vnbridled time Olde Age is lothd with folly ouer grown Yonge yeres dispisde cut of in sprowting prime Experience learne let elder lyues thee lead In lyuely yeres thy fickle steps to guide Least vnawares such vncoth paths thou tread Which filthy be thought pleasant to be eyde In calmest Seas the deepest Whorepooles bee In greenest Grasse the lurking Adder lyes With eger sting the sugerest sap wee see Smooth wordes deceiue learne therfore to bee wise FINIS Inuidus alterius rebus macrescit opimis THe greedy man whose hart with hate doth swell Because hee sees his neyghbors good estate Liues vncontent with what might serue him well And eftsoones seemes to blame sufficient fate This grudging gluton glut with goulden gayne To serue his vse although hee hath enough Repines at that which others get with payne So that himselfe therby hee doth abuse Hee thinkes that much which passeth by his claw And findes a fault for it through luckles hap Although the matter valueth scarce a straw Hee deemes it small of gaine that giues no sap Hee thinkes his store shall serue his senâ—lesse corse Or that no death at all hee deemes there bee Els would hee to his conscience haue remorse And seeke to liue content with his degree For what auayles to horde vp heapes of drosse Or seeke to please vnsaciate fond desire Considering that t is subiect vnto losse And wee therby yll got deserues Hell fire From which O Lord conduct vs with thy hand And giue vs grace to liue vnto thy prayse Preserue our Queene his subiects and her land And graunt in peace shee raigne here Nestors dayes FINIS The reward of Whoredome by the fall of Helen FRom Limbo Lake where dismall féendes do lye Where Pluto raignes perpend Helenas cry Where firy flames where pittious howlings bee Where bodyes burne from thence giue eare to mee I am Helena shée for whose vilde filthy fact The stately Towers of Troy the hauty Grecians sacte High Troy whose pompe throughout the world did sound In Cinders low through mee was layd on ground Kinge Priamus through mée did end his life And Troians all almost I was the cause of strife I am that Dame whose beauty passing braue Dame Venus praysde the golden Pome to haue Whose feature forste Sir Paris boyling brest To leaue his land and seeke to be my guest That trull which tost the surging Seas a maine From Grecian shoare to Troy vnto my paine That flurt whose gallant sproutinge prime Through vilde abuse â–ª was scorcht ere auncient time I vertue shund I lothd a modest mynde I wayd not fame my beauty made mee blinde Each braue delight my masking minde allurde My fancy déemed my beauties gloze assurde Such worthy fame did sound of Helens hue Although my déedes reapt shame and guerdon due In gorgious plumes I maskt puft vp with pride In braue delights I liu'd my fancy was my guide But fie of filth your world is all but vayne Your pomp consumes your deeds shall guerdon gaine See here by mee whose beauty might haue boast For splendant hue throughout each forrain coast But what preuayles to vaunt of beauties glose Or brag of pride wheron dishonor growes If I had vsde my gifts in vertues lore And modest liud my prayse had bin the more Where now too late I lothe my life lewd spent And wish I had with vertue bin content FINIS T. P. A Louers lyfe THe tedious toyle the cares which Louers taste The troubled thoughts which moues their mindes to feare The pinching pangs the dole which seemes to waste Their lothsome life déepe plungd in gulfes of care Would mooue ech shun such snares of vayne delight Which irksome be though pleasant to the sight The minde full fraught with care enioyes no ease A boyling brest desires vnlawfull lust The hart would haue what best the minde doth please And fancy craues the thing which is vniust Beside eche frown which eftsoones moues them déeme They abiect are if sad their Louers séeme Or if occasion shun their vsuall sight Not seene they thinke themselues vnminded bée And then in dumps as mazd they leaue delight And yéeld to greefe till one eche others see So that with feare their mindes are alwayes fraught That liue in loue experience some hath taught Eche lowring frown from mirth doth moue the minde One iesting worde procures a thousand woes So that lyke gréefe or more through sight they finde Then absence sure such cares fro fancy flowes Such goring gripes such heapes of hideous harmes Such sorowing sobs from daunted louers swarmes Rosamond a spowsed Dame her husbands death procurde For speaking but a worde in iest Itrascus too full thyrty yeares indurde The panges of loue within his boyling brest So that in gréefe they harbor still their mindes are cloyd with care They diue in dole they plunge in payne liue in cruell feare And diuers moe as Axeres whose beauty passing faire So Iphis hart and boyling brest allurde That for her sake hée liude in extreame care And cruell gréefe while breathing breath indurde But at the length disdayne vpon a trée Hée honge himselfe where shâ—e his corps might sée FINIS ¶ A Louer approuing his Lady vnkinde Is forsed vnwilling to vtter his minde Willow willow willow singe all of gréene willow Sing all of gréene willow shall bée my Garland MY loue what mislyking in mée do you finde Sing all of gréene willow That on such a soddayn you alter your minde Sing willow willow willow What cause doth compell you so fickle to bée Willow willow willow willow In hart which you plighted most loyall to mée Willow willow willow willow I faythfully fixed my fayth to remayne Sing all of gréene willow In hope I as constant should finde you agayne Sing willow willow willow But periurde as Iason you faythlesse I finde Which makes mee vnwilling to vtter my minde Willow willow willow singe all of gréene willow Sing all of greene willow shall bee my Garland Your beauty braue decked with showes gallant gay Sing all of greene willow Allured my fancy I could not say nay Sing willow willow willow Your phrases fine philed did force mée agrée Willow willow willow willow In hope as you promis'd you loyall would bée Willow willow willow willow But now you be frisking you list not abide Sing all of greene willow Your vow most vnconstant and faythlesse is tride Sing willow willow willow Your wordes are vncertayne not trusty you stand Which makes mée to weare the willow Garland Willow willow willow sing all of greene willow Sing all of gréene willow shall bée my Garland Hath Light of loue luld you so softe in her lap Sing all of gréene willow Hath fancy prouokte you did loue you intrap Sing willow willow willow That now you be flurting and will not abide Willow willow willow willow To mée which most trusty in time should haue tride Willow willow willow willow Is modest demeanure thus turnd to vntrust Sing all of greene willow Are
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-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
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
minde be worne Or if my absence long to thy disgrace hath wrought mée Or hindering tales of my back fréends vnto such state hath brought mée I can and will accurse the cause of my ill spéede But well I hope my feare is more then is the thing indéede Yet blame mée not though I doo stand somewhat in feare The cause is great of my exile which hardly I do beare Who hath a sternles ship amidst the trustles Seaes Full gréedely desires the porte where hée may ride at ease Thy bewty bids mee trust vnto thy promise past My absence longe and not to speake doth make mee doubt as fast For as the sommers sonne doth make eche thing to spring Euen so the frosen winters blast as deadly doth them wring Unsuer thus I liue in dreade I wot not why Yet was there neuer day so bright but there be cloudes in sky Who hath of puer Golde a running streame or flud And is restraind for comming nigh this treasure great and good Hee must abide a time till Fortune graunt him grace That hee haue power by force to win his riche desired place I neede not thus to doo nor yet so much mistrust I know no time can change thy minde or make thée bée vniust No more then water soft can stir a stedfast rocke Or seely flyes vpon their backes can beare away a blocke Eche beast on earth wée sée that liuing breath doth draw Bée faythfull found vnto their mates and keepes of loue the law My wretched life to ease when I doo seke to turne Thy bewty bright doth kindle mee in greater flame to burne No day no night nor time that geues mee mirth or rest Awake asleape and at my meales thou doost torment my brest Though weary lothsome lyfe in care and wo haue clad mee Remembrance of thy heauenly face giues cause again to glad mée Thus Ioyfull thoughtes a while doth lessen much my payne But after calme and â—ayer tides the stormes do come agayne And I in cares doo flame to thinke of my exile That I am barred from thy sight I curse and