The complete works of John Lyly now for the first time collected and edited from the earliest quartos with life, bibliography, essays, notes and index by R. Warwick Bond |
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| ENTERTAINMENT AT HAREFIELD.
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| III. |
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 | The complete works of John Lyly |  |
491
ENTERTAINMENT AT HAREFIELD.
July–August, 1602.
495
The humble Petition of a guiltlesse Lady, delivered in writing vpon Munday Morninge, when the [robe] of rainbowes was presented to the Q. by the La. Walsingham.
Beauties rose, and Vertues booke,
Angells minde, and Angells looke,
To all Saints and Angells deare,
Clearest Maiestie on earth,
Heauen did smile at your faire birth,
And since your daies have been most cleare.
Angells minde, and Angells looke,
To all Saints and Angells deare,
Clearest Maiestie on earth,
Heauen did smile at your faire birth,
And since your daies have been most cleare.
Only poore St. Swythen now
Doth heare you blame his cloudy brow:
But that poore St. deuoutly sweares,
It is but a tradition vaine
That his much weeping causeth raine
For Sts in heauen shedd no teares:
Doth heare you blame his cloudy brow:
But that poore St. deuoutly sweares,
It is but a tradition vaine
That his much weeping causeth raine
For Sts in heauen shedd no teares:
But this he saith, that to his feast
Commeth Iris, an unbidden guest,
In her moist roabe of collers gay;
And she cometh, she ever staies,
For the space of fortie daies,
And more or lesse raines euery day.
Commeth Iris, an unbidden guest,
In her moist roabe of collers gay;
496
For the space of fortie daies,
And more or lesse raines euery day.
But the good St, when once he knew,
This raine was like to fall on you,
If Sts could weepe, he had wept as much
As when he did the Lady leade
That did on burning iron tread,
To Ladies his respect is such.
This raine was like to fall on you,
If Sts could weepe, he had wept as much
As when he did the Lady leade
That did on burning iron tread,
To Ladies his respect is such.
He gently first bids Iris goe
Unto the Antipodes below,
But shee for that more sullen grew.
When he saw that, with angry looke,
From her her rayneie roabes he tooke,
Which heere he doth present to you.
Unto the Antipodes below,
But shee for that more sullen grew.
When he saw that, with angry looke,
From her her rayneie roabes he tooke,
Which heere he doth present to you.
It is fitt it should with you remaine,
For you know better how to raine.
Yet if it raine still as before,
St Swythen praies that you would guesse,
That Iris doth more roabes possesse,
And that you should blame him no more.
For you know better how to raine.
Yet if it raine still as before,
St Swythen praies that you would guesse,
That Iris doth more roabes possesse,
And that you should blame him no more.
497
The Complaint of the Satyres against the Nymphes.
Tell me, O Nymphes, why do you
Shune vs that your loues pursue?
What doe the Satyres notes retaine
That should merite your disdaine?
Shune vs that your loues pursue?
What doe the Satyres notes retaine
That should merite your disdaine?
On our browes if hornes doe growe,
Was not Bacchus armed soe?
Yet of him the Candean maid
Held no scorne, nor was affraid.
Was not Bacchus armed soe?
498
Held no scorne, nor was affraid.
Say our colours tawny bee,
Phœbus was not faire to see:
Yet faire Clymen did not shunn
To bee Mother of his Sonne.
Phœbus was not faire to see:
Yet faire Clymen did not shunn
To bee Mother of his Sonne.
If our beards be rough and long,
Soe had Hercules the strong:
Yet Deianier, with many a kisse,
Joyn'd her tender lipps to his.
Soe had Hercules the strong:
Yet Deianier, with many a kisse,
Joyn'd her tender lipps to his.
If our bodies hayry bee,
Mars as rugged was as wee:
Yet did Ilia think her grac'd,
For to be by Mars imbrac'd.
Mars as rugged was as wee:
Yet did Ilia think her grac'd,
For to be by Mars imbrac'd.
Say our feet ill-fauored are,
Cripples leggs are worse by farre:
Yet faire Venus, during life,
Was the lymping Vulcan's wife.
Cripples leggs are worse by farre:
Yet faire Venus, during life,
Was the lymping Vulcan's wife.
Breefly, if by nature we
But imperfect creatures be;
Thinke not our defects so much,
Since Celestial Powers be such.
But imperfect creatures be;
Thinke not our defects so much,
Since Celestial Powers be such.
But you Nymphes, whose venal loue
Loue of gold alone doth moue,
Though you scorne vs, yet for gold
Your base loue is bought and sold.
Loue of gold alone doth moue,
Though you scorne vs, yet for gold
Your base loue is bought and sold.
Finis.
499
A Lottery presented before the late Queenes Maiestie at the Lord Chancellors house. 1602.
A Marriner with a box vnder his arme, containing all the seuerall things following, supposed to come from the Carricke, came into the Presence singing this Song.
Cynthia Queene of Seas and lands,
That fortune euery where commands,
Sent forth Fortune to the Sea,
To try her fortune euery way.
There did I fortune meet, which makes me now to sing,
There is no fishing to the Sea, nor seruice to the King.
That fortune euery where commands,
Sent forth Fortune to the Sea,
To try her fortune euery way.
