The Copy of a letter, lately written in meeter, by a yonge Gentilwoman to her unconstant Louer. With an Admonitio[n] to al yong Gentilwomen, and to all other Mayds in general to beware of mennes flattery. By Is. VV. [i.e. Isabella Whitney] Newely ioyned to a Loueletter sent by a Bacheler, (a most faithfull Louer) to an unconstant and faithless Mayden |
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Against the wilfull Inconstancie of his deare Foe E. T.
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 | The Copy of a letter, lately written in meeter, by a yonge Gentilwoman |  |
Against the wilfull Inconstancie of his deare Foe E. T.
Whiche Example may iustly be a sufficient warnyng for all yongmen to beware the fained Fidelytie of vnconstant Maydens.
All youthful Wights at lyberty
whom LOVE did neuer thrall,
I wish that my decay may bee,
a warnyng to you all:
whom LOVE did neuer thrall,
I wish that my decay may bee,
a warnyng to you all:
That haue a soare bred in my Brest
although it be not strange:
Yet wyll it bryng mee to the Graue
without some sodaine change.
although it be not strange:
Yet wyll it bryng mee to the Graue
without some sodaine change.
For I by Sute haue serued one
two yeares and somwhat more,
And now I can no longer serue
my hart it is so sore.
two yeares and somwhat more,
And now I can no longer serue
my hart it is so sore.
Whiche hart I let to Vserie
through gredie fond desire:
Not doubting to receiue home twain
when I would them requyre.
through gredie fond desire:
Not doubting to receiue home twain
when I would them requyre.
But if that euerie Vserer
had such good hap as I,
There would not be so many men
would vse this Vserie.
had such good hap as I,
There would not be so many men
would vse this Vserie.
My Debtor hath deceyued mee
for she is from mee fled:
And I am left among the Bryers
to bryng a Foole to Bed.
for she is from mee fled:
And I am left among the Bryers
to bryng a Foole to Bed.
So that I seely man remayne
eche day in doubtfull case:
For DEATH doth dayly lye in wayte
to rest me with his Mace.
eche day in doubtfull case:
For DEATH doth dayly lye in wayte
to rest me with his Mace.
And cast mee into Prison strong
the Doore is made of Grasse:
And I might bles my houre of birth
if it were come to passe.
the Doore is made of Grasse:
And I might bles my houre of birth
if it were come to passe.
For lo my carefull choyce doth choose
to keepe mee styll in thrall,
And doth regard my loue no more
then Stone that lyes in wall:
to keepe mee styll in thrall,
And doth regard my loue no more
then Stone that lyes in wall:
Wherby I see that Womens hartes
are made of Marble Stone
I see how carelesse they can bee
when pensine men do mone.
are made of Marble Stone
I see how carelesse they can bee
when pensine men do mone.
I sowed both pure and perfect seede
on fayre and pleasant grounde
In hope though haruest brought som pain
som profit might bee found.
on fayre and pleasant grounde
In hope though haruest brought som pain
som profit might bee found.
But now the Haruest ended is
and for my faythfull Seedes
And all my payne and labour past:
I haue nought els but Weedes.
and for my faythfull Seedes
And all my payne and labour past:
I haue nought els but Weedes.
I thrust my hand among ye Thornes
in hope the Rose to finde.
I prickt my hand and eke my hart
yet left the Rose behynde.
in hope the Rose to finde.
I prickt my hand and eke my hart
yet left the Rose behynde.
Not I, but many more I knowe
in Loue do lacke releefe,
But I as cause doth mee compell,
do wayle my payne and griefe.
in Loue do lacke releefe,
But I as cause doth mee compell,
do wayle my payne and griefe.
I doubtlesse can not bee the first
That Loue hath put to payne,
Nor yet I shall not be the last
that Women wyll disdayne.
That Loue hath put to payne,
Nor yet I shall not be the last
that Women wyll disdayne.
If I poore wretch should think vpon
the paynes that I haue past:
Or if I should recount the cares,
that she hath made me taste
the paynes that I haue past:
Or if I should recount the cares,
that she hath made me taste
Into Dispayre it would mee driue,
and cleaue my hart in twaine:
Or els bereaue me of my Wittes
to thinke vpon the payne.
and cleaue my hart in twaine:
Or els bereaue me of my Wittes
to thinke vpon the payne.
I neuer spent one day in Joye
my carefull hart doth know,
Since first I lent my Loue to her
by whom my griefe doth growe.
my carefull hart doth know,
Since first I lent my Loue to her
by whom my griefe doth growe.
There are no greater paynes assignd
for dampned Ghostes in hell:
Then I do suffer for her sake,
that I do loue so well.
for dampned Ghostes in hell:
Then I do suffer for her sake,
that I do loue so well.
The Pryce that I haue paid for loue
nor many men do gyue.
But I my Bargayne shall repent
as longe as I do lyue.
nor many men do gyue.
But I my Bargayne shall repent
as longe as I do lyue.
I payde for loue and that full dears
yet I receyue right nought,
I neuer was so much deceyued
in any thynge I bought.
yet I receyue right nought,
I neuer was so much deceyued
in any thynge I bought.
If euerie woman on her friend
suche pitie ofe to take,
Then shortly men wyll ron to loue,
as Beares vnto a stake.
suche pitie ofe to take,
Then shortly men wyll ron to loue,
as Beares vnto a stake.
But now let VENVS fire her forge
let CVPIDS Shafte be sent:
They can no more encrease my woe
for all my Loue is spent.
let CVPIDS Shafte be sent:
They can no more encrease my woe
for all my Loue is spent.
But here good Reader thou maist see
how Loue hath paide my hyre,
To leaue me burnyng in the flame,
compeld to blow the fyre.
how Loue hath paide my hyre,
To leaue me burnyng in the flame,
compeld to blow the fyre.
But if that thou good frende desire
to lyue in happy state;
Then seeke in time in thou mishap,
Repentance coms too late.
to lyue in happy state;
Then seeke in time in thou mishap,
Repentance coms too late.
Frequent not Womens company
but see thou from them swarue
For thy Rewarde shall be but smal,
whateuer thou deserue.
but see thou from them swarue
For thy Rewarde shall be but smal,
whateuer thou deserue.
Take heede for ye maist come in thrall
Before that thou beware:
And when thou art entangled once
thou canst not flie the snare.
Before that thou beware:
And when thou art entangled once
thou canst not flie the snare.
Take thou not this to be a Jest,
but thinke it to be true,
Before thou prooue as I haue done,
least proofe do make thee rew.
but thinke it to be true,
Before thou prooue as I haue done,
least proofe do make thee rew.
Yet if thou chaunce to place thy loue
take heede what than doest sate:
And see thou place thy talke in Print
or els beware a fraie.
take heede what than doest sate:
And see thou place thy talke in Print
or els beware a fraie.
And thus I ende: not doubtyng but
these wordes may well suffice,
To warne thy gredie hart of harme
and ease thy rouing eyes.
these wordes may well suffice,
To warne thy gredie hart of harme
and ease thy rouing eyes.
Case by Disease,
hath made me to halt,
Time hath so turned
my Suger to Salt.
hath made me to halt,
Time hath so turned
my Suger to Salt.
FINIS.
| The Copy of a letter, lately written in meeter, by a yonge Gentilwoman | |