University of Virginia Library

[The ioy yon say the Heauens in motion trie]

The ioy yon say the Heauens in motion trie
Is not for change, but for their constancy.
Should they stand still, their change you then might moue,
And serue your turne in praise of fickle loue.
That pleasure is not but diuersified,
Plainely makes proofe your youth, not iudgement tried.
The Sunnes renewing course, yet is not new,
Since tis but one set course he doth pursue,
And though it faigned be, that he hath chang'd,
Twas when he from his royall seate hath raing'd:
His glorious splendor, free from such a staine,
Was forc'd to take new shapes, his end to gaine.
And thus indeed the Sunne may giue you leaue,
To take his worst part, your best to deceiue.
And whereof he himselfe hath been ashamd,
Your greatnesse praiseth, fitter to be blamd,
Nothing in greatnes loues a strange delight,
Should we be gouernd then by appetite?
A hungry humour, surfetting on ill,
Which Glutton-like with cramming will not fill.
No Serpent can bring forth so foule a birth,
As change in loue, the hatefullst thing on earth.
Yet you doe venture this vice to commend,
As if of it, you Patron were, or Friend.
Foster it still, and you shall true man be
Who first for change, lost his felicitie.
Riuers (tis true) are clearest when they run,
But not because they haue new places won;
For if the ground be muddy where they fall,
The clearenesse with their change, doth change with all,
Lakes may be sweet, if so their bottoms be;
From rootes, not from the leaues our fruit we see.
But loue too rich a prize is for your share,
Some little idle liking he can spare
Your wit to play withall; but true loue must
Haue truer hearts to lodge in, and more iust,
While this may be allow'd you for loues might,
As for dayes glory framed was the night.
That you can outward fairenesse so affect,
Shewes that the worthier part you still neglect.
Or else your many changings best appeares;
For beauty changeth faster then the yeares:
And that you can loue greatnesse, makes it knowne,
The want of height in goodnesse of your owne.
Twas not a happinesse in ancient time
To hold plurality to be no crime,
But a meere ignorance, which they did mend,
When the true light did glorious lusture lend.
And much I wonder you will highly rate
The brutish loue of Nature, from which state
Reason doth guide vs, and doth difference make
From sensuall will, true reasons lawes to take.
Wer't not for Reason, we but brutish were,
Nor from the beasts did we at all differ;
Yet these you praise, the true stile opinion,
By which truths gouernment is shroudly gon.
Honor by you esteemd a title, true,
A title cannot claimd by change as due.
It is too high for such low worth to reach,
Heauen gifts bestow'th as to belong to each.
And this true loue must in reuenge bestow
On you, his sacred power, with paine to know:
A loue to giue you fickle, loose, and vaine,
Yet you with ceaselesse griefe, seeke to obtaine
Her fleeting fauours, while you wayling proue,
Meerely for punishment a steddy loue:
Let her be faire, but false, great, disdainefull,
Chast, but to you, to all others, gainefull,
Then shall your liberty and choice be tide
To paine, repentance, and (the worst sinne) pride.
But if this cannot teach you how to loue,
Change still, till you can better counsell proue:
Yet be assur'd, while these conceits you haue,
Loue will not owne one shot (you say) he gaue.
His are all true, all worthy, yours vniust,
Then (changing you) what can you from him trust.
Repentance true felt, oft the Gods doth win,
Then in your Waine of loue, leaue this foule sin:
So shall you purchase fauour, bannish shame,
And with some care obtaine a louers name.