University of Virginia Library

MISCELLANEOUS SONNETS

I [Quhat euill presage is this that I behold?]

Quhat euill presage is this that I behold?
my name, alas, quhilk thow, my nymphe, ingraued
Vpon that Plane quhair I my plaints furth told
is baith off forme, off squair, and schape bereued.
bot quhen agane quhen I thy name perceaued,
distelling gumm lyke teares both wakk and [OMITTED]
ten thousand thoughts I in my heid concea[ued],
ten thousand things I in my mynde re [OMITTED]
these strainge effects my senses all [OMITTED]
my witts thairof an comentarye [OMITTED]
then this I sayd sen that our name [OMITTED]
no more thair forme and from the [OMITTED]
hir love is chainge this gum dois [OMITTED]
the teares quhilk sche euen for my f [OMITTED]

II. ANSUER.

Gif that my thoughts in loving yow [OMITTED]
a fainting ons off thair affectioun trew,
gif they haue not fra tyme to tyme bene paind,
and daylye mair with furie dois persew
your gracious grace, that dois my hart subdew,
and with the bands of love hes me inchaind,
then lett al plags vpon me, wrechte, insew,
and let me ay heirafter be disdaind;
Let thir myne eyne by blindnes so be staind
quhilk did abeus your sparks and heuinly hew,
and lett my toung, sa falcefyd and faind,
serve to none vse bot ay my faults to rew;
And let my hairt become a seat of hell,
and alls my soul the scourger off hir sell.

III. [My winding scheits my steidfast love sal end.]

My winding scheits my steidfast love sal end,
my heid sal tend vnto his buriall toume,
to tak that rowme this bodye sal be bend;
or I make end of love, al this sal cume.
then sen my dome and death I wiss, respect
my faith, suspect no chainge for to insew;
na vncouth hew sall hinder thy aspect.
Let prove detect and furyis all persew,
and ȝeild thair dew to my deserved hyre,
gif I desyre in vthers to mak chose,
or in thame Ioyse quha would my lovlye fyre
Quensche through impyre of faucos [?] wanton toyes.
fame schame may noyse, and foull be my report,
and all my deids to serve fro skorne and sport.

IV. [Though Iustlye thou in Iustice may afflict.]

Though Iustlye thou in Iustice may afflict
my rebelle saule with euerlasting fyre,
yet lett thy mercye In this hard conflict
represse thy Wreathe and ouerthroue thyne yre.
That mercye, Lord, that mercye I requyre
quhilk off Immortal maede the mortall be.
deuert then deathe, Sins Iust rewarrde and hy[re],
and from thy curss me and my childreene free.
Thy Iustice, Lord, to ages fouer We see;
Thy Mercyes yet to thousand thou extends;
Ley not, o god, to thame nor yet to me
my greuous sinns, nor theres that the offends;
Be to me to light, quhils I but light this pe[n],
The pelican, the Egle, and the hen.

V. [Fairwell! fair saint, may not the seas nor vinds.]

Fairwell! fair saint, may not the seas nor vinds
Swell lyk the hairts and eyeis yow leave behind,
bot calme and gentle lyk the lookes yow beare,
Smylle in yovr face and whisper in yovr eare:
Lett no bold billow ofer to aryse
That it may neirer look vpon hir eyeis,
Lest vind and vave, enamord of hir forme,
may thronge and crovd themselves into a storme.
bot if it be yovr fate wast seas to love,
of my becalmed breast learne how to move:
Move then bot in a gentle lovers pace,
No Wrinkles nor no furrowes in yovr face.
And yow, feirce vinds, sie that yow tell yovr taille
In such a breath as may bot fill hir saill:
That whilst yow both doe covrt your severall waye
yow may hir saiflie to hir port convey,
And loosse hir in a noble waye of woving,
whilst both contributes to yovr owne vndoing.

VI. [In by way roadds I ran a restles race.]

In by way roadds I ran a restles race,
as best besemd my vaine vnlauful lust,
quhair I haue found long pains with cares vnIust,
and feading ioyes my pleasours to displace.
Bot nou the glass of sin before my face
presents my eyes the schaps of uordly trust,
that trusting to the same confes I must
that verteu vyce, and errour reuth, doth chase.
So uith my age my sad complaints sal growe,
my yeres sal shaw the horrour of my sin,
and dayes that rests the errour of my hart;
The uatrye teares that from myne ees sal flow
the liccour ar quhairwith I will begin
to wash my wounds, and for to uryte [?] my Smartt.

