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 |
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A prety Toye in rime.
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 | The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton |  |
56
A prety Toye in rime.
MISERO INFORTUNATO SOLO: LAMENTING HIS EUILL HAPPE, IN DISPAYRE OF HELPE.
Whē purse grows pild, & credit cracks,
& friends begin to faile,
To comfort then a heauy heart,
alas, what may prevaile?
Audita vox confortans.& friends begin to faile,
To comfort then a heauy heart,
alas, what may prevaile?
Yet doo not thou dispayre at all,
but comfort thou thy minde:
Though credit, purse, & friends be gone,
somwhat is left behinde.
but comfort thou thy minde:
Though credit, purse, & friends be gone,
somwhat is left behinde.
Misero.
Somewhat, alas, oh, tell me now,
what somwhat that may be:
That so in this my deepe distresse,
is left to comfort me.
what somwhat that may be:
That so in this my deepe distresse,
is left to comfort me.
Vox.
Why doost thou craue to know the thing
wherof yu canst not doubt?
Necessity ere long, I wis,
will make thee finde it out.
wherof yu canst not doubt?
Necessity ere long, I wis,
will make thee finde it out.
Misero.
Necessitie, alas, I see,
too ready is at hand:
Yet can I not, doo what I can,
thy meaning vnderstand.
too ready is at hand:
Yet can I not, doo what I can,
thy meaning vnderstand.
Vox.
Why? doste thou not thy selfe assure,
there is no mallady,
But physick hath in store for it,
some kinde of remedy.
there is no mallady,
But physick hath in store for it,
some kinde of remedy.
Misero.
No, credit me, I feare there is
no meane to cure my greefe:
If there be any, let me craue
how I may find releefe.
no meane to cure my greefe:
If there be any, let me craue
how I may find releefe.
Vox.
Wylt thou doo as I bid thee doo?
and thou shalt soone finde ease:
Although thou be not at the first,
quite rid of thy disease.
and thou shalt soone finde ease:
Although thou be not at the first,
quite rid of thy disease.
Misero.
If that thy counsaile well I like,
I will agree thereto:
To ease my heart of this despayre,
I care not what to doo.
I will agree thereto:
To ease my heart of this despayre,
I care not what to doo.
Vox.
Haue patience then, rage not to much,
let reason rule thy minde:
And be thou sure, in little time,
some comfort for to finde.
let reason rule thy minde:
And be thou sure, in little time,
some comfort for to finde.
Misero.
But pacience dooth come perforce:
and what is forst (God wot)
Dooth more and more torment the minde:
then pacience easeth not.
and what is forst (God wot)
Dooth more and more torment the minde:
then pacience easeth not.
Vox.
Yet pacience procureth hope,
and hope driues out dispaire:
And where Dispaire is driuen away,
there comfort dooth repayre.
and hope driues out dispaire:
And where Dispaire is driuen away,
there comfort dooth repayre.
Misero.
Oh, but hope oftentimes is vaine,
and dooth deceiue the minde:
Therefore, in hope I thinke, alas,
but comfort small to finde.
and dooth deceiue the minde:
Therefore, in hope I thinke, alas,
but comfort small to finde.
Vox.
Let hope then grow by due desart,
then followes good successe:
For reason showes, who seekes for ease,
shal some way finde redresse.
then followes good successe:
For reason showes, who seekes for ease,
shal some way finde redresse.
Misero.
Oh, but alas, those dayes be past
for to reward desart:
And that the more, dooth cause dispayre,
for to torment my heart.
for to reward desart:
And that the more, dooth cause dispayre,
for to torment my heart.
Vox.
What though such daies are past, in deede,
yet daies wil come again,
Wherein desarts shall reape desyre,
and pleasure win for paine.
yet daies wil come again,
Wherein desarts shall reape desyre,
and pleasure win for paine.
Misero.
But while the grasse dooth grow, oft times
the silly steede he sterues:
And he, God wot, shall reape small gaine,
in only hope, that serues.
the silly steede he sterues:
And he, God wot, shall reape small gaine,
in only hope, that serues.
Vox.
Yet serue in hope, and hope in God,
and seeke well to deserue:
And let the Horse doo what he list,
be sure thou shalt not sterue.
and seeke well to deserue:
And let the Horse doo what he list,
be sure thou shalt not sterue.
Misero.
Now like I well this lesson thine,
God well in heart to serue:
For he, in deede, who hope in him,
will neuer let them sterue.
God well in heart to serue:
For he, in deede, who hope in him,
will neuer let them sterue.
| The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton | |