The Poets VVillovv Or, The Passionate Shepheard: With sundry delightfull, and no lesse Passionate Sonnets: describing the passions of a discontented and perplexed Lover. Diuers compositions of verses concording as well with the Lyricke, as the Anacreonticke measures; neuer before published: Being reduced into an exact and distinct order of Metricall extractions [by Richard Brathwait] |
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Elizaes mariage day with all
Romane celebritie solemnised: with
the Muses salutes, and Graces
seuerall gifts. |
 | The Poets VVillovv |  |
Elizaes mariage day with all Romane celebritie solemnised: with the Muses salutes, and Graces seuerall gifts.
Sic mea Romano cecinisse camæna cothurno
Gaudeat, et Ueneris pignora chara suæ.
Gaudeat, et Ueneris pignora chara suæ.
Elizaes
nuptialls so long expected,
Now were approaching, where in solemne sort
Each thing was plast, as if th' æthereall court
Whose diamantine walls the Gods protected
Had been there present: for all was effected
With such respect, as same would come far short
In her relation: yet I meane to shew
Th' Epitome of this great worke to yow,
Now were approaching, where in solemne sort
Each thing was plast, as if th' æthereall court
Whose diamantine walls the Gods protected
Had been there present: for all was effected
With such respect, as same would come far short
In her relation: yet I meane to shew
Th' Epitome of this great worke to yow,
A curious Table made of citre wood,
Spred ore with tissue, well imbrodered,
With store of dainty cates replenished,
Where on a row the sacred Muses stood
Singing a song of Hebe deifide,
Was there drawen forth. Next that there seemd a flood,
Of faire Sea-nimphs, for Nimphs they seemd to be
Bathing their milke white skins deliciously.
Spred ore with tissue, well imbrodered,
With store of dainty cates replenished,
Where on a row the sacred Muses stood
Singing a song of Hebe deifide,
Was there drawen forth. Next that there seemd a flood,
Of faire Sea-nimphs, for Nimphs they seemd to be
Bathing their milke white skins deliciously.
46
They sung a song of Neptune to the shore,
The shore resounding with a sweet consent:
The like whereof was sildome heard before,
That Nimphs, whose glory is most eminent,
Should deigne to grace with their diuiner power
The feasts of mortall men: base continent
For such blest feet to walke on: yet they came
From sea to earth to spread Elizaes name.
The shore resounding with a sweet consent:
The like whereof was sildome heard before,
That Nimphs, whose glory is most eminent,
Should deigne to grace with their diuiner power
The feasts of mortall men: base continent
For such blest feet to walke on: yet they came
From sea to earth to spread Elizaes name.
Next those, admired graces tooke their place,
Richly enthroned as their worth deserued:
With eies reflected on Elizaes face,
As if loue sicke, for so the most obserued:
Wishing (vaine wish) she were their fellow grace
For now she was no fellow: for they serued
In all subiection to her, and would take
Tasks ill befitting graces for her sake.
Richly enthroned as their worth deserued:
With eies reflected on Elizaes face,
As if loue sicke, for so the most obserued:
Wishing (vaine wish) she were their fellow grace
For now she was no fellow: for they serued
In all subiection to her, and would take
Tasks ill befitting graces for her sake.
Ile giue thee (quoth Thalia) vtterance
A hony dropping tongue which shall dissolue
The marble hearts of men: sweet eloquence
Whose powerfull vertue shall each doubt resolue
And match thy beauty with the excellence
Of diuine beauty: what thou shalt reuolue
In thy close brest shall be performd by thee,
Making thee honord for a deity.
A hony dropping tongue which shall dissolue
The marble hearts of men: sweet eloquence
Whose powerfull vertue shall each doubt resolue
And match thy beauty with the excellence
Of diuine beauty: what thou shalt reuolue
In thy close brest shall be performd by thee,
Making thee honord for a deity.
Ile giue thee (quoth Aglaia) pure inuention
To passe the spheres with apprehensiue wings
Crowning the issue of thy blest intention
With wreaths more glorious then victorious kings
Or Heroes ere receau'd, quicke apprehension
Shall blesse thy memory with the happiest things
Th' auspicious hand of Fortune can procure:
For whom the graces grace, must needs be sure.
To passe the spheres with apprehensiue wings
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With wreaths more glorious then victorious kings
Or Heroes ere receau'd, quicke apprehension
Shall blesse thy memory with the happiest things
Th' auspicious hand of Fortune can procure:
For whom the graces grace, must needs be sure.
