ought beside be done that you like ill And that the same in euill part you take Goe seeke your mendes you may whereas you will I reke you naught this aunswere doe I make And though before offence were none committed yet this your writing fond would it procure which hath full well with your demeanour fitted Being rude and imprudent and ill to indure No more I neede at this time here to say For well you may by this my mind perceiue yet of one thing I warne you by the way That with vaine hope your selfe you not deceiue And so to conclude I bid you adue wishing you aduisedly my letters to view A yong man enamoured of a very fayre Gentlewoman declareth the dollorous passions that he suffereth for her sake and craueth mercy at her handes THe more I looke vppon her louely face whose like before dame nature neuer framde The more I like and long to liue in grace Of her that may Pandora well be namde whose deedes as due the highest place haue claimde A Phenic rale she may be tearmed right That so surmountes each other earthly wight Of Silke and Siluer seemes her heare to be Her teeth of pearle her eyes of Christall cleare Her lippes of Ruby wrought in each degree She doth excell and vaunteth voide of peere Her like did neuer liue that I could heare who would not then accompt himself in blis That might inioy so rare a iem as this Sir Aleran as may by bookes appeare A sily Sacon sought her loue to gaine That was the Emperour Othos Daughter deare And did in fine his wished will obtaine She graunted grace to quite his carefull paine And fearing nought her father 's furious yre Did yield her hart all whole at his desyre And Acharisto he but basely borne Besought the loue of fayre Euphimia who seemed nought his courtesy to scorn Though she were Queene of riche corinthia Yong Iason eke obtained Medea who though she knew not him nor his estate Forsooke her friendes to be his matched mate A million more I might alledge of those That did by seeking soone obtayne their will And when they were bewrapt in wretched woes Had speedy helpe to shield themselues from ill which otherwise their youthfull dayes would spill yea some we see from seruill state aduaunst By worthy dames whose grace to gaine they chaunst Then speake and speede be still and want thy hyre For many a time and oft I haue hard say And sometime proude that he that would aspire To that which will doth wish the wisest way Is to expulse dispayre which makes men stray Farre from the path of perfect peace and rest Sith Fortune still doth helpe the bouldest best For can the Leach recure his pacientes paine Before he see from whence his greefe doth grow Or can the Lawyer pleade a matter plaine Unles to him his case the client show Then should this dainty dame on me bestow Her loyall loue before she trye my truth The meetest meane to moue her mind to ruth Then welcome hope and foolish feare farewell Farewell all care and welcome pleasaunt ioy That guilefull gest no more with me shall dwell That would my helth and happy hap destroy What should I doubt sith she is nothing coy Her gentle hart can not his hurt procure That for her sake would any death indure On her my health on her my happy dayes Doe whole depend on her my myrth or mone My welth or wo my paine or pleasure stayes My lyfe and death doth rest in her alone By her I must alas or else by none Receaue releefe and hope to haue redresse Of all the paines that doe my mind oppresse And as her bewty brane bindes me to loue So doth her courtious countinaunce comfort yielde And as the paine I feele my mind doth moue So hope perswades that grace shall gaine the field But hap what may both loue and paine that builde Their bower in brest my sorrowes so renue That forst I am for grace to seeke and sue Behold therefore deare dame thy seruaunt heare Lies prostrate at thy feete to pleade for grace Oh rue my state let pittie plaine appeare For thou alas haste brought me in such case As if I find not fauour in thy face Like one that loathes his lyfe I wish my graue To quench the cares which doe my health depraue The bale I bide I would right happy count And thinke my selfe in Paradice to be Yea in good hap all others to surmount might it but please you once to deeme of me As I deserue and graciously agree To take me for your seruaunt slaue or swayne Whose mind to please I would refuse no payne Few wordes will serue a righteous cause to pleade If Iudge be iust by whome it must be tryde How said I what shall I her dealing dread No no I know she will not shrinke aside From reasons rule at any time or tide But render me my due deserued hyre Which is the somme of all my whole desyre Who serues deserues his recompence to haue Who truely loues ought to be loude againe Whose greefes are great must needes a medicine craue Or else permit himselfe to pine in paine Let me deare dame my guerdon then obtaine And doe not now in lew of lasting loue with deepe disdaine my rash attempt reproue Finis Certaine Verses written in commendation of the Nut cornell AS late for my delight when dumpes opprest my minde I walkte abrode the pleasaunt fieldes in hope some helpe to fynde By chaunce I lighted then Upon a huge great wood whereas in rankes right goodly trees of sundry sortes there stoode There were of large and lofty Okes great store in euery place Of Aspe and Elme with byrche and Boxe where euer I did trace There was great store of Holly to of willow asp and ew And all the ground was clad with flowers of sundry sent and hue Amongest the rest of Philberts fayre was plenty euery where And euery thing that hart could wish a man might find it there Then from this Philbert tree I pluct A cluster that were clong Togither fast in seemely sort as on the tree they hung And when I had them in my hand not knowing how to vse them I was at last by reason taught betwirt my teeth to bruse them which hauing done I found therein A Cornell fayre enclosde which for to be of pleasaunt tast I also then supposde And found it so for in my life I neuer tasted thing More pleasaunt then the Cornell was which from that tree did spring The Philbert Cornel is a dish for any Princes meete And they that of the same will tast shall find it wondrous sweete Aboue all other kinds of fruite the philbert in my minde Doth seeme most pleasaunt in the tast as they that proue shall find Such vertue in this cornel is that I haue heard men say Phisitions vse it many times their patientes paines to stay For many thinges this cornel is
