The Works in Verse and Prose (including hitherto unpublished Mss.) of Sir John Davies: for the first time collected and edited: With memorial-introductions and notes: By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. In three volumes |
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Miscellaneous Poems.
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 | The Works in Verse and Prose |  |
445
Miscellaneous Poems.
Hitherto Unpublished.
447
OF FAITH THE FIRST THEOLOGICALL VERTUE.
Faith is a sunbeame of th'Æternall light,That in man's soule infusd by grace doth shine:
Which giues her dazled eye soe cleare a sight
As evidently sees the truith divine;
This beame that cleares our eyes, inflames our hearts,
And Charitie's kind fire doth there begett;
For sunlike, it both light and heate imparts:
Faith is the light, and Charitie the heate:
This light of faith the noblest wisdome is,
For it the onely truith allowes and a'plyes:
The virgin's lamp, that lights the soule to blisse;
The Jacob's scales, whereby shee clymes the skyes;
The eye that sees, the hand that apprehends;
The cause of causes, and the end of ends.
448
A SONGE OF CONTENTION
BETWEENE FOWRE MAIDS CONCERNINGE THAT WHICH ADDETH MOST PERFECTION TO THAT SEXE.
The first for Beauty.
Our fairest Garland, made of beautye's flowers,Doth of it selfe supply all other dowers:
Women excell the perfects' men in this,
And therefore herein theire perfection is:
For beautye wee the glorious heauens admire;
Faire feilds, faire howses, gold and pearle, desire.
Beautye doth alwayes health and youth imploy
and doth delight the noblest sense, the eye.
The second for Witte.
Beautye delights the soule, but witte the Reason:Witte lasts an age, and beautye but a season:
The sense is quickly cloyd with beautye's tast;
When witt's delight still quicke and fresh doth last:
Beautye, weake eyes with her illusion blindes,
Witte conquers spirits and triumphs ouer minds:
Deade things haue beautye, onely man hath witte,
and man's perfection doth consist in it.
449
The third for Wealth.
Wealth is a power that passeth nature farre:Makes euery goose a swanne, and sparke a starre
Queene money, bringes and giues with royall hands
Freinds, kindred, honour, husband, house and lands;
Not a faire face, but fortune faire, I craue,
Lett mee want witte soe I fooles' fortune haue.
The fourth for Vertue.
Yet those perfections most imperfect bee,If there bee wantinge vertuous modestye;
Vertue's aspect would haue the sweetest grace
If wee could see as wee conceaue her face:
Vertue guids witte, with well affected will,
Which if witte want, it proues a dangerous ill:
Vertue gaines wealth with her good gouerment
If not, sh'is rich, because shee is content.
A MAID'S HYMNE IN PRAISE OF VIRGINITY.
Sacred virginity, vnconquered Queene!
Whose kingdome never hath invaded beene;
Of whose sweete rosy crowne noe hand hath power
Once but to touch, much lesse to plucke a flower:
Whose kingdome never hath invaded beene;
450
Once but to touch, much lesse to plucke a flower:
Gainst whome proud love,—which on the world doth raigne,—
With armies of his passions fights in vaine;
In whome gray Winter neuer doth appeare
To whome greene Springtide lasteth all the yeare.
With armies of his passions fights in vaine;
In whome gray Winter neuer doth appeare
To whome greene Springtide lasteth all the yeare.
O fresh immortall baye, vntroubled well,
Or violett, which vntoucht doest sweetest smell;
Faire vine, which without prop doest safely stand
Pure gold, new coynd, which neuer past a hand.
Or violett, which vntoucht doest sweetest smell;
Faire vine, which without prop doest safely stand
Pure gold, new coynd, which neuer past a hand.
O temperance, in the supreame degree
And hiyest pitch that vertue's winges can flee:
O more then humane spirit, of Angells' kind:
O white, unspotted garment of the mind,
And hiyest pitch that vertue's winges can flee:
O more then humane spirit, of Angells' kind:
O white, unspotted garment of the mind,
Which first cloathed man, before hee was forlorne;
And wherein God Himselfe chose to bee borne.
