Willobie His Avisa :: :: University of Virginia Library

Willobie His Avisa

Or The true Picture of a modest Maid, and of a chast and constant wife. In Hexamiter verse. The like argument wherof, was neuer heretofore published [by Henry Willoby]

Willoughby, Henry (1574?-1596?)

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Abell Emet in commendation of Willobies Auisa.

In praise of Willobie his Auisa, Hexameton to the Author.

WILLOBIE HIS AVISA,

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The first triall of Avisa, before she was married, by a Noble man: vnder which is represented a warning to all young maids of euery degree, that they beware of the alluring intisements of great men.

II.

III.

IV.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

XI.

XII.

XIII.

THE SECOND TEMPTATION of Avisa, after her marriage by Ruffians, Roysters, young Gentlemen, and lustie Captaines, which all shee quickly cuts off.

XIIII.

XV.

XVI.

XVII.

XVIII.

XIX.

XX.

XXI.

XXII.

The third trial; wherin are expressed the long passionate, and constant affections of the close and wary sutor, which by signes, by sighes, by letters, by priuie messengers, by Iewels, Rings, Golde, diuers gifts, and by a long continued course of courtesie, at length preuaileth with many both maides and wiues, if they be not garded wounderfully with a better spirite then their owne, which all are here finely daunted, and mildly ouer throwne, by the constant aunsweres, and chast replies of Auisa.

XXIII.

XXIIII.

XXV.

XXVI.

XXVII.

XXVIII.

XXIX.

XXX.

T. B. Being somewhat grieued with this aunswere, after long absence and silence, at length writeth, as followeth.

XXXI.

CANT. XXXI,

XXXII.

CANT. XXXII.

XXXIII.

CANT XXXIII.

DYDIMVS HARCO. ANGLO-GERMANVS.

XXXIIII.

XXXV.

XXXVI.

XXXVII.

XXXVIII.

XXXIX.

After long absence, D H. happening to come in on a tyme sodenly to her house, and finding her all alone amongst her maides that were spinning, sayd nothing, but going home wrate these verses following, which he called his Dum habui, and sent them vnto her.

XL.

XLI.

XLII.

XLIII.

XLIIII.

XLV.

XLVI.

XLVII.

XLVIII.

XLIX.

LI.

LII.

LIII.

LIIII.

LV.

LVI.

LVII.

LVIII.

LXI.

LXII.

LXIII.

LXIIII.

LXV.

LXVI.

LXVII.

LXVIII.

LXIX.

LXX.

LXXI.

LXXII.

LXXIII.

LXXIIII.

The Authors conclusion.

The resolution of a chast and a constant wife, that minds to continue faithfull vnto her husband.

The praise of a contented mind.

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T. B. Being somewhat grieued with this aunswere, after long absence and silence, at length writeth, as followeth.

CANT. XXXI,

D. B. To AVISA more pittie.

There is a cole that burnes the more,

Canol cole found in many places of England.

The more ye cast colde water neare,
Like humor feedes my secret sore,
Not quencht, but fed by cold dispaire,
The more I feele, that you disdaine,
The faster doth my loue remaine.

In grace they find a burning soile,

By the Ionian Sea there is a place that burnes continually, and the more water is cast into it, the more it flames.

That fumes in nature like the same,
Colde water makes the hotter broyle,
The greater frost, the greater flame,
So frames it with my loue or lost,
That fiercely fries amidst the frost.

My hart inflam'd with quenchlesse heate,
Doth fretting fume in secret fire,
These hellish torments are the meate,
That dayly feede this vaine desire;
Thus shall I grone in gastly griefe,
Till you by mercy send reliefe.

You first inflam'd my brimstone thought,
Your faining fauour witcht mine eye,
O lucklesse eye, that thus hast brought,
Thy masters hart to striue awrye,
Now blame your selfe, if I offend,
The hurt you made, you must amend.

With these my lines I sent a Ring,
Least you might thinke you were forgot,
The posie meanes a pretie thing,
That bids you, Do but dally not,
Do so sweete hart, and doe not stay,
For daungers grow from sound delay.

Fiue winters Frosts haue say'd to quell
These flaming fits of firme desire,
Fiue Sommers sunnes can not expell
The cold dispaire, that feeds the fire,
This time I hope, my truth doth trie,
Now yeeld in time, or else I die.

Dudum beatus, D. B.

CANT. XXXII.

AVISA. To D. B. more wisdome and feare of God.

The Indian men haue found a plant,
Whose vertue, mad conceits doth quell,
This roote (me thinks) you greatly want,

The roote Baaras is good to deliuer them that are possessed with euill sprites. Iosephus.

This raging madnes to repell,
If rebell fancie worke this spite,
Request of God a better sprite.

If you by folly did offend,
By giuing raines vnto your lust,
Let wisdome now these fancies end,
Sith thus vntwin'd is all your trust,
If wit to will, will needs resigne,
Why should your fault be counted mine?

Your Ring and letter that you sent,
I both returne from whence they came,
As one that knowes not what is ment,
To send or write to me the same,
You had your aunswere long before,
So that you need to send no more.

Your chosen posie seemes to show,
That all my deeds but dallings bee,
I neuer dallyed that I know,
And that I thinke, you partly see,
I shewde you first my meaning plaine,
The same is yet, and shall remaine.

Some say that Tyme doth purge the blood,
And franticke humors brings to frame,

Time purgeth cholericke humors, and the bloud

I maruaile time hath done no good,
Your long hid griefes and qualmes to tame?
What secret hope doth yet remaine,
That makes these sutes reuiue againe?

But did you will, and that in hast,
Except you find some quicke reliefe,
I'le warrant you, your life at last,
While foolish loue is all your griefe,
As first I said, so say I still,
I can not yeeld, nor euer will.

Alwaies the same, Auisa.

CANT XXXIII.

The 2. letter of D. B. to hard harted AVISA farewell.

I find it true, that some haue said,
It's hard to loue, and to be wise,
For wit is oft by loue betraid,
And brought a sleepe, by fond deuise,
Sith faith no fauour can procure,
My patience must, my paine indure.

When womens wits haue drawne the plot,
And of their fancie laid the frame,
Then that they holde, where good or not,
No force can moue them from the same:
So you, because you first denide,
Do thinke it shame, for that to slide.

As faithfull friendship mou'd my tongue,
Your secret loue, and fauour craue;
And as I neuer did you wrong,
This last request so let me haue;
Let no man know what I did moue,
Let no man know, that I did loue;

That I will say, this is the worst,
When this is said, then all is past,
Thou proud Auisa, were the first,
Thou hard Auisa, art the last,
Though thou in sorrow make me dwell,
Yet loue will make me wish thee well.

Write not againe, except you write,
This onely gentle word, I will,
This onely word will bring delite,
The rest will breede but sorrow still,
God graunt you gaine that you desire,
By keeping that, which I require.

Yet will I listen now and then,
To see the end, my mind will craue,
Where you will yeeld to other men,
The thing that I could neuer haue.
But what to me? where false or true,
Where liue or die, for aye Adue.

Fortuna ferenda. D. B.