here dost finde with griefe perplexed so Whose present state to learne why dost thou thus require Smale gayne to thée great paine to me to yéelde so thy desire Yet sithe against my will thine eares haue heard the plainte Which in this desarte place I paste to ease my brest attainte Thus much at thy request I further will reueale As for the rest this corps of mine for euer shall conceale Whom earst a friend I founde me causlesse hath forsaken What wouldst thou more this is the summe that I with sighes am shaken But cruel fate I feare doth force it so to be Adue farewell let this suffice inquier no more of me Which saide away he goes God knoweth a wofull wight And leaues me there with sorrow fraight y t sought to take delight ¶ Of Fancie THe kindled sparkes of fyre that Fancies motions moue Do force me féele though I ne sée nor know not what is loue Desyre on ruth doth runne imbracing griefe for game Whose ioye is like the Flies delight that fries amid the flame It yéelds and mercy craues yet wots not who makes warres The only thing it sées or knowes is one that loue preferres ¶ Aunswere YOu loue belike to fréese amid the flame To wéepe in ioye to ioy in great distresse To laugh in teares to leape and yet be lame Midst gréeuous myrth gladsome heauinesse To sinck in dread and not to séeke redresse You Titius lyke doe play this wofull parte You loue the Grype that tyers vpon your harte ¶ Euer sought neuer founde THe more I striue the stronger is my thrall The stronger thrall the weaker still mine ayde The weaker ayde the greater griefe doth fall The greater griefe the more with doubt dismayde Where lyfe I reache there dollor biddes me die In swéetest soyle I straine the greatest Snake My cares increase when comfort drawes most nie From dainty pray I pearsing poyson take Still pynde in tolde I parched am with heate As fyre I flye vpon the flame I runne In swelting gleames my chylly corps I beate Congealde to Ice where shynes the cléerest sunne Loe thus I lyue and lyuing thus I dye Drownde in dispayre with hope aduaunced hye ¶ A Poesie THe valiant minde by venture gaines the Goale Whyles fearefull wightes in doubt doe blow the coale ¶ Aunswere BUt wary wightes by wisedome shunne the snare When venterous minds through hast are wrapt in care ¶ Euery thing is as it is taken SOme onely for disporte a kinde of myrth doth rayse For which of some they finde dislyke of some they purchase prayse The Tale that some clowte vp with rude vnciuill sence Doth more delight the eares of some then swéetest eloquence The Foole sometimes doth please when wise aside are shake Then true it is that euery thing is as men liste it take Who hath by knowledge skyll of euery foote the length Or can he always hit the marke y t drawes the greatest strengthe Some carpe at others factes that nought themselues will vewe And some by high disdaine doe séeke to mende Apelles shue What some in others spurne themselues would not forsake But wylie Foxe from lofty Uine doth vow no grapes to take A worde paste forth in sporte to earnest oft doth turne So where there was no fire before great flames on sodain burne Not one mans children all echs Nature is not léeke But who hath mean to measure wil shal giue the greater gléeke First looke then leape the blind doth run in many a brake And eche thing still by proofe we sée is as men list it take Who so doth rule his rage by wisdoms sacred skill No doubt shal shunne ful great annoy that follows rashnes still And who his tongue can stay till place and time doe serue His mind at large may better speake and greater praise deserue Though friends like friends would shade the sun beams for thy sake Yet al things are assuredly as men them list to take But al not friends in déede of friendships bounds that bostes Take héede no house may long indure propt vp w c rotten postes Some rotten are at harte yet beares a friendly face And vnder cloke of fawning shews a Serpents sting thimbrace Tis hard to know of whom we certaine counte may make For though they smile yet thee they déeme as they thée list to take As they thée list to take suche shalbe their reporte Malicious minds are euer prest against the vertuous sorte Be chary in thy choice least frawde thy faith abuse Of sundrie sectes embrace the best the flattering flock refuse Thus warely runne thy race eschew the lurcking Snake Imbrace the good as for the rest no force how they thée sake ¶ To his Lady of her doubtfull aunswere TWixt death and doubtfulnesse Twixt paine and pensiuenesse Twixt Hell and heauynesse Rests all my carefulnesse O vaine securitie That will not libertie Fye on that fantasie That brings captiuitie My lyfe is lothsomnesse My pleasure pastimelesse My ende your doubtfulnesse If you be mercylesse In doubt is iealoste Hope helpeth miserie Most women commonly Haue aunswers readily ¶ Helpe best welcome when most needefull THe bitter smarte that straines my mated minde Through quelling cares that threate my woful wrack Doth prick me on against my wyll I finde To pleade for grace or else to pine in lack As fainting soule sokt vp with sickly paine Prayeth Phisicks aide in hope of helth againe Whilste Sea roomes serues the shipman feares no foyle In quiet Porte there néedes no Pilotes Arte But when through wearie winters tyring toyle Cléere Sommers calmes to carefull clowds conuarte And streaming stormes at hand do danger threate Then Masters ayde is sought in perrill great So I right Noble Péere and Lodestarre mine Whose Pynnis smale an vpright course hath ronne In seruice yours am forced nowe in fine Mine ancors worne my sayles and tackling donne In humblest wise your honors help to craue My foredriuen ship from swallowing vp to saue You are the Hauen whereon my hope depends And I the Barck vpon the drie shore dryuen You eke the lan̄de that chéerefull Pilotte lends And I the wight whom Seas to wrack hath giuen What resteth then if Harbour you denye But that my shyp must perishe sinck and dye For now to late to sownde some other shore And he that hath and should by nature ayde Withdrawes his hande and sayth he may no more Loe thus alas I liue lyke one dismayde Twixte death and doubt still surgde vpon the sande Stayde vp by hope to light on fyrmer lande But oh O me where Autumne fruitelesse slydes A barren hope to Hiems falles by kinde In Haruest tyme whose trauaile nought prouydes A nypping Winter shall be sure to finde So carelesse youth that wastes his yeares in vaine In age repents bereft of hope or gaine As yeares increase vncertaine hope séemes harde When sicknesse sharpe hath gathered greatest force Then Phisicks cure doth séeme a swéete rewarde Which you may yéelde if please you take
