yea riper yeares and setled heddes Herein doe wante their skoking pointes whose glauncing eyes by rule forbeddes Thus trapte they let these wordes to flie oh get my graue in readinesse Remedilesse I die I die I die remedilesse Finis Whyle they this pithie song did sing who seemed to those whose teÌ„tiue eares were distilled with a greedy desire of hearing to haue tasted of the fountayne Tharsa the force whereof not only clarifieth the voyce but also maketh it seeme both pleasant and armonious certaine of the other yong gentles bothe male and female were arguing harde betweene themselues as touching this poynt How the poysonous Serpent or rather venomous snake named Chelidros can not onely giue an odorous smell but also cause the grounde whereon she slides to caste the lyke sweete sauour pleasant scent beyng of himselfe thorowe outwarde appearance bothe foule and vgly as all men knowe whiche N. O. perceyuing and seing them thorow their 〈◊〉 opinions and erronious mindes tangled as it were with Vulcanes nettes stepped in among them easily absoluing their obstinate doubtes whiche being absolued they brake off company marching eche one toward their chambers But N. O thinking of things to come coulde not frame himselfe that night to sleepe wherefore rising somewhat early in the morning he walked a pretie space in a groue buttyng or adioyning vpon the house castyng as it were all suche obiections vnto himselfe as he thought by any meanes she could obiect vnto him in the morning whiche done he labored earnestly to premeditate suche answeres as might refell the same But being soone weary therof he returned agayne and standing in the dore of the Hall of coÌ„mon assembly none as yet sturring in the house saue he alone he talked to himselfe as touching the great desire whiche he had of his good successe which Dan Eccho neuer sleeping cut off diffusedly by the latter sillable N.O. perceyuing this deuision of vocables thought good to note the sense thereof bycause sayde he as some say it importeth not a litle to the Prognostication or foreshewing of things to come Wherefore framyng his wordes in this order vnto himself he noted Verbatim the clipping sounde of Eccho N. O. his Eccho Eccho God grauÌ„t I may preuayle for wordes I wil not spare Spare What shoulde I spare to speake or not not But will she heare and graunt me therevnto to What then should let at large to speake speake I graunt I will most boldly trie obeying thee thee For Fortune sayeth aduenture winnes the game game Thus if Dan Ecch telles me as it is is Then hope doth say feare not the game is wonne wonne N. O. seyng his talke or rather surmise ended with full sense spared not to conster the meanyng of Eccho whose carpyng sillables beyng placed in order Verbatim wise as his hollow voyce pronounced them tended to this sense Spare not to speake the game is wonne Whiche incouraged N. O. to speake more at large who was so friendly cheared on wherefore hee issued forth once more in this order Eccho If feare oppresse how then may hope me shielde shielde Deniall sayes vayne hope hath pleased well well But as such hope thou wouldest not be thine thine So would I not the like to rule my harte harte For if thou louest it biddes thee graunt foorthwith with Whiche is the ioy whereof I liue in hope hope N.O. placing these wordes in order picked forth this sense therin shielde well thine harte with hope But beholde they were no sooner ended and the meanyng thereof constered whiche A. O. had hearde with the whole discourse vnknowyng to hyr paragon for that hir chamber and eke the head of hir bedstead buried vpon the hall then shee replied with a shrill and hollow voyce in manner following which N O. supposing it to haue bene the oracle of Apollo in steede of an Eccho resounded the latter sillable himselfe The conceytes of A.O. N O. his reuiuing The hath of loue allured not why didst thou hathe therin In What was the meaning tel forthw t may loue the staÌ„d in stede stede If that it may I yeelde it thee feare not to trust thereof of But arme thy self from top to toe yea arme thy self with hope hope For whom the louest I dare report they wil requite thy loue loue And though 〈◊〉 wight would it withstaÌ„d yet I it neuer shal shall If it descent then leape for ioy I may thy loue requite requite And if you seeme to aske for why I answere thee for thy thy For I am she I say againe that will requiâ—â— thy payne payne N.O. hearing this fell in a trance for ioy perswading himselfe that he nought else but dreamed but speedily recouering hys former senses againe be gan to vewe the note whiche he tooke of these verses with his penne in manner of Ecchoes replication the sense wherof agreyng in al points with the former allusion inforced him to put no small trust and confidence in this diâ—mation Yet coulde he not perswade himselfe whether he dreamed all this while or no although he knew of a certentie his eyes winked not by reason of this vnâ—oth sounde But if he dreamed I know he wished it of longer continuance if it were a perfect voyce much more he wished it longer to haue bene dilated Whiche according to his wishe fell forth for behold once more it souÌ„ded in his tentiue eares in maÌ„ner following which he in former manner most diligently noted A.O. 〈◊〉 second allusion The second 〈◊〉 From whence I come and what I am you wish to know t is I. I Yea what I would what I meane this stand you loking for for It hoteth not to shewe the same and why I say for thy thy And vow the end of all these things shall render loue for loue loue Than this how canst y aske for more ech thing to please thy wil will Can any liuing wish for more than good for good to render render who lokes for more through follies rule t is sure he knows not loue loue To stop thy mouth and ende withall looke to haue loue againe againe It this full stop N.O. sought the allusion of these posterior sillables which yeelding him greater ioy than harte could thinke as wel this as the other agreyng in dependant sense iuste feete and perfite Meter he rated thus beginning with the former rebecke In steede of hope loue shall requite thy payne I for thy loue will render loue â—gayne This animation not mislykyng him garded as it were in a Castle of comforte and clothed with garmentes of hope there wanted no diligent attendaunce in hym to giue vnto his Lady as shee had willed him in hope to receyue his finall answere Whiche accordyng to his expectation moste happily fell out For impartyng a rare salutation vpon hir she sayde Good morrow my Truste wherby he seemed to gather in more and more vsing this kinde of speach or familiaritie with hyr Lady the curtesie of Pâ—ometheus hath yeelded
droppyng is not turned to noughte who seyng shee coulde not preuayle sayde it is but in vayne longer to argue with thee for I see thy tongue is made of the pale and wanne stone Calcedon which greatly befriendeth your secte in pleadyng your cause at Dame Veâ—us hir barre Why lady sayde N.O. doe you take me to be suche a colde Oratour that if I coulde shake Dan Cupâ—ds shafte out of my ribbes I woulde no no if I had faire Dame the hearbe Dictamus or Tragion plaÌ„ted in my bosome the growth whereof should touche my lippes yet woulde I not taste thereof although in deede they auayled as muche in man as in the Harte or Deare who so soone as they feele the arrowe sticke amiddest their ribbes straightfoorth tastyng thereof can shake it foorth Say you so quoth A. O. what make you then of loue by this I compare it Lady sayd he vnto a kynde of stone called Pirrâ—tes whiche touchyng it lightly is tollerable but holdyng it harde in your hande it burneth your fingers before you are aware so loue beyng once grafted in your harte vsing it moderately not caryng who knowe thereof is tollerable but beyng a secrete kynde of loue and seekyng by all meanes possible to byde or oppresse the same it taketh on lyke â— bedlem tormentyng the owner with waues of woe and burnyng his harte with vnsatiable heate Wherefore not without a cause did Socrates will vs to deuide one Venus into twoo Venus and one Cupide into twoo Cupids It is also lyke vnto a gem called Lipparia whiche Huntesmen vse to tame their game withall when course of Greyhoundes fayles the propertie whereof is to delight and enamour all kynde of beastes with his looke and shewe vnto the sighte whereof they all doe hastily runne staying there vntill their followers stricke theÌ„ downe so loue when nothing can yet it will all men tame so you quoth she when no man can yet you the game will gayne N.O. knewe full well what she meant thereby and was not a litle gladde thereof but yet bycause she should knowe that he vnderstoode hyr meanyng seyng it made so well for him if at any time hereafter she should denie it he sayde gladde am I Ladie Kabiates so to fauour me that I shoulde not onely seeme eloquent in thy sight but also winne fauour of thy grace But ladie quoth he seyng the Musicke and company breaketh off our talke remember the Prouerbe Eate well of the Cresses Whereby he meant remember our talke for Cresses is an hearbe whiche helpeth muche the memory Away shee went and nought she sayde but mumme Gentles of all sorte bothe male and female wanted not in this company who seyng supper tyme was paste they sought to recreate theyr spirites some in dauncing some in cardyng some in dycing and some agayne in pleasantly arguyng of Ueneriall disputations but N.O. thynkyng his Lady rather to delight in dauncyng than in any other exercise there vsed bycause the propertie of moste women is to delight in the same he tooke hys Ladie by the tender fiste fetchyng hyr from the place where she satte and ledde hyr a stately daunce called Thias rounde a daunce sometime dedicated vnto Bacchus whereto the gentles gaue theyr whole consent and helde by handes a rounde It fell by course N.O. shoulde leade this trace bycause he knewe it beste the tracyng of this rounde requyred in the middle thereof a conge whiche he forsakyng his marroll bestowed vpon an other Gentlewoman holdyng with handes the rounde but not dauncing whether he mistooke the one for the other or thought that at all times he might be bold to kisse his owne though not the other so wel as then bycause the daunce was as a cloke to couer the rayne as touchyng his desire to the same or the daunce so requyred I knowe not but sure it is A.O. thought no small discourtesie herein who for manners sake stayed till the daunce was ended But then she suddenly departed fro their companies whome N.O. perceyuing pursued hastily desirous to knowe the cause thereof to whome she answered snappingly One pearch may not suffâ—ce a byrde to prone and prie vpon Who knowing what she meant thereby preaced to haue entered the chamber to haue excused himself but she lockyng the dore sayd Auaunt Go rouse tâ—y self in flaking ferne Who answered The priuie is paste and flaking ferne dothe wither Thus perceyuing hir frowarde nature beyng very sorrowfull he went to his company agayne and argued with them for a space least they should take any discourtesie in his suddayne departure Their theame was this whether he was moste in fauour with his Ladie that receyueth any thing at hyr hande or he of whome his Ladie receyueth ought N. O tooke the firste parte the other the laâ—tâ—â— but N.O. his tongue bare the bell away it chaunced N.O. talkyng of the dying of womens heare and paynting of theyr faces occasion seruyng him so he tolde a Gentlewomen howe to clarifie hyr face and to make it fayre although he needed not for Dame nature had played hyr parte videlicet with the roote of an hearbe called Dragaunce beaten to powder and mingled with rose water Whiche coÌ„ming to his Ladies eares Noctuas Athenas misit or rather Opposuit ignem igni as it were But N.O. freesing as it were with feare vntill suche time as he had heard and also withstoode the boysterous blastes of his Ladie hastily cut off his former disputations and sittyng close in his chamber deuised these verses followyng in hyr commendation to lay in place where they should be founde before they were loste Ye Muses nine With grace deuine My wittes to shrine Giue not consent But ayding hand To beare my hand Through sea land For good intent To rime not rayle Hold vp my sayle Let not breth faile the vertuous mode With trumpe to blase The condigne phrase Of hyr who stayed Where vertue stoode ALthough of Helicone that well my tongue hath not assayde And though the Horne of Acheloye his knowledge hath denayde Yea though Alcinous Orcharde hath his fruyte denayde my lore Whereby I might the apter be my landing carme to score Yet Arethusa yeelde me thine influence to indite And Phebus sharpe my willyng penne expresly for to write The blasing feates displaying wise of Natures darlyng deare Whome Uertue she with golden mace and trumpe dothe seeke to reare Yet sithe my selfe by paynting penne I would so fayne disguise Lucina graunt Apollo may melodiously deuise My filed phrase so polished with Tagus glittring sandes Whereby hyr vewyng eyes might thinke she redde of golden landes Ye Goddes seclude my rurall penne and yeelde a glosing stile With curious polished phrase or with relucent file Of Tullies famous eloquence To prayse hir worthy excellence Come yeelde thy leaues thou Laurell tree to make a garland rounde To Crowne hyr head and let the trumpe hyr flying fame resounde Whose features all so many are so worthie and so cleare That of my selfe I dare be
harte Why doe yee runne in ragyng wise haue I deserude a parte No no I see t is bootelesse now for me to call or crye For none I see doth rest aliue whose ayde I meane to trye Hir breath alone it doth suffise to ende my lothsome lyfe For why the Coccatryce t is lyke and I deserue no wyfe Sith Fortune quaynte hath graunted so needes must I be content No way there is for to withstande the chaunce she hath me sent Sithe t is my hap my ioyes to cease dame Pleasure now adewe And dolefull dumpes approch at hande my wretched case to rewe FINIS The Louer hearing his Lady to be caste in dumpes vvriteth vnto hir in this order LAdy I heare of thy sadde perplexitie but what shoulde be the cause thereof I know not yet if Hartes ease may heale thee the Dasle delectable delight thee or the pleasant Pinke may please thee beholde here I graunt thee the keye of my garden gather them vse them and weare them at will for euen the chiefest flower therin I afforde it thee willingly to furnishe forth thy garland Leaue off therefore thy mournyng weedes lette me be thy comforte who am thine owne for aye Trie and trust me vse and weare me I am thine owne and wil be while life dothe laste I wante the Rhetoricall termes of Polymneia to polishe forth my writing my harte is true my loue vnfained wherfore beare with my rudenesse for great good will dothe grauell me Inke and paper blusheth not wherefore if my penne were able well might I here vnlace my loyaltie but neyther tongue can tell harte thinke nor penne subscrybe the vnfayned loue whiche I beare vnto thee who onely arte the Castle of my Comforte wherefore I will omitte the shewyng thereof my selfe committiing each surmise vnto thy after witte For bashfulnesse in wryting incountreth with my Muse and facilitie neglecteth to counteruayle good will. In secrete thought therefore thinke of my loyalty perpende well my meaning for constancie it buffeteth a wauering minde more yours thaÌ„ mine owne my tried troth shall binde me Open therefore thy brest and let it shroude twoo faithfull hartes in one Cupid hath coÌ„maunded me to be no changelyng for as I am so will I be O woulde thou couldest perceyue mine inwarde harte or else conceyue my secrete thought But time â—â—eth troth and bringeth all to light the smothering heate at leÌ„gth breakes foorth in flame Oh open thy brest and let me enter for the Sunne shall shine at midnight the Moone and Starres at noone day the Sea shall become the Lande and the lande the Sea yea the Heauen shall become the Earth and the Earth Heauen before suche tyme as I forsake thee Thus printing my woordes in thine harte and rolling ful oft the sense thereof in thy minde I leaue thee to iudge thereof according vnto thy discretion Your vowed friende F. G. I. G. biddeth his friende A. T. good morrovve AVe madama good morrow if it please Bone iour ma mestresse did you lie at ease Dieu vou done bone iour will nothing make you speake What rest haue you taken your minde to me breake What nothing but mum an Almon for parrot Speake Parrot I pray thee may nothing be got Your pillow misliketh else care hath forbid Your eyes to be sleepyng while pleasure is hid Else saith Mâ—rcea the sleepe is in thine eyes Disdayne else forbiddeth through vanities cryes To