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] |
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| DYDIMVS HARCO. ANGLO-GERMANVS. |
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 | Willobie His Avisa |  |
DYDIMVS HARCO. ANGLO-GERMANVS.
CANT. XXXIIII.
D. H.
I haue to say, yet can not speake,
The thing that I would gladly say,
My hart is strong, though tong be weake,
Yet will I speake it, as I may.
And if I speake not as I ought,
Blame but the error of my thought,
The thing that I would gladly say,
My hart is strong, though tong be weake,
Yet will I speake it, as I may.
And if I speake not as I ought,
Blame but the error of my thought,
And if I thinke not as I should,
Blame loue that bad me so to thinke;
And if I say not what I would,
T'is modest shame, that makes me shrinke,
For sure their loue is very small,
That can at first expresse it all.
Blame loue that bad me so to thinke;
And if I say not what I would,
T'is modest shame, that makes me shrinke,
For sure their loue is very small,
That can at first expresse it all.
Forgiue my blush, if I doe blush,
You are the first I euer tride,
And last whose conscience I will crush,
If now at first I be denide,
I must be plaine then giue me leaue,
I can not flatter nor deceiue.
You are the first I euer tride,
And last whose conscience I will crush,
If now at first I be denide,
I must be plaine then giue me leaue,
I can not flatter nor deceiue.
33
You know that Marchaunts ride for gaine,
As chiefe foundations of their state,
You see that we refuse no paine,
To rise betime, and trauell late,
But farre from home, this is the spite,
We want sometimes our chiefe delite.
As chiefe foundations of their state,
You see that we refuse no paine,
To rise betime, and trauell late,
But farre from home, this is the spite,
We want sometimes our chiefe delite.
I am no Saint, I must confesse,
But naturde like to other men,
My meaning you may quickly guesse,
I loue a woman now and then,
And yet it is my common vse,
To take aduise, before I chuse.
But naturde like to other men,
My meaning you may quickly guesse,
I loue a woman now and then,
And yet it is my common vse,
To take aduise, before I chuse.
I oft haue seene the Western part,
And therein many a pretie elfe,
But found not any in my hart,
I like so well as of your selfe;
And if you like no worse of mee,
We may perhaps in time agree.
And therein many a pretie elfe,
But found not any in my hart,
I like so well as of your selfe;
And if you like no worse of mee,
We may perhaps in time agree.
CANT XXXV.
AVISA.
When first you did request to talke
With me alone a little space,
When first I did consent to walke
With you alone within this place,
From this your sage, and sober cheare,
I thought some graue aduise to heare.
With me alone a little space,
When first I did consent to walke
With you alone within this place,
From this your sage, and sober cheare,
I thought some graue aduise to heare.
Some say that womens faces faine
A modest shew, from wanton hart;
But giue me leaue, I see it plaine,
That men can play a duble part,
I could not dreame, that I should find
In lustlesse shew, such lustfull mind.
A modest shew, from wanton hart;
But giue me leaue, I see it plaine,
That men can play a duble part,
I could not dreame, that I should find
In lustlesse shew, such lustfull mind.
You make as though you would not speake,
As vnacquainted yet with loue,
As though your mind you could not breake,
Nor how these secret matters moue,
You blush to speake, Alas the blush,
Yet this is all not worth a rush.
As vnacquainted yet with loue,
As though your mind you could not breake,
Nor how these secret matters moue,
You blush to speake, Alas the blush,
Yet this is all not worth a rush.
Such slie conceites are out of ioynt,
So foule within, so faire without,
Not worth in proofe a threden poynt:
But now to put you out of doubt,
Your thought is far deceiu'd of mee,
As you in time shall plainely see.
So foule within, so faire without,
Not worth in proofe a threden poynt:
But now to put you out of doubt,
Your thought is far deceiu'd of mee,
As you in time shall plainely see.
If you had knowne my former life,
With spotlesse fame that I haue held,
How first a maide, and then a wife,
These youthly sutes I haue repeld,
You would (I hope) correct your rate,
That iudge me thus a common mate.
With spotlesse fame that I haue held,
How first a maide, and then a wife,
These youthly sutes I haue repeld,
You would (I hope) correct your rate,
That iudge me thus a common mate.
Whome you haue seene, I doe not care,
Nor reck not what you did request,
I am content this flout to beare,
In that you say, you like me best,
And if you wish that you agree,
Correct your wrong conceite of mee.
Nor reck not what you did request,
I am content this flout to beare,
In that you say, you like me best,
And if you wish that you agree,
Correct your wrong conceite of mee.
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CANT. XXXVI.
D. H.
The lymed bird, by foulers traine,
Intrapt by view of pleasant baite,
Would faine vnwind himselfe againe;
But feeles too late the hid desaite:
So I haue found the clasping lyme,
That will sticke fast for longer tyme.
