University of Virginia Library

Armat spina rosas.
[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

Hard is it for the patient which is ill,
Fulsome or bitter potions to disgest,
Yet must he swallow many a bitter pill,
E're he regaine his former health & rest:
To keep the body safe is mans desire,
Though it be done through water, sword, & fire.
The hardy soldier, with death-threatning sword,
To kill his hostile enemy procures,
In hope the conquest will rich spoiles afford,
He mortall strokes & bloody woundes endures:
Victorious tryumph ther doth never grow,
But by the adverse parties overthrowe.
The silly bee his hony doth defend,
And from his hive doth chase the drone away;
Yea oftentimes with man it doth contend
And 'gainst him doth his threatning sting display:
Loth is it his mellifluous meat forgoe,
Which with such paine it gathers too & froe.

128

The odoriferous & fragrant rose,
Which in the spring tide shewes his blushing hiewe,
For fence it selfe with prickes doth round enclose,
Which make the gatherer oftentimes to rue,
And wish, with his prickt fingers making mone,
That he had let the verdant rose alone.
T[h]e amorous lover, ere he can enioy
His wishèd end, doth many paines endure;
Sometime his love disdainfull is & coy,
And will not stoop vnto his gentle lure;
Sometime he feares she will vnconstant prove,
And not reward him faithfull love for love.
Straight is the passage vertue to attaine,
And steep the hill that vnto honour leads;
Art is not had without industrious paine,
Nor wealth possest by praying vpon beads:
Things of great prise are not atchiev'de with ease,
But once attaind, they doe for ever please.