University of Virginia Library

Nimrods faire City, beauteous Babylon,
which admirations eies once gaz'd vpon,
Though grac'd in all, in nought so gracious,
as in her Thysbe, and yong Pyramus.
Thysbe a maid as faire, as faire could be,
he for his sexe, was full as faire as she.
These two resplendent starres, shone in one sphere,
and by contiguate mansions bordering neere,
Renewd their loues vnhappy memory,
press'd downe too much by parents iealousie.
Aye me too iealous, to preuent that good,
of sincere loue which cannot be withstood.
These two debar'rd of meeting, not of louing,
for loue, though smothred, hath an inward moouing
Sought means to shew their mutual loue by woing,
supplying that in words, they mist in doing.
Their walls abutting neree, so neere did meet,
That these two Saints might each another greete.
A chinke there was, which Thysbe soone espies,
for maids in wanton feats, haue Linceus eyes.
VVhich beeing seene (well seene) she did repaire
each morne betime to see if he were there:
At last he spies it, (men haue duller witte,
then women haue, yet better manage it.)
This crany was the shrine to which they came,
where either call'd on other, by their name.
And with deuotion ech to other kneeled,
protesting loue, hid loue, so long concealed.
VVhy should our Parents, Pyramus would say,
seeke to protract our loues by long delay?
Or why should we, with such precisenesse shunne,
that which our parents long before haue done?
Suppose their loue was pure: our loue's as pure,
they full as fond as we, were drawen to th' lure.
And why, my Thysbe, should that comely face,
for all her feature, haue a ciphers place?
Thou art no shadow, but a substance (deare)
in substances, impressions best appeare.
Then for my loue, thy ioy, and beauties sake,
that seemes eclyps'd, let me th' impression make.
Lets to the field, aye me, we cannot goe,
we are immur'd within the grate of vvoe;
And why should I, fond man, my Thysbe moue,
to vvanton pleasure? vvhere's no vse of loue;
I knovv thou lou'st, in that thy griefe is more,
pent from that St vvhich thou vvould fain adore.
Thysbe stood peeping through this narrovv chinke
and though she spake nought, yet shee more did think,
Her blush, her smile, her bittng of her lip,
did all the secrets of her hart vnrippe.
Thus whilst they stood both standing at a bay,
wishing some priuate passage, or some way,
To consummate their vowes: in comes her mother,
which made them take their leaue one of another.
She skoold her daughter: vvhat my tricksie girle,
are you besotted with this worthlesse pearle,
This beauties blossome? faire enough, but poore,
dote on the rich, affect his rags no more.
Mother (quoth Thisbe) you are much decau'd,
if I may speake with reuerence, he nere crau'd
Loue at my hands: what did he here, quoth she,
that he so priuate should discourse with thee?
He is (quoth Thisbe) come from Salamine,
and brought me grapes, pluckt from that tender vine
Ætolus planted, which she gaue in hast,
vnto her mother, praying her to tast:
Shee tooke and tasted: fruits variety
seru'd at that time for her Apology.
The pitchy shade of night-approach't at hand,
vvhen Screech-owles, Fauns, and Satyres haue cōmād
Where skipping in their lawne and flowry groue,
Siluane to Siluane consecrates his loue.
Yet when each chirping bird, goes to her nest,
loues eyes be open, and can take no rest.
Beasts to their caues resort, surcease to prey,
feeding on that they purchas'd by the day.
Each creature in his kind dispos'd to sleepe,
but feruent loue continuall watch doth keepe:
He tosseth in his bed, wishing it day,
hoping thereby his cares to throw away.
Yet when the night is past, the day yeelds more,
then ere the night affoorded him before.
Thus Pyramus enthrall'd twixt hope and feare,
hopes, though smal fruit of hope in him appeare.
He cannot sleepe nor wake, but twixt them both,
sleeping and waking as a letharge doth.
Oft would he hugge his pillow in his arme,
and cling it fast about, to keepe it warme.
Supposing it was Thysbe, and would sweare,
no creature ere could be more welcome there,
Streight would he call on Hymen, then inuite,
his friends and kinsfolke to his nuptiall rite.
And faigning their replies, thanks he would giue,
vowing requitall once, if he should liue.
Oh what distractions haunt a louers minde
passing those bounds which nature hath assign'd,
Nought vpon earth, but limits hath we see,
but boundlesse loue can nere contained be.