And I will giue (said graue Euphrosiue)
The poise of nature iudgement to approue
Or disaproue as it best liketh thee,
To iudge twixt hate and mind attractiue loue:
The sagest braine deriues her wit from me,
Rapt with the infusion of the powers aboue:
Thus shalt thou be adornd with graces feature,
To make thee heauenly of an earthly creature,
The poise of nature iudgement to approue
Or disaproue as it best liketh thee,
To iudge twixt hate and mind attractiue loue:
The sagest braine deriues her wit from me,
Rapt with the infusion of the powers aboue:
Thus shalt thou be adornd with graces feature,
To make thee heauenly of an earthly creature,
Thus made a goddesse by the sacred powers,
Whose glorious scepters sway the ocean,
And this same massie frame this earth of yours,
With all the beauty of your little man:
Wherein at first vertues pure springs began
With pearly drops of soule-bedewing showers:
To rinse our Errors: so distained now
As he that made her, hardly can her know.
Whose glorious scepters sway the ocean,
And this same massie frame this earth of yours,
With all the beauty of your little man:
Wherein at first vertues pure springs began
With pearly drops of soule-bedewing showers:
To rinse our Errors: so distained now
As he that made her, hardly can her know.
Thus, thus, eternisd (for eternity
Waits on the Graces) she with modest smile,
And shame fast blush, framed this short reply
As sweet as short couch'd in a comely stile;
Much doth Eliza thanke your deity
That you would deigne times minutes to beguile
In such an homely cell: a cell indeed,
For such as you that spring from heauenly seed.
Waits on the Graces) she with modest smile,
And shame fast blush, framed this short reply
As sweet as short couch'd in a comely stile;
48
That you would deigne times minutes to beguile
In such an homely cell: a cell indeed,
For such as you that spring from heauenly seed.
O you diuine and glorious Quiristers,
That sing sweet Hymns in heau'ns high Hierarchy,
You who are made the Angells ministers,
Filling their hearts with gladsome harmony.
Of happy tidings blessed messengers,
Infused by the power of sacred Deity.
You sweet Organs that are consecrate
To heauens blest Nuptialls, blesse my nuptiall state.
That sing sweet Hymns in heau'ns high Hierarchy,
You who are made the Angells ministers,
Filling their hearts with gladsome harmony.
Of happy tidings blessed messengers,
Infused by the power of sacred Deity.
You sweet Organs that are consecrate
To heauens blest Nuptialls, blesse my nuptiall state.
You are the nectar riuers that diffuse
Their well distreaming currents ore the earth
So as no mount nor humble vale can chuse
But to be fruitfull. Your thrice glorious birth
Inspir'd pure knowledge in the Cadmian Muse,
Making her fill the earth and Sea with mirth.
Thrice blessed ofspring of so blest a sire
Whom plants, springs, groues, & all the gods desire.
Their well distreaming currents ore the earth
So as no mount nor humble vale can chuse
But to be fruitfull. Your thrice glorious birth
Inspir'd pure knowledge in the Cadmian Muse,
Making her fill the earth and Sea with mirth.
Thrice blessed ofspring of so blest a sire
Whom plants, springs, groues, & all the gods desire.
If to the sea I turne, loe you are there,
Mouing the Syrens with your warbling voice,
If to the mountaines, likewise you appeare,
Making the rocks re-eccho with your noise:
If to the fertile plaines, I likewise heare
You prety musicke in the shepheards voice.
Thus Sea, rock, mountaine, and each flowry plaine
If you begin will answer you againe.
Mouing the Syrens with your warbling voice,
If to the mountaines, likewise you appeare,
Making the rocks re-eccho with your noise:
If to the fertile plaines, I likewise heare
You prety musicke in the shepheards voice.
49
If you begin will answer you againe.
If Philomela with her wofull note
Weauing a pricking bramble to her brest,
Retire in secret to deplore her lot,
Crying on Progue whom she loued best
With trickling teares, not hauing yet forgot
Who gaue reuenge to that incestuous beast,
Adulterate Tereus: if that you come by
Will leaue sad odes and chirpe more cheerfully.
Weauing a pricking bramble to her brest,
Retire in secret to deplore her lot,
Crying on Progue whom she loued best
With trickling teares, not hauing yet forgot
Who gaue reuenge to that incestuous beast,
Adulterate Tereus: if that you come by
Will leaue sad odes and chirpe more cheerfully.
