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I. VOL. I
[_]

Square brackets denote editorial insertions or emendations.

Sad patience that waiteth at the doore. —The Bee.

Ceux qui ont été les prédécesseurs des grands esprits, et qui ont contribué en quelque facon à leur éducation, leur doivent d'être sauvés de l'oubli. Dante fait vivre Brunetto Latini, Milton du Bartas; Shakespeare fait vivre Lyly. —Mézières.

410

SPEECHES AND VERSES AT THE TILT-YARD

1590–1600.

A Sonet. At the Tilt-Yard; Nov. 17, 1590.

411

His Golden lockes Time hath to Siluer turn'd,
O Time too swift, ô Swiftnesse neuer ceasing!
His Youth gainst Time and Age hath euer spurn'd,
But spurn'd in vain, Youth waineth by increasing.
Beauty, Strēgth, Youth, are flowers, but fading seen,
Dutie, Faith, Loue, are roots, and euer greene.
412

His Helmet now shall make a hiue for Bees,
And Louers sonets turne to holy Psalmes:
A man at Armes must now serue on his knees,
And feede on praiers, which are Age his almes.
But though from Court to Cottage he depart,
His Saint is sure of his vnspotted heart.
And when he saddest sits in homely Cell,
Heele teach his swaines this Caroll for a Song,—
Bless'd be the heartes that wish my Soueraigne well,
Curs'd be the soules that thinke her any wrong!
Goddess, allow this aged man his right,
To be your Beads-man now, that was your Knight.
414

Ode. Of Cynthia.

At the Earl of Cumberland's Shew on Horseback; May 1, 1600.

Th' ancient Readers of Heauens Booke,
Which with curious eye did looke
Into Natures story;
All things vnder Cynthia tooke
To bee transitory.
This the learned only knew,
But now all men finde it true,
Cynthia is descended;
With bright beames and heauenly hew,
And lesser starres attended.
Landes and Seas shee rules below,
Where things change, and ebbe, and flowe,
Spring, waxe olde, and perish;
Only Time which all doth mowe,
Her alone doth cherish.
Times yong howres attend her still,
And her Eyes and Cheekes do fill,
With fresh youth and beautie:
415

All her louers olde do grow,
But their hartes, they do not so
In their Loue and duty.

This Song was sung before her sacred Maiestie at a shew on horsebacke, wherwith the right Honorable the Earle of Cumberland presented her Highnesse on Maie day last [1600].

417

ON THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO THEOBALDS, May, 1591.

418

Written about the box.

I was a giant's daughter of this isle,
Turn'd to a mole by the Queen of Corn:
My jewel I did bury by a wile,
Again never from the earth to be torn,
Till a virgin had reigned thirty-three years,
Which shall be but the fourth part of her years.
421

The Speeches and HONORABLE Entertainment giuen to the Queenes MAIESTIE in Progresse, at Cowdrey in Sussex, by the right Honorable the Lord Montacute. 1591.

423

A Dittie.

[Behold her lockes like wiers of beaten gold]

Behold her lockes like wiers of beaten gold,
her eies like starres that twinkle in the skie,
Her heauenly face not framd of earthly molde,
Her voice that sounds Apollos melodie,
The miracle of time, the [whole] worlds storie,
Fortunes Queen, Loues treasure, Natures glory.
No flattering hope she likes, blind Fortunes bait
nor shadowes of delight, fond fansies glasse,
Nor charmes that do inchant, false artes deceit,
nor fading ioyes, which time makes swiftly pas
But chast desires which beateth all these downe;
A Goddesse looke is worth a Monarchs crowne.
424

Goddesse and Monarch of [t]his happie Ile,
vouchsafe this bow which is an huntresse part:
Your eies are arrows though they seeme to smile
which neuer glanst but gald the stateliest hart,
Strike one, strike all, for none at all can flie,
They gaze you in the face although they die.
426

The Dittie.

[There is a bird that builds her neast with spice]

There is a bird that builds her neast with spice,
and built, the Sun to ashes doth her burne,
Out of whose sinders doth another rise.
& she by scorching beames to dust doth turne:
Thus life a death, and death a life doth proue,
The rarest thing on earth except my loue.
My loue that makes his neast with high desires,
and is by beauties blaze to ashes brought,
Out of the which do breake out greater fires,
they quenched by disdain consume to nought,
And out of nought my cleerest loue doth rise,
True loue is often slaine but neuer dies.
True loue which springs, though Fortune on it tread
as camomel by pressing down doth grow
Or as the Palme that higher reares his head,
whē men great burthens on the branches throw
427

Loue fansies birth, Fidelitie the wombe,
the Nurse Delight, Ingratitude the tombe.
429

This Song of the Fisherman.

