University of Virginia Library

Svch waiward waies

Of the sutteltye of craftye louers.

Svch waiward waies haue some when folly stirres their braines
To fain & plaine full oft of loue when lest they fele his paynes.
And for to shew a griefe such craft haue they in store,
That they can halt and lay a salue wheras they fele no sore.
As hounde vnto the fote, or dogge vnto the bow,
So are they made to vent her out whom bent to loue they know
That if I should discribe on hundred of their driftes
Two hu[n]dred witts beside mine owne I should put to their shiftes
No woodman better knowes how for to lodge his dere,
Nor shypman on the sea that more hath skill to guide the stere
Nor beaten dogge to herd can warer chose his game,
Nor scholeman to his fansy can a scholer better frame.
Then one of these which haue olde Ouids art in vre,
Can seke the wayes vnto their minde a woman to allure.
As rounde about a hiue the bees do swarme alway,
So rounde about [the] house they prease wherin they seke their pray.
And whom they so besege, it is a wonderous thing,
What crafty engins to assault these wily warriers bring.
The eye as scout and watch to stirre both to and fro,

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Aa3r

Doth serue to stale her here & there where she doth come and go,
The tonge doth plede for right as herauld of the hart:
And both the handes as oratours do serue to point theyr part.
So shewes the countinaunce then with these fowre to agree,
As though in witnes with the rest it wold hers sworne be.
But if she then mistrust it would turne black to whyte,
For that the woorrier lokes most smoth whe[n] he wold fainest bite.
Then wit as counsellor a help for this to fynde:
Straight makes [the] hand as secretayr forthwith to write his minde
And so the letters straight embassadours are made,
To treate in hast for to procure her to a better trade.
Wherin if she do think all this is but a shewe,
Or but a subtile masking cloke to hyde a craft ye

[_]

craftye

shrewe.
Then come they to the larme, then shew they in the fielde,
Then muster they in colours strange that wayes to make her yeld
Then shoote they batrye of, then compasse they her in,
At tilte and turney oft they striue this selly soule to win.
Then sound they on their Lutes then strain they forth their so[n]ge,
Then romble they with instrumentes to laye her quite a long.
Then borde they her with giftes then doe they woe and watche,
Then night and day they labour hard this simple holde to catche.
As pathes within a woode, or turnes within a mase:
So then they shewe of wyles & craftes they can a thousand wayes