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The complete works of John Lyly

now for the first time collected and edited from the earliest quartos with life, bibliography, essays, notes and index by R. Warwick Bond
Lyly, John (1554?-1606)

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VOL. I
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VOL. III
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CERTAINE ENGLISHE Verses, presented vnto the Queenes most excellent Maiestie, by a Courtier: In ioy of the most happie disclosing, of the most dangerous conspiracies pretended by the late executed Traitours, against her royall person, and the whole Estate.
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POEMS
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I. Early Autobiographical: 1575–1580?
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13. A Dittie, wherein is contained divers good and necessary documents, which beeing embraced and followed earnestly, may cause a man to shunne manie evilles and mischaunces, that may otherwise fall upon him, ere he can beware.
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14. A Dittie, wherein the brevitie of man's life is described, how soone his pompe vanisheth away, and he brought to his latest home.
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15. A Glasse for all Men to behold themselves in; especially such proude and prodigall-minded Men, and such delicate and daintie Women, ‘who building on the pride of their beautie and amiable complexion, thinke scorne to become aged; and that their sweete faces should be wrinckled, or their youthfulnes brought into subjection by age.
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II. Early Love-Poems: BEFORE 1580?
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III. Four Songs
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IV. Later Love-Poems.
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V. Later Autobiographical: 1595–1600?
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VI Epigrams.

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8.
[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

[I will not soare aloft the skye]

I will not soare aloft the skye
With Icarus so farr frō ground
Least that ye Sunn my winges do [fry]
and fallinge downe wth him be dround
The middle Region will I keepe
when others wake secure to sleepe.
And as high flights ile not attempt
So neither will I fly so lowe
to be a marke for base contempt
to shoote and hitt me with his Bowe.
If yt he striue to shoote so hie
his Bowe about his eares shall flie.
452

Lowe shrubbs ye silly beastes do cropp:
high trees great tempests do thē crack
The meane growe[n] tree wth slend[er] topp
is free from beastes & tempests wrack
Neither base nor treble will I singe
the Meane is still ye sweetest stringe.
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