University of Virginia Library

False may he be

Against him that had slaundered a gentlewoman with him selfe

False may he be, and by the powers aboue,
Neuer haue he good spede or lucke in loue.
That so can lye or spot the worthy fame,
Of her for whom thou .R. art to blame.
For chaste Diane that hunteth still the chase,
And all her maides that sue her in the race.
With faire bowes bent and arrowes by their side,
Can saye that thou in this hast falsely lied.
For neuer honge the bow vpon the wall,
Of Dianes temple no nor neuer shall.
Of broken chaste the sacred vowe to spot,
Of her whom thou doste charge so large I wot.
But if ought be wherof her blame may rise,
It is in that she did not well aduise
To marke the right as now she dothe thee know,
False of thy dedes false of thy talke also.
Lurker of kinde like serpent layd to bite,

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Aa4r

As poyson hid vnder the suger white.
What daunger suche? So was the house defilde,
Of Collatiue: so was the wife begilde.
So smarted she, and by a trayterous force,
The Cartage quene so she fordid her corse.
So strangled was the R. so depe can auoyde,
Fye traytour fye, to thy shame be it sayd,
Thou dunghyll crowe that crokest agaynst the rayne,
Home to thy hole, brag not with Phebe agayne.
Carrion for the and lothsome be thy voyce,
Thy song is fowle I wery of thy noyce.
Thy blacke fethers, which are thy wearyng wede.
Wet them with teares and sorowe for thy dede.
And in darke caues, where yrkesome wormes do crepe,
Lurke thou all daye, and flye when thou shouldest slepe.
And neuer light where liuyng thing hath life,
But eat and drinke where stinche and filthe is rife.
For she that is a fowle of fethers bryght,
Admit she toke some pleasure in thy sight.
As fowle of state sometimes delight to take,
Fowle of meane sort their flight with them to make.
For play of winge or solace of their kinde:
But not in sort as thou dost breke thy mynde.
Not for to treade with such foule fowle as thou,
No no I swere and I dare it here auowe.
Thou neuer settest thy fote within her nest,
Boast not so broade then to thine owne vnrest.
But blushe for shame for in thy face it standes,
And thou canst not vnspot it with thy handes.
For all the heauens against thee recorde beare,
And all in earth against thee eke will sweare.
That thou in this art euen none other man,
But as the iudges were to Susan than.
Forgers of that where to their lust them prickt,
Bashe, blaser then the truth hath thee conuict.
And she a woman of her worthy fame,
Vnspotted standes, and thou hast caught the shame.
And there I pray to God that it may rest,
False as thou art, as false as is the best,
That so canst wrong the noble kinde of man,
In whom all trouth furst floorist and began.
And so hath stande till now the wretched part,

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Aa4v

Hath spotted vs of whose kinde one thou art.
That all the shame that euer rose or may,
Of shamefall dede on thee may light I saye.
And on thy kinde, and thus I wishe thee rather,
That all thy sede may like be to their father.
Vntrue as thou, and forgers as thou art,
So as all we be blamelesse of thy part.
And of thy dede. And thus I do thee leaue,
Still to be false, and falsely to deceaue.