The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton For the First Time Collected and Edited: With Memorial-Introduction, Notes and Illustrations, Glossarial Index, Facsimilies, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. In Two Volumes |
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Breton's Longing.
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 | The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton |  |
6
Breton's Longing.
What life hath he that neuer thinkes of loue?
And what such loue but hath a special liking
And what such liking but will seeke to proue
The best to finde the comfort of his seeking?
But while fond thoughts in Follie's packe are peeking,
Better conceited wits may easely finde,
The truest wealth that may enrich the minde.
And what such loue but hath a special liking
And what such liking but will seeke to proue
The best to finde the comfort of his seeking?
But while fond thoughts in Follie's packe are peeking,
Better conceited wits may easely finde,
The truest wealth that may enrich the minde.
But since the difference 'twixt the good and bad
Is easely seene in notes of their delightes;
And that those notes are needefull to be had,
To see whose eyes are of the clearest sights;
Whose are the dayes, and whose may be the nightes;
From the poor crowch vnto the princely crowne,
I will the difference, as I finde, set downe.
Is easely seene in notes of their delightes;
And that those notes are needefull to be had,
To see whose eyes are of the clearest sights;
Whose are the dayes, and whose may be the nightes;
From the poor crowch vnto the princely crowne,
I will the difference, as I finde, set downe.
The worldly Prince longes to encrease his State
To conquer kingdomes, and to weare their crownes;
A foraine power by forces to abate,
To make but footstooles of their fairest townes;
And hates the spirits of those home-made clownes,
That will not venter life for victorie;
But yet forgets that God should haue the glorie.
To conquer kingdomes, and to weare their crownes;
A foraine power by forces to abate,
To make but footstooles of their fairest townes;
And hates the spirits of those home-made clownes,
That will not venter life for victorie;
But yet forgets that God should haue the glorie.
The worldly Councellour doth beat his braines,
How to aduise his Soueraigne for the best,
And in his place doth take continuall paines
To keepe his Prince in such a pleasing rest,
That he may still be leaning on his breast,
Thinking his happe vnto a heauen so wrought;
But yet perhaps God is not in his thought.
How to aduise his Soueraigne for the best,
And in his place doth take continuall paines
To keepe his Prince in such a pleasing rest,
That he may still be leaning on his breast,
Thinking his happe vnto a heauen so wrought;
But yet perhaps God is not in his thought.
The Souldier he delighteth all in armes,
To see his colours in the field display'd;
And longes to see the yssue of those harmes,
That may reueale an enemie dismay'd,
A forte defeated, or a towne betray'd:
And still to be in action day and night,
But little thinkes on God in all the fight.
To see his colours in the field display'd;
And longes to see the yssue of those harmes,
That may reueale an enemie dismay'd,
A forte defeated, or a towne betray'd:
And still to be in action day and night,
But little thinkes on God in all the fight.
The worldly Scholler loues a world of bookes,
And spendes his life in many an idle line:
Meanewhile his heart to heauen but little lookes,
Nor loues to thinke vpon a thought diuine;
These thoughtes of ours, alas! so lowe encline:
We seeke to know what Nature can effect;
But vnto God haue small or no respect.
And spendes his life in many an idle line:
Meanewhile his heart to heauen but little lookes,
Nor loues to thinke vpon a thought diuine;
These thoughtes of ours, alas! so lowe encline:
We seeke to know what Nature can effect;
But vnto God haue small or no respect.
The Poet with his fictions and his fancies,
Pleaseth himselfe with humorous inuentions;
Which well considered are a kinde of franzies,
That carie little truth in their intentions:
While Wit and Reason falling at contentions,
Make Wisdome finde that Follie's strong illusion
Bringes Wit and Senses wholly to confusion.
Pleaseth himselfe with humorous inuentions;
Which well considered are a kinde of franzies,
That carie little truth in their intentions:
While Wit and Reason falling at contentions,
Make Wisdome finde that Follie's strong illusion
Bringes Wit and Senses wholly to confusion.
The worldly Lawyer studyeth right and wronge:
But how he iudgeth, there the question lyes:
For, if you looke for what his loue doth long,
It is the profite of his plea doth rise:
There is the worldly Lawyer's Paradise!
He neither longes the right nor wrong to see,
But to be fingring of the golden fee.
But how he iudgeth, there the question lyes:
For, if you looke for what his loue doth long,
It is the profite of his plea doth rise:
There is the worldly Lawyer's Paradise!
He neither longes the right nor wrong to see,
But to be fingring of the golden fee.
The Cosmographer doth the world suruey,
The hils and dales, the nookes and little crookes,
The woods, the plaines, the high, and the by-way,
The seas, the riuers, and the little brookes:
All these he findes within his compast bookes;
And with his needle makes his measure euen;
But all this while he doth not thinke of heauen.
The hils and dales, the nookes and little crookes,
The woods, the plaines, the high, and the by-way,
The seas, the riuers, and the little brookes:
All these he findes within his compast bookes;
And with his needle makes his measure euen;
But all this while he doth not thinke of heauen.
