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II. Early Love-Poems: BEFORE 1580?

16.
[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

[Who loues and would his suite should proue]

Who loues and would his suite should proue
[To] winn his Mistress to his will,
That she likes he must seeme to loue
And what she loues com̄end it still.
Then at fitt time preferr yor sute
Let not sharpe answers strike you mute.
Their Castells on such ground are sett
as vndermyninge may them take
The walls so weake no strength can lett
shott soone therein a breache will make
Their forces are so weake within
small powr serues their forts to win.
If men haue tongues to craue & pray
aswell as women to deny
No stronger is their no or nay
then force of wise mens yes or I.
For mens perswations stronger are
then womens noes are much by farr.
Their no is weake & blunt also
such weapons weakely do defend
Mens yea so sharpe will pierce their no
and Conquer them if they contend.
Then feare not force, where force is none
least feare yor force, do ouercome
There Sex withstands not place (if fitt[)]
no[r] speache, for be she base or hie
A womans ey doth guide hir witt
hir witt doth neuer guide hir eye
Then senceles is he yt can speake
feares to the best his loue to breake.
460

The brauer mart the better matche
and willinger of all is sought
And willinge sute doth euer catche
foule Vulcan so faire Venus cought
Were she a Quene she would be wonne
if cun̄ingly yor race you runne.
He that can rubb hir gamesome vaine
and also temper toyes with art
Makes Loue swim at hir eies amaine
and so to diue into hir hart
Their Sex are weake, weake forts can̄ott
wthstand the force of Can̄on shott.
I argue not of hir estate
but all my rest I sett on this
That oportunity will mate
and winn the coyest she yt is.
for to be Courted they desire
to further pleasure to aspire.
The towne wch will to parly com̄e
will yeld to peace (though hye in state)
And those no doubt will soone be wonne
yt courtinge loue which none do hate.
If bloody warres they ment to vse
perswations milde they would refuse.
Although they seeme to scorne loues beck
and in all shew the same to hate
And though at first they giue ye check
at last they gladly take the mate.
for pleasure they to play beginn
in sport they lose in sport they winn.
In words & lookes theis Ladies braue
haue coye disdaine voide of loues fire
But in their mindes & harts they haue
a feruent and a hote desire.
Reiectinge words mens suits deny
alluringe iestures do say yea.
Courtinge makes them stoope to lure
and guiftes reclaimes them to the fist
And with yt bridle and saddle sure
you well may ride them where you list
In such cariers they run on still
yt you may breake yor Launce at will.
461

If bewtifull a Lady be
with praises great you must hir moue:
If witty then be wonn will she
wth fine conceites the art of loue.
If coye she be wth prayers sue,
if proude then guifts must pleade for youe.
If Couetous she be indeede
with promises you must assay:
If wayward then wth force proceede.
but all the fault on bewtie lay:
And in one instant also vse
some rare delight wth a iust excuse.
Sayinge thus: yor bewty doth me drawe
and eke compell me this to doe
No faulte in me for as the strawe
drawne by pure Iett must leape thereto
So I beinge forc'd deserue no blame
sith that yor bewty forc'd the same.
When you haue don no doubt but she
the better like and loue you will
faire Helen may example be
howe Menelaus she hated still
His softnes made him woo in vaine
she did his humblenes disdaine.
Enforcinge Paris she did loue
and like for forcinge hir so well
That greatest dangers she would proue
with him for to remaine & dwell.
yet she confest as it was righte
the Gretian was the better knighte.
But Menelaus takes hart, and soe
by force recouers hir againe
By force makes hir with him to goe
by force enioyes hir not in vaine
for when he manlike Deedes did vse
to yeld to him she could not chuse.
And she yt neuer like him coulde
for seruice and for reuerence
Did euer after deare him holde
and loue him eke for violence
Tis modesty that they refraine
what they refuse they would haue faine.
462

Though women striue & disagree
they meane not for to ouercom̄e,
Though they full angrie seeme to be
well pleas'd they are when well tis don̄e.
They would not striue nor yet denye
but yt mens forces they would trye.
The modestie of Men I finde
they like not, yet it praises lend
They hate the fearefull dasterd minde
that offers not for feare t'offend
Then feare not for to beard the best
kindely they kindenes will digest.
If that she do dislike before
you do attempt hir for to win,
Then she can do at last no more
howe euer you hir vse therein.
With lyinge still no forte is gott
nor Castell battered wthout shott.
And women thinke there is no fire
where they no sparkes of furie see
for to be courted they desire
though they in shew displeased bee.
In womens mouthes in case of loue
no, no negatiue will proue.
A womās hart and tongue by kinde
should not be Relatiues alwaye
Neither is yt Prouerbe true I finde
What hart doth thinke, ye tongue doth say
They like ye Lapwinge off do flye
and farthest from their Nests do crye.
They vse denialls & sharpe quippes
not for because they do not loue
But partly for to shew their witts
and eke mens constancie to proue.
Though they refuse it will appeare
tis but th'obtayninge to endeare.
If women were not frendly foes
beinge hable for to ouercome
They would not softly strike wth noes
nor yet vnto a parley com̄e.
Or if mens suites they did disdaine
to answer them they would refraine.
463

