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The Castell of Pleasure

by William Nevill: The text of the first issue of the poem with variant readings from the reprint of 1518; Together with introduction, notes and glossary by Roberta D. Cornelius

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Morpheus.

Well knowen it is and noysed for a trothe
Thoughe perchaunce it hath not attayned yet to your audyence
How Desyre in mynde hath made a solempne othe
Beaute to serue without resistence
So to contynue he doeth ryght well prepence
Durynge his lyfe with loue stedfast and sure
In parfyte loue to kepe one contynuaunce
It is his mynde to do her suche pleasure.
On faruent loue he set holy his mynde
Loue is his pleasure yet loue putteth hym to payne
Moche rule I ensure you hath nature and kynde
In hym as is possyble in one to remayne
He wolde fayne haue release and dare not yet complayne
Howbeit to suche a poynte he is now brought
That eyther to shewe his mynde he must shortly be fayne
Or elles his Ioye is clerely solde and bought.
For the whiche it is done me to understande
That he wyll shortly now expresse his entent
And this they saye he wyll take on hande
To go to her presence wherfore be dylygent

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And walke with me and be obedyent
And I shall soone knowe how he shall spede
I must of duety holde me content
So ye supporte me alwaye whan I haue nede