Within my soule, O heavenly vertue rest,
Untill my soule with heaven it selfe bee blest.
And wherein God Himselfe chose to bee borne.
Within my soule, O heavenly vertue rest,
Untill my soule with heaven it selfe bee blest.
451
PART OF AN ELEGIE IN PRAISE OF MARRIAGE.
When the first man from Paradise was driven,
Hee did from thence his onely comfort beare:
Hee still enioyes his wife, which God had giuen,
Though hee from other joyes deuorced were.
Hee did from thence his onely comfort beare:
Hee still enioyes his wife, which God had giuen,
Though hee from other joyes deuorced were.
This cordiall comfort of societye,
This trueloue knott, that tyes the heart and will,
When man was in th'extremest miserye
To keepe his heart from breakinge, existed still
This trueloue knott, that tyes the heart and will,
When man was in th'extremest miserye
To keepe his heart from breakinge, existed still
There is a tale [when] then the world beganne,
Both sex in one body did remaine:
Till Joue, offended with that double man
Caused Vulcan to divide him into twayne.
Both sex in one body did remaine:
Till Joue, offended with that double man
Caused Vulcan to divide him into twayne.
In this diuision, hee the hart did seuer,
But cunningly hee did indent the heart,
That if they should be reunited euer,
Each part might knowe which was the counterpart
But cunningly hee did indent the heart,
That if they should be reunited euer,
Each part might knowe which was the counterpart
Since when, all men and woman thinke it longe
Each of them their other part haue mett:
Sometimes the[y] meete ye right, some times ye wrong
This discontent, and that doth ioy begett.
Each of them their other part haue mett:
452
This discontent, and that doth ioy begett.
It ioye begetts in there indented harts,
When like indentures they are matcht aright:
Each part to other mutuall joy imparts,
And thus the man which Vulcan did deuide,
When like indentures they are matcht aright:
Each part to other mutuall joy imparts,
And thus the man which Vulcan did deuide,
Is nowe againe by Hymen made entire,
And all the ruine is ræedified,
Two beeinge made one by their diuine desire.
Sweete marriage is the honny neuer cloyinge,
And all the ruine is ræedified,
Two beeinge made one by their diuine desire.
Sweete marriage is the honny neuer cloyinge,
The tune, which beinge still plaid, doth euer please,
The pleasure which is vertue's in inioyinge.
It is the band of peace and yoake of ease,
It is a yoake, but sweete [and] light it is;
The pleasure which is vertue's in inioyinge.
It is the band of peace and yoake of ease,
It is a yoake, but sweete [and] light it is;
The fellowship doth take away the trouble,
For euery greife is made halfe lesse by this,
And euery ioy is by reflection double.
It is a band, but one of loue's sweete bands,
For euery greife is made halfe lesse by this,
And euery ioy is by reflection double.
It is a band, but one of loue's sweete bands,
Such as hee binds the world's great parts withall:
Whose wonderous frame by there convention stands
But beinge disbanded would to ruine fall.
Whose wonderous frame by there convention stands
But beinge disbanded would to ruine fall.
453
[A FRAGMENT OF A LOVE ELEGIE.]
But those impressions by this forme are staynde,
and blotted out as if they had not beene:
And yet if nothing else in mynde I beare,
makes me not lesse learn[è]d then before:
For that in her as in a merrour cleare,
I see and learne far better things and more.
The students of the world and Natur's booke,
Beauty and order in the world doe noate;
She is my little world; on her I looke,
and doe in her the same p'fections quoate:
For in her eyes the beames of beauty shine,
and in her sweete behaviour and her grace,
Order apears, and comlines divine,
Befitting every tyme and every place.
and blotted out as if they had not beene:
And yet if nothing else in mynde I beare,
makes me not lesse learn[è]d then before:
For that in her as in a merrour cleare,
I see and learne far better things and more.
The students of the world and Natur's booke,
Beauty and order in the world doe noate;
She is my little world; on her I looke,
and doe in her the same p'fections quoate:
For in her eyes the beames of beauty shine,
and in her sweete behaviour and her grace,
Order apears, and comlines divine,
Befitting every tyme and every place.