Take heede do not at first shott yelde
their tongues will once the battell sounde
At last you sure shall winn the field
if that you well, will keepe yor grounde
If that ye forte she hold out longe
the next assaults then make more stronge.
When as a fearfull Horsman backs
a ready horse the horse will bounde
And for to leape he neuer slacks
till he hath throwne him to the grounde
But if a horsman good he finde
will sitt him close he yeldes by kinde.
Vnworthy life yt Hounde we deeme
wch giues ye chase of at first fault
So of such men they not esteeme
for one repulse wch leaues th'assault
That loue is weakely built they knowe
wch one denyall downe doth blowe.
If yt in chase so ill you holde
as for one faulte to leaue the same
They will suppose yor suite is colde
and thinke you care not for ye game.
for women this account do make
they will say no and yet will take.
The Souldior faint wch standeth still
in battell fearing Enemies sight
Is sooner slaine then he yt will
the brauest onsett giue in fighte
Then if you loue be not afraide
to beard the best as I haue saide.

17. Of lingeringe Loue.
[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

1

In lingeringe Loue mislikinge growes,
Wherby our fancies ebbs and flowes:
We love to day, and hate to morne,
And dayly wher we list to scorne.
Take heede therfore,
If she mislike, then love no more:
Quicke speed makes waste,
Loue is not gotten in such haste.
464

2

The sute is colde that soone is done,
The forte is feeble easly wonne:
The haulke that soone comes by her pray,
may take a Toye and sore away.
Marke what means this,
Some thincke to hitt & yet they misse:
ffirst creepe, then goe,
Me thinke[s] our loue is handled soe.

3

ffor lacke of Bellowes the fire goes out,
Some say, the next way is about:
ffew thinges are had without some sute,
The tree at first will beare no fruite.
Serue longe, Hope well,
Loe heere is all that I can tell:
Tyme tries out troth,
And troth is likt' wher ere it goth.

4

Some thincke all theirs that they doe seeke,
Some wantons wooe but for a weeke:
Some wooe to shew their subtile witte,
Such Palfreyes play vpon their bitte.
ffine heads god knowes,
That plucke a nettle for a rose:
They meete their mach,
And fare the woorsse because they snach.

5

We silly women can not rest,
for Men that love to woe in iest:
Some lay their baite in ev'ry nooke,
And ev'ry fish doth spie their hooke.
Ill ware, good cheape,
Which makes vs looke before we leape;
Craft, can cloke much,
God saue all simple soules from such.

6

Though lingeringe Loue be lost some while,
Yet lingeringe louers laugh and smile:
Who will not linger for a day,
May banish hope and happ away.
Loue must be plide,
Who thinckes to sayle must wayte ye tide:
Thus ends this dance:
God send all ling'rers happie chance.
Finis.
465

18. A Warning for Wooers,
[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

that they be not over hastie, nor deceived with womens beautie.

[_]

To—‘Salisburie Plaine.’

Ye loving wormes, come learne of me,
The plagues to leave that linked be;
The grudge, the grief, the gret anoy,
The fickle faith, the fading ioy,
In time take heed;
In fruitlesse soile sow not thy seed:
Buie not, with cost,
The thing that yeelds but labour lost.
If Cupids dart do chance to light,
So that affection dimmes thy sight;
Then raise up reason, by and by,
With skill thy heart to fortifie;
Where is a breach,
Oft times too late doth come the Leach:
Sparks are put out,
When furnace flames do rage about.
Thine owne delay must win the field,
When lust doth leade thy heart to yeeld:
When steed is stolne, who makes al fast,
May go on foot for al his haste:
In time shut gate,
For had I wist, doth come too late:
Fast bind, fast find;
Repentance alwaies commeth behind.
The Syrens tunes oft time beguiles,
So doth the teares of Crocodiles;
But who so learnes Ulysses lore,
May passe the seas, and win the shore.
Stop eares, stand fast,
Through Cupids trips, thou shalt him cast;
Flie baits, shun hookes,
Be thou not snarde with lovely lookes.
466