and after the mistes of misery if any happen to assaile vs bring vs to the cleare lighte of felicitye as he did fayre Adulatia who neither for fearroâ— fathers displeasure or care to continue his good will for loue of Imperiall dignity or dread of any daunger no not for the fierce assaults of froward Fortune or for any other cause would forsake her Aleran but preferring his loyall loue before all worldly pleasure and his presents before al princely Ornamentes both in health and sicknesse in wealth and woe and fynally at all assayes continued hys true and faithfull companion for tearme of lyfe Be fyrme therefore my good Parmena and fayle not but as I intend stil to continue as loyal a louer to thee as euer was Aleran to his Adulatia so be thou as faithful a friend vnto me as was Adulatia to her beloued Aloran So shall no emnity but am 〈…〉 no repentance but contenentment no 〈…〉 ing but ioy be euer betweene vs and though one friendes frown vpon vs or hindred contemne vs and our Parentes reproue vs yet through patient 〈◊〉 in trace of time which breedeth chaunge in all thinges we shall by Codes helpe and our owne dilligent iudultrye recouer all former good will and fauour and after all the assaul 〈…〉 of aduerse Fortune attaine to the happy porte of rest and tranquillity with which hope I purpose alwayes to comfort my selfe wishing you also to doe the like as I 〈◊〉 you will and hartily require you to doe so neare as you can as well for your owne releefe as for the rest and comforte of him that loueth you no lesse then his owne proper lyfe Fare you well Finis The Aucthour wrighting to a friend of his that was toward mariage exhorteth her to make choyse of a wyse and verteous person THere is nothing wherein we ought to take So great aduise as sayeth 〈◊〉 wise As when we mind a mariage for to make wherein we must be carefull and presise Or else thereby great perrill may aryse Because the knot once 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 doe May not be broke whateuer chaunce in sue But some there are that will without respect Of future harmes that may to them befall The councell of their aged friendes reiect As frantick wightes to folish fancy thrall And harkening to the S 〈…〉 sâ—â— the call Procure thereby their 〈◊〉 and decay Where else they might haue liude in lasting 〈◊〉 Yet would I not that women so attend To friendes aduice or so by them be led That fancy fixe vppon some faythfull friend They should forsake the same for feare or dread For so they may wone bring a foole to bed And being linckt to one they cannot leeke be moude amisse reuengement due to seeke Some sortes there are that welthy husbandes chuse Because they should maintaine thomsine and braue Some sortes there are that others all refuse A comely wight desyring most to haue A vallyaunt venterâ—ns youth some 〈◊〉 Some like of those that be most franke and free And some of those that harde and sparing be The gallant gay some chiefely doe esteeme In one that curteous is some moste delight A cunning craftes man some for best do deeme But few or none esteeme the vertuous wight By wise and prudent men they set but light Few linke for loue but all for greedy gaine Though in the ende it tourne them most to paine Bewty doth fade when crooked age creepes in And like a Flower the sommer season past Nipt with the cold when winter doth begin Doth wither soone and weare a way at last And sicknesse makes the mighty man agast And takes from him all strength and courage quighte But vertue still abides in perfect plight In welth or wo in paine or pleasure still Uertue remaines without reprofe at all Not dreadfull death that doth the Carcas kill The power of vertue may in ought appall It liues with praise and neuer perrish shall For after death his glory reflech rise That whilst he liude did leade a vertuous life Therefore my friend I friendly thee aduise To match with one that is to vertue bent For bewty brittle is and of no prise Money but muck and quickly will be spent Strength soone destroyde if sicknesse so consent But vertue still in perfect state doth stand It keepes his course as well by Sea as land Moreouer I would wish thee for to make Thy choyse thy selfe whereas thou likest best And though thy friendes perswade thee for to take Some other wight with greater wealth possest Yet if thy mind and fancy be not prest To like of him then would I thee aduise To leaue that loathsome lot if thou be wise For whereas loue doth lack twice man and wife There harred needes must harbour in their hart Where hatred hath his holde is endlesse strife where stryfe is styrde there pleasure hath no part where pleasure is displaste eare keepes the marte where care doth keepe lyfe cannot long indure Then eare thou linke let loue be setled sure Finis Of the great patience and clemency of King Antigonus WHen as Antigonus did heare His Souldiers cursing him apace Because that in an euening darke He led them through a myry place That thence they hardly could escape He came himselfe to them vnknowne And very well did helpe them out which friendship when he had them showne He sayd now curse Antigonus That led you lately in the myre But pray for him that helpt you out Acording to your hartes desyre Finis What misery and misfortunes mankinde is continually subiecte vnto WHat kinde of state can any choose but he there in shall fynde Great bitternesse and endlesse woe to mooue his troubled minde In field much toyle at home great care and feare in Forrein Lande If ought we haue by fortune lent In youth Dome Follyes hande Doth hold vs fast her she imbrace and wisedomes lore do leaue In age doth sickesse vs assayle and so our strength bereaue In marry age is vnquietnesse in lacking of a wife All sollitary we remaine and leade a loathsome lyfe If God to vs doe children sende we haue continuall care If none then are we halfe dismayde farre worser doe we fare Therefore one of these twaine is best desyred for to be Not to be borne or else to dye before these dayes we see Finis A louer hauing long concealed his loue at the last reuealeth it and craueth grace at the handes of his beloued mistresse LIke as the silly soule That feeles himself distrest With heauy burthen on his backe doth seeke to be at rest So I whome loue longtyme hath led in Captiue handes Enforced am at last to sue for fauour at thy handes That hast my hart in holde who onely mayst apply Some pleasaunt potion to a sâ—wage the greeuous mallady Which long with little ease and most incessaunt greefe Hath me conserude twixt life and death denoyde of all releefe But needes I must confesse There is no fault in thee That I doe want
