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 thirde Song.
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 | A Courtlie controuersie of Cupids Cautels |  |
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.
| A Courtlie controuersie of Cupids Cautels | |