And reason good your heauenly influence
Giues a sweet tutch vnto th' Amyclean lyre,
Makes her stay riuers by her eminence,
Diuert the nature of aspiring fire,
Moue shady woods to change their residence,
Mountaines declining, vales ascending higher.
Shewing far more then mortall powers could shew
Drawing beginning and their end from you.
Giues a sweet tutch vnto th' Amyclean lyre,
Makes her stay riuers by her eminence,
Diuert the nature of aspiring fire,
Moue shady woods to change their residence,
Mountaines declining, vales ascending higher.
Shewing far more then mortall powers could shew
Drawing beginning and their end from you.
Then gratious Graces, shower such streams of grace
Vpon th' ensuing progresse of my time,
That by the glorious lustre of your face
Such raies of vertue and respect may shine
In me, my issue, and succeeding race,
That all may blesse this happy state of mine.
Who to aduance the honor of our house
Brought from one stem so many vertuous.
Vpon th' ensuing progresse of my time,
That by the glorious lustre of your face
Such raies of vertue and respect may shine
In me, my issue, and succeeding race,
That all may blesse this happy state of mine.
Who to aduance the honor of our house
Brought from one stem so many vertuous.
50
It is not eloquence, Eliza craues,
That smels of gaine, and gaine is stale to shame,
Such mellow gifts the better sort depraues,
Loosing for corrupt breath a glorious name:
Fie on attractiue breaths that still receiue
Yet by receiuing doe augment their shame:
No, no, let vertue make me eloquent,
Vnstained vertue is most eminent.
That smels of gaine, and gaine is stale to shame,
Such mellow gifts the better sort depraues,
Loosing for corrupt breath a glorious name:
Fie on attractiue breaths that still receiue
Yet by receiuing doe augment their shame:
No, no, let vertue make me eloquent,
Vnstained vertue is most eminent.
Nor ist inuention doth Eliza please,
I leaue Archia that: our thoughts be pure,
To make our Fame renowmed, when the least
Of our expired lifes shall loose their power,
Getting that statue, after our decease
Which all deuouring time can nere deuoure,
The glorious name of vertue, which faire tombe
Shall mention vs in after times to come.
I leaue Archia that: our thoughts be pure,
To make our Fame renowmed, when the least
Of our expired lifes shall loose their power,
Getting that statue, after our decease
Which all deuouring time can nere deuoure,
The glorious name of vertue, which faire tombe
Shall mention vs in after times to come.
Ye graces three, how well would this white stole,
This precious Albe adorne Elizaes shrine?
Which no detraction nor reproch could soile,
But made eternall by the powers diuine,
An happy end of times laborious toile,
A blessed period to these daies of mine:
When for exchange of times mortality
Heauens were my due and heauens eternity.
This precious Albe adorne Elizaes shrine?
Which no detraction nor reproch could soile,
But made eternall by the powers diuine,
An happy end of times laborious toile,
A blessed period to these daies of mine:
When for exchange of times mortality
Heauens were my due and heauens eternity.
Nor doe I care for iudgement, so I haue
So much as may discerne twixt earths delight
And those high ioies which ripest iudgement craue
Twixt Titans torch, and Thetis pitchie night:
So much as may my name from darknes saue,
To make her heire of that supernall light
Which the iudicious wish: that iudgements best
Where she directs her scope at sacred rest.
So much as may discerne twixt earths delight
51
Twixt Titans torch, and Thetis pitchie night:
So much as may my name from darknes saue,
To make her heire of that supernall light
Which the iudicious wish: that iudgements best
Where she directs her scope at sacred rest.
O (quoth Aglaia) nuptialls ill befit
Such vertuous spirits: we must haue you dance,
And leaue discourse of vertue, which will get
Pensiue distractions, though you talke perchance
Of vertue now, yet youl'e relinquish it:
Hymen who doth your fortunes thus aduance,
Will seem much grieued, if you should seem to be
Vertues defender in this Iubile.
Such vertuous spirits: we must haue you dance,
And leaue discourse of vertue, which will get
Pensiue distractions, though you talke perchance
Of vertue now, yet youl'e relinquish it:
Hymen who doth your fortunes thus aduance,
Will seem much grieued, if you should seem to be
Vertues defender in this Iubile.
VVhat colours best befit a mariage day?
Not sable, that pertends too blacke euent:
But brighter colours such as flowry May
Vsde to put on when Boreas seasons spent
And all the fields put on their rich aray,
Each odorous flower and blossome redolent.
VVhen the green mantle of the checkred earth
Seems to reuiew her fresh and cheerfull birth.
Not sable, that pertends too blacke euent:
But brighter colours such as flowry May
Vsde to put on when Boreas seasons spent
And all the fields put on their rich aray,
Each odorous flower and blossome redolent.
VVhen the green mantle of the checkred earth
Seems to reuiew her fresh and cheerfull birth.
Such should thy vestments be (fairespotlesse queen)
And as the birds which pratle on each spray,
Telling their tales vnto the medowes green
Their loues, their likings by the breake of day,
Discoursing nought which might vnpleasant seem
But as true makes impatient of delay:
They wish (poor birds) each moment to approue
The happy fruits of their conceiued loue.
And as the birds which pratle on each spray,
Telling their tales vnto the medowes green
Their loues, their likings by the breake of day,
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But as true makes impatient of delay:
They wish (poor birds) each moment to approue
The happy fruits of their conceiued loue.
Now by the flowry pastures they send out
Their warbling voices: where their louely mates
With broad extended wing in hot pursuit
For their admired loues together waite,
Till by long search at last they find them out
Where they begin to enioy that happy state,
Happy to them (good birds) which long before
They did expect, but now expect no more.
Their warbling voices: where their louely mates
With broad extended wing in hot pursuit
For their admired loues together waite,
Till by long search at last they find them out
Where they begin to enioy that happy state,
Happy to them (good birds) which long before
They did expect, but now expect no more.
Thus, thus, Eliza, shouldst thou solemnize
This glad arriuall of thy nuptiall state,
Since powers diuine be come to eternise
With happy presence thy succeeding fate
That all the glorious powers may memorise,
These festiue triumphs they haue seen of late.
Come, come, forbeare, put on Elizaes brow,
Aske but the Muses, they will tell thee how.
This glad arriuall of thy nuptiall state,
Since powers diuine be come to eternise
With happy presence thy succeeding fate
That all the glorious powers may memorise,
These festiue triumphs they haue seen of late.
Come, come, forbeare, put on Elizaes brow,
Aske but the Muses, they will tell thee how.
Euen as we see when cloudes are quite disperst,
And glittring beams send out their splendor bright
Or as when storms be past, whose fragor perst
The tender branches with their thunder light,
Or as the earth once pining now reuerst
Bringing her long concealed ioies to light
So did Eliza change her sable hue,
As if the graces formd her all anew.
And glittring beams send out their splendor bright
Or as when storms be past, whose fragor perst
The tender branches with their thunder light,
Or as the earth once pining now reuerst
Bringing her long concealed ioies to light
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As if the graces formd her all anew.
Shee's for no straine of vertue, but delight
Plaies on her prety bosome: pensiue thoughts
As Hymens enemies be put to flight,
Fruits of more pleasure by this day are wrought
In the faire Tablet of her beauteous sight,
Then Ioue to Swan-like Leda euer brought,
For that was stolne curbd by a iealous eie,
But this was such as claimd free liberty.
Plaies on her prety bosome: pensiue thoughts
As Hymens enemies be put to flight,
Fruits of more pleasure by this day are wrought
In the faire Tablet of her beauteous sight,
Then Ioue to Swan-like Leda euer brought,
For that was stolne curbd by a iealous eie,
But this was such as claimd free liberty.
No dirges now she sings, but hymns of ioy,
Mou'd with a priuate motiue of content:
No sorrow now, no anguish, nor annoy
Haue any power in her blest continent:
She talks of Venus, and the waggish boy,
And blames Adonis asking what he meant
He did not honor Venus beauty more,
But leese a mine of treasure for a Bore?
Mou'd with a priuate motiue of content:
No sorrow now, no anguish, nor annoy
Haue any power in her blest continent:
She talks of Venus, and the waggish boy,
And blames Adonis asking what he meant
He did not honor Venus beauty more,
But leese a mine of treasure for a Bore?
Out borish lad (quoth she) pitty it is,
Such a good face should haue so ill a wit,
That when th' art blest, dost not conceiue thy blisse
But seest a gem and yet respectst not it.
Children are pleasd with flowers: a fruitlesse kisse,
A smile, or so, such babies best befit:
Wherfore lest thou such flowrs shold seem to stain,
In fruitlesse grouth a flower thou dost remaine.
Such a good face should haue so ill a wit,
That when th' art blest, dost not conceiue thy blisse
But seest a gem and yet respectst not it.