VII. [Can eagells birdis flie lower then thair kynd.]

Can eagells birdis flie lower then thair kynd,
or can ambition stowpe to servill gaine?
can frie born briestis be forcit against thair mynd
To put the mask of loue wpon disdain?
can loue be cost? can averice constraine
grit cupid do homadge wnto gowld?
or can his wing or can his flames remaine
To wishe such wishes as the worldlingis wold?
no! no! my faitis are in the heavins Inroled;
mens laws may force my lyfe bot not my loue,
men may my eyes bot not my heart be hold,
my looks ar his, my thoghts my owin selfe prove:
yit or I chandge, by hevins, I vow to leave
ane Ioyles bed and chose ane Ioyfull grave.

VIII(a). O fatall death, that wnexspected came.

O fatall death, that wnexspected came
And puld the sueitest rose of fragrant smell
Amongst the rest of floures, that wise and worthie dame
Thou hast removed hence whair scho did duell.
In witt, in worth, in grace scho did excell
The comoun sort and sex of woman kynd;
Her inward greif was hid within her sell;
Her outward schow declard a cheirfull mynd;
To riche and poore scho was so weill inclynd;
A loueing mother to her children deir,
A faithfull matche vnto hir husband kynd,
Who vailles her loss with mone and dolfull cheir:
God gives, God taks, God hes her plact at rest,
His will our weill, his name for evir be blist.

VIII(b). O fatell death, that wnexspected came.

O fatell death, that wnexspected came
and puld the sweittest rose of fragrant smell
amongst the rest of floures, that wyse that worthie dame
Thow haest removed hence wher sho did dwell.
In wit, in worth, in grace sho did exsell
the comon sort and sexe of women kynd;
thy inward griefe was hid within hir sell,
To owtward show declaired a cheirfull mynde;
to Rich and poore sho was soo well inclynd;
A louing mother to hir childrin deir,
A faithffull mach wnto hir husband kynd,
who wailles her lose with mone and dullfull cheir:
god giues, god takes, god hes hir placit at rest,
his will our weill, his name for ever be blist.

IX. TO THE ERLE OF CAITHNES.

But mereit men to love and but desert,
and them embrace with cairles constant will,
to mak his actions answer to his harte,
and all his words by workes for to fulfill,
to keip in iustice all his pepill still,
and baith with love and feare to governe thame,
to save the poore anes, and to punish ill,
and with great valeur purches glore and fame
for to decore his house and noble name,
quhils baser spreited lords doth stayne there race,
and by degendring gendreth not bot shame,
and liuis in slothe to die in vyld disgrace—
thir war, these ar your workes, and nones bot yours,
quhase prayse na tyme sal waist, nor yeres, nor houers.

X. TO THE R. HONOBL SIR IOHNE COLVILL.

gif valeur wun through thousand shott and speirs
avail for to advance a noble name,
or gif a hart devoyd of threatning feares
proceur to him an vndecaying fame,
if geven wonds and als receavd but bla[m]e
In battells bould hes rights [to] be extold,
gif men by birth and blood may honour clame,
or through the same deserved fame vnfould,
then, sone of Mars, thow weill may be Inrould
with golden pen in glorious books of praise,
whose hardy hart, whose courage stout and bould,
no age sal end, nor yet no futur dayss,
bot still sal swim and fleit in endles glore
from twede to tems from garron vnto Loire.

XI. ana. g: I FEAR NOT LOUE: Janett: Foullar.

O Loue who may thy youthfull ȝeeres repres,
Thy wanton winges, and thy lasciuious radge?
who may thy willffull blindles will redres,
Thy subtill shaftees and furious flames asswadge?
Who shall them ffrie frome the, o princlie padge,
That playes the pleasant in thy youthffull yeers,
Then triomphs lyke a tirrant in thy adge,
And payes thy subiects treu with sobb and tears?
Ye virgin gods, that all our prayers hiers,
assist me now sence I am yet your own!
defend your doughter as to you affeirs,
sein that my heart to you was euer known!
I ffear not loue, bot yfe to loue I yeeld,
grant that I may with honour win the ffield.

XII. SONETT TO THE CONTESS OF ERROLL.

He quho to heauen gaue starns and Winds to aire,
flouers, hearbs to earth, and waues vnto the see,
doeth to our age his woundars more declaire,
since things more strainge then these we see in the:
and that we suld cast bothe our mynds and Ee
vpon his gracious and his glorious frame,
In you he hathe maide placed for to be
quhat most was raire, quhat most is faire, Madame,—
bright haire and eyes, that starns and sunn dothe schame,
whense love his flammes dothe fechehe and netts doeth make,
sueit smyles, chaist wourds, that peace and weres proclame,
graue port, auld witt in youngest yeares but lak,
with store of graces and off beautyes strainge,
which giues to Nature Law, and stay to chainge.

