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,

[section]

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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The praise of a contented mind.

The God that framde the fixed pole, and Lamps of gleaming light,
The azure skies, and twinkling Starres, to yeeld this pleasant sight,
In wisdome pight this perelesse plot, a rare surpassing frame,
And so with braue and sweete delights, haue fraught and dect the same,
That euery creature keepes his course, his compasse and his place,
And with delightfull ioye runnes, his pointed time and race,
In one consent they friendly ioyne, from which they can not fall,
As if the Lord had first ordainde, one soule to guide them all,
In euery part there doth remaine, such loue and free consent,
That every frame doth kisse his lot, and cries I am content,
The Articke pole that neuer moues, by which the shipmen saile,
Craues not to change his frizen Axe, nor from his place to steale,
The fixed Starres, that sildome range, delight their circles so,
That from their choise by wanton change, they neuer yeeld to go.
The Sunne and Moone that neuer hide, their braue resplendent raies,
Did neuer wish in wauering will, to change their wonted waies.
The roaring Sea, with ebbs and tides, that leapes against the land,
Is yet content for all his rage, to stay within his band.
The flooting Fish, the singing Bird, all beasts vvith one consent,
To liue according to their kind, do shew them selues content.
So that by practise and by proofe, this sentence true I find,
That nothing in this earth is like, a sweete contented mind.
The beasts, the Birds, and ayrie powers, do keepe their compasse well,
And onely man aboue the rest, doth loue for to rebell,
This onely man, the Lord aboue, with reason did indue,
Yet onely man, vngratefull man, doth shew himselfe vntrue.
No sooner was braue Adam made, but Sathan wrought his thrall,
For not content, aspiring pride, procurde his suddaine fall.
The princely Primerose of the East, proud Eua gaue consent,
To change her blisse to bale, for that, her mind was not content.
Thus may the darkest eie perceiue, how follie strikes vs blind,
Thus may we see the often change, of mans vnconstant mind,
The Moone, the Sea, by natures course, do not so often change.
As do the wits, and wanton wils, of such as loue to range.
The rangling rage that held from home, Vlisses all too long.
Made chast Penelope complaine of him that did her wrong.
The lothsome daies, and lingering nights, her time in spinning spent:
She would not yeeld to change her choice, because she was content.
Such calme content doth plainely shew, that loue did much abound,
Where free consent breeds not content, such faith is seldome found.
For carelesse Crysed that had gin, her hand, her faith and hart,
To Proylus her trustie friend, yet falsely did depart:
And giglot like from Troye towne, to Grecians campe would goe,

To Diomede, whom in the end, she found a faithless foe,
For hauing fliu'd the gentle slip, his loue was turnd to hate.
And she a leaper did lament, but then it was too late.
Now foolish fancie was the cause, this Crysed did lament,
For when she had a faithfull friend, she could not be content.
Ten thousand fell at Troyes siege, whose bloud had not bene spent,
If fickle headded Hellen could, at first haue bene content.
You can not in the Serpents head, such deadly poyson find,
As is the fained loue that liues, with discontented mind.
Of all the wisdome of the wise, that I could euer tell,
This wisdome beares the chiefest sway, to stay when we be well,
As sweetest Musicke rudely iarres, except there be consent:
So hottest loue doth quickly coole, except it be content.
Of all the braue resounding words, which God to man hath lent,
This soundeth sweetest in mine eare, to say. I am content.

Euer or Neuer.