bid me good morrowe if harte will not breake Then say but Aueto I like when you speake Comporte vou maddam in French you doe excell Bien sire gramercy this likes me very well Ie suu bien aâ—se pâ—ur vou voye in bone sante I am glad to see that your breath is not fainte And sith that you speake now for my god morrowe Ie vou prie de bon ceur take this that I owe A verse tis or twayne wherewith I meane to greete Your mornings firste flight as loue hath thought it meete Perliez bien ou perliez rien you know my minde Nothing will I speake whiche shall not seeme full kinde As hoarie Hyems froste keepes backe with pining payne Eache braue delight till Ver doth shewe hir face agayne Thy goyng so to bedde doth put my ioyes to flight Till mornyng doth appeare wherefore I hate goodnight For as the fallyng sap whiche creepes into the earth Disgrace the trees vntill returne of Ver hir bearth As naked seemes the trees whiche gallant were of hew So naked seemes the house when layde thou arte in mew Thy bedde is lyke thy graue the earth presents the sheetes The fricking fleas are like the wormes dead corpse which greetes But when the liuely sap creepes vp in blowing thorne And each delight doth seeme to laugh the frost to scorne As Ver most freshe of hue sendes forth hir newe delightes With iust returne and greetes vs all with pleasant sightes So doth Aurora seeme his giftes for to besâ—owe Although to Lady Ver he be a gâ—â—e belowe For as the spring delights each thing vpon the earth Whiche moueth them to wishe and call vpon hir bearth So doth the morne me thinkes vnclose and eke vnbinde Each thing whiche in the night are closed in their kynde And nothing greeues me more than when the night drawes on For then I know full well we sunder most anone And then in vayne I wishe the morne for aye remayne That then my pleasure loste I might enioy agayne For in the morne me thinkes I see the sap creepes vp Whiche to my will dothe seeke with ioyes to fill my cup. As great is my delight to vewe thy comely face As is the birdes to see the Lady Ver in place And eury morne by course doth shewe me thee agayne Whereas the night before vs parted hath in twayne The brydegrome in his course doth take no more delight Than I doe dayly take of thee to haue a sight Aue I say therefore I ioy to see thy face Aueto to reply this poynt I aske of grace For whyle my life doth last with thee my darte shall rest And for thy sake I will all other choyce detest For sure it is in time the brasen walles will starte And eke the water flouddes the craggy rockes will parte In time the watrishe droppes we see doth perce the stone Wherefore I hope to finde as yet where loue is none This salutation print it within thy brest And as deserte deserues therein so let it rest As tyme it trieth troth so then repose thy trust I craue good will for aye and not to serue my lust His good night to the same A. T. I Brone in griefe my towre of truste to set Morpheus mace For needes it will deuide vs bothe though for a litle space Yet can it not so litle be though for an howre or twayne But sure me thinkes it is a yeare asunder to remayne For goyng to thy naked bedde thou goest to thy graue And euery thing resembleth right the course
whiche death doth craue Within thy face consistes my ioyes within thy harte my lyfe When death dothe call vpon thy corpse then doe I ende my lyfe At night my ioyes beginne to ende bycause we must departe And dolefull dumpes oppresse my minde so lothe I am to starte And when of force departe we must with lingring steppes I goe For why thy sweete abode I wishe whose wante doth breede my woe My heauy hart within my corpse loth to departe doth daunce And in my moning mynde me thinkes whole barkes of care doth launce Thy mewe it is a hauen of hope whereto I cleaue and holde Holde Cable ropes and Ancor faste for hope dothe make me bolde Sith dryuen by drifte we must departe Morpheus thus muche graunt That all the night I dreame on hyr whome in the day I haunt And that in liuely forme hyr face before me may appeare So that I may perswade my selfe shee were in presence here I would imbracyng in mine armes I could my selfe perswade For sure it were a golden dreame to walke in suche a shade Shall I not lull thee in my lappe as well by night as day Though not I hope thy harte fro mine it will not goe astray For why I beare thee in my brest and will while lyfe dothe laste My harte to thyne I vowe by othe it shall be linked faste And leâ—te one corpse two faythfull hartes shrowde vp â–ª yea all in one We linger time and all in vayne of force we must be gone Good night therefore God sende you rest and eke Hartes ease at will. God graunt your ioyes they may increase also the worlde at will. In health the Goddes prolong thy lyfe of wealth to haue thy fill Good fame I say and good reporte according to their will. With heauy cheere I bidde good night tyme calleth vs away Against my will we must departe and that without delay His Farewell to the same A Greater griefe can hardly be Then faythfull friendes for to departe Thy tryed friendship biddes me say That absence thyne will cut my harte Thou arte my gem of all my ioye The Fountayne eke of my delight Thou arte the staffe whereto I leane â–ª How might I misse thee fro my sight Though space is great and myles are long Whiche seemes to parte our corpse in twayne Yet distaunce shall not parte our loue Our hartes alike shall still remayne O Titus true O Phenix kynde How lothe am I to bidde farewell It grieues me that suche faithfull friendes For aye togither may not dwell Shall we asunder parted be Who thus haue livde in tryed troth If needes we must then fare you well Yet to departe I am full lothe No greater ioye on earth is founde Than faythfull friendes to liue in one No greater griefe can likewise chaunce Than when the one must needes be gone Ten thousand times I rather had A grisly ghost to ende my lyfe Come Atropos therefore in haste On me to vse thy shredding knyfe Come lothsome death with fearefull mace Spare not to worke my latter dome Make haste make haste I liue to long Breath yeelded hath bryng me my tome When thou arte dead then all the worlde With me is gone thou arte so kynde Who would then willyng let thee goe Suche faithfull friendes are harde to finde My lingring feete no power haue Fro thee at all for to departe Eache stone becomes a Mountayne huge My feete to stoppe O faythfull harte Loue it hath made mine eyes so blinde I can not see to finde the way No maruell then if so I seeke A bad excuse to make delay Eache howre I know will seeme a yeare Untill thou doest returne againe Wherefore agaynst my will adewe The want of thee doth breede my payne Returne in haste omitte no tyme Thy absence spinnes a webbe of woe Lothe to departe come let vs daunce And make no haste away to goe The time and tyde it tarieth none Wherefore this suyte is but in vayne Of force I see away you must But yet make haste to come agayne Adewe farewell my faithfull friende As deare to me as is my harte Now griefe now care now endelesse woe Drawes on bycause thou must departe But why seeme I thy steppes to stay The longer stay the greater griefe As good at first as at the laste Hope of returne will yeelde reliefe No worse to thee than to my selfe Adewe therefore God be thy speede With faythfull harte and moning minde I wishe the Lorde to be thy guyde Farewell Note hereby howe harde it is for women to keepe any thing secrete and the waightier the thing the harder the restraint of blabbing the same Meaning 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 Epilogus THe proude Pecocke gentle Reader strouteth and playteth his gorgeous tayle so long till at the length he discouereth the filthe thereof so some will thinke and will not sticke to say that whyle I indeuour to discouer the imbecillitie of other mens natures I reueale thereby mine owne licencious liuyng if so at the least I speake by experience And what if I did yet are they farre deceyued herein and doe but dreame as it were vpon falshoode it selfe For the market declareth how the coine is solde and though I am but yong of yeares yet may I dayly heare see that whereof by action I am not partaker It seemeth also the vanities of this world are the greater when as they lie so open and are so manifest vnto my youthfull yeares And though it hath not pleased