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] |
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The third Dayes delight.
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 | A Courtlie controuersie of Cupids Cautels |  |
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The third Dayes delight.
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The louer standing in doubt of good wil writeth this.
VVhen Boreas stormy blastes be ouerblown,
ech bloming braunch doth sprout their tender buds
VVhen whithered leaues frō okes are ouerthrowen,
the liuely greene doth clad the ragged woods,
And old Saturnus with his hoary face,
at Phebus sight resignes his frosen place.
ech bloming braunch doth sprout their tender buds
VVhen whithered leaues frō okes are ouerthrowen,
the liuely greene doth clad the ragged woods,
And old Saturnus with his hoary face,
at Phebus sight resignes his frosen place.
Then doth the sappe ascende from euery roote,
and spreadeth through the twigs of euery tree,
Dame Nature shewes hir force from head to foote
and yeeldes hir treasures most indifferently.
The fruitful Vine to spring she doth prouoke,
which doth, in ayde, imbrace the sturdy oke.
and spreadeth through the twigs of euery tree,
Dame Nature shewes hir force from head to foote
and yeeldes hir treasures most indifferently.
The fruitful Vine to spring she doth prouoke,
which doth, in ayde, imbrace the sturdy oke.
The siluer streames resounde, the pleasant plantes
of euery bird that pypes a doleful laie,
The floures sweete with gallant coules paintes,
the meadowes greene and euery wilsome way,
The Nightingale, the Robin, and the thrush,
recordes their notes from euery bush to bush.
of euery bird that pypes a doleful laie,
The floures sweete with gallant coules paintes,
the meadowes greene and euery wilsome way,
The Nightingale, the Robin, and the thrush,
recordes their notes from euery bush to bush.
The turtle true, laments hir louer lost,
ech foule and beast, doth chose a louing make,
And as they like, they liue with slender cost,
and whilest they breed al change they quite forsake:
Their stedfast staye, and wandring mindes may moue,
what loyal heartes we ought to beare in loue.
ech foule and beast, doth chose a louing make,
And as they like, they liue with slender cost,
and whilest they breed al change they quite forsake:
Their stedfast staye, and wandring mindes may moue,
what loyal heartes we ought to beare in loue.
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My Lady faire, sith in the pleasant spring,
dame Natures nimphes do florish blome and beare:
Sith byrde and beast, and euery liuing thing,
embraceth loue by kinde, exempt of feare,
VVhy should you lodge colde winter in your breaste,
to quench the flame that breedeth men vnrest?
dame Natures nimphes do florish blome and beare:
Sith byrde and beast, and euery liuing thing,
embraceth loue by kinde, exempt of feare,
VVhy should you lodge colde winter in your breaste,
to quench the flame that breedeth men vnrest?
Display before Sir Phebus melting beames
the curtaine of your cruel frosen hart,
Droppe down some deawe to comfort mine extremes,
let not my death bewraie mine inward smart:
So may Cupido qualyfye your rage
and you in time my burning heate asswage.
the curtaine of your cruel frosen hart,
Droppe down some deawe to comfort mine extremes,
let not my death bewraie mine inward smart:
So may Cupido qualyfye your rage
and you in time my burning heate asswage.
Thus must I liue in hope of my desire,
graunt grace or else pronounce my fatal dome,
Your nay shal heape but coales vppon my fire,
say yea, then is my wished houre come,
Twixt yea and nay if you indifferent stande,
my weary life and death is in your hand.
VVil you or not, your seruaunt I remaine,
relieue me, else release me of my paine.
graunt grace or else pronounce my fatal dome,
Your nay shal heape but coales vppon my fire,
say yea, then is my wished houre come,
Twixt yea and nay if you indifferent stande,
my weary life and death is in your hand.
VVil you or not, your seruaunt I remaine,
relieue me, else release me of my paine.
The seconde Song.
VVhat hard mishap doth hamper youth,
when cursed Cupid list to frowne.
And yet he will not credite truth,
til hard mishap doth throw him downe,
He hath the power in his distresse.
to see what may his smart redresse.
when cursed Cupid list to frowne.
And yet he will not credite truth,
til hard mishap doth throw him downe,
He hath the power in his distresse.
to see what may his smart redresse.
Must hoarie heares needes make vs wise
dicouering naked treasons hooke?
VVhose glittering hue by sleight deuise
doth make them blind that theron loke,
And til into the trappe they slide,
belieue that reason is their guide.
dicouering naked treasons hooke?
VVhose glittering hue by sleight deuise
doth make them blind that theron loke,
And til into the trappe they slide,
belieue that reason is their guide.