his wiles he causeth all to quake yea euen the Gods themselues I fynde doe rest at Cupids grace And be but Subiectes vnto him in euery kinde of case Then how should I amortall man deuise to shunne the same Now dare I once resiâ—â— the wight that euery thing can tame Aletha oh my darling deare thou thou a lone art she which so hast laid thy snares abroade for to intangle me Thou art the dame that I desyre to serue and honour still Thou art the iewell of my ioy thou maist me saue or spill But stay what wordes be these I speake shall I become a slaue And bondman to my seruaunt so her fauour shall I craue That should by reason still remaine at my desyre and will To doe the thing that I commaund though it be good or ill No no I rather fyrst will choose vnto the naked knyfe My throte to yield that so I might bereaue my lothsome lyfe What if I should attempt the same what if I should requyre The same of her I am not sure to purchase my desyre But why doe I misdoubt the same before I haue it tryde why he that loueth feruently feares not to be denyde why should I any daungers dread to winne so fayre a dame well hoping for to gaine some grace my letters will I frame In dolefull wyse vnto my dealee whose splendent bewty rare Hath so inflamde my hart with loue and cloyde my mynde with care A Letter which the said Sidaspo sente to his seruaunt Aletha THy bewty braue O Aletha thy brestes like driuen snow Thy Currall lippes thy cristall eyes and heare which to the show Appeares lyke gold thy fyngers small with skinne as yuorye cleare And eake thy worthy quallities which make thee to appeare More lyke a Goddesse for to be then any earthly wight would sure allure a stonye harte in thee to haue delight For as the Fowler in his net the silly byrdes doth take So hath the same intrapped me which makes my hart to quake The Adamant stone would neuer draw the yron to it more Then hath your bewty drawne my hart which makes me now deplore For loue of you I liue in care my sorrowes doe abound And death will shortly end my dayes if helpe there none be found By you I haue receaude this harme which none but you can cure In you it restes to ease the paine that I doe now indure Therefore I craue you shew some grace to cure me of my greete Let pittie in your hart take place to bring me some releefe Oh who is able to resist the feruent force of loue Or who once wounded with the darte is able to remoue The same from him now surely none though Hectors hart he haue Or Hercules strength it will not serue from Cupid him to saue Therefore O louing Lady deare howe downe thy eyes of pittie Consider in thy skilfull braine that art both wise and wittye What tormentes for thy sake I byde which by no meanes will cease way well how like a wretch I liue till thou doe me release By graunting me my hartes desyre to cure my deadly smart whereby no harme mayÌ„ grow to thee but all to ioye conuart My lyfe my goods and all thinges else shall rest at thy desyre Euen as thy owne at euery time if thou the same requyre Let reason therefore O my deare perswade thee for to yeelde To my request by meanes thereof from sorrowes me to shield Thus for this time I make an ende and wish thee well to fare In wofull wise desyring thee to thinke vpon my care Finis The abiect Louer complaineth of the crueltye and disdainefull lookes of his Lady THe moste incessaunt painefull panges that I haue long sustainde By sundry meanes my feeble hande to write hath now constrainde Thereby to let thee vnderstand oh stony harted Dame The thing that this my dolefull hart to thy eternall shame Cannot conceale and seeing that thou rather seekst to be My mortall foe then faithfull friend I doe the like by thee If as I am thou were a man then weapons would I vse For to reuenge my wrong on thee that doest me so abuse But sith the tongue the weapon is wherewith fond women fight My tongue and pen shall now suffice to worke the lyke despight Who striues against the streame I see or sailes against the winde Or soweth seede in barren soyle but little gaine shall fynde So he that sets his loue where pryde hath taken place shall sooner catch his bitter bane then winne one sparke of grace As I vnto my paine haue proude to late alas By seruing thee oh scornefull dame that nought therefore doest passe For when by letters I my meaning doe declare Thy aunswere seemes as bitter gall for to increase my care When as I smyle thou frownest and eake when I am sad Then greatly seemst thou to reioyce as one whose hart is glad If I doe thee salute in friendly wise I see Thou turnest then thy head asyde and windste away from me The Tyger fierce in tyme is made both meeke and tame The stone through often drops of raine that fall vpon the same Doth weare the mountaines bye and strongest holds of all In tyme may by some casualtye be forst to ground to fall Yea Nilus may in time for all his scope of streames Be dryed vp and cleane consumde through heate of Phebus beames There is no thing on earth I thinke but may in tyme conuart Except it be in womans brest a hawty stubborne harte Which neither reason gentle wordes nor pittie can procure For to reuoke hir wilfull minde that setled is so sure My wound was wondrous deepe the paines I did indure By meanes of thy great crueltie my sorrowes did procure For thou in whome it onely lay to remedy the same In steede of salue didst poyson yielde my ruine for to frame Oh cursed wretchlesse rase of wicked woman kinde How can your hartes so cruell be to them that you make blynde what hart of flinte hath he who hauing hurt a man That is his friend to cure his payne will not doe what he can But thou a cruell Crocadile Ingendred in the floode Of foule Onilus wilt not graunt to doe thy pacient good Few women at this day doe lyue that guyde themselues so well But if one vertue good therebe which in their brest doth dwell Two worser vices for the same is found in them to be which doe the vertues cleane deface and force them for to flee They can condicions chaunge to cause their friendes vnrest As the Chameleon chaungeth hue When as it likes him best If that they be disposde pore louers to allure They can as wily wayes inuent their purpose to procure As the Hiena can by learning of the name And calling them whose present death they purpose for to frame Such pittifull complaintes the Sirens can not make As can these wicked women doe if once they vndertake No beast so brute as they
as plentifully enriched with the giftes of nature as another man. All which being well and aduisedly of you considered I am perswaded and fullye resolued in my cogitation that you will not refuse my gentle offer or disdayne to electe and accepte me for your loyall louer and lawfull husband who aboue all other earthly Creatures am moste desyrous for tearme of lyfe to be lincked with you in league of perfecte loue and amity Thus hoping that by meanes of youre bountifull henignitie and accustomed clemencye I shall not fayle to fynde all thinges correspondent and according to my hartes desyre I leaue to trouble you a ny further for this time And so fare you well Finis C. D. Being enamored of a fayre and vertous yong Gentlewoman he craueth speedy comfort DEarely beloued withoute whose grace and good will nothing seemeth sweete or pleasaunt vnto me no not to inioy my lyfe vnlesse I may therewith obtayn thy loue which my hart aboue all thinges terrestiall doth chiefelye couet and desyre Loue onely hath caused me to wright vnto you youre surpassing bewty hath perforce procured me to loue you and your rate and singuler vertues haue chiefely kindled my affection towardes you which affection doth so greatly abound in me and so incessaunclye tormente my poore captiue carcas that if you in whome it onely resteth to redresse the same doe not speedily render some pleasant and precious pocion to asswage the intollerable anguishe of this my moste greeuous and painefull mallady my lyfe is like to be put in great perrill thereby The plant whilst it is yet yong and tender may be easily cut downe but if it be let alone vntouched it will in time grow so great as with much labour it shall be almost impossible so to roofe it out but that some smal sprigs shal still abyde behinde in the bowels of the earth which maye afterward receiue againe the former force and accustomed greatnesse The waxe whilst it is warme may be easily redused into what forme or fashion that a man will but being let alone till it be colde it wareth so harde and brittle that it wil soner breaâ—â— then be brought to any perfect proportion or vniformitye So likewise is it in loue for the louer that loueth faythfully being dayly fedde with fayre wordes if he doe not in short time obtaine the full effect of his desyre the flame already kindled in his brest will in the eude waxe so wonder full great as all the water in riber and Nylus shall not suffice to quâ—â—â—â— the same vntill the body of the pore myserable louer be dissolued into dust Consyder therefore I beseech you of my sorrowful state way my good wil and faithful affection towards you poâ— deâ—â— my pittious plainâ—s and deny not grace to him that loueth you more heartlye then his owne proper lyfe who to obtaine your loue would not feare to passe the perrilious waues of vnhappy Helispont but as a faithfull Leander to please my beloued Hero would be ready to attempte it how daungerous soeuer the aduenture were Refuse not then this my reasonable request seing that by yielding therevnto you can no way be pr 〈…〉 any 〈◊〉 hindred and yet by 〈◊〉 it shall put my life in great perrill purchase your selfe an euill reporte and bee of all men accounted for cruell Thus hoping that your pittifull hart will through this my moste humble submission be moued to take pittie and compassion vpon my sorrowfull state I doe for this 〈◊〉 commit you to the tuition of the Almighty whome I pray still to protect you Finis The Louer perceiuing the loue of his beloued mistresse not to be so perfect as before time it had bene wrighteth vnto her as followeth BEing of late my dearely beloued Mistresse by meanes of your comly personage adorned and garnished with so many good giftes of nature allured or rather procâ—â—ed to loue you and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ion or â—â—â—en of disdaynefulnesse to appeare in you but that rather as it seemed to me you burned with the lyke flame and had as fyrinly fixed your fancey vppon me as I was fully determined for â—earme me of lyfe to loue you But alas at this present to my great griefe and contynuall vexation both of mynde and body I 〈◊〉 the contrary For now your mynde vpon what occasyon I knowe not is cleane altered on a sodaine so that in steede of friendly lookes I finde a scowning countinaunce and in sâ—eede of the gentle wordes and curteous communication which before you used with me I haue nowe nothing else but froward and vnfriendly aunsweres vngratefull words and priuy poysoned nippes which seemeth to mee farre more bitter then gall so is my good will requyted with disdayne and my curtesy with vnkindnesse Oh who would thinke that in one indued with so many 〈◊〉 vertues as you are there shoulde bee abiding so foule a vice as is ingratitude who woulde iudge that in so comly a body there should remain so vnconstaÌ„t a hart what haue I done that misliketh you wherein haue I offended you whereby haue I deserued this great discurtesy at your handes Are you intrapped with the loue of any 〈…〉 on◠〈◊〉 our loue in suspicion haue you at any time bene vpbrayded with the same or else hath some mallicious person practised by slaunderous reportes to raise reproch vpon me in my absence or vitered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wordes against me thinking thereby to hinder our loue and cause you to conceiue some euill opinyon of me If it be so or howsoeuer it be I pray you let me haue intelligence and before the truth of the matter be thorowlye tryde to their great shame that shall reporte it as I hope it will fall out in the end when my aunswere is harde condemne me not without desert for certainelye to my knowledge I neuer yet did any thing wherewith you should be offended neither haue I offred any occasyon whereby you might be iustly moued to thinke euill of me if I haue it was vnwittingly and being hartily sorrye for the same I doe moste humblye craue pardon at youre handes Great is the loue I beare vnto you and so greeuous is the wound that I haue receiued thereby that if you who are the iewell of my ioye preseruer of my health and the very lengthner of my lingering lyfe do not minister some comfortable consarne or pleasaunt potion to mittigate the intollerable torment of my moste mischieuous malladye I am not able long to abyde it and therefore I moste humbly beseeche you to haue goâ—◠〈◊〉 to my sorowfull state and seing I am so fyrmely bente for tearme of lyfe to loue you aboue all other cast cleane from you all disdainefulnesse and render mee lyke loue againe on your part For thereby you shall purchase to your selfe so faythful a friend as will alwayes continue moste constant Needelesse it is for me to make any plainer declaration of my desyre for I am certaine that my good meaning is already well knowne
will to rule the Realme and land Which I should doe that will I no for all thy power and strength But in despight of thee I hope to haue the same at length And make thee feele the smake thy selfe of this thy offred wrong If that to yield to my request thou doest the time prolong Adrastus is a mighty King whose Daughter is my wife And for that cause wich all his power will aide me during life whose force conioyned shith mine owne doth farre surpasse thy might Therefore let reason ī me the raine doe yeeld to me my right Let vs like brethren liue and loue each other as we ought Let vs not stray from natures boundes and stirre vp strife for naught Least that Reporte reproch 〈◊〉 on vs doe rumour raise And so the race of Oedipus be wicked deemde alwayes what though our father did offend in taking to his fere Jocasta fayre vnwittingly that was his mother deare Shall that to vs a patterne be to teach vs to offend Nay rather let it be a meane to make vs to amend Shall it be sayd that we haue wrought the ruine of our land And of our selues so wilfully let all thinges well be scand Consider well what daungers great we may incurre thereby And what great mischiefe may insue if thou this thing deny Thou knowest that from the mighty Ioue decendes our royall race Let vs not therefore doe the thing that may our byrth deface Let not the Thebans iustly be compeld to curse vs both For thy ambitious greedy mind whereof I would be loth For what if in this cursed strife we both should chaunce to dye what great contention should there be who should our place supply what great disdaine what priny grudge what tumultes then would grow what hurly burly would there be what treason then would flowe Through ciuill warre the countrey would be topsy turuy turude Strong holds would then be battered downe whole Townes and Citties burnde What clamours then what dolefull cryes would be throughout the land Now many Orphans would be made who should in safety stand Chast Uirgins would be then deflourde yong infantes would be slaine The rich men should be spoylde and robde the porer put to paine Oh what disorder then would grow what murder made of men what sacraledge what raunsack rude what bloodshead would be then waye well these thinges my brother deare which if thou doe proceede Is lykely for to come to passe therefore I say take heede For if thou be the cause thereof then truely shalt thou trye Their blood on thee for thy desertes from heauen will vengeaunce crye And I not to be blamde at all sith that I nothing craue But that which doth to me partaine and I of right should haue Take heede in time aduise thee well hereafter comes not yet The house can not stand long that is on ill foundation set The ship that at sure anker lyes is safe in euery place Twirt backe and tree thrust not thy hande beware in any case Thou put not fyre vnto the tow sharpe not thy knife I say If thou therewith wilt not be hurt but take this by the way That if thou tread vpon a worme she will turne back againe Care Stede be stolne shut stable dore else is it all in vaine For he that takes not heede before shall afterwardes repent it Wherefore I say looke to it well whilst that thou maist preuent it A man when he doth see the stroke may soone auoyde the same So thou if that to reasons lore thou wilt thy fancy frame Thou maist this mischiefee easly shun that hangeth ouer thee But who so blind the prouerb sayth as hee that will not see Thou knowest all this as well as I I neede not make relation Thereof to thee wordes are but wind where will hath domination Raine nothing profite can the corne which on drie stones is sowne Nor councell him which doth mislike all counsell saue his owne I can and doe bide wrong ynough but cannot to much beare Looke eare you leape for feare you catch awrong sow by the eare As by his Trumpe the trumpiter doth show his meaning plaine So bymy letters in likewise my purpose I explaine Doe therefore as you shall see cause the blame shall byde in you If any thing amisse do chaunce and so I say adue Finis A warning to yong men to flye the flattery and shun the deceiptes of dissembling dames WHat hard mishaps doth hamper youth when cursed Cupid list to frowne And yet he will not credite truth Till froward fortune fling him downe But when he is with dole distrest Then all to late he can perceiue what madnes did his mind mollest His wretched woe by wrong to weaue yea then he doth all Dames defy And vowes in vaine their fraude to flye Must hory heares needes make vs wise Discouering naked treasons hooke whose glittering hue by slight deuice Doth make them blind that thereon looke And till in trappe they taken be That turnes their pleasure all to paine Their folly fond they cannot see Such madnes moues their busy braine In wisdomes wayes they think they walke And so for chese doe champe on chalke If liuing wightes might playnly see The wily workes of womens wits which couered close in bosome he Disclosde at last by frantike fits Then would they learne to leaue their lookes And glaunce no more their glaring eyes Uppon those baites on hidden hookes Which whoso shall attempt to tast Is like for aye in woe to wast Where suters serue with long delay In dayly hope of some good hap Tormenting griefes at length doth pay Their pencion with an after clappe For such rewardes they dayly fynde That fyxe their fancy faithfully On any catte of Cresseds kinde That neuer countes of constancy whome Eue instructed long agoe To worke to man all greefe and woe Behold the gwerdon due to loue Bestowde vpon a fickle Dame As good of xotten redes to proue Some precious iem in forme to frame For why repentaunce comes at last And gripes his hart with griesly greefe That erst fond fancy followed fast which left him voyde of all reliefe A iust reward for rechelesse wightes That will not shun such vain delightes Youth bends his net to catch the pray which some inioy that take no paine Ht toyles yet seeth euery day His labour wasted all in vaine He beates the bush and in meane space Another beares the byrdes away He fiercely doth pursue the chase whilst others doe possesse the pray And so the end of louers gaine Is loathsome labour for their paine Finis A plaine description of perfecte friendship TRue friendship vnfained Doth rest vnrestrayned No terrour can came it Not gaining nor losing Nor gallant gay glosing can euer reclaime it In paine and in pleasure The most truest treasure That may be desyred Is loyall loue deemed Of wisedome esteemed and chefely required Finis An Inuectiue against couetous persons AS after Sommer winter comes so age
