Arthur Fletchar of Bangor Gent. YE grisly ghostes which walke below in black Cocistus Lakes Miâ—s Dâ—tis dennes Erebus Dames with heare of vgly Snakes Medusa with thy monstrous mates assist mée now a while In dyre wamenting verse to shew and drierie dolefull stile The fayre vntimely fatall ende of Fletcher now by death Unto the Ayre his soule with Ioue resignde his latest breath Whose life fuâ—l dâ—e wee must commend as it deserues the same And conuersation to eche one did seldome meryt blame A faythfull freend to eche hee was to none an oppen foe Unto his Prince a subiect true till fates had lodgd him loe His actes did tend to no mans harmes no Parasite to prayse For greedy gayne but still the troth mayntaynd at all assayes His time hée spent in Uertues lore as séemd his state full wel By serious study what hée could hée sought for to excel But what of al this same the fates no wight in time wyll spare WheÌ„ gastly death hath pearst in earth theÌ„ must our bodyes weare In age aswell in youthes in youthes aswell in age No certayne time wée haue to bide when death with vs wil wage No thing can still abide but comes to nought in ende The craggy Rocks the sturdiest okes starke rotten once is rend And so hath Fletcher now to death payd his due What hée is now wée must bée all his Funerall then vew FINIS ¶ A Lady writeth vnto her Louer wherin shee most earnestly chargeth him with Ingratitude O Wretched wight whom hensfoorth may I trust All men both falce and fell I will them painte If thou vnkinde bée cruell and vniust Whom I alwayes so faythfull held and quainte What cruelty what trustles treasons iust Was euer hard by tragicall complaint But lesse then this my merit if I may And thy desart in equall ballance lay Wherfore vnkinde since that on liue A worthier wight of prowes ne beauty Ne that by much to thee that doth ariue In cumly porte ne genorositie Why doost thou not twéene these thy vertues striue It may bee sayd thou hast serbillitie Then say that who of fayth is holden stable There may to him none els bée comparable For write ye not that vertues haue no grace Wheras this trust and stablenesse doth want As other things though much of cumly face Cannot be seene where gladsome light is skant A mayd to false for thée an easie case Whose Idol Lord God thou werst most puisant Whom with thy wordes it easly had bin donne To make beleue both colde and darke the sonne Cruell what offence hast thou for to bewayle The killing of thy loue if thou not repent If yee accompte so light of fayth to fayle What other sinne can make thy harte lament How treate you foes if mée ye doo assayle That loues thée so with such cruell torment The heauens iustles I will say to bée In case they shew the iust reuenge of mée If of offences all that monstrous vice Ingratitude do most a man offend And if for that an Angell of great price Was forced to Hell from heauen to dissend If great offence great chastisment entice When to reforme the hart doth not him bend Take héed sharp skourge that God on thée not send Thou art to mee vnkinde and doost not mend If these also besides some other spot I haue vnkinde wherof thée to accuse That thou my hart with holdst I meane it not I speake of thée that madest thée myne by lot And robbest mée since against reasoÌ„ which I must Restore vnkinde for well thou wottest it playne They shal be damned that others goods retaine Unkinde thou hast forsaken mée but I will Not will thee willingly for none assayes Yet this hard hap and trouble for to flie I can and will ende these my wofull dayes In onely way in thy disgrace to dye For if the Gods had graunted by their payes My death geuen then when I stoode in thy grace No wight had dyed in halfe so happy a case FINIS ¶ The Louer vnto his Lady beloued of her disdaynfulnesse toward him FOr beauties sake though loue doth dread thy might And Venus thinks by sute to proue thy dame Though Pallas striues by hope of equall right For Wisdoms watch as daughter thée to claime Though Mercury would entitled be thy Syre For thy sweet talke so sweetly blazed forth Though all the Gods do burne in like desire Thy graces rare in heauen so much worth Yet lo thy proofe I know the trusly waight Of Tygars milke thou fostred wert from molde And Cipres Well with dainful chaung of fraight Gaue thee to drinke infected poyson colde But yet beware least loue renew in thee The dreadfull flame Narcissus whylom felt With eger moode and sight to feede thine eye Of thine owne from others flame to swell For loue doth loue with hot reuenge to wreake The ruthles Iron hart that will not breake FINIS The Louer in the prayse of his beloued and comparison of her beauty NOt shée for whom prowde Troy did fall and burne The Greekes eke slaine that bluddy race did runne Nor shée for spight that did Acteon turne Into an Hart her beauty coye did shunne Nor shée whose blud vpon Achilles Tombe Whose face would tame a Tygars harte Nor shée that wan by wise of Paris dome Th'apple of Golde for Beauty to her parte Nor shee whose eyes did pearce true Troylus brest And made him yeeld that knew in loue no law Might bee compared to the fayrest and the best Whom Nature made to kéepe the rest in awe For Beauties sake sent downe from Ioue aboue Thrise happy is hée that can attayne her loue FINIS ¶ In the prayse of a beautifull and vertuous Virgin whose name begins with M. BEhold you Dames the raigne in fames whose lookes mens harts do leade And triumph in the spoyle of those vpoÌ„ whose brests you trede A myrt or make of M whose molde Dame Nature in disdayne To please her self spight her foes in beauty raysd to raigne Whose sunny beames starry eyes presents a heauenlyke face And shewes the world a wonderous worke sutch are her giftes of grace In forhed feature beareth brunt in face doth fauor guyde In lookes is life in shape is shame in cheekes doth coulor hyde In boddy seemelynesse doth shew in wordes doth wisdome shade All partes of her doth prayse deserue in temprance is her trade In humble porte is honor plaste in face is maydens smyles Her life is grafte with Golden giftes her deedes deuoyd of gyles And as the Star to Marriners is guyde vnto the Port So is this M a heauenly ioy to Louers that resort Who run and rome with inward wounds folded armes acrosse And hide their harms with clokes of care féed their hope with losse Her lookes doth lift aboue the skyes her frowns to Hel doth throw All sues to her shée séekes on none that daily proofe doth show Wherfore her saying late set forth shée burnt
dolefull case Where walkes no wight but I alone in drewsie desart place And there I empt my laden hart that sweld in fretting mone My sighes and playnts and panges I tell vnto my selfe alone What shall I say doo aske mee once why all these sorowes bee â–ª I answere true O foe or freend they all are made for thee Once knit the lynck that loue may last then shal my dollors ceasâ— It lyes in thee and wilt thou not the yeelding wight release O would to God it lay in mée to cure such gréefe of thine Thou shouldst not long be voyd of helpe if t were in power of mine But I would run range in stormes a thousand miles in payne Not fearing foyle of freends to haue my couÌ„tenance whole agayn And wilt thou then all mercylesse more longer torment mee In drawing backe sith my good helpe is only whole in thée Then send mée close y hewing knife my wider wound to stratch And thou shalt see by wofull gréefe of life a cleane dispatch When thou shalt say and prooue it true my hart entirely lou'd Which lost the life for countnance swéet froÌ„ whoÌ„ hée neuer mou'd Write then vpon my wofull Tombe these verses grauen aboue Heere lyes the hart his truth to trie that lost his life in loue Loe saue or spill thou mayst mee now thou sitst in iudgment hie Where I poore man at Bar doo stand and lowd for life doo cry Thou wilt not bée so mercylesse to slea a louing hart â–ª Small prayse it is to conquer him that durst no where to start Thou hast the sword that cut the wound of my vnholâ—en payne Thou canst and art the only helpe to heale the same agayne Then heale the hart that loues theé well vntill the day hée dye And firmely fast thy loue on him that 's true continually In thée my wealth in thee my woe in thée too saue or spill In thee mee lyfe in thee my death doth rest to worke thy will. Let vertue myxt with pitty great and louing mercy saue Him who without thy salue so sicke that hee must yeeld to graue O salue thou then my secret sore sith health in thee dooth stay And grauÌ„t with speed my iust request whose want works my decay Then shal I blesse the pleasaÌ„t place where once I tooke thy gloue And thanke the God who giues thée grace to grauÌ„t me loue for loue FINIS ¶ A louing Epistle written by Ruphilus a yonge Gentilman to his best beloued Lady Elriza as followeth TWice hath my quaking hand withdrawen this pen away And twice againe it gladly would before I dare béewray The secret shrined thoughts that in my hart do dwell That neuer wight as yet hath wist nor I desire to tell But as the smoothered cole doth wast and still consume And outwardly doth geue no heate of burnyng blaze or fume So hath my hidden harmes béen harbred in my corpce Till faintyng limmes and life and all had welnigh lost his force Yet stand I halfe in doubt whiche of these two to choose To hide my harmes still to my hurt or els this thraldome loose I will lay feare aside and so my tale beginne Who neuer durst assaile his foe did neuer conquest win Lo here my cause of care to thée vnfolde I will Help thou Minerua graunt I pray some of thy learned skill Help all you Muses nine my wofull Pen to write So stuffe my verse with pleasant wordes as she may haue delight With héedyng eares to reade my gréeif and great vnrest Some wordes of plaint may moue perhaps to pitty my request Oft haue I hard complaint how Cupid beares a sway In brittle youth and would commaund and how they did obay When I with skorning eares did all their talke dispise But well I see the blinded boy in lurking den hée lies To catch the careles sorte awayting with his Darte Hée threw at mée when I vnwares was wounded to the harte To speake and pray for helpe now loue hath mée constrainde And makes mée yéeld to serue the sorte that lately I disdainde Sith beggars haue no choyce nor néede had euer law The subiecte Oxe doth like his yoke when hée is driuen to draw That Ruphilus this wrote thou wonder wilt I know Cause neuer erst in louinge vearse my labor I bestowe Well woful loue is mine and wéeping lines I wright And doubtfull wordes with driery chéere beséemes a careful wight O thou Elrisa fayre the beuty of thine eyes Hath bred such bale within my drest and cau'sde such strife to ryse As I can not forget vntill deuouring death Shal leaue to mee a senceles goast and rid my longer breath Or at the least that thou doo graunt mée some releefe To ease the gréedy gripes I féele and end my great mischéefe As due to mee by right I can no mercy craue Thou hast the power to graunt mée life refuse not for to saue Put to thy helping hand to salue the wounded sore Though thou refuse it for my sake yet make thine honour more Too cruell were the facte if thou shouldst séeke to kill Thy faythful fréend that loues thee so and doth demaund no ill Thy heauenly shape I saw thy passing bewty bright Enforst mée to assay the bayt where now my bane I bight I nought repent my loue nor yet forthinke my facte The Gods I know were all agreed and secretly compacte To frame a worke of prayse to show their power deuine By good aduice this on the earth aboue the rest to shine Whose perfecte shape is such as Cupid feares his fall And euery wight that hath her séene I say not one but all With one consent they cry lo here dame Venus ayer Not Danae nor shée dame Lede was euer halfe so faire Though Princes sue for grace and ech one do thee woo Mislyke not this my meane estate wherwith I can nought doo As highest seates wee sée be subiect to most winde So base and poore estates we know be hateful to the minde The happy meane is mine which I do haply holde Thy honor is to yéeld for loue and not for heape of golde If euer thou hast felte the bitter panges that stinges A louers brâ—st or knowest the â—ares that Cupid on vs flinges Then pitty my request and wayle my wofull case Whose life to death with hasty whéeles doo toumble on apace Uouchsafe to â—ase the paine that loue on mée doth whelme Let not thy freend to shipwracke go sith thou doost hold his helme Who yeelâ—eth all hée hath as subiect to thy will If thou commaund hée doth obey and all thy heastes fulfill But if thou call to minde when I did part thee fro What was the cause of my exile and why I did forgo The happy life I held and lost there with thy sight Well mayst thou wayle thy want of troth rue thy great vnright If thou be found to fayle thy vow that thou hast sworne Or that one iot of my good will out of thy
