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Alcilia

Philoparthens louing Folly. Wherevnto Js Added Pigmalions Image. With The Loue of Amos and Lavra. And also Epigrammes by Sir I. H. and others. Neuer before imprinted
Chalkhill, John

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AMORIS PRÆLVDIVM:
 
Sic incipit stultorum Tragicomedia.
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These Sonnets following, were written by the Author, (who giueth himselfe this fained name of Philoparthen, as his accidentall attribute) at diuers times, and vpon diuers occasions, and therefore in the forme and matter they differ, and sometimes are quite contrary one to another, considering the nature and qualitie of Love, which is a Passion full of varietie, and contrarietie in it selfe.
 
[Vnhappy Eyes that first my Heart betraid]
 
Loues Accusation at the Iudgement-seate of Reason, wherein the Authors whole successe in his loue is couertly described.
 
Loue decyphered.
 
Loues last Will and Testament.
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The Sonnets following were written by the Author, after he beganne to decline from his passionate affection, and in them he seemeth to please himselfe, with describing the vanitie of Love, the frailtie of Beautie, and the sower fruits of Repentance.
 
[Now haue I spun the web of my owne woes]
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EPIGRAMMES.
 
Don Pedro's Debt.
 
Sextus Wit.
 
Of casting out Spirits by Prayer, without Fasting.
 
Of wicked Prayers.
 
The Author, of his Fortune.
 
Of Misse-pointing.
 
To his Wife.
 
Of a Precise Taylor.
 
Of a Cittizen and his Sonne
 
Mistaking a word.
 
Of his Cooke, named Cornish.
 
Of his Writings.
 
Of a Ladyes Cabinet.
 
Of Wiues ruling.
 
Of Gella's Periwig.
 
Of a Prater, out of Martiall.
 
Of trusting to his Friend.
 
Of Faustus, a stealer of Verses.
 
An Epitaph by a man of his Father.
 
An Epitaph of Aretine.

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Loue decyphered.

Love , and I, are now diuided,
Conceit by Error was misguided:
Alcilia hath my loue despised,
“No man loues that is aduised.
Time at length hath Truth directed,
Loue hath miss'd what hee expected:
Yet missing that which long he sought,
I haue found that I little thought.
Errors in time may be redrest;
“The shortest follies are the best.
Loue and Youth are now asunder,
Reasons glory, Natures wonder:
My thoughts long bound are now inlarg'd,
My follies pennance is discharg'd.
Thus Time hath altered my state,
Repentance neuer comes too late.
Ah well I finde that Loue is nought
But folly, and an idle thought:
The difference is twixt Loue and mee,
That Loue is blinde, and I can see.

Loue is honie mixt with gall;
A thraldome free, a freedome thrall;
A bitter sweet, a pleasant sowre,
Got in a yeere, lost in an howre;
A peacefull warre, a warlike peace,
VVhose wealth brings want, whose want increase;
Full long pursuite, and little gaine;
Vncertaine pleasure, certaine paine;
Regard of neyther right nor wrong;
For short delights, repentance long.
Loue is a sicknesse of the thought,
Conceit of pleasure dearely bought;
A restlesse passion of the minde;
A Labyrinth of errors blinde;
A sugred poyson, faire deceit;
A baite for fooles, a furious heate;
A chilling cold; a wondrous passion
Exceeding mans imagination:
VVhich none can tell in whole nor part,
But onely he that feeles the smart.

Loue is sorrow mixt with gladnesse,
Feare with hope, and hope with madnesse.
Long did I loue, but all in vaine,
I louing was not lou'd againe;
For which my heart sustain'd much woe,
It fits not Maides to vse men so.
Iust deserts are not regarded,
Neuer loue so ill rewarded:
But all is lost that is not sought,
Oft wit proues best that's dearest bought.
VVomen were made for mens reliefe,
To comfort, not to cause their griefe.
VVhere most I merit, least I finde,
No maruell, since that Loue is blinde.
Had she beene kinde as she was faire,
My case had beene more strange and rare.
But women loue not by desart,
Reason in them hath weakest part.
Then henceforth let them loue that list,
I will beware of had-I-wist.

These faults had better beene conceal'd,
Then to my shame abroad reueal'd:
Yet though my youth did thus miscarry,
My harmes may make others more wary.
Loue is but a youthful fit;
And some men say it's signe of wit:
But he that loues as I haue done,
To passe the day and see no Sunne,
Must change his noate, and sing, Erraui,
Or else may chance to cry Peccaui.
The longest day must haue his night,
Reason triumphs in Loues despight,
I follow now Discretions lore,
Henceforth to like, but loue no more.
Then gently pardon what is past,
For Loue drawes onward to his last.
He walkes (they say) with wary eye,
VVhose foote-steps neuer tread awry.
My Muse a better worke intends,
And here my Louing-folly ends.

After long stormes and tempests past,
I see the Hauen at the last,
VVhere I must rest my weary Barke,
And there vnlade my care and carke:
My paines and trauels long indur'd,
And all my wounds must there be cur'd:
Ioyes out of date shall be renew'd,
To thinke of perils past eschew'd:
VVhen I shall sit full blithe and iolly,
And talke of Louers and their folly:
Then Loue and Folly both adieu,
Long haue I beene misled by you:
Folly may new aduentures trie,
But Reason sayes that Loue must dye:
Yea, dye indeede although it grieue him,
For my cold heart cannot relieue him:
Yet for her sake, whom I once loued,
(Though all in vaine, as Time haue proued)
Ile take the paines (if shee consent)
To write his VVill and Testament.
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