XIII. UPPON A HOROLOGE OF THE CLOCK AT SIR GEORGE MOORE'S, AT HIS PLACE OF LOSELEY, 1603.

Court hath mee nowe trannsfourm'd into a clock,
and in my Braynes her restles wheeles doth place,
Which makes my thoughtes the tick tack there to knock,
and by ay-turninge Courses them to chase;
Yea, in þe Circuit of þat restles space
Tyme takes þe stage to see them turne alwayes,
Whilst Careles fates doth iust desires disgrace,
and bringes mee shades of Nightes for shynes of Dayes;
My hart her Bell on which Disdayne assayes
ingratefully to hamber on þe same,
And beating on þe Edge of Truth Bewraies
Distempered Happ to be her proper name:
But here I staie: I feare supernall powers:
Vnpoized hambers strikes vntimely howers.

XIV. TO THE MOST VERTEOUS AND TREULYE HONORABLE LADYE, LADYE ARBELLA STEWART.

Whilest organs of vaine sence transportes the minde,
Embracing objectes both of sight and eare,
Toutch, smell, and tast, to which fraile flesh inclin'de,
Preferrs such trash to thinges which are most deare,
Thou, godlie nymph, possest with heavenlie feare,
Devine in soule, devote in life, and grave,
Rapt from thy sence and sex, thy spirites doth steire,
Tries to avoyd which reason doth bereave.
O graces rare! which tyme from shame shall save,
Wherein thou breath'st (as in the seas doth fish,
In salt not saltish) exempt from the grave
Of sad remorse, the lott of worldlinge's wish.
O ornament both of thy selfe and sex,
And mirrour bright wher vertues doth reflex!

XV. TO MY LADY ARBELLA.

Extempore.

This is the night, the v[er]y night indeid
of his birthday for whose we drink such soles,
and cairles of our helth breks braynes and heades,
and bedlem lyke doth danse about [?] the coales:
I drink indeid, but yet my senses thoales
a sore conflict in ioy depryvd of ioy,
whils yow, fair dame, dothe mak my eyes lyke moles,
through absence blind, and not your sight inioy.
yow in your self grave, modest, and most coy,
would sig[h]te to see vs hogsheades hogsheads drink,
and apish lye with wemen men and boy,
with bootes in bonfyres for to stobe and skink;
yet in this gladnes remembring this deutyie,
I drink your helth, madame, and pledge your beautey,
whils ink and drink ar both together,
It [?] brings to yowe as to my brother;
And as in lyfe so to my grave,
I rest, grave dame, your drukken slave.

XVI. DEDICATION.

more then humaine, yet les be one deuyne
then she that beare th' incarnat sone of god,
whose chastfull hands disdayned for to sweye
both sceptars crovnes with all imperial rod,
vouchaue, fare dame, thy blissed face and nod,
thy gratious eare, and sweit correcting eye,
which dothe discerne the right and trye the odd,
to reade these drukken lynes and faults supplie.

XVII. VPON MY LORD MORDENT HOROLOGE.

My mistres and this horloge be a lyke
in wheils, in signs, in hammer, brod and bell,
In paces, motions, in slownes not to stryke,
devyding tymes, and yet no tyme can tell:
these wheils dothe turne, and yet the marks not move
which gius apparance of approaching houers,
so doth her words so oft her promeis proves
as ferme as trees in showe but weake lyk flouers:
tuyse tuelf be signs depainted on this brod,
and tuyse tuelf tyme shee hath me tyme assynd
to mak al reknings euen which now ar od,
bot in these all I euer cum behind:
Thus losing tyme throgh an Inconstant [OMITTED]
I must observe the dyell of the [OMITTED]

XVIII. TO SIR EDUARD DYMOK.

Ful of desyre, yet driuen abake by feare,
I rin and stayes the carrier of my muse,
for quhils in yours great learning dois appeir,
In vulgar verse I must spreits defuse:
yet trusting, sir, your grace will me excuse,
that spreids her wings vp in a higher heauen,
grou, sir, in hope the pardoun you sal vse
vnto a hart maist thankfull sal be geuen.
And sure in yow euen verteu self is dreuen,
qukilk doith adorne the glorye of your name,
and noble blood in ancient house long thriuen,
from age to age in vndecaying fame.
I nothing feare bot yow sal loue him then,
quhase hart, quhase hands, quhase spreits ar yours, and pen.

