Aurelian Townshend's Poem and Masks Edited by E. K. Chambers |
 | Poems from Songbooks. |
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| II. |
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 | Aurelian Townshend's Poem and Masks |  |
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Poems from Songbooks.
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I.
[Let not thy beauty make thee proud]
Let not thy beauty make thee proud
Though Princes do adore thee,
Since time & sicknes were alow'd
To mow such flowers before thee.
Though Princes do adore thee,
Since time & sicknes were alow'd
To mow such flowers before thee.
Nor be not shy to that degree,
Thy friends may hardly know thee,
Nor yet so comming or so free,
That every fly may blow thee.
Thy friends may hardly know thee,
Nor yet so comming or so free,
That every fly may blow thee.
A state in every Princely brow,
As decent is requir'd,
Much more in thine, to whom they bow
By Beauties lightnings fir'd.
As decent is requir'd,
Much more in thine, to whom they bow
By Beauties lightnings fir'd.
And yet a state so sweetly mixt
With an attractive mildnesse,
It may like Vertue sit betwixt
The extreams of pride and vilenesse.
With an attractive mildnesse,
It may like Vertue sit betwixt
The extreams of pride and vilenesse.
Then every eye that sees thy face
Will in thy Beauty glory,
And every tongue that wags will grace
Thy vertue with a story.
Will in thy Beauty glory,
And every tongue that wags will grace
Thy vertue with a story.
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II. To the Countesse of Salisbury.
Victorious beauty, though your eyes
Are able to subdue an hoast,
And therefore are unlike to boast
The taking of a little prize,
Do not a single heart dispise.
Are able to subdue an hoast,
And therefore are unlike to boast
The taking of a little prize,
Do not a single heart dispise.
It came alone, but yet so arm'd
With former love, I durst have sworne
That where a privy coat was worne,
With characters of beauty charm'd,
Thereby it might have scapt unharm'd.
With former love, I durst have sworne
That where a privy coat was worne,
With characters of beauty charm'd,
Thereby it might have scapt unharm'd.
But neither steele nor stony breast
Are proofe against those lookes of thine,
Nor can a Beauty lesse divine
Of any heart be long possest,
Where thou pretend'st an interest.
Are proofe against those lookes of thine,
Nor can a Beauty lesse divine
Of any heart be long possest,
Where thou pretend'st an interest.
Thy Conquest in regard of me
Alasse is small, but in respect
Of her that did my Love protect,
Were it divulged, deserv'd to be
Recorded for a Victory.
Alasse is small, but in respect
Of her that did my Love protect,
Were it divulged, deserv'd to be
Recorded for a Victory.
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And such a one, as some that view
Her lovely face perhaps may say,
Though you have stolen my heart away,
If all your servants prove not true,
May steale a heart or two from you.
Her lovely face perhaps may say,
Though you have stolen my heart away,
If all your servants prove not true,
May steale a heart or two from you.
III. Youth and Beauty.
Thou art so fair, and yong withall,
Thou kindl'st yong desires in me,
Restoreing life to leaves that fall,
And sight to Eyes that hardly see
Halfe those fresh Beauties bloom in thee.
Thou kindl'st yong desires in me,
Restoreing life to leaves that fall,
And sight to Eyes that hardly see
Halfe those fresh Beauties bloom in thee.
Those, under sev'rall Hearbs and Flowr's
Disguis'd, were all Medea gave,
When she recal'd Times flying howrs,
And aged Æson from his grave,
For Beauty can both kill and save.
Disguis'd, were all Medea gave,
When she recal'd Times flying howrs,
And aged Æson from his grave,
For Beauty can both kill and save.
Youth it enflames, but age it cheers,
I would go back, but not return
To twenty but to twice those yeers;
Not blaze, but ever constant burn,
For fear my Cradle prove my Urn.
I would go back, but not return
To twenty but to twice those yeers;
Not blaze, but ever constant burn,
For fear my Cradle prove my Urn.
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IV. A Dialogue betwixt Time and a Pilgrime.
Pilgr.Aged man, that mowes these fields.
Time.
Pilgrime speak, what is thy will?
Pilgr.
Whose soile is this that such sweet Pasture yields?
Or who art thou whose Foot stand never still?
Or where am I?
Time.
In love.
Pilgr.
His Lordship lies above.
Time.
Yes and below, and round about
Where in all sorts of flow'rs are growing
Which as the early Spring puts out,
Time fals as fast a mowing.
Pilgr.
If thou art Time, these Flow'rs have Lives,
And then I fear,
Under some Lilly she I love
May now be growing there.
Time.
And in some Thistle or some spyre of grasse,
My syth thy stalk before hers come may passe.
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Wilt thou provide it may.
Time.
No.
Pilgr.
Alleage the cause.
Time.
Because Time cannot alter but obey Fates laws.
Cho.
Then happy those whom Fate, that is the stronger,
Together twists their threads, & yet draws hers the longer.
V. A Bacchanall.
Bacchus
, I-acchus, fill our Brains
As well as Bowls with sprightly strains:
Let Souldiers fight for pay or praise,
And mony be the Misers wish,
Poor Schollers study all their dayes,
And Gluttons glory in their dish:
'Tis wine, pure wine, revives sad souls,
Therefore give us the cheer in Bowls.
Bacchus, I-acchus, &c.
As well as Bowls with sprightly strains:
Let Souldiers fight for pay or praise,
And mony be the Misers wish,
Poor Schollers study all their dayes,
And Gluttons glory in their dish:
'Tis wine, pure wine, revives sad souls,
Therefore give us the cheer in Bowls.
Bacchus, I-acchus, &c.
Bacchus, I-acchus, &c.
Let Minions Marshall ev'ry hair,
Or in a Lovers lock delight,
And Artificiall colours wear,
We have the Native Red and White:
'Tis Wine, pure Wine, &c.
Let Minions Marshall ev'ry hair,
Or in a Lovers lock delight,
And Artificiall colours wear,
We have the Native Red and White:
'Tis Wine, pure Wine, &c.
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Bacchus, I-acchus, &c.
Take Phesant Poults, and calved Sammon,
Or how to please your pallats think,
Give us a salt West-phalia Gammon,
Not meat to eat, but meat to drink:
'Tis Wine, pure Wine, &c.
Take Phesant Poults, and calved Sammon,
Or how to please your pallats think,
Give us a salt West-phalia Gammon,
Not meat to eat, but meat to drink:
'Tis Wine, pure Wine, &c.
Bacchus, I-acchus, &c.
Some have the Ptisick, some the Rhume,
Some have the Palsie, some the Gout,
Some swell with fat, and some consume,
But they are sound that drink all out:
'Tis Wine, pure Wine, &c.
Some have the Ptisick, some the Rhume,
Some have the Palsie, some the Gout,
Some swell with fat, and some consume,
But they are sound that drink all out:
'Tis Wine, pure Wine, &c.
Bacchus, I-acchus, &c.
The backward spirit it makes brave,
That forward which before was dull;
Those grow good fellows that were grave,
And kindness flows from cups brim full:
'Tis Wine, pure Wine, &c.
The backward spirit it makes brave,
That forward which before was dull;
Those grow good fellows that were grave,
And kindness flows from cups brim full:
'Tis Wine, pure Wine, &c.
Bacchus, I-acchus, &c.
Some men want Youth, and some want health,
Some want a Wife and some a Punke,
Some men want wit, and some want wealth,
But they want nothing that are drunke:
'Tis Wine, pure Wine, &c.
Some men want Youth, and some want health,
Some want a Wife and some a Punke,
Some men want wit, and some want wealth,
But they want nothing that are drunke:
'Tis Wine, pure Wine, &c.
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VI. In praise of his Mistress.
Thou Shepheard, whose intentive eye
On ev'ry Lamb is such a spy,
No wily Fox can make them lesse,
Where may I find my Shepheardess?
On ev'ry Lamb is such a spy,
No wily Fox can make them lesse,
Where may I find my Shepheardess?
A little pausing then sayd hee,
How can that Jewell stray from thee?
In Summers heat, in Winters cold,
I thought thy brest had been her fold?
How can that Jewell stray from thee?
In Summers heat, in Winters cold,
I thought thy brest had been her fold?
That is indeed the constant place
Wherein my thoughts still see her face,
And print her Image in my heart,
But yet my fond eyes crave a part.
Wherein my thoughts still see her face,
And print her Image in my heart,
But yet my fond eyes crave a part.
With that he smiling sayd, I might
Of Chloris partly have a sight,
And some of her perfections meet
In ev'ry flow'r was fresh and sweet.
Of Chloris partly have a sight,
And some of her perfections meet
In ev'ry flow'r was fresh and sweet.
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The growing Lilly bears her skin,
The Violet her blew veins within,
The blushing Rose, new blown and spread,
Her sweeter cheek, her lips, the red.
The Violet her blew veins within,
The blushing Rose, new blown and spread,
Her sweeter cheek, her lips, the red.
The Winds that wanton with the Spring
Such Odours as her breathing bring,
But the resemblance of her eyes
Was never found beneath the skies.
Such Odours as her breathing bring,
But the resemblance of her eyes
Was never found beneath the skies.
Her charming voyce who strives to hit,
His Object must be higher yet;
For Heav'n and Earth, and all we see
Dispersed, collected, is but shee.
His Object must be higher yet;
For Heav'n and Earth, and all we see
Dispersed, collected, is but shee.
Amaz'd at this discourse, me thought
Love both Ambition in me wrought,
And made me covet to engrosse
A Wealth would prove a Publick losse.
Love both Ambition in me wrought,
And made me covet to engrosse
A Wealth would prove a Publick losse.
With that I sigh'd ashamed to see
Such worth in her, such want in mee;
And closing both mine eyes, forbid
The World my sight since she was hid.
Such worth in her, such want in mee;
And closing both mine eyes, forbid
The World my sight since she was hid.
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VII. Sufferance.
Delicate Beauty, why should you disdaine
With pity at least to lessen my pain?
Yet if you purpose to render no cause,
Will and not Reason is Judge of those Lawes.
With pity at least to lessen my pain?
Yet if you purpose to render no cause,
Will and not Reason is Judge of those Lawes.
Suffer in silence I can with delight
Courting your Anger to live in your sight,
Inwardly languish, and like my disease,
Alwaies provided my sufferance please.
Courting your Anger to live in your sight,
Inwardly languish, and like my disease,
Alwaies provided my sufferance please.
Take all my comforts in present away,
Let all but the hope of your favour decay,
Rich in reversion Ile live as content,
As he to whom Fortune her fore lock hath lent.
Let all but the hope of your favour decay,
Rich in reversion Ile live as content,
As he to whom Fortune her fore lock hath lent.
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VIII.
[When we were parted]
When we were parted,
Though but for a while,
From my brest started
A post ev'ry mile:
Though but for a while,
From my brest started
A post ev'ry mile:
But I feare, none were directed
From your bosome to me;
For a beauty so affected
Looks for Love custome free.
From your bosome to me;
For a beauty so affected
Looks for Love custome free.
Tis then no marveill
My state should decay,
Brought to be servil
And kept from my pay.
My state should decay,
Brought to be servil
And kept from my pay.
But ingratefull to the giver,
Know the Sea as your King
Can as well exhaust a river,
As you suck up a spring.
Know the Sea as your King
Can as well exhaust a river,
As you suck up a spring.
And though triumphing
You rowle to the Main,
Small streames are something
And part of your train.
You rowle to the Main,
Small streames are something
And part of your train.
Use me gently then that follow,
Made by custome so tame,
I am silent whilest you swallow
Both my tears, and my name.
Made by custome so tame,
I am silent whilest you swallow
Both my tears, and my name.
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IX. On his hearing her Majesty sing.
I have beene in Heav'n, I thinke,
For I heard an Angell sing,
Notes my thirsty ears did drinke.
Never any earthly thing
Sung so true, so sweet, so cleere;
I was then in Heav'n, not heere.
For I heard an Angell sing,
Notes my thirsty ears did drinke.
Never any earthly thing
Sung so true, so sweet, so cleere;
I was then in Heav'n, not heere.
But the blessed feele no change,
So I may mistake the place,
But mine eyes would think it strange,
Should that be no Angels face;
Pow'rs above, it seems, designe
Me still Mortall, her Divine.
So I may mistake the place,
But mine eyes would think it strange,
Should that be no Angels face;
Pow'rs above, it seems, designe
Me still Mortall, her Divine.
Till I tread the Milky way,
And I lose my sences quite,
All I wish is that I may
Hear that voice, and see that sight,
Then in types and outward show
I shall have a Heav'n below
And I lose my sences quite,
All I wish is that I may
Hear that voice, and see that sight,
Then in types and outward show
I shall have a Heav'n below
| Aurelian Townshend's Poem and Masks | |