if once they fall to vice No asse more foolish then they are yet doe they thinke them wise If one their bewty praise then doe they looke so hye As though they straight wais would presume to scale the lofty skye Yet doe I not condemne herein all women to be ill But some yea euen the greatest part are subiect to their will As I haue had iust cause to say who proued haue the same Through thy vnkindnesse shewde come O most disdainefull Dame And therefore humbly doe I craue of heauenly Ioue aboue That thou for this thy crueltye like greefe to myne maist proue And thus I make an ende as now of this my bitter vearse As one compeld by womans pride their dealinges to rehcarse Finis A commendation of the Cock. WHo can such worthy praises giue vnto the Cocke as he Deserues to haue now surely none for fyrst of all we see How carefull of our healthes he is who least we should be harmde At midnight with his crowing oft doth warne vs to be armde And at the dawning of the day to lerify our minde He doth the lyke and biddeth vs good morrow in his kinde Againe were not the Cock I pray what Poultrie should we haue What other byrde or pleasaunt foule that we so much doe craue Our dainty Dames should be content to feede on courser fare If that it were not for the Cock that dainties doth prepare A commendacion of the Robin redde brest VVHen Hyems with his hory frostes and blustering Boreas blaste Had runne his race and Lady Ver his pleasaunt course had past Then Aestas entred in by course and Phebus golden rates Whose scorching heate mild Zephirus asswagde at all assayes were spread abroade through euery coste which causde eche thing to ioye Then was it pleasure great to see the little Fishes play And friscoes fetch about the bankes to fynde some pleasaunt baite whiles they vnwares intangled are by Fishers foule deceite Then euery tree is fresh and greene then Flora on the ground Her mantell spreades and fertill fieldes with pleasaunt Flowers abound The dainty Dames from euery place doe thither fast resorte And Garlandes make of cropped flowers of sundry sent and sorte In euery streete great stirring is some quasse and make good cheare Some leape some daunce some sing some play some chase the light foote Deare Here Orpheus with his pleasaunt Harpe there Amphion with his Lute Doe make moste pleasaunt melodie and carping cares confute The amorous youthes doe stray the streetes and with their Ladies walke And some againe doe passe the day with passing pleasaunt talke So euery man to please his minde some pastime doth frequent To driue away all drowsy dumpes and sluggish sloth preuent It chaunced so this time that as in bed I lay Oppressed sore with painefull pangs about the breake of day I started vp and forth I walkte into the fieldes so fayre My selfe to solace there at will and take the pleasaunt ayre The ground that garnisht was with flowers did yield so sweete a smell That noysome sauoures none were felt It did them all repell Then past I forth with stealing steps and lookte about me round To take a view of euery thing wherein I pleasure found And by and by from farre me thought I seemde a sounde to heare which still the further that I past more pleasaunt did appeare It was so sweete a melody that sure I thought some muse Or else some other heauenly wight did there frequent and vse But as I cast mine eye asyde on braunche of willow tree A little Robin redbrest then there sitting did I see And he it was and none but he that did so sweetely sing But sure in all my life before I neuer harde the thing That did so much delight my hart or causde me so to ioye As did that little Robins song that there I hard that day That did so much delight my harte or causde me so to ioye As did that little Robins song that there I heard that day The Poets faine that Orpheus made both stones and trees to daunce When he vppon his Harpe did play They also doe aduaunce So muche Arion for his skill that when into the seas He should be cast they said that he a Dolphin so did please That safe she brought him vnto shore when death he did aspect And from all perrils perrillous did him right well protect Mercurius made the hundred eyes of Argos all to sleepe With elsying on an Oren pipe his knowledge was so deape Yet sure I thinke their harmony might not coâ—quall be With that this little Robin made it so delighted me Nay sure I thinke the Muses nyue may not with him compare Nor yet Apollo for his skill whose musick was so rare Full often 〈◊〉 my hart doth wishe this prety byrd to haue For more then any worldly thing the same I still doe craue And if my luck might be so good this Robin once to gaine Then greatly would my ioyes abound and hart should feele no paine For neuer did I see the thing that I so well could leeke Therefore aboue all other thinges to haue the same I seeke For collour and for â—omlinesse all byrdes he doth surmount His flesh as very delicate full many men accoumpt God graunt therefore that I may gaine this Robin at my will Then doe I hope to vse him so that he shall tarry still For rather would I lose my lyfe and all thinges else besyde Then from my Robin I woulde parte at any time or tide Finis The long acquainted Louer writeth to his beloued whose grace he desyred LIke as no fyre doth yeeld so great a heate As that which longest lyes in kindling this is sure So can no loue so vehement be and great As that which doth the longest time indure For why the fyre that by and by doth flame Is straight consumde that none may see the same Euen so the loue that on a sodaine growes Doth straight wayes waste and vanish as a shade As very well this auncient Prouerbe showes Whote loue soone colde and soone away doth fade But as a tonne doth still the taste retaine Of that which fyrst did in the same remaine So I my deare whose loue in tender age Hath taken roote cannot the same suppresse Or else the greefe thereof by skill asswage For It I can by no meanes fynd redresse But as your thrall I rest in wâ—full case Expecting still with great desyre some grace Oh Lady deare doe not therefore disdaine The humble sute of him that loues you best but arme your selfe to shew the lyke againe For otherwise you breede his great vnrest Forget not my good will thinke on your friend And thus with teares my humble sute I ende Finis Of one Vrbina a Virgin vestall taken in adulterye VRbina a Uirgin vestall in adultry being taken with roddes about the cittie was whipped therefore And of all her friendes then being forsaken was buried aliue whome none did deplore And of
the Adulterers that did her deflower The one did stay himselfe that present hower The other the ouersecers of the temple then Caused to be executed in the market place That he might be a warning to all other men To teach them the path of vertue to trace Finis Of one Cianippus who in his dronkennesse deflowred his owue daughter ciane OF Siracuse cianip Behause that he did offer His Sacrifise to all the Gods and none to Bachus proffer was stroke with such a drunckennesse that meeting in the darke His Daughter Ciane her deflourde but what did follow marke She to the end to vnderstand and know who did the deede From of his finger p 〈…〉 his ring whereby she saw with spéede That it had bene her Father deare and after when the Citty was plagued all for this foule facte and that by sentence wittie Of th' oracle it wined was the Authour of the act For to be sacrifised vp for this foule fylthy fact whereas none knew who it should be or what did cause the same Ciane with afflitted minde remembring it die frame Her Fathers death who being dead herselfe she also 〈◊〉 And on his corpes her corpes she 〈◊〉 for euery man to view Finis Of one Ceselius Bassus a Carthagenian who deceiued the Emperour Nero. CEselius Bassus on a time vnto king Nero tolde That in a Lane within his ground was hid great heapes of Golde which he he sayd supposde to be of Didos hiding there Unto which wordes he credite gaue and from that place to beare The same he did full many send the Orators in meane space 〈…〉 ded Nero saying that he stoode in fortunes grace And that he was of all the Gods beloude and fauourde most within whose time such welth was found That had so long bene lost And hidden in the bo 〈…〉 le of the earth full many a day Wherefore in hope of new found Wealth this Emperour made away The store he had but in the end when they were at the place whereas thi 〈…〉 should 〈◊〉 〈…〉 lius maâ—â— them trace From this to that place vp and downe to seeke the foresaid â—aue And myners many one did seeke by 〈◊〉 the same to haue If any there should hidden lye but laboured all in waine He said sorte sprite had him dertaude and did a furie fayrte But to auoyde the present teare and sh 〈…〉 that should arise He slow himselfe and N 〈…〉 ft still gaping for his prise Finis The Louer woried with long loue taking assuraunce of succour enduceth his Lady to receiue 〈◊〉 to her seruice FOr asmuch as euery thing by nature enforceth it selfe with all dilligent industry so much as it may to resiste the great enormities wherewith it is afflicted I am now constrained after long sufferaunce to let you vnderstand the ardent desyre which by little and little cons 〈…〉 me as may plainely appeare by many manifest tokens which shewe suffieiente testimonye of my true intence And thinke not that I haue bene moued her 〈…〉 at all aduentures or without some hope and assuraunce that I haue in time to obtaine that which by the liberall helpe of your accustomed clemency may bring mee suche comforte as shall well content me assuring my selfe that from a thing of such excellency as is your seemely selfe in whome besides your â—euine bowty there are assembled so many good graces and heroicall ve 〈…〉 man may not expecte any other but a sincere and good inclination to immitate almost in all thinges the customes of amorous humanitys making him to appeare pittifull in deede and word and redye to impart his liberall fauour to all those that craue it and by their good behauiour doe duly deserue it This also yeldeth some satisfactioÌ„ to my troubled mind that my words which were of late restrained haue now found free issue whereby I requyre helpe at your handes whilste I yet feele in my selfe sufficiente habillitye to receiue it assuring you that it will be to late for so sitall a benefit if you delay the time to let me inioy the formine of your friendly â—â—uour wherof being very desyrous I attend your curteous aunswere with assured hope that your good pleasure will be to accept me for your humble seruant that so long as any sparke of lyfe remaineth in mee haue vowed my selfe to your seruice and cannot but accounte you for my onely mistresse Assure your selfe the refore that my lyfe may not long indure if my 〈…〉 destinye doe denye me the fauour to fynde you agreeable to my affectionate desyre Finis The Louer hauing long time loued a fayre Gentlewoman at whose handes he had reciued small hope of obtaining his purpose wrighteth vnto her as followeth TO vse any long discourse my dearely beloued Parmenia in the declaration of my great good will and seruent affection towardes you I coumpte it but friuotous seing I am well assured that you haue long since perceyued and from time to time made perfect â—ryall of my true â—uer towards you yet to the hope so vncertain that I haue hitherto receiued froÌ„ you as I cannot assure my self of any further fauour at your handes then he that hath neuer deserued any at all and as it is the property of all those that loue faithfully so feare the worst so doe I many times misdoubt least through my owne euill destenye or the fained flattery of some false dissembler I shal bee depriued of that comfort which doth more content me then the Conquest of a whole kingdome wherefore being greatly greued with the vncertaintie of my present estate by meanes 〈◊〉 y mutability that many times I find to be in you not able any longer to sustain the torments that it putteth me vnto I haue thought good to write these few words vnto you most humbly beseeching you to dissolue me of this doubt without delay that if I finde not your aunswere agreeable with my desyre I may seeke if I can to suppresse the seruente affection that is nowe so deepelye rooted in my harft as I feare mee I shall hardlye remooue it Doe this my good Parmenia and feare not anye inconuenience that may growe thereby For I hope that by graunting mee youre friendlye fauoure you shall haue no cause to repente you of any thing that shall happen vnto you vnlesse it be because you haue so long lacked the company of so comfortable a companyon by whose meanes with the helpe of God you shal not only be deliurred of your long and grreuous sicknesse which cannot be otherwise cured but also leauing the life that now you â—eade be cid of all these your mallicious Enemies that with their enuye on deuill dealing doe daylye vndeseruedly deuise to doe you displeasure and withall purchase to your selfe so faithfull a friend as for anye aduenture will neuer forsake you but vsing his dilligente carefull industry to prouide for your maintenance which neede I hope shall neuer happen vnto you howesoeuer you esteeme my present state to
