighs that shewes my inward grief The present paines perforce that Loue aye seeks Bidds me renewe my cares without relief In wofull song in dole displaie My pensiue harte for to bewraie Bewraie thy grief thy wofull harte with speede Resigne thy voyce to her that causde thy woe With irksome cries bewaile thy late doen deede For she thou louest is sure thy mortall foe And helpe for thee there is none sure But still in paine thou must endure The striken Deare hath helpe to heale his wounde The haggerd Hauke with toyle is made full tame The strongest Tower the Canon laies on grounde The wisest witt that euer had the fame Was thrall to Loue by Cupids sleights Then waie my case with equall weights She is my ioye she is my care and wo She is my paine she is my ease therefore She is my death she is my life also She is my salue she is my wounded sore In fine she hath the hande and knife That maie bothe saue and ende my life And shall I liue on yearth to be her thrall And shall I sue and serue her all in vaine And kisse the stepps that she let ts fall And shall I praie the Gods to keepe the paine From her that is so cruell still No no on her woorke all your will. And let her feele the power of all your might And let her haue her moste desire with speede And let her pine awaie bothe daie and night And let her mone and none lament her neede And let all those that shall her see Despise her state and pitie me FINIS E. O. Not attainyng to his desire he complaineth I Am not as seme to bee nor when I smile I am not glad A thrall although you count me frée I moste in mirth most pēsiue sad I smile to shade my bitter spight as Haniball that sawe in sight His coūtrie soile with Carthage toune by Romain force defaced doun And Cesar that presented was with noble Pompeis princely heade As t were some iudge to rule the cace a flould of teares he semde to shed Although in deede it sprong of ioye yet other thought it was
annoye Thus contraries be vsed I finde of wise to cloke the couert mynde I Haniball that smiles for grief and let you Cesars grief suffice The one that laughs at his mischief the other all for ioye that cries I smile to see me scorned so you weepe for ioye to see me woe And I a harte by Loue slaine deade presents in place of Pompeis head O cruell happ and harde estate that forceth me to loue my fo Accursed bee so foule a fate my choyse for to prefixe it so So long to fight with secret sore and finde no secret salue therefore Some urge their paine by plaint I finde but I in vain doe breath my winde FINIS E. Ox. His mynde not quietly setled he writeth thus EVen as the waxe doeth melte or dewe consume awaie Before the Sunne so I behold through carefull thoughts decaie For my beste lucke leads me to suche sinister state That I doe waste with others Loue that hath my self in hate And he that beats the bushe the wished birde not getts But suche I see as sitteth still and holds the foulyng netts The Drone more Honie sucks that laboureth not at all Then doeth the Bee to whose moste paine least pleasure doeth befall The Gardner sowes the seeds whereof the flowers doe growe And others yet doe gather them that tooke lesse paine I knowe So I the pleasaunt Grape haue pulled from the Vine And yet I languishe in greate thirste while others drinke the wine Thus like a wofull wight I woue the webb of woe The more I would weede out my cares the more thei seme to growe The whiche betokeneth forsaken is of me That with the carefull Culuer climes the worne and withered tree To entertaine my thoughts and there my happ to mone That neuer am lesse idle loe then when I am alone FINIS E. Ox. That Loue is requited by disdaine IN searche of thyngs that secret are my mated muse began What it might be molested moste the head and mynde of man. The bendyng brow of princes face to wrathe that doeth attende Or want of parents wife or childe or losse of faithfull frende The roryng of the Canon shot that makes the peece to shake Or terrour suche as mightie Ioue from heauen aboue can make All these in fine maie not compare experience so doeth proue Vnto the torments sharpe and strange of suche as be in loue Loue lookes a loft and laughs to scorne all suche as grefe anoye The more extreme their passions be the greater is his ioye Thus Loue as victor of the felde triumps aboue the rest And ioyes to see his subiects lye with liuyng death in brest But dire disdaine let ts driue a shaft and gauls this braggyng foole He plucks his plumes vnbendes his bowe and sets hym newe to scole Whereby this boye that bragged late as conquerer ouer all Now yelds hym self vnto disdaine his vessall and his thrall FINIS W. Hunnis Of a contented state IN wealth we se some wealthie men abound in wealth moste welthely In wealth we se those men again in wealth do liue moste wretchedly And yet of wealthe hauyng more store Then erst of wealth thei had before These welthy men do seme to want thei seme to want the most thei haue The more postes the more thei craue the more thei craue the greater store That moste thei haue thei thinke but skant Yet not content wo be therefore The simple men that lesse wealth haue with lesser wealth we se contēt Content are thei twixt wealth and scath a life to lead indifferent And thus of wealth these men haue more Then those of whiche we spoke before FINIS W. Hunnis Beyng disdained he complaineth IF frendlesse faithe if giltlesse thought maie shielde If simple truthe that neuer meant to swarue If deare desire accepted fruite doe yelde If greedie luste in loyall life doeth sarue Then maie my plainte bewaile my heauie harme That seekyng calme haue stumbled on the storme My wonted cheare ecclipsed by the cloude Of deepe disdaine through errour of reporte If wearie woe enwrapped in the shroude Lies slaine by tongue of the vnfrendly sorte Yet heauen and yearth and all that Nature wrought I call to vowe of my vnspotted thought No shade I seeke in parte to shield my tainte But simple truthe I hunte no other sute On that I gape the issue of my plainte If that I quaile let Iustice me confute If that my place emongs the giltlesse sorte Repaie by dome my name and good reporte Goe heauie verse pursue desired grace Where pitie shrinde in cell of secret brest Awaits my haste the rightfull lot to place And lothes to see the giltlesse man opprest Whose vertues greate hath crounde her more with fame Then kyngly state though largely shine the same FINIS L. Vaux Of the meane estate THe higher that the Ceder tree vnto the heauens doe growe The more in daunger is the top when sturdie winds gan blowe Who Iudges then in princely throne to bee deuoide of hate Doeth not yet knowe what heapes of ill lies hid in suche estate Suche dangers great suche gripes of minde suche toile do thei sustain That often tymes of God thei wishe to bee vnkyngde again For as the huge and mightie rockes withstande the ragyng seas So kyngdomes in subiection bee whereas dame Fortune please Of brittle ioye of smilyng cheare of Honie mixte with Gall Alotted is to euery Prince in freedome to bee thrall What watches long what steps vnsure what grefes and care of minde What bitter broiles what endlesse toiles to kyngdomes bee assingde The subiect then maie well compare with prince for pleasant daies Whose silent nighe bryngs quiet rest whose steps no storme bewraies How muche bee we then bounde to God who suche prouision makes To late our cares vpon the Prince thus doeth he for our sakes To hym therefore let vs lifte vp our harts and praie a maine That euery Prince that he hath plast maie long in quiet raigne FINIS W. H. Of a contented mynd WHen all is doen and saied in the ende thus shall you finde The moste of all doeth hath in blisse that hath a quiet minde And cleare from worldlie cares to deame can bee content The sweetest tyme in all this life in thinkyng to bee spent The bodie subiecte is to fickle Fortunes power And to a million of mishapps is casuall euery hower And death in tyme doeth chaunge it to a clodde of claie When as the mynde whiche is deuine runnes neuer to decaie Companion none is like vnto the mynde alone For many haue been harmde by speach through thinking few or none Fewe often tymes restraineth words but maks not thoughts to cease And he speaks beste that hath the skill when for to holde his peace Our wealth leaues vs at death our kinsmen at the graue But vertues of the mynde vnto the heauens with vs haue Wherefore for vertues sake I can be well content The sweetest tyme of all my life to deeme in thinkyng