he that earst should néedes haue dide No trespasse made when truth was tride Loe thus beholde the guyltlesse wight Had Conscience not bene present tho Through false report and déepe despight Condemde had béene to death to go By which you well may learne and sée The faultlesse ofte condemned bée Let pittie therfore moue your minde To stay your doome till truth be tryde So you by search shall easily finde That I from truth did neuer slyde As tyme by triall shall declare I aske no more so spoyle or spare ¶ He complayneth his mishap with promise to keepe her honor THe wandring Outlaw borne to woe and bred a banisht man Untaught the suttle sleights of loue of loue this tale began When fyrst my sences dranke the swéete that gaue my body blood I felt no Foe to let my loue nor God against my good Tyll luste misreckned my delightes my wandring ioyes to ende And founde her out to stay such toyes to stande my trustie friende I boast the graunt if all were giuen it may would God it might O happie man more happie mayde if all had hit aright Mishap withholdes no meane to hope to purchase my pretence Beautie me rauisht first and now renength without offence Thus like a childe agayne vntaught the sleightes of dayntie mindes Such nurture take I of my Nurse as Nature iustly bindes These sides enshrine her stately loue if other thoughts she haue She shall possesse that I professe and yet her honor saue ¶ G. To his Ladye I Sée in loue some farther fetch there is Than reason can reueale to me that would Accuse the cause that makes me think amis And finde the fault of such vntempred mould Of sundry workes doe diuers wonders growe Yet skill shewes why and how they should be so I sée the Sunne both moue and melt and chaunge At once both dry and dew the dustie sande Yet are the raging stormes of loue so straunge As I forbeare the cause to vnderstande Except I should impute it to the wurst And curse the kinde that neuer Louer durst I sée the starre that guydes my stirring loue The goodly Saint that sacrifice deserues Sometime I sayle and sinke for feare to prooue And oft my solemne obsequies reserue Yet but for loue her passing giftes deuine Nature had neuer made them halfe so fine I sée the secrets of my wofull eyes Must seeke to rest on no such perfitnesse Would they had kept her still aboue the skyes Where first she tooke alluring comlynesse But sith her shape no mortall man may craue Yéelde honor such as fittes her best to haue ¶ For finale offence smale punishment MY Lady giues the reyne to her despite And lightly she beléeues what others fayne With death she vowes my seruice to requite And payes me not with like good will againe So that she séekes to trusse vp my good will With trusting those that euer ment me ill The murdring Knyfe for my offencelesse crime I see preparde to gore my guyltlesse blood The cruell voyce of rough condemning rime Hath scapte her mouth and maye not be withstood Yet let her date my death with this one line Here lyeth my Seruant buryed in his Shrine If mercie fayle there is no other charme If that preuayle vngracious luck farewell My guiltlesse trespasse shall escape the harme That enuye wisht on me to haue befell Of my estate let her say yea or nay I most regarde her doome for to obay From heauen the grace of gentle minds descends And like the maker should the matter bée Then let my Mistres when she wrath pretends Affects of mercie in the Gods fore see And when she graunts to follow them in that Let her recure and pardon she knowes what ¶ Loues myghtinesse growes by Louers weaknesse IF power of warre had yéelded to renowne Of curteous hartes the Gods had then agréede Disgraded Saturne had not tumbled downe Nor loue had durst in Goldlike Artes proceede O cowardly Gods against your kinde to sée Your selues your sonnes the slaues of loue to bée Could loue take league with Ioue against his will Or staine the streame of Neptunes water Springs And could not Pluto kéepe his honor still But giue the Heauens and Hilles to other kings In faith the face amongst swéete soules should dwell That conquered these in spite of powers in Hell ¶ A comparison of his troubles GReat swelling floodes are soone dried vp with meaner calmes I sée And mightie Frostes with gentle heate are woont dissolude to bée The darkest clowdes in th'ayre tost depart with no great winde Yet can the tempest of my care no quyet harbor finde ¶ I. K. to H. being sicke THe sickly state thou griped art withall When brute had blowne and sounded to mine eare From eare to heart the sodaine noyse did fall And there begins to change my choise of my cheare For choyce is past néedes must I match with mone When hope is crackt what comfort may endure The best parte eke of me to gréefe is gone Scant then the partes beside may well be sure Yet feare not H. quayle not be of good cheare Thy Kéeper bids thée haue a hardy harte Be lyke a man the weather will be cleare If not for thée yet cause not me to smarte So being bolde in thine extremitie Thou shalt saue two that is both thée and me ¶ Aunswere H. THe plunged state wherein I restlesse lay When these thy lynes were brought before my view A certaine tyme began to cease and stay And still mée thought my pinching paine withdrew To beare from thée such comfort did ensue But when at last I learned had thy gréese My comfort fledde bereft was all reléefe And then a newe my crased corps in paine Lay languisht long not knowing what were best A thousand thoughts within my troubled braine So mooude my minde that vnneth could I rest The slypping ioyes that worldly wights possest Loe then I sawe full soone awaye did slide And nothing was that still might stande or bide No Forte so strong no Bulwarke raysde so sure But tyme consumes and tumbleth downe at last Mannes force is frayle and lyke the féeble flowre That bendes and breaks with euery little blast His dangers great his pleasures soone surpast As now by me appeares whose ioyes doe vade Whose griefe doth grow whose comfort glides to glade Whose lyfe lyke smoke doth slylie slynck awaye Whose Rock is réelde whose fatall thréed is spunne Whose dreame doth ende whose slumbring sléepe doth staye Whose web is wouen whose Glasse is welnie runne Whose parte is playde whose tale is tolde and done Whose will doth yéelde to leaue this wretched vale Where naught is sure but driry Death most pale ¶ Of Friendship WHo holds himselfe most deare and hath his wante Although he would he may not store his friend But he that séekes his secrets there to plante Where wealth is frée shall finde a quyet ende Giue me the poorest man to triumph on Or welthiest friend or let me