3.
Vnto that sparkling wit, that spirit of fire,That pointed diomond looke, that ægle's eye
Whose lyghtning makes audacity retire
and yet drawes on respectiue modesty,
With wings of feare and loue, my spirit doth fly
and doth therein a flame of fire resemble;
Which, when it burnes most bright and mounts most high,
454
O that my thoughts were words, or could I speake
The tongue of Angles, to expresse my mynde:
For mortall speach is far too faint and weeke
to utter passion of so high a kynde.
You have a beauty of such life and light
As it hath power all wandring eyes to stay:
To move dombe tongues to speake, lame hands to write,
Stayde thoughts to run, hard harts to melt a way:
Yet painters' can of this draw every line
And every wittles person that hath eyes,
Can se[e] and judg and sweare it is divine:
For in these outwarde formes all fooles are wise.
But that which my admireing spirit doth veiw,
I[n] thought whereof it would for ever dwell,
Eie never saw, the pensill never drew,
Pen neuer coulde describe, tongue never tell:
It is the invisible beauty of your mynde
Your cleare immagination, lively witt,
So tund, so temp'rd, of such heavenly kind,
As all mens spirits ar charmd and rapt with it.
This life within begetts your lively looke,
As fier doth make all metalls looke like fier;
Or your quicke soule by choise this body tooke,
As angells wth bright formes themselves attire.
455
That so you might my silent wondring veiw:
O that you might my soreing spirit p'ceive,
How still with trembling wings it waites on you.
Then should you se[e] of thoughts an endles chaine,
Whose links are vertues, and yor vertues bee;
Then should you see how your faire forme doth raigne
Through all the regions of my fantesie.
Then should you fynde that I was yours as much
As ar your sharpe conceits borowd of none;
Or as your native beautyes, that are such
As all the world will sweare it is your owne.
4.
As they that worke in mines, rich vaines beray,By some few garaines of ore whereon the[y] hit:
And as one letter found is oft a kay
To many lines that ar in cipher writt;
So I by your few loveing lines descry
Of your long hiden love the golden mine;
And reade therein with a true lover's eye
Of the hart's volume, every secrett line.
But what availes it now, alas to know
That once a blessed man I might haue beene?
456
My highest fortunes sore away vnseene:
And yett if I had raisd my humble eyes
As high as heauen I could not haue discer[n]d
Of invisible thoughts which in your hart did rise,
Unles of you I had my lesson learnd.
But all was darke and folden vp to me;
As soon might I my selfe, my selfe haue taught
To read ye blacke records of destiny,
As read the ridles of the silent thought:
But whereto may I best resemble this?
Your loue was like the springing of a tree:
We cannot see the growing when it is,
But that it hath sprunge up and growne, we see.
Or it is like to wealth by fairyes brought,
Which they bring still while they invisible goe;
But all doth vanish and doth turne to nought,
If once a man enricht, those fairyes know:
But now your loue (say you) is dead and gone;
But my strong faith shall giue it life againe.
By strength of fancy miricles are done,
And true beleefe doth seldom hope in vaine.
Your Phœnix loue is vnto ashes turnd
But now the fier of my affection true,
Which long within my hart hath kyndly burnd,
Shall spreade such heate as it shall liue anew.
457
Be mounted vp to heauen and cannot dye:
Another slye Prometheus will I prove,
and play the theife to steale it from the skye.
When you vouchsaft to love vnworthy me,
Your loue discended like a shower of raine;
Which on the earth, euen senceles though she bee,
when once it falls, returneth not againe.
Then why should you withdraw the heauenly dew
Which fell sometymes on your despairing lover?
Though then his earthly spirit full little knew
How good an Angle did about him houer.
O you the glory of your sex and race!
You that all tymes and places hapie make!
You that in beeing vertuous vertue grace,
and make men love it better for your sake:
One sunbeame yet of favour cast on mee,
Let one kinde thought in your cleare fancy rise:
Loue but a thought, or if that may not be
Be pleasd that I may love, it shall suffise.
TO THE Q:[UEENE.]
What Musicke shall we make to you?