Where Venus hath the maisterie,
There love hath lost her libertie:
Where love doth win the victorie,
The fort is sackt with crueltie.
First look, then leap,
In suretie so your skinnes you keepe;
The snake doth sting,
That lurking lieth with hissing.
Where Cupids fort hath made a waie,
There grave advise doth beare no swaie;
Where love doth raigne, and rule the roste,
There reason is exilde the coast:
Like all, love none,
Except ye use discretion:
First try, then trust,
Be not deceived with sinful lust.
Marke Priams sonne, his fond devise,
When Venus did obtaine the prise;
For Pallas skil, and Junoes strength,
He chose that bred his bane, at length.
Choos wit, leave wil,
Let Helen be with Paris stil:
Amis goeth al
Wher fancie forceth fooles to fall.
Where was there found a happier wight
Than Troylus was, til love did light?
What was the end of Romeus?
Did he not die, like Piramus?
Who baths in blis,
Let him be mindful of Iphis:
Who seeks to plese,
May ridden be, like Hercules.
I lothe to tel the peevish brawles,
And fond delights, of Cupids thrawles;
Like Momish mates of Midas mood,
They gape to get that doth no good:
Now down, now up,
As tapsters use to tosse the cup:
One breedeth ioy,
Another breeds as great anoy.
467

Some love for wealth, and some for hue,
And none of both these loves are true:
For when the mil hath lost her sailes,
Then must the miller lose his vailes:
Of grasse commeth hay,
And flowers faire wil soon decay:
Of ripe commeth rotten;
In age al beautie is forgotten.
Some loveth too hie, and some too lowe,
And of them both great griefs do grow;
And some do love the common sort,
And common folke use common sport.
Looke not too hie,
Least that a chip fall in thine eie:
But hie or lowe,
Ye may be sure she is a shrow.
But, Sirs, I use to tell no tales;
Ech fish that swims doth not beare scales;
In everie hedge I find not thornes;
Nor everie beast doth carrie hornes:
I saie not so,
That everie woman causeth wo:
That were too broad;
Who loveth not venom, must shun the tode.
Who useth still the truth to tel,
May blamed be, though he saie wel:
Say crowe is white, and snowe is blacke,
Lay not the fault on woman's backe;
Thousands were good,
But few scapte drowning in Noes flood:
Most are wel bent;
I must say so, least I be shent.
FINIS.
468

19. A Proper Sonet,
[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

intituled, ‘I smile to see how you devise.’

[_]

To anie pleasant Tune.

I smile to see how you devise
New masking nets my eies to bleare;
Your self you cannot so disguise,
But as you are, you must appeare.
Your privie winkes at boord I see,
And how you set your raving mind:
Your self you cannot hide from me,
Although I wincke, I am not blind.
The secret sighs, and fained cheare,
That oft doth paine thy carefull brest,
To me right plainly doth appeare;
I see in whom thy hart doth rest.
And though [thou] makest a fained vow,
That love no more thy heart should nip;
Yet think I know, as well as thou,
The fickle helm doth guide the ship.
The salamander in the fire,
By course of kinde, doth bathe his limmes:
The floting fish taketh his desire
In running streames, whereas he swimmes.
So thou in change doth take delight;
Ful wel I know thy slipperie kinde:
In vaine thou seemst to dim my sight,
Thy rowling eies bewraieth thy minde.
I see him smile, that doth possesse
Thy love, which once I honoured most:
If he be wise, he may well gesse,
Thy love, soon won, wil soon be lost.
And sith thou canst no man intice,
That he should stil love thee alone;
Thy beautie now hath lost her price,
I see thy savorie sent is gone.
469

Therefore, leave off thy wonted plaie;
But as thou art thou wilt appeare,
Unlesse thou canst devise a waie
To dark the sun, that shines so cleare.
And keep thy friend, that thou hast won;
In trueth to him thy love supplie;
Least he at length, as I have done,
Take off thy belles, and let thee flie.

20.
[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

[O happ moste harde where truthe doth most beguyle]

O happ moste harde where truthe doth most beguyle
O churlishe chaunce where love gives caus to loth
O face moste fals wch frowneth by a smyle
O fayned faithe wch loves and hateth both
My saftye stayes where dainger ever bydes
My settled truste standes faste one waveringe doutt
No steddfaste staye is that wch ever slydes
Displeased contente still neither in nor oute[.]
To maske my mynde where moste yt woulde be seen
To hyde my hurtes where healinge handes should helpe
To saye a naye where soothe doth beste beseeme
Shewes but a foole one Mother Cowardes whelpe
Wherefor I dare saye as I saide before
And faine woulde doe yf donne I live no more
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