Hearbs yeeld a soueraigne cure to euery wound,
but for loues cure, in hearbs no vertue's found.
Then blest is he, and in an happie state,
who for loues dart is made inuulnerate.
Yet was it hard to see and not to loue,
Thysbe's admired beauty, which could mooue,
Serpēts, birds, plāts brute beasts which grase & feed,
more then ere Orpheus with his musicke did.
Her goulden tresses, pure ambrosian
Fairer then all the twists Arachne span,
Shone far more bright then Phœbus glistring raies,
by all mens iudgements, meriting more praise;
Her corall lip, (no lip) but ports of pleasure,
which seem'd to open to whole mines of treasure,
Appeard so sweet, that all was sweet about it,
for I am sure nought could be sweet without it.
Her brests two iuory mounts, mounts may I cal thē
for many vales of pleasant veines empall'd them
These like two borders, did such sweets display,
that who lodg'd there, lodg'd in the milkie way.
Below a shady vale, aye mee that shade,
which nature in her owne despite had made,
Had made for glory of that sacred mount,
with the sweet Nectar of a liuely fount.
A still distilling fount, an heauenly riuer,
for theres no earthly spring can spring for euer.
Her wanton gate, her glance, her smile, her toying,
all ioy'd in one, shewed pleasure in enioying.
So as Euphrates, vvhere this city bounded,
vents vp his passions, for he oft resounded
Beating his bancks, and eccoing in the aire,
and then retiring backe, seem'd to despaire.
That Thysbe could not loue a sencelesse one,
at which repining, he vvould make his mone.
Hath not my current ere renovvned beene,
for th' easie passage of my quiet streame?
Hath not my torrent yeelded much content,
to gild his meanes, vvhose meanes vvhere vvholly spent?
Haue I not suffered much? sustain'd great paines,
fraughting your trauaile with a double gaines.
And for supporting of so many shippes,
may not Euphrates graze vpon her lippes,
Whom thus he loues? vnthankfull coast (quoth he)
respecting least, who did the most for thee.
This being said, hee could expresse no more,
but in a loue-sicke passion, bett the shore.
And to confirme, what I haue heard men say,
he left his course and tooke another way.
If sencelesse riuers that were neuer seene
to loue, or care for louing, held no meane,
In their affecting Thisbe: what should hee
that had both sence and reasons purity?
Pure in his mind, and faire in beauties shew,
Narcissus second for his comely hew:
Lipp'd like Adonis, Erycina loued,
shaped like Alexis Pollyos approoued.
Grac'd with a smiling countenance, which did breed,
a louely white, mix'd with a comely red.
Two sparkling eyes pierciue as Diamond,
which, whersoere they gas'd, they seem'd to woūd,
That though the Sun were set, yet his bright eies
shone as the Beames which from the sun doe rise:
The night being gone, too long god wot in going,
her wandring lights to Tethis banks bestowing,
Titan came peeping in at Thyisbes chamber,
whom she reflected with her locks of amber.
Each other greeting, as if had beene there,
two Suns at once, both in one hemysphere.
Hard was the combat, but more hard it were,
to tell whose beams diffus'd their light most clear,
Yet in the end Titan in an angry mood,
seeming surpast, did hide him in a cloud.
Thysbe puts on her cloths, blest were those cloths,
thrice happy shade, that shadow'd such a Rose,
Where being dressed, not dress'd as shee would bee,
she tooke her to her praiers religiously.
High heauens (quoth she) from whence al pleasures flow,
deigne some of them on Thysbe to bestow.
For by your power, which I doe much adore.
I loue but that which you haue lou'd before.
Thou thundring Ioue, did dote as well as I,
when thou desired with Danae to lye;
Which to effect, thou turn'd her to a showre.
a Goulden showre her beauty to defloure,
For cloth'd in lightning, Danae denaied,
to ioyne with thunder: afterward arraid
In dewie moisture, (moisture we do loue,)
she cast off shame, and did thy shape approue.
And Iuno lou's Ixion for his kisse,
Venus, Adonis, for his comelinesse.
Daphne (poore Laurell) chased by Apollo,
running as fast before as he did follow,
Thus did your loue, your lust, your thoughts renew,
if I thinke ill, I thinke no worse then you.
And well may gods with womens sexe dispence,
Since they were first authoris'd their offence.