The fish that seeks for food in siluer streame
is vnawares beguiled with the hooke,
And tender harts when lest of loue they dreame,
do swallow beauties bait, a louely looke.
The fish that shuns to bite, in net doth hit,
The heart that scapes the eie is caught by wit.
The thing cald Loue, poore Fisher men do feele
rich pearles are found in hard and homely shels
Our habits base, but hearts as true as steele,
sad lookes, deep sighs, flat faith are all our spels,
And when to vs our loues seeme faire to bee,
We court them thus, Loue me and Ile loue thee.
And if they saie our loue is fondly made,
we neuer leaue till on their hearts we lite,
Anglers haue patience by their proper trade,
and are content to tarrie till they bite,
Of all the fish that in the waters moue,
We count them lumps that will not bite at loue.
431

THE HONORABLE Entertainement gieuen to the Queenes Maiestie in Progresse, at Eluetham in Hampshire, by the right Honorable the Earle of Hertford. 1591

437

The Poets speech to his boy offering him a Cushion.

Now let vs vse no cushions, but faire hearts:
For now we kneel to more than usuall Saints.

The Poets speech to her Maiestie.

Whhile at the fountaine of the sacred hill,
Vnder Apollos lute, I sweetly slept,
Mongst prophets full possest with holy fury,
And with true vertue, void of all disdaine:
The Muses sung, and wak'd me with these wordes.
Seest thou that English Nimph, in face and shape
Resembling some great Goddesse, and whose beames
Doe sprinkle heau'n with vnacquainted light,
While shee doth visite Semers fraudlesse house,
As Iupiter did honour with his presence
The poore thatcht cottage, where Philæmon dwelt?
See thou salute her with an humble voice;
Phœbus, and we, will let thee lack no verses.
But dare not once aspire to touch her praise,
Who, like the Sunne for shew, to Gods for vertue,
Fills all with Maiesty, and holy feare.
More learned then our selues, shee ruleth vs:
More rich then seas, shee doth commaund the seas:
More fair then Nimphs, she gouerns al the Nimphs[:]
More worthy then the Gods, shee wins the Gods.
Behold (Augusta) thy poore suppliant
Is here, at their desire, but thy desert.
438

O sweete Elisa, grace me with a looke,
Or from my browes this Laurell wreath will fall,
And I vnhappy die amidst my song.
Vnder my person Semer hides himselfe,
His mouth yeelds pray'rs, his eie the Oliue branch;
His praiers betoken duety, th'Oliue peace;
His duety argues loue, his peace faire rest;
His loue will smooth your minde, faire rest your body.
This is your Semers heart and quality:
To whom all things are ioyes, while thou art present,
To whom nothing is pleasing, in thine absence.
Behold, on thee how each thing sweetly smiles,
To see thy brightnes glad our hemispheare:
Night only enuies: whome faire stars doe crosse:
All other creatures striue to shew their ioyes.
The crooked-winding kid trips ore the lawnes;
The milkewhite heafer wantons with the bull;
The trees shew pleasure with their quiuiring leaues,
The meddow with new grasse, the vine with grapes,
The running brookes with sweet and siluer sound.
Thee, thee (Sweet Princes), heau'n, & earth, & fluds,
And plants, and beasts, salute with one accord:
And while they gaze on thy perfections,
Their eyes desire is neuer satisfied.
Thy presence frees each thing, that liu'd in doubt:
No seedes now feare the biting of the woorme;
Nor deere the toyles; nor grasse the parching heat;
Nor Birds the snare; nor corne the storme of haile.
O Empresse, ô draw foorth these dayes to yeares,
Yeeres to an age, ages to æternitie:
That such as lately ioyed to see our sorrowes,
May sorrow now, to see our perfect ioyes.
Behold where all the Graces, vertues maydes,
And lightfoote Howrs, the guardians of heau'ns gate,
With ioyned forces doe remoue those blocks,
Which Enuie layd in Maiesties highway.
Come therefore, come vnder our humble roofe,
And with a becke commaund what it containes:
For all is thine: each part obeys thy will;
Did not each part obey, the wholl should perish.
439

Sing songs faire Nymphs, sing sweet triumphal songs,
Fill wayes with flowrs, and th'ayr with harmony.

The Dittie of the six Virgins Song.

