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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In praise of Maistresse M. H. now Bridges.
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 | The Rocke of Regard |  |
In praise of Maistresse M. H. now Bridges.
Beautie with brags of late, wild vertue yeald her thrall,But soone ye Gods to stay their strife; a parlement did call,
And fame wt thundring tromp, was wild their subiects cite,
Be credite of their thrals to shew, who was of grete & might,
Beautie against this day, her prowdest shewes prepard,
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Their spangels, wrought, a gase eche dame in feathers flauntes,
Their straung attyres, their cuts & cost, foreshewd, their scorneful vaūts,
They looked all askaunce, when beautie claymde, her right,
That loe the Gods amased were, to see so proude a sight.
Anon good Uertue comes, with traine of bashfull Dames,
Whose modest lookes, wrought more regard, then Beauties blasing flames,
A silence now was made, that they their sutes might moue,
Both Ladies sue for souereigne rule, and thus their titles proue,
Proude Beautie vaunts on powre, poore Uertue on desart,
And by your leaue, for all her bragges, the worst had Beauties part.
Her showes were blemisht much, with surfling and such like,
Which knowne, beautie (through feare of foyle) into a mase did strike.
Who gasing rounde about faire Brydges did espie,
Whose seemely feature forme and shape, did much delight her eye,
And scorning other proofe, she Bridges calld in place,
Who (to sett foorth, her sightly selfe) apeard with bashfull grace,
Quoth Beautie: see my toyle, you Gods, nowe iudge aright,
Halfe part with you quoth Uertue streight, my gifts adorne this wight:
For bountie guides her thought, which beautie farre excells,
And pittie rules her noble heart, where pride in Beautie dwells,
To loue, and Lawlesse lust, where beauties lures doe traine,
She winns a calme, yet friendship firme, with showe of chaste disdaine,
A meane contents her minde, where Beautie is extreame,
What botes thee then, good beautie thus, to striue against the streame.
Shee onely shall suffice, if thereto thou agree,
To showe and proue, by dome of Ioue, the best of thee, or mee,
I will (quoth Beautie) stand, to that that Ioue awards,
Ioue waying wel their worthie worke, thus both their toile rewards.
Hee ruled Uertue should, be at wayes best in name,
Yet Beautie during Bridges life, should sway in equal fame.
Loe thus betweene these Dames the bloudie frayes did seace,
But Bridges bore the praise a way, for making of this peace.
| The Rocke of Regard | |