Polymneia so to fauour my penne as to counteruayle my well willing yet I truste yee will accepte of me for my well meanyng who am not therein sâ—â—awe bredth incomparable to Cleanthes Comparisons are odious I meane not therefore by his learnyng for thervnto I am many a degree below but by the great desire he had in writing and by the pleasure he tooke all his life time therein How simple yet so euer this litle volume of mine be if thou wilte bestowe thy trauell to seeke forth the grounde and the depth therof thou shalte soone espie and quickly perceyâ—e how in euery poynte and clause thereof is hidden besides the myrthe some deeper sense and purpose But vnto the carelesse Reader it is as it were a peece of vnleauened dough wherefore for such I thinke it better to haue their browes knitte harde with the kercher of Morpheus and so to lay them downe to sleepe than Legere non intelligere nempe neglegire est And as I haue bene briefe in all things heretofore so will I be likewise herein and as I haue brought you into my rude Garden so turnyng the key here will I leaue you to choose what flowers shall like you beste My penne is stubbed my paper spente my Inke wasted my wittes grauelled and to be shorte tyme calleth me away wherefore standing to your curtesâ—es and hoping of your good acceptaunce hereof wishyng to you as to my selfe in haste I bidde you Farewell FINIS Imprinted at London by Henry Bynneman
The Golden Aphroditis A pleasant discourse penned by Iohn Grange Gentleman Student in the Common Lavve of Englande Wherevnto be annexed by the same Authour asvvell certayne Metres vpon sundry poyntes as also diuers Pamphlets in prose which he entituleth His GARDEN pleasant to the eare and delightful to the Reader if he abuse not the scente of the floures Habet musca splenem Et formicae sua bilis inest AT LONDON ANNO. 1577. ¶ To the right Honorable and his singular good Lord the Lord Sturton Iohn Grange vvisheth health vvelth and prosperitie vvith increase of Honour I Knowe moste Honorable your vvisedome may maruell and not vvithout cause that I vvho of all other am to be reputed the moste vnlearned vvoulde take vpon me hauing small skill or little or none in Palmistrie to discourse or rather intreate of the eleuation or declination of the Mount of Venus seing both finer vvittes and â—yper heads before this time herein haue vvaded ouer shoes for vvaÌ„t of greater skill Yet my Lord vnder your most Honorable correction to this your admiration in mine ovvne defence I obiect this lavvful excuse Honoâ— as Tullie sayth alit artes omnesque incenduntur ad studia gloriae VVherfore reconing my selfe as one of this generalitie and yet desirous to keepe me vvithin the boundes of this phrase Ne â—utor vltra crepidam lavvfully alluded of Apelles for the curious carping at his vndeserued pensell I may vvanting feete to runne creepe though as slovve as doth the Snayle vvho refusing to come at the cal of Iupiter vnto his generall feast for all liuing creatures vvas iustly punished as you see vvith the cariage of hir house on hir backe vvherby straying vvhether she list is neuer the farther from home Thus your vvisedome may see the great desire vvhich I had somvvhat to set forth and that vvhat best might agree vvith your Honours youthfull yeeres not mislike my youthfull aucthoritie vvho desirous to paint as vvel the pleasure as displeasure of Loue thought good mingling the svveete vvith the soure not onely to discourse of the eleuation but also of the declinatioÌ„ of the Mount of Venus for that they are dependant as fellovv â—abians the one to the other And though my Lord nothing ought to be penned svvaruing or not proceding froÌ„ graue aucthoritie yet often times vnder a defuse garmeÌ„t lieth a clodde of vvisdome Likevvise if vnskilfull heds shoulde frame theÌ„selues to the limitation of this Greeke prouerbe Quam quisque â—orit artem in bac se exerceat then skill muste dye vvith the Auctor for vvant of youthfull exercise yea nothing should be practised much lesse learned fevve then do as Plato Pithagoras and Democritus did vvho as some say sought all the partes of the vvorlde vvherein any thing vvas that might or coulde be learned Yea Democritus and Anaxagoâ—as lofte bothe their goodes and patrimonies as all men do knovv onely for the desire of learning Also Diodoâ—us the Stoike is not much incoÌ„parable to these vvho thorovv his continuall vvatch and excessiue studie being blinde of long time knovving nothing but vvhat vvas red vnto him by a little childe yet gaue himselfe vnto the studie of Geometrie teaching vvith vvordes vvho vvere desirous to learne hovv and in vvhat maÌ„ner each liue should be layed VVherfore O grafte of noble stocke hauing the like desire if so I might say as these haue had to learning my desire and not my skill my good vvill and not my penne is to be accepted as the simple Raddish roote vvrapped in a peece of greene Sarcenet vvas better accepted at the Prince his handes than vvas a goodly fayre Horse gorgeously trapped giuen him of his marchaunt for that in deede he knevv their vvilles vvere not alike the poore man gaue his Radish roote for pure loue but the other his sumptuous Horse in hope of a greater benefite Thus preacing more boldly than vvisely vpoÌ„ your Honours curtesie I haue brought vnto your Lordshippe a handfull of fragrant floures though not gathered in Adonis garden the chiefe vvhereof are Primeroses and Violettes Your choyce is not great yet chuse vvhat likes you best the vvorst turne backe againe For if some may please and none displease I shall not onely thinke my time vvel spent and my diligence better imployed but also my labour and trauell best of al bestovved And vvheras I seeme as you shall hereafter perceyue to ground my Paganicall Pamphlet vpon the song of Apollo most melodiously song vnto me as me thought in a visioÌ„ I vvould not your Honour should thinke the painting of my peÌ„ne to be Verbatim spoken of Apollo his mouth but rather the grounde thereof vvhiche in most ample manner follovving I haue delated vvherby eche one may see as it vvere in a gorgeous garish glasse before their eyes a pretie poeticall Pamphlet shevving paganically as vvell the lavvful copulacion betvveene Vulcano and Venus as the vnlavvfull combat betvveene hir and Mars Also in this mery meane a playne mirrour of youthful vanities shall play his parte and the shade thereof shall bereaue you of your senses In the ensigne likevvise of this army your Honour shall finde vvritte as it vvere vvith letters of pure Gold a chiefe poynte of vvomens vanities videlicet looke vvhat they may haue coste it neuer so muche they esteeme not but by a toy of light valevve and not easily commen by they â—oâ—great store vvherof this Prouerbe came Far feâ— and deere bought are good for Ladyes Also diuers other pointes in this glasse your L. shall perceyue vvorthie of noting but vvhy seeme I vvho as yet neuer receyued one poynt of discourtesie of any veneriall Dame to display vvith penne and inke vpoÌ„ the imbecillitie of their natures God graunt say I Euripides may vvell vvithstand their boysterous blasts vvho in his Tragedie intituled Medea affirmeth that vvomens vvittes are vnapte to goodnesse but very vvell inclined to vnhappinesse bicause sayde he vvomen are creatures vnperfect and vvhere perfectioÌ„ is not there can nothing rest that is good It seemeth the nebbe of my penne is long and that I lesse do feare the stubbing therof Such surmises beleue me assent to veritie my yoÌ„g yeres say I speake not by experience but rather by heare say and vvhat of this riper yeares mellovver vvittes knovv I fayne not herein for many of them vnvvillingly haue the proofe thereof Yet vvould I not vvho haue no title hereunto should seeme to chaleÌ„ge me as their vniust accuser for I meane not generally my surmise is not vnknovvne Rubbe a gauld Horse on the backe and it is a chaunce if â—ee kicketh not I vvill not say but that Dame Nature hath played hir part in deuiding and distributing hir gifts equally as vvell to the one as to the other For vve see as vve haue Apollo and Mercurie for Goddes so Pallas and Minerua for Goddesses of vvisdome as Mars so Bellona for vvar as Cupide so Venus for loue as Pan so Ceres for inuention of husbandrie yea as