ten dayes space I tooke no rest by day nor yet by night But like to Baccus beldame Nonne I sent and rangde apace To sée if that I mought thée finde in some frequented place Now here now there now vp now down my fancy so was fed Untill at length I knew of troth that thou from mee wert fled Then was I fully bent with blade to stab my vexed harte Yet hope that thou wouldst come agayn my purpose did conuart And so ere since I liu'd in hope bemixt with dreadful feare My smeared face through endles teares vnpleasant doth appeare My slepes vnsound with vgly dreams my meats are vayn of taste My gorgious rayment is dispisde my tresses rudly plaste And to bee breefe I bouldly speake there doth remayne no care But that therof in amplest wise I doo possesse a share Lyke as the tender sprig doth bend with euery blast of winde Or as the guidelesse Ship on Seas no certaine Porte may finde So I now subiecte vnto hope now thrall to carefull dread Amids the Rocks tween hope and feare as fancy mooues am led Alas returne my deare returne returne and take thy rest God graunt my wordes may haue the force to penytrat thy brest What doost thou thinke in Italy some great exployt to win No no it is not Italy as sometimes it hath bin Or doost thou loue to gad abroad the forrain costes to vew If so thou hadst not doone amisse to bid mée first a dew But what hath bin the cause I néede not descant longe For sure I am meane while poore wench I only suffer wrong Wel thus I leaue yet more could say but least thou shouldst refuse Through tediousnesse to réede my lines the rest I will excuse Untill such time as mighty Ioue doth send such luckye grace As wée therof in fréendly wise may reason face to face Till then farwell and hée thee kéepe who only knowes my smart And with this bill I send to thee a trusty Louers harte By mee to thee not mine but thine Since Loue doth moue the same Thy mate though late doth wright her â—light Thou well canst tell her name ¶ A Letter sent from beyond the Seaes to his Louer perswading her to continew her loue towardes him TO thée I write whose life and death thy faith may saue or spil Which fayth obserue I liue in ioy if not your freend you kill Suspecte not that I doo misdoubt your loyalty at all But pender how that louers are vnto suspicion thrall Which thraldome bréedeth furth thrall if woonted fayth doo fayle Agaynst the Louer thus forlorne do thousand Cares preuayle It litle helpes to haue begun and there to set a stay They win more fame that fight it out then those that run away Like as the willing hound that doth pursue the Deare in Chace Will not omit vnto the ende his paynfull weary race So Loue if loue it bee indeed will stedfast still remayne What so betide good hap or yll and not reuoult agayne Such fayth of you swéet hart I aske such fayth why sayd I so What néede I to demaund the thing I haue had long ago Your fayth you gaue the case is playn you may not seeme to start And I in earnest of the match did leaue with you my hart But now perhaps you may alleage long distance may procure A cause wherby our former loue no longer may endure If so you Iudge to far amisse although that sayle and winde Conuay my corps to cuntry strange my hart remaynes behinde Examples many could I shew but néedles is that payne Mine owne example shalâ— suffise when I returne agayne Meane while although to swim I want Leanders cunning art In all things els except the same I le play Leanders part In hope that thou wilt shew thy selfe to mée an Hero true And so although loth to depart I say swéete hart adue A Ringe I sende wherin is pende a Posie if you reede Wherby you may perceaue alway of what I most haue neede By mee your frende vnto the ende if you therto agree Although not so your louing foe I still perforce must bee FINIS An other louing Letter BEcause my hart is not mine owne but resteth now with thée I greet thee well of hartinesse thy selfe mayst Caruer bée Muse not hereat but like hereof first read and then excuse I wish to you a plyant hart when you these lines peruse Hope bids me speak fear stayes my tongue but Cupid makes mée boulde And Fancy harps of good successe when that my playnt is tould Thus Hope doth prick feare doth kicke fancy féeds my brayn In you alone doth now consist the salue to ease my payne You are my Paradice of ioy the heauen of my delight And therwithall which thing is strang the worker of my spight Which spight I seeke not to reuenge but meekely to subdue Not as a foe but as a fréend I do your loue pursue I yeeld my selfe vnto your power and will not you relente In humble wise I mercy craue and is your mercy spente No sure as nature outwardly hath shewde in you her skill I doubt not but that inwardly the like shee doth fulfill So good a face so trim a grace as doth in you remayne A Cressids cruell stony harte I know may not retayne Wherfore to ratefie my wordes let déedes apparant bée Then may you vaunt and proue it true you fréedom gaue to mée Consider of my restles care and way blinde Cupids ire Then shal you finde my paynful loue doth claym but earned hire Requite not this my curtesy and fréendship with disdaine But as I loue vnfainedly so yeeld like loue againe Allow hereof as for the rest that doth belong to loue My selfe therof will take the care as time in time shall proue Meane while I wish a Thisbies hart in you there may endure Then doubt not but a Pyramus of mée you shall procure Yours at your will To saue or spill FINIS Proctors Precepts LEaue vading plumes no more vaunt gallant youth Thy masking weeds forsake take collours sage Shun vicious steps consider what ensueth Time lewdly spent when on coms crooked age When beauty braue shall vade as doth the flower When manly might shall yeeld to auncient time When yonge delightes shall dye and ages bower Shall lodge thy corps bemoning idle prime Learne of the Ant for stormy blastes to get Prouision least vntimely want do cum And mooues thee mone such time so lewd neglect From vertues lore where worthy honors wun Thinke how vncertayne here thou liust a guest Amid such vice that 's irksome to beholde Thinke whence thou camst and where thy corps shall rest When breathing breath shall leaue thy carkasse colde When dreadfull death shall daunt thy hauty minde When fearfull flesh shall shrowd in clammy clay When pamperd plumes shall vade and dreads shall finde Deseruings due for erring lewd astray Run not to rash least triall make the mone In auncient yeres thy greene
which to late Compels vs to complayne The boast of Beauties brags And gloze of louing lookes Seduce mens mindes as fishes are Intic'd with bayted hookes Who simply thinking too Obtayne the pleasant pray Doth snatch at it and witlesse so Deuoures her owne decay Euen like the mindes of men Allurde with beauties bayt To heapes of harmes to carking care Are brought by such decaite Lothus by proofe it proou'd Perforce I needes must say That beauty vnto ruinous end Is as a pleasant way FINIS T.P. T. P. his Farewell vnto his faythfull and approoued freend F. S. FArewell my fréend whom fortune forste to fly I greeuâ— to here the lucklesse hap thou hast But what preuayles if so it helpe might I I would be prest therof be bold thou maste Yet sith time past may not be calde agayne Content thy selfe let reason thee perswade And hope for ease to counteruayle thy payne Thou art not first that hath a trespasse made Mourne not to much but rather ioy because God hath cut of thy will ere greater crime Wherby thou might the more incur the lawes And beare worse Brutes seduc'd by wicked prime Take héede my woordes let teach thée to be wise And learne thee shun that leades thy minde to ill Least béeing warnd when as experience tries Thou waylst to late the woes of wicked will. FINIS T. P. The History of Pyramus and Thisbie truely translated IN Babilon a stately seate of high and mighty Kinges Whose famous voice of ancient rule through all the world yet ringes Two great estates did whilom dwell and places ioyned so As but one wall eche princely place deuided other fro These Nobles two two children had for whom Dame Nature sought The déepest of her secret skill or shée their byrth had wrought For as their yeares in one agréed and beauty equall shone In bounty and lyke vertues all so were they there all one And as it pleased Nature then the one a sonne to frame So did the glad olde Father like him Pyramus to name Th' other a maide the mother would that shée then Thisbie hight With no smal blisse of parents al who came to ioy the sight I ouerslip what sodaine frights how often feare there was And what the care each creature had ere they did ouerpas What paynes ensue what the stormes in pearced harts that dwel And therfore know what babe mother whose chast subtil braÌ„d No earthly hart ne when they lust no God hath yet withstand Ere seuen yeres these infants harts they haue with loue opprest Though litle know their tender age what causeth their vnrest Yet they poore fooles vntaught to loue or how to lesse their payne With well contented mindes receiue and prime of loue sustayne No pastime can they elswhere finde but twayn themselues alone For other playfeares sport God wot with them is reckend none Ioy were to here their prety wordes and swéet mamtam to sée And how all day they passe the time till darknes dimmes the skye But then the heauy cheare they make when forst is their farwell Declares such gréefe as none would thinke in so yong brests could dwell Ye looke how long that any let doth kepe them two a sunder Their mourning harts no ioy may glad that heuens the passeth vnder And when agayn they efte repayre and ioyfull méeting make Yet know they not the cause therof ne why their sorowes slake With sight they feede their fancies then and more it still deâ—â—re Ye more they haue nor want they finde of sight they so require And thus in tender impe spronge vp this loue vpstarteth still For more their yeres much more the flame that doth their fancies fill And where before their infants age gaue no suspect at all Now needefull is with weary eye to watchfull minde they call Their whole estate it to guide in such wise orderly As of their secret swéete desires ill tongues no light espy And so they did but hard God wot are flames of fire to hide Much more to cause a louers hart within it bounds to finde For neither colde their mindes consent so quench of loue the rage Nor they at yeres the least twise seuen their passions so aswage But that to Thisbes Mothers eares some spark therof were blowen Let Mothers iudg her pacience now til shée the whole haue knoweÌ„ And so by wily wayes shée wrought to her no litle care That forth shée found their whole deuise and how they were in snare Great is her gréefe though smal the cause if other cause ne were For why a meeter match then they might hap no other where But now tween Fathers though the cause mine Auctor nothing els Such inward rancor risen is and so it daily swels As hope of fréendship to be had is none alas the while Ne any loueday to be made their mallice to begyle Wherfore straight charge straight giuen is with fathers frowning chere That message worde ne token els what euer that it were Should froÌ„ their foe to Thisbee passe Pyramus fréends likewise No lesse expresse commaundement doo for their sonne deuise And yet not thus content alas eche Father doth ordayne A secret watch and bounde a point wherin they shall remayne Sight is forbid restrained are wordes for scalde is all deuise That should their poore afflicted mindes reioyce in any wise Though pyning loue gaue cause before of many carefull yll Yet dayly sithe amended all at least well pleased them still But now what depth of deepe distresse may they indrowned bee That now in dayes twise twenty tolde eche other once shall see Curst is their face so cry they ofte and happy death they call Come death come wished death at once and rid vs life and all And where before Dame Kinde her selfe did wonder to beholde Her highe bequests within their shape Dame Beauty did vnfold Now doth shee maruel much and say how faded is that red And how is spent that white so pure it wont to ouerspred For now late lusty Piramus more fresh then flower in May As one forlorne with constant minde doth seeke his ending day Since Thisbe mine is lost sayth hee I haue no more to lose Wherfore make speed thou happy hand these eyes of mine shall close Abasid is his princely port cast of his regall weede Forsaken are assemblies all and lothed the foming steed No ioy may pearce his pensiue mynde vnlesse a wofull brest May ioyed bee with swarmes of care in haples hart that rest And thus poore Piramus distrest of humaine succor all Deuoyd to Venus Temple goes and prostrate downe doth fal And there of her with hart I korue and sore tormented mindes Thus askes hee ayd and of his woes the Fardell thus vnbindes O Great Goddesse of whose immortal fire Uertue in Erbe might neuer quench the flame Ne mortall sence yet to such skill aspire As for loues hurt a medecine once to name With what deare price my carefull pyned ghost Hath tried
