The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton For the First Time Collected and Edited: With Memorial-Introduction, Notes and Illustrations, Glossarial Index, Facsimilies, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. In Two Volumes |
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| 1. | A farewell to the world and the
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 | The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton |  |
A farewell to the world and the pleasures thereof.
Sonet I.
Now for the last farewell I meane to make,
To all the troubles, of my tiréd thought:
This leaue at last, and this last leaue I take,
Of some and all that haue my sorrowe sought.
To all the troubles, of my tiréd thought:
This leaue at last, and this last leaue I take,
Of some and all that haue my sorrowe sought.
First youth farewell the fore Runner of wit,
A time more staide, hath taught me better stages,
Then where repentance doth with sorrowe sit,
To shew the ruines of vnbridled Ages.
A time more staide, hath taught me better stages,
Then where repentance doth with sorrowe sit,
To shew the ruines of vnbridled Ages.
Next farewell Beautie, thou bewitching glasse,
That blind'st the eye, of all unseason'd seeing:
Mine eye now sees, wherein my blindnesse was,
I could not see my blindnesse in thy being.
That blind'st the eye, of all unseason'd seeing:
Mine eye now sees, wherein my blindnesse was,
I could not see my blindnesse in thy being.
Friendship farewell, where faith doth finde no trust,
For men are Monsters, and then what are women?
Experience now prooues Iudgement was vniust,
Where wit was folly, that made slaues of free-men.
For men are Monsters, and then what are women?
Experience now prooues Iudgement was vniust,
Where wit was folly, that made slaues of free-men.
And loue farewell, the Laborinthe of time,
Which killes the spirits with continuall care,
I now haue found the Snaile out by his slime,
And will not come, where such slye creepers are.
Which killes the spirits with continuall care,
I now haue found the Snaile out by his slime,
And will not come, where such slye creepers are.
And power farewell, the perill of conceite,
Where pride is hellish in impatience:
Strong is my weakenes, that now bids me waite,
But on the blessing of obedience.
Where pride is hellish in impatience:
Strong is my weakenes, that now bids me waite,
But on the blessing of obedience.
And hope farewell, the weakest holde of wit,
That euer help't, the heart to happinesse:
For wisdome's care, that well hath sounded it,
Findes it a flatterer but of idlenes.
That euer help't, the heart to happinesse:
For wisdome's care, that well hath sounded it,
Findes it a flatterer but of idlenes.
And farewell fortune, the moste idle fiction,
That euer fancy laide her labour on:
Truth, against whome there is no contradiction,
Showes one of force, but fortune there is none.
That euer fancy laide her labour on:
Truth, against whome there is no contradiction,
Showes one of force, but fortune there is none.
And arte farewell, the onely woe of wit,
That beates the Anuile of a busy braine,
With simple skill I now had rather sit
Then work for grace, and other get the gaine.
That beates the Anuile of a busy braine,
With simple skill I now had rather sit
Then work for grace, and other get the gaine.
And farewell time, that neuer giuest rest,
Vnto the body or the spirits paine:
Eternall blisse, hath so my spirite blest,
I will not harken vnto time againe.
Vnto the body or the spirits paine:
Eternall blisse, hath so my spirite blest,
I will not harken vnto time againe.
And farewell all that may be bid farewell,
Within this world of wretchednes and woe:
My spirit seekes but only there to dwell,
Where puer truth doth no corruption knowe.
Within this world of wretchednes and woe:
My spirit seekes but only there to dwell,
Where puer truth doth no corruption knowe.
A Gowne of Veluet and a chaine of pearle,
Shall now bewitche mine eyes with folly gazes
When vnderneath, an idle headed girle,
May feede the minde, but with dishonor's mazes.
Shall now bewitche mine eyes with folly gazes
When vnderneath, an idle headed girle,
May feede the minde, but with dishonor's mazes.
The seate of power too neere the Sin of pride,
Shall with Ambition, not infect my minde:
A ioyfull peace, within my soule hath tride,
The sweetest life is in the meane to finde.
Shall with Ambition, not infect my minde:
A ioyfull peace, within my soule hath tride,
The sweetest life is in the meane to finde.
The filéd tongue of fayning eloquence:
Shall now no more abuse my simple trust:
In yea and nay, I finde that excellence,
Where perfect iudgements cannot prooue vniust.
Shall now no more abuse my simple trust:
In yea and nay, I finde that excellence,
Where perfect iudgements cannot prooue vniust.
The sound of warre shal not inchaunt mine ear
With honour's musicke, to abuse my heart:
The blesséd peace, that patient spirits beare,
In heauenly consortes haue no bloudy parte.
With honour's musicke, to abuse my heart:
The blesséd peace, that patient spirits beare,
In heauenly consortes haue no bloudy parte.
The long delaying studdie of the lawe,
Shall beate no hammers in my wearie braine,
Nor loose my Corne in striuing for a strawe,
But keepe my right, & hate a wrongfull gaine.
Shall beate no hammers in my wearie braine,
Nor loose my Corne in striuing for a strawe,
But keepe my right, & hate a wrongfull gaine.
The greedie labours, of the grumbling Chuffe,
I will not followe, for a rusty wealth:
But in discretion thinke that worke enough,
That cloathes the flesh, and keepes the soule in health.
I will not followe, for a rusty wealth:
But in discretion thinke that worke enough,
That cloathes the flesh, and keepes the soule in health.
And I wil leaue Court, Cittie, towne and fielde,
Warres, Lawe and traffique, pollycie and paine:
And see what life the country loue will yeelde,
Where Shepheards keepe the flockes vpon the plaine.
Warres, Lawe and traffique, pollycie and paine:
And see what life the country loue will yeelde,
Where Shepheards keepe the flockes vpon the plaine.
There will I sit and in the sacred sence,
Of heauenly vertues high instructions:
Learne in Aglaias nature's excellence,
Of Loue's conceites, to make the best constructions.
Where God alone shall in my soule be loued,
And faithe's affection in true fancy proued.
Of heauenly vertues high instructions:
Learne in Aglaias nature's excellence,
Of Loue's conceites, to make the best constructions.
Where God alone shall in my soule be loued,
And faithe's affection in true fancy proued.
10
Which done, my heart shall lie vpon my brest,
That truth shall shewe the secret of my thought:
Where patience prooues the spirit onely blest,
That lookes at heauen and sets the world at nought.
That truth shall shewe the secret of my thought:
Where patience prooues the spirit onely blest,
That lookes at heauen and sets the world at nought.
Thus will I sit, and set my pipe in tune,
And plaie as merry as the day is long:
And as in Aprill, so againe in Iune,
Fit both my spring, and haruest with a song.
And plaie as merry as the day is long:
And as in Aprill, so againe in Iune,
Fit both my spring, and haruest with a song.
My Pipe shall bee but of a dainty reede,
That growes within the Riuer of delight:
Where euerie stop shall stand my heart in steed,
To guide the spirrit of my musicke right.
That growes within the Riuer of delight:
Where euerie stop shall stand my heart in steed,
To guide the spirrit of my musicke right.
And for my ditties, they shall be diuine:
When time shall onely on Aglaia rest,
While fancy so shall euerie note refine,
That euerie passion shall be well exprest.
When time shall onely on Aglaia rest,
While fancy so shall euerie note refine,
That euerie passion shall be well exprest.
And when the Musicke of my pipe is done,
Then what is needefull to my flocke goe see:
And from the plant that prospers in the Sunne,
Cut of the succors least they spoyle the tree.
Then what is needefull to my flocke goe see:
And from the plant that prospers in the Sunne,
Cut of the succors least they spoyle the tree.
And then goe looke vnto the worme and flie,
That may annoy my Lambkins, or their Dambes,
And to each griefe such presente helpe apply,
As may preserue the smallest of my Lambes.
That may annoy my Lambkins, or their Dambes,
And to each griefe such presente helpe apply,
As may preserue the smallest of my Lambes.
And if I see the Wolfe, the Brocke, the Foxe,
Or any varmin stealing downe a furrowe:
To make a praye among my prettie flocke,
Send out my Dog, and beate him to his borough.
Or any varmin stealing downe a furrowe:
To make a praye among my prettie flocke,
Send out my Dog, and beate him to his borough.
And when I heare the Nightingale recorde,
The Musicke, wherein Nature pleaseth Arte:
To trie how loue can with her tune accorde,
To sound the passions of a painting hearte:
The Musicke, wherein Nature pleaseth Arte:
To trie how loue can with her tune accorde,
To sound the passions of a painting hearte:
And when that shee her warbling Tunnes doth ease,
And shades her selfe from parching sommer's heate,
Then learne of her, how I may holde my peace,
While lesser Birdes, the idle ayre doe beate:
And shades her selfe from parching sommer's heate,
Then learne of her, how I may holde my peace,
While lesser Birdes, the idle ayre doe beate:
And when I sit vpon that sweetest mountaine,
Where growes the grasse, that feedes my fairest flockes,
And there beholde, that Christall cleerest fountaine,
That sendes her streames distilling through the Rockes.
Where growes the grasse, that feedes my fairest flockes,
And there beholde, that Christall cleerest fountaine,
That sendes her streames distilling through the Rockes.
And seeing there the heartes-ease growing by it,
The onely flower of fancie's best affection:
And thinke how Nature in her pride doth die it:
To put downe painting in her Arte's prefection.
The onely flower of fancie's best affection:
And thinke how Nature in her pride doth die it:
To put downe painting in her Arte's prefection.
Then lift mine eye vnto that hande on high,
That worketh all thinges by his holy will:
And giue all glory to this Maiestie:
Whose onely wisdome shewes all wonder skill.
That worketh all thinges by his holy will:
And giue all glory to this Maiestie:
Whose onely wisdome shewes all wonder skill.
Then on the earth fall humbly on my face,
And pray to him that made both day and night:
First to inspire me with his holy grace,
And then to blesse me in Aglaia's light.
And pray to him that made both day and night:
First to inspire me with his holy grace,
And then to blesse me in Aglaia's light.
And when I see the Trees beginne to Bud,
And euerye grasse, put foorth his fairest greene,
And euerie kidde begin to chew the Cudde,
And Flora haunt it like a Medowe Queene.
And euerye grasse, put foorth his fairest greene,
And euerie kidde begin to chew the Cudde,
And Flora haunt it like a Medowe Queene.
And all the Muses, dresse vp all their bowers,
And set their Consorts in so high a Key:
As if they met in Musicke's sweetest powers,
To play and sing some Princely Roundelay.
And set their Consorts in so high a Key:
As if they met in Musicke's sweetest powers,
To play and sing some Princely Roundelay.
Then still againe vnto my God on high,
Giue all due prayse, who in his grace hath prooued,
Aglaia blesséd in his gratious eye:
That so doth liue of Creatures all beloued.
Giue all due prayse, who in his grace hath prooued,
Aglaia blesséd in his gratious eye:
That so doth liue of Creatures all beloued.
| The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton | |