Tragicall Tales translated by Tvrbervile In time of his troubles out of sundrie Italians, with the Argument and Lenuoye to eche Tale |
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Spare to speake, Spare to speede.
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 | Tragicall Tales translated by Tvrbervile |  |
Spare to speake, Spare to speede.
My Spencer spare to speake,and euer spare to speed,
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the Surgeon know thy need?
Why hath a man a tongue,
and boldnesse in his brest,
But to bewray his mind by mouth,
to set his hart at rest?
The fisherman that feares
his corke and coard to cast,
Or spred his net to take the fish,
wel worthy is to fast.
The forrestman that dreads
to rouse the lodged Bucke,
Bicause of bramble brakes, deserues
to haue no hunters lucke.
Where words may win good wil,
and boldnesse beare no blame,
Why should there want a fare of brasse
to bourd the brauest dame?
Unlesse thou cast thy lure,
or throw hir out a traine:
Thou seldome shalt a Falcon, or
a Tassell gentle gaine.
Though lookes betoken loue,
and makes a shew of lust,
Yet speech is it that knits the knot
whereto a man may trust,
Assure thy selfe, as he
that feares caliuer shot,
[154]
or skirmish woorth a grote:
So he that spares to speake,
when time and place are fit,
Is sure to misse the marke, which else
he were in hope to hit.
Giue him an iuie leafe
in stead of pipe to play,
That dreads to bourd a gallant dame
for feare she say him nay.
Where venture is but small,
and bootie very great,
A coward knight will hazard there
in hope to worke his feat.
Wherfore when time shall serue
(my Spencer) spare to blush,
Fall to thy purpose like a man,
and boldly beat the bush.
Who so accounts of losse,
doth seldom gaine the game:
And blushing cheekes be often bard,
for feare of after shame.
No doubt, a Lady doth
imbrace him more, that dares
To tell his tale, than such a one
that of his language spares.
Deceit is dreaded more,
and craft doth rifer raigne,
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than him that speaketh plaine.
Yea, though thy mistresse make,
as though she loued no wine,
Remember Aesops Foxe, that was
too lowe to reach the vine.
Take this for certaine troth,
the best and brauest bowe,
Will stoupe, if so the cause be good,
thou knowest my meaning now.
Experience hath no peere,
it passeth learning farre:
I speake it not without my booke,
but like a man of warre.
Wherfore be bold to boord
the fairest first of all,
Aye Uenus aides the forward man,
and Cupid helps his thrall.
| Tragicall Tales translated by Tvrbervile | |