so right That Heauen for hyre vnto thy lotte may light With gréedie minde so wrest not worldly gayne That soule doe spill for slyding pleasures vayne Suffised be with that sufficient is And séeke the things that bring eternall blisse So shalt thou here not onely purchase prayse But after eke enioy most happie dayes ¶ To his Mistresse MAye name of seruaunt to familier séeme For such whose seruice neuer swarude awry Can Noble mindes so base of those estéeme That fréely yéelde for them to liue or dye No no some further fetche conceyued is Which hath withdrawne from me that wonted name How so it be if I be more amisse Then sounde good will hath once desarued blame The wrekfull Gods powre downe vpon my hed Such sharpe reuenge as neuer man did féele And let my Ghost in Lymbo lowe be led To Tantals thyrst or prowde Ixions whéele What wouldst thou more if I not wishe thee well In Plutos Den then let me lyue and dwell ¶ Rewarde doth not alwayes aunswere deserte SIth my desyre is prest to please Though not with glosing showe And eke my deeds if proofe were made Should tell what fayth I owe. Where to shall I impute my hap To Fate or wante of skill When nought I finde but tickle trust Where most I meane good will ¶ Who hurte must heale THe sparkes of loue within my brest doe daylie so increase That euery vain on fyre is set which none but y u mayst cease So that in thée consists my woe in thée likewise my wealth In thée with spéede to hast my death in thée to giue me health O pittie then his restlesse state that yeeldes him to thy will Sithe loe in thée it wholy lyes my life to saue or spill That neyther doe I glose or faine I Ioue to witnesse call Who knows the heat of fixed harts when they to loue are thrall And shall I thus a wofull Wight in rigor still remayne Shal such as smale good wil me beare thy grace frō me restrayne Shall false perswation so preuaile to let our wished ioye Shall fayth and troth for their rewarde reape naught but sharpe annoy Or else shal want of pyning welth retract my iust desier Do not the Gods at pleasure theirs the lowe estate raise higher Is not the worlde and all therein at their disposing still Doth it not rest in them to giue and take from whom they will No recklesse race 〈◊〉 shalt thou runne ne follow vaine delight In yéelding help to cure his harme that holds thée dearst in sight Ne yet from tip of Fortunes whéele y u shalt ne slide nor swarue Such hope I haue of better hap the Fates do yet resarue Thy person not thy pelfé is all I wishe and craue Which more I vowe I do estéeme then heaps of coyne to haue The greatest Princes aye by proofe lead not the pleasantst lyfe Nor euery maide that maryeth welth becoms the happiest wyfe ¶ Of Loue. ANd if Loue be Lorde who or what is he If Loue be not who then bereaues my rest If no suche thing alas what ayleth me What bréedes suche broyle what woundes my yéelding brest To tell what tis doth passe my knowledge farre But who so loues I sée doth liue in warre ¶ Of Bayes and Willow SHewe forth your Bayes that boaste of swéete delightes For I ne may such blisfull hap attayne The Willow branche most fit for wofull wightes Beholde I beare a badge of secret payne Which loe my sides enshryne and shall doe still Till cruell Fate hath wrought on me her will ¶ An Epitaph vpon the death of the Lady Katherine late Countesse of Pembrooke IF suche doe mourne whose solace is bereft And sighs séeme sharpe to those whom sorrowes sting If cares increase where comforte none is left And griefs do grow where pensiue thoughts do spring Then be we sure our Lorde in sadde annoy Doth wayle her death whose lyfe was all his ioy If he alas with sobs her losse bemones May seruaunts spare their sighes abroade to sende Shall they in secret shrowde their gryping grones When maysters playnts may haue no power to ende No no déepe dole our pensiue sides would pearce If we in teares our sorrowes not rehearce Then mourne with me my wofull fellows all And tryll your teares your drooping chéekes adowne Gushe forth a gulfe of griefes let floodes downe fall To wayle her wante that sprang of high renowne Who whyles she liude did sundry séeke to ayde But Death O Death thou hast them all dismayde The chéerefull spring that doth eche soyle adourne With pleasant showes whereby delight is taken Doth moue our mindes alas the more to mourne Our Ladie lost in source of sorrowes shaken Which loe in Uer to heauen hath tane the waye To her great gayne but oh to our decaye If Princes loue if husbands care or Coyne If Noble friends if proofe of Phisicks lore By long attempt could sicknesse vndermoyne Or search of forrein soyle might health restore We should not yet haue séene the sonne to vade Whose clipsed light hath turnde our shyne to shade But when the twyste of this our fyme is wownde No meanes by man may serue the same to stretch Our lottes are layde our bodyes haue their bownde Tyme swiftly runnes with short and curelesse breatch Though world we weld in seate of Princely sway Yet swarues our state as shade that slydes away The glittering shewes of highest glory héere Consumes to nought like clowds disperst with winde And all that Nature from the earth doth reare Returnes againe whence first it came by kinde But Uertues webbe which loe this Lady sponne Shall last for aye new these her dayes be done Her praise on earth lyke Palme shal florishe still Her Noble déedes shall liue and neuer dye Her sacred steps that sought eche vice to kill Shall mounte aloft though lowe in earth she lye Who euen when latter pangues opprest her most Did mercy craue in yéelding vp the Ghost What would you more her lyfe and death was such As déeper head could not commend to much Ultimum vale FArewell thou Pearle that Princes fauour founde Farewell the Saint that shielded our annoy Farewell the Hauen whose harbor was full sounde Farewell the Barke that brought her Chiefetaine ioy Farewell thou Spowse to him that held thee deare Farewell the Lampe that gaue such gladsome light Farewell of modest Dames a Mirrour cleare Farewell the shryne where vertue shyned bright Farewell thou minde that mente to no wight ill Farewell the harte that lodged honor aye Farewell the hande that helpt the needie still Farewell the staffe that sought the weake to stay Loe here in teares my last farewell I take What Heauens will haue the earth must needes forsake ¶ In aduersitie is best seene Vertues excellency WHen Boreas rough had leauelesse left eche frée And horie Hiems gan his raigne to holde In walking forth I might discerne and sée A stately Palme her branches gréene vnfolde At sight
with equall pace doth passe to Princes gate And there as at the Cottage poore doth knock in one like state The tyme or maner how the highst no more can tell Then poorest Peysant placed here in base estate to dwell Sithe then such féeble stay in mortall might we finde Why should the wante of worldly drosse in dole once daunt our minde The Iylman pore in toyle that spends the weary day Whose welth will scarce supply his wante when some whoorde heaps y t play Fals not to flat dispaire ne yet his labor leaues Though scarce y e stubble prooues his share when others shock the sheaues But liues with mind content more frée frō care strife Then those y t hunger highest hap where dangers dwel most rife Though prowde ambition blinde puft vp with glory vaine Detest their state that riches wante with hawty high disdaine The Seas oft troubled are by winds that whyrling flye When shallow streams yéeld water cléere in valleis low y t lye High Mountaynes set on fyre by lightning eke we sée When Pastures placed vnderneath in nothing altered bée The formost fronte in fight are néerest deadly wounde The lofty trée is soonst blowne down leueld with the grounde So such as thirst to clymbe to daunger most are thrall Whose slyding glory sawced is with honey mixt with Gall. For who so gript with griefe if Fortune liste to lowre As those that earst did féede at full vpon her fayrest flowre Which change full oft hath falne through her vnconstansnesse And whome she lately laught vpon throwne downe remedilesse Was Alexander great that many daungers past For all his mightie conquest wonne not slayne himselfe at last A kings sonne eke I finde for Fathers tyranny Constraynde to worke a Smith in Forge by harde necessity Such is the fading force of Fortunes fickle powre Whose fruitfulst fruite both rypes and rottes in lesse space then an howre Such is her tickle trust such are her slipper steps That what she séemes to sowe in ioy with sorrow oft she reaps Attribute all to him that fate doth guyde therefore With wylling mind embrace thy lot where rich thou be or pore ¶ Once warnde twice armde WHylste slye deceyte by sleight of smyling cheare Yéeldes tickling hope to dandle on our dayes We dread no guyle no doubling drift we feare Our sounde beliefe such setled trust doth rayse But when in fyne we finde our selues missed We blame the frawde that so our fancies fed And gripte with griefe our former trust we wayle Exclayming lowde that falshood so can fayne When glosing shewes clokt vnder friendships vayle Fals out but sleyght to foster hope in vayne Loe thus full oft what déemde hath bene the sunne Proofe Cynthea findes whose course more lowe doth runne As some haue tryde through time and trauell spente Who traynde by trust haue déemde good hap there plast Had swayed the soyle where ruine all to rente Hath due desart with rigour downe defast Whose short regarde for long imployed toyle May warne the wise of frawde to feare the foyle ¶ Flattery the Vayle of Frawde FAyre words foule déeds pretended and forethought Who can but hate that holds the feare of God Fayne you that lyst such practise prooues but nought Uyle diuelishe driftes prouoke Ioues wrathfull rod Which sure will fall if we in synne perseuer Shame is the fruite of frawde and foule endeuor Wherein beholde some maske in Nettes at Noone Yet déeme they walke in clowdes of close disguise Hoyste vp in thought to reache beyonde the Moone When all the worlde their couert cunning spyes But these to name my pen and spéeche shall spare Who medleth least least cumbred is with care It me suffizen may to note their driftes That wéene by wyles the worlde to weald at will Their glosing shewes their slye and guylefull shiftes To trayne such on as fynde not out their skyll Whose turnes to serue though fooles a tyme be dandled The wyser wincke that sée how things are handled ¶ No greater contrariety then in the passions of Loue. IN wyll to strong in worke to weake is loue In hope to bolde in feare more faynte then néedes In thought a thousand guyles it stryues to proue In guyle suspition painefull passions bréedes Suspition easely yéelds to light beléefe And light beléefe to iealousie is thrall The iealous mynde deuoures it selfe with griefe Thus loue at once doth frye fréese ryse and fall On pleasures paste to thinke it takes delighte Whyles present blisse by fonde conceyte it balkes Although the fruite it fynde be pensiue plight For better chaunce yet carelesse on it walkes These are the séedes that Venus Baby sowes As taste they shall the bitter crop that mowes ¶ In vttering of sorrowe some solace MY carefull case and pensiue pyning plight Constraynth my Pen against my will to wright The plunged state wherein I lyue and dwell Doth force me forth my dolefull tale to tell My heaped woes all solace sets asyde Whose secret smarte alas I faine would hyde But as the subiect Oxe to yoke must yéelde So vanquisht wightes are forste forsake the féelde My lucklesse lotte denies me all releife I séeke for helpe but finde increase of griefe I languishe still in long and déepe dispaire Yet shunne to shewe the cause of this my care I couet nought that reason might denye Ne doe I séeke by meanes to mounte on hye But what I séeke if I the same might finde Then easde should be mine vncontented mynde ¶ Miserie the ende of Letchery O Fylthy Letchery Fyre of foule fraylty Nursse to ympietie Warre pryde and ielouste Whose substance is gluttony Whose smoke is infamy Whose sparkes are vanity Whose flame obscurity Whose coles impurity And ashes mysery ¶ The paines of Louers great but mine grieuous THe Frost in flame that Louers finde And swelting heat in chilly colde So quite contrary are by kinde As strange it séemeth to beholde Strange is the feare that makes them fainte And strange the care that chokes their ioy Yet stranger passions me attaynte The onely Nursse of mine annoy ¶ Ruine the rewarde of Vice TO you fayre Dames whose bewties braue do floorish To you whose daintie dayes in ioye are spent To you whose prayse Dame Nature séekes to poolish To you whose fancie Venus doth frequent To you I wryte with harte and good intent That you may note by viewe of what I say How Natures giftes soone vade and slyde away Your loftie lookes time downe full lowe shall raze Your stately steps age eke will alter quite Your fraile desyre that kindleth Cupids blase Whose heate is prone to follow foule delight The whip shalbe that shall you sharply smite When euery vice that sproong of Fancies fittes Repentance brings to those the same committes Is not the pride of Helens prayse bereft And Cresside staynde that Troian knight imbrased Whose bewties bright but darke defame hath left Unto them both through wanton déedes preferred As they by dynte of Death their dayes haue
