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The English and Latin Poems of Sir Robert Ayton

Edited by Charles B. Gullans
Ayton, Robert (1570-1638)

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THE ENGLISH POEMS
 1. 
1. Loues Lament
 2. 
2. Ane Dyor
 2a. 
2a.
 3. 
3. Craiges passionado
 4. 
4.
 5. 
5. Ane dyor
 6. 
6.
 6a. 
6a.
 7. 
7.
 8. 
8. [A Posy]
 9. 
9. Wpon the possie of her woope and his
 10. 
10. [A Declaration]
 11. 
11. [A Protestation]
 12. 
12. [An Exhortation]
 13. 
13. [Amintas]
 14. 
14. [Cloris and Amintas]
 15. 
15. [Sonnet: On Hope]
 16. 
16. [To Mrs Margaret Lesly Thereafter Lady of Madertie]
 17. 
17. [Sonnet: Love's Provocation]
 18. 
18. A Sonnet Left in A Gentlewoman's Looking Glasse
 19. 
19. [Sonnet: The Power of Love]
 20. 
20. [Sonnet: The Second Scene of Baptista Guarini his Pastor Fido, Paraphrased]
 21. 
21. [Sonnet: De Porcheres On the Eies of Madame la Marquise de Monceaux, englished]
 22. 
22. [Sonnet: Farewell to Life and Love]
 23. 
23. [Sonnet: On Loss]
 24. 
24. [Sonnet: On the River Tweed]
 25. 
25. To Queen Anne upone New-year's-day 1604
 26. 
26. To the Author of the Monarchicke Tragedies
 27. 
27. To the Author [of The Poeticall Essayes, Alexander Craig]
 28. 
28. To the most worshipfull and worthy Knight, Sir Iames Hay, Gentleman of his Maiesties Bedchamber
 29. 
29. Vpon the: 5: th of November
 30. 
30. To King James
 31. 
31. [Vpone King James]
 32. 
32. [On Devotion]
 33. 
33. [Wpone Tabacco]
 34. 
34. TO HIS DEAR FRIEND, AND fellow student Mr. Robert AEton
 34. 
34. AETHON
 35. 
35. To his coy Mistres
 36. 
36. [A Song]
 37. 
37. [A Valediction]
 38. 
38. [The Sheppherd Thirsis]
 39. 
39. [An Epigram]
 40. 
40. [A Song]
 41. 
41. Vpon a Diamond cutt in forme of an hart sett with a Crowne above and a bloody dart peirceing it sent in a Newyeares gift
 42. 
42. [Vpone a Gentlewoman That painted]
 43. 
43. Vpon Love
 44. 
44. [On Love]
 45. 
45. [A Songe: On his Mistresse]
 46. 
46. [A Song]
 47. 
47. [The Rejection]
 48. 
48. [Vpon his unconstant Mistress]
 49. 
49. [Constancy: A Song]
 50. 
50. [Neglect of Love]
 51. 
51. The Answer, by the Author [at the King's Majesty's Command]
 52. 
52. Vpon Mr Thomas Murrays fall
 53. 
53. Vpon Prince Henry his death to Prince Charles
 54. 
54. On ye Princes death, to ye King
 55. 
55. Vpon Platonick Love: To Mistress Cicely Crofts, Maide of Honor
 56. 
56. [A Song]
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DOUBTFUL POEMS
 57. 
57. [To his Forsaken Mistresse]
 58. 
58. A Song
 59. 
59. Old-Long-syne,
 60. 
60. [Scorn of Love's Power]

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56. [A Song]

[Wrong not, sweete Empress of my heart]

Wrong not, sweete Empress of my heart,
The merritt of true passion,
Pretending that he feeles noe smart
That sues for noe compassion,
Since if my plaints come not to approve
The conquest of thy beautie,
It comes not from defect of love,
But from excess of duty.
For knowing that I sue to serve
A sainte of such perfection,
As all desire, but none deserve,
A place in her affection,
I rather chuse to want releife
Then venter the revealing;
Where glory recommends the greefe,
Dispayre distrusts the healing.
198

Thus those desires which ayme too high
For any mortall lover,
When reason cannot make them dye,
Discretion doth them cover,
Yet when discretion bids them leave
The plaints which they should vtter,
Then thy discretion may perceive
That silence is a suiter.
Silence in love bewrayes more woe
Then words though never soe witty,
A beggar that is dumbe, you knowe,
May challenge double pitty.
Then wrong not, deare heart of my heart,
My true though secrete passion,
Hee smarteth most that hides his smart
And sues for noe compassion.
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