The Rocke of Regard diuided into foure parts. The first, the Castle of delight: Wherein is reported, the wretched end of wanton and dissolute liuing. The second, the Garden of Vnthriftinesse: Wherein are many sweete flowers, (or rather fancies) of honest loue. The thirde, the Arbour of Vertue: Wherein slaunder is highly punished, and vertuous Ladies and Gentlewomen, worthily commended. The fourth, the Ortchard of Repentance: Wherein are discoursed, the miseries that followe dicing, the mischiefes of quareling, the fall of prodigalitie: and the souden ouerthrowe of foure notable cousners, with diuers other morall, natural, & tragical discourses: documents and admonitions being all the inuention, collection and translation of George Whetstons |
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P. Plasmos farewell to wanton pleasures.
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 | The Rocke of Regard |  |
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P. Plasmos farewell to wanton pleasures.
Dame Venus be content, thy seruaunt should depart,Who long hath bath'd in beauties blisse, yet swam in seas of smart,
And willing nowe with losse, to leaue his wanton sport,
Repentance hath reclaimed him, from pleasures statly court,
Good loue my gouernesse, thy charge that erst did raunge,
Is well content, to carelesse youth, to leaue his choice in chaunge,
My colours fresh and gay, my pride in peacocks plumes,
I now resigne to Cupides thralls, whose head with fancie fumes,
My sugred wordes that earst, did wray my suites at large,
My scalding sighes, to quench mistrust, when iealousie gaue charge,
I will to salue their sore, whome false suspect doth byte,
My vaunting speach I giue to those, which soiourne with delight,
And fansie earst my friend, of force I must forsake.
And lust my choice, I leaue to those, which rowes in leachers lake,
For wisdome rules my will, and reason bids retire,
Least frosen feares, through faythlesse loue, doth followe hote desire,
Expence doth nip my purse, my pride is pincht with paine,
Aspiring mynde hath caught a fall, my lacke is linckt with gaine,
Yet losse this lesson learnd, how pence my pleasure wrought,
Not pleasure pence, but purses paine, when neede the bottome sought,
A noddie for the nonce, for faithlesse flurtes to flout.
Poore want was rayd, in ragged clothes, amongst dame pleasures rout.
Which picture when I sawe, in fauour like my lacke,
Disdaine my thought, did drowne my ioy, despaire did bruse my backe.
Pure neede then prickt me foorth (in faith) good mistresse mine,
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For if you rightly wey, my want by former wealth,
Your selfe will iudge, I can not serue, without the ayde of stealth.
Then wrong will seeke reuenge, with tryall of his bande,
And iustice soone will sentence giue, to truce me out of hande.
Then conscience will accuse, my coste in Venus court,
And warne my friendes by these my woes, to shun dame pleasures sport,
And (loth to dye) will curse, the causers of my smart,
Thus with your blame, my one the shame (perforce) I shall depart.
| The Rocke of Regard | |