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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 | The Rocke of Regard |  |
The discommodities of forst marriages, by the example of Venus and Vulcan: supposed for the more plaine explayning of the inconueniences, to be written to a couetous carle, hauing but one onely daughter, refused the offers of diuerse gentlemen, some beeing of good worship: and married her, vnto an old croked coffing crust, for his great wealthes sake.
In prime of pride, when Venus minde, to Iunos rites aspirde,A wealthie cruste, to catch her vp, her father then desirde,
Perusing well his subiectes states, who best might be her feare,
At length hee chus'de a Croydon chuffe, to wooe his daughter deare.
Whose wealth I do confesse was great, y gott by endlesse toyle,
At smithes forge, with daily heate, his apish face did broyle.
This gallant squire, a wooing rid, his face bee grimde with dust,
And comming to her fathers house, this daintie Dame hee bust.
Who at the first this Lady bright, some monster thought to bee,
Retyring backe, affright shee was, his vglye shape to see.
But in the ende her fathers threates, and Vulcans giftes full braue,
Did force her daintie minde to yeelde, this crabtree peece to haue.
The marriage rites in hast were wrought, in presence of them all,
Then hee this pearelesse dame conuayde, vnto his rusticke hall.
Whereas the rest solemnised, her friends they did depart,
The which once done, then streight begunne, the summe of all her smart,
For hee fell to his former toyle, before the dawning day,
Where bounsing blowes on stythie smit, the sturdie steele to tame,
(Debard of rest) did force her wish, to tast of wedlockes game.
And as it is no newes to tell, at all nor seeming straunge,
How louers they do neuer lacke, whose mindes bee bent to chaunge.
Here mightie Mars, y cleaped God of warre and battell ray,
Enforste to yeeld as Cupids thrall, and eke his hestes obey.
Determined to giue attempt, to fraught his heart with blis,
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Before her eyes his siege hee plantes, like Phœbus rayes that shan,
Assault hee gaue, shee did resist, hee made no batterie than.
But one repulse his valiaunt heart, in no respect amasde,
Hee shot againe, the bulwarkes fell, and all the walles were raisde.
The fort thus wonne, as hee did wish, hee trode on pricking thornes,
To gaine the spoile of Vulcans toile, and arme his head with hornes.
The which without resistaunce great, hee ioyed at his will,
But Ielousie the gulfe did force to feare and dread that ill.
Which in the end, when true hee found, hee framed by his arte,
A chaine to tie these louers fast, so that they might not starte.
And then for all the Gods hee sent, to see this laughing game,
Where they in meede of pleasures past, receiued open shame.
Loe here the bitter fruites wherewith, such mariages be fraught,
Where wealth doth winne, the womans will, and vertue set at naught.
Such chaunce may hap to the old snudge, inforst by greedie gaine,
Where pence possesse the daughters loue, the man shee doth disdaine.
And so fare well at this my verse, mee thinkes I heare thee snuffe,
But doggrell rime, were farre to good, to greete a dunghill chuffe.
| The Rocke of Regard | |