There did I fortune meet, which makes me now to sing,
There is no fishing to the Sea, nor seruice to the King.
All the Nymphes of Thetis traine,
Did Cynthiaes fortune entertaine:
Many a iewell, many a iem,
Was to her fortune brought by them.
Her fortune sped so well, as makes me now to sing,
There is no fishing to the Sea, nor seruice to the King.
Did Cynthiaes fortune entertaine:
Many a iewell, many a iem,
Was to her fortune brought by them.
Her fortune sped so well, as makes me now to sing,
There is no fishing to the Sea, nor seruice to the King.
Fortune, that it might be seene
That she did serue a royall Queene,
A franke and royall hand did beare,
And cast her fauors euery where.
Some toies fel to my share, which makes me now to sing,
There is no fishing to the Sea, nor seruice to the King.
That she did serue a royall Queene,
A franke and royall hand did beare,
And cast her fauors euery where.
Some toies fel to my share, which makes me now to sing,
There is no fishing to the Sea, nor seruice to the King.
God saue you faire Ladies all: and for my part, if euer I be brought to answere my sinnes, God forgiue me my sharking, and lay vsurie to my charge. I am a Marriner, and am now come
500
The Severall Lottes.
[1] Fortunes wheeles.
Fortune must now noe more in tryumphe rideThe wheeles ar yours thatt did hir chariott guide.
[2] A purse.
You thrive or woulde, or maye, your lott's a purseFill it wth golde and you ar n'er the worse.
[3] A ring with this poesye, as faithfull as I finde.
Your hande by fortune on this ringe doth lighteAnd yett the wordes do fitt your humor righte.
[4] A nuttmegg wth a blanke in itt.
This nuttmegg hath a blanke butt chance doth hide ittWrite you your wishe and fortune will provide itt.
[5] A Snuffkin.
Tis sommer, yet a snuffkin to your lott,But t'will be winter one day, doubte you nott.
501
[6] A Maske.
Wante you a maske; heere fortune gives you oneYett nature gives the Rose and Lillye none.
[7] A Necklace.
Fortune gives your faire necke this lace to weare,God graunte a heavier yoake itt never beare.
[8] A Fanne.
You love to see and yett to bee unseeneTake you a fanne to be your beautyes screene.
[9] A Blanke.
Wott you why fortune gives to you noe prizeGood fayth she sawe you nott she wantes hir eyes.
[10] Poyntes.
You ar in every poynte a lover trueAnd therfore fortune gives the poyntes to you.
[11] Dyall.
The dyall's yours: watch tyme leste it be losteAnd yett they spende it worste thatt watche itt most.
[12] A playne ringe.
Fortune hath sent you happe itt well or illA playne golde ringe to wedd you to your will.
[13] A looking glasse.
Blīde fortune doth nott see how faire you bee,Yet gives a glasse that you your selfe may see.
[14] A Blanke.
Nothinge's your lotte, thatt's more than can be tolde,For nothing is more p'tious then golde.
502
[15] A Handkerchefe.
Whether you seeme to weepe, or weepe indeedeThis handkercheff, will stande you well in steede.
[16] Gloves.
Fortūe these gloves in double challeng sendesFor you hate fooles and flatterers her best frendes.
[17] Lace.
Give hir the lace thatt loves to be straite lacedSoe fortunes little gifte is fittlye placed
[18] Knifes.
Fortune doth give these paire of knifes to youTo cutt the thredd of love if 't be nott true
[19] Girdle.
With fortunes girdle happie may you beeYett they thatt ar lesse happie ar more ffree
[20] Writing tables.
These tables may contayne your thoughtes in parteButt write not all thatt's written in your harte
[21] Garters.
Thoughe you have fortunes garters you wil beMore staide and constant in your steppes then she
[22] A blanke.
Tis pittye suche a hande should drawe in vayneThoughe itt gaine nothing itt shall pittye gaine
[23] Coyfe and crosscloth
Frowne you in earnest or be sicke in jesteThis coife and crossecloth will become you beste
503
[24] Scarfe.
Take you this scarfe, binde Cupid hande and footeSo love must aske you leave before he shoote
[25] Falling bande.
Fortune would have you rise, yett guides your handeFrom other lotts unto a falling bande.
[26] Cuttwork stomacher.
This stomacher is full of windowes wroughteYet none throughe them can looke into your thoughte
[27] Scisser Case.
These scissers doe your huswiferye bewrayeThatt love to worke thoughe you be borne to playe
[28] A Chaine.
Because you scorne loves captive to remaine,Fortune hath sworne to leade you in a chaine
[29] A Blanke.
You faine would have butt whatt you cannott tellIf fortune gives you nothing she doth well
[30] Braceletts.
Ladye your handes ar fallen into a snareFor Cupids manacles your braceletts ar
[31] Bodekin.
Even wth this bodkin you may live unharmedYour beawtye is wth vertue so well armed
[32] A Blanke.
You ar so dayntye to be pleased God wottChance knowes nott whatt to give you for your lott
504
[33] A Cushionett.
To hir that little cares whatt lott she winnesChance gives a little cushionett for hir pinnes
[34] A prayer booke.
Your fortune may be good another dayeTill fortune come take you a booke to praye
ffinis
| The complete works of John Lyly | |