The Poets VVillovv Or, The Passionate Shepheard: With sundry delightfull, and no lesse Passionate Sonnets: describing the passions of a discontented and perplexed Lover. Diuers compositions of verses concording as well with the Lyricke, as the Anacreonticke measures; neuer before published: Being reduced into an exact and distinct order of Metricall extractions [by Richard Brathwait] |
The Poets VVillovv | ||
TO THE RIGHT VVORTHIE GENTLEMAN MASTER WILLIAM ASCHAM REPLENISHED WITH THE BOVNTIES OF Art and Nature.
Hæc via illi summa.
Seu
Whose vertuous actions merit our respect,
Who fitter then your selfe for to protect,
Our infant Poems with your mature fauor?
Whose fragrant bosome euer had that sauor,
And perfect relish, that the pure effect
Of your sincerest loue would thinke no shame,
To take in worth what from Pernassus came.
Of your concording vertues haue produced
These harsher poems: let me be excused
Sith what I write concernes poore homely swaines,
My muse with no Cadmean drops infus'd
Shelters her humble selfe vnder your wing,
Which if you grant, she may securely sing.
Stagyras well-spring, Britons Hesperie,
Which at one time receau'd both you and me,
You to grow vp, me to admire your growth,
Hoping to see that which might glad vs both.
Your inward graces, graced outwardly.
For now my Poems rellish when they finde
So great a fortune in so great a minde.
I should make stale those merits of your owne,
In shewing them which be already showne,
Yet if I were but able to engraue,
In monumentall tablets, you should haue
The highest place, because the highest growen
In ripe and pregnant iudgement which approue,
Both art and nature beare you speciall loue.
To be a refuge to the muses nine,
Diuinest shades should shadow powers diuine,
That when poore Celsus writes in ragged rime,
He may receiue protection by your shrine,
Whose beauteous raies with more perfection shine,
Shall ere raze out, if that their gall should burst.
Of writing more and more,) but modesty
Tells me your vertues would not praised be,
For vertues praise doth from her selfe distill,
Wherefore I curbd th' intention of my will,
Ioying to see these honors which I see,
So well portraid in you, that your worth,
Makes the earth glory in so great a birth.
Vpon the illustrate Prince Henrie, the Authors long meditated teares: Draigned from a fresh renewing spring euer distilling: Some whereof the passionate Elegiake offers to His neuer dying monument.
Non matura satis carmina: causa nimis.
To view him liuing in his dying tombe?
Liuing (said I) and dying? yes: his death
Seems to infuse in him a liuing breath,
That being dead to earth, earth might transpose,
His earthy corps vnto eternall ioies.
For single death he gets a double change:
Of life and death: death to shut vp his eies,
Life to enthrone him in heauens paradice.
Mere heire vnto a king, but there he sings
A glorious pæan to the king of kings.
Translated prince: yet no change worse to me,
And to the state: O enuy that our will
Should so depraued be, to wish him ill,
For our owne priuate good: Great good indeed,
And to be wisht for: O where shall we reade
So rare a mirror in the Court of truth.
So pure intentions seconded by fame,
So hopefull diuinations in his name.
In one heart, kept the hearts of halfe so many.
Our zeale to him? whom there was none did know
That by relation wept not; O I see,
In euery face the face of Niobe,
Sencelesse and speechlesse: yet in sense and speech
Thus much entire affection seems to teach
Posterity hereafter: as't appeares
Both sence and speech supplied are by teares.
And not without iust cause some deluge nere,
But that we see a rainebow which portends
Heauen has imposd vnto our sorrowes ends
And limits, which ore past can hardly be,
So soone slip griefes out of our memory.
So soone? indeede too soone: poems in blacke
Resemble the blacks we weare vpon our backe.
Which whilst we follow the sad mournfull beere,
Some more for fashion then compassion weare.
No further? must your teares with his blest end
Expire together? why then I pray retire
Let our sole notes sith that our notes be higher
And far more shrill, supply your place: ile find
Motiues of griefe vnto th' immotiu'sts mind.
You are blind with teares, I but of late began,
One eye may see more then another can.
Or worth record: to bring a stream: from Ware,
Of pure spring water? for without lesse charge
I could haue dreind a riuer full as large
Without ere pumping for't: and with a sluse
As artificiall: which could no way chuse
But conuey water to most parts o'th city.
Saue the dimensions of an aierie thought;
Which measures each proportion, onely griefe
Excepted, which the measure of reliefe
Could neuer compasse: yet there would be fault
In my conueiance, for my spring is salt
And mixt with briny vapors which distill,
Like pond or marish waters from a hill.
But theirs more sweet, so could I mine allay,
If I had been at so much cost as they.
Is that the winter did like spring appeare,
Garnisht with varied flowers, and euery sweet
Checkerd with borders for the Syluans meet
To frolicke on: and why? they are of that nature,
That when they'r merry, they presage some creature
Of worth or admiration must commend,
Their bones to rest by some approaching end.
To see that sunne lodge in eternall night
That gaue a lustre with his sparkling eie
To euery plant within his Monarchy
Each humble spray or flower that grew i'th field
Of honor, would he honor with his shield
Of eminent respect: respect lesse you,
That neuer giue to merit whats her due.
For ceaselesse though I weepe, I haue teares in store
Two buckets to one well, both of them goes,
The one for my teares, the other for my woes.
That teares and woes contracted both in one,
May pierce in time this monumentall stone.
THE ARGVMENT of this Treatise.
Berillvs an Arcadian shepheard,
who frequented the flowrie plaines of
Ida; and indeed no lesse musicall, then
pastorall: For his learning famous, for
his measure in all compositions curious,
for his censure in moderne presentments, no lesse
affected, then by his fellow-inhabitants admired; fell
in loue with a Nimph of the adioyning mountaine,
hight Eliza: of parentage honorable, of beautie incomparable,
and endowed with all graces internall;
which made her no lesse beloued, then desired euen of
the greatest: for her demerits were such, as Arcadia
resounded with her praises. Long had shee (euen of a
naturall loue vnto retirednes) sequestred her selfe
from the publique concourse of the world, professing
as it seemed a vestrall life: when now (being of great
expectancie, as the onely daughter to her father) shee
THE PASTORALL.
Famous for flowry pastures, there remaind
A youthfull shepherd, who vpō the down,
Hight Idas plaine, such honour had obtaind
Amongst all shepheards by his trophies gaind,
And worthie feates in euerie May game showen
That his atchieuements were so glorious growen,
As he the flower of shepheards still was nam'd
Nor of that honour might he be asham'd,
For many shepheards thē there were, whose grace
In actiue feats put Heroes out of place.
Adornd with beautie and perfection too,
That in all actions he the wreath did merit
Decking with laurell his victorious brow.
Was praisd of all, yet neuer would he heare it,
Nor of vaine glorie least appearance show:
Such store of graces from his minde did flow;
Of able bodie, and of pregnant wit,
That euen these times haue much admired it:
For manie laies would Tmolus ofttimes make
In diuine measures for Amyclas sake.
A pure complexion, and a pleasant grace,
Who to his friends prou'd faithfull still and true,
With painted smile nere would he soile his face:
For he descended from a noble race,
As his admired vertues still did shew:
For fame and honour euer did reuew,
The spacious mansions of this shepheards place
Walking with honour in his parents trace,
Such was this Thyrsus (Thyrsus was his name)
Nor of that title might he thinke't a shame.
That vs'd to graise his cattell by the riuer
Euenus hight: where oft he would complaine,
Of his hardhearted loue: nor would he euer,
Those pensiue odes (in silent woes) containe
But chaunts his passions ore and ore againe:
Such brinie streames could be exempted neuer,
For light (which lightsome seems) his ioies disseuer
Making his comforts barraine: O how faine
VVould he haue glad himselfe with harmonie,
But what he sought could not effected be.
VVhy doest exile me from thy presence deere?
Why shouldst thou with thy loure benight my day,
And racke my intrals with perpetuall feare?
I pray thee (loue) more cheerefully appeare,
But let the night at last my griefes allay,
That I some pleasant harmonie may heare,
Sounding a concord in my dolefull eare,
O be so kinde, that if no day, yet night
May yeelde me comfort and renew delight.
