 | Amanda |  |
4
[Lady though I am a stranger]
Lady
though I am a stranger,
Yet because I am your neighbour,
I doe hope there is no danger,
If I now doe take the labour
Lonely wasting tedious times,
To salute you with my rimes.
Yet because I am your neighbour,
I doe hope there is no danger,
If I now doe take the labour
Lonely wasting tedious times,
To salute you with my rimes.
Pardon, if I be too bold,
I intend no hurt unto you,
That which here I shall unfold
Cannot any dammage doe you;
Let it vanish as a vapor,
Tis but naked Inke, and Paper.
I intend no hurt unto you,
That which here I shall unfold
Cannot any dammage doe you;
Let it vanish as a vapor,
Tis but naked Inke, and Paper.
You, it may be, will condemne
Me of saucines to send it,
Yet I pray be not extreame,
If it be a fault, ile mend it.
I delight to anger no man,
And muchlesse displease a woman.
Me of saucines to send it,
Yet I pray be not extreame,
If it be a fault, ile mend it.
I delight to anger no man,
And muchlesse displease a woman.
When I first did write, my pen
Fearing your displeasure fainted,
Yet at last I thought agen,
Neighbours should be well acquainted.
If you had not come so nigh me,
I had kept my papers by me.
Fearing your displeasure fainted,
Yet at last I thought agen,
Neighbours should be well acquainted.
If you had not come so nigh me,
I had kept my papers by me.
5
Sure, I doe not know your name,
Nor your Person very well,
Once I thinke I saw the same,
And but once as I can tell:
And I would be much your debter,
If you'l let me know you better.
Nor your Person very well,
Once I thinke I saw the same,
And but once as I can tell:
And I would be much your debter,
If you'l let me know you better.
Yet I would not wrong you neyther:
Be it farre from my desire,
But that we may talke together,
My ambition strives no higher.
Neyther should my speeches tend
To those tones that may offend.
Be it farre from my desire,
But that we may talke together,
My ambition strives no higher.
Neyther should my speeches tend
To those tones that may offend.
Once I saw that face of your,
As you were at window standing;
Twas a face that would allure,
And a looke that was commanding:
But you left me strayte to mourning
By your sudden backe returning.
As you were at window standing;
Twas a face that would allure,
And a looke that was commanding:
But you left me strayte to mourning
By your sudden backe returning.
Turne againe unto your place,
At the window, and be bold;
Once more let me see that face
That was made for to behold:
It is not a womans duty
To obscure so rich a beauty.
At the window, and be bold;
Once more let me see that face
That was made for to behold:
It is not a womans duty
To obscure so rich a beauty.
In those lookes to read the story
Of delight, is much desired:
It is beauties chiefest glory
To be gaz'd on, and admired,
Shew it freely, and abide it,
Twas not given you to hide it.
Of delight, is much desired:
It is beauties chiefest glory
To be gaz'd on, and admired,
Shew it freely, and abide it,
Twas not given you to hide it.
You perchance will say I flatter,
Though your selfe doth truly know it:
If you doe, it is no matter,
Take your glasse, and that will show it.
That can tell as well as I,
Neither of us both doth lie.
Though your selfe doth truly know it:
6
Take your glasse, and that will show it.
That can tell as well as I,
Neither of us both doth lie.
Oft I wish t'were in my power
For to raise your window higher
Or else to abate this Tower,
That our lodgings might be nigher.
But alas these wishes prove not,
What I like perchance you love not.
For to raise your window higher
Or else to abate this Tower,
That our lodgings might be nigher.
But alas these wishes prove not,
What I like perchance you love not.
Put away all doubtfull feares,
Where no evill is intended:
Rise another paire of staires,
And our lodgings will be mended.
Strive to equall me in height
And be you my opposite.
Where no evill is intended:
Rise another paire of staires,
And our lodgings will be mended.
Strive to equall me in height
And be you my opposite.
We will talke of what shall ease us,
And make merry with discourse:
So to spend the time, t'will ease us,
Better so to doe then worse.
I have Riddles to content yee,
Purposes, and Sonnets plenty.
And make merry with discourse:
So to spend the time, t'will ease us,
Better so to doe then worse.
I have Riddles to content yee,
Purposes, and Sonnets plenty.
If you'l talke of other things
That your minde more fitly moves:
I can tell you tales of Kings,
And of Noble Princes loves.
Monsters of the Earth or Sea,
Best to passe the time away.
That your minde more fitly moves:
I can tell you tales of Kings,
And of Noble Princes loves.
Monsters of the Earth or Sea,
Best to passe the time away.
Feare not, we will lacke no matter
For to talke of if we meete:
If we want where on to flatter,
We'll discourse of this our Fleete.
That will finde us talking play,
Though we prattle all the day.
For to talke of if we meete:
If we want where on to flatter,
We'll discourse of this our Fleete.
7
Though we prattle all the day.
Let me then, this favour crave,
If you will a favour deigne,
That my lines acceptance have,
And be pleased to take the paine,
For to grace my poore induing,
Make me reader of your writing.
If you will a favour deigne,
That my lines acceptance have,
And be pleased to take the paine,
For to grace my poore induing,
Make me reader of your writing.
What, though here within this Barre,
I a thralled Prisoner be,
Though my feete restrayned are,
Yet my better part is free.
He which doth the body binde,
Hath no power to thrall the minde.
I a thralled Prisoner be,
Though my feete restrayned are,
Yet my better part is free.
He which doth the body binde,
Hath no power to thrall the minde.
That's a thing that goes beyond
Any mortall creatures power,
That doth scorne for to be pen'd
In the compasse of a Tower.
Or be ti'de to others leasure,
But will freely range at pleasure.
Any mortall creatures power,
That doth scorne for to be pen'd
In the compasse of a Tower.
Or be ti'de to others leasure,
But will freely range at pleasure.
Take your Paper then, and write
Though it be but e'ne a word,
Never study to indite,
Ile accept what you afford:
Though it be but e'ne your name,
I will gladly take the same.
Though it be but e'ne a word,
Never study to indite,
Ile accept what you afford:
Though it be but e'ne your name,
I will gladly take the same.
Something grant me by your favour,
Whatsoever thing it be.
They say, something hath some savour,
Though a crooked Pin it be.
Ile accept it in good part,
With a kinde, and thankfull heart.
Whatsoever thing it be.
They say, something hath some savour,
Though a crooked Pin it be.
Ile accept it in good part,
With a kinde, and thankfull heart.
8
And now pardon my presumption,
And the rudenesse of my Pen,
Waste your anger by consumption,
And give leave to write agen.
If such favours you repell,
Ioyes attend you, and farewell.
And the rudenesse of my Pen,
Waste your anger by consumption,
And give leave to write agen.
If such favours you repell,
Ioyes attend you, and farewell.
| Amanda | |