H. His Deuises :: :: University of Virginia Library

To clime the high and hauty hyll,
Where Poets preace for praise by skyll,
I list no labour waste:
The water Nimphes I neuer vewde,
Nor Ladies of the Lake persewde,
That poore Acteon chaste:
King Arthurs Knights long since are fled,
In force that did excell,
And all those Ladies nowe lye dead,
Whose lyues olde Poets tell,
Reuealing, their dealing;
I purpose not to wryte:
But dreaming, a straunge thing
Loe heere I doe recyte.

A fayre Pauillion finely pight,
In sleepe appeared in my sight,
Amidst whereof in greene and white,
The Goddesse sate of all delight,
Be set about with Ladies true,
Which did to her such seruice due,
As fewe I deeme, the like hath seene.
Idone to any earthly Queene.
Her Nimphes all they were,
Of such comely cheere,
Helens face, may giue place,
Where they appeere.

These Ladies on this Goddesse bright,
Attendance gaue both daye and night,
To worke what she would will:
Some sitting heere, some standing there,
As for the tyme they placed were,

According to their skill:
For Venus then in Maiestie,
Me thought at Banket sate,
Attended on most curiously,
As best beseemde her state,
Some seruing,
Some caruing,
In Office as they stoode,
Some playing,
Some singing,
With glad and cheerefull moode.

That sure me thought in Heauen I was,
To see this sight it so did passe,
But at the last, this Banket past,
Of Suters then a Noble route
There did appeare, with drooping cheare,
Beseeching Venus them to heare,
Who straight enclynde, with wylling mynde
To peise the playntes that eche put out.
Wherewithall kneelde downe,
A wight of renowne,
Who cryde thus, O Venus,
Let fate cease to frowne.

Haue pyttie on her painefull plight,
Whose lyfe is led without dellight,
In sighes and sorrows still:
My youth saide she with age I waste,
For wealth my Parents me so plaste,
God knoweth against my will.
With that another stept in place,
And craude with wayling voyce,
O Noble Goddesse of thy grace,
Graunt me my wished choyce,
Thus seeking, Dame liking,

They call on Venus hie:
Still suing, renewing,
Their plaintes with watry eie.

Some out doe crie on ielousie,
And some of great vncourtesie,
With teares complaine, that finde disdaine
Where they haue loued faythfully.
Another sorte, doe eke resorte,
Exclayming lowde on false reporte,
Whereby their fame, and Noble name
Without desert, oft brute doth blame.
And some Ladies say,
Their Lords runne astray,
Whose wanting, and scanting
Oft works their decay.

As thus in course eche made his plainte,
I wofull wretch through loue attainte,
In prease my selfe did vaunte:
And vnto Venus as I thought,
I hasted fast, and her besought,
My Ladies loue to graunte.
But out alas, euen therewithall
A sodaine thundring noise:
As heauen and earth should faile and fall,
My sprites from sleepe did raise.
Then waking, hart aking,
I languisht lay in wo,
Bewayling, the fayling,
Of wyshed purpose so.

And to my selfe loe thus I saide,
What straunged sight hath me dismaide.
May Uisions rare, or dreames declare.
Such sodaine change from ioy to care.

From great delight, such mouing cheare,
May Goddesses abide to heare?
No, no, naught else but fansie sure,
My yeelding harte doth lead and lure.
Aye the wight to minde,
Where loue doth me binde,
Whose seruaunt, attendant
The Gods me assignde.