My loue's not spotted with lasciuious tutch,
vnlesse it be by louing ouermuch.
Nor branded with the note of Infamie,
but pure as Delia Queene of Chastitie.
Thoughts are the worst, my actions they be cleare,
& he'se no man whose thoughts nere soyled were.
Then pardon if I loue, suppose it zeale,
whose passions be too hote for to conceale:
Leauing her Orisons, composed of Loue,
loue dallying praiers: her eyes aside she moues,
And sees the chinke, which she first saw before,
which did augment her dolors much the more.
For shee recall'd to minde, to memory,
her mothers chiding, fathers Ielousie;
Both which a streame of teares extract from her,
as if pale death her comforts should interre.
Oft would she call on louely Pyramus,
with smothered speech, as one suspitious:
Lest the pure ayre, and walls adioyning neere,
should prattle loue vnto her parents eare.
Oft would she nibble out a stone or two,
to make the crift seeme bigger to the show
Of her deepe loue: for they suspected were,
therefore debard, lest they should come too neer.
Pyramus pent vp all this while, at last,
gets out and hies him to the chinke as fast.
Where what discourse their mutuall loue affoorded,
seem'd by the Gods in heauen to be recorded.
Either with greedy eye gasing on other,
Thysbe look'd backe somtimes, doubting her mother:
For she suspected much her iealous eye,
in her loues presence to be euer by.
Enuious vvall oft would these louers say,
diuide thy selfe and let vs haue a way,
To meete, to kisse, to parley and relate,
the solemne festiues of our nuptiall state.
Why should thy marble stuctures hold vs out,
vvhose loue encircles Babilon about?
Or why should terrene composition moue
a breach or separaration of our loue?
Loue is celestiall: thou a marble shrine,
why shouldst thou hinder loue that is diuine?
And yet we cannot so ingratefull be,
but we must offer vp our thanks to thee;
Our vowes, our giftes, our best pris'd sacrifice,
in that thou yeelds a passage to our eyes,
Yeelding some comfort in this gloomie night,
supplying kisses with the vse of sight.
Loue hath some harmonie, some small agreeing,
for what it wants in tutch it hath in seeing.
Hesperias garden was by serpents kept,
whose euer watching eye-liddes neuer slept.
And Colchis Fleece was kept as warily,
till Iasons meanes obtain'd the victorie
So be our loues immur'd, interred rather,
by two suspicious dames, one subtile father.
Then would they kisse the wall and oft entreat,
that in compassion it would let them meet.
We will not tell our parents, nor expresse,
who twas, gaue way vnto our happinesse.
Louers be faithfull, of our faiths beleeue vs,
since this straight durance cannot chuse but grieue vs.
The wall replyde not: yet their words had force,
piersing her hardnesse, softned with remorse.
For euer since, as well it may appeare,
the marble sheds each morne a Trickling teare,
Thus did these louers passe the weary morne,
depriu'd of that which louers best adorne,
And that is priuate meeting, which being missing,
we beat the aire but with conceit of kissing,
A vaine conceit, to dally with delight,
Expecting sun-shine in a clowdy night.
Imparadis'd in ioyes he cannot be,
that's clad in sable roabs of misery.
Oh then conceiue what sorrow he sustaines,
that in perpetuall languishment remaines.
O what distractions do his ioyes disseuer,
feeding like vultures on his hart for euer.
If Zeuxes pictured grapes, so liuely were;
That many birds in flocks repaired there,
Pecking vpon his statues, and did browse
vpon his liuely grapes, meere liueles showes.
Well may we thinke, that Ioue himselfe can make,
a farre more liuely, and proportion'd shape,
Then a poore painter; though his Grapes seeme ripe,
yet they were drawne from Ioues first Archetype.
Then Ioues best picture, Natures admiration,
Thysbe, euen Thysbe made for recreation,
May well be thought to draw each bird each beast,
from Pastures greene, vpon her lippes to feast.
It were a festiue banquet there to be,
whose breath is Nectar, breathing deity.
Here Pyramus would be, if heauens would grant it,
for he esteemes no treasure, whilest he wants it,
Since such a Iewell, such a pretious Gem,
in that it's rare, is more admired by men.
Thus Tantalised, the Gods doe seeme to loue him,
setting him fruite, but fruite too farre aboue him:
For when his lips (pure lips) should but comny them
they mocke his lips and in dirision flie them.
Dost flie my lips (quoth he) ô doe not flie me,
for what I doe, I doe it but to trie thee,
To trie thy loues which though our parents thwarted
our conioin'd loue disioin'd shall nere be parted,
Well may our bodies be disioin'd a sunder,
but loue's to head-strong, none can keepe it vnder:
Loue is free-borne, it cannot seruile be,
to begge for curtesie with a bended knee.
Thysbe kept concord, for each word he spake,
seem'd her retired passions to awake,
Stird vp her spirit, as inspir'd by fate,
making her stout that was effeminate.
Continue thy intendments sweete, quoth she,
and as thy shadow I will follow thee,
Passing a sea of dangers launching deepe,
till I the shadow to the substance creepe,
Passe or't as forrest, snow-cliued Caucasus,
Thysbe will follow steps of Pyramus;
The Riphean Mountaines, or the Hetririan plaines,
Each morne resounding with the notes of swains,
If thou loue Vmolus, with her fragrant spices,
or Ericthea famous for deuices:
Thysbe will follow thee with speed she may,
only, her trauaile with thy loue repaie.
But these are but discourses of our ill,
which if not cured, be augmented still.
For that you know renues the maladie,
which rubs the sore, and yields no remedie:
For why should any labour me remoue,
From that admired mirror whom I loue.
And I am of that nature: more they hold me,
from fancying thee, more passions do enfould me;
Then plot (my Pyramus,) contriue, inuent,
that we may harbour loue in loues content,
Till wearied with ioy, wearyed too soone,
thou leaue adoring of the watrie Moone.
Where being cloyed with the sweetes of loue
mayst leaue the vale, and taste the fruits aboue.
Thou art my sheepheard, I will be thy plaine,
I the poore cottage, thou the homely swaine,
Thou shalt refresh thy selfe vpon my banckes,
which hauing don, I know thou'le giue me thanks,
For my diffused streames, streams meerely sent,
not much enforc'd from Thysbes continent,
Come then, for why should any marble wall
being materiall substance, so appall
Our ardent wishes, wishes which proceede
from loue-sick passions, which more passions feed
Let our distilling teares congeal'd in one,
dissolue the hardnes of this flinty stone.
Remorse may moue this stone by diuine wonder,
to let vs meet, diuide herselfe a sunder.
This said, maine riuers of distreaming teares,
in their woes-torrents purblinde eies appeares,
Seeking, but seeking all in vaine God wot,
to moue that shrine which weeping moued not.
It wept to see true loue so straite confinde,
disioyn'd by fates, which fauours had combinde.
It wept to see their parents so vnkinde,
to curbe their bodies presence, whose pure minde,
Rapt with content of seeing, not enioying,
acts discontent, debard of further toying.
It wept to see their minds so well agreeing
in one selfe place, not to haue one selfe-being.
It wept and much repin'd that dismall fate,
Should crosse pure loue by loue-disioyned hate:
And pittying their case shed many a teare,
Shedding so many, she her selfe did were.
Oh what hard harted parents had these two,
since what the stones allow'd, they'l not allow,
Reproouing that in theirs, themselues affected,
soiling their youth with what their youth respected
Are these the fruits and honours of our time,
the fruitlesse blossomes of a sterile clyme?
Are these our louing Sires? oh no, they are hard,
to presse downe loue, that cannot be debar'd.
You high resplendent heauens, whose cherishing heat
with seasoned warmth, our spacious borders greet,
Temper such parents hearts, as are not won,
till both their line and linnage be vndone.
Soften their stifned minds, oppress'd with rage,
playing sharpe tyrants in declining age.
For why should they find fault their children play,
since in their prime they playd as much as they.
Decrepit age, stilted for want of strength,
with brinish teares deplores their sins at length;
But thus I conster't: They their age deplore,
theyr youth is spent, and they can doe no more.
And like an enuious viper, would haue none,
to vse their strength, because their strength is gone.
But old age ers in this: experienc'd wit
swaies their proceedings, youth abandons it.
Nor doe they know what hurt poore maides receiue,
to pen them vp from that they wish to haue.
For though they be immur'd in walles of Brasse,
Loue hath her loope-holes by which she will passe,
In spite of iealous dotage, and espies
some priuy chinke, though wacht by Linceus eies,
For loue enclos'd like raging elements
of fire and water, though imprisoned, vents,
And must eruption haue, it cannot be
an heauenly motion should want libertie.