nature Carneades a solitary kingdome but Pomitius sayde that there was nothing more acceptable in an honest woman Aristotle affirmed that beautie is more worth than all the letters of commendation Homer commended it for a glorious gifte of nature and Quid called it a grace of god You seemed me thought sayed A. O to define this vpon the beautie of an honest woman but what thinke you of a Curtisan who answered their beautie sayeth Socrates is a tyrannie of shorte tyme Theophrastuâ— a secret deceyte and Theocritus a delectable damage This prety definition and clawyng by course of tongue lyked A. O. very well but especially to heare hyr selfe commended of hyr bestbeloued before Atlanta who sometyme bore the bell of beauties price in that hyr natiue soyle Wherfore his talke beyng ended she sayde his tongue was made of massiue golde inferryng moreouer that Apelles pensell nor yet Sulpicia the Romayne dame were able so to paynte or carue in tables of brasse the stately corps of Venus rufflyng Nimphes as was his tong their features to discrie Not so deare dame I would quoth he my tongue such vigor had as to expresse thy vertues all which harte could neuer thinke ne penne much lesse as I suppose with ease might well subscribe whome Marcia she that all surpassed hath in perfect worke in imagerie could not hyr pensell frame in hande thy outwarde shape to graue although in deede as stories doe vnfolde she nought did vse in those hyr liuing dayes but caruing worke to paynte or else to drawe the shapes of those whose beautie was a patterne to beholde for rufflyng dames yet woulde she neuer carue nor drawe the shape of any man least that the sight of carnall things might rayse such carnall lustes as might abridge hyr virgins lawes Suche was hyr chosen pathe This praysing of N.O. his rolling tongue did encourage him not a little by polished phrase of filed style to feede his Ladies appetites or humors with some one thing or other whereby he might fancie what fancie most requyred And therefore fillyng his ladyes eares with wordes occasion seruing him so he fell from this treatise into the discourse of chaste Matrones as in declaryng how that when Atropos Lachesis and Clothâ—e beyng the Ladies of the destenie had graunted to Admetus kyng of Thessalia at the request of Apollo being throwne into exile or rather banished from the stately throne of the potentiall Goddes by force of Iupiters fearefull mace that what tyme soeuer the turnyng spindle had thorowly twyned his fatall threede if any one would take vpon him death to awarde King Admetus his life his proffer shoulde be accepted to â—â—iourne his former wishe This day beyng common none would yeelde his lyfe for Admetus his sake then Alceste she his true and faythfull wyfe did yeelde to death for to awarde hys life Marke how N.O. seeketh to frame his tongue altogither in the commendation and setting foorth of women on whome shee incroched in this order No doubte N.O. but the like constancie is to be founde in men Alas Madame quoth he I can not for thy sake but say and thinke well of all womenkinde Yet coulde I say as much as this of men alluding the one with the other if so occasioÌ„ serued And this perswade thy selfe whylest life dothe laste my care shall greater be of thee than of my selfe yea Artemisia hyr selfe was neuer founde more constant to hyr make than I wil be to thee although in deede the brute of blasing trumpe hath informed the very skies of hyr chastitie and fethered hyr fame for that hyr pure loue who when Mâ—usolus King of Caria had yeelded his lyfe to the fearefull mace of lothsome death did call for death tenne thousande tymes to change hyr state with his who seeyng hir suite coulde not preuayle in regall sorte with princely poÌ„pe inclosed his corps in tome yet did she keepe his harte aboue the ground to keepe hyr company vntill continuance of tyme had turned the same by course to moultryng duste Then putting the same in a cup of wine she dranke it vp saying whyle lyfe did last his harte from hyrs asunder should not parte But softe holde you here content quoth A.O. and yeelde to silence for a season for my vewyng eyes haue seene your paynting penne and my listnyng eares haue hearde your rollyng tongue But who dothe knowe your priuy thoughtes not I. Why Lady quoth he is the winde at that dore now then I playnly see the more I seeke the lesse I finde Sometime your wisedome sayde the Diamond cuttes the glasse but as yet me thinketh it hath not rased the skinne Which dayly coÌ„sumes my languished lymmes with lothsome lyfe and inforceth my monyng mynde to crie vpon my harmes so huge Yet wisedome warneth me to rue and not to rage still lokyng for that lingryng houre whiche shoulde forbid my carping cares For though thy harte were made of harde flinte and sturdie steele yet as Terence sayth Nâ—l tam difficale est quod non solercia vincat And eke in tyme the brasen walles will starte whiche putteth me in hope faire Ladie that doing as the Poete Anacrion did by Bathillus Horace by Ligurius and the Poetes by Numa and Seruius who alwayes had them eyther in their songs or else at the ende of their pennes thou canst not but in time yeelde vp the title of thy harte I trust Lady I haue not deserued that thy loue shoulde waxe colder and colder towardes mee neyther that thy charitie shoulde decrease if so I haue then vse the Adamant stone whiche as Dioscorides sayeth will inforce thee to drawe it downe agayne But what neede I thus to mistruste thy discourtesie who already haue founde thy tongue to be made of pure Alabaster whiche perforce will keepe thee in amitie and charitie with all men thy lippes of Achates of Crete whiche maketh thee gracious and thy face of Gerâ—tites not for his colour but for his singuler vertue whiche maketh thee so amiable that no man can that seeth thee but he enamoured with thee Likewyse the force of it Ladie is suche that who carieth it close in his mouthe knoweth what euery one thinketh of hym Wherefore Lady I I neede not longer to blaze vnto thee for thou knowest full well my harte beyng once sette on fire with the pure lâ—ue which I beare vnto thee moste lyke to the stone Albeston can not be quenched agayne neyther my mynde beyng once frosen with feare can by any meanes but thorowe thy gracious goodnesse be thawed againe lyke to the operation of Gelacia a very white gem whose coldnesse in suche that no â—â—re can heate the same I well perceyue your glosing talke quoth A.O. but tell me sir quoth she if your harte continually burne why vadeth it not who answeared as well Ladie you mighte haue asked mee why the hyll Aetna whiche burneth day and nighte is not mouldered to ashes or why Enidâ—â—â— beyng but a little stone alwayes sweatyng and
be willingly departed A.O. was very inquisitiue as moste women are of their husbands affaires what answere he had sent in this ence But N. O fearyng the worste not certifying hir of the truth as wise men will doe sayde he willed him to commend him vnto his maister as vnto one vnknowne saying not trustyng his spitefull penne I tooke great scorne to answere the pen she poynts thereof A.O. thinkyng eche sore to be thorowly salurd seemed herewith content and occasion seruyng hir so shee brake off company for that tyme N.O. likewise preased into the company of the yong youthes bycause as yet the houre was not comen for the Instie yong gentlewomen to rouse from slothfull sleepe whome finding idle for wante of some Dallida to make them whette their poeticall tongues and taking pittie that such ripe heads sharpe wittes and fine tongues should be as it were anulled for want as I sayd before of some wanton toying Dallida or else of some lusty yong Phaon to prouoke their solitarie company eyther to laughter or else to some youthfull exercise leauyng suche questions as intended to the Loue bycause the chiefest oratours and greatest arguers as touchyng that poynt were not in place he deuidyng the route in twoo companies propounded two morall questions in manner followyng Firste if the fragilitie of terrene nature or the terestriall lyfe of man may aptly bende and yeelde or with facilitie frame themselues to the information of this phrase penned by Tulliâ— in his fourth booke of Tusculanes questions Videlicet Dummodo â—oleat aliquid doleat quod lubet The seconde alluded in the same booke if nature may and can consent to Tullie his exhortatioÌ„ herein Nihilo plus agaâ— quà m sides operam vt