With fragrant flowers we strew the way
And make this our chiefe holliday:
For though this clime were blest of yore,
Yet was it neuer proud before,
O beauteous Queene of second Troy,
Accept of our vnfained ioy.
Now th'ayre is sweeter then sweet balme,
And Satyrs daunce about the palme:
Now earth, with verdure newly dight,
Giues perfect signe of her delight.
O beauteous Queene of second Troy,
Accept of our vnfained ioy.
Now birds record new harmonie,
And trees doe whistle melodie:
Now euerie thing that nature breeds,
Doth clad it selfe in pleasant weeds.
O beauteous Queene of second Troy,
Accept of our vnfained ioy.
442

The Oration of Nereus to her Maiesty.

Faire Cinthia the wide Oceans Empresse,
I watry Nereus houered on the coast
To greete your Maiesty with this my traine
Of dauncing Tritons, and shrill singing Nimphs.
But all in vaine: Elisa was not there;
For which our Neptune grieud, and blamd the star,
Whose thwarting influence dasht our longing hope.
Therefore impatient, that this worthles earth
Should beare your Highnes weight, and we sea Gods,
(Whose iealous waues haue swallowd vp your foes,
And to your Realme are walles impregnable)
With such large fauour seldome time are grac't:
I from the deepes haue drawen this winding flud,
Whose crescent forme figures the rich increase
Of all that sweet Elisa holdeth deare.
And with me came gould-brested India,
Who daunted at your sight, leapt to the shoare,
And sprinkling endlesse treasure on this Ile,
Left me this iewell to present your Grace,
For hym, that vnder you doth hold this place.
See where her ship remaines, whose silkewouen takling
443

Is turnde to twigs, and threefold mast to trees,
Receiuing life from verdure of your lookes;
(For what cannot your gracious looks effect?)
Yon vgly monster creeping from the South,
To spoyle these blessed fields of Albion,
By selfe same beames is chang'd into a Snaile,
Whose bulrush hornes are not of force to hurt.
As this snaile is, so be thine enemies,
And neuer yet did Nereus wishe in vaine.
That Fort did Neptune raise, for your defence;
And in this Barke, which gods hale neare the shore,
White footed Thetis sends her Musicke maydes,
To please Elisaes eares with harmony.
Hear them fair Queene: and when their Musick ends,
My Triton shall awake the Syluane Gods,
To doe their hommage to your Maiesty.

The Sea nymphes Dittie.

How haps that now, when prime is don,
An other spring time is begun?
444

Our hemisphere is ouerrunne,
With beauty of a second Sunne.
Eccho.
A second Sun.

What second Sun hath raies so bright,
To cause this vnacquainted light?
Tis faire Elisaes matchlesse Grace,
Who with her beames doth blesse the place
Eccho.
Doth blesse the place.

The Oration of Syluanus.

Syluanus comes from out the leauy groaues,
To honor her, whom all the world adores,
Faire Cinthia, whom no sooner Nature fram'd,
And deckt with Fortunes, and with Vertues dower,
But straight admiring what her skill had wrought,
Shee broake the mould: that neuer Sunne might see
The like to Albions Queene for excellence.
445

Twas not the Tritons ayr-enforcing shell,
As they perhaps would proudly make theyr vaunt,
But those faire beames, that shoote from Maiesty,
Which drew our eyes to wonder at thy worth.
That worth breeds wonder; wonder holy feare;
And holy feare vnfayned reuerence.
Amongst the wanton dayes of goulden age
Apollo playing in our pleasant shades,
And printing oracles in euery leafe,
Let fall this sacred scutchion from his brest,
Wherein is writ, Detur dignissimæ.
O therefore hold, what heauen hath made thy right,
I but in duety yeeld desert her due.
Nereus.
But see Syluanus where thy loue doth sit.

Syluanus.
My sweet Neæra? was her eare so neare?
O set my hearts delight vpon this banke,
That in compassion of old sufferance,
Shee may relent in sight of beauties Queene.

Nereus.
On this condition shall shee come on shoare.
That with thy hand thou plight a solemne vow,
Not to prophane her vndefiled state.

Syluanus.
Here, take my hand, and therewithall I vowe

Nereus.
That water will extinguish wanton fire.

446

The Oration of faire Neæra.

When Neptune late bestowed on me this barke,
And sent by me this present to your Grace:
Thus Nereus sung, who neuer sings but truth.
Thine eyes (Neæra) shall in time behold
A sea-borne Queene, worthy to gouerne Kings,
On her depends the Fortune of thy boate,
If shee but name it with a blisfull word.
And view it with her life inspiring beames.
Her beames yeeld gentle influence, like fayre starres,
Her siluer sounding word is prophesie.
Speake sacred Sybill, giue some prosperous name,
That it may dare attempt a golden fleece,
Or diue for pearles, and lay them in thy lap.
For winde and waues, and all the worlde besides,
Will make her way, whom thou shalt doome to blisse,
For what is Sybils speech, but oracle?
Here her Maiesty named the Pinnace, the Bonaduenture, and Neæra went on with her speech, as followeth.
I now Neæraes barke is fortunate,
And in thy seruice shall imploy her saile,
And often make returne to thy auaile.
O liue in endlesse ioy, with glorious fame,
Sound Trumpets, sound, in honor of her name.
447

The Plowmans Song.

