University of Virginia Library

Aide
O master Salutation
these verses carry fire:
Theire sense is alligant and tarte.
theire meaning I inspyre.
And when I came within The Houlde,
how lik'st thou this quoth Ayde?

Youth.
Sir, I am euen Rauished,
my senses be dismai'd.

Aide
Dismai'd, why? Because I am
in Paradise I thinke:
Oh God what Christall glimmering shewes
doe make my eies to wincke.
As Goulde surmounteth Copper base;
or siluer passeth tinne:
So doe these sightes (which I doe see)
which are the house within.
Whil'st Salutation, Ayde and I.
were looking round about:
I heard a dore which opened
from whence there issued out,
Another wight of comely hue,
at which I stood apalled:
And was Desirous for to kowe
by what name he was called.
And as it seem'd he did ene heare,
for why? he aunswere made:
What be these wightes, which aske my name,
or what Sir, is there trade?
Quoth Salutation vnto him,
they are both straungers (they)
Resistance gaue them leaue to passe
hether (as they doe say).
I Sir (quoth we) straungers we are,
but may we knowe your name:
It is Sir Gratulation
of trueth the very same.

Gratulation Captaine of the Houlde
The Captaine I am of this Houlde,
commanding euery man:
(That is within my gouernment)
to shew you what they can.
But by what meanes (I pray you tell)
did you finde out this way.

Youth
I shall declare the cause is such:
I fired was to stray,
And like a yongling lost my selfe,
in forrest thicke vnknowne:
And crying out with ruthfull voyce,
to haue my miserie knowne.
By Gods assignement (as I must,
of force confesse in deede:)
Came then vnto my father Ayde,
to helpe me at my neede.
And to be short, I did declare,
vnto him all my minde:
How that I was affectioned
some Noueltie to finde.
Why then quoth Ayde, come on thy way,
rise vp and go with me:
And I will shewe you a Castel cald,
by name of Courtesie.

Gratulation.
And were you at the Castel (Sir)
the better now apaide:
You are as welcome to this place,
as can with tongue be saide.
For I am (Sir) solemnly sworne,
this Hold I do maintaine:
To helpe the Castle when they neede,
or do commaunde my paine.
But Sirs, since that you come from thence,
you be most welcome sure,
And though you are straungers to me,
yet what I can procure,
You shall commaund vnfainedly
sirs, with a willing hearte.
Then Ayde and I both gaue him thankes,
and tooke it in good part.
Forthwith he call'd a seruant out,
whose name was Dilligence,

Dilligence seruant to Gratulation.

And gaue him charge in any wise,
as he woulde scape offence:
To shewe vs what we did Desire
within the Houlde to see:
And charged him in any wise
from vs two not to be.
He well obeyed his Masters hest,
he tooke great paines in deede:
To shewe vs euery place within,
that might our pleasures feede.
Truely Dilligence delited much,
to signifie and tell:
To burnish out his Masters praise,
it seem'd he lou'd it well.
So vp and downe from place to place,
by Dilligence directed:
He was not slow to shewe vs all,
no labour he detracted.
But thus in briefe to cut it off,
and make relation small:
Of any sight that euer I sawe,
it passeth most of all.
Then Ayde and I, when we had seene
enough to please our minde:
We asked Dilligence if he could
his Master for vs finde,
That we might yeeld him thankes,
for this his friendship shewed:
And alwaies resting to requite
the Courtesie bestowed.
Then Dilligence did bring vs both
to Gratulation kinde:
Who asked vs if we had found,
the thing to please our minde.
{I lie} quoth we, we haue that founde,
and seene we neuer sawe:
And if we may stand you in stead,
we sweare by faithfull lawe,
You shall command vs at all times,
and so we minde to parte:
Protesting yours for to rest,
with faithfull fired hart.
And truelie of your gentlenesse,
we shall not let to tell:
Sith you haue entertained vs,
with faithfull minde so well.
And thus adue, high Ioue of all
be your chiefe guide and trust:
For we will homewarde take our way,
as needes of force we must.

An Information giuen by Ayde vnto Youth.

Quoth Ayde to me, my Youth marke this,
in each time, state and season:
For to requite where paines are tooke,
me thinkes it were good Reason:
Shoulde wee depart and nothing giue
to Dilligence (O fie)
Since he hath taken all the paines
to seede and please our eye.

Youth.
[illeg.] was forgetfull of the same,
of Trueth I must confesse:
I thanke you for remembring it
my duetie to expresse.
So then I called Dilligence,
and gaue to him Rewarde:
Who gaue vs thankes with open mouth,
that easily might be heard.
So we departed from this Houlde,
and did retyre then backe:
Unto the place from whence we came,
where I was in a wracke,
And Agonie of pensiue minde,
in place where I was lost:
And houling lay, with yelling voyce,
as one whome fortune tost.

