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 |
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 | The complete works of John Lyly |  |
16.
[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.
[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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
| The complete works of John Lyly | |