Thvle Or Vertues Historie. To the Honorable and vertuous Mistris Amy Avdely. By F. R. [i.e. Francis Rous] |
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Cant. 2.
Viceina wanders all forlorne,
In middest darknes of the night:
But at the rising of the morne,
She meetes the wicked lustfull knight;
Whom once well knowen she defies,
Hating those sensuall vanities.
In middest darknes of the night:
But at the rising of the morne,
She meetes the wicked lustfull knight;
Whom once well knowen she defies,
Hating those sensuall vanities.
Thus raignes deepe sacriledge and wicked armes,
Yspent in persecuting vertuous soules:
The fire is quencht, which with his vigour warmes
Distressed hearts, now truth doth hide in hoales,
Afraid of falshoods terrifying alarmes,
Whose enuious force her sweetest rest controules:
Iustice from out the goared earth is flowne,
And left her vertues ofspring all alone.
Yspent in persecuting vertuous soules:
The fire is quencht, which with his vigour warmes
Distressed hearts, now truth doth hide in hoales,
Afraid of falshoods terrifying alarmes,
Whose enuious force her sweetest rest controules:
Iustice from out the goared earth is flowne,
And left her vertues ofspring all alone.
From which poore stock this sweet Viceina bred,
Wanders vnhappie virgin all forlorne,
Foule cares doe deadly wrack that blessed head,
Whose braine in streaming teares is much forworne,
For pitie that her steps are so mis-led
In blackest night, and cannot see the morne:
Yet still she hopes on that sweet Sunne of light,
Which leades her soule in all this earthly night.
Wanders vnhappie virgin all forlorne,
Foule cares doe deadly wrack that blessed head,
Whose braine in streaming teares is much forworne,
For pitie that her steps are so mis-led
In blackest night, and cannot see the morne:
Yet still she hopes on that sweet Sunne of light,
Which leades her soule in all this earthly night.
At length the Mornings chariot climbd alost,
Bringing sweet comfort to this pilgrim mayd,
The gratefull light which she so long had sought,
To guide her errant footsteps farre astrayd,
When viewing whither now her feete were brought,
Her sighing heart was drerily dismayd,
And sorrow furrow'd her sweet countenance,
With black remembrance of her sad mischance.
Bringing sweet comfort to this pilgrim mayd,
The gratefull light which she so long had sought,
To guide her errant footsteps farre astrayd,
When viewing whither now her feete were brought,
Her sighing heart was drerily dismayd,
And sorrow furrow'd her sweet countenance,
With black remembrance of her sad mischance.
Yet still she moues in vnaccustom'd pace,
And meanes to try fatall misfortunes worst,
Plunged in various thoughts distorting case,
And tortur'd thus by enuy most accurst,
At last she spide a Deere that fled apace,
Whose bleeding side a piercing dart had burst,
And fled and ranne, and as he ranne and fled,
Moued with griefe downe trickling teares he shed.
And meanes to try fatall misfortunes worst,
Plunged in various thoughts distorting case,
And tortur'd thus by enuy most accurst,
At last she spide a Deere that fled apace,
Whose bleeding side a piercing dart had burst,
And fled and ranne, and as he ranne and fled,
Moued with griefe downe trickling teares he shed.
When followes on a lusty courser set,
A goodly knight (as seem'd) and faire of looke,
That striues in swiftest course his game to get:
But quickly all his game and course forsooke,
When once he saw, then deare a dearer let,
And to this Pilgrim back his iourney tooke,
And from his horse dismounted to the ground,
Comforts her with his words alluring sound.
A goodly knight (as seem'd) and faire of looke,
That striues in swiftest course his game to get:
But quickly all his game and course forsooke,
When once he saw, then deare a dearer let,
And to this Pilgrim back his iourney tooke,
And from his horse dismounted to the ground,
Comforts her with his words alluring sound.
And then her state he curious doth enquire,
Asking the cause of her distressed plight,
When she Sir knight replide, let me desire,
Not to torment an ouer-tired wight,
With new memoriall of her fates so dire,
Rubbing my soule with a fresh tragick sight,
Only (faire sir) helpe this my poore estate,
And I your seruice euer will awaite.