Eurydice though shes enforc't to dwell,
in Stygian Plutoes court infernall hell,
Yet her transmounting passions doe remoue
themselues from hell vnto the earth aboue.
Poore swaine Dorinda though by Satires kept,
in a vast caue, whose watchfull eies nere slept,
But with reflexion both by night and day,
had speciall care lest she should get awaie,
Comforts her selfe in louing, fearing not,
but chast desires ore long would get her out,
Loue is enfranchisd not in bonds retained,
spotlesse as Christall, for no soile can staine it.
The boistrous windes shut vp in iron grates,
on each occasion and intendment waites,
When they come forth their tempests hurrie more
grieu'd at their durance, then they did before.
That morn which sēds her glittering raies too soone,
sables her sunne in cloudes ere it be noone.
But when its long ere that her beames appeare,
we doe presage ere night they'le shine more cleere.
Thetis exiled from her marine seate,
a willing exile with the Sea-nimphs meetes,
To celebrate Achilles funeralls,
in sable robes, in dismall festiuals.
Each wept whole flouds of teares to wash his hearse,
whereon engrauen was a doleful verse;
That no hard hearted passenger came by,
but seeing it, would sheede teares instantly:
Some made relation of his valiant spirit,
some of the glory which his acts did merit:
And wofull Brusis one amongst the rest,
being his captiue, whom she loued best,
Emburied him with liquid streames of sorrow,
renewing griefe with each renewing morrow.
So did these louers, louers too sincere,
rise ere the morning daystar could appeare,
Bewayling much their parents frowardnesse,
that kept them from the support of happinesse.
Happie, if happy in enioying loue,
to see the Turtle billing with the Doue,
The skipping Kid, the Goate, the pensiue Hinde,
consorting each with other in their kinde:
Yet these two louers are debard from this;
what brute beasts haue, they haue not but in wish:
And wishes yield small comfort, poore releefe
to such as are prest downe with heapes of griefe.
O that heauens splendor, her translucent eie
should see, and seeing, pittie miserie,
Yet suffer man to be oppres'd therewith,
Making him die a neuer dying death.
Or why should man endu'd with reasons light,
In his owne bowels harbour such a fight,
As may subuert the pallace of the soule,
ecclipsing it, making her bewty foule;
Conuerting that by her depraued will,
as first seem'd good to some apparant ill;
Not gathering hony from each bitter flower
of discontent, nor reaping sweet of sower,
But in distractions passionate we run,
in headlong course till that we be vndone:
And then despairing, we reside in woe
shut vp in shelfes: we know not where to goe,
The sillie Bee that labours in her hiue,
in her Hyblæan works addres'd to striue,
With nature in proportion: seemes to make,
more for her selfe then nature for her sake,
In her digesting and disposing fit,
what she had gathered by her natiue wit,
She rests secure of loue, worse hap haue we,
opprest with loue-sick passions then hath she
But heauens haue so decreed; this is our lotte
Creatures that haue most reason, most should dote.
Thus each ore-shadowing eu'ning shadowed hope,
ayming at loue, loue was their onely scope:
At which they leuelled: But ('las) disdaine
soaring aloft, the frute of loue retaines:
Lockt from all comfort, shut from sweete repose,
she to their parents doth their loue disclose.
Telling them how their children made repaire,
vnto a chinke which breath'd a cooling aire.
Yeelding content enough: and they should see
that ere long time Thysbe would frutefull bee.
Their parents stamp'd, but Tymon most of all,
for hee was rich and feard his daughters fall.
Yet well he could haue brook'd her nuptiall bed,
if he were rich that should his daughter wed.
Fie on such Gould-adoring parentage,
that rests respectlesse both of youth and age,
Who measure loue by wealth are sure to haue,
Midas his eares, depriu'd of what they craue,
They wrest their childrens minds to make them taste,
the sweet of Gold, which works their baine at last.
Thus parents are as vipers to their seed,
since they their venome in their bosomes feede.
Which like to Naptha that being once inflamed,
Burnes of it selfe, and cannot be restrained.
But loue the more repressd the more confin'd,
encreaseth so much more in louers minde.
For though their watchfull eies did still looke ore them,
Gods pittying their distres did more deplore them.
And Ioue himselfe yields soueraigne remedy,
to these two louers fraught with misery.