In the merrie moneth of May,
In a morne, by breake of day,
Forth I walked by the wood side,
Where as May was in his pride.
There I spied, all alone
Phyllida and Corydon.
Much adoe there was God wot,
He would loue, and she would not.
She said, neuer man was true:
He said, none was false to you.
He said, he had loued her long:
She said, loue should haue no wrong.
Coridon would kisse her then:
She said, maides must kisse no men,
Till they did for good and all.
Then she made the shepheard call
448

All the heauens to witnesse truth,
Neuer lou'd a truer youth.
Thus with many a pretie oath,
Yea and nay, and faith and troth,
Such as silly shepheards vse,
When they will not loue abuse,
Loue, which had beene long deluded,
Was with kisses sweet concluded:
And Phyllida with garlands gay,
Was made the Lady of the May.
449

The speech of the Fairy Queene to her Maiestie.

I that abide in places vnder ground,
Aureola, the Queene of Fairy land,
That euery night in rings of painted flowers
Turne round, and carroll out Elisaes name:
Hearing, that Nereus and the Syluane Gods
Haue lately welcomde your Imperiall Grace,
Oapend the earth with this enchanting wand,
To doe my duety to your Maiestie.
450

And humbly to salute you with this Chaplet,
Giuen me by Auberon the Fairy King.
Bright shining Phœbe, that in humaine shape,
Hid'st heauens perfection, vouchsafe t'accept it:
And I Aureola, belou'd in heauen,
(For amorous starres fall nightly in my lap)
Will cause that heauens enlarge thy goulden dayes,
And cut them short, that enuy at thy praise.

[The Fairies Song.]

Elisa is the fairest Queene
That euer trod vpon this greene.
Elisaes eyes are blessed starres,
Inducing peace, subduing warres.
Elisaes hand is christall bright,
Her wordes are balme, her lookes are light.
Elisaes brest is that faire hill,
Where vertue dwels, and sacred skill,
O blessed bee each day and houre,
Where sweete Elisa builds her bowre.
451

The Poets speech at her Maiesties departure.

O see sweet Cynthia, how the watry gods,
Which ioyd of late to view thy glorious beames,
At this retire doe waile and wring their hands,
Distilling from their eyes, salt showrs of teares,
To bring in winter with their wet lament:
For how can Sommer stay, when Sunne departs?
See where Syluanus sits, and sadly mournes,
To thinke that Autumn with his withered wings
Will bring in tempest, when thy beames are hence:
For how can sommer stay, when Sunne departs?
See where those Graces, and those Howrs of heau'n
Which at thy comming sung triumphall songs,
And smoothd the way, and strewd it with sweet flowrs,
Now, if they durst, would stop it with greene bowes,
Least by thine absence the yeeres pride decay:
For how can sommer stay, when Sunne departs?
Leaves fal, grasse dies, beasts of the wood hang head,
Birds cease to sing, and euerie creature wailes,
To see the season alter with this change:
For how can sommer stay, when Sunne departs?
O, either stay, or soone returne againe,
For sommers parting is the countries paine.

[Come againe: A Dittie.]

O come againe faire Natures treasure,
Whose lookes yeeld ioyes exceeding measure.
452

O come againe heau'ns chiefe delight,
Thine absence makes eternall night,
O come againe worlds starbright eye,
Whose presence doth adorne the skie.
O come againe sweet beauties Sunne:
When thou art gone, our ioyes are done.
FINIS.
453

Speeches TO Queen Elizabeth AT Quarrendon:

August, 1592.

455

The Olde Knightes Tale.

