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 louer standing in doubt of good
wil writeth this.
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 | A Courtlie controuersie of Cupids Cautels |  |
127
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.
126
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.
| A Courtlie controuersie of Cupids Cautels | |