Children are pleasd with flowers: a fruitlesse kisse,
A smile, or so, such babies best befit:
Wherfore lest thou such flowrs shold seem to stain,
In fruitlesse grouth a flower thou dost remaine.
54
Thus was Eliza turnd: all on the flant,
Like Mirrhas daughter or Hermione,
Hauing in hope what really she wants,
Presaging comfort to posterity,
Concluding thus: mansions where Graces hant
Cannot deiected or surprised be
By times mutation: for no fatall hower
Can rase that fort, that's kept by diuine power.
Like Mirrhas daughter or Hermione,
Hauing in hope what really she wants,
Presaging comfort to posterity,
Concluding thus: mansions where Graces hant
Cannot deiected or surprised be
By times mutation: for no fatall hower
Can rase that fort, that's kept by diuine power.
And as we oft times see in summer time,
A shower of candide hailestones ratling downe,
Which makes the tops of touring okes decline,
The siluer banks of riuers ouerflowen,
Proining the tendrells of the lofty Pine,
With branchy cedars that are highest growen:
Where suddenly the sun sends out his beames,
VVhich quite dissolues the haile & stills the streams
A shower of candide hailestones ratling downe,
Which makes the tops of touring okes decline,
The siluer banks of riuers ouerflowen,
Proining the tendrells of the lofty Pine,
With branchy cedars that are highest growen:
Where suddenly the sun sends out his beames,
VVhich quite dissolues the haile & stills the streams
So this faire beame of Titan thus diffus'd,
Into the amber border of her heart,
Which was before (poore wench) by her refus'd,
Now yeelds reliefe vnto her former smart,
Resuming sweet delights too long abus'd:
Each proper vertue flowes to euery part.
The tempest now is past, the sun appeares,
Which stops the source of all ensuing feares.
Into the amber border of her heart,
Which was before (poore wench) by her refus'd,
Now yeelds reliefe vnto her former smart,
Resuming sweet delights too long abus'd:
Each proper vertue flowes to euery part.
The tempest now is past, the sun appeares,
Which stops the source of all ensuing feares.
Then fit it were since that Elizas mind,
Is robed with nuptiall thoughts: the solemn night,
Should be portraid, her truest ioies assignd,
To helpe her former hope with hopes delight:
Descend a little lower: you shall find
The modell of chast loue decolord right:
Not sensuall affects which relish lust,
For lust's not loue: since loue is pure and iust.
Is robed with nuptiall thoughts: the solemn night,
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To helpe her former hope with hopes delight:
Descend a little lower: you shall find
The modell of chast loue decolord right:
Not sensuall affects which relish lust,
For lust's not loue: since loue is pure and iust.
The gloomy night, when labor takes his rest,
Birds take their pearch and sauage beasts their den,
The night when hoary cares cease to infest
With hote assault the silent sleeps of men:
That blessed night, these nuptialls made it blest
Confirmd her hopes by her approaching then.
For she addrest for pleasure doth vndresse,
Her selfe to reape more perfect happinesse.
Birds take their pearch and sauage beasts their den,
The night when hoary cares cease to infest
With hote assault the silent sleeps of men:
That blessed night, these nuptialls made it blest
Confirmd her hopes by her approaching then.
For she addrest for pleasure doth vndresse,
Her selfe to reape more perfect happinesse.
Now euery muse had sung their last good night,
And had ascended vp Parnassus mount,
Wishing her as much ioy and sweet delight,
As ere they ioied, while bathing in the fount
Hight pure Castalia in Dianaes sight
And her attendants: Delia would accompt
Them far more happy then the princely Ioue,
For they were free but he was tost in loue.
And had ascended vp Parnassus mount,
Wishing her as much ioy and sweet delight,
As ere they ioied, while bathing in the fount
Hight pure Castalia in Dianaes sight
And her attendants: Delia would accompt
Them far more happy then the princely Ioue,
For they were free but he was tost in loue.
The azure curtaines of the siluer heauen
Crauing their absence: now the ioifull bride
Had of her bride cake to the Muses giuen,
To the three Graces and the Nimphs beside,
All which attended her: but now the euen
Made them though willing longer to abide,
Dissolue their ranks Eliza left behind,
To find the intention of her husbands mind.
Crauing their absence: now the ioifull bride
Had of her bride cake to the Muses giuen,
To the three Graces and the Nimphs beside,
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Made them though willing longer to abide,
Dissolue their ranks Eliza left behind,
To find the intention of her husbands mind.
| The Poets VVillovv | |