ban the while Would God I had the craft a Laborinth to frame And also had a Mynotaure inclosed in thesame And that our enemies all might therin take some paine Till Dedales line I did them bringe to helpe them out againe Then should my sorowes seace and drowne my deepe dispaire Then should my life be blest with Ioyes and raisde aboue the ayre â–ª But as the mazed birde for feare dare skantly fly When hee hath scapte the Falcons foote euen so I know should I Scarse able be to speake or any word to say Least Argus wayting ielous eyes might haply mée bewray But oh Elrisa mine why doo I stir such war Within my selfe to thinke of this and yet thy loue so far Why rather should not I giue vp the life I haue And yeeld my weary wretched corps vnto the gaping grau If I hopte not that thou with faith didst binde thy life This hand of mine with bloody sworde should stint my cruel strife â–ª No length of lingring time no distance can remooue The fayth that I haue haue vowed to thée nor alter once my loue Beleeue this to bee true that streames shall soner turne Or frosen Ice to fier coales on blasing flame to burne Then I will seke to change or alter once my minde All plagues I pray may fall on me if I be found vnkinde Or if I meane to swarue while I haue liuing breath God graunt my end then may be such as Agamemnons death I wish thy life no harme but yet I woulde thou knew The wofull ende that Cressed made because shee was vntrue These angry gods or men asonder that doo set vs Shal neuer pearce our mindes in twaine nor eke to loue can let vs As well they may deuide the fier from the flame And euery beast that now is wilde as soone shal be made tame Let not this pistle long my sute with thee deface Who pleadeth for his life thou knowest at large must tel his case And all these wordes I write to one effect do tende I am all thine and not mine owne and herewithal to ende I pray thee to regarde thy health and my request And that my loue doo neuer fleet out of thy secret brest FINIS ¶ NARSETVS a wofull youth in his exile writeth to Rosana his beloued mistresse to assure her of his faithfull constancie requiring the like of her TO stay thy musinge minde hee did this pistle frame That holds the deere loues thee most Narsetus is his name Would God thy frend had brought the health that here he sendes I should haue seene my lacking ioy and heale that hart that rendes And redy is eche hower to sunder still in twaine Saue now this pistle that I write doth lessen wel my paine And helpes mee to vpholde a lingring lothsome life Awaiting still the blisfull hower when death shall stinte the strife What dooth it mee preuaile to haue king Cresus wealth Or who doth ioy in golden Giues imprisoned with his health I sweare by Ioue to thee whose godhead is aye iust These wordes I write are not vntrue then do mee not mist rust Thy selfe shal be the iudge and if thou list to vewe The bared bones the hollow lookes the pale and ledy hew The stealing strides I draw the wo and dreadfull feares The boyling brest with bitter brine the eyes be sprent with teares The skant and hungry meales the seldome slepe I take The dainty dames that others ioy â—o iest to mee do make These hated hatefull harmes when I them feele to greeue mee Remembrance of thy beuty bright doth straight again releeue mee And then I cal to minde thy shape and cumly grace Thy heauenly hew thy sugred words thy sweet entising face The pleasant passed sportes that spent the day to ende The lothsom lookes that liked not to leue so soone thy freend Sith froward fortune hath my Mystresse thus bereâ—t mee Perforce I yéeld and am content to like the lot is left mée If Pyramus were sad when hée found Thisby slayne If Cresseds craft and falsing fayth did Troylus turne to payne Eneas traytor false oh treason that hée did With bloody woundes and murdering sword Quéene Didos lyfe hath riâ— If these haue won by death and end of pyning payne And I aliue with torments great in dying deathes remaine The sound of instruments or musicke 's pleasant noyce Or riches rule or proude estate doth cause mée to reioyce Or Venus damsels deere do please mée euen as well As dying bodies ioy to here for them a passing bell The greefes that gripe my hart and dayly do mée slay It lessen would much of the smart if thou vouchsafe to say God graunt his weary life and sorrowes to asswage God yeeld him health and happy dayes with honor in his age These wordes would win my life dispaired now to death Thou should but saue that is thine
this to bee true that now too true I proue But litle troth in womens breast and fleeting in their loue God graunt each wight on earth that serues with faythfull minde A better hap and that hee may a truer Mystrisse finde FINIS The Louer in distresse exclaymeth agaynst Fortune HOw can the criple get in running race the game Or hee in fight defend himselfe whose armes are broken lame How can th' imprisoned man whofe legs be wrapt in chaynes Thinke this his life a pleasant time who knoweth nothing but paines So how can I reioyse that haue no pleasant thing That may reuiue my doulfull sprits or cause mee for to singe My legs be lame to goe mine armes cannot embrace My hart is sore mine eyes bée blinde for lacke of Fortunes grace All this is Fortunes fault that keepes these sences so Shée may aduaunce them if shée list and rid them of this wo. It is her cruell will alwayes on mee to lower To kepe froÌ„ mée her pleasant giftes to make mée know her power Alas alas fiâ— Fortune fâ—e why art thou so vnkinde To mée that fayne would bée thy sonne and euer in thy minde Now doo I thée beséech with pleasures mée to frayght To temper this my wofull life or els to kill mée strayght FINIS An other complaint on Fortune IN doubtful dreading thoughts as I gan call to minde This world and eke the pleasures al that Adams children finde A place of pleasant hew appeared to my thought Where I might sée the wonderous works which nature for vs wrought All things of any price approched to my sight And still me thought that each man had that was his most delight The riche man hath his ioy his riches to imbrace So hath the huntesman his desire to haue the Hart in chace And other haue their sporte to sée the Falcon flee And some also in Princes court in fauor for to bée The warring Knight at will an horse doth run his race And eke the louer in his armes his Lady doth embrace When that I sée eche man enioy his whole delite Saue I alas poore cursed man whom Fortune doth so spite I fall straight to the ground amazed with much griefe With blouddy strokes vpon my brest I striue to rid my lief And thus I thinke how can fayre pictures those delight Whom nature from their tender age defrauded of their sight FINIS ¶ The louer beeing newly cought in Cupids snares complayneth on the Gods of loue and compareth his greefe as followeth THe hugie heape of cares that in this world I finde The sodayne sighes that sore molest my hart The foolish fansies that still run in my minde Makes mée to lay all ioy and myrth apart Lamenting still the causes of my smart But oh alas the more I wéepe and wayle The more my gréefe to mée séemes to preuayle The more I seeke my pinchinge panges to swage By diuers wayes such as I thinke be best The more it frets the more it gins to rage So that my senceles head can take no rest Ah seely wretch what doth thee thus mollest Or what doth thus perturbe thy restlesse braynes And from thy harte all worldly ioye detaynes Alas what this should bee I can not tell My youthfull yeares can skill of no such change But if some vgly shape of fury fell Or wicked wight that in this world doth range Hath witched mee with this disease so strange Or Cupid with his force of cruell dart Hath stricken mee and wounded thus my hart Hath Cupid then sutch power on mortall wightes And strikes the blinded boy his dart so sure That no man can auoyd his subtill sâ—ightes Nor ought agaynst his fury may indure Hath Venus force men thus for to allure And why then doth shée not her sonne commaund To shoote alike and strike with equall hand Is this the guise of powers that raigne aboue Us séely soules in snares thus for to trap And care they not to yéeld vs death for loue Ioy they in woes our corses for to trap And passe they not what vnto vs doth hap Can Gods aboue to man beare any hate Or doo they mocke and iest at our estate Ah foolish foole what fancy rules thy head Or what doth cause thée now this talke to moue What fury fell doth thée poore wretch now lead To rayle on all the Gods doth it behooue Sith it is only Cupid God of loue That guiltlesse shee with stroke of goulden shafte Hath wounded thus and thee of ioyes berafte Euen as the slender Barke that long is tost By surging waues cast vp from deepest seas And Saylars still in daunger to be lost Doo hale and pull in hope to take