Now drowsie sleepe, death's image, ease's prolonger,
Thow that hast kept my sences windowes closed,
Dislodge these heauie humors, stay no longer,
For light itself thie darkesom bandes haue losed,
And of mine eies to better use disposed:
To better use, for what can better be
Then substance in the steede of shades to see.
O mortall substance of immortall glorie!
To whom all creatures ells are shaddowes demed;
Vouchsafe an eare unto the woeful storie
Of him who, whatso eare before he semed,
Is nowe as you esteme to be estemed:
And sence himself is of himself reporter
To all your praise, will make his parte the shorter.
Not far from hence, nor verie long agoe,
The fayrie Queene the fayrest Queene saluted
456

That euer lyued (& euer may shee soe);
What sportes and plaies, whose fame is largelie bruted,
The place and persons were so fitlie shuted:
For who a Prince can better entertaine
Than can a Prince, or els a prince's vaine?
Of all the pleasures there, among the rest,
(The rest were justes and feates of Armed Knightes),
Within hir bower she biddes her to a feast,
Which with enchaunted pictures trim she dightes,
And on them woordes of highe intention writes:
For he that mightie states hath feasted, knowes
Besides theire meate, they must be fedd with shewes.
Manie there were that could no more but vewe them,
Many that ouer curious nearer pride.
Manie would conster needes that neuer knewe them,
Som lookt, som lyked, som questioned, some eyed,
One asked them too who should not be denied:
But shee that thwarted, where she durst not strugle,
To make her partie good was fayne to juggle.
Forthwith the Tables were conveied hither,
Such power she had by her infernall Arte;
And I enjoyned to keepe them altogether,
With speciall charge on them to sett my harte,
Euer to tarrie, neuer to departe:
Not bowing downe my face upon the grounde,
Beholding still the Piller that was crounde.
I whom in elder tyme she dearelie loued,
Deare is that loue which nothing can disgrace,
I that had ofte before her favor proued,
But knewe not howe such fauoure to embrace,
Yea, I am put in trust to warde this place:
So kinde is loue, that being once conceauid,
It trustes againe, although it were deceaued.
Seruant, quoth shee, looke upward and beware
Thou lend not anie Ladie once an eye;
For diuers Ladies hither will repaire,
Presuming that they can my charmes untie,
457

Whose misse shall bring them to unconstancie:
And happie art thou if thou haue such heede,
As in anothers harme thine owne to reede.
But loe unhappie I was ouertaken,
By fortune forst, a stranger ladies thrall,
Whom when I sawe, all former care forsaken,
To finde her ought I lost meeself and all,
Through which neglect of dutie 'gan my fall:
It is the propertie of wrong consenting
To ad unto the punishment lamenting.
With this the just revengefull Fayrie Queene,
As one that had conceaued Anger deepe,
And therefore ment to execute her teene,
Resolvde to caste mee in a deadlie sleepe,
No other [sentence] coulde decorum keepe:
For Justice sayth, that where the eie offended,
Upon the eye the lawe should be extended.
Thus haue I longe abode, without compassion,
The rygor which that wrathefull Judge required;
Till now a straung and suddaine alteration
Declares the date of my distres expired:
O peareles Prince! O presence most desired!
By whose sole resolution this ys found,
That none but Princes, Princes mindes expounde.
In lue whereof, though far beneath your merrit,
Accept this woorthles meede that longes thereto,
It is your owne, and onlie you may weare it,
The farry queene geue[s] euerie one his due,
For she that punisht me rewardeth you;
As for us heare, who nothing haue to paie,
It is ynough for poore men if they pray.
Cœlumque solumque beavit.
Finis.
458

The Songe after Dinner at the two Ladies entrance.

To that Grace that sett us free,
Ladies let us thankfull be;
All enchaunted cares are ceast,
Knightes restored, we releast;
Eccho change thie mournefull song,
Greefes to Groues and Caues belong;
Of our new deliuerie,
Eccho, Eccho, certifie.
Farwell all in woods that dwell,
Farwell satyres, nymphes farewell;
Adew desires, fancies die,
Farwell all inconstancie.
Nowe thrice welcome to this place,
Heauenlie Goddesse! prince of grace!
She hath freed us carefull wightes,
Captiue Ladies, Captiue Knightes.
To that Grace that sett us free,
Ladies let us thankfull bee.
Finis.
463

The last Songe.

Happie houre, happie daie,
That Eliza came this waie!
Greate in honor, great in place,
Greater yet in geving grace,
Greate in wisdome, great in minde,
But in bothe aboue her kinde,
Greate in vertue, greate in name,
Yet in power beyond her fame.
Happie houre, happie daie,
That Eliza came this waie!
She, with more than graces grace,
Hath made proude this humble place,
She, with more than wisdomes head,
Hath enchaunted tables read,
She, with more than vertues mighte,
Hath restorid us to right.
Happie houre, happie daie,
That Eliza came this waie!
Heauie harted Knightes are eased,
And light harted Ladies pleased,
Constant nowe they vowe to be,
Hating all inconstancie.
Constant Piller, constant Crowne,
Is the aged Knightes renowne.
464

Happie houre, happie daie,
That Eliza came this waie!
Finis.
467

To the most renowned Queene, Owner of the best Crowne, & crowned with the best desertes, the lyuing Loue of dying Loricus.

