The vvorkes of a young wyt :: :: University of Virginia Library

The vvorkes of a young wyt

trust vp with a Fardell of pretie fancies, profitable to young Poetes, preiudicial to no man, and pleasaunt to euery man to passe away idle tyme withall. Whereunto is ioyned an odde kynde of wooing, with a Banquet of Comfettes, to make an ende withall. Done by N. B. Gentleman

Breton, Nicholas (1545?-1626?)

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Primordium.

[Shal I presume to presse into the place]

[A prouerbe olde there is, which wise men count for true]

[VVhen I sometyme, reuolue within my mynd]

[No sickenesse such, as is the griefe of minde]

[In greatest care, what is the comforte chief?]

[Three thinges there are, that greately hurte the sight]

[Oh wretched state of miserable man]

[Since secret spighte hath sworne my woe]

[Oh wretched wight, what fates doe frowne on thee?]

[But by the sweete, how shoulde wee know the sowre]

[VVhat gyfte so good? but folly may abuse.]

[Fly fansy fonde, and trouble me no more]

[My Lord commaundes, that I in hast doo write]

[Somewhat doth beare some sauour, some men say]

[VVhat must I doo? write nothing? no, not so]

[If one may praise a place for harbouring a guest]

[The Dream]

[VVhat hap so hard, as lucklesse lottes of loue?]

A dialogue betweene a louer, an his beloued.

[Oh bitter bale that wretched louers bide]

[If wailfull woordes myght any pity mooue]

[Behold I craue oh noble dame no feigned painted tale]

A prety tale with the Morall vpon the same.

[A doue sometyme did sit vpon a tree]

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[Faire maide well ouertane, what? whyther now so fast?]

[Not long agoe as I at supper sat]

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The Morall.

Now see, what matter this old toie conteines,
twixte beastes and birds, behold what thankfull minde,
And yet twixte men, vngratefull some remaines,
yea moste perhaps, where they moste good doe finde:
Which proues, (me thinkes) a pitty not the leaste,
to see a man wurse naturde then a breast.