cum ratione insaniâ—â— that is firste if pleasure may displease and then if menne may craue with reason whiche twoo pretie poyntes helde them tugge with harde holde vntill suche tyme as the Ladyes of pleasure were sturryng whiche was aboute dinner tyme for as Terence sayeth Dum comuntur annuâ— est But then no doubt as the companie changed so their talke altered for sure in my mynde the companie of menne is nothyng worthe if women bee not in place whose payntyng forme and lyuely shâ—pes importeth suche vertue as sufficeth alone to make an eloquent tongue for proofe declares theyr fayre wordes maketh fooles saynâ— especially be they somewhat snoutefayre and cleanly vnder the cloâ—e whereof let them vse what pryde they will. But Phabuâ— restrayning the raynes of his breathlesse horses in the midway of his circutâ— or rounde circle to stay his chariot wheeles withall these lusty Ladies then â—oary Hyemâ— forbidding the libertie whiche otherwise Lady 〈◊〉 would haue prouoked them vnto began to reason earnesâ—ly as touching the great affection whiche Plato Pythagoras and Democritus bare vnto learning whom they say traueled into all the partes of the worlde wherein any thing was that mighte or coulde be learned But afterwarde one nayle driuyng forth an other they fell in great admiration at the sudden and shorte anger of louers whiche N O. sayde fayre Ladies vsed for the renewing of loue but the women snarring at this defined it in this order First sayde they the humors and sprites of louers bâ—ing exceeding â—ote and continually boyling doth contaminate their wittes and then earnestly shooting at one marke the wagging of a strawe thynke they hindreth the â—ight thereof But seyng the occasions of their anger are small they indure the lesser while These reasons beyng allowed of all sides N. O remembring the loyaltie which he ought vnto his amorous paramour sodenly departed vnknowing to the Ladies to get those things in a readinesse whiche shoulde performe the gaging of his gloue Whiche were not so soone prepared but as soone he had conquered hir enimie hauing the best ende of the staffe in his hande but A. O. maruâ—â—â—ng hereat mistrusted forthwith the veritiâ— and fearyng the worste hyr fleshe tremblyng hyr pulses beate hyr sinowes shroâ—ke eche parte fell nuÌ„me hir liuely bloud descended hyr deadly face bring wanne hir colour came and went the crampe ouertooke hir feeling hyr sheuering nayles started hyr saphyre vaines racked hir ioynts in order cracked yea hyr eyes staring the yellow hayre of hir hedde stoode vprighâ— thus was shee â—â—lly soule racked from extreeme agonies to tormenting woes froÌ„ dyning pâ—ngs to gryping grieues from greedy grypes to carpyng cares from plunging paynt to sorrowfull sighes from scalding sobbes to tedious â—eares from thence to pensiuâ— playnt What better did become hir cace then monyng weedes to â—ladde hir corps who cryed wished ten thousand times that earth it might inclose the same Thus abandoning eche ioy with pensinenesse she inclosed hyr crased corps within hyr solatarie chamber vntill suche time as hir victorious Paâ—agon was returned againe The sighte of whom conducted home in safetie recomforted hir moning mynde Such was hir whole desire to counteruayle his loue Who finding his Lady in such a perplexitie rollyng and sweltung as it were in sudden passâ—oÌ„s of the minde or rather in extremitie of raging woe refrayned not his tongue but sayde Is this the Target of Me usa Lady to blase thy chastitie in mine absence why speake you not is this the speare and shielde of Pallas to encounter with my Martiall deedes what sudden chauÌ„ce is this what nothing but muÌ„me thou knowest quoth he the fountayne Epyâ—â—â— is not farre hence dippe thy fingar and bâ—the thy tongue therein the water whereof suffiseth to extinguishe thy sorrow newly lightned and lykewise to lighten thy pleasures lately extinguished Who answered esteeme not my silence a banner of defiance my Lorde neyther blame my harte but good wil for these my springâ— of teares But tell me sir quoth â—he haue you tasted of the floud Dalmatida since your departure that you seeme more amorous than in times paste or did our presence breede anoy N. O maruellyng hereat â–ª sayde Let this suffice Lady the valiantnesse of Mars made him better esteemed of Venus then Vulcane that halting lymphalt smith giuen hyr in mariage What neede you range thus farre quoth she herâ—in you seeme to blaze your selfe after the Poeticall paynting of the rurall God Pan to trotte on gotishe feete Whose patience beyng somewhat moued hereat answered eyther you haue mistaken my wordes Lady or else misconstered my meanyng for wâ—ereas I seemed before more boldly than wisely to say the valiantnesse of souldiers to be greatly accepted of couragious women â–ª and also had of great pryce in no lesse veneration of dayntir Dames my meaning was thereby that the triall of my manhoode souldierly grace maketh me rather to resemble nowe the amarous Bâ—â—all vnto thee than I did before Well well quoth she by this I see the mount â—f Mars was eleuated at your entraunce into the fielde I founde it so quoth he and also the mounte of Venus not declyned when I firste repayred vnto this Castle of comforte Who curteously inferred the lusty greâ—ne of
commonly come to the like effect For being matched so yong thorow the folly of their parents not seldome seene it is loue takyng no roote a greate disparagement riseth when they come to age or yeares of discretion eche saying to the other for wante of lyking folly and not wisâ—dome yea goodes and not loue brought vs together Thus not agreyng but continually â—â—cring the one at the other sometimes they seeke diuorcement whiche if they do not yet better I thinke were these mariages vnmade Who mindeth therefore to matche himselfe in such order as to leade a godly life might doe very well to followe Socrates rule therein who thus prescribed vnto a certen yong gentleman demaunding of him what wife were best to marie Nube equalem for so sayde he thou shalte be sure in no poynt to mislike or disagree But why seeme I thus to stray from my texte a good penne man will say or at the least thinke rither I did it for wante of matter else was I no perfite dilater in this cace To whome I answere thus though I swarue from my teâ—te yet not from the matter But Ad rem redeam for I know my recorded notes yee looke for The sacked loue of A. O beyng wonne as you see by my former style N. O. was very desirous to know of a certenty the day wherein this solemne mariage should be solemnised for that the preparation thereof required a long deliberation wherby eche thing belongyng to this sumptuous furniture mighte be had in such a readinesse as no hart aliue could wish it better to be And iudge yee whether time wanted to consulte thereof when as this demaunde being made before Christmasse the time appoynted was contriued or deferred vntil Easter bicause in deede of force she must so doe what though he thought it long it was a brauen to liue in hope Neyther passed this tedious tyme as he thought without vnfayned ioyes vnspeakeable pleasure for eche day they fedde their reume and pleased their appetites with choyce thereof For first N. O caused as the time required the twelue labours of Hercules and also his owne death to be liuely sette sorth in tragicall manner before hyr eyes videlicet firste the ouercommyng of the Lion thorow the ayde of Nemea secoÌ„dly the sleyng of the poysonous seuen hedded snake called Hydra thirdly the conquering of the foule sowe of Erymanthius fourthly the death of the harte with his gildeâ— hornes fiftly the oppression of the birdes of Sâ—ymphalide with his beÌ„ded bowe sâ—â—tly the loosing of Hyppolita froÌ„ hir binding chaynes seuenthly the clensing of the stable of Augia by his deuice of running waters for the eyght the conquering of the mighty Bull in wrestlyng then for the ninth as well the conquest of the horses of Diomedes as of the King himselfe for the tenth his ouercomming of Geriones with his triple body In the eleuenth the victory of Cerberus in descending for Proserpina and laste of all beyng conquerour of Hesperides the winnyng of the goldeÌ„ apples Yet being the author of so many worthy deedes howe miserably and pityfully yea in what lamentable order at the length he ended his lyfe thorowe