I Loricus, Bodie sicke,
Sences sounde, Remembraunce quicke,
Neuer crauing, euer seruing,
Little hauing, lesse deseruing,
Though a hartie true wellwiller
Of the Crowne & crowned Piller,
To that Crowne, my lyues content,
Make my Will & Testament.
468

Soule! goe first to heauenlie rest;
Soule the Bodies heauenlie gueste,
Where, both Host & Inn decaying,
Yeld the gueste no quiet staying.
Bodie! back againe, departe;
Earth thou wast, & Earth thou arte.
Mortall creatures still be jurneing,
From the earth to earth returning.
As for anie worldlie lyuing
Nothing haue I woorth the geeuing:
Let the baser indeed take them,
We which follow God forsake them.
But if anie wishe to dwell,
As I did, in homely Cell,
Let him pull his Castells downe,
And as I did serue the Crowne.
Serue the Crowne, O Crowne deseruing,
Better than Loricus seruing.
In witness whereof I haue set to my hande & harte, LORICUS, Columnæ coronatæ Custos fidelissimus. In presence of us whose names are underwritten, Stellatus, Rectoriæ Coronatæ Capellanus. Renatus, Equitus Coronati Servus obseruantissimus.
471

SPEECHES DELIVERED TO HER MAIESTIE THIS LAST PROGRESSE, AT THE Right Honorable the Lady Rvssels, at Bissam, the Right Honorable the Lorde Chandos, at Sudley, at the Right Honorable the Lord Norris, at Ricorte.

476

[Swel Ceres now, for other Gods are shrinking]

At the bottome of the hill, entring into the hous Ceres with her Nymphes in an haruest Cart, meete her Maiesty, hauing a Crowne of wheat-ears with a Iewell, and after this song, vttered the speech following.
Swel Ceres now, for other Gods are shrinking,
Pomona pineth,
Fruitlesse her tree;
Faire Phœbus shineth
Onely on mee.
Conceite doth make me smile whilst I am thinking,
How euery one doth read my story,
How euery bough on Ceres lowreth,
Cause heauens plenty on me powreth,
And they in leaues doe onely glory,
All other Gods of power bereuen,
Ceres only Queene of heauen.
With Robes and flowers let me be dressed,
Cynthia that shineth,
Is not so cleare,
Cynthia declineth,
When I appeere,
Yet in this Ile shee raignes as blessed,
And euery one at her doth wonder,
And in my eares still fonde Fame whispers,
Cynthia shalbe Ceres Mistres,
But first my Carre shall riue a sunder, [The cart parts in the middle.]
Helpe Phœbus helpe! my fall is suddaine;
Cynthia, Cynthia, must be soueraigne.
479

[Sing you, plaie you, but sing and play my truth]

Sing you, plaie you, but sing and play my truth,
This tree my Lute, these sighes my notes of ruth:
The Lawrell leafe for euer shall bee greene,
And chastety shalbe Apolloes Queene.
If gods maye dye, here shall my tombe be plaste,
And this engrauen, ‘Fonde Phœbus, Daphne chaste.’

[The Song.]

[My hart and tongue were twinnes, at once conceaued]

My hart and tongue were twinnes, at once conceaued;
The eldest was my hart, borne dumbe by destenie,
The last my tongue, of all sweete thoughts bereaued,
Yet strung and tunde, to play harts harmonie.
Both knit in one, and yet asunder placed,
What hart would speake, the tongue doeth still discouer;
What tongue doth speake, is of the hart embraced,
And both are one to make a new found louer:
New founde, and onely founde in Gods and Kings,
Whose words are deedes, but deedes nor words regarded:
Chaste thoughts doe mount, and she with swiftest wings,
My loue with paine, my paine with losse rewarded:
Engraue vpon this tree, Daphnes perfection,
That neither men nor gods, can force affection.

[Nimpha mane, per me concordant carmina neruis.]

The song ended, the tree riued, and Daphne issued out, Apollo ranne after, with these words.
Nimpha mane, per me concordant carmina neruis.
Faire Daphne staye, too chaste because too faire,
Yet fairer in mine eies, because so chaste,
And yet because so chaste, must I despaire?
And to despaire, I yeelded haue at last.
480

Shepheard possesse thy loue, for me too cruell,
Possesse thy loue, thou knowest not how to measure,
A dunghill cock doeth often find a Iewell,
Enioying that, he knowes not to be treasure.
When broomy bearde, to sweepe thy lips presume,
When on thy necke, his rough hewen armes shall moue,
And gloate on thee with eies that drizell reume,
When that his toothlesse mouth shall call thee loue,
Noght will I saie of him, but pittie thee,
That beauty might, but would no wiser bee.