And make the pastures eccho with his voice,
For to what caue so ere this swaine did goe
He made it answer with an horrid noise,
For where he was, no creature could reioyce,
Sith what he did, his cattell would doe so,
Both foode and water willing to forgoe,
And frame their routing to their Maisters choice
A discord well concording with his voice,
His flockes were thankefull to deplore his fall
Mourning to heare their Maisters mournfull call.
Of mirtle braunches, and of poplar greene,
Wherein he vsd to endorse his louers name,
Whose curious workes to this day may be seene,
Which cannot chuse but æternise his fame
And that renowmed house from whence he came,
For few such swaines on earth haue euer beene
Of such respect, such vertue, such esteeme:
But he is gone, and hath depriu'd the earth
Of her chiefe beautie, portraied in his birth.
Antæus like, regaind the highest prise
Amongst all shepheards, but the fates at length
Seem'd to oppose his worthie enterprise,
Shutting the glorious splendor of his eies,
(Themselues contented in our discontents)
Changing the nature of those elements,
Which in Tymallus did so sympathise,
That I haue heard, though this same shepheard dies,
Yet euerie yeere the inhabitants receaue,
Where hees interd sweete odors from his graue.
Within thy shrine and sable monument,
The famous reliques of a noble swaine,
Mansion of honour, vertues continent,
Shine euer bright to grace that ornament
Which thou possessest: let no priuate staine
Blemish that poore remainder, whose pure name
Makes earth, no earth, but as an element
Drawen from the earth, to raise her excrement,
Rest thee Tymallus in thy house of clay,
Whilest we relate thy actions euerie day.
Whose sacred muse pearceth the aerie clouds,
And with Berillus excellence begin
Some higher straine: leauing the silent wods,
The silent shades, the pastures and the floods,
With varied colours euerie braunch and limme
Of my discoarse: that such as vnderstood
Of this Berillus, may wish him some good,
And adde some proper actions of their owne
To those of his, and make them better knowne
To celebrate the festiuals of Pan,
Pan was the God, by which their flocks did feede,
And their encrease on Ida first began,
Therefore each swaine with all the speed he can,
Came with sweete incense from his flourie mede,
To sacrifice to Pan of all their breed,
One with a kid, another with a lambe,
Or some young suckling wained from the damme,
Mongst whom Berillus came, willing to offer,
To Pales incense, and to Pan an heifer.
Neere to the foote of Idas sacred mount,
From whence a Nectar riuolet did passe,
Which was enstiled Cythereas fount,
Came all these shepheards, who with great account,
And solemne honour offred in that place,
The firstlings of their flocks were wont to grase
Vpon the neighbour plaines, or which were wont
To brouse the flourie vale, or feede vpon't,
Each offred what they had, fruits of their border,
The best the first, the residue in order.
Came in Eliza, one of beautie rare,
With other virgins, for what end heauen knowes,
Saue to perplex such as religious were:
Such tempting creatures wanton women are,
Seducing vs with smiles and seeming showes,
Farre worse then the furie of externall blowes:
For those shed blood, these doe torment with care
And vex vs with new sorrowes, till despaire
Surprise our mindes, our solace dispossesse,
Making vs obiects of times pensiuenesse.
The Syren countenance of this seeming sect,
Then incense, Censor, coales, & all throwne downe,
fixing his eyes on her, showd his intent,
Hauing our heart there where our eyes be bent,
To such a passion he in fine was growne,
That he could scarcely vouch himselfe his owne,
But pitching there his campe, his fort, his tent,
Confin'd himselfe within her element,
For he transported was (poore harmelesse man,)
To Elizas Altar from the shrine of Pan.
A pasture Saint, a sheepish deitie,
When a more heauenly creature makes abode,
Cheering my comforts in varietie,
Promising pleasures in sacietie?
Then Pan ere had: too long my feete haue stoode,
Too long my knees haue bow'd (poore Pan) to thee
I see a Saint that better pleaseth me.
This said (his incense from his shrine bereft)
Vnto his goddesse goes, the Altar left.
In louers vowes, and solemne protestations,
He takes her by the hand: and softlie wrong
Her tender pulse, augmenting sundrie passions
Of an vnfained loue (Heauens inuocations)
Making his heart the subiect of his tongue,
His tongue the Herald of euents to come,
Calling the Gods to record his intentions,
And all those aery powers whose blest conuentions
Confirme each action both in heauen and earth,
The fatall end drawne from a fatall birth.
Mirror of beautie, diamond of fame,
If that I euer haue not honourd thee,
And registred the annals of thy name,
And with my deerest blood confirmd the same,
Neuer respect these teares distild from me,
Nor of thy worth let me accepted be.
But if I haue beene faithfull, thinke't no shame
To fix thy loue on me that faithfull am,
For sooner shall the sunne surcease to shine,
Then I surcease to reuerence thy shrine.
I was distracted, to enioy your loue,
For sincere loue, delaies in loue detests,
Enforc'd the fruites (which he desires) to prooue,
O let me prooue them, so shall griefes remooue,
Their pensiue stations, and afford sweete rest
Vnto my restlesse soule, by thee made blest:
I was brought vp (dere sweete) in Idas groue,
Hatchd in an Aerie, sprung from bowers aboue,
Those bowrs, those flowrs, those showrs we did descend
Frō Ioues pure throne, thy beauty shal defend.
Those flowers to which Narcissus was transformd
Those liquid showers where Danae reapt content,
All in one symptome with one wreath adornd,
To louers vnitie sweete straine conformd,
(For purer straines nere had earths continent,
Then such as descant louers complement)
Where limpe-halt Vulcan too too long soiornd,
With loues contempt portraide, displaied & hornd,
But louers cannot put abuse, nor wrong
Those faithfull vowes which they professed long.
See but this censor how it lost her fire,
Which intimates; nought can expresse so well
The feruent passions of our mindes desire,
As beautie a presence, which doth still aspire,
For perfect loue all vapors can expell,
And giue the louer due reward, due hire,
Scorning with coward pace to make retire,
Loue is a captaine which obtaines the prise,
Scorning the worst and basest enterprise.
The strongest bullwarks with continued labour,
Despising rest, minds quiet, nights repose,
By their renoumed acts to purchase fauour,
(Whose resolutions know not how to wauer
Nor the pale harbour of distracted woes,
Know how to feare) euen so affection goes,
Till memorie (of Heroes acts engrauer)
Enobled by worths monuments shall haue her,
Registring her pure vertures in their shrine,
For diuine acts deserue a throne diuine.
Noe craggie cliffe for loue too intricate,
For such is loue and louers maiestie,
As its secure in euery dismall state,
Passing the iudgement of impartiall state,
Neerer the title of a deitie,
Being the same which she doth seeme to be,
Hating the cause of times producing hate,
Ope be her eyes (wide ope) early and late,
Discoursing where or how her comforts be,
Taking no rest to gaine eternitie.
See but thy image, how it doth desire
Another image: ayming euer higher,
Till it enioy what it intends to prooue,
Much like the Turtle with the Turtle-doue
Or like the Phenix, who in her owne fire,
Portraies her selfe both mother, seede and sire:
Her ashie vrne her tombe, her flame the groue,
To life infusd by some effects aboue.
Be then the Phenix, as in beautie rare,
So be thy actions farre aboue compare.
What better with delight then loues content?
What better with content then cheerefull light?
What better sutes with light then th' element,
That best concords with her? whats that? th' extent
Of pure affection: which expels the night,
And makes vs pleasant in our louers sight,
For honest louers shew their mindes intent,
By outward signes; an Incense redolent,
In sincere loue, composd of sundrie links,
Thinkes what she speakes, and speaketh what she thinkes.
Where we be present, consecrate our loue:
Let Pan himselfe confirme our Nuptiall grace,
And all the powerfull Queristers aboue
Sing cheerefull layes: while our affections moue
From whence you were deriud, quickens my chace
And bids me hope: you cannot chuse but loue,
Their worth cannot be base whose births aboue,
Then as thou art erected, let me tast,
The fruites of loue, when discontents be past.
Meede for his faith: my faith deserues as much.
How oft haue I thy name desir'd to carue
In euerie tree? and when I sought to touch
The tender barke, or rinde, it nere thought much,
But willingly endurd my sculpture: thus plāts serue
Thy blest attendance: that they may obserue,
A module in thy fancie: that is such,
That if they should doe all, yet not too much
can be done to thy shrine: if plants doe this,
(If I should not doe more) I did amisse.
I could not goe, as I was wont to doe
Vnto my pastures: for such heapes of cares
Possest my crasie braines, surprised so
With thy affections, that whereso ere I goe,
Sit, or lie downe, nought of sweete ioye appeares,
But multitudes of my renewing feares,
Which make me sleeping wake, thinking of woe,
And then of ioy: thus interposd twixt two,
A double forme my single forme partakes,
Now waking sleepes, & sleeping straight awakes.
Yeeldes a distast to me: what can be sweete
Where hope is dead? hope is a louing mother,
Banishing sorrow with a silent sleepe,
That feedes the shepheard, and reuiues his sheepe,
Reducing them into one fould together,
But sheepe nor shepherd there's no health to either,
If thou my shephardesse refuse to gather
My disperst Flocks: and shall denie to keepe
My watching eyes that doe desire to sleepe,
But cannot sleepe, to double paines they are put,
Ope by thy presence, by thy absence shut.
Both be vnwelcome guests: and whats the cause?
To tell the truth: that day I see not thee
Seemes farre more darke then night: loue hath no clause,
No limit, nor no bond: loue cannot be
Confinde in bonds, it hates captiuitie:
Meriting honour by diuinest lawes,
As for her action it deserues applause,
O then (deere sweete) be not so soft to show,
So hard to loue: receiue these vowes I owe.
Calling each plant, each blossome to record
The spotlesse vowes of my refined loue:
And euerie plant did seemingly accord
Vnto my vowes: springs did their teares afford,
Crying I loue, the eccho cried I loue,
For euery accent, accented my word,
A louely concord in a loues discord.
If plants, rocks, riuers so remorsefull be,
Farre more remorse I doe expect from thee.
Should soile a mansion of so pure delight:
Thou seest me loue, and thou wilt loue againe:
I know thou wilt, those vowes which I haue plight
Cannot but haue respect in louers sight:
Which if thou doe, (beleeue me) ile remaine
As I haue beene a poore well willing swaine,
And with my pipe on euery winter night
Play laies of loue, to further thy delight.
Beleeue me sweete, and you may thinke it true,
My Flocks vnfollowed are to follow you.
Skipping and leaping in their floure of youth,
While in a secret caue, I scarce containe
My selfe from teares, and so Melampus doth,
Poore harmelesse curre, for he is very loth
To see me so deiected: howling amaine,
Prickeard, bleare eyed, yeelds me a dolefull straine,
Of doggrell musique: thus perplexed both,
Repine to see each creature in their grouth,
And we dismaid, with woes immured so,
As others ioyes seeme to augment our woe.
And askd the reason why I was so sad:
Thou vsd, quoth she, so full of mirth to be,
That with thy pipe thou made the pastures glad,
And was accounted still the cheerefulst lad
In all our plaine: how coms it then quoth shee,
Such sullensuds haue so perplexed thee?
Come, come away and leaue this pensiue shade,
For piping, not for pining thou was made,
Come, come I say, and quickly follow me,
And ore this downe lets dance it nimbly.
How can I pipe, my rede is out of tune,
How can I dance, that can but hardly stirre
My crasie ioints: O no, that time is done,
Nor wil't hereafter (much I doubt it) come
To ioy my dolefull life, or ere appeare,
To end my griefes that eccho euery where,
For griefes speake loudest when the speech is dūbe
Engrosing daily still a greater summe.
Leaue me Amicla, how can I recite,
My wonted measures that has broke my pipe?
And make it tune with more delightfull measure
Then ere it did: lend but thy pipe to me:
I lent it her, that I in part might please her,
But it plaid tunelesse still: nor could it ease her,
Nere did I heare of sage Melpomene:
It knew his Maisters straine, not all the treasure
Of Tagus golden oare, no time, no leasure,
Had either I or my poore pipe to play,
For thoughts of loue had tane all ioyes away.
Threw downe my pipe, for it was soone thowne downe,
And with quicke pace away departed she,
VVhile I despised, of my selfe lay downe
Vnder a shadie beech well ouer growne,
With broad-spred braūches which did shadow me,
But not obscure the loue I bare to thee;
Calling the heauens to witnesse, and mine owne,
Mine own poore bleting flocks! my loue was shown
Not in assemblance, but so really,
That nought seem'd sweete which did not tast of thee.
Of perfect concords: thy bright eye a starre,
Thy mouth an Hyblemount, thine armes a throne,
Thy teeth a pearly cordon, thy pure haire
Tramels of purest gould, where lodged are
Those three admired graces, all in one,
As if they ment there to reside alone:
Thy browes like Beacons, where we see afarre
Adioyning places, mannagements of warre,
Breefely, noe part thou hast from top to toe,
But may be askt why nature made it so?
To be a mirrour past all imitation,
Sith choicest colours my proportion chuse,
A beauteous frame formd of the best creation,
That after times might make more full relation,
What they haue seene proportioned in vs
And leaue records of it: that euery muse,
If pregnant, may discourse to euery Nation,
A perfect module made for recreation,
But for no humane creature; such as loue vs,
Must come frō heauē, & plāt their throne aboue vs
Humane affections cannot worthie seeme,
By their intentiue minds to honour thee,
And therefore iustly haue condemned beene,
To gase on that which should be rarely seene,
For such as thou art, oft reserued be,
Not for Earths frame, but for æternitie:
Tell me but this (and by this kisse) I meane
Nere to repaire vnto thy shrine againe,
Or ere make sute (as here I doe professe)
To be thy shepherd, thou my shepherdesse.
Looking for answer at Elizas hand,
Pans Priest came in, and put Berillus out,
Onely thus much well might he vnderstand,
That he was lou'd of her, but th' Priests command
Hearing their amorous stories to roote out
Their pure affections: mouing with his wand,
Or sacra virga, that they should descend,
And leaue loues passions to another place,
For in Pans Temple loue can haue no grace.
Sad and deiected, yet with hope releeued,
Thinking by absence to quench out the flame,
Which dally made encrease: being depriued
Of those blest meanes, by which we are reuiued,
Hope the best Anchor which supports our flame,
Made this poore shepherd to pursue his game,
Hoping by such effects as he contriued,
To haue his ioyes renewd: but was deceaued,
For where he thought to finde contētment most
In that same place he was the greatliest crost.
Kept as it seem'd for Pan, or for his Priest,
For this same shaueling euer would be there,
Desiring (lustfull prelate) there to feast,
Where she remaind: for he has oft confest,
That he has wisht himselfe transformed were
Into some slender creature, to appeare
At all times to Eliza: who thought least
Of such a wanton votarie: heauens detest,
Such vow in fringing masse priests whose professiō
Collects a reason out of each suspition.
As to repent thee of thy breach of faith,
I doe not doubt but thou'l confesse the wrong
Which thou hast done me, and abiure that breath,
Which thou exhal'd, adiudging me to death,
By that remorselesse heart, that Syren tongue,
Which (if thou liu'st) will sing another song:
Take heede, the sword's drawne frō the irefull sheath,
And inbred horror creepeth vnderneath.
Whom thou affectest most, affects thee least,
Hating thy Swaine to take thee to thy Priest.
By such as offer to him sacrifice,
I know full well he would redresse th' abuse,
And saue our honour from such Priests as these,
Who fill his Temple with impieties,
Wronging the sincere thoughts of each of vs,
Which cannot merit in the heauens excuse:
Small faults with Saints be great enormities,
Shrines that are pure become pure deities,
But ile surcease, griefes make my muse surcease:
Encrease of lines giue to my woes encrease.
To Eliza.
A sonnet.
And vowd more sacred hests vnto thy shrine
Then any loue that ere profest him thine,
Haue but my poems by thy selfe approu'd,
O to what blessed, vnexpected clime
Am I transported by this muse of mine?
But if thou frowne, contract thy brow and loure,
Ile neuer handle this rude pencile more.
But I could wish to graue within thy mound
Some quaint deuise, where if I once were sound,
I know no feature of his liuely grape
Could me exceede: for I haue learnd the ground
Of that deepe art, albeit most profound.