wante should finde remorse But as the tossed Barke bydes better blysse And sharpest thrall in tyme released is And as the féeble Réedes are rente by Seas Yet spring againe when swelling waues appease So hope I will though now the ebbe be lowe A spring in time with former course may flowe ¶ A Sonet IF wayghtie burthens may be light Or fayre deniall det requite If Justice can be termed error Or drosse for good and perfite treasor If Maye may be without delyte Or Snowe of other hewe than whyte If Cunning can be without skill Or women without headstrong will If Pardon where there is no synne Or Losse where euery man doth winne If Paradise in Hell you sée Or sylent whereas women bée Then shall not Loue be termed hate Nor lowe degrée the happiest state But all this must prooue contrarie And therfore Loue is Loyaltie Flée it and it will flée thée Follow it and it will follow thée ¶ To her Louer that made a conquest of her and fled leauing her with childe AT stryfe to whome I might commit my secret teares My heart the Mountaynes sight and hollow Eccho feares I doubt the Dryades amids the Forrest chase And thinking on the Seas I dread the Marmayds grace What shall I trust the Skyes then me the windes bewray Poore soule whom Ioue denyes eche caytife doth betray Ha heauy hart thy méede O tell tell out thy minde Ponder his fylthie déede that left his shame behinde And lyke a Cowarde fledde fearing the chylde vnborne Whose mother hée should wedde that hath the Babe forsworne Was euer Mayde so madde that might her fayth forgo Was euer boy so badde to vse a mayden so His teares did me beguyle and cleane opprest my powre As doth the Crocodile in séeking to deuoure Howe could I well denie when needes it must be so Although a shamefull I should haue a shamefull no. O faythlesse friend my guylte that first with guyle began O foolishe friend that spylte her mirror on the man What hath thy Country done or natiue soyle auoyde To force thée it to shonne wherein thy Louer ioyde No forrein Hauen can hide ne colour thine intent If lyfe in Babe abide that doth thy fault present And when thy fame hath worne within th' Italian coste Thou shalt be laught to scorne of them that loude thée moste The Gods will haue a share in gyuing him his hier That faythlesse falsly sware and prooude himselfe a lier And I thy mortall foe by fylthie lust beguylde To wreake me of my woe will slay thy silly childe In stead of quiet graue wherein his corse should rest Thy Impe his hearse shall haue in bowels of a beast My daintie tamed wombe that to thy share befell Shal finde no doubt a tombe amids the mayds in hell ¶ Being burdened to fayne his good will he aunswereth thus IF mine thy little care if thine my restlesse state If thine the brunts in brest I beare of mine to loue or hate Then trie thou shouldst to true that falsshood naught did frame Though now my smarts thou list not rue but makes my griefe thy game But out alas I die this change is nothing so For I in languishe still doe lye and fawne on thée my foe Who smiles to sée my smarte and laughes when I doe weepe Regarding naught my faythfull harte yet from me dost it kéepe Thus harte to faine vnskilde in being whole is broke In health is hurte aliue is kilde by dinte of dolors stroke And being mine is stolne and led by lyking lust Doth leaue the waye of certaine stay and leane to tickle trust Thou sayst I doe not loue would God thou didst not lye Such fond affects may nothing moue such one thou sayst as I. The Sages sure were wise yet forced now and then By flashing flames of Cupids fyre to she we themselues like men Dame Natures force will shewe what so therfore befall Tis sure my simple state so lowe thou dost mislike with all My thoughts doe mounte on hie though Fortune séeme but base Whose yeelding walles before thée lye to reare or downe to rase ¶ Chaunge of Country shall not chaunge fancie TO syfte my fate in forrein soyle a time though I depart Yet distaunce none ne tyme nor toyle shall pluck from thée my hart But as I earst vnfaynedly haue vowde me wholy thyne So will I stande assuredly howe ere the worlde enclyne ¶ Where abilitie fayleth wyll suffyceth IF knowledge mine could compasse wylling will To sounde her fame so well as déedes deserue Or if in Uerse by prayse of Poets skill I able were to wryte what I reserue Then should my pen put forth what now I holde And to the worlde her vertues rare vnfolde But sithe in me such sacred lore doth fayle I leaue the same to Sophos learned brayne As one whose bare and naked Muse doth quayle To vndertake her glory to explayne Least lack of skill that might in me appéere Should clipse the light which now doth shine so cléere A perfite Pearle it selfe doth shewe so well That naught it néedes a foyle to blase the same Her prayse lykewise the rest doth so excell That finer wittes will spred her Noble name What should I then vpon her feature stande Which shewes it selfe lyke sunne against the sande Her curious shape who views and doth not prayse In Noble minde she second is to none Not Fortune but deserts her fame doth rayse For Fortune bowes to Uertues loftie throne Where loe she setled sits in seate so bright As Hesper cléere with gleames of glittering light ¶ Mans impietie faynes false Deitie LUst long is fayne a God of loue to bée Whose péeuishe power some déeme is dangerous A cunning Archer that could neuer sée Set forth he is with shaftes right perillous A wanton winged boy forsooth he is And Venus sonne whom she doth clip and kisse Down from the Heauens he shoots the flaming dartes That Fancie quickly burnes with quenchlesse fyre Bereauing Reason quite in all her partes Preferring wyll with doting fond desyre Is this a God no no a Diuell sure To fylthie lust that doth the weake allure For Gods to Uertue not to vices winne Their powers prouoke to good and not to yll Tis gainst their kinde to foster fylthie sinne Eche heauenly grace doth heauenly giftes fulfyll Then you that fayne Dan Cupide is a God Recante in tyme least Ioue reach forth his rod. ¶ In loue smale iarres sometime breede best content WHat state more swéete more pleasant or more hie Then loues delight where hartes doe ioyntly ioye If vyle suspect feare and ielosie With gawling grudge did not the same annoy Yet where this sowre with swéete some deale doth blende Loues perfection oft it doth amende For thirst the water sauourie makes to séeme And after fasting meate is had in price He knowes not peace nor can thereof estéeme That in the warres hath neuer broke the Ice Hope is reuiude and shakes of sorrowes past When seruice
