A banqvet of daintie conceits Furnished with verie delicate and choyse inuentions, to delight their mindes, who take pleasure in Musique, and there-withall to sing sweete Ditties, either to the Lute, Bandora, Virginalles, or anie other Instrument. Published at the desire of both Honorable and Worshipfull personages, who haue had copies of diuers of the Ditties heerein contained. Written by A. M. [i.e. Anthony Munday] |
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 | A banqvet of daintie conceits |  |
A pleasant Dittie, of a familiar communication, that passed betweene certaine Ladies, as they walked abroade into the fields for their recreation: wherein is prooued, that Beautie is nothing worth, except it be coupled with vertue.
It
was my chaunce to walke abroade,
where Ladies were a sporting:
And youthfull yonkers on a row,
from euery place resorting.
And sitting downe vpon the bancks,
where Flowers grew full sweetlie:
By one and one they did begin,
to speake their seuerall fancie.
One did Beautie much commend,
Saying such a daintie freende:
deserued estimation:
And they that were not Beauties freends,
Should reape dishonour for amendes:
sooner then commendation.
where Ladies were a sporting:
And youthfull yonkers on a row,
from euery place resorting.
And sitting downe vpon the bancks,
where Flowers grew full sweetlie:
By one and one they did begin,
to speake their seuerall fancie.
One did Beautie much commend,
Saying such a daintie freende:
deserued estimation:
And they that were not Beauties freends,
Should reape dishonour for amendes:
sooner then commendation.
The second Lady then replied,
and said, I like well Beautie:
If vertue be conioynd therewith,
it then becomes it fitly.
For what may better beare the name,
of Beauties soueraigne gracing:
Then Uertue which so decks the same,
there can be no defacing.
But beauty that's maintaind by pride
Hath no assuraunce to abide,
but quickly is confounded:
Let Uertue dwell in Beauties breast,
And then must Beautie needs be blest,
that is so surely grounded.
and said, I like well Beautie:
If vertue be conioynd therewith,
it then becomes it fitly.
For what may better beare the name,
of Beauties soueraigne gracing:
Then Uertue which so decks the same,
there can be no defacing.
But beauty that's maintaind by pride
Hath no assuraunce to abide,
but quickly is confounded:
Let Uertue dwell in Beauties breast,
And then must Beautie needs be blest,
that is so surely grounded.
We must not name them beautifull,
which beare a gaye complexion:
And make no reckoning of their states,
but liue without discretion.
And wound their honor with disgrace,
in companie lasciuious:
Who onely praise their daintie face,
to worke them treason tretcherous.
Faire beauty liketh none of this,
That with pure Uertue ioyned is,
but highly dooth disdaine it:
Then let vs name that Woman faire,
That of her credite hath a care,
least any spot should staine it.
which beare a gaye complexion:
And make no reckoning of their states,
but liue without discretion.
And wound their honor with disgrace,
in companie lasciuious:
Who onely praise their daintie face,
to worke them treason tretcherous.
Faire beauty liketh none of this,
That with pure Uertue ioyned is,
but highly dooth disdaine it:
Then let vs name that Woman faire,
That of her credite hath a care,
least any spot should staine it.
Your iudgment (Sister) quoth the third,
is not to be despised:
For Beautie walketh now a daies,
me thinks too much disguised.
For they that seeme in outward show,
as Saints in their profession:
So carelesse out of course doo goe,
as it is past suspition.
And yet are these accounted faire,
Who dare not looke into the ayre,
least that the Sun should show them:
Faire Beautie that is faire indeede,
Accounts this Beautie as a weede,
and thinketh scorne to know them.
is not to be despised:
For Beautie walketh now a daies,
me thinks too much disguised.
as Saints in their profession:
So carelesse out of course doo goe,
as it is past suspition.
And yet are these accounted faire,
Who dare not looke into the ayre,
least that the Sun should show them:
Faire Beautie that is faire indeede,
Accounts this Beautie as a weede,
and thinketh scorne to know them.
Me thinks those men are worse then mad,
that doo so much abase them:
To haue affiance in such Dames,
whose very deedes disgrace them.
But some say men are cause of all,
who flatter them so kindly:
Tush, vertuous Women will not fall,
let men speake nere so freendly.
With that there fell a showre of raine,
Which made thē trudge away amaine,
and so brake off their talking:
I would be glad the rest to heare,
If I might meete these Ladies there,
when they goe next on walking.
that doo so much abase them:
To haue affiance in such Dames,
whose very deedes disgrace them.
But some say men are cause of all,
who flatter them so kindly:
Tush, vertuous Women will not fall,
let men speake nere so freendly.
With that there fell a showre of raine,
Which made thē trudge away amaine,
and so brake off their talking:
I would be glad the rest to heare,
If I might meete these Ladies there,
when they goe next on walking.
| A banqvet of daintie conceits | |