the wearing of a shyrte whiche Deâ—anira put him on for the nonst besprinkled with the bloud of a Centaure whiche cleaned so faste vnto his vnwitting body that with greedy grypes it rente his harte asunder Also in this tragedie was mencioned the betrayâ—ng of Sampson thorowe a womans wilt Whereat some of the company departed with a dogge in their sleeue Who in mine opinion it becomed rather to haue stayed and lulled hir fancie in hiâ— lappe whose stinking breath anoyes the gentle route But what of this I dare sweare they are not onely perswaded that the scente therof is perfite restoritie but also it to caste as odoriferous a smell to their noses and to be as sweete to them and better accepted than the codde it selfe of muske But much good may it do them From such sweete and sauory smels God shielde me And yet so long as they perswade themselues this stewe or hoate bathe to be both a restoritie and perfitte muske I see no cause but that to them so supposing it shoulde be muske it selfe For I remember diuers prety iestes looking in my budget of pleasaÌ„t coÌ„ceyts First betwene a yoÌ„g man who perswaded himselfe that his nose was so greate that no roâ—me be it neuer so wide could receyue him neither was there any Monster aliue so foule as he although indeede his nose was in as good forme and fashioÌ„ as needed to be But notwithstanding such was his foolish persuasion fonde beliefe that vntill a Barbor had deceyued him in the cutting thereof at his owne request that hee woulde not beleeue it I finde also that an other persuaded himselfe that he was a glasse and none might come neare much lesse touche him least he should breake And to be shorte I finde an other mery ieste as touching this poynt betweene a man of the countrey and his parishe Priest who lying very sore sicke and the people aboute him looking alwayes when he shoulde say In manus Domini commendo spiritum meum bycause the pangs of deathe had inforced him oft before to say in raging wise Cupio dissolui esse cum Christo sente vnto maister Parson earnestly requesting him to coÌ„municate the holy Sacrament vnto him before he yeelded vp his ghost but this beyng at midnight and he lying warme in his bed was lothe to forgoe the same Wherefore he wrote to this pacient by the messenger as touchyng the Sacrament Câ—ode quod edu edu Thus master Parson litle regarding the egernesse of the wolfe and much lesse his soules saluation forgetting also this sentence Bâ—nâ— est Pastoris â—â—ndere pecus non diglubere by no meanes coulde be gotten forth of his warme bedde It chaunced yet in shorte time after this grieuous sicke man recouered his health againe and hauing occasion to ryde a litle way vppon some earnest businesse he sent to this Parson to borrow his horse who nothing mistrusting â—ente it him But knowing afterwarde that he was returned agayne he sente for his horse Who remembryng his newe kinde of ministring the Sacrament kepte still the horse and wrote vnto him in this order Non meministi quid mihi dixisti de corpore Christi Crede quod edu edis Sic ego rescribo de tuo Palphrido Crede quod habes habes Now sir whether he serued him well or no I referre the iudgement thereof to some apishe witte For eche man knoweth the feather of an Eagle is of force to consume the feathers of meaner byrdes But I willâ—-omitte these cragged snubbes and croked boughes to take holde once agayne of the streight body of the tree Firste I.I. seyng hee coulde not preuayle with his glosed talke hee gaue the assaulte once more not onely by profered seruice and professed friendshippe but also by offryng hyr rare Iewels and costly
your curtesie onely for some sparke of grace But you as one willing to heare my pittyfull playnâ—e commaunded me with retyre to turne againe to the gayle of affection where being clogged with chaynes of extremitie all libertie was restrayned neither can my trembling tongue tell foorth so tedious a tale as should expresse the pinchyng payne and pyning penury wherin my crased corpse and lothsome limmes haue languisht this seuen moneths day and more Twise hope hath repreued me to appeale my chiefe dorrs herein whiche as yet I woulde neuer But the thirde time in extremity of panges and dreadfull doubte of life I am content Braue beautie demeanure Cupid and affection hath moued me herevnto Loe to thy demaund I haue yeelded graunt therefore grace in tyme else I wishe not to liue but die My gryping griefes would enioyne me to silence but that extremitie forceth me to speake make answere therefore I pray thee to this demaunde what should be the cause of the restrainte of your curtesie as to base of byrth haue I clymed to hie then the greater my fall But my parentage may counteruayle â–ª our wealth may incounter vnlace therefore your loyaltie But is there any mistrust of true meaning constancie greate good will or perfite loue proofe declares this needed not or thinke you extremity will cause me change those mistrustfull handes of dissimulation doe but hinder your wittes of well thinking and yet are no daynties for fine affection to feede vpon it so any curtesie rested in you Wherefore thinke vpon my paineful pangs and what I suffer for your sake all is to little to gayne my wiche and the least to muche to leese it Graunt therefore with pittie what resteth to graunt or else at the least in steede of a perfite yea graunt but a weake denay Then lingring hope wil perswade me that where I tooke a deadly wound there shall I finde a salue Thus trusting to your vnknowne curtesie wayling in woe and doubtfull of redresse I leaue you to likyng And yet my constancie commendes me thine owne for aye Yours and not mine F. E. The paynting of a Curtizan IT is a worlde to see eache feate displaying wise Of Venus Nimphes of Curtizans whom folly doth disguise Yea how and by what meanes they doe allure the youth To spend vpon theÌ„ all they haue whose beauty whettes their tooth Who listeth to beholde and marke my painting penne Shall see their garish trickes set downe wherby they allure the meÌ„ First with their lawnes and calles of golde beset with spangs With died and frizeled perewigs with hartes fro thence that haÌ„gs With veluet cappes and plumes they doe adorne their heddes With red white they painte their face to tice theÌ„ to there beddes There partlets set with spangs come close vnto their chinne There gorgets fairely wrought without inclose blacke neckâ— within And from their eare there hangs a pearle and siluer ring As for a bell the sounde whereof such like to hir doth bring About hir necke likewise there hangeth many a chayne Yea many a costly iem they weare that 's giueÌ„ theÌ„ of their trayne Their gownes in fashion are there vardingales are greate Their gownes likewise which are so side do sweepe aloÌ„g the streate Their pompes most oft are white their pantables are blacke Their woâ—â—ed hose are purple blâ—w thus nothing do they lacke Their gloues are all befumde with pure and perfect smell Yea all their clothes which smels of muske loe here she goes they tel Their smockes are all bewrought about the necke hande And to be short I tell you playne all things in order stande They onely walke the streates to see and to be seene Their waÌ„ton eyes caste here there will tell you what they bene But if hyr flanting lookes hath trayned any one Unto the mewe wherein she keepes along as she hath gone They shal be sure to finde all kinde of musicke there And she hir selfe at his request to play she will not spare Whiche doth inflame his harte with flashing sparkes of heate To trie with sugred wordes if so his harte would cease to beate Then she to passe the time at cardes will seeke to play Or else 〈◊〉 tables will they goe to driue the time away Then will they vaunt and graunt and for affinitie At cardes they will vye and reuye each their virginitie At Irishe game she will contrary to the game At bearing beare more than she should by proofe I know the same If that she taken be with this that hyr foule play Then makes she straight thereof a ieste I saw it not to say But with this ouersight she doth prouoke the man To thinke the worste and trie the best by all the meanes he can Then must she haue such cheare as may be got for quoyne That by the foode of dayntie dishe hir woes he might purloyne To spende and make no spare he must himselfe incline No quoyne good cheare