Be thou the module of that curious frame,
That my impression may adorne the same.
Cannot content Elizas Nuptials,
Sound and resound with purer harmonie:
She cannot brooke the sullen Saturnals
That mixe our ioyes with sadnesse: Iuuenals,
Best like Eliza: and they would like me,
If I were Iuuenall to sing to thee.
To Dorinda.
Elegie. 1.
Too base a lure (god wot) for such a bird,
Was soone depriu'd of that he thought most sure,
At which strange hap the Eagle much admird,
To be debard of that he least desird,
Wherefore opprest with furie there he swore,
Descend he would to such base lures no more.
Hatching thy Aerie in the wildernesse?
And wilt thou then that auncient house disgrace,
Soiling thy glory with such filthinesse,
O fie for shame let such vnworthies be,
Whose worthles parts will shame thine house and thee.
For with thy pearcing eyes canst thou behold
The glorious lustre of the cheerefull sun,
Fruitfull as springtime, not to bondage sould,
Building thy neast in clymates far from cold,
Flie to the Cedar; let this mushrome be,
For higher plants will better nourish thee.
Clad with the flames of Phœbus regiment,
Cannot immantled be in pitchie night,
But aime at some more gracious element,
Sunne seldome shines on such base excrement,
Then as thou soar'd by nature, so let art
In thine aspiring thoughts sustaine a part.
Whose sweete resounding made the eccoes ring,
In fields and shades where siluer streames distill,
Where Philomell her selfe was wont to sing,
Shall then my brest which tund so plesantly,
Be matchd with such a tunelesse Harmonie?
In poesem Encomion.
Leese her horizon in the throne of heauen,
Since it hath beene profest by deitie,
Vnto the muses in Pernassus giuen,
A place frequented on each Satyres euen,
Where Satyres danc't & Syluanes in their order,
With all the rites that Hymen could afford her.
A solace to the minde, the earths content,
That doubles our night tasks with treble gaines,
Affording vse of louers complement,
The load-starre which directs our regiment,
Neither shall pleasure profit or delight,
Depriue me the fruition of thy sight.
To Dorinda.
Sends out a shower of teares perpetually,
To mourne for her deiected progenie,
Parents with children make one sympathie.
Why should not I doe this for her and more,
Whose hallowed shrine my thoughts did ere adore?
Vouchsafe to take this poem I present,
And this my muse shall be deuoted still,
Vnto thine heauenly statue which was sent
From Ioue aboue vnto this continent,
Protect my silly labour and receiue
Vnto thy cell, this little that I haue.
When fates themselues denied me better meanes,
To gratifie my loue? whose quenchlesse thirst,
In midst of streames, for liquid streames complains,
That her poore trauaile can produce no gaines,
Vnto thy diuine Altar; which shall smell,
With mirrhe & hymns the Nimphs thēselues shal tell.
Amor vt odor.
And fragrant posies for my shepherdesse:
A fairer spring-time neuer shall be seene
Pipe will I still for I can doe no lesse,
And when my pipe is broken I will take
A shriller pipe for my Dorindas sake.
It is too slow a straine for her swift course,
She loues not that which will not quickly moue,
And cut the aire like to a foaming horse,
That runs his station with a vehement course,
Such steeds would well beseeme my lady queene
That runs her courser with an easie reine.
Hyppodame equis: quorum spumantia freuis colla torquet.
------ et tu tibi Myrtile fata
dignare fers. ------
ibid.
To Dorinda.
Elegie. 2.
Playing the tyrant with thy beauteous face,
Seeming as wonne, when thou art neerest lost,
Clouding thy beautie with a foule disgrace,
Since blacke disdaine enioyes the cheefest place,
Conceiue remorse, lest thou remorselesse die
Thine acts the authors of thy miserie.
Vnto thy beautie ceremoniall loue?
What vowes, what hests haue beene by me expresd
Farre more then Adon in Idalias groue,
More then the solemne hests of Turtle doue?
The verie Pellicane is not more true
Vnto her brood, then I would be to you.
Of me and of my loue, fleeres in my face:
O will not heauen this crueltie requite,
And dispossesse thee of an Angels place?
Grac'd with more beauty then with beauties grace,
Expect reuenge for heauens reueng'd will be
Of such vow-breaking miscreants as thee.
But thou must cherish me with fained loue;
And then triumph, and ore my ruins taunt?
In constant minion that doest change and moue
The ball of thy affection, to approue,
Some goulden Asse perchance that will admire
Not halfe so much thy selfe, as thy attire.
First of his house: decended from a bagg
Of rustie gould, and he will call thee dere
Respectiue Ladie: then his head hee'l wagge,
And sweare by [illeg.]owpin of his summer-nag
He loues thee derely, thou must be his bride,
Since store of angels guard him on each side.
Thy beads of purest Amber earth can yeeld,
Thou must not tread vpon polluted mould,
Nor walke abroad into the open field,
Without thine estridge taile to be thy shield,
Thy drinke must Nectar be, and thou must eate
Such meate, as for thy diuine powers is meete.
Of wether-gals, and of the next yeeres dearth,
Will thee Dorinda like a Ladie keepe,
And feede thee with the dainties of the earth,
Replenished with pastures yeelding mirth:
For euery shepherd with his shepherds crooke,
Will striue who may most on thy beautie looke.
There Damon with his trull will thee attend,
Then will old Acmon come with wearie pace,
And Melibeus hee's thy husbands friend,
Leaning vpon his staffe, will homeward send
For some meane gift, some cheese cake to diuide
Amongst the bride-maids & their courtly bride.
Smeered with seacole, comely for his color,
And will begin to tie thy glittering haire
In tresses of pure gould: which are made fowler
Will curbe his bouldnesse: am I bould (quoth he)
To touch those haires that doe belong to me?
The gaudie fashions of a giddie braine,
But you must leaue them for your husbands sake,
And vse those tender parts to rurall paine,
To yeeld vnto your spouse a double gaine,
For rest assur'd Dorinda there be some,
Doe marrie you for after hopes to come.
Calling the heauens to record: they will be
Such as perfidious Tereus: and will proue
The verie ruine of your progenie,
And bring your state in time to miserie:
Then will you wish (but wishes come too late)
You had but wist the end of your estate.
Why should I name Dorinda, that's vntrue,
A faith infringer, who affected me
And then forsooke me; how should I renew,
the sad memoriall which I had of you?
But with a pensiue heart, a sigh, a grone,
To intimate how I am left alone.
With a poore willow garland, to expresse
The liuely colors of a tragicke show,
The true proportion of my pensiuenesse,
Remote from comfort, frought with heauinesse,
Where we will sing; though singing be vnfit,
And euery wood-nimph shall shed teares to it.
Vnto Dorindas Nuptials, where will be
Great store of rurall swaines com'd flocking thither
A perfect relish of sweete harmonie:
Where we may well Dorindas beautie see:
And see her dance laualto in that measure,
As needes must yeelde to all contented pleasure.
Vs, in a roome contented, to suruiew,
The polishd colors of her curious face,
Which though they doe my pensiue woes renew
Yet am I blest in that transparent shew
Of glorie and renowme, which ioind together
Enforce all shepherds to come flocking thether.
VVith Epithetes well fitting her deserts,
And I will tender to her shrine my duetie,
Of which she doth possesse the cheifest part:
That she would daine for to accept that prise,
We consecrate to her transpercing eies.
In laudem Dorindæ: per Antiphrasen.
If that a blemish did not daze her light,
But that one blot doth much empaire the same,
And hath obscur'd the splendor of her sight:
The scope she aimes at is not aimd aright,
If that one soile did not ecclips the rest,
She might be well reputed, worldes best.
My sweete Dorinda? what a sugred smile,
A lippe of comfort relish'd pleasantly,
An eie that would the prudent'st thoughts beguile?
O with what character, or in what stile
Shall I describe thy feature glorious Saint,
Made of the most refined element?
When thou proscribd me from thy cherefull court,
From that repose where comforts make resort:
The birds themselues that heard can make report:
For manie time since I tooke leaue of thee,
The birds themselues sung dirges ouer me.
For I haue cause for to remember them,
And then conceaue what sorrow they afford,
What cause I haue for to surrender them
Into thy hands, that first did tender them,
O be not so hard-hearted, well I wot,
Thou canst not answer that thou knowest thē not.