Intrapt by view of pleasant baite,
Would faine vnwind himselfe againe;
But feeles too late the hid desaite:
So I haue found the clasping lyme,
That will sticke fast for longer tyme.
There is a floud, whose riuers runne,
Like streames of Milke, and seemes at first,
Extreamely colde, all heate to shunne,
But stay a while, and quench your thirst,
Such vehement heate there will arise,
As greater heate none may deuise.
Like streames of Milke, and seemes at first,
Extreamely colde, all heate to shunne,
But stay a while, and quench your thirst,
Such vehement heate there will arise,
As greater heate none may deuise.
These strange effects I find inrold,
Within this place, since my returne,
My first affections were but cold,
But now I feele them fiercely burne,
The more you make such strange retire,
The more you draw my new desire.
Within this place, since my returne,
My first affections were but cold,
But now I feele them fiercely burne,
The more you make such strange retire,
The more you draw my new desire.
You thinke perchance I doe but iest,
Or I your secrets will bewray,
Or hauing got that I request,
With false Aeneas steale away,
If you suspect that I will range,
Let God forsake me, when I change.
Or I your secrets will bewray,
Or hauing got that I request,
With false Aeneas steale away,
If you suspect that I will range,
Let God forsake me, when I change.
I will not bost me of my wealth,
You shall no Gold nor Iewels want,
You see I am in perfect health,
And if you list to giue your grant,
A hundreth pounds shall be your hire,
But onely doe that I require.
You shall no Gold nor Iewels want,
You see I am in perfect health,
And if you list to giue your grant,
A hundreth pounds shall be your hire,
But onely doe that I require.
And here's a Bracelet to begin,
Worth twentie Angels to be sold,
Besides the rest, this shall you win,
And other things not to be told,
And I will come but now and then,
To void suspect, none shall know when.
Worth twentie Angels to be sold,
Besides the rest, this shall you win,
And other things not to be told,
And I will come but now and then,
To void suspect, none shall know when.
CANT. XXXVII.
AVISA.
Why then your cōscience doth declare
A guilty mind that shunnes the light,
A spotlesse conscience need not feare,
The tongues of men, nor yet the sight,
Your secret slides doe passe my skill,
And plainely shewe your workes are ill.
A guilty mind that shunnes the light,
A spotlesse conscience need not feare,
The tongues of men, nor yet the sight,
Your secret slides doe passe my skill,
And plainely shewe your workes are ill.
Your words command the lawlesse rite,
Of Platoes lawes that freedome gaue,
That men and women for delight,
Might both in common freely haue,
Yet God doth threaten cruell death,
To them that breake their wedlocke faith.
Of Platoes lawes that freedome gaue,
That men and women for delight,
Might both in common freely haue,
Yet God doth threaten cruell death,
To them that breake their wedlocke faith.
35
The Bee beares honie in her mouth,
Yet poysoned sting in hinder part,
The spring is sweete where pleasure growth,
The fall of leafe brings storming smart,
Vaine pleasure seemes most sweete at first,
And yet their end is still accurst.
Strange pleasure seemes sweete at the beginning, but their end is as bitter wormewood Prouer. 5. 3. 4 Prouer. 6. 27. Non tanti cmam pænitcre, Filthy heathen lawes. In Cyprus, their maydens before the time of their mariage were set open to euery man to gaine their dowrie. Iustine. The Babilonians had a custome, that if any were poore, they should procure their daughters and wiues to get mony with their bodies. Herodot. Formosæ, pretio capiuntur auaræ. Imitantur hamos Dona. Fœmina prostituit seseque Munera donat. Femina sovendit quæ data dona capit, Vulteius.
Yet poysoned sting in hinder part,
The spring is sweete where pleasure growth,
The fall of leafe brings storming smart,
Vaine pleasure seemes most sweete at first,
And yet their end is still accurst.
What bosome beares hote burning coles,
And yet consumes not with the same?
What feete tread fire with bared soles,
And are not synged with the flame?
Then stay my friend, make no such hast,
To buy Repentaunce at the last.
And yet consumes not with the same?
What feete tread fire with bared soles,
And are not synged with the flame?
Then stay my friend, make no such hast,
To buy Repentaunce at the last.
I am not of the Cyprian sort,
Nor yet haue learnd the common vse
Of Bable dames, in filthy sport,
For gaine no commers to refuse,
What stormes or troubles euer grow,
I list not seeke my liuing so.
Nor yet haue learnd the common vse
Of Bable dames, in filthy sport,
For gaine no commers to refuse,
What stormes or troubles euer grow,
I list not seeke my liuing so.
Your gorgious gifts, your golden hookes,
Doe moue but fooles to looke aside,
The wise will shunne such craftie crookes,
That haue such falfe resemblance tride:
But men are sure, that they will lift,
That are content to take a gift.