And well might Ioue yield comfort to their wounds,
since he his passions on like passions grounds.
For he (though God) did doate as well as man,
transforming Leda to a milke white Swan.
Ioue in his aiery throne with piercing eies,
these louers griefes from high Olimpus spies,
And spying them oppres'd, pres'd downe with louing
their humane passions force a diuine mouing.
You fruitfull sprigs sprung of a fruitfull tree,
I heare your plaints, and I doe pittie yee,
That the ioynt tablet of two louing hearts
should be deuided into seuerall parts.
Hard-hearted Parents, made of Marble sure,
Or else they could not such distresse endure,
That their owne budding blossoms which did grow,
from their vnseasoned bosome should bestow
Their oile, their labour in affections straines,
yet kept in thraldome by their parents reynes.
But I that haue the Regiment aboue,
rules Cupids arrows, knows the vse of loue,
I that haue poasted down from heauens high sphere,
to Danae, Io, and the milke-maides here,
And to Latona bewties sacred Queene,
yet to this hower, as Ioue I nere was seene,
Nor euer knowen, such was our diuine power,
transuming shapes of plants and roarie showers,
Will pittie your affections and apply,
Vnto your wounds are present remedy.
For we (as men) do naught of woemen craue,
but what they well may giue, and we may haue.
If the oreshadowing cloudes whose duskie face,
obscures heauens splendor, Sols refulgent grace.
If misty vapours, foggy excrements,
thickned by mixture of grose elements,
If Heauen, earth, Sea, plants, stones, or serpents may
yield you content, or can your woes allay,
Rely on me; for Ioues high diademe,
was first ordained to succour wretched men,
And by the flagrant cresset of the Sunne,
wele either see your minds vnited one,
Or else my power shall contradict her selfe,
Making affection vassaile vnto pelfe,
VVhich were discordant musique, harsher straines,
then ere Pan sung among his countrie swains
For its not fit that hand-maids should command vs
or subiect powers should in their acts withstand vs.
Pelfe (worlds trash) in lowest ranke should sit,
loue as a Mistris framd to manage it:
For who will contemne the daie, the night adore,
set best behinde, and worst part before.
Ioue hauing in compassion seene their woes,
to Hesperus the euening star he goes,
And bids her shew her light, for by her aide,
she might yeeld succour to a helplesse maide,
Hesperus roused, rous'd before her time
in heauens horizon streight began to shine:
Ore cannoping heauens beawtie with a clowde,
all which by Ioue himselfe was well allowde,
Then wandring starrs in different dignity,
sent out their lights disparkled orderly.
Arctophilax begotten of the beare,
and Cassiopeiæ likewise did appeare,
The Pleiades, Orion, with the rest,
Castor and Pollux, whom Ioue loued best;
All these consort and make one constellation,
at Ioues command for louers recreation.
The heauens be-sprinkled thus with sundry lights,
limit the day by bringing on the night,
To comfort wearied spirits spent with toyle,
whose troubled brains the night-time shuld assoil.
For Ioue at first conceiuing mortall seede,
amidst his labors some repast to need,
Created night those cares to take away,
which had beene fostred on the toilesome day.
Night wished night, to Louers that desire
to be partakers of that heauenly fire,
Cupid (blind boy) infuseth in their brest,
which once infus'd engendreth their vnrest.
But its no matter, leaue vve cannot louing,
though bitter fruits redound to our approuing:
This gloomy night yeelds comfort to their wo,
For Ioue had showen the place, where they should go.
To Ninus toomb, a toomb to bury griefe
shaded with couert, fit for loues reliefe:
These two blest louers, blest in loues appearing,
addresse their eye for sight, their eare for hearing.
Lest their suspicious Parents should sift out,
Their fond intendments which they went about:
The Night was very darke, darke nights be best,
For such as on the day-time take no rest.
Since each disparkling beame which doth appeare,
yeelds to a Iealous louer cause of feare.
But duskie nights which Louers best approue,
giue free accesse of parly vnto loue.
Thisbe loue-sicke, for loue had made her sicke,
time thus occasioned, findes a pretie tricke
To gull her keepers and her Parents too,
which who can blame her, all that loue will doe:
Deere be our Parents loues, their wils, their blessings
by which we prosper: deerer be the kissings
Of those we loue sincerely from our heart,
for where they be there is our chiefest part.
No vnfrequented desert can remoue
our hearts from them whom we entirely loue.
No distance can disioine vnited mindes,
no labyrinth fram'd with Meanders winds:
We rest the same or else it cannot be,
that our affections ground on constancie.
Thisbe with creeping pace pac'd ore the floore,
oyling the hinges of the creeking dore,
Lest it should shew her meaning to her mother,
whose eies she feared more then anie other.
For they were too too iealous and would spie,
more in her dealing then her fathers eye:
For he was bed-rid and could hardly moue
his sencelesse ioints and knew not what was loue:
Yet this bed full of bones, this sap-lesse wretch
had sap within his chest, for he was rich;
And more, for which all wisemen-may deride him,
he euer lov'd to haue his golde beside him:
For on his trash he was so deeply rooted,
that he (fond-man could neuer sleepe without it:
Thus had he much, yet he desir'd much more
his gold, his Idole which he did adore.
And though he had no vse for that he got,
yet he from raking more surceased not.
Which punishment was first inflict'd by Ioue,
Rich men should haue no vse of what they loue;
But in an in-bred appetite to golde,
delight to haue it euery minute tolde:
VVhich being done making an endlesse paine,
they tell their trash and put it vp againe.
Thus did this aged Tymon: and respected,
wealth more then youth of girles most affected,
For richlesse was the scope he leuel'd at,
heele call none sonnes but men of good estate.
Worth worthlesse seemes, if worth haue no retire,
nor means by which their honour might aspire.
For beggar Irus whose estate was poore,
made Ithacus to driue him out of dore.
And seeing him arraide in beggars list,
in furious passion slew him with his fist.
Thus men are made respectlesse for their want,
and pouerty, though faire, yet whole not taunt?
Deeming them most vnfit of honours throne,
that haue more wit then fortune of their owne,
But he that poiseth worth as worth should be,
will not obscure true worth for pouertie;
Being the substance and maine difference,
twixt sauage beasts and humane excellence.
And more is trash inferior to the minde,
then pith of trees superior to the rinde:
Thysbe escaping, hies her to the place
which was appointed: her admired face
Cast such a lustre on the plaines belowe,
as steepy mountaines couered with snow.
In Maiden white appareld: maides should be
arraied so to shew their modestie;
Such piercing eyes she had, which shon so bright,
that they gaue day vnto a gloomy night:
So that each Wood-nimph, Faune and Satyre there,
rose from their caues perceiuing light appeare.
Siluanus god of woods and desert groues,
his shaggy head from off his pillow moues;
And halfe asleepe seeing his arbour shine
and all about him, long before his time
He girds his quiuer to him, and drew neere
to Ninus toombe, where sun-beames shon most cleere:
Where he no sooner came; ay me! too soone
to that vnluckie shrine that ominous toombe:
But seeing her he cast all sleepe aside,
sewing, and suting Thysbe for his bride.
Mirror of women, best of Natures art,
heare a poore wood-god that hath pledg'd his heart
To thee and to thy feature: heauenly queene
that would these flowry thickets well beseeme,
Sit thee downe here: this is an arbour sweet,
where al the wood nymphs vse each euen to meet
Making a concord; whose mellifluous sound,
would glad the birds and all the desert round:
The Nimphs shall make their praiers and renew,
each morne their hymnes, that they may pleasure you
The Muses nine from Pyerus shall descend,
and to our musique their attention lend,
Where if there anie discord chance to be,
Muses themselues will yeeld a remedie.
There Clio, Erato, and Melpomene,
Euterpe, Thalia, and Calliope,
Terpsychore, Vrania, and that sweet
tong'd Poly-himnia singing at thy feet
All these shall grace thee in this rurall plaine,
if thou canst brooke to loue a Countrie swaine:
Yet am I borne more high then mortall men.
deriu'd from gods euen of immortall stem,
Sprung my beginning, therfore scorne not me,
since if thou match thou match's with deitie.
The flowery shrubbs thou seest doe I command,
nay euen the Cedar which so high doth stand,
Rests at my power: there is no branch doth grow,
whose moisture doth not from Syluanus flow.
The sweetest spices of Arabia,
the preciou'st perfumes breth in Lidia,
Smell by my meanes: for my celestiall power,
can make each stinking weede a fragrant flower.
Then deare affect me, for no perfume's good
if I want thee that perfumes euery Wood.