aray nor gemmes for cost he may define For giue me and fetch me this is their dayly song But yet with this worde Adfer she driues him straight along This worde for to fulfill he settes on sale his lande And nought he seeth hir wante but buyth it out of hande His presence doth deserue remembraunce for to haue But out of sight so out of minde good will doth presence craue And if she grauntes him grace to mitigate his woes His handkercher she will bewet with water of a rose And then such wanton toyes she wil be sure to finde That he perswades himselfe herewith to him she is full kinde Who would requyre more it full requites his coste And he likewise as proude thereof will make thereof his boste Yea yea she treades so nice she would not wafers breake And maulte horse like she beares hir mayne that ayre hir armes doth streake Thus as a floting fishe she glides a long the streete As lauÌ„cing ships she cuts the seas hir plumes the sayles doth greete But if by candle light she chaunce hir selfe to showe Hir paynted forme so glistreth as the starres appearde arowe Such cousining trickes they haue each man for to deceaue That while they credite giue therto hir wordes their wits bereaue Wherfore let not thine eye reduce thy wanton woe Nor giue no credite to their wordes whiche honie like doe flowe Light wonne light lost againe be sure them thus to finde For lightly comen so lightly gone this is a harlots kinde Beleue a harlots wordes and weaue a webbe of woe No credite therefore giue thereto beleue it is not so She will not sticke to sweare she hath not knowen a man And thou alone hir maydenhed by filed phrase haste wan And that no man aliue could euer gayne his will When many an one yea evry day of hir hath had their fill No man hath toucht hir skinne excepting hande and face Thus will they lie with euery breath it is their wonted grace Take heede therefore betime least thou too late
I founde that harde it was for ought to liue at rest For if dame Pleasure streake mine oare in this my youthfull race Swete meat sharp sauce I know requirs no iudgmeÌ„t in this cace And what though Venus graunts me grace nought therby shal I Such pleasures lasteth but a time yet they do aske paine â—gaine And then if so affection fonde within my brest should raygnt A Lion in an Asses skinne my harte it should retayne Whereof Valerius doth reporte that Aristophnes once In templis Acharonâ—â—s made prayers for the nonce â–ª That he in Charons ferry boate might passe the Stygian lake To Plutos grysly gates of Hell which for his daughters sake He did obtayne through fayned loue which he to them did beare Alecto and Tisiphone Megera these for feare He flattered much to whome I know such credite did they giue That they him taught with sops to feede if so he sought to liue The Triceps head of Cerberus the porter of his gate But see within thou stay not long least forth thou come to late This councell did he keepe ful well and as they had him tought He did and saw what was his will he founde eke what he sought But what he fouÌ„d that restes vnknowne but when he came againe Unto Thatheniensians he gan to warne them playne For wanton Lions fostryng vp within the Citie walles Least while they thinke of Melt to feede they taste of bitter galles Thus likyng breedes extremitie lulld in affections lappe And looke what others pleaseth moste therein I finde least sappe Alas what one can â—rame himselfe his youthfull race to spende All in Mineruas comely courte doth not Diana hende Sometime vnto Dame pleasures lawes how then caÌ„ I withstaÌ„d The firie force of Cupidâ—s bowe doth not dame Venus stande At Beauties barre with comly crewes routes of dayntie dames Whose smiling lookes praÌ„king toyes doth cast such fiery flames Before my greedy glauncing eyes that rolleth here and there That I poore soule do rest betrayde as doth the fearfull hare What shall I do poore sillie sotte make answere in this cace Where are thy wittes as now become that arte so wan of face If so they wandring be abrode then call them home againe A counsell generall to holde it asketh them no payne Therein determine of my life how I the same shall leade But yet determine of thy selfe that perfite path to treade That leades vnto the perfite ioyes else thou thy selfe beshrowe Mayst soone perchaunce vnawares the paine therof shalt know Thus beyng set in counsell graue this counsell did they giue That I my running head to stay and eke at ease to liue A wife should wedde oh waylfull woe what could haue chaunced wurse The wedded man best liues at ease when fast bounde in his purse He hath the tongue of wedded wife else will she clatter so Bothe to his face and at his backe that gladde he is to goe His way and leaue hyr all alone for why a shrewishe tongue Is like vnto an Aspen leafe that nothing vayles to clangue But yet for this they councellde me a wedded wife to take That I the fishe of coÌ„mon sewer might whole and cleane forsake I was content my wittes did serue and would me so to doe To wiue I wente as bootelesse bente a goslyng for to shoe For looke whose wife in beautie braue doth passe the middle sorte Each thinkes hir nought a secrete whore and giues hir this report But further yet of wiues to speake thus much I haue to say Whose wife in welth hir mate exceedes she then wil beare the sway And treade vpon hir husbandes crowne as for hir feete to lowe Thou mightst haue beggde this will she say if so she be a shrowe If not for me thou knowest full well thus will she beare the rule And weare the breeches of hir mate as wrapt in Friers cule I did deserue a better man than euer thou wilt be Why seekste thou then thy whole affayres or ought to hide fro me Why should not I thy councell be without restraint of will So ought it be and so it shall till pleasure hath his fill Then she disdayning of hir matche some one will soone procure To pay the boxe and eke with salue hir former wounde to cure To Cuckoldes hall she will him sende as warden for to be With grifted hornes vpon his head as euery one may see Hir husbandes wealth shall wasted be vpon hyr bilbowe boyes Thus ouerfayre and all to riche doe wante no tedious toyes Then who so wiues whome beauty waÌ„ts be she ere poore or ritche He will hir lothe she can not please she is not for his pitche Thus whiche way can a maried man at this day liue at ease When neyther faire the foule nor riche his fancy fond may please Yet I a merry meane did finde which is a berry Browne Browne and louely thus they say she only beares the crowne If so it be as Goddes it graunt then am I all to wedde For Browne and louely haue I cought taccompany me in bedde New married wiues and yong men too do thinke the day is long Wherein they wedded be and wishe for wante of other song The night were come so did I that Phebus to the west With steedes were drawne on chariot wheles and there to take his rest His course was done Vesper she with Luna playde their partes Whiche pleasde vs well for ioyes approcht most meete for louing harts But passing forth this pleasaÌ„t night with louely tricks I say Alas to soone dan Phebus he did shewe that it was day And with his radiant glittering beames began for to display It was not meete for louers yet so timely for to ryse But for to chat an houre or two this is their wonted guyse And playing thus with waÌ„toÌ„ toyes the Cuckow bad good morow Alas thought I a token t is for me to liue in sorrow Cuckow sang he Cuckow sayd I what destiny is this Who so it heares he well may thinke it is no sacred blisse Alas quoth she what cause haue you as yet thus for to say In Cuckow time few haue a charme to cause his tongue to stay Wherfore Content your selfe as well as I let reason rule your minde As Cuckolds come by destiny so Cuckowes sing by kinde FINIS The Louer forsaken bewayleth his chaunce IF euer man had cause to wayle then haue I cause to mourne Who ioyes to see my vowed foe I like and am forlorne I serue where no acceptance is and haue this seuen yeares space And thryce seuen in yeares I would hir serue in hope to purchace grace But all alas it is in vayne I like but to my coste For why the loue I haue bestowed I count it is but loste I take delight to vewe that face whiche yeeldes my deadly wounde I loue to serue in loyall thrall although no thankes are founde O gulfes of care O dolefull dumpes that sore oppresse my