purchase at her handes That others lack whose faithfull hartes were scortcht with Cupids brands Then let him loue that list for I will leaue the lure Of those lewde Dames whose diuelish driftes such cursed cares procure Finis Damion wrighteth to his friend Sulippo exhorting him to seeke preferment whilst the time serueth SUrelye my Sulippo when I remember the poore estate wherin thou presently standest and cōpare it with the misery of this our age I cannot but greatlye maruaile to see thy slacknesse in seeking preferment cōsidering how hard a time it is to attain to any thing or to kepe y which wee haue with quietnesse euerye one beeing readye to pull the meate out of an other mans mouth that happy is he who hath any thing to stay vnto for if he want he shall finde few friendes in his necessity that will pittie his pouertie or set to their handes to helpe him be his neede neuer so great and therefore in my poore opinion it is good as they say to hold open the poke whilst the pigge is profered and taking the time whilst it serueth to stryke whilst the yron is hote and not with Esopes Dogge leauing the fleshe for the shadow forgoe a thing certayne for a hope vncertaine least repentaunce follow when it is to late for better it is to haue one byrde in hande then two in the Bushe seeing that often times whilste the Gratie growes the steede starues for hee that hopeth after deade mén shoes many times goeth barefoote many things happen betweene the cuppe and the lippe and therefore diuerse meanes there may be hereafter to hinder that which may now without any great difficultie be atchieued seeing there is nothing but onely the wante of mayster Moliscus good will to preuent your purpose which by good perswation and earnest intreaty may possibly be obteined the rather or that he seeth mayster Glomerok so desyrous to doe you good I pray you therefore finde some good time so soone as conueniently you can to talke with him about it for as it greeueth me to see the life that now you leade without either profite or pleasure so am I very desyrous to haue you prouide in Sommer against the extremity of the winter and seeke somewhat in your youth to maynetain you in your age to the end that you may be a comfort and not a corsie to the hartes of such your poore friendes as wish you well who will not fayle to do their vtturmost indeuour to further your preferment in all they may Thus praying you to remember what I haue written vnto you and to put it in practise so soone as you maye I bid you safe well Finis Varinus hauing found in the night time that which plesed his fancy he commendeth it much and craueth to be accepted for her seruant whom he intyrely loued THough many much mislike the long and weary winter nights I cannot but commend them still for diuerse dere delightes The night we see brings siluer sleepes sleepe courseth care away Cares being cast from out the mind there harboures happy ioye Where ioye aboundes there helth hath place where happy helth doth bide There life lastes long this proofe shewes plaine and may not be denyde Lo this the happy night procures which wrought my wished will Therefore I must before the day preferre and praise it still But some perhaps will maruaile much my fond effect to heare Let them not spare none knowes the cause why I so straunge appeare In this my vnacquainted verce such darke conceites to write Nor neuer shall but onely I and she whose bewty bright Did in the darke beth bleare mine eyes and lend me perfect light She she it is that knowes full well from whence my Muse proceedes Yea she it is that both my blisse and hale together breedes Her presence doth procure my rest her absence workes my woe Her chearefull lokes doe cheare my hart her sorrow makes to flow Whole floodes of teares from out mine eyes and killes my hart with care Whose comly grace and courtious deedes doe make her seeme as rare As in the world the Phenix is and blessed would I count My selfe and say that in good luck all others I surmount Might I but once such grace obtaine at her sweete handes to be Accepted as a seruaunt still no more is craude of me Which if I might atchieue no doubt I would my selfe apply To please her so in eche respect as she should truely trie And so confesse she neuer found so fyrme a friend before Or seruaunt of such secresy that did esteeme her more What so she could commaund or will by day or else by night On sea or Land I would fulfill though death appeard in sight Or all the greefes that griefly ghostes in Limbo lake sustaine Should me assayle with furious moode to make me to refraine Yet should it not withdraw my minde from doing her desyre Hap good or ill what so beside I would thereto aspyre And wages none at all Ieraue but leaue it to her will. According to her curtesy her fancy to fulfill But when she hath made profe of me as she shall best deuise And sees my seruice what it is if she in any wise Mislike thereof let her withdraw From me her fauour quight And vse what kinde of way she will. to worke me more despight For as my health on her dependes So if I want her grace I loth my lyfe and wish for death to reaue my rufull race Finis A pore yong man being in loue with a ritch Gentlewoman fynding it somewhat difficult to obtaine any fauoure at her handes sought to suppresse his fond affection but could not wherfore he wrighteth vnto her in effecte as followeth THere is nothing in the vniuersall worlde that maye more aptly be compared to the hatefull Hidra then the painefull passions of lawlesse loue for the Hidra being assayled by Hercules alwayes when he cutte of one of his heades there sprang two in the place of it so loue the more it is suppressed the more it increaseth and groweth still the greater as is plainly proued by me though to my payne I reporte it for considering on howe high a place my minde was setled wherevnto to attaine without great pertill I found it almost impossible I sought by reason to remooue it if I might but loue so abounded that reason bare no sway and therefore being ordeyned as it were by destiny to lyue and dye your loyall louer and poore faythful Seruaunte howesoeuer it shall please you to dispose of mee yea though I neuer gaine any grace at all at your handes yet must I perforce still perceuer in the same what soeuer betyde me desyring rather to dye to confyrme my constancye then lyue and lacke your friendlye Fauoure whereby I am onely sustayned knowing that when my vnhappye death shall happen to come to youre hearing it will moue such remorce in youre harte considering that the cause proceeded from your selfe as you