The verses, written in the tables which were giuen to her Maiesty

Let fame describe your rare perfection,
Let nature paint your beauties glory,
Let loue engraue your true affection,
Let wonder write your vertues story,
By them and Gods must you be blazed,
Sufficeth men they stand amazed.
482

The Song.

[Hearbes, wordes, and stones, all maladies haue cured]

Hearbes , wordes, and stones, all maladies haue cured,
Hearbes, wordes, and stones, I vsed when I loued.
Hearbes smels, words, winde, stones hardnes haue procured;
By stones, nor wordes, nor hearbes her minde was moued.
I askt the cause: this was a womans reason,
Mongst hearbes are weedes, and thereby are refused;
Deceite, as well as truth, speakes wordes in season,
False stones by foiles haue many one abused.
I sight, and then shee saide my fancie smoaked;
I gaz'd, shee saide my lookes were follies glauncing;
483

I sounded deade, shee saide my loue was choaked;
I started vp, shee saide my thoughtes were dauncing.
O, sacred loue! if thou haue any Godhead,
Teach other rules to winne a maidenheade.
[FINIS.]
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.
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:
But this he saith, that to his feast
Commeth Iris, an unbidden guest,
In her moist roabe of collers gay;
496

And she cometh, she ever staies,
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.
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.
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.
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?
On our browes if hornes doe growe,
Was not Bacchus armed soe?
498

Yet of him the Candean maid
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.
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.
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.
Say our feet ill-fauored are,
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
And the Song ended, he vttered this short speech.

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

from the sea, where I had the fortune to light vpon these few trifles. I must confesse I came but lightly by them, but I no sooner had them, but I made a vow that as they came to my hands by fortune, so I would not part with them but by fortune. To that end I haue euer since carried these Lots about me, that if I met with fit company I might deuide my booty among them. And now (I thanke my good fortune) I am lighted into the best company of the world, a company of the fairest Ladies that euer I saw. Come Ladies trie your fortunes, and if any light vpon an vnfortunate blanke, let her thinke that fortune doth but mocke her in these trifles, and meanes to pleasure her in greater matters.

The Severall Lottes.

[1] Fortunes wheeles.

Fortune must now noe more in tryumphe ride
The wheeles ar yours thatt did hir chariott guide.

[2] A purse.

You thrive or woulde, or maye, your lott's a purse
Fill 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 lighte
And 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 itt
Write 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 one
Yett 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 unseene
Take you a fanne to be your beautyes screene.

[9] A Blanke.

Wott you why fortune gives to you noe prize
Good fayth she sawe you nott she wantes hir eyes.

[10] Poyntes.

You ar in every poynte a lover true
And therfore fortune gives the poyntes to you.

[11] Dyall.

The dyall's yours: watch tyme leste it be loste
And yett they spende it worste thatt watche itt most.

[12] A playne ringe.

Fortune hath sent you happe itt well or ill
A 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 indeede
This handkercheff, will stande you well in steede.

[16] Gloves.

Fortūe these gloves in double challeng sendes
For you hate fooles and flatterers her best frendes.

[17] Lace.

Give hir the lace thatt loves to be straite laced
Soe fortunes little gifte is fittlye placed

[18] Knifes.

Fortune doth give these paire of knifes to you
To cutt the thredd of love if 't be nott true

[19] Girdle.

With fortunes girdle happie may you bee
Yett they thatt ar lesse happie ar more ffree

[20] Writing tables.

These tables may contayne your thoughtes in parte
Butt write not all thatt's written in your harte

[21] Garters.

Thoughe you have fortunes garters you wil be
More staide and constant in your steppes then she

[22] A blanke.

Tis pittye suche a hande should drawe in vayne
Thoughe itt gaine nothing itt shall pittye gaine

[23] Coyfe and crosscloth

Frowne you in earnest or be sicke in jeste
This coife and crossecloth will become you beste
503

[24] Scarfe.

Take you this scarfe, binde Cupid hande and foote
So love must aske you leave before he shoote

[25] Falling bande.

Fortune would have you rise, yett guides your hande
From other lotts unto a falling bande.

[26] Cuttwork stomacher.

This stomacher is full of windowes wroughte
Yet none throughe them can looke into your thoughte

[27] Scisser Case.

These scissers doe your huswiferye bewraye
Thatt 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 tell
If fortune gives you nothing she doth well

[30] Braceletts.

