[A sweet Nosgay, Or pleasant Posye contayning a hundred and ten Phylosophicall Flowers] [by Isabella Whitney] |
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An order prescribed, by IS. VV. to two of her yonger Sisters seruinge in London. |
 | [A sweet Nosgay, Or pleasant Posye |  |
An order prescribed, by IS. VV. to two of her yonger Sisters seruinge in London.
Good
Sisters mine, when I
shal further from you dwell:
Peruse these lines, obserue the rules
which in the same I tell.
So shal you wealth posses,
and quietnesse of mynde:
And al your friends to se the same,
a treble ioy shall fynde.
shal further from you dwell:
Peruse these lines, obserue the rules
which in the same I tell.
So shal you wealth posses,
and quietnesse of mynde:
And al your friends to se the same,
a treble ioy shall fynde.
1.
In mornings when you ryse,forget not to commende:
Your selues to God, beseching him
from dangers to defende.
Your soules and boddies both,
your Parents and your friends:
Your teachers and your gouerners
so pray you that your ends,
May be in such a sort,
as God may pleased bee:
To liue to dye, to dye to liue,
with him eternally.
2.
Then iustly do such deedes,as are to you assynde:
All wanton toyes, good sisters now
exile out of your minde,
I hope you geue no cause,
wherby I should suspect:
But this I know too many liue,
that would you soone infect.
Yf God do not preuent,
or with his grace expell:
I cannot speake, or wryte to much,
because I loue you well.
3.
Your busines soone dispatch,and listen to no lyes:
Nor credit euery fayned tale,
that many wyll deuise.
For words they are but winde.
yet words may hurt you so:
As you shall neuer brook the same,
yf that you haue a foe.
God shyld you from all such,
as would by word or Byll.
Procure your shame, or neuer cease
tyll they haue wrought you yll.
4.
See that you secrets seale,tread trifles vnder ground:
Yf to rehersall oft you come,
it wyl your quiet wound.
Of laughter be not much,
nor ouer solemne seeme:
For then be sure th' eyle coumpt you light
or proud wil you exteeme.
Be modest in a meane,
be gentyll vnto all:
Though cause thei geue of contrari
yet be to wrath no thrall.
Refer you all to hym,
that sits aboue the skyes:
Uengeance is his, he wil reveng,
you need it not deuise.
5.
And sith that vertue guides,where both of you do dwell:
Geue thanks to God, & painful bee
to please your rulers well.
For fleetyng is a foe,
experience hath me taught:
The rolling stone doth get no mosse
your selues haue hard full oft.
and this my scroule pervsd,
The day wyll end, and that ye night
by you be not abusde.
I some thing nedes must write,
take paynes to read the same:
Hencefoorth my lyfe as wel as Pen
shall your examples frame.
6.
Your Masters gon to Bed,your Mistresses at rest.
Their Daughters all wt hast about
to get themselues vndrest.
See that their Plate be safe,
and that no Spoone do lacke,
See Dores & Windowes bolted fast
for feare of any wrack.
Then help yf neede ther bee,
to doo some housholde thing:
Yf not to bed, referring you,
vnto the heauenly King.
Forgettyng not to pray
as I before you taught,
And geueing thanks for al that he,
hath euer for you wrought.
let me remembred be:
So wyll I you, and thus I cease,
tyll I your selues do see.
(quoth) IS. VV.
| [A sweet Nosgay, Or pleasant Posye | |