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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A Dreame of the arraignement
of Desire.
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 | The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton |  |
A Dreame of the arraignement of Desire.
A court was lately kept in secret of conceit,To cal desire vnto his death, or cleare him of deceit,
Fayre Beautie was the Queene, and loue was all her Lawes,
Who had appoynted perfect sence to sit vpon the cause.
The wretches that accus'd desire of ill desart,
Where Enuie, packt with Iniurie, to kil a careful heart,
The whole Inditement read against desire, was this,
That where he most auowed best he ment not least amis,
The Lawyers that did plead against this poore desire,
Where wicked wit with eloquence, whom hate and wrong did hire.
But to defend desire was plaine simplicitie,
Who knew the bounds and kept the bonds of perfect amitie:
A grand Inquest in haste was panneld by the Court.
Of whom Tom-troth was foreman made, and so begun the sport.
Suspect did halfe affirme, that witnes should not neede,
And yet selfe-will would faine haue sworne that a was true indeed.
But reason wild regard, the treason should be tryed,
And deepe conceit should be the man that should the trueth decide.
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But care had brideled Natures course, loue neuer liu'd at large,
And conscience plaine replyed in reasons secrete thought,
That good wines need no Iuie-bush, and eloquence is naught.
To sound the depth of all did sences all assemble,
And poore goodwill came swearing in, that loue could not dissemble,
When patience fully heard the pleading of the case,
She call'd to reason to reueale who had deserud disgrace,
Good-wil was earnest still, and sware that liue or die,
Suspect did sore abuse desire, for louers could not lie.
With that the people laught, and reason chargd Tomtroth
To giue vp vnto perfect sence the verdict of his oath.
The Iurors were the thoughts that did posse the minde,
Where flatterie was but fancies foole while faith did fauour finde.
Who when they had at ful considered of the cause,
Gaue Enuie vp for enimie to loue and al his lawes.
And wit was but a foole to follow false suspect,
And eloquence was little worth to carrie such effect.
And hate and enuie both were had in great disgrace,
And eloquence for taking parte, was hissèd out of place.
And sweet desire was cleare, in Reasons secret sence,
And perfect sence gaue iudgement so, and quit him of offence.
And beautie that before was thought did quite disdaine him,
Did graunt him fauour by desert, and loue did entertaine him.
Suspect to silence put, good Nature gan to smile,
To heare them iudge to loues disdaine that would desire beguile.
And sweet desire the force of enuies ouerthrow,
And therewithal the Court brake vp, and I awakèd so.
Finis.
| The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton | |