University of Virginia Library

A warning that she be not vncourteous.

I chuse you not to change,
I entred band to bide:
But plighted promise cract by you
I count my selfe vntide.
No hest is to be held,
no vow of valew, when
You dames the coller slip:
by craft to compasse men.
Presume not of good wil,
because I swore you loue:
For faithful frends vpon abuse,
their fancy may remoue.
Which lincke of loue vndone
repentance comes too late:
The fort is wonne when truth is slaine
and treason keepes the gate.
No teares can purchase truce,
no weeping winnes good wil:
True loue once lost by due desart,
is not renewde by skil.
Good meaning may not serue,
to feede your frends withall:
As wit in words, so trueth in deedes,
appeeres, and euer shal.
Who so doth runne a race,
shall surely sweate amaine
And who so loues, shal hardly gloze
or secret hidden paine.
Way wel my loue at first
recall to retchlesse thought,
The fiery fittes, the pensiue panges,
which I ful deerely bought.
Before I tooke the tast,
of what I lykte so well:
And then consider careles, how
to Iunos yoke you fel.
Forget not how for gaine
and mucke your match was made:
When I the while (poore man) was forst
a weery life to trade,
The Lions loue refusde
the noblest beast of all,
Unto a sotte you yokt your selfe,
and woxe a willing thrall.
Then who wiould force but I,
or hold the iewel deere.
That on anothers finger fits
and hath done many a yeere.
And long is like to doe,
the hogge that gapes for hawes,
That hang so fast, may groynd his tuskes
and die with emptie iawes.
I speake it not of spight,
but sure you ill deserue:
A man that meanes so wel as I,
sith you doe dayly swerue.
A foole by foule abuse,
shall haue you more at becke:
Then he that euer loued you well
and neuer gaue you checke.
Which shewes that either wit,
or faithful loue you lacke:
Beware in time, misliking growen,
may not be bended backe.
When Cresid clapt the dish,
and Lazerlike did goe:
She rewde no doubt that earst she did,
the Troyan handle so.
And might she then retirde,
to beuties auncient towre:
She would haue stucke to Priams sonne,
of faithful loue the floure.
But fond, too late she found
that she had been too light:
And ouerlate bewaild that she
for went the worthy knight.
Imprint it in your brest,
and thinke that Ladies lot
May light on you, with whom your frend
is causlesse thus forgot.
I would be loth to loue,
and leaue with losse againe:
I smarted once, and you (none els)
the ground of all my paine.
Time tries the trusty minde,
which time doth councell me
To deale my loue by equall weight
least I deceiued be.
Where counsel nor aduice,
can take no better holde:
The losse is light: for colour I
imbrace not glowing golde.
No more I way a frend,
for feature of her face:
Her dealing wel must binde good will.
vprightly iudge my case.
I wholly was your owne,
and lesse you loue a looke:
The match betwixt vs two is marde,
and I your frend to seeke.
If any els deserue
a share or better part:
Let me but know your mind, and then
adue with all my hart.
I sound the trumpet now,
that warning geues to you:
To leaue to loue besides my selfe,
to whom the whole is due.
I tell you this betimes,
as one that would be loath
By your desert to choose againe,
and breake mine auncient oth.
Which if by fortune fall,
allowe your selfe the thankes:
Whose parts vnkind may force a man
to play vnfriendly prankes.