The Whole Works of William Browne of Tavistock ... Now first collected and edited, with a memoir of the poet, and notes, by W. Carew Hazlitt, of the Inner Temple |
 | 1, 2. |
 |
|
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
AN EPISTLE THROWNE INTO A RIUER, IN A BALL OF WAX. |
| IV. |
| V. |
|
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
 | The Whole Works of William Browne |  |
AN EPISTLE THROWNE INTO A RIUER, IN A BALL OF WAX.
Goe, gentle paper; happy (happier farreThen he that sends thee) with this character:
Goe, view those blessed Banks, enriched by
A faire but faithles Maidens company;
And if consorted with my teares of bryne,
Which (Gentle floud) add waues to those of thyne,
295
Made valuable by her stepps impression:
Stay, stay thy course; and fortunate from danger
Dwell there, where my ill fate makes me a Stranger.
If, faithfull paper which holdst nought of Art,
Thou come into her hands who kylls my heart;
And she demands thee, how I spend my howres,
Tell her, O tell her! how in gloomy bowers,
In cauernes yet vnknowne euen to the sun,
And places free from all confusion
Except my thoughts, there sit I girt with feares;
Where day and night I turne my selfe to teares,
Onelye to wash away that stayne which she
Hath (carelesse) throwne vpon her constancye;
And if (touch'd with repentance) she bedewe
Thee with some christall drops, I would she knewe
Her Sorrowes or the breakyng of the dart
Heales not her wounded faith, nor my slaine hart.
And my iust Griefes of all redresse bereauen
Shall euer witnes before men and heauen,
That as she is the fair'st and most vntrue
Of those that euer man or read or knewe,
So am I the most constant without mate
Of all that breathe, and most affectionate;
Although assurd, that nor my loue nor Faith
Shall reape one Joye but by the hand of death.
| The Whole Works of William Browne | |