print to shew A sure beléefe did straight inuade his ouerlyuing minde Tâ—at there the fatall ende alas of Thisbie was assinde And that her dainty flesh of beastes a pray vnmeet was made Wherwith distrest with woodlike rage the words he out abrade The lamentacion of Piramus for elâ—e loffe of his Loue Thisbie THis is the day wherin my irksome life And I of lyuely breath the last shall spend Nor death I dread for fled is feare care strife Daunger and all wheron they did depend Thisbie is dead and Pirame at his ende For neuer shall reporte hereafter say That Pyrame lyu'de his Lady tane away O soueraigne God what straung outragious woe Presents alas this corsiue to my hart Ah sauage beaste how durst thy spight vndoe Or séeke woes mée so perfect loue to part O Thisbie mine that was and only art My liues defence and I the cause alone Of thy decay and mine eternall mone Come Lyon thou whose rage here only shew Aduaunce with spéede and doo mée eke deuoure For ruthlesse fact so shalt thou pitty shew And mée too heere within thy brest restore Where wée shall rest togeather euermore Ah since thy corps thou graues within thy wombe Denye mée not swéet beast the selfesame tombe Alas my ioy thou parted art from mée By far more cruell meane then woonted fine Or common law of nature doth decrée And that encreaseth for woe this gréefe of mine Of that beautie only which was deuine And soueraigne most of all that liued here No litle signe may found be any where If the dead corps alas did yet remayne O great cruelty O rage of fortune spight More gréeuous far then any tongue may fayne To reue her life and in my more despight Mée to defraude of that my last delight Her once t' mbrace or yet her visage pale To kisse full oftâ— and as I should bewayle But since from mée thou hast the meane outchast Of this poore ioy thy might I héere defie For maugre thee and all the power thou hast In Plutoes raigne togeather will wée bée And you my loue since you are dead for mée Good reason is that I for you agayne Receiue no lesse but euen the selfsame payne Ah Mulberie thou witnes of our woe Right vnder thée assigned was the place Of all our ioy but thou our common foo Consented hast vnto her death alas Of beauty all that had alone the grace And therfore as the chéefe of others all Let men the Tree of deadly woe thée call Graunt our great God for honor of thy name A guerdoâ—â—f the woe wée shall here haue For I nill 〈◊〉 shée dead that rulde thesame Pronounce O Pluto from thy hollow Caue Where stayes thy raigne and let this trée receiue Such sentence iust as may a witnesse bée Of dollour most to all that shall it see ANd with those wordes his naked blade hée fiersly froÌ„ his side Out drew through his brest it forst with mortal wouÌ„d to glide The streames of gory blood out glush but hée with manly hart Careles of death and euery payne that death could them imparte His Thisbies kerchéefe hard hée straines kist with stedfast chere And harder strainde and ofter kist as death him drew more nere The Mulberies whose hue before had euer white lo béene To blackish collour straight transformed black ay since are séen And Thisbie then who all that while had kept the hollow trée Least hap her Louers long aboad may séeme him mockt to bée Shakes of all feare and passeth foorth in hope her loue to tell What terror great shée late was in and wonderous case her fel But wheÌ„ she doth approche that treâ— whos◠〈…〉 were Abasht she stands musing much how 〈…〉 should appere Her Pyramus with sights prosound and 〈…〉 that plained Shee hard and him a kerchefe saw how hee bit 〈◊〉 and strained Shee neuer drew but wheÌ„ the sword and gaping wound she saw The anguish great shee had therof her caus'd to ouerthrow In deadly swoone and to her selfe shee beeing come agayne With pittious playnts and deadly dole her loue shee did coÌ„playne That doone shee did her body leane and on him softly lay She kist his face whose collour fresh is spent and falne away Then to the sword these woords she sayth thou sword of bitter gall â–ª Thou hast bereaued mee my Loue my comfort ioy and all With that deare blood woes me of his thy cursed blade doth shine Wherfore thinke not thou canst be free to shed the same of mine In life no meane though wee it sought vs to assemble could Death shall who hath already his mine shall straight vnfolde And you O Gods this last request for ruthe yet graunt it mee That as one death wee should receiue one Tombe our graue may bee With that agayn she oft him kist then shee speaketh thus O Louer mine beholde thy loue alas my Pyramus Yet ere I dye beholde mee once that comfort not denye To her with thee that liu'd and lou'd and eke with thee will dye The Gentilman with this and as the lastest throwes of death Did pearce full fast at that same stroke to end both life and breath The voice hee knows euen ther with castes vp his heauy eyes And sees his loue hee striues to speake but death at hand denyes Yet loue whose might not theÌ„ was queÌ„cht in spite of death gaue streÌ„gth And causde froÌ„ bottoÌ„ of his hart these words to pas at leÌ„gth Alas my loue and liue ye yet did not your life define By Lyones rage the foe therof and caus'd that this of mine Is spent and past or as I thinke it is your soule so deare That seekes to ioy and honor both my last aduenture heare Euen with that woord a profound sighe from bottom of his hart Out cast his corps and spirit of life in sunder did depart Then Thisbie efte with shrike so shrill as dynned in the skye Swaps down in swoone shee eft reuiues hents the sword hereby Wherwith beneath her pap alas into her brest shée strake Saying thus will I die for him that thus dyed for my sake The purple Skaâ—let streames downe ran shee her close doth lay Unto her loue him kissing still as life did pyne away Lo thus they lou'd and died and dead one tombe theÌ„ graued there And Mulberies in signe of woe from white to blacke turnde were FINIS ⧠The lamentacion of a Gentilwoman vpon the death of her late deceased frend William Gruffith Gent. A doutfull dying dolefull Dame Not fearing death nor forcing life Nor caring ought for flitting fame Emongst such sturdy stormes of strife Here doth shee mourne and write her will Vpon her liked Louers ende Graunt Muses nyne your sacred skill Helpe to assist your mournfull freend Embouldned with your Nimphish ayde Shee will not cease but seeke to singe And eke employ her willing head Her Gruffithes prayse with ruthe to ringe WIth Poets pen I doo not preace to
A gorgious Gallery of gallant Inuentions Garnished and decked with diuers dayntie deuises right delicate and delightfull to recreate eche modest minde withall First framed and fashioned in sundrie formes by diuers worthy workemen of late dayes and now ioyned together and builded vp By T. P. ¶ Imprinted at London for Richard Iones 1578. A. M. Vnto all yong Gentilmen in commendacion of this Gallery and workemen therof SEE Gallaunts see this Gallery of delightes With buyldings braue imbost of variant hue With daynties deckt deuisde by worthy wights Which as time serude vnto perfection grew By studies toyle with phrases fine they fraught This peereles peece filde full of pretty pith And trimde it with what skill and learning taught In hope to please your longing mindes therwith Which workemanship by worthy workemen wrought Perusde least in obliuion it should ly A willing minde eche part togeather fought And termde the whole A gorgious Gallerye Wherin you may to recreate the minde Such fyne Inuentions finde for your delight That for desart their dooings will you binde To yeelde them prayse so well a worke to wright FINIS A. M. Owen Roydon to the curious company of Sycophantes THe busie Bees whose paynes doo neuer misse But toyle their time the winters want to wielde And heape in hiues the thing that needfull is To feede their flocke till winter bee exilde Somtimes the Drones the Hony combes doo eate And so the Bees must starue for want of meate The drowsie Drones doo neuer take such toyle But lye at lurch like men of Momus minde Who rudely read and rashly put to foyle What worthy workes so euer they doo finde Which workes would please the learned sorte full well But Sicophantes will neuer cease to swell Though learnedly themselues be voyde to write And haue not knowen the height of Hellicon Yet carpingly they needes must spit their spite Or els their former force they iudge is gon Who only liue the seelly Bees t'annoy And eate the meate wheron the Bees should ioy Depart from hence that cursed kinde of crew And let this Booke embrace his earned meede Which was set forth for others not for you What likes them best that only for to reade And let the rest without rebuke to passe And helpe t' amend the thing that blamelesse was APPELLES might suffise to warne you wel who while hee was a paynting in his Shop Came in a Sowter who began to swell And viewd his Image all from toe to top And scofte at this and did mislike at that Of many a fault the Champion gan to chat At length Appelles angry with his man Dislyked much and gaue him answere so Talke thou of that wherin some skill thou can Vnto the slipper Sowter only go The saucye Sowter was abasshed much And afterward his talke was nothing such So Momus thou no further then thy marke And talke no more then skill doth giue thee leaue But in thy hart there is a burning sparke And whiles thou liues that sickenesse will thee greaue â–ª But doo thy worst and doo no more but right The learned route wil laughe at thy despight FINIS O. R. THE GALLERY of gallant Inuentions To a Gentilwoman that sayd All men be false they thinke not what they say SOme women fayne that Paris was The falsest louer that could bée Who for his life did nothing passe As all the world might playnly sée But ventred life and limmes and all To kéepe his fréend from Greekish thrall With many a broyle hee dearely bought His Hellen whom hée long had sought For first Dame Venus graunted him A gallant gifte of Beauties fléece Which boldely for to séeke to win By surging Seas hee sayld to Greece And when hée was arriued theare By earnest sute to win his Deare No greater paynes might man endure Then Paris did for Hellen sure Besides all this when they were well Both hée and shee arryâ—'d at Troy Kinge Menelaus wrath did swell And swore by sword to rid their ioyes And so hee did for ten yeres space Hee lay before the Troyans face With all the hoste that hee could make To bee reueng'd for Hellens sake Loe thus much did poore Paris bide Who is accounted most vatrue All men bee false it hath bin sayd They thinke not what they speake say you Yes Paris spoke and sped with spéede As all the heauenly Gods decréed And proou'd himselfe a Louer iust Till stately Troy was turnd to dust I doo not reade of any man That so much was vnfaythfull found You did vs wrong t' accuse vs than And say our fréendship is not sound If any fault bée found at all To womens lot it néedes must fall If Hellen had not bin so light Sir Paris had not died in fight The falsest men I can excuse That euer you in stories reade Therfore all men for to accuse Mée thinkes it was not well decréede It is a signe you haue not tride What stedfastnesse in men doth bide But when your time shal try them true This iudgment then you must renue I know not euery mans deuise But commonly they stedfast are Though you doo make them of no price They breake their vowes but very rare They will performe theyr promis well And specially where loue doth dwell Where fréendship doth not iustly frame Then men forsooth must beare the blame FINIS O. R. ⧠The lamentable louer abiding in the bitter bale of direfull doubts towards his Ladyes loyalty writeth vnto her as followeth HEalth I thée send if hée may giue that which himself doth misse For thy swéet brest doth harbor whole my bloody bale or blisse I néede no scribe to scry my care in restlesse rigor spread They that behold my chaunged cheare already iudge mée dead My baned limmes haue yéelded vp their woonted ioy to dye My healthles hand doth nought but wring dry my dropping eye The deadly day in dole I passe a thousand times I craue The noysome night agayne I wish the dolefull day to haue Eche howre to mée most hatefull is eche place doth vrge my wo No foode mée féedes close vp mine eyes to gastly graue I go No Phisickes art can giue the salue to heale my paynfull part Saue only thou the salue and sore of this my captiue hart Thou art the branch that swéetly springs whose hart is sound true Can only cheare mée wofull wight or force my want to rue Then giue to mée the sap I thirste which gift may giue mée ioy I mean thy firme faythful loue whose want bréeds mine annoy Remember yet sure fréendship had ypast betwéene vs twayne Forget him not for loue of thee who sighes in secret payne I oft doo seeme in company a gladsome face to beare But God thou knowst my inward woes cares that rent mée there And that I may gush out my gréefe in secret place alone I bid my freends farewell in haste I say I must be gone Then haste I fast with heauy hart in this my