their ease When stormy fluds begin once to appease Euen so fare I beeing in Cupids power In hope at last to see that happy hower Wherin I shall my wished ioyes obtayne And placed bee within her gentill hart Then shall I take my sorrowes all for gayne When I haue her that causeth now my smart Then farewell Cupid with thy cruell darte And welcome shee that pearst mee with her sight Shee is my Ioy shee is my hartes delight FINIS The Louer extolleth aswell the rare vertues of his Lady beloued as also her incomparable beautie DEsire hath driuen from mée my will Or Cupids blase hath bleard mine eyes Knowledge mee fayles my sight is yll If kinde or cunning could deuise Nature to paynt in better plight To set her forth with red and white Or if men had Apelles arte Who could her mend in any parte Her face declares where fauor growes And telles vs heere is Beauties grace Her eyes hath power to binde and lose Her countenance may fréendes embrace Her cheekes be decte with bloud full fayre Her collour cleare as is the ayre Her haire her hand her foote also Hath wonne the praise where euer shée go Her lookes doo séeme to speake alone When that her lips remooue no whit Her inwarde vertues may be knowen By vsinge of her sober wit. Her iestures also cumly are My tongue lackes skill them to declare The rest of her that are vnnamed In perfect shapes are lyuely framed Now though that kinde hath set her forthe And natures workes shée hath possest Théese goodly giftes are litle worth If pitty dwelt not in her brest Oh God forbid such flowring youth Should bée mislyked for lacke of ruth For I with other might say then Lo this is shée that killeth men FINIS ¶ The Louers farewell at his departure perswadeth his beloued to constancie in his absence THough Fortune cannot fauor According to my will The proofe of my behauor Shall bée to loue you still Entending not to chaunge Whiles that my life doth last But still in loue to raunge Till youth and age be past Though I bée far you fro Yet in my fantacie I loue you and no mo Thinke this assuredly Your owne both true and iuste Alwayes you shall mée finde Wherfore of right you must Haue mée
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
will as best contented mee My Prince therwith well pleased that nothing might offend And all my deedes so done that eche man might commend My parent of great state and eke of worthy fame That worldly men did wish the honor of his name My friends and mine allyes so worthy in eche presse That I néede beare no wrong that I could not redresse Of courage and of strength so doughty of my hand That Ladyes might mée loue that dwell in forrayn land And enemyes might mee dread for feare of ouerthrow And that all this were true eche worldly wight did know Yet were I but a man and mortall in this earth For death doth not accept the worship of my byrth Since so I holde it best that eche man should contend So to directe himselfe that after this liues ende Yet vertue might remayne that soundes a Trompet loe A comfort to a fréend a wound vnto a foe As some to simple turne from sage And ouerthrow with euery winde Some eke correct with rigorous rage Whom wealth could neuer foord good minde Hath wonne in prison such a feelde As liberty could neuer yeelde FINIS Virtute nulla possessio maior ¶ Of a happy wished time EChe thing must haue a time and tyme doth try mens troth And troth deserues a special trust on trust great frenship groth And freendship is full fast where faythfulnesse is found And faythfull thinges be ful of fruicte and fruitful things be sound The sound is good in proofe and proofe is Prince of prayse And woorthy prayse is such a pearle as lightly not decayes All this doth time bring forth which time I must abide How should I boldely credit craue till time my truth haue tried And as a time I found to fall in Fancies frame So doo I wish an happy time at large to shew the same If Fortune aunswer hope and hope may haue her hire Then shall my hart possesse in peace the time that I desire FINIS ¶ The Louer perswadeth him selfe to pacience agaynst Enuie and slanderous tongues IF only sight suffise my hart to loose or binde What cause haue I to mooue debate wherby no peace I finde If that my restlesse will by payne doth still renue What force haue I but shee consent my fo for to subdue To yeeld and suffer then I thinke it for the best And by desert as time shall serue to purchase quiet rest Let ielous enuy lowre with browes and visage bent I know the worst no shameles tongue shall alter myne intent The Dice of Loue are throwen god speede the doubtfull chaunce Misdeeme who lyst so shee at last my seruice will aduaunce To aske and to oâ—tayne that Fortune were so swifte Sith trauaill is the ready way vnto eche noble gyfte And feeble is the ioy that lightly is begonne As tender Flare can beare no stresse before that it bee sponne Wherfore with sad aduice in hope my harte shall dwell And all the tale that I confesse in silence will I tell Unto her selfe alone whose fauour I require None els shall know her name for mee to constre my desire FINIS ¶ The Louer greeuously complayneth agaynst the vniust dealing of his Lady beloued SInce thou vniust hast caught a lust To plough in barrayne ground Who long thée loue hee shall thee proue Mutch better lost then found As brickle clay in Winters day That in the frost is wrought So doo I finde thy double minde Mutch better solde then bought It is as éefe a broken Syue Should holde the dropping rayne As for to binde thy chaunged minde That nought can doo but fayne So may I say both night and day Cursing the time and place Where I profest to loue thee best Whose troth I finde so scace Whose lyinge wordes and faigned bourdes Did mee so far enchayne When thou didst flyt by chaunged wit That I could not refraine But of my hart to ease the smart The best redresse I know Is to vntwinde my constant minde And let sutch fansies goe For thoughe I serue vntill I sterue I sée none other boote Such doublenesse thy hart doth presse And croppes it by the roote Yet will I pray euen as I may That Cupid will requite Thy froward harte with such a smart As I haue by thy spite For to bée fed with wake a bed And fast at boorde among Till thou confesse ah pittilesse That thou hast doone mee wrong On bush and brier may it appeare Wherby most men doo pas Thy faygned fayth how nere my death It hath mée brought alas That they vncaught may once bée taught By reason to refrayne Their crafty wiles and subtill smiles That so in loue can fayne A due vniust sith that I must Of force declare thée so The fault is thine the payne is mine And thus I let thée go FINIS ¶ The Louer in great distresse comforteth himselfe with hope O Heauy hart whose harmes be hid Thy healpe is hurte thy hap is hard If thou shouldest brast as God forbid Then should I dye without reward Hope well to haue hate not swéet thought Ofte cruell stormes faire calmes haue brought After sharp showres the sunne shyneth faire Hope commeth likewise after dispayre In hope a Kinge doth go to warre In hope the Louer lyues full longe In hope the Marchaunt sayles full farre In hope most men doo suffer wronge In hope the Ploughman soweth much séede Thus hope helpes thousands in their néede Then faynt not hart amonge the rest What euer chaunce hope thou the best Though wit biddes will to blowe retrayte Wyll cannot worke as wit would wish When that the Roche doth taste the bayte To late to warne the hungry fishe When Cities bren of firy flame Great Ryuers scarce will quenche the same If Will and Fantasie bée agréed To late for Wyt to bid take heede FINIS ¶ In the commendacion of faythfull loue THe faithful cannot flye nor wander to nor fro Fayth only they holde them bye though that the fickle go A Piller of more force then Marble layd with hand With Pickaxe may deuorce and lay it flat on land Th' other so deuine that no arte can remoue Once layd cannot decline th' only Piller loue FINIS ¶ The Louer wisheth himselfe an Harte in the Foreste as Acteon was for his Ladyes sake I Would I were Acteon whom Diana did disguise To walke the woods vnknown wheras my lady lies A hart of pleasant hew I wish that I were so So that my Lady knew alone mée and no mo To follow thicke and plaine by hill and dale alow To drinke the water fayne and féede mée with the sloe I would not feare the frost to lye vpon the ground Delight should quite the cost what payne so that I found The shaling nuts and mast that falleth from the trée Should serue for my repast might I my Lady sée Sometime that I might say when I saw her alone Beholde thy slaue alone that walkes these woods vnknowen FINIS ¶ An Epytaph vpon the death of
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
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
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