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] |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
[If thou remember, (Nimph) I praye thee tell] |
|
|
 | A Courtlie controuersie of Cupids Cautels |  |
239
[If thou remember, (Nimph) I praye thee tell]
If thou remember, (Nimph) I praye thee tell
Howe thou in loue with faire Narcissus fell,
And scanne my choice, if it be ill or well,
Eccho Well.
Howe thou in loue with faire Narcissus fell,
And scanne my choice, if it be ill or well,
Eccho Well.
Declare from whence these crooked thoughts proceede,
VVhiche thus in haste my harte hath occupide.
Cupide.
VVhiche thus in haste my harte hath occupide.
Cupide.
VVhat happy chaunce ensues for my reliefe,
Saye on, whose ioyes consumed are with griefe,
Griefe.
Saye on, whose ioyes consumed are with griefe,
Griefe.
VVhat griefe? Alas the end must cruell bee,
But can no meane redresse my woe, but shee?
Shee.
But can no meane redresse my woe, but shee?
Shee.
If none but she, then can I not denye,
To heare hir voice, none shoulde reioyce but I.
I.
To heare hir voice, none shoulde reioyce but I.
I.
Describe, good friende, what meane is best for mee,
To winne hir loue, whome I but once did see?
see.
To winne hir loue, whome I but once did see?
see.
And seing hir, my minde howe shall I breake,
To shewe my woe by sighes, or else to speake?
speake.
To shewe my woe by sighes, or else to speake?
speake.
But what is beste to quench the flame of loue?
If death were due, I woulde his pangs approue.
proue.
If death were due, I woulde his pangs approue.
proue.
And by what wordes my seruice muste I proffer,
To ease the ill, that loue to me dothe offer?
offer.
To ease the ill, that loue to me dothe offer?
offer.
VVhat beste auailes, to write, or speake, to spend?
To get good will saye, shall I goe or sende?
sende.
To get good will saye, shall I goe or sende?
sende.
Howe muste I worke hir fauoure to preserue,
If once the same my lucke be to preserue?
serue.
If once the same my lucke be to preserue?
serue.
240
And if for loue, of loue I doe not misse,
VVhat muste I doe, to pleasure my maistrisse?
this.
VVhat muste I doe, to pleasure my maistrisse?
this.
To like of loue, when men the meane doe haunte,
VVhat way is beste to bid their loue aununt?
vaunt.
VVhat way is beste to bid their loue aununt?
vaunt.
O Cupids friende, what sacrifice or shifte,
Of beauties pardon, maye obtaine the gifte?
gifte.
Of beauties pardon, maye obtaine the gifte?
gifte.
If giftes so please, as maides thereby consent,
VVhat then behoues, I shoulde doe this present?
present.
VVhat then behoues, I shoulde doe this present?
present.
And what shall I doe in the loue of the Princesse.
Wherevnto Eccho answered
cease.
And it that any saye, I loue faire Perdenie?
denie.
And it that any saye, I loue faire Perdenie?
denie.
| A Courtlie controuersie of Cupids Cautels | |