To whome the strings of all men's harts
Make musicke of ten thousand parts:
In tune and measure true,
With straines and changes new.
To whome the strings of all men's harts
458
In tune and measure true,
With straines and changes new.
How shall wee fraime a harmony
Worthie your eares, whose princely hands
Keepe harmony in sundry lands:
Whose people divers be,
In station and degree?
Heauen's tunes may onely please,
and not such aires as theise.
Worthie your eares, whose princely hands
Keepe harmony in sundry lands:
Whose people divers be,
In station and degree?
Heauen's tunes may onely please,
and not such aires as theise.
For you which downe from heauen are sent
Such peace vpon the earth to bring,
Haue h[e]ard ye quire of Angells sing:
and all the sphæres consent,
like a sweete instrument.
Such peace vpon the earth to bring,
Haue h[e]ard ye quire of Angells sing:
and all the sphæres consent,
like a sweete instrument.
How then should theise harsh tunes you heare
Created of ye trubled ayer
breed but distast—when you repaire—
to your celestiall eare?
So that this center here
for you no musicke fynds,
but harmony of mynds.
459
breed but distast—when you repaire—
to your celestiall eare?
So that this center here
for you no musicke fynds,
but harmony of mynds.
[TO FAIRE LADYES.]
Ladyes of Founthill, I am come to seekeMy hart amongst you, which I late did leese;
but many harts may be perhaps alike:
Therefore of mine, the proper markes, are theise.
It is not hard, though true as steele it be,
And like ye diomond, cleare from any spot;
Transmixt with many darts you shall it se[e]
but all by vertue, not by Cupid, shot;
It hath no wings, because it needeth none,
Being now arived and settled where it would;
Wingèd desires and hopes from it gon are,
but it is full of joyes as it can hold.
Faine would I find it where it doth remaine
but would not haue it though I might againe.
460
UPON A PAIRE OF GARTERS.
Go loveinge wood-bynde clip with louely grace,those two sweete plants which beare ye flowers of loue;
Go silken vines, those tender elmes embrace,
Which flourish still, although their roots doe moue.
As soone as you possess your blessed places,
You are advancèd and ennobled more
Then dyodemes, which were white silken laces
That ancient kings about there forehead wore:
Sweete bands, take heed lest you vnge[n]tly bynd,
Or with your stricktnes make too deepe a print:
Was neuer tree had such a tinder rynd,
Although her inward hart be hard as flynt;
And let your knots be fast and loose at will,
she must be free, though I stand bounden still.
[TO HIS LADY-LOVE.]
In his sweete booke, ye treasury of witt,All virtues, beautyes, passions, written be:
And with such life they are sett forth in it
as still methinkes yt which I read I see.
But this booke's Mrs. is a liveing booke,
Which hath indeed those vertues in her mynde,
And in whose face though envye's selfe do looke,
Even envye's eye shall all those beautyes fynd.
461
In her calme thoughts can no impression make:
She will not love, nor hate, nor hope, nor feare,
Though others seeke theise passions for her sake.
So in ye sonne, some say there is no heate
though his reflecting beames doe fire begett.
[TOBACCO.]
Honnour of Moly and Nepen-the singes:Moly, the gods most soveraigne hearbe divine.
Nepen, ye Hellen's drink, which gladnes brings
Hart's greife repells, and doth ye witts refine.
But this our age another world hath found,
From whence an hearbe of heavenly power is brought:
Moly is not soe soveraigne for a wound
Nor hath Nepenth[e] so great wonders wrought.
It is tobacco: whose sweete subtile fume
The hellish torment of ye teeth doth ease,
By drawing downe and drieing vp ye rume
The mother and the nurse of each disease.
462
ELEGIES OF LOUE.
Like as the diuers fretchled Butter-flye,
When Winter's frost is fallne upon his winge,
Hath onely left life's possibility,
and lies halfe dead untill the chere full Spring:
When Winter's frost is fallne upon his winge,
Hath onely left life's possibility,
and lies halfe dead untill the chere full Spring:
But then the Sunne from his all quickning eye,
Darts forth a sparkle of the liuinge fire:
Which with kinde heate, doth warme the frozen flye
and with newe spirit his little breast inspire:
Darts forth a sparkle of the liuinge fire:
Which with kinde heate, doth warme the frozen flye
and with newe spirit his little breast inspire:
Then doth hee lightly rise and spread his winges,
And with the beames that gaue him life doth playe:
Tasts euery flower that on th'earthe's bosoome springs,
and is in busye motion all the day:
And with the beames that gaue him life doth playe:
Tasts euery flower that on th'earthe's bosoome springs,
and is in busye motion all the day:
Soe my gaye Muse, which did my heart possesse,
And in my youthful fantasie doth raigne:
Which cleard my forehead with her cheerefullnes
and gaue a liuely warmth unto my brayne:
And in my youthful fantasie doth raigne:
Which cleard my forehead with her cheerefullnes
and gaue a liuely warmth unto my brayne:
463
With sadder studye, and with graue conceite
Which late my Immagination entertaynd:
Beganne to shrinke, and loose her actiue heate
and dead as in a læthargy remaynd.
Which late my Immagination entertaynd:
Beganne to shrinke, and loose her actiue heate
and dead as in a læthargy remaynd.
Long in that senseles sleepe congeald shee laye,
Untill euen now another heauenly eye,
And cleare as that which doth begett the daye,
and of a like reviuinge simpathy:
Untill euen now another heauenly eye,
And cleare as that which doth begett the daye,
and of a like reviuinge simpathy:
Did cast into my eyes a subtile beame,
Which peirieinge deepe, into my fancy went,
And did awake my muse out of her dreame,
and unto her new life and vertue lent:
Which peirieinge deepe, into my fancy went,
And did awake my muse out of her dreame,
and unto her new life and vertue lent:
Soe that shee now begins to raise her eyes
Which yett are dazled with her beautye's raye;
And to record her wonted melodyes,
Although at first shee bee not full so gaye.
Which yett are dazled with her beautye's raye;
And to record her wonted melodyes,
Although at first shee bee not full so gaye.
TO THE KINGE
UPON HIS MA'TIES FIRST COMMING INTO ENGLAND.
O now or neuer, gentle Muse, be gaye:
And mount up higher with thy paper winges,
Than doth the larke when hee sallutes the daye,
And to the morne a merry wellcome singes.
And mount up higher with thy paper winges,
464
And to the morne a merry wellcome singes.
Thou must goe meete King James, upon the way
Advanceing Southward, with his golden trayne;
And know him too thou maist at first survaye,
by proper noates and by distinctions plaine.
Advanceing Southward, with his golden trayne;
And know him too thou maist at first survaye,
by proper noates and by distinctions plaine.
By his faire outward formes, and princely port,
By honour done to him with cap and knee,
Hee is distinguist to the vulgar sort:
but truer characters will rise to thee.
By honour done to him with cap and knee,
Hee is distinguist to the vulgar sort:
but truer characters will rise to thee.
Thy sight had once an influence divine,
Which gaue it power the Soule of man to vew:
Wipe and make cleare that dazled eye of thine,
and thou shalt see his reall markes and true.
Which gaue it power the Soule of man to vew:
Wipe and make cleare that dazled eye of thine,
and thou shalt see his reall markes and true.
Looke over all that divers troope, and finde
Who hath his spirits most joviall and free;
Whose body is best tempred, and whose mind
is ever best in tune; and that is hee.
Who hath his spirits most joviall and free;
Whose body is best tempred, and whose mind
is ever best in tune; and that is hee.
See who it is, whose actions doe bewraye
That threefold power, which rarely mixt wee see;
A judgment grave, and yett a fancy gaye
joynd with a rich remembrance, That is hee.
That threefold power, which rarely mixt wee see;
A judgment grave, and yett a fancy gaye
joynd with a rich remembrance, That is hee.
Marke who it is, that hath all noble skill,
Which may to publicke good referrèd bee:
The sharpest witte and best affected will,
whence floes a streame of vertues, That is hee.
Which may to publicke good referrèd bee:
465
whence floes a streame of vertues, That is hee.