Ladye your handes ar fallen into a snare
For Cupids manacles your braceletts ar

[31] Bodekin.

Even wth this bodkin you may live unharmed
Your beawtye is wth vertue so well armed

[32] A Blanke.

You ar so dayntye to be pleased God wott
Chance knowes nott whatt to give you for your lott
504

[33] A Cushionett.

To hir that little cares whatt lott she winnes
Chance gives a little cushionett for hir pinnes

[34] A prayer booke.

Your fortune may be good another daye
Till fortune come take you a booke to praye
ffinis
505

THE KING OF DENMARK'S WELCOME.

July, 1606.

The Song at Theobalds.

If euerie Ioy now had a tongue,
And all the seuerall thoughts were sung,
Vnder this happie roofe,
They could make proofe,
506

How much they doe reioyce,
In one, the Maisters voice:
and that is welcome still.
Hayle double flame of Maiesties,
Whose luster quicken's: blindes not eyes,
Who euer saw such light
would wish for night?
Stay, stay, we may reioyce,
And keepe our constant voice,
which is your welcome still.
When two Sunnes shine, the ample day
Should not so haste it selfe away:
A feare to loose destroyes
almost our Ioyes,
But we must so reioyce,
As we make good our voice,
of welcome, welcome still.

Chorus.

And would you euer stay,
And make it lasting day,
Tis welcome, welcome still.
507

[Sweet Ioe vouchsafe once to impart]

Shepheard:
Sweet Ioe vouchsafe once to impart,
did euer liue so coy a lasse,
that vnto loue was neuer moued?

Shephardesse:
Yes Shephard She that has the hart,
and is resolud her life to passe:
neither to loue or be beloued.

He:
She sencelesse liues, without affection.

She:
Yet happie liues, without subiection.

He:
To be pluckt are Roses blowne,
To be mowed are meddowes growne:
Iemmes are made but to be showne,
And woman's best—

She:
To holde her owne.

509

Epicedium. A FVNERAL Oration, vpon the death of the late deceased Princesse of famous memorye, Elizabeth by the grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland.

514

A true Subiects sorowe, for the losse of his late Soueraigne.

I ioyne not handes with sorowe for a while,
To soothe the time, or please the hungrie eares:
515

Nor do inforce my mercinarie stile,
No feigned liuerye my Inuention weares.
Nor do I ground my fabulous discourse
On what before hath vsually bene seene:
My greife doth flowe from a more plentious source,
From her that dy'd a virgin and a Queene.
You Cristall Nimphes that haunt the banks of Thames,
Tune your sad Timbrils in this wofull day:
And force the swift windes and the sliding streames
To stand a while and listen to your Lay.
Your fading Temples bound about with yewe,
At euery step your hands deuoutly wring,
Let one notes fall anothers height renewe,
And with compassion your sad Nænia sing.
Graces and Muses waite vpon her Hearse:
Three are the first, the last the sacred Nine:
The sad'st of which, in a blacke tragique verse,
Shall sing the Requiem passing to her shrine.
An Ebon Charriot to support the Beere,
Drawne with the blacke steedes of the gloomy night:
Stooping their stiffe Crests, with a heauie cheere,
Stirring compassion in the peoples sight.
The Pyle prepard where on her body lyes,
In Cipresse shadowes sit you downe forlorne:
Whose bowes be dew'd with plenty of your eyes,
(For her with griefe) the Branches shall adorne.
Let fall your eye-lids like the Sunnes cleere set,
When your pale hands put to the vestall flame:
And from your brests, your sorowes freely let,
Crying one Beta and Elizas name.
Vpon the Alter, place your Virgin spoyles,
And one by one with comelinesse bestowe:
Dianaes buskins and her hunting toyles,
Her empty quiuer and her stringles bowe.
516

Let euery Virgin offer vp a teare,
The richest Incence nature can alowe:
And at her tombe (for euer yeare by yeare)
Pay the oblation of a mayden vowe.
And the tru'st vestall the most sacred liuer,
That euer harbored an vnspotted spirit,
Retaine thy vertues, and thy name for euer,
To tell the world thy beautie and thy merrit.
Wher's Collin Clout, or Rowland now become,
That wont to leade our Shepheards in a ring?
(Ah me) the first, pale death hath strooken dombe,
The latter, none incourageth to sing.
But I vnskilfull, a poore Shepheards Lad,
That the hye knowledge onely doe adore:
Would offer more, if I more plenty had,
But comming short, of their aboundant store,
A willing heart that on thy fame could dwell,
Thus bids Eliza happily farewell.
FINIS.
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