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The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton

For the First Time Collected and Edited: With Memorial-Introduction, Notes and Illustrations, Glossarial Index, Facsimilies, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. In Two Volumes
Breton, Nicholas (1545?-1626?)

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A Floorish vpon Fancie.
  
[dedication]
  
THE PREFACE.
  
THE SCHOOLE OF FANCIE.
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THE FORTE OF FANCIE.
  
In Dispight of Fancie.
  
A Foole,
  
The Lamentacion of Fancie.
  
A FAREWELL To Fancie.
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The Toyes of an Idle head:
  
THE PREFACE.
  
A pretty Dittie in despight of Fantasie.
  
A dolorous Discourse,
  
[Now Christmas draweth near, & most mē make good cheare]
  
[The Christmas now is past, and I haue kept my fast]
  
[What griping greefes, what pinching pangues of payne?]
  
A pretty gyrd, giuen by a Gentlewoman to her servaunt whereupon these Verses were made as followeth.
  
[My freend, I saye, if thou be wise]
  
[To play at Dice is but good sporte]
  
[That I would not perswaded be]
  
[Amid my ioyes, such greefe I fynde]
  
[What, shall I write some prety toy?]
  
[When Flatterie falles to play the fleeryng knaue]
  
[Oh! what a spight it is vnto a noble harte]
  
[This little Toye to thee]
  
[I sigh to see thee sigh]
  
[If thou canst reade, then marke what heere I write]
  
[When first I saw thee clad]
  
A comparison betweene a slippery stone and a trustlesse friend.
  
A Dolorous discourse.
  
A Letter sent by a Gentlewoman, in verse, to her Husband, being ouer sea.
  
[My hand here houering stands]
  
A dolorous verse, written by him, that in deede was in no small dumpes, when he wrote them.
  
[Though yesterday I brake my word]
  
[Some pleasaunt heads, delight in prety toyes]
  
A prety Epigram, vpon Welth and Will.
  
[By countenaunce of face, a man may fynde]
  
[Ah, be not angrie so]
  
A prety toye written upon Time.
  
A PRETY DISCOVRSE OF A HVNTED Harte, written by a Gentleman unto his Mistresse.
  
A straunge Dreame.
  
A prety Toye written vpon this Theame:
  
Another Toye written in the praise of a Gilliflower, at the request of Gentlewomen: and one, aboue the rest, who loued that Flower.
  
A pretty toye wrytten in the praise of a straunge Springe in Suffolke.
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[A prety Tale of late I heard]
  
TWO OR THREE PRETY TOYES giuen to a Gentilman, to set about his Counting-house.
  
[Pitie, oh Lord thy Servaunts heavy heart]
  
[Plant Lorde, in me the tree of godly lyfe]
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A pretty toye, written vpon a Ladyes propounding of a Riddle to her friende.
  
[First, to thy seemely selfe]
  
A Riddle propounded by a Gentleman to a Gentilwoman whom he loued, but was a suter, but secretly.
  
Her aunswer, as prety.
  
[Perhaps you thinke, that all for spight]
  
A prety Toye in rime.
  
[Needs must I write, & know not what]
  
Verses made upon this Theame:
  
A solempne and repentant Prayer, for former life mispent.
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THE PILGRIMAGE TO PARADISE,
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[section]
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The Arbor of Amorous Deuices.
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PASQVILS Mad-cappe,
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PASQVILS FOOLES-CAP
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PASQVILS Passe, and passeth not
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MELANCHOLIKE HUMOURS,
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A Solemne PASSION OF THE SOVLES Love
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A Diuine Poeme, diuided into two Partes:
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AN EXCELLENT POEME, Vpon the Longing of a Blessed Heart:
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The Soules Harmony.
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THE MOTHERS blessing.
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THE PASSIONATE SHEPHEARD,
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THE Soules immortall crowne consisting of seauen glorious graces.
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A TRVE DESCRIPTION of vnthankfulnesse.
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THE HONOVR OF VALOVR.
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An Invective Against Treason
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[section]
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Daffodils and Primroses.
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AMORIS LACHRIMÆ
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GLEANINGS.

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A comparison betweene a slippery stone and a trustlesse friend.

As he that treades on slippery stones,
is like to catch a fall,
So he that trustes to trothlesse friends,
shall ill be delt withall.
But he that lookes before he leapes,
is likest sure to stande:
So he that tryes or ere he trust,
shall be on surer hand.
But once found out a good sure ground,
keepe there thy footing fast:
So charyly keep a faithfull friend,
whose friendship tride thou hast.
For as some grounds that seeme full sure,
in time will much decay,
So some false friends that seeme full true,
at neede will shrinke away.
And as within some rotten groundes,
some hidden holes we see,
So in the hartes of faithfull friends,
so many mischiefes bee.
Therefore, I breefely bidde my friends
for to beware in time,
For feare of further after clappes:
and so I end my rime.
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