Th' Astronomer standes staring on the skie,
And will not haue a thought beneath a starre;
But by his speculation doth espie
A world of woonder comming from afarre;
And tels of times and natures, peace and warre:
Of Mars his sword, and Mercury his rod;
But all this while he little thinkes on God.
And will not haue a thought beneath a starre;
But by his speculation doth espie
A world of woonder comming from afarre;
And tels of times and natures, peace and warre:
Of Mars his sword, and Mercury his rod;
But all this while he little thinkes on God.
The worldly Marchant ventreth farre and neere;
And shunnes nor land nor sea to make a gaine:
Thinkes neither trauaile, care, nor cost too deere,
If that his profite counteruaile his paine,
While so his minde is on the getting vaine,
That if his shippe do safely come on shore,
Gold is his God, and he desires no more.
And shunnes nor land nor sea to make a gaine:
Thinkes neither trauaile, care, nor cost too deere,
If that his profite counteruaile his paine,
While so his minde is on the getting vaine,
That if his shippe do safely come on shore,
Gold is his God, and he desires no more.
The worldly Courtier learnes to crouch and creepe,
Speake faire, wait close, obserue his time and place,
And wake and watch and scarcely catch a sleepe,
Till he haue got into some favour's grace,
And will all cunning in his course embrace,
That may vnto authoritie aduance:
But if he thinke on God, it is a chaunce.
Speake faire, wait close, obserue his time and place,
And wake and watch and scarcely catch a sleepe,
Till he haue got into some favour's grace,
And will all cunning in his course embrace,
That may vnto authoritie aduance:
But if he thinke on God, it is a chaunce.
8
The worldly Farmer fils his barnes with corne,
And ploughes, and sowes, and digges, and delues, and hedges,
Lookes to his cattell, will not lose a horne,
Fels downe his woods, and fals vnto his wedges,
And grindes his axes, and doth mend their edges,
And deerely sels that he good cheape hath bought;
But all the while God is not in his thought.
And ploughes, and sowes, and digges, and delues, and hedges,
Lookes to his cattell, will not lose a horne,
Fels downe his woods, and fals vnto his wedges,
And grindes his axes, and doth mend their edges,
And deerely sels that he good cheape hath bought;
But all the while God is not in his thought.
The Sayler, he doth by his compasse stand,
And weies his anchors, and doth hoyse his sayles,
And longes for nothing but to get on land,
While many a storme his starting spirite quailes,
And feare of pirats his poore heart assayles:
But once on shore, carowse and casts off feare,
Yet scarcely thinkes on God that set him there.
And weies his anchors, and doth hoyse his sayles,
And longes for nothing but to get on land,
While many a storme his starting spirite quailes,
And feare of pirats his poore heart assayles:
But once on shore, carowse and casts off feare,
Yet scarcely thinkes on God that set him there.
The worldly Preacher talkes of sacrifice,
Of sacraments, and holy mysteries:
Meanewhile hee longes but for the benefice,
That should preserue his purse from beggeries,
Because hee loues no worldly miseries:
For many a Preacher that God's Word hath taught,
Shewes by his life, God liues not in his thought.
Of sacraments, and holy mysteries:
Meanewhile hee longes but for the benefice,
That should preserue his purse from beggeries,
Because hee loues no worldly miseries:
For many a Preacher that God's Word hath taught,
Shewes by his life, God liues not in his thought.
The world's Physitian, that in sicknesse tries
The nature of the hearbes and minerals,
And in his simples and his compounds spies,
Which way to make the patients funerals,
Or profite by his cures in generals;
Longes but to see how long they may endure:
But scarcely thinkes on God in all the cure.
The nature of the hearbes and minerals,
And in his simples and his compounds spies,
Which way to make the patients funerals,
Or profite by his cures in generals;
Longes but to see how long they may endure:
But scarcely thinkes on God in all the cure.
The world's Musitian, that doth tune his voice,
Vnto such notes as Musique's skill hath set:
Whose heart doth in the harmonie reioice,
Where pleasing consorts are most kindely met:
But still perhaps his spirit doth forget,
In all his himmes, and songes, and sweetest layes,
To thinke of God, or of His worthy prayse.
Vnto such notes as Musique's skill hath set:
Whose heart doth in the harmonie reioice,
Where pleasing consorts are most kindely met:
But still perhaps his spirit doth forget,
In all his himmes, and songes, and sweetest layes,
To thinke of God, or of His worthy prayse.
The Polititian hath a world of plots,
In which his spirit hath speciall spyes;
Ties, and vnties a thousand sundrie knots,
In which the substance of his studie lyes,
And many trickes his close experience tryes,
How to deceiue the world with many a wile;
But neuer thinkes on God in all the while.
In which his spirit hath speciall spyes;
Ties, and vnties a thousand sundrie knots,
In which the substance of his studie lyes,
And many trickes his close experience tryes,
How to deceiue the world with many a wile;
But neuer thinkes on God in all the while.