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If liuing wightes might plainely see,
the suttelties of womens wittes,
That couered in their bosomes lye
hid and disclosde by wily fittes,
Then would they shunne the glaring eye,
whose burning beames doth cause thē dye.
the suttelties of womens wittes,
That couered in their bosomes lye
hid and disclosde by wily fittes,
Then would they shunne the glaring eye,
whose burning beames doth cause thē dye.
VVhere suters serue with long delay,
in dayly hope of some good happe,
Tormenting griefes at length doe pay
their hiers, with an afterclappe,
For such rewardes they dayly finde,
that beate a stedfast loyal minde.
in dayly hope of some good happe,
Tormenting griefes at length doe pay
their hiers, with an afterclappe,
For such rewardes they dayly finde,
that beate a stedfast loyal minde.
Behold the guerdon due to loue
bestowed on a fickle femme,
As good of rotten wood to proue
the forging of some pretious gemme.
Repentaunce last doth pinch the hart,
that loue consumes with bitter smart.
bestowed on a fickle femme,
As good of rotten wood to proue
the forging of some pretious gemme.
Repentaunce last doth pinch the hart,
that loue consumes with bitter smart.
Youth bends the net to catch the pray,
which some inioy that takes no paine,
He toyles, yet seeth euery day
his labour wasted al in vaine.
He beates the bush, by sugred wordes
but other steale away the burdes.
Thus to the fine of Louers gaine,
is lothsome trauaile for their paine.
which some inioy that takes no paine,
He toyles, yet seeth euery day
his labour wasted al in vaine.
He beates the bush, by sugred wordes
but other steale away the burdes.
Thus to the fine of Louers gaine,
is lothsome trauaile for their paine.
The thirde Song.
Who first dame Venus brabling brat,
the blinded god of Loue.
VVhere euery God and goddesse sat,
did plant his throne aboue.
The same vnto all mortall wights
with spite did purchase woe,
And gaue the place of all delights,
vnto our mortall foe.
the blinded god of Loue.
VVhere euery God and goddesse sat,
did plant his throne aboue.
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with spite did purchase woe,
And gaue the place of all delights,
vnto our mortall foe.
VVho traytour-like with friendly shewe,
entraps the warelesse wight,
Discharging from his poysned bowe
his venomous dart so right,
As where it hits, the hart doth wast
in flames of quenchlesse fire:
First kindled by the gleamings cast
from eyes we most desire.
entraps the warelesse wight,
Discharging from his poysned bowe
his venomous dart so right,
As where it hits, the hart doth wast
in flames of quenchlesse fire:
First kindled by the gleamings cast
from eyes we most desire.
Sith then we beare of cruell loue
the arrowe and the wounde,
VVhich aye renewing he doth proue
our senses to confounde:
No oyntment, pultesse, salue, ne braunche,
can cure the festred sore,
Our pinching pangs doo neuer staunche,
but grypeth more and more.
the arrowe and the wounde,
VVhich aye renewing he doth proue
our senses to confounde:
No oyntment, pultesse, salue, ne braunche,
can cure the festred sore,
Our pinching pangs doo neuer staunche,
but grypeth more and more.
No pleasaunt flowred medowe gay,
nor winding riuers shore,
Nor wildsome wood or deserts, may
the pining heart restore:
From Venus bondage nothing can
a greeued mynde set free,
To ayde the poore distressed man,
no meane but death we see.
nor winding riuers shore,
Nor wildsome wood or deserts, may
the pining heart restore:
From Venus bondage nothing can
a greeued mynde set free,
To ayde the poore distressed man,
no meane but death we see.
If we will sayle vpon the seas,
Cupido keepes the poupe,
And if we hap to ride for ease,
he sitteth on the croupe.
VVhere so the wofull Louer is,
euen there also is he,
In bedde the wrangler will not misse
his pillowbeare to be.
Cupido keepes the poupe,
And if we hap to ride for ease,
he sitteth on the croupe.
VVhere so the wofull Louer is,
euen there also is he,
In bedde the wrangler will not misse
his pillowbeare to be.
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Eche sicknesse or contagious greefe
his contrarie doth cure,
The Antidote doth yeelde releefe
to poysoned creatures sure.
Thus eche thing hath a salue to heale
their torments and their smartes,
VVhen louers must to death appeale,
to ease their woful heartes.
his contrarie doth cure,
The Antidote doth yeelde releefe
to poysoned creatures sure.
Thus eche thing hath a salue to heale
their torments and their smartes,
VVhen louers must to death appeale,
to ease their woful heartes.
The Queene of Candies raging lust,
at pleasure long possest,
And shamefull vse with sire vniust,
of Myrrha hir infest:
The sister burning in the loue
of brother most vnkinde,
By the deceitefull brat aboue,
release of care dyd finde.
at pleasure long possest,
And shamefull vse with sire vniust,
of Myrrha hir infest:
The sister burning in the loue
of brother most vnkinde,
By the deceitefull brat aboue,
release of care dyd finde.
But suche as loue in loyall sort,
and hope reliefe to finde,
VVith them the elfe doth make his sport,
he smiles to see them pinde:
He seekes to reade them of delight,
and breedes them all annoy,
It is of all the most despight
to trust the lying boy.
and hope reliefe to finde,
VVith them the elfe doth make his sport,
he smiles to see them pinde:
He seekes to reade them of delight,
and breedes them all annoy,
It is of all the most despight
to trust the lying boy.
Make loue who listen angell then,
who life may like his wayes,
For neyther I, my toung, or pen,
will euer yeelde him prayse:
And who so doth, shall liue at ease,
deuoyde of care and strife,
Vnlesse that libertie displease
to leade a quiet life.
who life may like his wayes,
For neyther I, my toung, or pen,
will euer yeelde him prayse:
And who so doth, shall liue at ease,
deuoyde of care and strife,
Vnlesse that libertie displease
to leade a quiet life.
This Loue whom Poets call a God,
is but a fury sell,
Sent from aboue, a scourging rod,
out of the pitte of hell,
To martyre and to put to payne
all poore afflicted wights,
But wise are they that can refrayne
this Helhoundes hellishe slights.
is but a fury sell,
Sent from aboue, a scourging rod,
out of the pitte of hell,
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all poore afflicted wights,
But wise are they that can refrayne
this Helhoundes hellishe slights.
[VVhat cruell and immortall strife]
VVhat cruell and immortall strife
deserues the faithlesse wight,
Sith that the faythfull louers life
doth tast eche worldly spight?
deserues the faithlesse wight,
Sith that the faythfull louers life
doth tast eche worldly spight?
An hundred times a day I craue,
my heart with sorrowes fraught,
VVere ground to dust, or in my graue
by wormes consumde to naught.
my heart with sorrowes fraught,
VVere ground to dust, or in my graue
by wormes consumde to naught.
But as the Salamander ioyes
amid the burning fire,
So doth my heart byde all annoys,
in flames of my desires.
amid the burning fire,
So doth my heart byde all annoys,
in flames of my desires.
The winde and rayne which from my soule
by teares and sighes do flye,
At once doth light and dead the cole,
which makes me liue and dye.
by teares and sighes do flye,
At once doth light and dead the cole,
which makes me liue and dye.
I would not shewe my miserie,
which I can not conceale,
Lest I should force hir cruelly
to scorne the woe I feele.
which I can not conceale,
Lest I should force hir cruelly
to scorne the woe I feele.
At least if any recompence
dyd flowe in liew of payne,
I would support with patience
my woe in hope of gayne.
dyd flowe in liew of payne,
I would support with patience
my woe in hope of gayne.
But suffer while that life doth last,
and let all torments tosse,
VVho so his weerie dayes hath past,
may winde vp with the losse.
and let all torments tosse,
VVho so his weerie dayes hath past,
may winde vp with the losse.
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Oh if the goddes had euer will
to wreake a Louers wrong,
Graunt that she may be sterued still,
and kept in bondage strong,
to wreake a Louers wrong,
Graunt that she may be sterued still,
and kept in bondage strong,
By loue of some that in despight
will scorne hir loyall hart,
That she may taste the small delight
I haue possest in smart.
will scorne hir loyall hart,
That she may taste the small delight
I haue possest in smart.
And sith she will not when she may
for loue yeelde loue agayne,
That when she will she may haue nay,
and louelesse aye remayne.
for loue yeelde loue agayne,
That when she will she may haue nay,
and louelesse aye remayne.
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And in the Dryades Table, this Cenotaph ensuing.
Conceiued sith Dame Venus wasVpon the fome of surging Seas,
No Swimmer may this water passe,
Hir wrathfull spite doth so displease:
Leander knewe too soone alas,
VVhen feruent Loue did force him seaze
The deadely shoare where Hero laye,
For salte Seas drownde hym by the waye.
[Here loyall Loue with beauty knit]
Here loyall Loue with beauty knitDoth make their dayly residence,
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hath here moste perfecte aliaunce:
But cruell death alas did meete
this Ladye for hir recompence.
VVhen with hir eye she did beholde
hir louer dead on grauell colde.
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[Thou passenger, one harte, one minde]
Thou passenger, one harte, one minde,two bodies did embrace:
VVhose bones one stone is here assinde
to couer this place.
[The apple of the goddesse fair]
The apple of the goddesse fair,The riche, diuine, rewarde,
the liuely broud did kindle clear
VVhich burnt Troy not afearde.
But vnderneath this polisht stone,
this fruite by fatall chaunce,
Placde two the perfectst friēds in one
Of Italy and France.
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The end of the third dayes sport.
| A Courtlie controuersie of Cupids Cautels | |