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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The resolution of a chast and a constant wife, that minds to continue faithfull vnto her husband.
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 | Willobie His Avisa |  |
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The resolution of a chast and a constant wife, that minds to continue faithfull vnto her husband.
To the tune of Fortune.
Though winged Birds, do often skorne the lure,
And flying farre, do thinke them selues most sure,
Yet fancie so, his luring ingines frame,
That wildest harts, in time become most tame.
And flying farre, do thinke them selues most sure,
Yet fancie so, his luring ingines frame,
That wildest harts, in time become most tame.
Where secret nature, frames a sweete consent,
Where priuie fates their hidden force haue bent,
To ioyne in hart, the bodies that are twaine,
Flie where you list, you shall returne againe.
Where priuie fates their hidden force haue bent,
To ioyne in hart, the bodies that are twaine,
Flie where you list, you shall returne againe.
From fancies lore, I striued still to flie,
Long time I did my fortune flat denie,
Till at the length, my wrastling bred my woe,
Knowing that none, their fortune can forgoe.
Long time I did my fortune flat denie,
Till at the length, my wrastling bred my woe,
Knowing that none, their fortune can forgoe.
For while I liu'd, in prime of vernant youth,
Falshod that shew'd, the face of fained truth,
Falsly gan weane, a web of wylie kind;
So to intrap, my plaine and simple mind.
Falshod that shew'd, the face of fained truth,
Falsly gan weane, a web of wylie kind;
So to intrap, my plaine and simple mind.
Great were the sutes, great were the frendly signes,
Sweete were the words, to poyson tender minds,
Large were the gifts, great were the proffers made,
To force my mind, to trie a trustlesse trade.
Sweete were the words, to poyson tender minds,
Large were the gifts, great were the proffers made,
To force my mind, to trie a trustlesse trade.
Great were the wights, that dayly did conspire,
To pluck the rose, their fancies did desire,
Traile did the teares, in hope to purchase trust,
Yet this was all, no loue, but luring lust.
To pluck the rose, their fancies did desire,
Traile did the teares, in hope to purchase trust,
Yet this was all, no loue, but luring lust.
No fancie could then force me to replie,
Nor moue my mind such doubtfull deeds to trie:
For well I knew, although I knew not all,
Such trickle trades procure a suddaine fall.
Nor moue my mind such doubtfull deeds to trie:
For well I knew, although I knew not all,
Such trickle trades procure a suddaine fall.
Thus did I mount, thus did I flie at will,
Thus did I scape the foulers painted skill,
Thus did I saue, my feathers from their lime,
Thus did I liue, a long and happie time.
Thus did I scape the foulers painted skill,
Thus did I saue, my feathers from their lime,
Thus did I liue, a long and happie time.
Cupid that great, and mightie kings could moue,
Could neuer frame, my hart to like of loue,
His limber shafts, and eke his golden dart;
Were still too blunt, to pearce my steelie hart.
Could neuer frame, my hart to like of loue,
His limber shafts, and eke his golden dart;
Were still too blunt, to pearce my steelie hart.
Till at the length, as nature had assind,
Vnto the earth, I bent a willing mind:
He was the first, to whom I gaue my hand,
With free consent, to liue in holy band.
Vnto the earth, I bent a willing mind:
He was the first, to whom I gaue my hand,
With free consent, to liue in holy band.
Eua that gaue her faithfull promise so,
With Adam to liue in wealth and in wo,
Of faithfull hart, could neuer haue more store,
Then I haue felt, thrice three yeares space & more.
With Adam to liue in wealth and in wo,
Of faithfull hart, could neuer haue more store,
Then I haue felt, thrice three yeares space & more.
When I had gieu'n my hart and free consent,
No earthly thing could make me once repent,
No Seas of griefe, ne cares that I could find,
Could so preuaile, to make me change my mind.
No earthly thing could make me once repent,
No Seas of griefe, ne cares that I could find,
Could so preuaile, to make me change my mind.
Did fortune fawne, or did our fortune frowne,
Did he exalt, or did he cast him downe,
My faithfull hart did euer make me sing,
Welcome to me, what euer fortune bring.
Did he exalt, or did he cast him downe,
My faithfull hart did euer make me sing,
Welcome to me, what euer fortune bring.
Now when I thought, all dangers had bene past
Of lawlesse sutes, and sutors at the last,
The trade, the time, the place wherein I liue,
Vnto this Lampe, new oyle doe dayly giue.
Of lawlesse sutes, and sutors at the last,
The trade, the time, the place wherein I liue,
Vnto this Lampe, new oyle doe dayly giue.
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But like of this all you that loue to range,
My fixed hart likes not the skittish change,
Now haue I made the choice that shall remaine,
Vengeance befall, when I do change againe.
My fixed hart likes not the skittish change,
Now haue I made the choice that shall remaine,
Vengeance befall, when I do change againe.
Now haue I found a friend of high desart,
I haue his loue, and he hath stoole my hart,
Now fortune packe, with all thy pelting store,
This is my choice, I like to chuse no more
I haue his loue, and he hath stoole my hart,
Now fortune packe, with all thy pelting store,
This is my choice, I like to chuse no more
Cease then your sutes, yee lustie gallants all,
Thinke not I stoupe at euery Faulkners call,
Trusse vp your lures, your luring is in vaine,
Chosen is the Pearch, whereon I will remaine.
Thinke not I stoupe at euery Faulkners call,
Trusse vp your lures, your luring is in vaine,
Chosen is the Pearch, whereon I will remaine.
Spend not your breath in needlesse fained talkes,
Seeke other mates, that loue such rouing walkes,
None shall euer vaunt, that they haue my consent,
Then let me rest, for now I am content.
Seeke other mates, that loue such rouing walkes,
None shall euer vaunt, that they haue my consent,
Then let me rest, for now I am content.
Great be your birth, and greater be your wealth,
I recken more my credit and my health,
Though I be weake, my power very scant,
God so prouides that I shal neuer want.
I recken more my credit and my health,
Though I be weake, my power very scant,
God so prouides that I shal neuer want.
Be mine owne at home, or be he absent long,
Absent or present, this still shall be my song,
Fortune my friend, A friend to me hath lent,
This is my choise, and therewith am content.
Absent or present, this still shall be my song,
Fortune my friend, A friend to me hath lent,
This is my choise, and therewith am content.
Range they that list, and change who euer will,
One hath mine oth, and his I will be still,
Now let vs fall, or let vs rise on hie,
Still will I sing, now well content am I.
One hath mine oth, and his I will be still,
Now let vs fall, or let vs rise on hie,
Still will I sing, now well content am I.
| Willobie His Avisa | |