The Trauailer delighteth in the view
Of change and choise of sundrie kinde of creatures;
To marke the habites, and to note the hew
Of farre borne people, and their sundrie natures,
Their shapes, their speech, their gates, their lookes, their features,
And longes abroade to make his life's abode:
Yet happ'ly neuer longes to be with God.
Of change and choise of sundrie kinde of creatures;
To marke the habites, and to note the hew
Of farre borne people, and their sundrie natures,
Their shapes, their speech, their gates, their lookes, their features,
And longes abroade to make his life's abode:
Yet happ'ly neuer longes to be with God.
The Painter in his colours takes delight,
And neere the life to make the liuelyhood;
While onely shadowes doe deceiue the sight,
That take such pleasure in a peece of wood;
But doth not long for that same liuing food,
Which neither eye hath seene, nor heart conceiu'd,
The God of Truth, that neuer soule deceiu'd.
And neere the life to make the liuelyhood;
While onely shadowes doe deceiue the sight,
That take such pleasure in a peece of wood;
But doth not long for that same liuing food,
Which neither eye hath seene, nor heart conceiu'd,
The God of Truth, that neuer soule deceiu'd.
The Louer, he, but on his Ladie thinketh,
And how to catch her in a kinde content;
And lookes, and leeres, and trowles the eie, and winketh;
And seekes how thoughtes in silence may bee sent;
And longes to see the end of his intent:
And thinkes himselfe a king, to get a kisse;
But where is God in all these thoughtes of his?
And how to catch her in a kinde content;
And lookes, and leeres, and trowles the eie, and winketh;
And seekes how thoughtes in silence may bee sent;
And longes to see the end of his intent:
And thinkes himselfe a king, to get a kisse;
But where is God in all these thoughtes of his?
Th' Artificer that hath a worke to doe,
And bringes his hand vnto his head's deuise,
Longes till he see what it will come vnto,
And how his paines haue profite in the price,
And hauing cast it ouer twise or thrice,
Ioyes in his heart: but scarcely hath a thought,
To thanke his God, that him the cunning taught.
And bringes his hand vnto his head's deuise,
Longes till he see what it will come vnto,
And how his paines haue profite in the price,
And hauing cast it ouer twise or thrice,
Ioyes in his heart: but scarcely hath a thought,
To thanke his God, that him the cunning taught.
The Churle that sits and champes vpon his chaffe,
And will not stirre a foote from his barne floure,
Except it be among his bagges to laugh,
He can the poore so with his purse devoure,
Longes but to vse the poyson of his power
T' enrich himselfe, to bringe a world to naught;
Shewes that God neuer dwels within his thought.
And will not stirre a foote from his barne floure,
Except it be among his bagges to laugh,
He can the poore so with his purse devoure,
Longes but to vse the poyson of his power
T' enrich himselfe, to bringe a world to naught;
Shewes that God neuer dwels within his thought.
As for those beggerly conditions
Of basest trades, that like to miry hogges,
Doe shewe their spirites' dispositions,
In digging with their noses vnder logges,
For slime and wormes, or like to rauening dogges,
Longe but for that which doth the belly fill,
Most of them thinke on God against their will.
Of basest trades, that like to miry hogges,
Doe shewe their spirites' dispositions,
In digging with their noses vnder logges,
For slime and wormes, or like to rauening dogges,
Longe but for that which doth the belly fill,
Most of them thinke on God against their will.
These are the worldlinges, and their world's delightes
Whose longing, God knowes, is not worth the louing:
These are the obiects of those euill sightes,
That Vertue hath from her faire eyes remoouing:
These are the passions of Corruption's proouing:
But they that loue and long for God His sight,
In worldly trifles neuer take delight.
Whose longing, God knowes, is not worth the louing:
These are the obiects of those euill sightes,
That Vertue hath from her faire eyes remoouing:
These are the passions of Corruption's proouing:
But they that loue and long for God His sight,
In worldly trifles neuer take delight.
The Prince, annointed with the oyl of Grace,
Who sits with Mercie, in the seate of Peace,
Will long to see his Sauiour in the face,
And all his right into His handes release;
(Whose onely sight would make all sorrow cease,)
And lay both crowne and kingdome at his feete,
But of His presence to enioy the sweete.
Who sits with Mercie, in the seate of Peace,
Will long to see his Sauiour in the face,
And all his right into His handes release;
(Whose onely sight would make all sorrow cease,)
And lay both crowne and kingdome at his feete,
But of His presence to enioy the sweete.
The Councellour with heavenly Grace inspir'd,
Where Wisdome guides the lineaments of Wit,
Although he hath to Honour's place aspir'd,
His heart doth shew it longes not after it;
His loue desires a higher marke to hitte:
For while he leaneth on his Prince's breast,
His longing is, but with his God to rest.
Where Wisdome guides the lineaments of Wit,
Although he hath to Honour's place aspir'd,
His heart doth shew it longes not after it;
His loue desires a higher marke to hitte:
For while he leaneth on his Prince's breast,
His longing is, but with his God to rest.
9
The Courtier, that is once in God His grace,
Whateuer countenance in the Court he beares,
His heart aspireth to a better place;
Which humble loue doth long for with those teares,
Which all too naught the pride of pleasure weares:
And neuer rests vntill his God he see,
With Whome his soule in loue doth long to be.
Whateuer countenance in the Court he beares,
His heart aspireth to a better place;
Which humble loue doth long for with those teares,
Which all too naught the pride of pleasure weares:
And neuer rests vntill his God he see,
With Whome his soule in loue doth long to be.
The Souldier that hath fought the Spirit's fight,
Will put off warre, and long to liue in peace;
And not in discord, but concord delight,
While gracious Kindnesse makes all quarrels cease;
While Patience doth all passions so appease,
That he shall finde that Souldiour onely blest,
Whose faith, in God, doth set his soule at rest.
Will put off warre, and long to liue in peace;
And not in discord, but concord delight,
While gracious Kindnesse makes all quarrels cease;
While Patience doth all passions so appease,
That he shall finde that Souldiour onely blest,
Whose faith, in God, doth set his soule at rest.
The Lawyer that hath read the lawes of God,
And in his heart is touchèd with His loue,
And knowes the smart of the supernall rod,
Will one day worke, for silly soules' behoue,
Who haue their comfort in the heauens aboue;
Will leaue all golden fees, to see the grace,
That Mercie's justice shewes in Iesus face.
And in his heart is touchèd with His loue,
And knowes the smart of the supernall rod,
Will one day worke, for silly soules' behoue,
Who haue their comfort in the heauens aboue;
Will leaue all golden fees, to see the grace,
That Mercie's justice shewes in Iesus face.
The Scholler that beginnes with Christ His crosse,
And seekes good speede but in the Holy Ghost,
Findes by his booke that siluer is but drosse,
And all his labour in his studie lost;
Where Faith, of Mercie, cannot sweetly boast,
And Loue doth long for any other blisse,
Then what in God, and in His graces is.
And seekes good speede but in the Holy Ghost,
Findes by his booke that siluer is but drosse,
And all his labour in his studie lost;
Where Faith, of Mercie, cannot sweetly boast,
And Loue doth long for any other blisse,
Then what in God, and in His graces is.
And such a Poet as the Psalmist was,
Who had no minde but on his maister's loue,
Whose Muses did the world in musique passe,
That only soong but of the soule's behoue,
In giuing glorie to the God aboue,
Would all worlde's fictions wholly laye aside,
And onely long but with the Lord to bide.
Who had no minde but on his maister's loue,
Whose Muses did the world in musique passe,
That only soong but of the soule's behoue,
In giuing glorie to the God aboue,
Would all worlde's fictions wholly laye aside,
And onely long but with the Lord to bide.
The Cosmographer, that by rules of grace
Surueys the citie of the heauenly saintes,
Will neuer long for any earthly place,
That either penne prescribes, or painter paints;
But in the faith that neuer failes, nor faints,
Will long to see in heauen's Ierusalem
The gratious God of Glorie's diadem.
Surueys the citie of the heauenly saintes,
Will neuer long for any earthly place,
That either penne prescribes, or painter paints;
But in the faith that neuer failes, nor faints,
Will long to see in heauen's Ierusalem
The gratious God of Glorie's diadem.
The true Astronomer that sees the sunne,
And knowes that God from Whome it takes his light,
And in the course the moone and starres doe runne,
Findes the true guider of the day and night,
Longes but to see His onely blessed sight,
Who sunne, and moone, and stars their brightnes giues,
And in Whose face all brightnesse, glorie, liues.
And knowes that God from Whome it takes his light,
And in the course the moone and starres doe runne,
Findes the true guider of the day and night,
Longes but to see His onely blessed sight,
Who sunne, and moone, and stars their brightnes giues,
And in Whose face all brightnesse, glorie, liues.
The Mariner that oft hath past the seas,
And in his perils seene the power of God,
Whose onely mercie doth the stormes appease,
And bringes the shippe vnto his wishèd road,
Will neuer long on earth to make abode;
But in the heauens to see that blessed hande,
That at His becke so rules both sea and land.
And in his perils seene the power of God,
Whose onely mercie doth the stormes appease,
And bringes the shippe vnto his wishèd road,
Will neuer long on earth to make abode;
But in the heauens to see that blessed hande,
That at His becke so rules both sea and land.
The Marchant that hath cast within his minde,
How much the spirit's gaine the flesh surmounts,
And by his faith in Mercie's loue doth finde
The ioyfull summe of such a soule's accounts,
As to saluation of the whole amounts;
Will leaue the world but on Christe's face to looke,
Which all the faithfull make their liuing booke.
