University of Virginia Library

The Songe

Audatious Nighte makes bolde the lippe,
Now all court chaster pleasure
whilst to Apollos Harpe you trippe
And tread the gracing measure
Cynthi:
Nowe meete, now breake, then fayne a warlike salley
So Cinthea sports and so the Godes may dalley
Juditious witt nowe raise thy brayne
Now heate thy nimbler spiritt
Showe what delitious faces straine
Much Pashion, shewes much merritt

Cyn.
Now meete. &c.
Laciuious youth not dare to speake
the language of loose Cytty,
He that Dyanas bondes doth breake,
is helde most rudely witty
Now meete &c.
Disgratious dullnes yett much marrs
the shape of courtly talking
He yt can scilent touch such starrs
his soule lyes in his walking
Nowe meete now breake then fayne a warlike salley
So Cynthea sports and so the Gods may dalley

During this Songe the Masquers presented theire Sheelds, And tooke forth theire Ladys to daunce
After they hadd daunced many measures galliards Carantos, & Levaltos the Night being much spent: Whilste the masquers prpared them selues

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for theire depting measure Cynthea spake thus
Cynthe:
The Eglouge wch a dispaiering Shepheard spak to a Nimph att my Ladys departure.

He sange a passionate ditty wch don̄ he spak thus.
Shepheard
Now fairest daine once to impart
did ever live so coy a Lass
who vnto love was never moved

Nimph
Yes Sheepherd she yt hath the hart
and is resolv'd hir life to pass
Nether to love, or be beloved

Shep—
She senceles lives wthout affection

Nimph—
yett happye lives wthout subjection

Shep—
To be pluckt are roses blowne
To be mow'd are meddowes growne
Gemms are made but to be showne
And womans best:—

Nimph
To keepe hir owne

Shep—
well shepheardess still hate to love me
No scorne from my fixt vow shall move me.
when sheepe, to finest grass have loathing
when courtiers shall disdaine rich cloathing
when shepheards shun̄ theire maydays sports
green-sicknes when tis rife in courtes
O then, & not till then I'le hate
Beliza my sole love & fate.

Nimph—
When Love in daughters shall assend
for simple Pietys sole end
when any child hir mother graces
wth all she can, yett all defaces
in hir faire thought, the faith she oweth
tho what she can she freely showeth,
Then Shepheard maist thou hope attend
for then my Hate shall have an End.

Shep—