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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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12.
[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

[The lofty trees whose braūches make sweete shades]

The lofty trees whose braūches make sweete shades
Whose armes in springe are richely dighte wth flowrs
Without ye roote their glory quickly fades
& all in vaine comes pleasant Aprill showrs.
No loue can be at all without ye hart
nor Musick made excep[t] the Base beares parte.
453

The princely towrs whose pride exceedes in show
if ther foundations be not stronge & sownde
Are subiect to ye smallest windes yt blowe
& highest toppes are brought to lowest ground.
No fielde is sweete whē all is scortchd wth drowte
nor musick good when so ye base is out.
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