How much the spirit's gaine the flesh surmounts,
And by his faith in Mercie's loue doth finde
The ioyfull summe of such a soule's accounts,
As to saluation of the whole amounts;
Will leaue the world but on Christe's face to looke,
Which all the faithfull make their liuing booke.
The Farmer that hath felt his neighbour's neede,
And found how God and Charitie are one;
And knowes there is a better kinde of feede,
Then grasse, or corne, or flesh, or bloud, or bone,
Will wish himselfe from his world's treasure gone,
Vpon those ioyes to feede in Mercie's blisse,
Where Christ His presence is heauen's paradise.
And found how God and Charitie are one;
And knowes there is a better kinde of feede,
Then grasse, or corne, or flesh, or bloud, or bone,
Will wish himselfe from his world's treasure gone,
Vpon those ioyes to feede in Mercie's blisse,
Where Christ His presence is heauen's paradise.
The true Physitian that doth knowe the natures
And dispositions of each element,
And knowes that God created hath all creatures
Beneath, and eke aboue the firmament,
And ouer all hath onely gouernment,
Will onely long that glorious God to know,
That giues the sicknesse and doth cure it so.
And dispositions of each element,
And knowes that God created hath all creatures
Beneath, and eke aboue the firmament,
And ouer all hath onely gouernment,
Will onely long that glorious God to know,
That giues the sicknesse and doth cure it so.
The soule's Musitian that doth finde the ground
Of truest musique, but in God His grace,
Will thinke all singing but an idle sound,
Where God His praise hath not the highest place,
And onely longes to see that blessed face,
Which makes the virgins, saints, and angels, sing
An Halleluiah to their heauenly King.
Of truest musique, but in God His grace,
Will thinke all singing but an idle sound,
Where God His praise hath not the highest place,
And onely longes to see that blessed face,
Which makes the virgins, saints, and angels, sing
An Halleluiah to their heauenly King.
The Preacher, that doth in his soule belieue
The Word of God, which to the world he teacheth,
And in his spirit inwardly doth grieue,
He cannot liue so heauenly as he preacheth,
While faith no further then to mercie reacheth;
Would wish in soule to leaue his benefice,
To make himselfe to Christ a sacrifice.
The Word of God, which to the world he teacheth,
And in his spirit inwardly doth grieue,
He cannot liue so heauenly as he preacheth,
While faith no further then to mercie reacheth;
Would wish in soule to leaue his benefice,
To make himselfe to Christ a sacrifice.
The Politician that hath plotted much
In worldly matters, greatly to his gaine,
Will finde, if God doe once his spirit tuch,
Zacheus' heart will haue another vaine
To clime aloft, and to come downe againe,
And leaue all plots to come but to that place,
Where he might see sweete Iesus in the face.
In worldly matters, greatly to his gaine,
Will finde, if God doe once his spirit tuch,
Zacheus' heart will haue another vaine
To clime aloft, and to come downe againe,
And leaue all plots to come but to that place,
Where he might see sweete Iesus in the face.
Th' Artificer that hath a worke in hand,
And feeles the grace of God within his heart;
And by the same doth surely vnderstand,
How God alone perfecteth euerie part,
And onely is the giuer of all art,
Will gladly leaue his worke and longe to be,
Where he might Christ his soule's worke-maister see.
And feeles the grace of God within his heart;
And by the same doth surely vnderstand,
How God alone perfecteth euerie part,
And onely is the giuer of all art,
Will gladly leaue his worke and longe to be,
Where he might Christ his soule's worke-maister see.
The Painter that doth paint a daintie image
So neere the life, as may be to the same,
And makes an asse vnto an owle doe homage,
While shadowes bring the senses out of frame,
If God his heart once with His loue enflame,
His pictures all will vnder foote be trod,
And he will longe but for the liuing God.
So neere the life, as may be to the same,
And makes an asse vnto an owle doe homage,
While shadowes bring the senses out of frame,
If God his heart once with His loue enflame,
His pictures all will vnder foote be trod,
And he will longe but for the liuing God.
10
The Trauailer that walkes the world about
And sees the glorious workes of God on high;
If God His grace once kindly finde him out,
And vnto heauen do lift his humble eye,
His soule in faith will such perfections spie,
That leauing all that he on earth can see,
His loue will long but with the Lord to be.
And sees the glorious workes of God on high;
If God His grace once kindly finde him out,
And vnto heauen do lift his humble eye,
His soule in faith will such perfections spie,
That leauing all that he on earth can see,
His loue will long but with the Lord to be.
The Churle that neuer chaunc't vpon a thought
Of Charitie, nor what belonges thereto;
If God His grace haue once his spirit brought,
To feele what good the faithfull almers doe,
The loue of Christ will so his spirit wooe,
That he will leaue barnes, corne, and bagges of coine,
And land and life, with Iesus' loue to ioine.
Of Charitie, nor what belonges thereto;
If God His grace haue once his spirit brought,
To feele what good the faithfull almers doe,
The loue of Christ will so his spirit wooe,
That he will leaue barnes, corne, and bagges of coine,
And land and life, with Iesus' loue to ioine.
Thus from the Prince vnto the poorest state,
Who seemes to liue as voide of Reason's sense,
If God once come, Who neuer comes too late,
And touch the soule with His sweet quintessence
Of Mercie's gratious glorious patience,
His soule will leaue whateuer it doth loue,
And long to liue but with the Lord aboue.
Who seemes to liue as voide of Reason's sense,
If God once come, Who neuer comes too late,
And touch the soule with His sweet quintessence
Of Mercie's gratious glorious patience,
His soule will leaue whateuer it doth loue,
And long to liue but with the Lord aboue.
Now to the tenure of that longing time,
That louing spirits thinke too long will last;
The maide new maried, in her pregnant prime,
Longes till the time of forty weekes be past,
And blameth Time he makes no greater hast;
Till in her armes she sweetly haue receiu'd
Her comfortes fruite, within her wombe conceiu'd.
That louing spirits thinke too long will last;
The maide new maried, in her pregnant prime,
Longes till the time of forty weekes be past,
And blameth Time he makes no greater hast;
Till in her armes she sweetly haue receiu'd
Her comfortes fruite, within her wombe conceiu'd.
Thus fortie weekes she labours all in loue,
And at the last doth trauaile all in paine:
But shortly after doth such comfort proue,
As glads her heart, and makes all whole againe;
So in her infant's pretty smiling vaine
Pleasing herselfe, that all her greefe is gone,
When she may haue her babe to looke vpon.
And at the last doth trauaile all in paine:
But shortly after doth such comfort proue,
As glads her heart, and makes all whole againe;
So in her infant's pretty smiling vaine
Pleasing herselfe, that all her greefe is gone,
When she may haue her babe to looke vpon.
Penelope, at her deere loue's departing,
In sober kindnesse did conceale her care;
Though in her heart she had that inward smarting,
That Time's continuance after did declare;
Where constant loue did shew, without compare,
A perfect passion of true Vertue's vaine,
Longing but for Ulisses home againe.
In sober kindnesse did conceale her care;
Though in her heart she had that inward smarting,
That Time's continuance after did declare;
Where constant loue did shew, without compare,
A perfect passion of true Vertue's vaine,
Longing but for Ulisses home againe.
How many yeeres the storie doth set downe,
In which she felt the gall of Absence' greefe.
When constant Faith on foule effects did frowne,
Which sought to be to Charitie a theefe,
Of Natures beautie the true honour cheefe:
Long languishing in Absence' cruell hell;
But when she saw his presence all is well.
In which she felt the gall of Absence' greefe.
When constant Faith on foule effects did frowne,
Which sought to be to Charitie a theefe,
Of Natures beautie the true honour cheefe:
Long languishing in Absence' cruell hell;
But when she saw his presence all is well.
But if I may in holy lines beginne,
To speake of Ioseph, and his longing loue
Vnto his brethren, but to Benjamin
To note the passion Nature did approue,
Which did such teares in his affection moue,
That well from thence the prouerbe sweet might spring,
The loue of brethren is a blessed thing.
To speake of Ioseph, and his longing loue
Vnto his brethren, but to Benjamin
To note the passion Nature did approue,
Which did such teares in his affection moue,
That well from thence the prouerbe sweet might spring,
The loue of brethren is a blessed thing.
Well may I see the notes of Nature's griefe,
In absence of the obiect of affection;
And longing for the substance of reliefe,
In presence finde the life of loue's perfection,
While eie and heart are led by one direction;
Yet all this while I doe not truely proue
The blessed longing of the Spirit's loue.
In absence of the obiect of affection;
And longing for the substance of reliefe,
In presence finde the life of loue's perfection,
While eie and heart are led by one direction;
Yet all this while I doe not truely proue
The blessed longing of the Spirit's loue.
When Mary Magdalene, so full of sinne,
As made her heart a harbour of ill thought,
Felt once the grace of God to enter in,
And driue them out that her destruction sought;
Her soule was then to Iesus' loue so wrought,
As that with teares in true affect did proue
The pleasing longing of the Spirit's loue.
As made her heart a harbour of ill thought,
Felt once the grace of God to enter in,
And driue them out that her destruction sought;
Her soule was then to Iesus' loue so wrought,
As that with teares in true affect did proue
The pleasing longing of the Spirit's loue.
In griefe she went all weeping to His graue,
Longing to see Him or aliue or dead;
And would not cease vntill her loue might haue
Her longèd fruite, on which her spirit fed,
One blessed crumme of that sweet heauenly bread
Of angels' food, but of her Lord a sight,
Whose heauenly presence prou'd her soule's delight.
Longing to see Him or aliue or dead;
And would not cease vntill her loue might haue
Her longèd fruite, on which her spirit fed,
One blessed crumme of that sweet heauenly bread
Of angels' food, but of her Lord a sight,
Whose heauenly presence prou'd her soule's delight.
Midas did long for nothing els but gold,
And he was kindely choakèd for his choyce;
Such longing loue doth with too many hold,
Which onely doe in worldly drosse reioyce.
But did they hearken to the heauenly voyce,
Their diamondes should not so for drosse be sold,
And they would long for God, and not for gold.
And he was kindely choakèd for his choyce;
Such longing loue doth with too many hold,
Which onely doe in worldly drosse reioyce.
But did they hearken to the heauenly voyce,
Their diamondes should not so for drosse be sold,
And they would long for God, and not for gold.
Zacheus, too long, longèd for such drosse,
Till Iesus came, his spirit's further ioye;
And then he found his gaine did yeeld but losse,
While sinne in conscience bred the soule's annoye,
And vnto heauen the world was but a toye;
He left it all and climèd vp a tree,
To shew his longing how but Christ to see.
Till Iesus came, his spirit's further ioye;
And then he found his gaine did yeeld but losse,
While sinne in conscience bred the soule's annoye,
And vnto heauen the world was but a toye;
He left it all and climèd vp a tree,
To shew his longing how but Christ to see.
And well he longd that so His loue receiued,
Who sweetly saw, and kindly call'd him downe:
His stature low, but his loue high conceiued,
Who so was grac't by Mercie's glorious crowne,
As hauing cause vpon his sinnes to frowne,
Forgiue the workes that did deserue damnation,
And fill'd his house with glory of saluation.
Who sweetly saw, and kindly call'd him downe:
His stature low, but his loue high conceiued,
Who so was grac't by Mercie's glorious crowne,
As hauing cause vpon his sinnes to frowne,
Forgiue the workes that did deserue damnation,
And fill'd his house with glory of saluation.
A blessed longing of a blessed loue!
Would so all soules did loue, and so did long;
And in their longing might so sweetly proue
The gracious ground of such a glorious songe,
As kills all sinne that doth the spirit wrong;
And sing with Simeon at his Sauiour's sight,
“Oh now my soule depart in peace, delight!”
Would so all soules did loue, and so did long;
And in their longing might so sweetly proue
The gracious ground of such a glorious songe,
As kills all sinne that doth the spirit wrong;
And sing with Simeon at his Sauiour's sight,
“Oh now my soule depart in peace, delight!”
11
Oh blessed Simeon, blessed was thy loue,
And thy loue's longing for thy Sauiour so,
Who wrought so sweetly for thy soule's behoue,
As from thy prayers would not let thee goe,
Till to thy loue He did His presence showe,
Which made thee sing, when sorrowes all did cease,
“Lord, let thy seruant now depart in peace!”
And thy loue's longing for thy Sauiour so,
Who wrought so sweetly for thy soule's behoue,
As from thy prayers would not let thee goe,
Till to thy loue He did His presence showe,
Which made thee sing, when sorrowes all did cease,
“Lord, let thy seruant now depart in peace!”
“For I, according to Thy word, haue seen
The glorious substance of my soule's saluation;
Thy Word, in whome my trust hath euer beene,
And now hath found my comfort's confirmation!”
Thus did he make a ioyfull declaration
Of that sweete sight of his sweet Sauiour's face,
That was the glorie of his spirit's grace.
The glorious substance of my soule's saluation;
Thy Word, in whome my trust hath euer beene,
And now hath found my comfort's confirmation!”
Thus did he make a ioyfull declaration
Of that sweete sight of his sweet Sauiour's face,
That was the glorie of his spirit's grace.
How many yeeres he all in prayer spent,
For the beholding of His blessed loue!
What was the yssue of his hope's euent,
And how his prayers did preuaile aboue,
That so his God did vnto mercie moue,
As to his armes to send his onely sonne
The storie doth of all th' Apostles runne!
For the beholding of His blessed loue!
What was the yssue of his hope's euent,
And how his prayers did preuaile aboue,
That so his God did vnto mercie moue,
As to his armes to send his onely sonne
The storie doth of all th' Apostles runne!
He was well call'd, good Simeon, for that grace,
That God had giuen the spirit of His loue;
That loue that long'd but in his Sauiour's face,
To see the blessing of his soule's behoue,
And blessed prayer, that did truely proue
A blessed soule, that could not prayer cease,
Till Christ His presence came to giue it peace.
That God had giuen the spirit of His loue;
That loue that long'd but in his Sauiour's face,
To see the blessing of his soule's behoue,
And blessed prayer, that did truely proue
A blessed soule, that could not prayer cease,
Till Christ His presence came to giue it peace.
So should all soules their Loue's chief longing haue,
All soules I meane of euerie Christian hart,
That seeke or hope both heart and soule to saue
From hell, damnation, and supernall smart;
This is the loue that, in the liuing part
Of Mercie's power, shall finde that blessednesse,
That is the spirit's onely happinesse.
All soules I meane of euerie Christian hart,
That seeke or hope both heart and soule to saue
From hell, damnation, and supernall smart;
This is the loue that, in the liuing part
Of Mercie's power, shall finde that blessednesse,
That is the spirit's onely happinesse.