Ayde.
Quoth Ayde (my Youth) I found you heere,
and heere I will you leaue:
And followe you this path before,
and then you shall perceaue,
Your homeward way from whence you came
it doth Direct aright:
And I will to my Cottage poore,
to rest my Aged spright.
Untill such time as fatall Mors,
bereaues my drudging dayes:
Unto whose pleasure I submit,
not vsing of delayes.

Youth.
Oh father Ayde my onely guide,
my faithfull Trust and stay:
And is it thus nowe come to passe,
that you wil needes away?
Who hath since first our meeting heere,
so faithfull to me beene:
As euer was the trustie zeale,

Queene Dido truer then Aeneas.

of Dido that was Queene.
Whose loyall heart was firmely fixt.
to false Æneas hee:
That stoale awaye in truethlesse sorte,
to force her Miserie.
So trueth to tell I doe beleeue,
since thus you doe departe:
It will occasion be of griefe,
and wounding to my heart.
But Ayde will not be frustrate quite,
if vrgent cause require:
But Ayde will be a meane to helpe,
the simple that Desire,
Some knowledge of this waywarde world,
which tosseth vp and downe:
Like furious fretting foaming flouds,
when Neptune guts to frowne.
Perchaunce some mutall minde will Muse
and murmure at this case,
And say, what foolish fond Deuice
hath semed such a place.
To which demand I doe replie,
the faithfull fixed heart:
Did study for to finde out this,
by Aydes good skill and art.
Humilitie, a Houlde in deede,
for those that humble bee:
A place prepared for repasse
In modest sort we see.
Where Godly graces grafted are,
with Impes of vertuous race:
The buddes do burnish on the braunch
with gallant goodly grace,
Which Ioyce the heart of euery wight,
Whome Natures forme hath framed:
Whose lowlie life, with lenitie,
deserues not to be blamed.
The Loyall lore that linkes in loue,
of force doth merrite fame:
The good and well disposed minde
is worthie of the same.
But Amorous toyes of Youthfull youth
respecteth not with care:
The fructelesse troth, and friendlesse fraud
that some full closely bare.
No sound nor sober counsell can,
their wilfull minde affray:
Esteeming it as speeches vaine,
wherein there is no stay.

An exhortatiō

Wherfore (O Youthes) marke now a Youth,
something to staiednesse bent:
Which spyes that romers raunge in ragges:
and lurke in deepe lament.
Who findes that likely Fortune is,
a fond incertaine Dame:
Which heapes more hazzardes to the heart.
then thought can thinke the same.
Who sees the stoute and lustie bloudes,
full quyetly abyde:
When as the hote and furieuse force,
is let out from their side.
I not commend the fickle friend,
that falles out for a strawe:
Nor that will rangle for a Rushe,
ne deale so like a dawe.
For he that sweares by woundes and bloude,
and lookes so like a Bull:
When as he comes to doe the feate,
his hart is in his skull.
And hotest men of many wordes
are slowe enough in deedes:
And some will fainte that showe good face
when but their singer bleedes.
And he that doth prouoke so much.
the sober man to fight:
If he be entered in his acte.
the lustiest blowes will smite.
A prouerbe olde, in Englande here,
the still sowe earns the draffe:
And some do weep which haue small cause,
when some aga[illeg.] do laugh.
I must needes now declare a thing,
which comes within my minde:
How some for to out face the worlde,
will seeme the world to blinde.
And since of Castell and the Hould,
I did at large display:
Now somewhat of this craftie world
I breefly minde to say.
For I am priueledged in deede,
since Aide hath taken leaue:
A litle to disclose my minde,
for that I do perceaue,
The slily falshood now a dayes
that restes within the lande:
As trust me it was neuer more,
the trueth to vnderstand.
The counterfeating crookes to catch,
and simple to allure:
The faithlesse fond and filthie fraude,
that dayly is in vre.
When as that one shall come to you,
and say he is right sad,
And hartely sory in his minde,
for ill luckes that you had.
And by my troth I tell you true,
I would I could know how:
To helpe you in this your distresse,
I make to God a vowe.
Another comes professing eke,
for to remaine a friend:
And neuer to exempt his faith,
vntill his dayes do ende.
And saith if I eke in stead may stand,
I pray you to be bolde:
But when in deede there commeth neede,
his doings then are cold.
Oh noble flattering fleating world,
oh guilefull glowing heate:
Oh subtle sounde, of truethlesse tongues,
that trueth doth nere repeate.
Not knowing how for to dissemble,
not knowing then to liue:
But God for his greate mercies sake
such filthie factes forgiue.
And root the vipers from their vaine,
of stinging at vnwares:
By whom the simple sillie soule,
is caught in doubtfull cares.
And thus the Author makes an end,
desiring each good minde:
To thinke the best of this his worke,
so further shall they finde.