If any more then other clearely wise,
Or wisely just, or justly valiant bee;
If any doe faint pleasure more dispise
or bee more maister of himselfe, its hee.
Or wisely just, or justly valiant bee;
If any doe faint pleasure more dispise
or bee more maister of himselfe, its hee.
But soft, thine eagle's eye will soone bee dim,
If thou this risinge sonne directly vewe:
Looke sidewayes on the beames that spread from him,
Faire peace, with Plenty, and Religion true.
If thou this risinge sonne directly vewe:
Looke sidewayes on the beames that spread from him,
Faire peace, with Plenty, and Religion true.
With that strong g'ard of Angells which doe houer
About his sacred person, daye and night:
And with invissible winges his head doe cover,
that danger's darts thereon may neuer light.
About his sacred person, daye and night:
And with invissible winges his head doe cover,
that danger's darts thereon may neuer light.
Now on, for wingèd Time with thee goes on,
Which like old Æson hath his youth renewed,
His hower glasse turnd, and his sickle gon,
and all his graye and broken feathers mewd.
Which like old Æson hath his youth renewed,
His hower glasse turnd, and his sickle gon,
and all his graye and broken feathers mewd.
On, for the brave young sonne above his head
Comes North ward, that hee may his glory meete;
While the fresh Earth in all her pride doth spread,
greene velvett carpetts underneath his feete.
Comes North ward, that hee may his glory meete;
466
greene velvett carpetts underneath his feete.
On, for the birdes will helpe to fill the songe,
Whereto all English hartstringes will a gree:
An' th'Irish harpstringes that have jarrd soe longe,
to make the Musicke full, now tunèd bee.
Whereto all English hartstringes will a gree:
An' th'Irish harpstringes that have jarrd soe longe,
to make the Musicke full, now tunèd bee.
There is noe eye cast downe, there is no voyce
Which to expresse the harts assent, is dumbe:
The world of thinges doth every where rejoyce
In certaine hope of blessed times to come.
Which to expresse the harts assent, is dumbe:
The world of thinges doth every where rejoyce
In certaine hope of blessed times to come.
While thousands doe posses and fill the wayes,
The[y] both desire and hinder his repaire;
They fill the emptie aire with prayer and praise,
which hee requitts with demonstrations faire.
The[y] both desire and hinder his repaire;
They fill the emptie aire with prayer and praise,
which hee requitts with demonstrations faire.
TO THE QUEENE AT THE SAME TIME.
If wee in peace had not received the kinge
Wee see wee had beene conquered, since wee see
The Queene such armyes doth of beauties bringe
As all our eyes and hearts her vassals bee.
Wee see wee had beene conquered, since wee see
The Queene such armyes doth of beauties bringe
As all our eyes and hearts her vassals bee.
The Danish armyes once great honnour wonne
Upon this Land; yett conquered but a part.
But you greate Lady more, alone, haue done
For at first sight you conquer'd every heart.
Upon this Land; yett conquered but a part.
But you greate Lady more, alone, haue done
For at first sight you conquer'd every heart.
467
Starre of the North! upon these Northerne Realmes
Long may your vertues and your beauties raigne:
Beyond our Cinthiae's yeares, whose golden Beames
Ar[e] sett with vs, and cannot shine againe:
Long may your vertues and your beauties raigne:
Beyond our Cinthiae's yeares, whose golden Beames
Ar[e] sett with vs, and cannot shine againe:
Well may it bee; though sunne and moone goe downe
Seas haue noe power the North pole starre to drowne
Seas haue noe power the North pole starre to drowne
MIRA LOQUOR SOL OCCUBUIT NOX NULLA SECUTA EST.
By that Eclipse which darkned our Appollo,Our sunne did sett, and yett noe night did follow;
For his successor's vertues shone soe bright,
As they continued still, there former ligbt;
And gaue the world a farther expectation
To adde a greater splendor to our Nation.
CHARLES HIS WAINE.
Brittaine doth vnder those bright starres remaine,Which English Shepheards, Charles his waine, doe name;
But more this Ile is Charles, his waine,
Since Charles her royall wagoner became.
For Charles, which now in Arthure's seate doth raigne,
Is our Arcturus, and doth guide the waine.
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OF THE NAME OF CHAROLUS, BEING THE DIMINATIVE OF CHARUS.
The name of Charles, darlinge signifies:A name most fitte, for hee was ever such.
Neuer was Prince soe deare in all mens eyes,
Soe highly valued or esteemd soe much:
Edgar was England's darlinge, once wee find,
But Charles the Darlinge is of all mankind.
VERSES SENT TO THE KINGE WITH FIGGES: BY Sr. JOHN DAVIS.
To add unto the first man's happiness,His maker did for him a garden make;
And placd him there, that hee the same might dresse,
And pleasure great with little labour take.
And this with nature stands, and reason right,
That man who first was formèd of the earth
In trimminge of the earth should take delight,
And her adorne from whom hee tooke his birth.
Nor her for this doth hee ungratefull finde;
For shee in gardens her best fruites doth yealde.
The Earth in gardens is a mother kinde,
When shee is but a steepdame in the feild.
Sir, in your service God hath mee soe blest
As I haue beene enabled to acquire
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Whereto in vacant times I doe retire.
This garden, and the fruite thereof, indeede
Are fruites of your great favour unto mee;
And therefore all the fruites which thence proceed
A proper offeringe to your Highnes bee:
But if this verse or boldness, meritt blame,
Those figge leaues, Sr. I hope shall hide the same.
[LOVE-LINES.]
Stay lovely boy! why flyest thou meethat languish in theis flames for thee?
I'me black 'tis true—why so is night,
yet louers in darke shades delight:
the whole World, doe but close thyne eye
will appeare as black as I;
or open'd view but what a shade
is by thyne owne fayre body made,
that follows thee where ere thou goe:
Ah, who alow'd would not doe so?
Lett mee for euer dwell so nigh,
and thou shalt need no shade but I.
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[LOVE-FLIGHT.]
Black Mayel, complayne not yt I flye,since fate commaunds antipathy:
prodigious must yt vnion proue,
where day and night togeather moue:
and the commotion of our lipps
not kisses make but an eclipps;
where the commixèd blacke and white
portend more terrour then delight:
yet if thou wilt my shaddow bee,
enioy thy deerest wish, but see
that like my shaddow's property
thou hast away as I come nye:
els[e] stay till death hath blinded mee
then Ile bequeath my selfe to thee.
AN ELEGIECALL EPISTLE ON SIR JOHN DAVIS DEATH.
Morgan! to call thee sadd and discontenteWere to proclaime thee weake; twere an evente
Of more then folly, since the obscurest eye
Is witness of thy magnanimity:
And yett to tell thee that thou hast noe cause
To greife, were to belye thy worth, because
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And deepe despites giue fortitude a name.
Tis true hee's dead, and the sterne fates (accurst)
There browes haue wrinkled, and haue done their worst
To spite this State and thee, in tearinge hence
That Nature's Accademy, that Starre, from whence
Streamd such full influence, of what the mind
Accounteth quintisentiall; and the vnkinde
And cruell Death, hath blasted such a flower,
Stolne such a gemme, as makes the sad Earth poore.
And yett alasse hee is not fledd for want
Of what could make the ambitious, proud soule vaunt:
For whilst hee liv'd hee brocke up Honour's gates
And pluckt bright fame from snarling Envie's grates
Doomd to obliuion; and his unmatchèd penne
(Drop'd from the winge of some bright Seraphin)
Inculpes him thus to all eternitye
The eldest of the Muses proginie.
Said I hee's dead? not soe; he could not die,
But findinge that curst lucre, bribery
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Of the Tribunall's tenants, and the times
Not suitinge with his vertues, cause his manner
Was to deserue and not desire, an honour
Hee's sor'd aloft, where nought but virtue's pris'd,
And where base Mammon is not idoliz'd:
To that Kinge's Bench where Iustice is not go uld,
Nor honours with old Ladies bought and sould;
To heauen's Exchequer, with intent to paye,
And render thence the Royall subsidaye
Of his rich spirit, which his soueraigne tooke
Without subscription, and crost Nature's booke.
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