The Complete Works of Sir Philip Sidney :: :: University of Virginia Library

A Neighboure myne, not longe agoo there was,
(But Nameless hee, for Blameless hee shall bee)
That marryed had a Trick and Bony Lass,
As in a Somer day a Man mighte see,
But hee hym self a fowle unhandsome groome,
And farr unfitt to holde so good a Rowme,

Nowe whether mooved with self unworthynes,
Or whether Beuty fitt to make a pray,
Fell Jelosy did so his Braynes oppress,
That yf hee absent were but half a day,
Hee gest the worst, (yow wott what ys the worste)
And in hym self newe Doubting Causes nurste.

While thus hee fearde, the silly Innocent,
Who yet, was good, bycause shee knewe none yll,
Unto his Howse a Jolly Shepeheard went,
To whome oure Prince did beare a great good will,
Bycause in Wrastling and in Pastorall,
Hee farr did passe the rest of Shepeherdes all,

And therefore hee a Courtyer was benamed,
And as a Courtyer was with Chere receyved,
(For they have toungues to make a pore man blamed)
Yf hee to them his Duety mysconceyved,
And for this Courtyer shoulde well like this Table,
The goodman bad his wyfe bee servisable.

And so shee was, and all with good Intent,
But fewe dayes past, while shee good maners usde,
But that her Husband thought her service bent,
To suche an ende, as hee mighte bee abusde,
Yet, like a Coward, fearing Straungers pryde,
Hee made the simple wenche his worthe abyde.

234

With Clumpish Lookes, harde wordes and secrett Nippes,
Grumbling at her when shee his kyndenes soughte,
Asking her howe shee tasted Courtyers Lippes,
Hee forste her thincke, that wch shee never thoughte,
In fyne yt made her gess there was some sweete,
In that wch hee so fearde that shee shoulde meete.

When once this entred was in womans harte,
And that yt had inflamde a newe desyer,
There rested then to play a Womans parte,
Fwell to seeke, and not to quenche the fyer,
But, for his Jelous eye shee well did fynde,
Shee studyed Cunning, howe the same to blynde.

And thus shee did, one day to hym shee came,
And (thoughe ageanst his will) on hym shee leande,
And oute gan Crye, ah, well away, for shame,
Yf yow help not oure Wedlock will bee staynde,
The goodman starting askte what did her moove,
She sighed and sayde the bad guest sought her love.

Hee litle looking that shee shoulde Complayne,
Of that whereto hee fearde shee was enclynde,
Bussing her ofte, and in his harte full fayne,
Hee did demaunde what Remedy to fynde,
Howe they might gett that Guest from them to wende,
And yet the Prince (that loved hym) not offend.

Husband, (quoth shee) goo to hym by and by,
And tell hym that yow fynde I do hym love,
And therefore pray hym, that of Curtesy,
Hee will absent hym self least hee shoulde moove,
A younge Gyrles hart, to that were shame for bothe,
Whereto, yow knowe, this Honest harte were Lothe,

Thus shall yow shewe, that hym yow doo not Doubte,
And as for mee, (sweete Husband) I must beare.
Gladd was the Man when hee had hearde her oute,
And did the same, allthoughe with mickle feare,
For feare hee did, least hee the young man mighte,
In Choller putt, with whome hee woulde not feighte.

235

The Courtly Shepehearde muche agast at this,
Not seeynge earste suche Token in the wyfe,
Thoughe full of scorne woulde not his Duty miss,
Knowyng, that evell becomes a Howseholde stryffe
Did goo his way, but sojournd nere there, by,
That yet, the grounde therof hee mighte espy,

The wyfe thus having settled Husbandes Brayne,
Who woulde have sworne his wyfe Diana was,
Watched when shee a furder poynte mighte gayne,
Wch Litle tyme did fittly bringe to pass,
For, to the Courte her Man was calde by name,
Whether hee needes must goo for feare of blame.

Three dayes before that hee must sure departe;
Shee written had (but in a hand disguysde)
A Letter suche whiche mighte from eyther parte,
Seeme to proceede, so well yt was devysde,
Shee sealled yt first, then shee the sealling brake,
And to her Jelous husband did yt take.

With weeping eyes, her eyes shee toughte to weepe,
Shee tolde hym that the Courtyer had yt sent,
Alas (quoth shee) thus woemens shame dothe Creepe.
The goodman Redd on bothe sydes the Content,
Yt Tytle had unto my onely Love
Subscription was youres moste yf yow will proove.

The Pistle self suche kynde of wordes yt had,
My Sweetest Joy the Comfort of my Sprite,
So may thy Flockes encrease, thy deare hart glad,
So may eche thing (even as thow wisshest) light,
As thow wilt digne to reede and gently Reede,
This Mourning Incke in wch my harte dothe bleede.

Longe have I Loved, (alas thow worthy arte,)
Longe have I Loved (alas Love craveth Love,)
Longe have I Loved thy self (alas my harte)
Dothe breake, now toungue unto thy Name dothe moove,
And thincke not that thy answer, answer ys,
But that yt ys my Doome of Bale or Blisse.

236

The Jelous Wretche must nowe to Courte bee gōn,
Ne can hee fayle, for Prince hathe for him sent
Nowe ys the tyme wee may bee here alone,
And give a Longe desyer a sweete Content,
Thus shall yow bothe rewarde a Lover true,
And eke revenge his wronge suspecting yow.

And this was all and this the Husband Redd,
With Chafe ynoughe, till shee hym pacyfyed,
Desyering that no greefe in hym bee bredd,
Now that hee had her wordes so truely tryed,
But that shee woulde to hym the Letter showe,
That with his faulte hee might her goodnes knowe.

That streight was done, with a many a boysterus threate,
That to the Duke hee woulde his synne declare,
But now the Courtyer gān to smell the feate,
And with some wordes wch shewed litle Care,
Hee stayed untill the goodman was departed,
Then gave hee hym the Blowe wch never smarted.

Thus may yow see the Jelous wreche was made,
The Pander of the thinge hee moste did feare,
Take heede therefore, how yow ensue that trade,
Least that some Marckes of Jelosy yow beare,
For, sure, no Jelosy can that prevent,
Whereto twoo partyes once bee full Content.