I not to learne And I did thinke you such that litle knew of guile But seemings now be plaste for deedes and please fulwel the while Why doo I wâ—nder thus to thinke this same so strange Who hath assayed and knoweth not that wemen choose to change Haue you thus sone forgot the doutes and dreades you made Of yongmens loue how litle holde how sone away they fade How hardly you beleeued â–ª how often would you say My wordes were spoken of the splene and I as oft denay How oft did you protest with handes vpstretcht to skyes How oft with othes vnto the Gods how oft with weeping eyes Did you beseech them all to rid your spending dayes When that you thought to leaue your fréend to dy without delayes Mée thought in heauen I saw how Ioue did laughe to skornâ— To sée you sweare so solemly and ment to be forsworne But as the Sirens singe when treason they procure So smyling baytes the harmles soules vnto their bane alure Thy fawning flattering wordes which now full falce I finde Perswades mee to content my selfe and turne from Cressids kinde And all the sorte of those that vse such craft I wish A speedy end or lothsome life to liue with Lasars dish Yet pardon I do pray and if my wordes offend A crased ship amid the streame the Marriner must mende And I thus to it and turnd whose life to shipwracke goes Complaynes of wrongs thou hast mee don and all my greefe forth showes And could your hart consent and could you gree therto Thus to betray your faythful freend and promis to vndo If nought your wordes could binde to holde your suer behest Nor ought my loue ne othes you sware could bide within your brest Yet for the worldly shame that by this facte might rise Or for the losse of your good name for dealing in this wise Or thus to see mee greeu'd tormented still in payne Thy gentil hart should haue bin pleasde such murder to refrayne But through thy cruell deede if that vntamed death With speedy dart shall rid my life or leaue my lyuing breath The gods then can and will requite thy bloddy acte And them I pray with lowly sute for to reuenge thy facte God graunt the earth may bring nought forth to thy auayle â–ª Nor any thing thou takest in hand to purpose may preuayle Thy most desired freend I wish may bee most coy Wherin thou doost thée most delite and takest the greatest ioy That same I would might turne vnto thy most mischeefe That in thy life thy hart may feele the smart of others greefe But sith no good can come of thy mishap to mee I graunt some blame I doo deserue that thus desire to see Thy blisfull life so changde from weaâ—e to wretched state When freendes do breake the bonde of loue then is their greatest hate Thy deedes do sure deserue much more reuenging spight Then hart can thinke or tongue can tel or this my pen can wright Thy bewty bright is sutch that well it would inuade A hart more hard then Tigar wilde and more it can perswade Then Tullyes cunning tongue or Ouids louing tale Well may I curse and ban them both that so haue brewed my bale I feare to praise to far least haply I begin To kindle fier that well is quencht and burne mée all within For well I may compare and boldly dare it say Thou art the Quéene of women kinde and all they ought obay And all for shame doo blush when thou doost come in place They curse ech thing that gaue thée life and more disdain thy face Then any liuyng wight doth hate the Serpent foule Or birdes that singe and flies by day abhors the shrikyng Owle Oh that a constant minde had guided forth thy dayes I had not then assayd myshap nor pen spoke thy disprayse Decréed sith that thou art for euer to forsake mée In sorrows swéete I wil mée shrine till death shall list to take mée Bewayle O woful eyes with fluds of flowing teares This great mischaunce thy lothsome life that all ill hap vp beares Since parted is your ioy resigne likewise your sight I neuer will agree to like or looke on other wight Nor neuer shall my mouth consent to pleasant sound But pale and leane with hollow lookes till death I will bée found And you vnhappy handes with lyking foode that fed mée Leaue of to labor more for mée since sorrow thus hath sped mée Lament vnlustie legges bée lame for euer more Sith shée is gone for whom you kept your willing pace in store O hatefull heauy hart bewayle thy great vnrest Consume thy selfe or part in twaine within my blouddy brest And yée my sences all whose helpe was aye at hand To length the life that lingreth now and lothsomely doth stand Yée sonne ye moone and starres that gyues the gladsome light Forbeare to show your force a while let all bée irkesome night Let neuer soyle bringe forth agayn the lusty gréene Nor trées that new dispoyled are with leafe be euer séene Let neither birde nor beast posses their wonted minde Let all the thinges that liues on earth be turned from their kinde Let all the furies forth that pine in Hell with payne Let all their torments come abroad with lyuing wightes to rayne Let peace be turnd to war let all consume with fier Sith I must dâ—e that once did ioy and lose that I desier I hate my life and breath I hate delighting food I hate my greefe I hate my death I hate that doth mee good I hate the gentill hart that rueth on my payne I hate the cruell stubborn sorte that doth my life disdayne I hate al sortes of men that haue their life in price And those I hate that folow death esteeming them vnwise I hate thâ—se carefull thoughtes that thinke on my sweet â—o I hate my selfe then twice as much if I forget her so I hate what would you more I wot not what I hate I wish her dead and layed in graue I wish her better state Come wilde and sauadge beastes stretch forth your cruell pawes Dismember mee consume my flesh imbrew your greedy iawes Within your entrayles see a coffin ye prepare To tombe this carefull corpes that now vnwillingly I bare Come lingringe slothful death that doost the wretch deny To show thy force and ridst the riche that list not for to dye Is this the recompence is this the due reward Doth loue thus pay his seruants hier and doth hee thus regard And doth hee vse to set the harmles soules on fier With faire sweet intisinge lookes to kindle their desier Fye false loue that hast so decte with bewty bright A Lady faire with such vntroth to worke such cruell spight And ye that did pursue blinde loue with speedy pace â—esâ—rame your steps example take of this my wofull case Let this alone suffise that in few wordes I say Who can beware by others harmes thrice blest and happy they Beleeue
likewise in minde And doo not mée forsake Though I doo tarry longe But take mée for your make I will not chaunge my songe Though absence now a while Do part vs thus in twayne Thinke neither craft nor gyle For I will come agayne The same man that I went. Both in my woorde and déede Though some men doo relent And grudge that I should spéed But if you doo remayne And do not fro mée starte My hart you doo attayne Till death vs two depart And thus farewell adew And play an honest parte And chaunge mée for no new Séeing that you haue my hart FINIS A propper Dittie To the tune of lusty Gallant THe glyttering showes of Floras dames Delightes not so my carefull minde Ne gathering of the fragrant flames That ofte in Floras Nimphes I finde Ne all the noates of Birdes so shryl Mellodiously in woods that singe Whose solemne Quâ—res the skyes doth fill With noate on noate that heauenly ringe The â—riâ—king Fish in streames that springe And sporte them on the riuers side The Hound the Hauke and euery thinge Wherin my ioyes did once abide Doth nothinge els but bréede my wo Sith that I want which I desier And death is eke become my fo Denying that I most requier But if that Fortunes fréendly grace Would graunt mine eyes to take the vew Of her whose porte and amorous face My senses all doth so subdew That raunging too and fro to gayne The pray that most delighteth mee At last I finde that bréedes me payne Shee flyes so fast it will not bee Then in my selfe with lingering thoughts A sodayne strife begins to gro I then doo wish such Birdes at noughts That from their louers flyeth so At last I see the Fowlars gin Prepared for this Birde and mée Then wisht I lo his hed therin So that my birde and I were frée FINIS ¶ The Louer perswadeth his beloued to beware the deceites and allurements of strange suters BE stedfast to thine owne As hée is vnto thée Regard not men vn knowen But loue thine owne truly For oft deceyts are sowen By them that vnknowen bée Wherfore cast of the rest And thine own loue thou best For though that their false suite Séeme pleasant in thine eare Thou knowst oft times ill fruit A pleasant trée doth beare If thou chaunce to repute A rotten Apple cleare Better to loue thine owne And forsake men vnknowne Thou doost well vnderstand These wordes not spoken seilde More suer a birde in hand Then twenty in the feild Thou knowest thine owne sure band And how that it hath helde Then chaunge it for no new But loue him that is trew If suters doo thee moue Or dayly to thée write Yet graunt to them no loue Their paynes for too requite But thinke it doth behooue Thée alwayes to doo right TheÌ„ must thou loue thine own And forsake men vnknowne This counsayle I thée giue As farforth as I can As I that whiles I liue Wilbée thine onely man. For sure it would mee gréene To see thée out of frame Or chaunge at any time Thine owne not to bee thine Thus written by thine owne To thee with all his harte Disiringe the vnknowen Of thee may haue no part For if sutch chaunge bee sowen No doubt thou killest my hart Wherfore I say beware Alwayes the vnknown snare FINIS ¶ The Lady beloued exclaymeth of the great vntruth of her louer WOuld god I had neuer séen the teares of thy false eyne Or els my eares ful deaf had bin That herd those words of thine Then should I not haue knowne Nor chosen to my part So many euils in one To kill my poore true hart As now in thée I finde Who bidst mee from thée go As false and full vnkinde Alas why doost thou so Was neuer man so false of othe To none as thou to mee Was neuer womaÌ„ of more troth Then I haue ben to thee And thou to leaue mee so And canst no iust cause tell But wilt thou spill with wo The hart that loues thee wel Mee thinkes that for my part I may speake in the same I say me thinkes thou art Euen very mâ—tch to blame Pardy it is but litle praise To thee that art a man To finde so many crafty wayes To fraude a poore woman At whom all women smile To see so fonde on thee And men although they wayle To see how thou vsest mee To lure mee to thy fist To ease thy feigned payne And euer when thou list To cast mee of agayne The wretched hound that spendes his dayes And serueth after kinde The Horse that tredeth y beaten ways As nature doth him binde In age yet findes releefe Of them that did him wo Who in their great mischeefe Disdayne not them to know Thus they for wo and smart Had ease vnto their paine But I for my true â—art Get nought but greefe agayne The weary and long night doth make mee dreame of thee And still me thinks with sight I see thee here with mee And then with open armes I strayne my pillow softe And as I close mine armes mee thinkes I kisse thee ofte But when at last I wake And finde mée mockte with dremes Alas with moone I make My teares run down like streames All they that here this same Wyll spit at thy false deede And bid fie on thy cursed name And on thy false seede That shewest so to the eye And bearest so false an hew And makest all women cry Lo how ye men be vntrew But yet to excuse thée now To them that would thee spot I le say it was not thou It was mine owne poore lot FINIS ¶ The Louer declareth his paynfull plight for his beloued sake SInce néedes ye will mee singe giue eare vnto the voyce Of mée pore man your bond seruant that knoweth not to reioyce Consider wel my care my paine and my vnrest Which thou with force of Cupids Dart hast grafted in my brest Heale and withdraw from mee the venim of that Darte Haue pitty and release this wo that doth consume my hart The greatnes of my greefe doth bid mee seeke release I seeke to finde to ease my payne yet doth my care encrease I cease not to beholde that doth augment my payne I sée my selfe I seeke my wo yet can I not refrayne That should my wo release doth most encrease the same The colde that should acquench the heat doth most enrage the flame My pleasure is my payne my game is most my greefe My cheefe delite doth worke my wo my hart is my releefe Sutch haps doth hap to them that happeth so to loue And hap most harde so fast to binde that nothing can remooue For when the harme is fixed and rooted in the hart No tongue can tell nor pen may write how greuous is the smart I haue thought loue but play vntill I felte the sore But now I felte a thousand greefes I neuer felt before To tell what paynes I bide if that I
could deuise I tel the truth beleeue mee wel the day will not suffise Graunt now therfore some rest since thus thou hast mee bound To be thine owne til body mine lye buried vnder ground FINIS ¶ The Louer hauing his beloued in suspition declareth his doutfull minde DEeme as ye list vpon good cause Yee may and thinke of this or that But what or why my selfe best knowes Wherby I thinke and feare not Wherunto I may wel like The doubtful sentence of this clause I would ye were not as I thinke I would I thought it were not so If that I thought it were not so Though it were so it greeued mee not Unto my hart it were as thâ— I harkened and I heare not At that I sée I cannot winke Nor for my hart to let it go I would it were not as I thinke I would I thought it were not so Lo how my thought might make mée frée Of that perchance it néedeth not For though no doubt in déede I sée I shrinke at that I beare not Yet in my hart this worde shall sinke Untill the proofe may better bée I would it were not as I thinke I would I thought it were not FINIS ¶ An exellent Sonet Wherin the Louer exclaymeth agaynst Detraction beeing the principall cause of all his care To the tune when Cupid scaled first the Fort. PAsse forth in doulfull dumpes my verse Thy Masters heauy haps vnfolde His grisled gréefe â—ache hart well perce Display his woes feare not bée bould Hid hole in heapes of heauinesse His dismale dayes are almost spent For fate which forgde this ficklenesse My youthly yeares with teares hath sprent I lothe the lingring life I â—ed â–ª O wished death why stayest thy hand Sith gladsome Ioyes away bée fled And linkte I am in Dollors bande In weltring waues my ship is tost My shattering sayles away bée shorne My Anker from the Stearne is lost And Tacklings from the Maynyard storne Thus driuen with euery gale of winde My weather beaten Barke doth sayle Still hoping harbor once to finde Which may these passinge perrils quayle But out alas in vayne I hope Sith Billowes prowd assault mée still And skill doth want with Seas to cope And licour salte my Kéele doth fill Yet storme doth cease but lo at hand A ship with warlike wightes addrest Which seemes to bee some Pyrates band With Powder and with Pellets prest To sinke or spoyle my brused Barke Which dangers dread could not a daunt And now the shot the ayre doth darke And Captayne on the Deke him vaunt Then Ignorance the ouerséear proude Cryes to Suspicion spare no shot And Enuy yelleth out aloude Yeeld to Detraction this thy Boate And as it is now Sea mens trade When might to coole the foe doth lacke By vayling foretop signe I made That to their lee I mee did take Then gathering winde to mee they make And Treason first on borde doth come Then followes Fraud like wily Snake And swift amongst them takes his rome These bindâ— mee Captiue tane with band Of carkinge care and fell annoy While vnder Hatches yet I stand Therby quight to abandon ioye Then hoysting sayles they homeward hye And mee present vnto Disdayne Who mee beheld with scorning eye The more for to encrease my payne As Lady shee commaunded strayght That to Dispayre they mee conuay And bid with skilfull heed hee wayght That Truth bee bard from mee away Madam quoth I let due desart Yet finde remorse for these my woes Of pitty graunt some ease to smart Let Troth draw neare to quayle my foes But all for nought I doo complayne For why the deafe can mone no noyse No more can they which doo disdayne But will in harte therat reioyce Wherfore twixt life and death I stay Til time with daughter his drawe nye Which may these furious foes dismay Or els in ruthfull plight I dye FINIS ¶ The Louer in bondage looketh for releasement and longeth for the releefe of his wedding day WHen shall reliefe release my wo When shall desert disdayne digest When shall my hap hap to mée so That my poore hart may come too rest When shall it so when shall it so When shall longe loue bée looked vpon When shall tried truth bée homeliest When shall hope haue that hope hangeth on That my poore hart may come to rest When shall it so c. When shall I sée shée séethe right When shall I heare shee heareth mée best When shall I féele shée féeleth delight That my poore harte may come to rest When shall it so c. When stinte all stormes that thus agréeue When stinte all stayes that wrong hath wrest When stinte all strifes right to reléeue That my poore hart may come to rest When shall it so c. When right shall sée right time to boste When right shall aright vnright oppresse When right shall raigne and rule the roste Then my poore harte shall come to rest Then shall it so c. When shall I watch the time to sée Now shall I wish the time possest Now shall I thinke each day yéeres thrée That my poore harte may come to rest When shall it so c. Now farewell harte most smooth most smart Now farewell hart with hart hartiest And farewell harte tiâ—â— hart in harte By harty harte may come to rest God graunt it so c. FINIS ¶ A fine and freendly Letter of the Louer to his beloued LIke as the Hauke is led by lure to draw from trée to trée So is my hart through force of loue where euer my body bee The Hauke to pray doth double wing her flight is fled in vayne I make my flight in waste of winde my hope receyueth no gayne Haukes that be high it hurtes to light two flightes without reward My flight is two and three againe alas Mistresse regarde The Hauke brought low is soone made high by féeding on warme foode Your mouthes breath settes mée aloft there is nothing so good Good Lady then strain forth the strings whose tune may mée reuiue And with strauÌ„g tongue do not prolong my ioyes thus to depriue Within your brest my hart is hid your will and it is one Regard my smart the cure is yours and losse when I am gone Thus all your owne I recommend mee wholly to your grace As seemeth you best for to reward my plight and wofull case Which plight if you do counterpaise with ioyes as doth belonge My hart for ioy would tune accorde to singe some pleasant songe FINIS ¶ The Louers fata farewell at his death AL wealth I must forsake and pleasures eke forgo My life to ende in wo and greefe my desteny is so For where I had perfixt with sute to win my ioy I found I had right spéedy death al welth for to distroy Whose Image lo I am though lyuing I appeare Both body and soule be seperate my heauen it is not here My harte I haue bestowed wheras it is not found Thou
body theÌ„ depart thou hence why pleasurest thou the ground And Death draw thou mée neare O Death my dearest fréend Then with thy dart shoot through my hart my sorrows so to ende â–ª And when that death did hears the thing that I did craue Hée weighed mée euen as I was a man fit for the graue Come follow mée sayth hée thou man bée not agast Hée that delighteth in earthly things shal feele these panges at last All yée then that list to loue this lesson learne by mée Or yée begin noate well the ende is payne and misery FINIS ¶ The Louer complayneth of his Ladies vnconstancy to the Tune of I lothe that I did loue YYou graues of grisly ghosts Your charge froÌ„ coffins send FroÌ„ roring rout in Plutoes costs You Furies vp ascend You trampling steades of Hell Come teare a wofull wight Whose haples hap no tonge can tell Ne pen can well endight I hate this lothsome life O Atropos draw nie Untwist the thred of mortall strife Send death and let mée die For Beauties taynted trope Hath made my cares assay And ficklenes with her did cope To fordge my whole decaye My fayth alas I gaue To wight of Cressids kinde For stedfast loue I loue did craue As curtesy doth binde Shée likewise troth doth plight To bée a constant loue And proue her self euen maugre spight A faythfull turtle Doue But lo a womans minde Cloakt hole with déepe deceyt And driuen with euery gale of winde To bite at fâ—esher bayt For when bewitch shée had My minde that erst was frée And that her cumly beauty bad My wounded hart agree And fixt on Fancyes lore As world can witnesse beare No other saynct I did adore Or Idole any whear Ne will no wo or smart Could minde from purpose fet But that I had a Iasons harte The golden fléese to get Ne for my part I swere By all the Gods aboue I neuer thought on other fere Or sought for other loue In her the like consente I saw ful oft appear If eyes be iudge of that it mente Or eares haue power to heare Yet woordes bée turnd to winde A new found gest hath got The Fort which once to vndermine And win I planted shot Her fréend that ment her well Out of conceyt is quite While other beares away the bell By hitting of the white In this our wauering age So light are womens mindes As Aspen leafe that stil doth rage Though aeole calme his windes No place hath due desart No place hath constancy In eueri mood their mindes back start As dayly wée may sée What paps did giue them food That weue sutch webs of wo What beast is of so cruell mood That countes his fréend for fo Yet women doo reward With cares the louing wight They constancy no whit regard In change is their delight You gallant youths therfore In time beware by mée Take héed of womeÌ„s subtil lore Let mée example bée FINIS ¶ The Louer hauing sustayned ouermuch wrong at his Ladyes hande wisheth speedy death TO féeble is the thread That holdeth mée in lyfe That if it bee not succoured Short end shal stint the stryfe For though the spindle ronne To draw the thread on length Alas therby what hold is wonne If it be weake of strength Or how can it haue ayde Since rigor is so rife In her whose handes to cut the thread Gaue cruelly the knife Whose edge of Enuy hard In Venus forge hath wrought Wherby his deth is thus preferd Whose life offended nought But sithe thy chéefe delite My cheefe delightfull fo Is with such wrong to work the spite With spéed come end this wo. And when my death hath done My duty at her will A greater gréefe be not begonne To last therafter still For after death if strife Should still my life pursue What theÌ„ doth death but breed a life Of mone mischéefe new Wherfore if néedes thou wilte Thy spindle spin no more But that this thred with spoyle bee spilt Which led my life before Prouide then for the nonâ—e Prouide for mée the best That I may dye at once From all thy mindes vnrest And let not presente death Prefer an after paine But let the paines pas with my breath And not reuiue againe For thus by this you shall Two thinges at once fulfill I shal be frée that haue bin thrall And you shall haue your will. FINIS ¶ The Louer exhorteth his Lady to bee constant To the Tune of Attend thee go play thee NOt light of loue lady Though fancy doo prick thée Let constancy possesse thy hart Well worthy of blamyng They bee and defaming From plighted troth which backe do start Deare dame Then ficklenesse bannish And folly extinguish Bee skilfull in guiding And stay thee from slidinge And stay thee c. The constant are praysed Their fame high is raysed Their worthynesse doth pearce the skye The fickle are blamed Their light loue shamed Theyr foolishnesse doth make them dye As well Can Cressid beare witnesse Fordge of her owne distresse Whom Leprosy paynted And penury taynted And penury c. Still Muses are busie To tell vs of Thisbe Whom stedfastnesse doth much commend And Camma is placed To blame the defaced That light of loue doo sende Phedra Is checked most duly Because that vntruly Forst therto by loue light Shée slayeth Hippolite Shée slayeth c. A spring of annoyance And well of disturbance New fanglenesse in loue hath bin It killeth the Master It poysons the taster No worldly wight by it doth win Therfore Good lady bée constant So shall you not bee shent But woorthely praysed As you haue deserued As you haue c. FINIS The Louer wounded with his Ladies beauty craueth mercy To the Tune of where is the liâ—e that late I led IF pitty once may mooue thy hart To rew a wofull wight If curtesy can force thy minde To vew my doulfull plight Sith I cannot deuise To quench this raging fier With trickling teares I craue of thee Attend to my dâ—sier Whom Venus fethered boy Hath crasde with deadly dart Sent from the rayes of those thy eyes Which bread my wo and smart In vewing thee I tooke sutch ioy As wofull wight in rest Untill the blinded boy I felte Assault my captiue brest And since that time alas Such pinching payne I taste That I am now remedilesse If mercy make not haste For hid in deepe dispayre My teares are all my ioy I burne I fréese I sinke I swim My wealth is mine annoy Lyke as the tender turtle Doue Doth wayle the losse of mate In mourning wéed so spend I tyme Lamentinge mine estate The night renewes my cares When weary limmes would rest And dreadfull dreames abandon slepe Which had my gréefes represt I drench my couch with teares Which flow from gushing eyes A thousand heapes of hidden thoughtes In minde I doo deuise Full often times it dooth mée good To haunt and vew the place Where I receiued my wound alas
By vewing of thy face Full oft it ioyes my hart To kisse â–ª that clot of clay From whence thou shot those louing lookes Which bred my whole decay O blessed place I cry Though woorker of my payne Render I craue most hartely To mee my loue agayne Not wofull Monsier dom Dieg Or Priams noble sonne Constrayned by loue did euer mone As I for thée haue donne Sir Romeus annoy But trifle seemes to mine Whose hap in winning of his loue Did clue of cares vntwine My sorrowes haue no ende My hap no ioy can spie The flowing Fountayne of my teares Beginneth to waxe drie Let pitty then requyte my payne O woorker of my woe Let mercy milde possesse thy harte Which art my freendly foe Receiue the hart which heare I yeeld into her hand Which made by force a breach in Fort Which I could not withstande Thou hast in Ballance paysd My life and eke my death Thy loyalty contaynes my ioy Disdayne will stop my breath If constant loue may reape his hire And fayth may haue his due Good hope I haue your gentill hart My grislie greefe will rue And that at length I shall My hartes delight imbrace When due desart by curtesie Shall purchace mee thy grace Untill which time my deare Shall still increase my payne In pensiue thoughtes and heauinesse Because I shall remayne FINIS ¶ A Caueat to yongmen to shun the snares of Cupids crafty sleightes IF euer wight had cause to mone or wayle with bitter teares His wretched life and wofull plight that still in languish weares Then haue I cause that late haue lodgde â–ª such loue within my hart With gréefe with payne with pyning panges â–ª my body boyles in smart O earth why doost not thou my wofull plight sustayne O surging Seas with swallowing gulfe release mee of this payne For languishing loue with dolefull doomes â–ª hath layd my hart in brine O wofull wretch O wicked wight That so for loue doth pine The Sonne that shines with golden beames and dries the dewie flowers Doth cause mée wretch with blubbering eyes to gush forth extreame showers The hermony of chirping birdes that ioyes with siluer songes Eche lyuing wight doth cause my cares to fill my hart with thronges Eche gladsome ioy of mundaine glée That glads the worldly minde Doth heape vp cares on carefull corps agaynst all course of kinde And so eche thing that ought delight and rid the minde from pause Contrariwise agaynst all right a thousand cares doth cause For when that I in sugred sleepe most swéetly should take rest Then doo I wring my wofull handes and beate my dolefull brest And if I chaunce on sleepe to fall a thousand dreames I haue And doo suppose I her embrace whose want will cause my graue And then with gladsome hart I ioy thus cleane depriued of wo But oh alas when that I wake I finde it nothing so And then my sighes from sobbing harte doth reaue my brest in twayne And teares that run from blubbered eyes doth more encrease my payne And when I should sustayne my lyfe and féeble corps with foode Unsauory séemes it vnto mee eache thing should doo mee good Amidst the nipping frostes I broyle in pearching heate I freese And thus agaynst all course of kinde for loue my lâ—fe I leese Wo woorth the time that first I lodgde thy sâ—oyling loue in harte You yonge men al bée warnd by mée And shun blinde Cupids Darte FINIS ¶ The aged Louers noate at length to learne to dye WHy askest thou the cause Wherfore I am so sad Thou knowst wheÌ„ age on draws No creature can bee glad And sith shée hath mée rested And threatned mee to die Therfore I am sequestred All mirth for to denie And now with feeble age The rest of all my dayes My couÌ„tenance must be ful sage Since that my life decayes Like as the harte of Oke By time doth rot at last Like time doth age prouoke With time my hart doth brast Lo thus by course of time My youth is gone and past And now the turne is mine Of bitter death to taste And noate that I haue sayd The cause wherof and why My youthfull partes be playde And I must learne to die FINIS ¶ The desperate Louer exclaymeth his Ladyes cruelty and threatneth to kill himselfe MY ioyful dayes bée past My plasant yeres be gone My life it may not last My graue and I am one My mirth and all is fled And I a man in woo Desireth to bee dead My mischâ—â—fe to forgoe I burne and am a colde I freese in middest of fire I sée shée dooth with hold That most I doo desire I sée that shée doth sée And yet shee wil be blinde I see in healpinge mee Shée seeketh and wil not finde I sée how shée doth wrye When I begin to mone I see when I come nye How fayn shée would be gone I see shee knoweth my harte And how I doo complayne I see shâ—â— knoweth my smarte Shee seeth I doo not fayne I see my helpe at hand I see my death also I see where shee doth stand I see my cruell fo I see what would you more Shee would mee gladly kill And shee shall see therfore That shee shall haue her will. I cannot liue by stones It is to harde a food I would be dead at once to doo my Lady good Shee shall haue her request And I will haue mine ende Lo heeâ—e my blouddy brest To please her most vnkinde FINIS ¶ The Louer beeing blinded with the faythlesse loue of his Lady is contented to remit her fault vpon promis of amendment SInce that thou diddest mee loue When lust did thee prouoke And that thou doost well proue That I cannot reuoke My fréendship fast my loue nor my good will Shew some reléefe least in dispayre I spill How well I was content â—lwayes to follow thée How well I did assent Thy thrall aye for to bee Thy selfe can iudge to whom I doo appeale By sentence lo to yeeld mee wo or weale But if thou mée forsake As Cressid that forgot True Troylus her make And that thy hart is whot On him whom shame did force thée once his fayth to flie I see no hope but that hee must yéeld forth himself to die And though thou thinke that I Am loth theâ— too forgoe Yet shall I rather die Then liue and please my foe But hindre him in loue all others doth refrayne Whose treasoÌ„ once did mée purchace thy due disdain FINIS ¶ A worthy comparison of Vertue agaynst all worldly pompe WHen that I way with wit and eke consider now The tickle stay of her that Fortunes whéele doth bow And turne euen at her will such luck loe as shee list No thread so surely spâ—nne but that shee may vntwist I can but aye lament and wayle the lacke of them That in her holde doo trust weighing they are but men For if I were a Lorde and come of high degree And had all thing at
and could not flée Though ment in prayse yet far amis I take it written bée Shée is none such as if shée would that any would disdayne But for the smartes of others gréefes of pitty shee did playne As one most lothe of any lyfe for loue of her bee loste Or that with blud or cruell deedes men write her beauties boste For mercy is in M her brest and modest is her life A courtuous mayd and like to prooue a constant worthy wife FINIS ¶ The Louer deceyued by his Ladyes vnconstancy writeth vnto her as foloweth THe heat is past that did mee fret The fier is out that nature wrought The plantes of youth that I did set Are dry and dead within my thought The Frost hath slayne the kindly sap That kept the hart in liuely state The sodayne storme and thunder clap Hath turned loue to mortall hate The myst is gon that bleard mine eyes The lowring cloudes I see appeare Though that the blinde eate many flyes I would you knew my sight is cleare Your sweete deceyuing flattryng face Did make mee thinke that you were white I muse how you had such a grace To séeme a Hauke and bée a kyte Where precious ware is to be solde They shall it haue that giueth most All things wée see are woon with Golde Few things is had where is no cost And so it fareth now by mée Because I preace to giue no gyftes Shee takes my sute vnthankfully And driues mée of with many dryftes Is this th' end of all my sute For my good will to haue a skorne Is this of all my paynes the frute To haue the chafte in steade of corne Let them that lyst posses such drosse For I deserue a better gayne Yet had I rather leaue with losse Then serue and sue and all in vayne FINIS ¶ A true description of Loue. ASke what loue is it is a passion Begun with rest and pampred vp in play Planted on sight and nourished day by day With talke at large for hope to graze vpon It is a short ioy long sought and soone gon An endles maze wherin our willes doo stray A gylefull gaine repentance is the pay A great fier bred of small occasion A plague to make our fraylty to vs knowen Where wée therby are subiecte to their lay Whose fraylty ought to leaue vntill our stay In case our selues this custome had not knowen Of hope and health such creatures for to pray Whose glory resteth chéefly on denaye FINIS ¶ The Louer to his beloued by the name of fayre and false O Cruell hart with falsehood infecte of force I must complayne Whose poyson hid I may detect as cause doth mée constrayn Thy name I shryne within my brest thy déedes though I doo tell No minde of malice I protest thy selfe doth know it well If thy deserts then bids mée write I cannot well reuoke it I shall not spare to shew thy spite I will no longer cloake it As Troylus truth shall bée my shéeld to kepe my pen from blame So Cressids crafte shall kepe the féeld for to resound thy shame Vlisses wife shall mate the sore whose wishly troth doth shine Well Fayre and False I can no more thou art of Helens lyne And daughter to Diana eke with pale and deadly cheare Whose often chaunge I may well like two moonthes within the yeare FINIS ¶ The Louer describeth his paynfull plight and requireth speedy redresse or present death THe slaue of seruile sort that borne is bond by kinde Doth not remayne in hope with such vnquiet minde Ne tossed crasid Ship with yrksome surging seas So gréedely the quiet Port doth thirst to ride at ease As I thy short returne with wishing vowes require In hope that of my hatefull harmes the date will then expire But time with stealing steps and driery dayes doth driue And thou remaynst then bound to come if that thou bée aliue O cruell Tygars whelpe who had thy hand in holde When y with flattering pen thou wrotst thy help at hand behold Beleeue it to bee true I come without delay A foole and silly simple soule yet doost thou still betray Whose mooueles loue and trust doth reason far surmount Whom Cupids trumpe to fatall death hath sommond to accompt My fayth and former life fed with such frendly fier Haue not of thee by iust reward deserued such falts hyer I promisse thee not mine but thy case I bewayle What infamy may greater bee then of thy fayth to fayle How ofte with humble sute haue I besought the sonne That hee would spur his Coursers fearce their race more swifte to ronne To th' end with quicker speed might come the promised day The day which I with louing lookes and weary will did pray But thou art sure disposde to glory in my death Wherfore to feede thy fancy fond loe here I ende my breath I can not sighe nor sob away by playnt I pine I see my fatall fainting file ye Sisters doo vntwine The Feriman I finde prest at the Riuer side To take mee in his restles Boate therin with him to ride And yet although I sterue through thy dispitous fault Yet craue I not in my reuenge that harme should thee assault But rather that thy fame eternally may shine And that eche to thine auayle aboundantly encline That eche thine enterprise hath luckye lot and chaunce And stable fortune thine estate from day to day aduaunce That Sun that Moone that starres and eke the plannets all The fier the water and the earth may fréendly to thée fal That many quiet yeres thou number may with rest Uoyd of all annoyes and gréeues as may content thee best And if that foraine loue torment and vexe thy harte God yeeld thy weary wanting wish and swagement of thy smart With froward flearing face at mee if Fortune frowne Thou doost reioyce and I not so but ioy thy good renowne And if I thée offend for that I doo thée loue Forgiue it mée for force it is I can it not remoue For I in secret sort these lines to thée did I write My weakned wearied hand hensforth shall sease for to endyte That letters to receiue from mée thou néede not muse The messenger that next of all of mée shal bring the newes Dissolued from the corps shal be my dolefull spright That first vnsheaâ—hd shal passe to thée when hée hath vewd thy sight Contented hee shall go vnto the heauens aboue In case that ioyed rested place may gayne it any loue And now for that my death thy name may spot and stayne If that the flying fame therof to others eares attayne I will not it were red or knowen by other wayes That thou art only cause I thus in ruthe doo ende my dayes Wherfore this Letter red condemne it to the flame And if thou doo thy honnor forse I know thou wilt thesame And if in lingring time vnwares they chaunce to come Wherin the entrayles of the earth shall hap to bee my tombe