To peise the playntes that eche put out Where withall knéelde downe A wight of renowne Who cryde thus O Venus Let fate cease to frowne HAue pyttie on her painefull plight Whose lyfe is led without dellight In sighes and sorrows still My youth saide she with age I waste For wealth my Parents me so plaste God knoweth against my will With that another stept in place And craude with wayling voyce O Noble Goddesse of thy grace Graunt me my wished choyce Thus séeking Dame liking They call on Venus hie Still suing renewing Their plaintes with watry eie Some out doe crie on ielousie And some of great vncourtesie With teares complaine that finde disdaine Where they haue loued faythfully Another sorte doe eke resorte Exclayming lowde on false reporte Whereby their fame and Noble name Without desert oft brute doth blame And some Ladies say Their Lords runne astray Whose wanting and scanting Oft works their decay AS thus in course eche made his plainte I wofull wretch through loue attainte In prease my selfe did vaunte And vnto Venus as I thought I hasted fast and her besought My Ladies loue to graunte But out alas euen therewithall A sodaine thundring noise As heauen and earth should faile and fall My sprites from sléepe did raise Then waking hart aking I languisht lay in wo Bewayling the fayling Of wyshed purpose so And to my selfe loe thus I saide What straunged sight hath me dismaide May Uisions rare or dreames declare Such sodaine change from ioy to care From great delight such moning cheare May Goddesses abide to heare No no naught else but fansie sure My yéelding harte doth lead and lure Aye the wight to minde Where loue doth me binde Whose seruaunt attendant The Gods me assignde ¶ Loue asketh loue I Sawe of late a wofull wight That wyllow twigges did winde to weare Whose face declarde the pensife plight Which he through loue did present beare He lookte aloft as though he would Haue clymed to the starry skies But still he stood as though he could Not once lift vp his heauie thies His feathered hands he forced forth And thyther fayne he would haue fledde But wofull man it was no worth For all his limmes were lade with ledde You are the bright and starrie skye I am the man in painefull plight My limmes are lade I cannot flye My wings may not sustaine my weight I reade howe loue did Gismond wounde The childe of Tancred Salerne king Her fauour Guistarde constante founde She fancied else no other thing For riches nought nor for his wealth Whereof he had but little store His vertue was her onely health She likte that well she sought no more They had their hoped hap and ioye If Tancred could contente him so But he by working their annoye Unto himselfe brought greatest wo. You are that Gismond fayre and bright Would I had Guistards vertuous life And Tancred chast cleane out of sight Then would I wyshe for such a wife Some saye howe Luna loued one Of lowe estate and little fame By name yclipt Endimion Whose loue was quite deuoyde of blame In Laëmi hill it thus befell She sawe him sit all sadde alone Tis I quoth she I knowe full well For whom he mournes and makes his mone She shamed not of Laëmi hill Nor yet of Louers simple state But soone consentes vnto his will And him did choose to be her mate O Luna looke vpon thy Loue Endimion makes his mone to thee Be not abasht let pittie moue That loue for loue may yeelden bee ¶ The variable thoughts of a Louer I Liue in hope and yet despayre Reioysing most when griefe doth growe I mounte aloft aboue the ayre Yet lead my life in Limbo lowe I neuer séeke though much I finde Yet finde I nought and still doe séeke I sée what best contents my minde When most in minde I doe misléeke One holdes me in captiuitie So sure that I ne once may swerue Albeit I liue at libertie As frée from bands that I deserue R. T. THe shyp that late I sawe beare loftie sayle Déepe lanched in the waues of waters wilde Whose courage stowte I déemde no storme might quayle When I her viewde so fast and fyrmely fielde With tempest tost is forst now sayle to stréeke And in her prime doth houering harbour séeke ¶ Aunswere THough streaming stormes force ship to harbor haste To whom the Seas with rigor great threates wrack Whose cables cut and ankers worne to waste Is forste streeke sayle in her so great a lack When Neptune yet with Septer plaste in hande Shall calme the furious rigour of the Flood This Shyp repayrde may safely sayle to lande Nought dreading Eolus breth that her withstood So H. doth hope his Howlke such porte shall finde When stormes be past as will content his minde ¶ Another waye LEt none mislike a man for his mishap But thinke how chance doth check the greatest might Aeneas he Vlisses worthy wight By lande and seas did danger great entrap None for deserts are luide in Fortunes lap Chaunce roules vs rounde and reaks ne wrong nor right Ne lewde is he on whom lewde luck doth light Was not Iobe iust though sokte in sorrowes lap They erre that déeme all goes as men deserue At length Aeneas ranne his weary race Vlisses eke and Iobe God did preserue So I poore wretch whom Fortune doth disgrace Do hope thylke God will guyde my crased barge Which beates the seas whilst none of her takes charge B. ¶ Godlynesse passeth ryches THe slender store that verteous wights possesse More worth then is the wickeds great excesse Yet strange to see what soyle some worldlings take For ryches vaine that soone will them forsake Whose gréedie guttes no reason may suffice The muck on moulde so blinded hath their eyes ¶ His aunswere to one that wrote faynte hartes that feare to synne fayre Ladyes syldome winne HE much more valiaunt is whose steps are slow to sinne Then who so séekes vnlawfull meanes his Ladies loue to winne And greater prayse deserues his will that can subdue Than thou which boldly brags to gaine the thing thou well mayst rue A pleasure short thou séekst procuring lasting paine A poyson swéete thou dost imbrace that sundry wightes haue slaine A dore that lets in Death a scourge that whips the soule A vice that Uertue ouerthrowes who doth it not controule A flame of burning fyre that reaues all reasons rules A gulfe of foule desire that oft makes wise men fooles ¶ To I. N. GOod wyll put forth my Pen in haste and made me bolde to craue And Loue lay on me sore to seeke that I suppose you haue Pleasure drew forth my doubtfull care and helde my hande aright And Use transported like a guyde the vaine desyre I wright Hope flattered so these troubled thoughtes that comforte of the paine Would force me to appose thy 〈◊〉 with fansies of the braine Slowe of it selfe my little skill but that thy truth profest Will pardon bothe my light
offence and graunt this póore request To tell if ayre maye alter gréefe or where like luck betide Thy selfe that vnder Country Hauens doste seeke thy selfe to hide And if loue bée what thing it is if not what moues my paine Good Nedham wryte or come in haste and I shall wryte againe ¶ H. To his mishap THe Gallie slaue that stirres the fléeting Ore In foming Seas to cut the mounting waue With heauie chéere doth wish the gladsome shore In hope that ende his thraldome then shall haue Or else doth hope amidst his pyning wo That ship will sinke and ende his trauell so The sickly wight whom Feuers pinche full sore With gasping breath and panting hart in bed And yéelds himselfe content with Natures lore Reuoltes againe who was by hope misled If vitall breath yet chaunce to fayle him than Now past his paine becomes a happy man An ende of woes these séelie folke obtayne An ende of thrals at length by â—â—â—â—â—â—es they finde Deuoyde of cares and I as wretch remayne To whom aliue the Gods aboue assignde That lyuing yet a thousande times should dye And long time dead vnburied yet should lye ¶ Falsyfying of Fayth breedes many complaynts MY idle head retaynes the busie hope My gasing eye giues ouer her desyre My reaching hand would after fauor grope My legs yéelde vp and leaue me in the myre Tis light t'outrunne but not to outread the wise Thus finde I strife to hinder my deuise The time too shorte to weare so spéedie gréefe I still pursue that shunnes my wylling holde Skill is to weake to yéelde my woe reléefe My cares lyke clowds infect my hart with colde So that if heat should melt so cruell frost My heart were drownde and all the loue were lost Betwéene two Adamants of equall weyght I am the péece of yron to beholde Wythout desert loe I am made the baight Denide the ioy that my desyres wolde My taste of loue is lost as you may gesse That know how Sickmen sauour bitternesse Who would his will must beare the bitter lot The Faucons foote distraynth the Princes hande When loue was made his eyes were quite forgot The highest towers in greatest danger stande O slipper holde that for a silly eye Can finde no peace but euer séekes to die Die and doe all the wretched traine of loue To know the torment of my boyling smarte Her might on me pore man she ment to prooue Whom I had thought should heale my wounded harte O cruell penance to my pore desyre In such great heat to bring me to the fyre ¶ To his Song sent to his Mistresse SOng in the swéete place Where as my Ladie was walking Thinke if thou shouldst stande She would reach outher hande wylling Touch not her tendernesse Stoupe to her statelinesse hie thée Spirite without carkesse Mercurie bodilesse ply thée Tell her I will come Knowing not howe soone spéede well Loue may no let haue This is all I craue farewell ¶ A Poesie THe streaming stormes that fast on me doe flowe The secrete sighes that waste my wofull breast The Isie colde I feele like flakes of Snowe The hidden harmes that bréede my great vnteast By Fancies force doe cause such troublous tyde That shyp nowe shakes which late in roade did ryde ¶ Aunswere WHere reason rules affections fonde doe flye And bewties beames 〈◊〉 bittirnesse may bréede Where wisdome will by vertues skill doth lye Cupidos flames are quenched forth with spéede Let reason then thy will by wisedome guyde So shalt thou safely shunne this stormie tyde ¶ The vanitie of rytches THe stately Pallace Princely plasse the hoorde of glyttering Golde The Patrimony large of landes cannot from sicknesse holde Nor can they cure the crased corps or deck the minde at all Golde is the Father to the Flock of Flatterers by lotte It is the summe of griefe or woe who hath or hath it not For who it hath he quakth in feare least Fortune robbe his thrifte Who hath it not laments because he knowes not how to shifte Wherfore of ritch or poore I iudge as wisedome smale I hente In best estate is he with his that liues with minde content ¶ Discorde makes weake what concorde left strong THe quyet pawse that silente night Doth bring from trauayles past Of daye no sooner had by sleight A nuumber on me cast But in my sléepe there did appeare Sixe sauadge men in mosse and haire A Fagot bounde the foremost wight Me thought in hande did beare Which ioyntly and alone through might All sought to breake and teare Yet still in vaine their strength they tryde Eche parte to other was so tyde Till wresting long a stick at last One forth by sleight doth wring Whereby the Bundell knitte so fast A sunder soone they fling Then eche a seuerde péece doth spoyle Which late conioynde no force could foyle This done me séemde they vanishte quite And there my Dreame did ende Yet so amazed with the sight That out a sighe I sende I curst the frawde that friends defast Whose broken bande eche harme doth hast The wrack of Realmes hereby is wrought The force of Foes increast The spoyle of famous Princes sought And right by wrong supprest Foule fall therefore the guyde of those That friendships bande doe séeke to lose And happy they that doe restraine Their eares to heare when Syrens faine ¶ Of one that came to borrow money IN loane what losse I want and would Two Gods I bring to entreate for Golde Perswasion may procure the thing That force would vndertake to bring ¶ Aunswere THe losse of Friends by bringing home againe Such Interest I séeke not so to gleane Two Goddesses to match your Gods there be Inopie and Impossibilitie ¶ Truth feareth no tryall THe Muses calde a Courte of late Wherein they déemde of sundry déedes To scan eche cause in seate they sate The summond péere and law procéedes The truth they sought of all mens harts And déemde of eche by his desarts So some were saude and some I sawe Condemde to dye by Justice might Among the which by course of lawe Approcht to barre a worthy wight Whome festred Enuy sought to spoyle By forged lyes his fayth to foyle Upon whose talke he was araynde Holde vp thy hande quoth Doubt by name Thou art accused to haue staynde Thy credite and thy fayth with shame And briefe to be by verdite iuste Condemde thou art for thine vntruste To whom the Captiue gan reply I graunt if this be prooued true That I well worthy am to dye And here I craue no more of you But perfite triall of my case The guiltie onely pleads for grace A Queste was then impanelde newe And his accusers calde in sight Suspition did the sute pursue He was indited by Despite The Muses nowe with all the rest Made Conscience foreman of the quest Wherewith Suspition fled for feare Despite durst not maintaine his sute The cause was calde the captiue cleare Thus did the last the fyrst confute And
