University of Virginia Library

Thestilis a sely man

The complaint of Thestilis amid the desert wodde.

Thestilis a sely man, when loue did him forsake,
In mourning wise, amid [the] woods thus gan his plaint to make.
Ah wofull man (quod he) fallen is thy lot to mone
And pyne away w[ith] carefull thoughts, vnto thy loue vnknowen.
Thy lady thee forsakes whom thou didst honor so
That ay to her thou wer a frend, and to thy self a foe.
Ye louers that haue lost your heartes desyred choyse,
Lament with me my cruell happe, & helpe my trembling voyce.
Was neuer man that stode so great in fortunes grace:
Nor with his swete alas to deare possest so high a place.
As I whose simple hart aye thought him selfe full sure,
But now I se hye springyng tides they may not aye endure.
She knowes my giltelesse hart, and yet she lets it pine,
Of her vntrue professed loue so feble is the twine.
What wonder is it than, if I berent my heeres,
And crauyng death continually do bathe my selfe in teares,
When Cresus king of Lide was cast in cruell bandes,
And yelded goodes and life also into his enemies handes.

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What tong could tell hys wo yet was hys griefe much lesse:
Then mine for I haue lost my loue which might my woe redresse.
Ye woodes that shroud my limes giue now your holow sound,
That ye may helpe me to bewaile the cares that me confound.
Ye riuers rest a while and stay the stremes that runne,
Rew Thestilis most woful man that liueth vnder sunne.
Transport my sighes ye windes vnto my pleasant foe,
My trickling teares shall witnesse bear of this my cruell woe.
O happy man wer I if all the goddes agreed:
That now the susters three should cut in twaine my fatall threde.
Till life with loue shall ende I here resigne all ioy:
Thy pleasant swete I now lament whose lack bredes myne anoy
Farewell my deare therfore farewell to me well knowne
If that I die it shalbe sayd that thou hast slaine thine owne.