The Copy of a letter, lately written in meeter, by a yonge Gentilwoman to her unconstant Louer. With an Admonitio[n] to al yong Gentilwomen, and to all other Mayds in general to beware of mennes flattery. By Is. VV. [i.e. Isabella Whitney] Newely ioyned to a Loueletter sent by a Bacheler, (a most faithfull Louer) to an unconstant and faithless Mayden |
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A Loueletter,
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 | The Copy of a letter, lately written in meeter, by a yonge Gentilwoman |  |
A Loueletter,
or an earnest perswasion of a Louer: sent of late to a yonge Mayden, to whom he was betrothed.
Who afterward being ouercome with flattery, she seemd vtterly to swerue from her former promise without occasion, and so to forsake him.
As dutie wils, so nature moues,
thy frend these lines to wright:
Wherin thy fraude, (O faithlesse thou)
I minde to bring to light.
thy frend these lines to wright:
Wherin thy fraude, (O faithlesse thou)
I minde to bring to light.
Can plighted faith, so firmly plight,
without desert be moued?
Or should the man that faithfull is,
so slenderly be loued?
without desert be moued?
Or should the man that faithfull is,
so slenderly be loued?
Should hate his guerdan, thus remaine
in place of thy good wyl?
Should rigor raign within thy brest
to vanquish reasons skyll?
in place of thy good wyl?
Should rigor raign within thy brest
to vanquish reasons skyll?
Should faith to falshod so be changd
(alas) the greater ruthe?
When double dealyng is preferd,
before a perfect truethe?
(alas) the greater ruthe?
When double dealyng is preferd,
before a perfect truethe?
Of case such hap, as recompence,
vnto your friend you yelde?
What Bulwarke canst thou clayme,
gainst Gods thy selfe to sheilde?
vnto your friend you yelde?
What Bulwarke canst thou clayme,
gainst Gods thy selfe to sheilde?
Can they that sit in hauty Heauens
such couert gilt abyde?
Or ar they parcial now deemst thou?
is Justice throwne a syde?
such couert gilt abyde?
Or ar they parcial now deemst thou?
is Justice throwne a syde?
Nay iust are they, and iustice styll,
as iust, they iustly vse:
And vnto them, as giltlesse then,
canst thou thy selfe excuse?
as iust, they iustly vse:
And vnto them, as giltlesse then,
canst thou thy selfe excuse?
No, no, not so, for they beholde,
thy double deades, be sure:
No forged style, nor flattryng phrase
their fauour may allure.
thy double deades, be sure:
No forged style, nor flattryng phrase
their fauour may allure.
No gifts, no golde, can them corrupt
such iustice there doth raigne:
And they that disobey their heastes,
are subiect vnto payne.
such iustice there doth raigne:
And they that disobey their heastes,
are subiect vnto payne.
These are no nouel newes I tell,
the proofe is playnly knowne:
To such as do offend their wils,
their powre forth are showne:
the proofe is playnly knowne:
To such as do offend their wils,
their powre forth are showne:
To see thy conscience, gylty is,
thy faithles frawde they see:
And thinkste thou then, this gilt of thine,
can vnrewarded bee?
thy faithles frawde they see:
And thinkste thou then, this gilt of thine,
can vnrewarded bee?
O Faith, think not so far to wish,
from reasons lymyts pure:
But iudg thy selfe, what iustice they
to sinfull ones inure.
from reasons lymyts pure:
But iudg thy selfe, what iustice they
to sinfull ones inure.
And thy selfe such domb, shalt geue,
as gilty shalt thou finde:
Therfore relent, and once agayne,
thy grudging conscience minde.
as gilty shalt thou finde:
Therfore relent, and once agayne,
thy grudging conscience minde.
Which vnto Gods that sacred are,
as gilty thee be wray:
In place of fraude, let faith a trueth
with thee now beare the sway.
as gilty thee be wray:
In place of fraude, let faith a trueth
with thee now beare the sway.
Reuoke and call to memory,
the fruits of friendship showne:
Perpend in mind, my tormēts strong
my playnts and pensiue mone.
the fruits of friendship showne:
Perpend in mind, my tormēts strong
my playnts and pensiue mone.
Which sire yeares long, as pacionate
to carpyng yoake of care:
I bod for thee, as thou thy selfe,
I know canst wel declare.
to carpyng yoake of care:
I bod for thee, as thou thy selfe,
I know canst wel declare.
Remēber thou the plaints & teares,
which I powrd foorth for thee:
And ponder well the sacred bow,
that thou hast made to mee.
which I powrd foorth for thee:
And ponder well the sacred bow,
that thou hast made to mee.
Which bow gaue comfort to thi frend
that subiect serued to griefe:
Thou gauest thy selfe a pledg to me,
thy faith was my releife.
that subiect serued to griefe:
Thou gauest thy selfe a pledg to me,
thy faith was my releife.
But now what helysh hagge? (alas)
hath tournde thy loue to hate:
Or els what whelpe of HYDRAS kind
in thee hath wrought debate.
hath tournde thy loue to hate:
Or els what whelpe of HYDRAS kind
in thee hath wrought debate.
Alas, wilt thou dispoyle me quight,
of my possessed foye?
Or wilt yu plunge me headlong thus,
to gulphes of great annoye?
of my possessed foye?
Or wilt yu plunge me headlong thus,
to gulphes of great annoye?
Who would a thought (alas)
such fraude to rest in thee?
Who wold haue deemd withou desere
thy hart should change from mee?
such fraude to rest in thee?
Who wold haue deemd withou desere
thy hart should change from mee?
Whose hart hath coucht his tent,
within my couert brest:
And thine I hopte, of me thy friend,
likewise had ben possest.
within my couert brest:
And thine I hopte, of me thy friend,
likewise had ben possest.
But waueryng minds I plainly see,
so compassed with guile:
Pretend by Nights, the perfect toyes,
of frindes for to exile.
so compassed with guile:
Pretend by Nights, the perfect toyes,
of frindes for to exile.
O, shuld a pratlyng Parasite, so egge
thee with disdayne?
That thou the presence of thy friend
through flattery should refrayne?
thee with disdayne?
That thou the presence of thy friend
through flattery should refrayne?
Not vouching once to speake we him
whose hart thou hast in hold:
Sith likeing fame hath graunted grace
should loue so soone be cold.
whose hart thou hast in hold:
Sith likeing fame hath graunted grace
should loue so soone be cold.
Consider these my letters well,
and answer them agenne:
For I thy friend in couert ȝeale,
this time hath closd my penne.
and answer them agenne:
For I thy friend in couert ȝeale,
this time hath closd my penne.
Farewel, a dieu tenthousand times,
to God I thee commend:
Beseching him his heauenly grace,
vnto thee styll to send.
to God I thee commend:
Beseching him his heauenly grace,
vnto thee styll to send.
Thy friend in wealth, thy friend in woe,
Thy friend while lyfe, shal flytt me froe:
And whilst that you, inioy your breath,
Leaue not your friend, vnto the death:
For greater praise cannot be wonne,
Then to obserue trueloue begonne.
Thy friend while lyfe, shal flytt me froe:
And whilst that you, inioy your breath,
Leaue not your friend, vnto the death:
For greater praise cannot be wonne,
Then to obserue trueloue begonne.
FINIS.
VV. G.
| The Copy of a letter, lately written in meeter, by a yonge Gentilwoman | |