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 daily lampe, that I ames amid the Christall spheare] |
 | A Courtlie controuersie of Cupids Cautels |  |
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[The daily lampe, that I ames amid the Christall spheare]
The whole troupe of yong men and maidens togither.The daily lampe, that I ames amid the Christall spheare,
And round about the rolling globe, his glaring beames doth beare,
Surrenders vp his roomth, and dothe resigne the skie,
To thousande thousandes fierie lights, that dimmes eche drowsie eie,
And irkesome ougly night, doth spreade his darkesome wings,
And of Argentine Luna she, the haruest horses brings.
I see the scorching sunne in Seas to plunge from farre,
And after him pursueth neare, the blasing sheppardes starre:
Proceede then lustie youthes, let ioy beare all the swaye,
And honoure Hymen at this feaste, and blesse this wedding daye.
The Yong men.
O famous splendant starre by Cupid stayde aboue,
The pressed slaue at all assayes, and messenger of Loue,
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To quēch the furious frying flames, that makes our bridegrom wepe.
Thou glorious starre, of whome dame Venus made hir choice,
For witnesse of hir plesaunte sports wherin hir thralles reioyce:
Make haste with penned course, I praye thee do not staye,
But honoure Hymen at thys feaste, and blesse this wedding daye.
The Maidens.
O starre more fierce than Mars, more cruell and vnkinde,
VVhy stealest thou thys ioyfull daye for Virgins aide assignde?
And rayste our sister deare, who once among vs dwelt,
To yeelde hir thrall to husbandes lawes whereof she neuer felt?
And cause this tender Impe forget hir louing Dame,
And graunte to beare the seruile yoke which strangely will hir tame,
VVhose flower nowe consentes, to wither and decaye,
VVhy shoulde we honoure Hymen then, and blesse this wedding day?
The Yong men.
Euen as wee see the Vine that springeth vp on hye,
VVithout a prop to staye his twigs, doth wither waste and dye,
And then his barraine boughes, whereon no fruite doth growe,
Deserues not of the husbandman the pruning knife to knowe.
But if the stubborne Elmes, supporte his tender taunts,
Soone shewes his purple in his greene whereof the Tilman vaunts.
So she that dothe consume hir age in Virgins life,
Hir freshe will fade, but if she yeelde to be a wedded wife,
And choose a louing feere, with fruite she shall encrease,
VVhich will hir auntient parentes glad, with ioyes that shal not cease,
To daunce the preatie babes in satten mantels gaye,
Oh honoure Himen at thys feaste, and blesse this wedding daye.
The Maidens.
Euen as the fragrante rose, the hostesse of the Flye,
Yong maydes delight, and yong mens ioye the pleasure of the eie,
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It doth receiue the deawe of Heauen, and fresher still becomes:
Put being plucked downe, the hewe doth fade anone,
And nought remaineth but the stalke, from whence the rose is gone:
So she, that homage dothe vnto the lawes of Loue,
Liues vnder yoke of toyle and care, as keeping house dothe proue.
Farewell then daintie cheare, all pleasaunte sports adew,
Then flee from youthfull company, for feare of priuie viewe,
In chimney corner close, she bideth at the baye,
VVhy shoulde we honoure Hymen then, or blesse this wedding daye?
The yong men.
Proceede oh parched spouse in flames of beauties beames,
Reuenge thee nowe of cruell Loue, and of his sterne extreames:
Triumphe oh happy man, and nowe possesse thy ioy
At ease, and quench the coale wherewith Loue did thy hearte annoy.
I viewe in open campe, a thousande Cupids flye,
In signe of conqueste yeelding bowe, and brondes to scale the skie.
All torments hides their heade, that plagde thy pining harte,
Contented minde with might, doth make all grisly griefes departe:
And where insidious doubtes a thousande pangs did growe,
Possession may be pleaded nowe, the same to ouerthrowe.
Sith then the fielde is worne and thou at quiet reste,
Auay with armoure, speare, and shielde, reioyce among the beste,
For victories behoofe, our banners we display,
And honoure Hymen at this feaste, and blesse this wedding daye.
The Maidens.
O Hymen, happy childe of nature, moulde of all,
Hymen the brother vnto Loue, to whome all Louers call
For comforte in distresse, that by thy puissaunte might
They maye enioy their wished will, and haue their hartes delight,
Sith that thy pleasure is to trace out of our traine
Our sister, and in husbandes armes, so sweetely to retaine,
And of hir Virgins state, sith he muste cracke the bande,
In recompence of this hir losse, let this hir guerdon stande,
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Let sacred loue chaine fast their hearts, and in their minds remayne.
And make hir of a mayde, a wife and mother glad,
To gouerne well hir familie in wisedomes holy trade:
And that eche one of vs in order as they goe,
By guage thereof, the surest meane to loue and liue may know,
And knowing pleasure is the ende of payne alway,
VVe honour Himen at this feast, and blesse this wedding day.
| A Courtlie controuersie of Cupids Cautels | |