Vessels of frailtie should insult ore strength,
That gould should be prest downe by excrements,
Or womans power extended to that length,
That men (as clergie men) haue but the tenth
Of their affections in you, and receiue
Lesse comfort in your bed, then in your graue.
The first arriuall of mine haplesse foote,
Or what discomforts did the furies send
To make me runne a course so farre about,
With no more thanks then if I ran it not?
O fruitlesse labour, for what labour lighter
Thē wash the Æthyope that is nere made whiter?
Which like a snake lies in the tender grasse,
The baine whereof her glorie doth defile,
And lies interd, as that, which neuer was,
Or like a gliding streame whose course doth passe,
And passing, cuts both hill and flowrie plaine,
Scorning by nature to returne againe.
In that I was respectlesse of thy loue:
O doe not forge vnkindenesse, that affords
More sorrow to my heart, then heauens aboue,
Or fatall Eris in her stigian groue,
What I haue spoke I pray thee speake no more,
And Ile recant what I haue said before.
Alcydes labours to obtaine your loue,
Climing the Alps for my beloued sake,
So you distrust from your hard-heart remoue,
And of my faith inuiolate approue:
For be assur'd I nere my loue did shew
To your estate, but loue I bore to you.
From that celestiall scope I aimed at:
I loue my loue, and yet she knoweth not,
Or will not know my minds perplex'd estate,
Those great distractions I conceiu'd of late,
Who once repuls'd can make no sute againe,
Abridge the web of thy extracted griefe,
Take vp thy shepheards crooke, make no abode,
This barraine pasture yeelds thee no reliefe,
But riuolets of teres whereof it's chiefe:
Then bid farewell to this disaster groue,
To Cupids arrowes, and the queene of loue.
The queene of loue that from mount Ida came,
Some more affecting passions I must show,
And paraphrase vpon Dorindas name:
Where though I blush, for I am full of shame,
Yet in my blush, I seeme to represent,
The beautie of my loues faire continent.
Where face redarts a face, me thinks I see,
The splendor of Dorindas comely face,
Where with her smile she doth encounter me,
And driues my sences to that extasie:
That I in Lethe droun'd, as all forgotten,
Lets the glasse fall, and so my glasse is broken.
Opprest with sleepe yet cannot sleepe at all,
Till the remainders of my glasse remou'd,
VVhich were disperst by their vntimely fall,
For they (an ecco like) doe seeme to call
And rouse me from my rest, surpris'd which care,
And reft of rest, declining to despaire.
Some splay-foot'd Vulcan you must make recourse,
Too too vnwilling, to a loathed bed,
Whereas distastefull pleasure hath no force,
But mixt with sorrow and with deepe remorse:
Heare me (Dorinda) these few hymns shall tell
That though you loath me, yet I wish you well.
And see the idiome of your louer there,
An indigested lumpe compos'd of art,
Where natures gifts did neuer yet appeare,
Where folly first her banner seem'd to reare,
An harsh distempred humour showen in him,
A Brillus wit, and a Thersytes limme.
And has our ladies psalter all by heart:
He is modest, rich, and will each morning pray,
As if he had his prayers composd by art,
What you sustaine he euer beares a part:
Hee'l take himselfe to any cotqueanes labour.
Past many perils much degenerate
From former glorie, pristine dignitie,
Which euer made attendance on his state,
Too much obscur'd by infamie of hate,
For he to win a queene did then begin,
To tease his wooll, to card and eke to spinne.
Which in a womans habit he perform'd,
And all to purchase her whom he did craue,
With curious roabes & precious gemmes adorn'd,
With whom in this disguise he long soiorn'd,
Till his long absence had his ruine wrought,
By Nessus blood, long time by Nessus sought.
Consist in orisons, I must confesse,
Reason you haue your fancie to remoue,
Since heauens forgiue, frequent I nothing lesse,
Nor can I loue by solemne praiers expresse.
Hymns, pastorals, and pleasant laies beseeme,
Rather then orisons so faire a Queene.
For rites or ceremonies consecrate
Vnto the powers aboue: she had respected
The Temple more to Iuno dedicate,
And had distempred lust in greater hate,
But she deuoted was vnto his shrine,
For carnall pleasures, not for hests diuine.
In contemplation, since the practike part
Better accords with her, and she doth craue
A soueraigne salue to cure her wounded heart,
Which cannot be perform'd by men of art,
For learned Sophisters may reason well,
But what will please your sexe they cannot tell.
This harsh, yet sober kinde of speculation,
That frames her engine to a fruitlesse end,
About heauens motion and Sphæres eleuation,
Yet cannot make her vse of recreation:
VVherefore it's fruitlesse, and a barraine seede
That loues to grow alone, and hates to breede.
VVith the distastfull temper of my pen,
My muse her selfe from further course forbeares,
To shadow out your vertues to such men,
As liue obscured in obliuions den.
This therefore I haue writ to blase your name,
And not through hate for to ecclips the same.
And giue his regiment to Phaeton:
Sooner shall Mars that powerfull god of warre
Retire in peace, and loue to lie alone:
Sooner shall Sysiphus to rowle his stone
Surcease, then I surcease to empall your daies
VVith poets wreaths, the laurell and the baies.
To Dorinda, successiue Nuptials.
Qui nequeo digna laude Dorindam
euehere ad astra? &c.
in eleg. lib. 3.
With Ambrosia nourished,
Beauties glorie, natures mirror,
Heauens blest Trophie, worldes terror,
Nature made thee and thy feature
As it seemes to put downe nature,
Most admit'd, when most deiected,
Humble most, when most erected.
Tenders thee her vigin duetie:
Hymen too, doth chaplets carrie
To adorne him thou doest marrie:
Gods of all sorts haue descended,
And their bounties haue extended,
Some with roses mix'd full sweetely,
Some with spikenard came to greete thee.
Since by Hymen all are placed,
As sweete flowers set in a border,
Gods and goddesses in order,
There sits Ioue with Iuno Queene,
Here Diana clad in greene,
Here god Mars that heroe stout,
Here crabd Vulcanes limping foote.
In a purple veluet goune:
There Minerua whose deseruing
Had a laurell for her learning:
Here aboue their heads did flie,
With winged speed God Mercurie:
Æolus at last did come,
But for winde there was no roome.
Bad the seas and stormes farewell:
Nereus no more would swimme
In his streames, but follow'd him:
Thus all meeting, ioy appeared,
Well with wine their hearts were cheered,
Till their wine to sleepe resolued,
Made these Nuptials be dissolued.
Astræas farewell to Dorinda.
Talke of our maiden pleasures we haue had,
Nor sit along vpon the siluer shore,
Sighing and puling, calling on that lad,
That purblinde Cupid, that did wound vs sore:
Which made vs pensiue, so perplext and sad,
That we with solemne protestations swore
To be reueng'd: that he himselfe might know,
Though he could shoote, yet we could breake his bow.
In that same flourie Mede, which doth adioine
Thy fathers house, and haue securely talk'd?
Where hauing nought to doe, we vs'd to proine
The poppie braunches, which did then exalt,
Their tops too high: where we would straight combine
Those blossoms we had cropt laying together,
Our heapes in one which had bene lopt by either.
And dismall winter with his hoarie brow
Sits on my cheeke, that thus am left alone:
That Stem shows withred leaues, that erst did show,
Fruites that deserued to be look'd vpon,
Which barrennes was first procur'd by you,
But ile not blame you: you haue lost your mate,
But you haue changed for a better state.
Tell him I wish he would come visit me,
And if I doe resist his sacred power
Let me of after ioyes excluded be:
Too long I feare I keepe a mellow flower,
Which once thou had'st, but now is gone frō thee,
Beleeue me sweete Dorinda, I diuine,
Ere many daies my state must answer thine.
So well repressed in so equall bounds,
VVe once shall make repaire vnto that groue
Where pensiue passions first receiu'd their groūds,
And make a foole of that same Ape of loue
By whom we once endured manie wounds:
But now preseru'd, redeem'd, enioying either,
Admire our equall states, enuied of neither.
To Eliza, a pastorall Hymne.
Inclitæ domus alta trophæa petit,
Non minus genere preripiens decus,
quam forma nitida laudes dispergens suas.
ibid.