At least yet graunt mee this it is a small request O happy wythered pyned corps God send thy soule good rest FINIS ¶ The Lady beloued assureth her Louer to bee his owne and not to change while life doth last DEare hart as earst I was so will I stil remayne Till I am dead and more if more may bee Howsoeuer loue do yeeld mee ioy or payne Or Fortune lyst to smyle or frowne on mee No chaunging chaunce my fast fayth may constrayne No more then Waues or beating of the Sea May stir the stedfast rocke that will not ply For fayre nor fowle one inche no more will I. A file or knife of lead shall sooner carue The Diamant vnto what forme you will Ere Fortunes dynte compell mee for to swarue Or the ire of Loue to breake my constant will Yée sooner shall the law of nature starue When Ryuers take their course agaynst the hill Ere sodayne hap for better or for worse Disturâ—e my thoughts to take a better course With hartes consent my loue you doo possesse A surer holde may chaunce then many wéene The fayth by othe that subiectes doo confesse To their new prince is seldome stronger séene No fyrmer state than that which loue doth sure expresse Of Kinge ne Keyser hitherto hath béen So that you néede not fortifie your hould With Towre or Ditch least others win it should For though you set no Souldiers for defence For all assaults this one may yet suffise It is not goods can alter my pretence No gentle hart yéeldes to so vile a prise Though crowne and septier few would dispise Not beauty méete to moue a wauering minde Yet more then yours I wot not where to finde And feare you not what forme my hart once tooke Least any new print shall the same deface So deepe therin ingraued is your looke As neuer may bée wyped from that place My hart like Waxe so lightly did not brooke More then one stroke ere Cupid brought to passe One splint of skale therof to take away The best reserued your Image to pourtray That like as what stone it selfe best desendeth And hardiest is with toole to bee graue Doth sooner breake in péeces then it bendeth To looze the stampe afore my hand it gaue Euen so the nature of my hart contendeth As hard is this as any stone you haue Though forse do breake it vnto péeces small Those péeces somewhat you resemble shall FINIS ¶ In the prayse of the rare beauty and manifolde vertues of Mistres D. as followeth IF Chawcer yet did lyue whose English tongue did passe Who sucked dry Pernassus spring and raste the Iuice there was If Surrey had not scalde the height of Ioue his Throne Unto whose head a pillow softe became Mount Helycon They with their Muses could not haue pronounst the fame Of D. faire Dame lo a staming stock the chéefe of natures frame They would but haue eclipsed her beauties golden blast Nor Ouid yet of Poets Prince whose wits all others past Olde Nestor with his tongue and flowing dew so sweete Would rather haue berefte her right then pend her praises méete In Helens heauenly face whose grace the Greekes bought deare For whose defence prowd Troy did fal such forme did not appeare In Hectors sister loe who Pirhus Father rapte Did not abound sutch beauty bright as now to D hath hapt For D doth passe as far Dame Venus with her prise As Venus did the other two by doome of Paris wise If shée had present béen within the walles of Ide They would not had such discord then nor Paris iudgd that side In minde all voyd of doubt they straight agréed would That D should of good right the Aple haue of Golde Whom as I must beleeue that nature did create To rob the hartes of noble Kings and courage stoute to mate Her forhead seemely spaste wherin doo shine her eyes No whit vnlike to starres by night or beame when Phebus ryse Her haire that shines like golde her shoulders couer whight To which no snow on Mountayne highe may be compared right Her mouth well compast small in smylings vtters forth A treasure riche of Orient Pearle therto no Golde more worth I feare much Promethius fall dare no further wade Whom loue embraced with the shape that hee so finely made Yet this I dare presume one thought of her may draw A harte of Iron and it subdue vnto blinde Cupids law I sorrow to recite the bitter teares that flow Within the eyes of other Dames that beauty know I weepe to wayle in minde the burning slights that flame In troubled hartes of Natures case in spreading of her fame They all doo curse themselues of Nature makes complaynt That shee on them had smal regard that did her thus depaynt Of her doth nobles spring and sutors sue for grace And Fountaines eke of sugred speech where voice can take no place Here Pallas should haue lost her prayse for wisdome great Who gendred was of Ioue his braines wher wisdom toke his seat Here wise Vlisses wyfe whose chastnesse brued her fame Should matched bee ye mated eke in ventring of thesame Prowde Tarquin with his force which Lucresse did defile Could not haue spoyled faire D. so with neither sound nor gyle This Dame I thinke bee such that heauen can vndermine And lifte the earth vnto the skyes eche stone a star to shine If passed time alas might now returne agayne And all the wittes that euer was would herein take the payne They could not at the ful no due giftes expresse A wight vnfit to bée in earth in heauen no such goddesse Whose name shall floorish still though Atropos with spight In running from her deuelish Den bereaue vs of this light Though Thesiphon do cut her time of life a way Her cankred Swoord cannot assayle her fame for to decay For wee in these our dayes our selues may better quight To geue to her the cheefest prayse then Paris which did right Lesse hatred cannot want though power for to reuenge Our stately house as they did Troy their force doth faile to senge Their might if it were like these verses wee should rew With no lesse payne then Ouid did whose greefe by Muses grew FINIS Prety parables and Prouerbes of Loue. I Spake when I ment not in spéeding to gayne I sought when I sped not but trauaild in vayne I found where I feard not would writh with the wind I loste where I lou'd not nor forâ—â—d to finde Nothing in which truth is not trustie But double is such and beauty but rustie I coole with the colde I leue that I like not I know not the olde that rotteth and ripes not I sauor no such that fondly doth fauor I care not to much for such sory sauor I taste or I try in parte or in all I care not a flye the losse is but small I labor at leasure I pricke without payne In vsing for pleasure beates in my brayne I spare not in byrding to
his recourse to God To loue his lawes to feare his rod Unfaynedly To doo that in his worde wee finde To helpe the poore the sicke the blinde Accordingly But though gaynsayd this can not bée Deeme men by deedes and yee shall see That these low valleies they can not bide But vp will clyme though downe they slyde Agayne The poore the riche mans place doth craue The riche would fayne hyer places haue Ambiciously The Squyre the Knight a Lorde would bee The Lorde the Erle would hyer then hee Full dangerously When these attayne to their desire Then meaner men are set on fire To haue the roomes which they in were So that ye see all times some there In hart When one is gon another is come The third catching the secondes roome Full speedely Thus clyming one to others tayle The bowes either breake or footing fayle Full totteringly For when the top they haue attaynd And got is all they would haue gaynd Then downe they come wit sodayne fall In doubtfull case of life and all And thus Ambition reapeth worthy hyre Because hée would such sporte aspyre Unequally And there his bragge is layd full low That thought on hie himself to show Deseruedly FINIS The paynfull plight of a Louer remayning in doubtfull hope of his Ladyes fauour THe bitter swéete that straynes my yéelded harte The carelesse count which doth the same imbrace The doubtfull hope to reape my due dezart The pensiue pathe that guides my restles race Are at such war within my wounded brest As doth bereaue my ioy and eke my rest My gréedy will which seekes the golden gayne My luckles lot doth alwayes take in worth My matched minde that dreades my sutes in vayne My pittious playnt doth helpe for to set forth So that betwixt two waues of raging Seas I driue my dayes in troubles and disease· My wofull eyes doo take their chéefe delight To feede their fill vpon their pleasant maze My hidden harmes that grow in mee by sight With pyning panges doo driue mee from the gaâ—e And to my hap I reape none other hire But burne my selfe and I to blow the fire FINIS The Louer recounteth his faythfull diligence towarde his beloued with the rewardes that hee reapeth therof MY fancy féedes vpon the sugred gaule My witlesse will vnwillingly workes my woe My carefull choyse doth choose to kéepe mee thraule My franticke folly fawns vpon my foe My lust alluers my lickering lyppes to taste The bayte wherin the subtill hooke is plaste My hungry hope doth heape my heauy hap My sundry sutes procure my more disdayne My steadfast steppes yet slyde into the trap My tryed truth entangleth mée in trayne I spye the snare and will not backward go My reason yéeldes and yet sayth euer no. In pleasant plat I tread vpon the snake My flamyng thirst I quench with venomd Wine In dayntie dish I doo the poyson take My hunger biddes mée rather eate then pine I sow I set yet fruit ne flowre I finde I pricke my hand yet leaue the Rose behinde FINIS ¶ A Letter written by a yonge gentilwoman and sent to her husband vnawares by a freend of hers into Italy IMagine when these blurred lines thus scribled out of frame Shall come before thy careles eyes for thée to read the same To bee through no default of pen or els through prowd disdayne But only through surpassing greefe which did the Author payne Whose quiuring hand could haue no stay this carful bil to write Through flushing teares distilling fast whilst shee did it indite Which teares perhaps may haue some force if thou no tigre bée And mollifie thy stony hart to haue remorse on mée Ah periurde wight reclaime thy selfe and saue thy louing mate Whom thou hast left beclogged now in most vnhappy state Ay mee poore wench what luckles star what frowning god aboue What hellish hag what furious fate hath changd our former loue Are wée debard our wonted ioyes shall wée no more embrace Wilt thou my deare in country strang ensue Eneas race Italians send my louer home hée is no Germayne borne Unles ye welcome him because hée leaues mée thus forlorne As earst ye did Anchises sonne the founder of your soyle Who falsely fled from Carthage Quéene reléeuer of his toyle Oh send him to Bryttannia Coastes vnto his trusty féere That shee may vâ—w his cumly corps whom shée estemes so deere Where wee may once againe renue our late surpassed dayes Which then were spent with kisses sweet other wanton playes But all in vayne forgiue thy thrall if shee do iudge awrong Thou canst not want of dainty Trulles Italian Dames among This only now I speake by gesse but if it happen true Suppose that thou hast seene the sword that mee thy Louer slue Perchance through time so merrily with dallying damsels spent Thou standst in doubt wilte enquire froÌ„ whom these lines were sent If so remember first of all if thou hast any spowse Remember when to whom and why thou earst hast plited vowes Remember who esteemes thee best and who bewayles thy flight Minde her to whom for loyalty thou falshood doost requight Remember Heauen forget not Hell and way thyne owne estate Reuoke to minde whom thou hast left in shamefull blame hate Yea minde her well who did submit into thine onely powre Both hart and life and therwithall a ritch and wealthy dowre And last of all which greeues mee most that I was so begylde Remember most forgetfull man thy pretty tatling childe The least of these surnamed things I hope may well suffise To shew to thee the wretched Dame that did this bill deuise I speake in vayne thou hast thy will and now sayth Aesons sonne Medea may packe vp her pypes the golden Fleese is wonne If so be sure Medea I will shew forth my selfe in deede Yet gods defend though death I taste I should distroy thy seede Agayne if that I should enquire wherfore thou doost soiurne No answere fitly mayst thou make I know to serue thy turne Thou canst not say but that I haue obseru'd my loue to thée Thou canst not say but that I haue of life vnchast bin frée Thou canst not cloak through want thy flight since riches did abound Thou néedes not shame of mée thy spouse whose byrth not low is found As for my beauty thou thy self earwhile didst it commend And to conclude I knâ—w no thing wherin I dyd offend Retier with spéed I long to see thy barke in wished bay The Seas are calmer to returne then earst to fly away Beholde the gentill windes doo serue so that a frendly gayle Would soone conuay to happy Porte thy most desired sayle Return would make amends for all and bannish former wronge Oh that I had for to entice a Scyrens flattering songe But out alas I haue no shift or cunning to entreat It may suffise 〈◊〉 absence thine that I my griâ—â—fes repeate Demaund not how I did disgest at first thy sodayne flight For
