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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[VVhat cruell and immortall strife] |
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 | A Courtlie controuersie of Cupids Cautels |  |
[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.
| A Courtlie controuersie of Cupids Cautels | |