Doe moue but fooles to looke aside,
The wise will shunne such craftie crookes,
That haue such falfe resemblance tride:
But men are sure, that they will lift,
That are content to take a gift.
CANT. XXXVIII.
D. H.
Nay then farewell, if this be so,
If you be of the purer stampe,
Gainst wind and tide I can not roe,
I haue no oyle to feede that lampe,
Be not too rash, denie not flat,
For you refuse, you know not what.
If you be of the purer stampe,
Gainst wind and tide I can not roe,
I haue no oyle to feede that lampe,
Be not too rash, denie not flat,
For you refuse, you know not what.
But rather take a farther day,
For farther triall of my faith,
And rather make some wise delay,
To see and take some farther breath:
He may too rashly be denide,
Whose faithfull hart was neuer tride.
For farther triall of my faith,
And rather make some wise delay,
To see and take some farther breath:
He may too rashly be denide,
Whose faithfull hart was neuer tride.
And though I be by Iury cast,
Yet let me liue a while in hope,
And though I be condemnde at last,
Yet let my fancie haue some scope,
And though the body flie away,
Yet let me with the shadow play.
Yet let me liue a while in hope,
And though I be condemnde at last,
Yet let my fancie haue some scope,
And though the body flie away,
Yet let me with the shadow play.
Will you receiue, if I doe send
A token of my secret loue?
And stay vntill you see the end
Of these effects, that fancie moue?
Grant this, and this shall salue my sore,
Although you neuer grant me more.
A token of my secret loue?
And stay vntill you see the end
Of these effects, that fancie moue?
Grant this, and this shall salue my sore,
Although you neuer grant me more.
36
And thus at first let this suffise,
Inquire of me, and take the vewe
Of myne estate, with good aduise,
And I will do the like by you;
And as you like, so frame your loue,
But passe no promise till you proue.
Inquire of me, and take the vewe
Of myne estate, with good aduise,
And I will do the like by you;
And as you like, so frame your loue,
But passe no promise till you proue.
This haue I said to shew my bent,
But no way spoken to offend,
And though my loue cannot relent,
Yet passed errors will I mend,
Keepe close the Tenor of our talke,
And say, we did for pleasure walke.
But no way spoken to offend,
And though my loue cannot relent,
Yet passed errors will I mend,
Keepe close the Tenor of our talke,
And say, we did for pleasure walke.
CANT XXXIX.
AVISA.
Then iugling mates do most deceaue,
And most delude the dazeled sight,
When vp they turne their folded sleeue,
With bared armes to woorke their slight,
When sharpe-set Foxe begins to preach,
Let goslings keepe without his reach.
And most delude the dazeled sight,
When vp they turne their folded sleeue,
With bared armes to woorke their slight,
When sharpe-set Foxe begins to preach,
Let goslings keepe without his reach.
And will you haue me set a day,
To feede your hope with vaine delayes?
Well, I will doo as you do say,
And posse you vp with fainting stayes,
That day shall breake my plighted faith,
That drawes my last and gasping breath.
To feede your hope with vaine delayes?
Well, I will doo as you do say,
And posse you vp with fainting stayes,
That day shall breake my plighted faith,
That drawes my last and gasping breath.
If you will hope, then hope in this,
Ile neuer grant that you require:
If this you hope, you shall not misse,
But shall obtaine your hopes desire,
If other hope you do retaine,
Your labor's lost, your hope is vaine.
Ile neuer grant that you require:
If this you hope, you shall not misse,
But shall obtaine your hopes desire,
If other hope you do retaine,
Your labor's lost, your hope is vaine.
The child that playes with sharpned tooles,
Doth hurt himselfe for want of wit,
And they may well be counted fooles,
That wrastle neere a dangerous pit:
Your loose desire doth hope for that,
Which I must needes deny you flat.
Doth hurt himselfe for want of wit,
And they may well be counted fooles,
That wrastle neere a dangerous pit:
Your loose desire doth hope for that,
Which I must needes deny you flat.
Send mee no tokens of your lust,
Such giftes I list not to receiue,
Such guiles shall neuer make me trust,
Such broad-layde baytes cannot deceiue,
For they to yeeld do then prepare,
That grant to take such proffred ware.
Such giftes I list not to receiue,
Such guiles shall neuer make me trust,
Such broad-layde baytes cannot deceiue,
For they to yeeld do then prepare,
That grant to take such proffred ware.
If this be it you haue to say,
You know my mynd which cannot change,
I must be gon, I cannot stay,
No fond delight can make me range,
And for a farewell, this I sweare,
You get not that I hold so deare.
You know my mynd which cannot change,
I must be gon, I cannot stay,
No fond delight can make me range,
And for a farewell, this I sweare,
You get not that I hold so deare.
| Willobie His Avisa | |