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A light Bondell of liuly discourses called Churchyards Charge

presented as a Newe yeres gifte to the right honourable, the Earl of Surrie, in which Bondell of verses is sutche varietie of matter, and seuerall inuentions, that maie bee as delitefull to the Reader, as it was a Charge and labour to the writer, sette forthe for a peece of pastime, by Thomas Churchyarde
 

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Of stedfastnesse and constancie.
 
 
 
 

Of stedfastnesse and constancie.

When Constance maks, her boed in bloudie breast,
And builds her bowre, with bowes of bloming trothe:
There frendly faithe, is sure a welcome geast,
And Ioue doeth dwell, and Ladie Uenus bothe.
The Gods are glad, to vewe sutche trothe belowe,
The heauens hopp to see sutche Constance flowe.
But where fonde luste, doeth leade firme loue awrie,
And fickle toies, in feeble fancie falls:
And foule delite, doeth feede the wantons eye,
And stedfast harts, are toste like Tennis balls,
There Pluto raignes, with all his hounds of hell,
In irksome shame, and smothryng smoke to dwell.
Oh what a praise, hath Constance shinyng face,
What greater blott, maie be then breache of loue:
The constant minde, hath sodaine change in chace,
But thei that will, of eury water proue.
Shall drinke sowre whey, in steede of sirup sweete,
For licrus lusts, a licour fitte and meete.
Tenne thousande false, I finde where one is true,
With faithe forsworne, loe eury face apears:

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These faithlesse fooles, that chaunge for eury newe,
Doe looke full smothe, yet proue but scrattyng Brears,
Since foule deceipts, hath filde the worlde with vice.
We ought to giue, dame Constance all the price.
O blasyng starre, that burnes like Eathna flame,
O fickle dames, goe hide your hedds in holes:
Approche not nere, where I doe Constance name,
Your dwellyngs are, emong the dampned soles.
Goe girnyng girles, and giglotts where ye luste,
Dame Constance sitts, in glorie with the iuste.
FINIS.