fayth and troth fixed approoued vniust Sing willow willow will Are you shée which constant for euer would stand And yet will you giue mée the willow Garland Willow willow willow singe all of gréene willow Sing all of gréene willow shall bée my Garland What motion hath moude you to maske in delight Sing all of gréene willow What toy haue you taken why séeme you to spight Sing willow willow willow Your loue which was ready for aye to indure Willow willow willow willow According to promise most constant and sure Willow willow willow willow What gallant you conquerd what youth mooude your minds Sing all of gréene willow To leaue your olde Louer and bée so vnkinde Singe willow willow willow To him which you plighted both fayth troth and hand For euer yet giues mee the willow Garland Willow willow willow singe all of greene willow Sing all of greene willow shall bee my Garland Hath wealth you allured the which I doo want Sing all of greene willow Hath pleasant deuises compeld you recant Sing willow willow willow Hath feature forste you your words to deny Willow willow willow willow Or is it your fashion to cog and to lye Willow willow willow willow What are your sweet smiles quite turnd into lowres Sing all of green willow Or is it your order to change them by howres Sing willow willow willow What haue you sufficient thinke you in your hand To pay for the making of my willow Garland Willow willow willow singe all of greene willow Sing all of greene willow shall bee my Garland Farewell then most fickle vntrue and vniust Sing all of greene willow Thy deedes are yll dealings in thee is no trust Willow willow willow willow Thy vowes are vncertayne thy wordes are but winde Willow willow willow willow God graunt thy new louer more trusty thee finde Willow willow willow willow Be warned then gallants by proofe I vnfolde Sing willow willow willow Mayds loue is vncertayne soone hot and soone colde Sing willow willow willow They turne as the reed not trusty they stand Which makes mee to weare the willow Garland Willow willow willow singe all of greene willow Sing all of greene willow shall bee my Garland FINIS A gloze of fawning freendship NOw cease to sing your Syren songes I leaue ech braue delight Attempt no more the wounded corps which late felt fortunes spight But rather helpe to rue with sorowing sobs come mone My lucklesse losse from wealth to woe by fickle fortune throwne I once had freends good store for loue no drosse I tryde For hauing lost my goods on Seas my freends would not abide Yet hauing neede I went to one of all I trusted moste To get releefe hee answerd thus go packe thou peuish poste His wordes did pearce my tender brest and I as mazde did stand Requesting him with pitteous plaints to giue his helping hand Content thy selfe quoth hee to serue my owne estate I haue not I yet am I greeu'd to see thy lucklesse fate Ah fie of fawning freends whose eyes attentiue bee To watch and warde for lukers sake with cap and bended knee Would God I had not knowne their sweet and sugered speach Then had my greefe the lesser bin experience mee doth teach FINIS A Maze of Maydens WHo goes to gaze of euery gallant girle And castes his eyes at euery glauncing gloze Whose masking minde with euery motion moou'd In fine shall finde his fancy fraught with woes For pleasure spent is but a wishing vayne By crooked chaunce depriude of braue delight Cut of by care a heape of hurtfull harmes Our gaze vngaynd which whilome pleasde our sight Our baunts doo vade our pleasures passe away Our sugerest swéetes reapes sorowing sobs in fine Our braggest boast of beauties brauest blaze To forowed browes doth at the length resigne Our foolish fancy filde with filthy vice Pursues his hurt vnto anothers harmes A houering hart with euery gloze enticed gaynes lothsome-lothsome-loue whence nought but sorow swarmes Leaue then to gaze of euery glauncing gloze Contemne the sleights of beauties sugerest bate Whose outward sheath with colours braue imbost Shuns cruell craft and enuious hurtfull hate FINIS A short Epistle written in the behalfe of N.B. to M.H. DEare Lady deckt with cumlynesse To counteruayle my clemency Bee prest I pray in readynesse To yeeld your courteous curtesie Let mee you finde Penelope In minde and loyall hart So shall I your Vlisses bée Till breathing lyfe depart Yelde loue for loue to him who lykes To liue in lynckes of loyalty And graunt him grace who nothing séekes For his good will but curtesy Let mee your bondmen fauour â—nde To gratefie my willing harte Whom no attempt to please your minde Shall hynder mee to play my parte Permit mee not in lingring sorte To labour in a barrayn soyle Ne giue occasion to reporte How loytryng loue reapes troubled toyle But let mee say my hart obtaynd The gloze which pleasd my glauncing eyes And that I haue for guerdon gaynd The best that in my Lady lyes So shall I boast of that which best Doth please the prime of my desire And glory in a gayned rest Which through your fauour I aspire FINIS A vew of vayn glory WHat motion more may mooue a man to minde His owne estate then proofe whose dayes vnsure Accounted are vnto a puffe of winde A breathing blast whose force can not endure Whose lyuely showes consumes whose pompe decayes Whose glory dyes whose pleasures soone be spent Whose stoutest strength to weakenes subiect stayes Whose thoughts bee vaine and vade as though vnment What haue wée then to vaunt or glory in Sith all is vayne wherin wée take delight Why should wée boast or brag sith nought wée win In fine but death to whom yéeldes euery wight To equall state hée bringeth each degrée Hée feareth none all subiects yéeldes to death To dâ—nkish dust hée driueth all wée sée Which in the world enioyeth any breath Why vaunt wée then in that wée sée is vayne Or take delight in that wée proue but drosse Why glory wee or séeke for golden gayne Sith at the length wee reape therof but losse Wée lothe to leaue our hutches filde with golde Our annual rents it gréeues vs to forgo Our buildings braue which glads vs to beholde Our pleasant sport it gréeues vs to forgo Wée nothing brought ne ought shall carry hence Lyfe lost behinde goods mony land wée leaue And naked shall returne assured whence Before wée came when death doth life bereaue Line then to leaue thy life in euery howâ—r Learne how to lead thy minde from vayne desire Of filthy drosse whose sugerest sweet is sower When dreadfull death shall yéeld our earthly hire What is our world but vayne fraught full of vice Wherin wée liue allured by disceat Which vs in youth to error doth entice And sturs vs vp in flamed by follyes heat Our mindes are mooued with euery fond desire Wee gloze in that the which wée see vnsure Wée vsuall séeke great
this true and ouer true alas My greefeful eyes that sight hath almost lost And brest through darted with thy golden Mace. Full well declare though all that mee beholde Are iudges and wonders of my deadly wo But thou alone mayst helpe therfore vnfolde Els helples Lady streight will knap in two The feeble thread yet stayes my lingering life Wherfore if loue thy sacred Goddes brest Did euer presse or if most dreadly griefe And causeles not thy inward soule opprest When crooked Vulcane to your common shame Bewrayed of stolen ioyes thy sweet delight If then I say the feare of further blame Caus'd you refrayne your Louers wished sight And forst restraynt did equall then impart And cause you taste what payne in loue may bée When absence driues assured hartes to part Thy pitty then O Quéene now not denye To mee poore wretch who feeles no lesse a payne If humayne brests so much as heauenly may Haue ruthe on him who doth to thée complayne And onely helpe of thée doth lowly pray Graunt Goddesse mine thou mayst it vndertake At least wise Lady ere this life decay Graunt I beseeche so happy mée to make That yet by worde I may to her bewray My wonderous woes and then if yee so please Looke when you lust let death my body ease THus praying fast ful fraught with cares I leaue this wofull man And turne I will to greater gréefe then minde immagin can But who now shall them writ since wit denayeth the some to thinke Confusedly in Thisbies brest that flow aboue the brinke Not I for though of mine owne store I want no woes to write Yet lacke I termes and cunning both them aptly to recite For CuÌ„nings clyffe I neuer clombe nor dranke of Science spring Ne slept vpon the happy hill froÌ„ whence Dame Rhetorique rings And therfore all I doo omit and wholy them resigne To iudgment of such wofull Dames as in like case hath bin This will I tel how Thisbie thus opprest with dollors all Doth finde none ease but day and night her Pyramus to call For lost is slepe and banisht is all gladsome lightes delight In short of case and euery helpe eche meane shée hath in spight In langor long this life shée led till hap as fortune pleased To further fates that fast ensue with her own thought her eased For this shée thinkes what distance may or mansions bée betwéen Or where now stands so cruell wall to part them as is seene O feeble wit forduld with woe awake thy wandering thought Seeke out thou shalt assured finde shall bring thy cares to nought With this some hope nay as it were a new reuiued minde Did promis straight her pensiue hart immediate helpe to finde And forth she steres with swifted pace ech place she seeks throughout No stay may let her hasty foote till all be vewed about Wherby at length from all the rest a wall aloofe that lyes And corner wise did buyldings part with ioyful eye shée spyes And scarcely then her pearcing looke one blinke therof had got But that firme hope of good successe within her fancy shot Then fast her eye shée roules about and fast shée seekes to see If any meane may there bee found her comfort for to bee And as her carefull looke shee cast and euery part aright Had vewed wel a litle rifte appeared to her sight Which as it seemed through the wall the course the issue had Wherwith shee sayd O happy wall mayst thou so blist be made That yet sometimes within thy bandes my dere hart Pyramus Thou doost possesse if hap so worke I will assay thee thus And from about the heauenly shape her midle did present Shee did vnlose heer girdle riche and pendent therof hent And with her fingers long and small on tipto so shee wrought That through the wall to open sight she hath the pendant brought That doone shee stayes and to the wall she closely layes her eare To vnderstand if any wight on th' other side yet were And whiles to harken thus shee stands a wonderous thing behold Poore Pyramus in Venus Church that all his minde had tolde Performed his vowes and prayers eke now ended all and dun Doth to his Chamber fast returne with hart right wo begun Euen to the same where Thisbie stayd to see if fortune please To smooth her browes and her distresse with any helpe to ease Hee as his woonted vsage was the Chamber once within Lockes fast the doore with fresh complaynts new sorrow to begin But euen lo as his backe hee turned vnto the closed dore Aglimpse of light the pendant gaue his visage iust before Let in his face with speedy pace and as hee nearer drew With wel contented minde forthwith his Thisbies signe he knew And when his trembling hand for ioy the same receyued had And hee ten hundreth times it kist then thus to it hee sayd THough many tokens ioyful newes haue set And blisse redust to carefull pyned ghost Yet mayst thou sweare that neuer lyued hee yet Who halfe such ease receiued in pleasure most As thou sweete pendant now in wofull brest Impersid hast O happy Pyramus Nay béeing a Lady in whom such râ—the can rest Most blisfull Lady most mighty Venus And mighty Thisbie yea Venus not displeased My Goddesse chéefe my loue my life and all For who but Thisbie would nay could haue eased A hart remedyles abandon thrall Wherfore since thus ye please to show your might Make mée whole happy with gladnesse of your sight WHiles Pyramus all clad in ioy thus talkes within the wall No lesse content doth Thisbie stand without and heareth al And with those gladsom lightes where loue doth sightly ioy to play And vanquish harts her loue shée vewes in minde somwhat to say But maydeÌ„ly feare plucks backe the word dread stops her trimbling tongue A rossy hew inflames her face with staine of red among Yet lo at length her minde thée stayes her sences doo awake And with a swéet soft sounding voyce this answer doth she make Loue Pyramus more deare to mée then lyfe Euen as I first this way for spéech haue found Of present death so let the dreadfull knyfe At this instant for euer mee consound If ioyfull thought my passing pensiue harte Did euer pearse since parents cruell dome Pronounst the sentence of our common smart No deare hart mine for how alasse may blome The fading trée whose sap deuided is Ye further sweet I dare with you presume Your passed woes but pastimes ware I wis In their respect that did mée whole consume But now sharpe sighes so stop my willing spéeche Such streames of teares doo dim my troubled sight And inward feare of parents wrath is such Least longer talke should giue them any light Of our repayre that further to recyte My heaped yls I neuer dare ne may Yet oftenly wee wisely heare may meete At chosen times which shall vs not bewray And this for short thy Thisbie shalt thou see With