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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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28. A Gentlewoman yt married a yonge Gent who after forsooke [hir,] wherevppon she tooke hir Needle in wch she was excelēt & worked vpō hir Sampler thus
[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

Come, giue me needle, stitch cloth, silke & chaire
yt I may sitt and sigh, and sow & singe
For perfect coollors to discribe ye aire
a subtile persinge changinge constant thinge
No false stitch will I make, my hart is true
plaine stitche my Sampler is for to cōplaine
How men haue tongues of hony, harts of rue.
true tongues & harts are one, men makes them twaine.
Giue me black silk yt sable suites my hart
& yet som white though white words do deceiue
No green at all for youth & I must part
Purple & blew, fast loue & faith to weaue.
Mayden no more sleepeless ile goe to bedd
Take all away, ye work works in my hedd.
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