XIX. Sonetto sopra la Morte Dl Antonio Dargasso philosopho, platonico, philologo, phisiognomo, astrologo et theologo, Monacho Dominicano. a la Macoronesca. obiit Lond. 10 May 1605.

Doncq is it vray que atrapos te rapuit
tam subito, et non hablando meco?
O Cruda morte et com' amore ceco [?]!
Creca [?] cur corpus curis ita tabuit?
Dedans the Gipsier of his Ceruell habuit
of Scyence plus then any learned greco,
et cum de Mie lodi erat præco
appresso Todos hombres, tunc euanuit.
Quid faciam in questo strano caso?
Cauar gli occhi and lacerat my petto,
romper my collo and tagliar this naso.
Guarda mi dios! non feray, for sospetto:
Yet shal I macerat my self in tali sorte
that his externe shal be my Inword morte.
prosopopœia defunti
Non redamas, sed me vis In amore mori.

XX. SONETTE PEDANTESQUE.

XXI. Σοραισμος ceu coaceruatio et Miscella quædam de diuersis ac variis idiomatibus.

I pistomrise he is sogonimate
dessoubs the planet of Mercurial sphere,
And peripheriat with colescential fat,
that bibaseis anthropien penns his paines to reare,
Opthalms to see, Oreachias for to heare,
Miracula Mensium and mouths commend
per tantos trabaios, as it doeth appeare,
which periergos cariotts plume hathe pend.
Ma pegaso L'ale' hathe him lend,
Neptunus horse boreas helps his passage,
flouds, hils, denns stand Largo to this end,
for his returne, de foy, qui n'est pas-sage,
wheare now he hathe imprinted this brave booke,
whils without poets helps had gone in smooke.

Quis leget hœc? nemo. cur nam? quia sanna petulcus quœsitus multis et iocus omnis abest. Il Incognito.

Quod si nemo legat tamen haud scripsisse pigebit nam quœ nemo legit carpere nemo solet. Il Candido.

XXII. MEDITATION VPON VIRGIN MARYES HATT.

Thow, Pallas, hathe thy helme chaingd in thy hatt,
and hathe thy Sheeld transformed in thy breastes,
wheare louelye Cupids sucke, as thow begatt
these youngling boyes which in thy eyes makes feastes;
But as helme Sheild ar chainged as thow plese,
and att thy pleasour yet resume thair Shaepe,
O might it plese the, Virgin Marye, ease
me of my wounds which Minerus lance maks gaepe.
Tritonia strong, thow brangleth in thy hands
these pearcing dartes which maks my breaste to bleede,
and, cairles of my lyfe, at breache yet stands
for to redouble thy bloues with double speede.
o wishes vaine, whils to my hart
is deeplye fixt my Murther by thy dart!
Fairwell my Loue.

XXIII. AETNA.

My harte as Aetna burnes, and suffers More
paines in my Middle then euer Mary proued;
but yet in this affliction and deepe sore,
where in I frise and frye, she is not moued;
Though thees salt tears which droppeth from my eyes,
and thees whoot sighs which blasteth from my breaste
both haile and flames should quench by fyres and seaes,
Contrarius combatts of my lyfe at least.
but oh! alase, thees beams which from her gemmes,
as she doth pleas to shyne thame or to shutt,
eternall maks my harmes, whiles shee contemns
with courteous Lippe [?] my greeffs Lovs throt to cut.
Fairuuell! my loue, in these my torments cruell,
to droune and die in teares, yet breaths in feuuell.

XXIV. [QUHILS AS THE SUN IS IN AQUARIUS.]

Quhils as the Sun is in aquarius,
and ye have past your course in capricorne,
by theme that vs[i]s sagittarius,
and by your tolrance [?] giues yow taurus horne,
a cancer may yow tak that may yow storne
through pisces in the monthe of februar,
and leo lye of al the beastes forlorne.
as virgo may with gemini bewar,
quhase yoaw will stryde, if aries be nar,
to liue a scorpions merk vpon your brow:
Iudge you by libra gif these sings [?] be far
quhilk the whole Zodiak dois portend to yow;
and thank your deame who in devyne degrie
heth maid yow fourt beast with the horned thrie.

XXV(a). 2 Jun. 1610. Houers suiftlye Comes, yea, dayes with thame draues yeares

XXV(b) 2 Iunii. 1610. Houers comes apace, and dayes with thame draues yeares