Had but one daughter, whom he did esteeme:
And all those graces which we gracious deeme,
Then which a rarer sight was neuer seene,
Since beautie lost her beautie and decaied
In Idas mount: as I haue heard it said.
Sent such a lustre where she passed by,
That some haue thought as I haue heard it told,
Faire Cytheræas traine approched nie:
Such was the vertue of her piercing eie,
And some that dwelt neere to Elysa saie,
The nights she walk'd on seem'd as light as day.
Of eglantine, the dasie, and the dill,
Which they did consecrate: and she would choose
Some flower among the rest which she kept still
In her ambrosian bosome, where an hill
Of sweeter flowers and branches seem'd to be,
Then any mount or groue in Hesperie.
She was not proud, but of that humble straine,
As by her modest blush more faire she show'd,
Then to be courted by a countrie swaine,
Of farre more worth then pastures could containe:
For she was faire, so faire and full of fauour,
As Pan the shephard-god made sute to haue her.
She better seem'd to be Apolloes Queene,
The seedes of vertue were so fully growen
Vertue her selfe might take her for her theame:
Deriued sure from some celestiall streame:
For such a streame distreamd frō her pure minde
Of gracious gifts, that like it's hard to finde.
Had a more lustre, then that countrie swaine,
Or any rurall hogge or homebred creature,
Could hope by their deserts ere to attaine,
Such precious Iewels must be got by paine,
Where euery tripping Satyre can supplie
A decent measure in loues symmetrie.
VVas by a poet suted: but his pen
Seem'd too too rude for her, whose spread report
Had driuen an admiration in all men,
And sacred wood-gods that suruiued then,
VVherefore (as coy) this poet she did scorne,
And eke the wreath which did his head adorne.
A comicke iester to my Nuptiall bed,
The harsh-discordant tunes of euery swaine,
To be with ends of poems nourished,
Or with a vaine phantastique humor fed?
Or marrie such as loue to sell their breath.
Nor haue I my beginning from that roote,
That I should match my selfe with worthlesse men,
Or in a bed of poems set my foote,
VVhere loue enuiron'd is with feare and doubt,
Prophets and poets they can write and sing,
But women they affect another thing.
Nor of Astræas beautie can procure,
The height of our affection or our loue:
Nor can our sweete respect with them endure,
VVho liue as if they were of loue secure.
Maids are not pleas'd with fruitlesse contemplatiō
But leaues the knowledge, loues their recreation.
Vnto the fickle iudgement of the vaine,
Who seeke to winne me, yet must lose the field:
That labour's lost which doth produce no gaine:
Nere can I loue a poets wanton straine,
For this I finde, they that of loue write best,
In actions of true loue can doe the least.
VVas well content, for he no poet lou'd:
Th' effecting of their loues at first approu'd,
VVhich by some accident at last remou'd:
And therefore in all hast tooke hold of time,
Belike for to extract his daughters line.
Mounseur de Tygres did a contract make
With young Gastylio: who in nets inuolu'd
Part for himselfe, and partly for her sake,
In weale and woe his mistris state partakes:
As it was fit, for fitting it should be,
That man and wife haue one communitie.
Vnto one Saint; set in a gorgeous shrine,
With Pomane pompe lest it should be impair'd,
Talking of rites, they cal'd them most diuine:
Whose columns framed loosing wise did shine
With burning Tapers on their Altars hung:
Vnder the staires whereof the Flamines sung.
Which so transparently appear'd to all
In those solemnis'd rites, Ile explicate,
How, when, and where, these mariage hests befell:
Which thus in briefe I doe intend to tell:
That you may show in after-times to come,
No rites more solemne then the rites of Rome.
Elizaes mariage day with all Romane celebritie solemnised: with the Muses salutes, and Graces seuerall gifts.
Gaudeat, et Ueneris pignora chara suæ.
Now were approaching, where in solemne sort
Each thing was plast, as if th' æthereall court
Whose diamantine walls the Gods protected
Had been there present: for all was effected
With such respect, as same would come far short
In her relation: yet I meane to shew
Th' Epitome of this great worke to yow,
Spred ore with tissue, well imbrodered,
With store of dainty cates replenished,
Where on a row the sacred Muses stood
Singing a song of Hebe deifide,
Was there drawen forth. Next that there seemd a flood,
Of faire Sea-nimphs, for Nimphs they seemd to be
Bathing their milke white skins deliciously.
The shore resounding with a sweet consent:
The like whereof was sildome heard before,
That Nimphs, whose glory is most eminent,
Should deigne to grace with their diuiner power
The feasts of mortall men: base continent
For such blest feet to walke on: yet they came
From sea to earth to spread Elizaes name.
Richly enthroned as their worth deserued:
With eies reflected on Elizaes face,
As if loue sicke, for so the most obserued:
Wishing (vaine wish) she were their fellow grace
For now she was no fellow: for they serued
In all subiection to her, and would take
Tasks ill befitting graces for her sake.
A hony dropping tongue which shall dissolue
The marble hearts of men: sweet eloquence
Whose powerfull vertue shall each doubt resolue
And match thy beauty with the excellence
Of diuine beauty: what thou shalt reuolue
In thy close brest shall be performd by thee,
Making thee honord for a deity.
To passe the spheres with apprehensiue wings
With wreaths more glorious then victorious kings
Or Heroes ere receau'd, quicke apprehension
Shall blesse thy memory with the happiest things
Th' auspicious hand of Fortune can procure:
For whom the graces grace, must needs be sure.
The poise of nature iudgement to approue
Or disaproue as it best liketh thee,
To iudge twixt hate and mind attractiue loue:
The sagest braine deriues her wit from me,
Rapt with the infusion of the powers aboue:
Thus shalt thou be adornd with graces feature,
To make thee heauenly of an earthly creature,
Whose glorious scepters sway the ocean,
And this same massie frame this earth of yours,
With all the beauty of your little man:
Wherein at first vertues pure springs began
With pearly drops of soule-bedewing showers:
To rinse our Errors: so distained now
As he that made her, hardly can her know.
Waits on the Graces) she with modest smile,
And shame fast blush, framed this short reply
As sweet as short couch'd in a comely stile;
That you would deigne times minutes to beguile
In such an homely cell: a cell indeed,
For such as you that spring from heauenly seed.
That sing sweet Hymns in heau'ns high Hierarchy,
You who are made the Angells ministers,
Filling their hearts with gladsome harmony.
Of happy tidings blessed messengers,
Infused by the power of sacred Deity.
You sweet Organs that are consecrate
To heauens blest Nuptialls, blesse my nuptiall state.
Their well distreaming currents ore the earth
So as no mount nor humble vale can chuse
But to be fruitfull. Your thrice glorious birth
Inspir'd pure knowledge in the Cadmian Muse,
Making her fill the earth and Sea with mirth.
Thrice blessed ofspring of so blest a sire
Whom plants, springs, groues, & all the gods desire.
Mouing the Syrens with your warbling voice,
If to the mountaines, likewise you appeare,
Making the rocks re-eccho with your noise:
If to the fertile plaines, I likewise heare
You prety musicke in the shepheards voice.
If you begin will answer you againe.
Weauing a pricking bramble to her brest,
Retire in secret to deplore her lot,
Crying on Progue whom she loued best
With trickling teares, not hauing yet forgot
Who gaue reuenge to that incestuous beast,
Adulterate Tereus: if that you come by
Will leaue sad odes and chirpe more cheerfully.
Giues a sweet tutch vnto th' Amyclean lyre,
Makes her stay riuers by her eminence,
Diuert the nature of aspiring fire,
Moue shady woods to change their residence,
Mountaines declining, vales ascending higher.
Shewing far more then mortall powers could shew
Drawing beginning and their end from you.
Vpon th' ensuing progresse of my time,
That by the glorious lustre of your face
Such raies of vertue and respect may shine
In me, my issue, and succeeding race,
That all may blesse this happy state of mine.
Who to aduance the honor of our house
Brought from one stem so many vertuous.
That smels of gaine, and gaine is stale to shame,
Such mellow gifts the better sort depraues,
Loosing for corrupt breath a glorious name:
Fie on attractiue breaths that still receiue
Yet by receiuing doe augment their shame:
No, no, let vertue make me eloquent,
Vnstained vertue is most eminent.