Nor can Loue look to limit out a time,
But now and then and euermore attende;
For he shall neuer to that comfort clime,
That will not all his life in prayer spend,
Vntil he see his Sauiour in the end;
In whose sweet face doeth all and onely rest
The heauenly ioy that makes the spirit blest.
But now and then and euermore attende;
For he shall neuer to that comfort clime,
That will not all his life in prayer spend,
Vntil he see his Sauiour in the end;
In whose sweet face doeth all and onely rest
The heauenly ioy that makes the spirit blest.
Blest be the spirit that so longs and loues,
As did Zacheus and good Simeon:
And from his faithfull prayer neuer mooues,
Vntill he find his life to looke vpon,
And in such loue is all so ouer-gon,
That in such ioy his heart and spirit dwels,
As hauing Christ, it cares for nothing els.
As did Zacheus and good Simeon:
And from his faithfull prayer neuer mooues,
Vntill he find his life to looke vpon,
And in such loue is all so ouer-gon,
That in such ioy his heart and spirit dwels,
As hauing Christ, it cares for nothing els.
Oh blessed Christ, the essence of all blisse,
All blessed soules loue's longings' chiefe delight!
What heart can thinke how that soul blessed is,
That euer hath his Sauiour in his sight?
The sunny day that neuer hath a night?
Oh that my spirit might so euer pray,
That I might liue to see that blessed day.
All blessed soules loue's longings' chiefe delight!
What heart can thinke how that soul blessed is,
That euer hath his Sauiour in his sight?
The sunny day that neuer hath a night?
Oh that my spirit might so euer pray,
That I might liue to see that blessed day.
The day that onely springeth from on high,
That high day-light wherein the heauens do liue;
The life that loues but to behold that eye,
Which doth the glory of all brightnesse giue,
And from th' enlight'ned doth all darknesse driue:
Where saints doe see, and angels know to be
A brighter light, then saints or angels see.
That high day-light wherein the heauens do liue;
The life that loues but to behold that eye,
Which doth the glory of all brightnesse giue,
And from th' enlight'ned doth all darknesse driue:
Where saints doe see, and angels know to be
A brighter light, then saints or angels see.
In this light's loue, Oh, let me euer liue!
And let my soul haue neuer other loue,
But all the pleasures of the world to giue,
The smallest sparke of such a ioy to proue,
And euer pray vnto my God aboue,
To grant my humble soule good Simeon's grace,
In loue to see my Sauiour in the face.
And let my soul haue neuer other loue,
But all the pleasures of the world to giue,
The smallest sparke of such a ioy to proue,
And euer pray vnto my God aboue,
To grant my humble soule good Simeon's grace,
In loue to see my Sauiour in the face.
O face more faire then fairnesse can containe:
O eye more bright then brightnesse can declare:
O light more pure then passion can explaine:
O life more blest then may with blisse compare:
O heauen of heauens where such perfections are!
Let my soule liue to loue, to long, to bee
Euer in prayer, but to looke on Thee!
O eye more bright then brightnesse can declare:
O light more pure then passion can explaine:
O life more blest then may with blisse compare:
O heauen of heauens where such perfections are!
Let my soule liue to loue, to long, to bee
Euer in prayer, but to looke on Thee!
But, Oh vnworthy eye of such a sight;
And all vnworthy heart of such a loue;
Vnworthy loue, to long for such a light;
Vnworthy longing such a life to prooue;
Vnworthy life, so high a suit to mooue!
Thus, all vnworthy of so high a grace,
How shall I see my Sauiour in the face?
And all vnworthy heart of such a loue;
Vnworthy loue, to long for such a light;
Vnworthy longing such a life to prooue;
Vnworthy life, so high a suit to mooue!
Thus, all vnworthy of so high a grace,
How shall I see my Sauiour in the face?
All by the prayer of true penitence,
Where Faith in teares attendeth Grace's time,
My soule doth hope in Mercie's patience,
My heart all cleansèd from my sinfull crime,
To see the springing of Aurora's prime,
In those bright beames of that sweet blessed sunne
Of my deere God, in Whome all blisse begunne.
Where Faith in teares attendeth Grace's time,
My soule doth hope in Mercie's patience,
My heart all cleansèd from my sinfull crime,
To see the springing of Aurora's prime,
In those bright beames of that sweet blessed sunne
Of my deere God, in Whome all blisse begunne.
And that my soule may such a blessing see,
Let my heart pray, and praying neuer cease,
Till heart and soule may both together be,
Blest in thy sight all sorrowes doth release;
And with good Simeon then depart in peace!
Oh then; but then, and onely euer then,
Blest be my soule, sweet Iesus say Amen.
Let my heart pray, and praying neuer cease,
Till heart and soule may both together be,
Blest in thy sight all sorrowes doth release;
And with good Simeon then depart in peace!
Oh then; but then, and onely euer then,
Blest be my soule, sweet Iesus say Amen.
Gloria in Excelsis Deo.
| The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton | |