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A Courtlie controuersie of Cupids Cautels

Conteyning fiue Tragicall Histories, very pithie, pleasant, pitiful, and profitable: Discoursed uppon wyth Argumentes of Loue, by three Gentlemen and two Gentlewomen, entermedled with diuers delicate Sonets and Rithmes, exceeding delightfull to refresh the yrkesomnesse of tedious tyme. Translated out of French as neare as our English phrase will permit, by H. VV. Gentleman [i.e. Henry Wotton]
Wotton, Henry (1568-1639)
 
[dedication]

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The Pleasure of the firste dayes Pastyme.
 
[If thundring threates of mightie Ioue aboue]
 
The complaint of the ciuill warres of Fraunce.
 
A welcome of Peace into Fraunce.
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The firste Historie.
 
[In passing by this place, my frende]
 
[VVhat moueth men abashed thus to stay]
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The seconde dayes pastime.
 
[In shrowde of shadie verdant vine]
 
[VVhy doo the Lillies fade away]
 
[Let vs conioyne in nuptiall bedde]
 
[VVhat thing, the elder that it growes]
 
[VVhat can a speedie course maintaine]
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The second Historie.
 
[Not long agon an honest countrey man]
 
[VVhy vauntest thou in braue aray]
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The third Dayes delight.
 
The louer standing in doubt of good wil writeth this.
 
The seconde Song.
 
The thirde Song.
 
[VVhat cruell and immortall strife]
 
And in the Dryades Table, this Cenotaph ensuing.
 
[Here loyall Loue with beauty knit]
 
[Thou passenger, one harte, one minde]
 
[The apple of the goddesse fair]
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The fourth dayes delight.
 
The Satyres song.
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The fourth Historie.
 
[Ah trayterous eyes, you haue betrayed your forte]
 
[Oh drowsie night, the dame of dreadefull dreames]
 
[Even as the Orient peerelesse pearle]
 
[If thou remember, (Nimph) I praye thee tell]
 
[Ovt of the Easte did spring]
 
[The mirrour of might]
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The pleasure of the fift dayes pastime.
 
In the White hande.
 
In the Blacke hand.
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The fifth Historie.
 
[Dame Beautie pearelesse wight]
 
[The fierie skies doe not at all times flame]
 
[No forte or castell builte by force to feare the foe]
 
[I did requyre of late this onely boune of Loue]
 
[The daily lampe, that I ames amid the Christall spheare]
 
A brawle of Poictow.

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77

[VVhat moueth men abashed thus to stay]

VVhat moueth men abashed thus to stay,
As tumbled from the cloude, in such a mase?
Sith Maidens mockes doe yeelde but mere delay:
VVhose cloking scarfes doth holde men at the gase,
VVhilst couered close in shape of masking showe,
By deepe deceyte our ioyes they ouerthrowe.
Bereaue them of their outwarde masking vayle
Yet inwardly disguised they remayne:
Their thoughtes lye hidde, their tounges of truth do fayle,
Till sugred wordes the harmlesse hart hath slayne:
If in their chaunge they fast on men their hookes,
their smiling then conuertes to louring lookes.
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