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Pandora

The Musyque of the beautie of his Mistresse Diana. Composed by John Soowthern ... and dedicated to the right Honorable, Edward Deuer, Earle of Oxenford, &c
  
  

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Verses taken out of his Stanses, Hymnes, and Elegias: all dedicated or sent to his Mistresse Diana.
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Verses taken out of his Stanses, Hymnes, and Elegias: all dedicated or sent to his Mistresse Diana.

Elegia.

[In which you ask't my name (confesse]

In which you ask't my name (confesse
your selfe, if't be not so)
And whether I before, had e
uer beene in loue or no.


My name, quoth I, is Soothern, and
Madame, let that suffice:
That Soothern which will rayse the Eng-
lishe language to the Skies.
The wanton of the Muses, and
Whose well composed ryme,
Will liue in despite of the heuens,
And Triumph ouer tyme. &c.

Elegia.

[“But how farre are the wordes contra-]

“But how farre are the wordes contra-
“rie to the deedes of men.
The selfe same night I went where I
admyred you agen.
Your syluer Phebes eyes, and your
Well set and crisped heair:
Your Venus porte, and your counte-
naunce of the God of war:
Your Iban throte, your marble brow,
With your soft cheekes of Roses:
And your Straberie lyps, wherein
Your teeth of pearle reposes.
Breefe, I saw you (Dian) in whome
The Gods did all their best,
To see what they could doo, when they
Would frame a worke Celest. &c.

Elegia.

[“But how vaine and short are the de-]

“But how vaine and short are the de-
“lightes and plasires humaine.
“And of the solace of this world:
“What else dooth there remaine,
“Sauing but repentaunce: and what
“Is it that beareth breath,
“But by the hauing life, it is
“Subiected vnto death. &c.


Himne.

[“The more stronger the Castle is]

“The more stronger the Castle is,
“And harder to be wonne,
“The more eternall honour hath,
“The man that can get it.
“And vertue neuer will giue ou'r,
“Without a great conflict. &c.

Himne.

[“To iudge a Humaine heart tis a]

“To iudge a Humaine heart tis a
“Labyrinth, much vnwide,
“Wherein we loose vs, if we haue
“Not experaunce for guide. &c.

Elegia.

[“The woman nere so constaunt, or]

“The woman nere so constaunt, or
“the Castle nere so strong:
“If th'one will heare, and th'other speake,
“They doo not endure long. &c.

New kinde of verces deuised by him: and are a wofull kinde of meter, to sing a loue, or death in.

Like the dolefull birde languishing,
the which dooth sing,
Her fatall song in sweete accordes,
Betaking her selfe to her death,
wearie of breath:
On Meander her florie bordes.
And euen so I, without hope that
it helpes me ought,
Bedew thy handes, heere with my teares:
For I perceiue by thy rigore,
that-to my dolore:
The Gods themselues haue stopt their eares.
Though speake Dian, what might thou meane,
by this extreame.


Crueltie, hauing such Diuine
Fayre eyes: Doost thou thinke that when death,
hath tooke my breath:
That I will ende these cries of mine.
No, no, thou art deceiu'd for then,
my sprite agen,
Shall followe thee fro place to place,
Exclayming on thy crueltie,
voide of pittie. &c.
FINIS.