University of Virginia Library

Among dame natures workes

That nature which worketh al thinges for our behofe, hath made women also for our comfort and delite.

Among dame natures workes such perfite lawe is wrought,
That things be ruled by course of kinde in order as they ought
And serueth in their state, in such iust frame and sorte,
That slender wits may iudge the same, & make therof report.
Beholde what secrete force the winde dothe easely showe,
Which guides the shippes amid the seas if he his bellowes blow

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Y4r

The waters wax en

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waxen

wilde where blustering blastes do rise,
Yet seldome do they passe their bond es

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bondes

for nature that deuise.
The fire which boiles the leade and trieth out the golde:
Hath in his power both help and hurt if he his force vnfolde.
The frost which kilth the fruite doth knit the brused bones:
And is a medecin of kind prepared for the nones.
The earth in whose entrails the foode of man doth liue,
At euery spring and fall of leafe what plesure doth she giue.
The aier which life desires and is to helth so swete
Of nature yeldes such liuely smelles that co[m]fortes euery sprete.
The sonne through natures might doth draw away the dew,
And spredes [the] flowers where he is wo[n]t his princely face to shew
The Mone which may be cald the lanterne of the night,
Is halfe a guide to traueling men such vertue hath her light.
The sters not vertuelesse are bewtie to the eies,
A lodes man to the mariner a signe of calmed skies.
The flowers and fruitefull trees to man doe tribute pay,
And when they haue their duety done by course they fade away.
Eche beast both fishe and foule, doth offer lief and all,
To norishe man and do him ease yea serue him at his call.
The serpentes venemous, whose vglye shapes we hate,
Are soueraigne salues for sondry sores, & nedefull in their state.
Sith nature shewes her power, in eche thing thus at large,
Why should not man submit hymself to be in natures charge
Who thinkes to flee her force, at length becomes her thrall,
The wysest cannot slip her snare, for nature gouernes all.
Lo, nature gaue vs shape, lo nature fedes our lyues:
The[n] they are worse the[n] mad I think, against her force [that] striues.
Though some do vse to say, which can do nought but fayne,
Women were made for this intent, to put vs men to payne.
Yet sure I think they are a pleasure to the mynde,
A ioy which man can neuer want, as nature hath assynde.