I leaue Archia that: our thoughts be pure,
To make our Fame renowmed, when the least
Of our expired lifes shall loose their power,
Getting that statue, after our decease
Which all deuouring time can nere deuoure,
The glorious name of vertue, which faire tombe
Shall mention vs in after times to come.
This precious Albe adorne Elizaes shrine?
Which no detraction nor reproch could soile,
But made eternall by the powers diuine,
An happy end of times laborious toile,
A blessed period to these daies of mine:
When for exchange of times mortality
Heauens were my due and heauens eternity.
So much as may discerne twixt earths delight
Twixt Titans torch, and Thetis pitchie night:
So much as may my name from darknes saue,
To make her heire of that supernall light
Which the iudicious wish: that iudgements best
Where she directs her scope at sacred rest.
Such vertuous spirits: we must haue you dance,
And leaue discourse of vertue, which will get
Pensiue distractions, though you talke perchance
Of vertue now, yet youl'e relinquish it:
Hymen who doth your fortunes thus aduance,
Will seem much grieued, if you should seem to be
Vertues defender in this Iubile.
Not sable, that pertends too blacke euent:
But brighter colours such as flowry May
Vsde to put on when Boreas seasons spent
And all the fields put on their rich aray,
Each odorous flower and blossome redolent.
VVhen the green mantle of the checkred earth
Seems to reuiew her fresh and cheerfull birth.
And as the birds which pratle on each spray,
Telling their tales vnto the medowes green
Their loues, their likings by the breake of day,
But as true makes impatient of delay:
They wish (poor birds) each moment to approue
The happy fruits of their conceiued loue.
Their warbling voices: where their louely mates
With broad extended wing in hot pursuit
For their admired loues together waite,
Till by long search at last they find them out
Where they begin to enioy that happy state,
Happy to them (good birds) which long before
They did expect, but now expect no more.
This glad arriuall of thy nuptiall state,
Since powers diuine be come to eternise
With happy presence thy succeeding fate
That all the glorious powers may memorise,
These festiue triumphs they haue seen of late.
Come, come, forbeare, put on Elizaes brow,
Aske but the Muses, they will tell thee how.
And glittring beams send out their splendor bright
Or as when storms be past, whose fragor perst
The tender branches with their thunder light,
Or as the earth once pining now reuerst
Bringing her long concealed ioies to light
As if the graces formd her all anew.
Plaies on her prety bosome: pensiue thoughts
As Hymens enemies be put to flight,
Fruits of more pleasure by this day are wrought
In the faire Tablet of her beauteous sight,
Then Ioue to Swan-like Leda euer brought,
For that was stolne curbd by a iealous eie,
But this was such as claimd free liberty.
Mou'd with a priuate motiue of content:
No sorrow now, no anguish, nor annoy
Haue any power in her blest continent:
She talks of Venus, and the waggish boy,
And blames Adonis asking what he meant
He did not honor Venus beauty more,
But leese a mine of treasure for a Bore?
Such a good face should haue so ill a wit,
That when th' art blest, dost not conceiue thy blisse
But seest a gem and yet respectst not it.
Children are pleasd with flowers: a fruitlesse kisse,
A smile, or so, such babies best befit:
Wherfore lest thou such flowrs shold seem to stain,
In fruitlesse grouth a flower thou dost remaine.
Like Mirrhas daughter or Hermione,
Hauing in hope what really she wants,
Presaging comfort to posterity,
Concluding thus: mansions where Graces hant
Cannot deiected or surprised be
By times mutation: for no fatall hower
Can rase that fort, that's kept by diuine power.
A shower of candide hailestones ratling downe,
Which makes the tops of touring okes decline,
The siluer banks of riuers ouerflowen,
Proining the tendrells of the lofty Pine,
With branchy cedars that are highest growen:
Where suddenly the sun sends out his beames,
VVhich quite dissolues the haile & stills the streams
Into the amber border of her heart,
Which was before (poore wench) by her refus'd,
Now yeelds reliefe vnto her former smart,
Resuming sweet delights too long abus'd:
Each proper vertue flowes to euery part.
The tempest now is past, the sun appeares,
Which stops the source of all ensuing feares.
Is robed with nuptiall thoughts: the solemn night,
To helpe her former hope with hopes delight:
Descend a little lower: you shall find
The modell of chast loue decolord right:
Not sensuall affects which relish lust,
For lust's not loue: since loue is pure and iust.
Birds take their pearch and sauage beasts their den,
The night when hoary cares cease to infest
With hote assault the silent sleeps of men:
That blessed night, these nuptialls made it blest
Confirmd her hopes by her approaching then.
For she addrest for pleasure doth vndresse,
Her selfe to reape more perfect happinesse.
And had ascended vp Parnassus mount,
Wishing her as much ioy and sweet delight,
As ere they ioied, while bathing in the fount
Hight pure Castalia in Dianaes sight
And her attendants: Delia would accompt
Them far more happy then the princely Ioue,
For they were free but he was tost in loue.
Crauing their absence: now the ioifull bride
Had of her bride cake to the Muses giuen,
To the three Graces and the Nimphs beside,
Made them though willing longer to abide,
Dissolue their ranks Eliza left behind,
To find the intention of her husbands mind.
A description of the Morne.
Garnishd the earth with his resumed light,
Bedewed moist with her impearled haire,
Deposed horned Luna queen of night,
And all the twinckling stars which did appeare
By Phæbus iuory coach are put to flight,
Thus doth the Sun dethrone the watry Moone
As high estates the lower do put downe.
There to repose till Sol had run his course,
Vp from the sea to earth doth Sol ascend
Seeming anew to renouate his force:
The Suns beginning giues the moone an end,
This leaueth worse for good, that good for worse.
This sends her lustre to th' Adriatique Seas,
That takes her place among th' Antipodes.
Being vnto the lower regions gone,
Aurora represents these louers both,
To a faire tree, broad branchd that fruit brings none
Yet makes a shew of fruit as others doth.
Which he awaking sees, applies the ends
Vnto himselfe, whom thus he reprehends.
The pensiue thoughts of Gastilio, in Sapphycks.
Fix thy contentment on Elizaes beauty,
To which the wood gods tied are in duety.
Shame fall a coward.
Passing a torrent of approaching danger?
More then Alcides for a Deyanyra
Ere made aduenture.
At thy solemnizd crisons be graced,
With an eternall monument of glory,
Leaue to be shame fast.
To let a cheerfull virgin lie beside thee,
And yet do nothing: worst of ills betide thee:
Learne to be wanton.
To yeeld thee comfort shall her worke be hated,
By thee reiected?
Flesh, blood and sinewes, to refuse a pleasure,
Which far exceedeth store of earthly treasure.
Foole be more hardie.
Male with the female generates together,
What pure affection doth appeare in either,
Wonder of ages.
How she the poplar flowrishing imbraceth,
And as a spouse his spousall honors graceth,
So is she graced.
Loues to be loued, is by loue subdued,
And with his louers presence is renewed.
Loue is a loadstone.
And with embraces shews his loue vnto it,
This faire resemblance shews as if he woed it.
Stones far exceed thee.
And those foure diuine elements adhering,
Seem as if all together were conspiring.
Equally mouing.
Viper to viper in their generation,
Bred them for breeding
Will (if thou marke them) to affection moue vs,
Males loue their females, so our femals love vs.
Mates would be mated.
A Threnode occasioned vpon the Authors discontent: in that he loues yet cannot be respected: with a continued Hymne or Acrosticke sonnet best sorting with his amorous passion.
Languishing horror, euer scalding hote,
Shaken with tempest in a crasie boate.
Anchor of comfort let me leane on thee,
So shall it well goe with my barke and me.
Endu'd with natures faire admired treasure,
Throne of a goddesse, chastities partaker,
Helme to my ship, the onely port of pleasure.
Bles'd for thy feature and admired euer,
Alwaies abiding fresh, defaced neuer.
Sapphicke.
Rest to the vnrest, shadow of reposure,To shade the weary from the parching sun shine,
O faire Eliza, blest is that enclosure,
Nature hath lent thee.
What vowes, what protestations in that groue,
That groue, that graue which yeelds more pensiue shows
Vnto my teare swoln eies, then euer loue
Can make amends for: O remember me
And what pure hests I dedicate to thee.
For whatsoere was sweet, seem'd sowre to me,
With what faire words, what promises, entreates
Proceeded from my mouth to purchase thee.
Yet thou vnkind: (vnkindnesse is a sinne)
To loue that star-dazd Nimph, that loues nothin.
As god wot simple soules do meane no harme)
Made your first bonds of fancy to be broken,
So as my folly might your wit forewarne,
Not to respect fond vowes which do proceed,
As idle talke from some phantasticke head.
Whether such semblance of my feigned loue,
From time to time did euer yet appeare,
That you should your affection thus remoue?
O answer me deare loue, O be so kind
Whom you'l not loue to satisfie his mind.
I cared not for the place where thou abode,
I tooke no pleasure, no felicity
In thy discourse: loue where it is is shewd:
O argue not so roughly, for you know,
Of loue I neuer made externall show.
Which I will carry still in spite of fate:
Then let me neuer reape that sacred rest,
That mansion of delight, that glorious state.
O be more kind let that same loue I beare,
Vnto your selfe, more ioifull tidings heare.
Affrighted with such sad disaster sights,
As these short lines can no way make exprest:
And what's the cause I cannot rest, nor sleep?
Because thy beauty doth mine eie-lids keepe.
Making them looke vpon thy image faire:
As if amazd to see that glorious cope
With which the Spheres of heauen may wel cōpare
And therefore puts mine eies to double paine,
In opening them, and shutting them againe.
Rapt with a passion of a fond conceipt,
Close were my fences: none of all could moue
Their sencelesse numnes: but like seruants waite
In all obedience both with tooth and hand,
To heare what thou their mistres would cōmand
For more content such slumbers yeelded me,
Then any food I tasted: or the sight
Of any obiect, saue the sight of thee:
Which slumber past and looking all about me
I was perplexd to lie alone without thee.
Did euer moue me for to wantonise,
It was that I thy shrine might eternise,
That so our loues eternisd both together,
What chanc'd vnto the one might chāce to either
And weaues a web for chast Penelope,
But two for Lais: Venus milke white doues,
Transport my erring sences; and agree
So to obscure the pallace of my soule,
That what was pure should now be passing foule.
With poisoned breath the glory of my name,
I vow to God that I haue lou'd thee best,
And haue been ere respectiue of my shame.
Let heauen and earth my mansion both remoue,
When I do soile thy bed with forraine loue.
That nourishd Serpents in their flowry shade,
And fed our rooted loues with long delaies,
Vndoing that which nature first had made:
For this I thinke (if prophecies be true)
Nature ordained me to marry you.
Which manage our affections as they please,
Extracting out of hate the constant loue
Euen that same power (I thinke) doth so ordaine,
That though you hate, you once will loue againe.
Are made to loue: see how the Iuy twines
Vpon the ruines of a skaled wall,
Or twist's about the wasts of fruitfull vines:
Embracing them with branches spreading broad,
Supporting them when grapes their science load.
Whom if she misse, she pines away and dies,
Abiuring mirth and pleasure for his sake
Filling the crispling aire with dolefull cries:
The stork, the Starling, and the sweet tun'd thrush
Wil seek their makes through euery brake & bush
Can be subdu'd by loues sweet harmony,
Transformd from sauage beasts to creatures mild,
Oppres'd (as seems) with loues extremity.
The cliuy mountaines, and the vales below,
By ecchoes shrill, their loues pursuit doe show.
Tast of the fruit of loue, each in their kind,
Obseruing season, nature, course and time,
Such relish pleasures in loues passions find.
When they'r depriu'd of loues society.
For to obserue the solemne rites of loue:
Dost thou suppose she hath exempted thee,
No pensiue passions ere thy mind to moue?
O be not so deluded: deare you know,
You had a father, let your sonne say so.
Closely confind within the chest of earth?
No more is beauty, when occasion's slipt,
Gracing her Image with no second birth:
O let this after age thine Image find,
By some record which thou shalt leaue behind.
(Thy second image) to adorne the stage
Of this terrestriall frame of worth, bereft
If thou should die, surpris'd in blooming age:
O then since beauty is both green and tender,
It needs some for resse, to be her defender.
Those freeborne blossomes of thy tender prime,
With thousand sugred kisses, and resort
With mirrh, and spikenard, daily to thy shrine,
This will I doe, more would I gladly doe,
Take these few lines and keepe them still with thee
And reading them thinke now and then of me.
The poets legacie to his admired Eliza: deuoted and bequested to her chastest thoughts.
Bequeaths vnto thy shrine, what ere is his:
His wreath and lawrell, which for poesie,
Was giuen by Clio: for that muse did wish,
Much good vnto thy louer: euen like blisse
Fall on thy sacred temples, beauteous queen,
In far more plenty then to fore was seen.
Small though it be, I haue entitled thine,
That in thy waiward dumps perlext and sad,
Some sparkling beames in thy conceipt may shine,
Which thou wilt laugh at: and will call them mine:
But I renounce them, writ they were by me,
But for no end saue this: to pleasure thee.
All those externall Trophees which I had:
The motiue aier of my perswasiue breath
And that small pipe which vs'd to make swains glad,
And sauage Tigres in their fury mad.
For mine by all the sisters nine was grac't.
Tutch it sweet queen, and it will answer thee,
With far more musicke, yea with full asmuch
As old Arion with his harmony,
By mine, sweet Nimph, Dolphins shall carry thee
Sirens themselues, and Satires at command,
Shall bring thee safe vnto th' Elizian sand.
With some oblations which I vow'd to Ioue,
Shall be deuoted to thy tripping feet,
That vsed to walke within the shady groue
Of Helicon and Ida mount of loue.
These little gifts did Mopsus offer mee,
And with like will I offer them to thee.
Made of sweet flowers, which twisted vp together,
Were giuen thee (as I wisht) from me thy friend,
That thought of one might make thee think of either
But thou too marble hearted minding neither.
Despis'd me and my gifts: which though but small
Yet they were great to me; for I gaue all.
But now I haue not, for I vow its thine,
That I may say something thou hast of mine,
For which though furies seeming to repine,
At such a blessing as my works possest,
Let them repine I care not I am blest.
Which I resolud for to bequeath to thee,
With rosie locks and haire as pure as amber,
But there were some obiections hindred me,
Which was the cause I did not send it thee.
For though it was well colourd, yet it had,
For some parts good so many parts as bad.
Seemd too too vgly, for thy gracious eie,
Her lips too great: her face too shamelesse showd:
All which foule crimes, thy iudgement would descry
(Thy piercing eies can priuat'st errors spie.)
For Venus seems no Venus but a swaine,
Some flub fac'd trull borne in the Thuscan plain.
Which though lasciuious, yet beleeue me deere,
It is not halfe so wanton as was she,
Whose forme this sencelesse for me presented here,
As by her liuely actions may appeare.
It is that Myrrha beauties sacred mother,
Who being dead for beauty left another.
The maze of loue, and labyrinth of lust,
With what affecting meanes poore Mirrha sought
To voide incestuous pleasure, which she must
She must perforce sustaine: where she doth trust
Her mellow youth; which thus incircled, rather
Then she will keepe shee'll giue it to her father.
He nipt with age, she with an icie pleasure,
Thus he triumphs in his incestuous life
Louing to gaze vpon forbidden treasure,
Locking her vp least he perchance should leese her.
Glad would she take a time for liberty,
But shee's kept in by fathers iealousie.
May you (deere queen) cull flowers of euery kind,
First how a Nimph enforcd god wot to yeeld
(A willing force) th' affection of her mind,
Leauing the robe of chastity behind.
This picture I will send you, you may take,
This beauties statue for your beauties sake.
Youth had not flourisht in a Venus brow,
Nor had her beauty come to perfect growth,
Nor that sweet modest blush appeares in you,
Could represent so eminent a shew.
Mirrha from Cinyras incestuous sinning.
And consecrated to your radiant beauty,
Though not consorting with your purity,
Yet am I so deuoted in all duety
That I could wish my poems so should suit thee.
That with such passiōs they in fine might moue thee
As reading these, these might enforce thee loue me.
The Poets VVillovv | ||