Asking the cause of her distressed plight,
When she Sir knight replide, let me desire,
Not to torment an ouer-tired wight,
With new memoriall of her fates so dire,
Rubbing my soule with a fresh tragick sight,
Only (faire sir) helpe this my poore estate,
And I your seruice euer will awaite.
Moued with pitie much, but more with lust,
He dar'd not countermand her sad demaunds,
But from his heart with pleasures flames combust,
Vollied these words scarse shut in vertues bands:
Come (fayre) and to my gentle mercie trust,
And yeeld thy bodie to my embracing hands,
Ile leade thee where in pleasure thou shalt dwell,
Remoued from black melancholies hell.
He dar'd not countermand her sad demaunds,
But from his heart with pleasures flames combust,
Vollied these words scarse shut in vertues bands:
Come (fayre) and to my gentle mercie trust,
And yeeld thy bodie to my embracing hands,
Ile leade thee where in pleasure thou shalt dwell,
Remoued from black melancholies hell.
Uiceina whose most pure milk-washed hart
Neuer supposde what fraud before did plot,
Told him to ease her soules tormenting smart,
And that she thought such looke maintained not
Foule knighthoods shame, to work her sorrowes part,
Agreed to take her offerd fortunes lot:
Then hand in hand conioynd they forward went,
And in sweet talke their tedious wayes they spent.
Neuer supposde what fraud before did plot,
Told him to ease her soules tormenting smart,
And that she thought such looke maintained not
Foule knighthoods shame, to work her sorrowes part,
Agreed to take her offerd fortunes lot:
Then hand in hand conioynd they forward went,
And in sweet talke their tedious wayes they spent.
Foule euill on his cursed heart alight,
For thus seducing thence the virgins feete,
For this same knight Philedonus is hight,
And he to pleasure giu'n for men vnmeete:
Yet faire he seemeth at the sudden sight,
Yet foule he is at last when men him weete;
Vnder a pleasing hew and ciuill hood,
He carries poyson'd baytes and venom'd food.
For thus seducing thence the virgins feete,
For this same knight Philedonus is hight,
And he to pleasure giu'n for men vnmeete:
Yet faire he seemeth at the sudden sight,
Yet foule he is at last when men him weete;
Vnder a pleasing hew and ciuill hood,
He carries poyson'd baytes and venom'd food.
With which slie crafts and flatteries deceiu'd,
Vnto his castel she agrees to goe;
Where comming they full fairely were receiu'd
Of one Makerus, who downe binding low,
Told her that happily she was arriu'd,
And many gratefull speeches did bestow:
At last vnto a stately hall he brought her,
Glad that within his limits he had caught her.
Vnto his castel she agrees to goe;
Where comming they full fairely were receiu'd
Of one Makerus, who downe binding low,
Told her that happily she was arriu'd,
And many gratefull speeches did bestow:
At last vnto a stately hall he brought her,
Glad that within his limits he had caught her.
Foule wight he was that at his masters gate,
Which open stood vpon a beaten way,
All commers passage carefull did awaite,
And when he spide them like a cock at day,
He lifting vp his vgly carrion pate,
To trap them with sweet musick doth assay:
For he an Eunuch is, and sweetly sings,
And to their eares deepe rauishment he brings.
Which open stood vpon a beaten way,
All commers passage carefull did awaite,
And when he spide them like a cock at day,
He lifting vp his vgly carrion pate,
To trap them with sweet musick doth assay:
For he an Eunuch is, and sweetly sings,
And to their eares deepe rauishment he brings.
But hoping now that this new guest is sure,
Prepares no prologue for his Comedie,
And as alreadie taught to know the lure,
He leades her to a lodging by and by:
But as they past, sights did her eyes allure,
Her eyes, but not her heart to vanitie:
For she full warie was what ere she did,
Resisting still to what delight did bid.
Prepares no prologue for his Comedie,
And as alreadie taught to know the lure,
He leades her to a lodging by and by:
But as they past, sights did her eyes allure,
Her eyes, but not her heart to vanitie:
For she full warie was what ere she did,
Resisting still to what delight did bid.
But this that now her careles eyes did view,
Was how within the spacious builded hall,
She saw faire youths and maydens in a rew,
Treading sweet measures at the musicks call,
And then anon as fetching forces new,
Into each others armes they kissing fall:
Where quenching pleasures thirst with beauties dew,
Their wonted dancing they againe renew.
Was how within the spacious builded hall,
She saw faire youths and maydens in a rew,
Treading sweet measures at the musicks call,
And then anon as fetching forces new,
Into each others armes they kissing fall:
Where quenching pleasures thirst with beauties dew,
Their wonted dancing they againe renew.
But turning quickly thence her lothing eyes,
She followes where her wicked captaine guides,
Who nimbly mou'd with hellish pleasure flyes,
And at the last into a lodging slides,
Whose fairer richest art cannot deuise,
Nor euer can be found in earth besides:
Where placed for a while Makerus left her,
While ioyfull thoughts by sorrow are bereft her.
She followes where her wicked captaine guides,
Who nimbly mou'd with hellish pleasure flyes,
And at the last into a lodging slides,
Whose fairer richest art cannot deuise,
Nor euer can be found in earth besides:
Where placed for a while Makerus left her,
While ioyfull thoughts by sorrow are bereft her.
And she detesting this vnseemly place,
Wisheth that rather she had dyed abroad,
Then euer seene this knights deceiuing face,
And thinks how she might shorten her aboad:
But here of force she must abide a space,
So quickly she can neuer rid her load;
Which keeps her blessed heart in languor pinde,
Because no way to scape her soule can finde.
Wisheth that rather she had dyed abroad,
Then euer seene this knights deceiuing face,
And thinks how she might shorten her aboad:
But here of force she must abide a space,
So quickly she can neuer rid her load;
Which keeps her blessed heart in languor pinde,
Because no way to scape her soule can finde.
And in that fit the night approaching nye,
Vnto her bed which there was faire prepar'd,
As wanting rest she presently doth hye,
But following cares her sweetest rest debar'd,
That she in these great woes was neere to dye:
And certes like it was she ill had far'd,
Had not the heaun's foreseene and sent their ayd,
To comfort weakned heart well-nigh dismayd.
Vnto her bed which there was faire prepar'd,
As wanting rest she presently doth hye,
But following cares her sweetest rest debar'd,
That she in these great woes was neere to dye:
And certes like it was she ill had far'd,
Had not the heaun's foreseene and sent their ayd,
To comfort weakned heart well-nigh dismayd.
For when her fathers house in pleasure stood,
And in the pleasant fields adioynd she went,
There came a holy Hermite from the wood,
That all his time in godly precepts spent,
Who as he told of words and doings good,
His chaine of beades about his arme vnbent,
And sayd; this stone doth cares and griefe expell,
And gaue it to her and then bad fare-well.
And in the pleasant fields adioynd she went,
There came a holy Hermite from the wood,
That all his time in godly precepts spent,
Who as he told of words and doings good,
His chaine of beades about his arme vnbent,
And sayd; this stone doth cares and griefe expell,
And gaue it to her and then bad fare-well.
This stone is Elpine calde, whose vertue is,
To driue away great grieuings and dispayre:
Or what-soere doth leade the heart amisse,
With sweetest influence it doth repayre,
Which now appli'd reduc'th her former blisse,
And much diminisheth her cruell care:
Blest be the heauens which did thus prouide,
To ease those tortures which she did abide.
To driue away great grieuings and dispayre:
Or what-soere doth leade the heart amisse,
With sweetest influence it doth repayre,
Which now appli'd reduc'th her former blisse,
And much diminisheth her cruell care:
Blest be the heauens which did thus prouide,
To ease those tortures which she did abide.
Thus somewhat freede from these tormenting woes,
To sleepe her sences all she doth addresse,
But ere her wearied members tooke repose,
She was disturbed from her quietnesse:
For to her chamber vp a consort goes
That thought to comfort her all comfortlesse,
And rather to enchant then to delight,
They thought, but now they want their wonted might.
To sleepe her sences all she doth addresse,
But ere her wearied members tooke repose,
She was disturbed from her quietnesse:
For to her chamber vp a consort goes
That thought to comfort her all comfortlesse,
And rather to enchant then to delight,
They thought, but now they want their wonted might.
And yet well neere these fiends had luld asleepe,
With charming Musick that diuinest wight,
But that strong vertue still sure watch did keepe,
And put fond pleasures yeelding thoughts to flight:
For she still marking how delight did creepe,
And by allurements, not by force did fight,
Stopt with her fingers her imprisond eares,
And with stout courage all temptations beares.
With charming Musick that diuinest wight,
But that strong vertue still sure watch did keepe,
And put fond pleasures yeelding thoughts to flight:
For she still marking how delight did creepe,
And by allurements, not by force did fight,
Stopt with her fingers her imprisond eares,
And with stout courage all temptations beares.
At length these Crocodiles their harping ended,
And she is left to prosecute her griefe:
For rest is banisht thence by thoughts offended,
Which doe accuse her for this nights reliefe,
And cruciate themselues that condiscended,
To fained words without some further priefe;
That twixt her thoughts and guilts fierce perturbation,
Her soule is cast into a restles passion.
And she is left to prosecute her griefe:
For rest is banisht thence by thoughts offended,
Which doe accuse her for this nights reliefe,
And cruciate themselues that condiscended,
To fained words without some further priefe;
That twixt her thoughts and guilts fierce perturbation,
Her soule is cast into a restles passion.
That little sleepe she tooke, but when she slept,
Dreames of her fault and fained phantasies,
Into the closet of her sweet soule crept:
And thus the night deludes her watching eyes,
Care all the gates of troubled sences kept,
Which made her thinke it long ere day did rise:
So vice and vertue striue together met,
They cannot rest within one cabinet.
Dreames of her fault and fained phantasies,
Into the closet of her sweet soule crept:
And thus the night deludes her watching eyes,
Care all the gates of troubled sences kept,
Which made her thinke it long ere day did rise:
So vice and vertue striue together met,
They cannot rest within one cabinet.
At length though long this length the morning starre,
Told that the night was fled from out the ayre,
When she more glad then trauailers that farre,
Spying some tower their fainting course repayre,
Thinking that there their longed dwellings are:
But when they neerer come againe dispayre,
And seeing they mis-tooke that happy place,
Stumble againe in their fore-wonted pace.
Told that the night was fled from out the ayre,
When she more glad then trauailers that farre,
Spying some tower their fainting course repayre,
Thinking that there their longed dwellings are:
But when they neerer come againe dispayre,
And seeing they mis-tooke that happy place,
Stumble againe in their fore-wonted pace.
So was she caught with hopes disguisde attire,
When black despayre went masking all within:
For now she saw no hope of her desire,
Nor could she free her selfe once closed in:
So many eyes hath lust, so hot the fire,
Which kindles burning flames in scorched skin:
Though Argus hundred eyes in watch doth keepe,
Yet lust at length will lull them all asleepe.
When black despayre went masking all within:
For now she saw no hope of her desire,
Nor could she free her selfe once closed in:
So many eyes hath lust, so hot the fire,
Which kindles burning flames in scorched skin:
Though Argus hundred eyes in watch doth keepe,
Yet lust at length will lull them all asleepe.
So is she watcht with neuer resting eyes;
The former hope of libertie is gone,
And now Philedonus doth all deuise,
For to entangle her thus left alone;
Foule lust within his breast gins to arise,
And from his heart faire blushing shame is flowne:
And he begins with words sole-tempting sound,
To cast her chastitie vnto the ground.
The former hope of libertie is gone,
And now Philedonus doth all deuise,
For to entangle her thus left alone;
Foule lust within his breast gins to arise,
And from his heart faire blushing shame is flowne:
And he begins with words sole-tempting sound,
To cast her chastitie vnto the ground.
But by the happie fortune which befell,
At last her soule was set at libertie:
But how it chanced yet I may not tell,
Though I am loth so long to let thee lie,
(Sweet mayd) within the torments of this hell:
But that same theefe so fast away doth flie,
That I shall neuer see Erona more,
Vnles I goe and fetch her back before.
At last her soule was set at libertie:
But how it chanced yet I may not tell,
Though I am loth so long to let thee lie,
(Sweet mayd) within the torments of this hell:
But that same theefe so fast away doth flie,
That I shall neuer see Erona more,
Vnles I goe and fetch her back before.
| Thvle | |