liue alone ¶ Aunswere G. H. GJue me the equall friend for greater state Will euer grudge the wante of lowe degrée And eke the meane repine at welthier mate Thus enuy breakes what friendship did decrée By iuste agréeing porte no iarre doth grow Where wealth ne wante denies the friendly show ¶ H. To M. THe crased Barke full oft is saned by Pylots care The greatest griefes by pleasant ioyes asswaged are The daylie toyles by some quiet rest are alwayes eased The vering spirites by Musike sweete séeme somewhat pleased My onely ioy regarde you this my wofull case Sith none but your disdaine my sorrow can delace ¶ Admonition to his Friend IF thou wilte be rightfull Alwayes stande thou faythfull To doe well be carefull Note friends and be thankfull Uaine talke flye and learne wit Marke wise speeche and loue it Alwayes praye and boast not Eschue pride and vaunte not Hate no man disdaine not Take time and sléepe not Eche vertue trayne iustly Regarde betters wisely Offend no wight wrongly And declare alwayes truely So God sure will loue thée And good men will praise thée When Uertue shall grace thee All fame shall embrace thée ¶ Who seekes this Worlds felicitie Fyndes nothing else but vanitie WHo séekes on earth to finde his Mansion sure to dwell Forsakes his God forgets his heauen hies him fast to hell For why no flesh hath force eternitie to finde But as of Clay it came to Clay it must conuert by kinde If Bewtie blynde thine eyes or Coyne it be thou craue Be sure therof they clogge thy soule whē carcasse comes to graue Not strength not honors stage nor Empire helde alone But conscience cléere must only serue before the heauenly throne acounts Suppose before thy Prince thy onely tale surmounts Tryumph not thou for th'angels trumpe calles thée to more More pleasure here thou takes in toyes on earth below More féeble thou more force is theirs to yéelde thine ouerthrow No comfort doe conceaue in vaine and tryflying toyes No minutes myrth can counteruayle aye during deepe annoyes On earth the force of flood and flame thou doest desyre To shun then chiefely séeke to auoyde the force of endlesse fyre On earth thou doest desyre delights that be but vayne In heauen the whylst thou dost neglecte the ioy y t shall remayne Then dye on earth to liue and liue on earth to dye Repose thy trust in heauenly things and ioy eternallye ¶ To a Flatterer AS soundes from hollow things dee nought but ayre implie So words from faythlesse friends shewe nought but flatterie ¶ Aunswere CAlme Seas least feared bée more daunger when they swell Yet in all Tydes we sée they vse to sounde them well ¶ Reason and Fansie doe often varie THere Fransie bids vs runne and Reason staye And presse our powres that frayltie nought preuayle Affection blinde doth beare so great a swaye That we in greatest danger hoyse vp sayle We burne our selues and yet doe blowe the fyer And trust the ayde that leaues vs in the myer Desyre assayes with Fansies winges to flye When hap with holdes to yéelde our will successe Hope would aduaunce it selfe vnto the skye Despayre sinkes downe and sits in sad distresse Desyre dispayre hope hap by fansie prest Thus ioyne their battayle in affections brest Reason resistes vayne hope hopes Lead will swymme Wyt would preuayle affection will not yéelde Desyre with Frayltie ventures lyfe and lymme Inforcing Reason to forsake the fielde And thus with Fancies lore our reason ledde In Follies brake we oft bring fooles to bedde Looke ere you leape beware least footing fayle Example take by poore Acteons fall We thinke that pretie fansie may preuayle And therfore listen to his luring call But when most gréedie Dogs doe vs deuour Fancie stands aloofe not able to succour A little bewhing Curre doth oft procure Assault of greater Dogs as doth appeare So while we rashely yéelde to Fansies lure More eger Curres are readie vs to teare Our owne desyre affection lust and will Are those same Dogs which doe their maysters kill Yet neyther counsayle wisedome sence nor arte Can brydle youth from his desyred ioye Graue precepts haue no power to staye his harte From working of his owne extreme annoye And though our selues doe know such things are vayne Yet doe we séeke the selfe same things to gayne What madnesse thus to stryue against all sence To sue where Reason would we should refrayne Against all counsayle thus to make pretence And voyde of wisedome so to beate our brayne To buye repentance with so déepe desyre And with such heate to set our thrift on fyre And yet no helpe when Fansie freightes our boate But Follyes force perforce will hoyse vp sayle Till midst the waues of had I wist we floate We thinke our pleasant course should neuer fayle Unlesse Gods speciall grace doe make a stay Our nature weake thus works her owne decay ¶ A Poesie SIth nothing stayes in good or happy state Where Uice aboundes and Uertue doth abate Why doe we not our lyues with spéede reforme That Conscience cléere may féele no gnawing worme ¶ Certaine Verses translated out of Petrark concerning Rome written by him many yeares since A Flame from Heauen streame downe vpon thy head Thou wicked one that from the water colde And Acornes wilde that whilom was thy bread Arte mightie made enrichte by others Golde Since thy delight is setled all on ill Shame thée destroy and sorrow soone thée spill Thou Nest in whome the treasons hatched are That through the worlde abroad are spred this hower Slaue to Wine chambring and delicious fare Where Lust doth trye the strength of all her power In Closets thine yong gyrles and aged Siers With Belzabub doe daunce in foule desiers He Bellowes Fyre and looking Glasse doth beare Amidst them all but why I blushe to tell Naked to wyndes and bare foote late thou were No beddes of Downe vnto thy share befell Course clothes did serue thy corps from colde to shrowde Scarce God thy péere thou now art growne so prowde Thou Babilon that buyldes thy Neast so hye By couetous frawde thy sack to brimme dost fill With Gods great wrath and vices out that flye Whose poysning smell a worlde of soules doe kill Gods to thy selfe thou makst not Ioue nor Pallas In Venus and Bacchus is all thy solace In searching long what should of thée ensue My selfe with toyle I féeble brought and lowe But at the length mée séemde a Soldan newe I sawe preparde to worke thy ouerthrowe That will erect Baldacco seat for those Which though not when I would shall thée depose Thy Idols on the grounde shall scattered lye Thy Towers prowde to heauen that enimies bée And Turrets all by fyre downe shall flye Then shall iust soules the friends of vertue sée The golden worlde a newe beginne to raigne And auncient works shew forth themselues againe Thou sorrowes source the sinke of many a one Thou Schole and Temple whence all errors growe Once Rome but nowe that cruell Babilon For whom the worlde in teares doth ouerflowe Exclayming on thy cursed wickednesse Bewrapped in the vayle of holynesse O Forge of false deceyte prison to yre Where goodnesse dyeth and euils all are bredde To those that liue thou art a hellish fyre The ruine eke of many wretches deade A wonder straunge though spared thou be yet If Christ in fine not treade thée vnder feete Thy ground was fyrst on humble pouertie But nowe thy pride doth presse thy Founders downe Thou shamelesse strumpet seeking suffraintie Where rests thy hope what in thy triple crowne In thy adulteries or base borne rytches Begotte in guile vaine are all such wytches Since Constantine may nowe returne no more The mournefull worlde that sighes thy state to sée Consume and cut thée quick vnto the core That all to long is forst to beare with thée Of Rome the fall here Petrark doth vnfolde As view they may that list the same beholde In patientia victoria FINIS