Brittain's Ida. Written by that renowned poët, Edmond Spencer

Brittain's Ida.

Cant. 1. The Argument . The youthly Shepheards wonning here , And Beauties rare displayd appeare : What exercise ●ee chiefe affects , His Name , and scornefull loue neglects . 1 IN Ida Vale ( who knowes not Ida Vale ? ) When harmelesse Troy yet felt not Graecian spite : A hundred Shepheards woon'd , and in the Dale , While their faire Flockes the three leau'd Pastures bite : The Shepheards boyes , with hundred sportings light , Gaue winges vnto the times to speedy hast : Ah foolish Lads , that stroue with lauish wast , So fast to spend the time , that spends your time as fast . 2 Among the rest that all the rest excel'd , A dainty Boy there wonn'd , whose harmelesse yeares , Now in their freshest budding gently sweld ; His Nimph-like face ne're felt the nimble ●heeres , Youth 's downy blossome through his cheeke appeares : His louely limbes ( but loue he quite discarded ) Were made for play ( but he no play regarded , ) And fit loue to reward , and with loue be rewarded . 3 High was his fore-head , arch't with siluer mould , ( Where neuer anger churlish rinkle dighted ) His auburne lockes hung like darke threds of gold , That wanton aires ( with their faire length incited ) To play among their wanton curles delighted . His smiling eyes with simple truth were sior'd : Ah! how should truth in those thiefe eyes be stor'd , Which thousand loues had stol'n , and neuer one restor'd . 4 His lilly-cheeke might seeme an Iuory plaine , More purely white than frozen Apenine : Where louely bashfulnesse did sweetely raine , In blushing scarlet cloth'd , and purple fine . A hundred hearts had this delightfull shrine , ( Still cold it selfe ) inflam'd with hot desire , That well the face might seeme , in diuers tire , To be a burning snow , or else a freezing fire . 5 His cheerefull lookes , and merry face would prooue , ( If eyes the index be where thoughts are read ) A dainty play-fellow for naked loue ; Of all the other parts enough is sed , That they were fit twins for so fayre a head : Thousand boyes for him , thousand maidens dy'de , Dye they that list , for such his rigorous pride , He thousand boyes ( ah foole ) and thousand maids deni'd . 6 His ioy was not in musiques sweete delight , ( Though well his hand had learnt that cunning arte ) Or dainty songs to daintier eares indite , But through the plaine to chace the nimble Hart , With well-run'd hounds ; or with his certaine dart , The tusked Boare , or sauage Beare to wound ; Meane time his heart with monsters doth abound , Ah foole to seeke so farre what neerer might be found ! 7 His name ( well knowne vnto those Woody shades , Where vnrewarded louers oft complaine them ) Anchises was ; Anchises oft the glades , And mountaines heard Anchises had disdain'd them ; Not all their loue one gentle looke had gain'd them , That rockey hills , with echoing noyse consenting , Anchises plain'd ; but he no whit relenting , ( Harder then rocky hils ) laught at their vaine lamenting .

Cant. 2. The Argument . Diones Garden of delight , With wonder holds Anchises sight ; While from the Bower such Musique sounds , As all his senses neere confounds . 1 ONe day it chanc't as hee the Deere persude , Tyred with sport , and faint with weary play , Faire Venus groue not farre away he view'd , Whose trembling leaues inuite him there to stay , And in their shades his sweating limbes display : There in the cooling glade he softly paces , And much delighted with their euen spaces , What in himselfe he scorn'd , hee prais'd their kinde imbraces : 2 The Woode with Paphian mirtles peopled , ( Whose springing youth felt neuer Winters spiting ) To laurels sweete were sweetely married , Doubling their pleasing smels in their vniting , When single much , much more when mixt delighting : No foote of beast durst touch this hallowed place , And many a boy that long'd the woods to trace , Entred with feare , but soone turn'd back his frighted face . 3 The thicke-lockt bowes shut out the tell-tale Sunne , ( For Venus hated his all blabbing light , Since her knowne fault which oft she wisht vndone ) And scattered rayes did make a doubtfull fight , Like to the first of day , or last of night : The fittest light for Louers gentle play ; Such light best shewes the wandring louers way , And guides his erring hand : Night is loues holly-day . 4 So farre in this sweete Labyrinth he stray'd , That now he viewes the Garden of delight ; Whose breast , with thousand painted flowers array'd , With diuers ioy captiu'd his wandring sight ; But soone the eyes rendred the eares their right : For such strange harmony he seem'd to heare , That all his senses flockt into his eare , And euery faculty wisht to be seated there . 5 From a close Bower this dainty Musique flow'd , A Bower appareld round with diuers Roses Both red and white ; which by their liueries show'd Their Mistris faire , that there her selfe ●●poses : Seem'd that would striue with those rare Musique clozes , By spreading their faire bosomes to the light , Which the distracted sense should most delight ; That , raps the melted eare ; this , both the smel & sight . 6 The Boy 'twixt fearefull hope , and wishing feare , Crept all along ( for much he long'd to see The Bower , much more the guest so lodged there ) And as he goes , he markes how well ag●c● Nature and arte in discord vnity : Each striuing who should best performe his part , Yet arte now helping nature ; nature arte : While from his eares a voyce thus stole his heart . 7 Fond men , whose wretched care the life soone ending , By striuing to increase your ioy , do spend it ; And spending ioy , yet find no ioy in spending : You hurt your life by striuing to amend it , And seeking to prolong it , soonest end it : Than while fit time affords thee time and leasure , Enioy while yet thou mayst thy lifes sweet pleasure : Too foolish is the man that starues to feed his treasure : 8 Loue is lifes end ( an end but neuer ending ) All ioyes , all sweetes , all happinesse awarding : Loue is life wealth ( nere spent , but euer spending ) More rich , by giuing , taking by discarding : Loue 's lifes reward , rewarded in rewarding , Then from thy wretched heart fond care remooue ; Ah should thou liue but once loues sweetes to prooue , Thou wilt not loue to liue , vnlesse thou liue to loue . 9 To this sweete voyce , a dainty musique fitted It's well-tun'd strings ; and to her notes consorted : And while with skilfull voyce the song she dittied , The blabbing Echo had her words retorted ; That now the Boy , beyond his soule transported , Through all his limbes feeles run a pleasant shaking , And twixt a hope & feare suspects mistaking , And doubts he sleeping dreames , & broad awake feares waking .

Cant. 3. The Argument . Faire Cythareas limbes beheld , The straying Lads heart so inthral'd : That in a Trance his melted spright , Leaues th' sences slumbring in delight . 1 NOw to the Bower hee sent his theeuish eyes , To steale a happy sight ; there doe they finde Faire Venus , that within halfe naked lyes ; And straight amaz'd ( so glorious beauty shin'd ) Would not returne the message to the minde : But full of feare , and superstitious awe , Could not ●e●●e , or backe their beames with-draw , So fixt on , too much seeing made they nothing saw . 2 Her goodly length , stretch't on a Lilly-bed ; ( A bright foyle of a beauty farre more bright , ) Few Roses round about were scattered , As if the Lillies learnt to blush for spite , To see a skinne much more then Lilly-white : The bed sanke with delight so to be pressed , And knew not which to thinke a chance more blessed , Both blessed so to kisse , and so agayne be kissed . 3 Her spacious fore-head like the clearest Moone , Whose full-growne Orbe begins now to be spent , Largely display'd in natiue siluer shone , Giuing wide roome to beauties Regiment , Which on the plaine with loue tryumphing went : Her golden haire a rope of pearle imbraced , Which with their dainty threds oft times enlaced , Made the eie think the pearle was there in gold inchased . 4 Her full large eye , in ietty-blacke array'd , Prou'd beauty not confin'd to red and white , But oft her selfe in blacke more rich display'd ; Both contraries did yet themselues vnite , To make one beauty in different delight : A thousand loues sate playing in each eye , And smiling mirth kissing faire courtesie , By sweete perswasion wan a bloodlesse victory . 5 The whitest white set by her siluer cheeke , Grew pale and wan like vnto heauy lead : The freshest Purple fresher dyes must seeke , That dares compare with them his fainting red : On these Cupio winged armies led , Of little loues , that with bold wanton traine Vnder those colours , marching on the plaine , Force euery heart , and to low vassēlage constraine . 6 Her lips , most happy each in others kisses , From their so wisht imbracements seldome parted , Yet seem'd to blush at such their wanton blisses ; But when sweete words their ioyning sweet disparted , To th' eare a dainty musique they imparted : Vpon them fitly sate delightfull smiling , A thousand soules with pleasing stealth beguiling : Ah that such shew's of ioyes should be all ioyes exiling ? 7 The breath came slowly thence , vnwilling leauing So sweet a lodge , but when she once intended , To feast the aire with words , the heart deceiuing , More fast it thronged so to be expended ; And at each word a hundred loues attended , Playing ith'breath , more sweete then is that firing , Where that Arabian onely bird expiring , Liues by her death , by losse of breath more fresh respiring . 8 Her chin , like to a stone in gold inchased , Seem'd a faire i● well wrought with cunning hand , And being double , doubly the face graced . This goodly frame on her round necke did stand , Such p●ll●r , well such curious worke sustain'd ; And on his top the heauenly spheare vp rearing , Might well present , with daintier appearing , A lesse but better Atlas , that faire heauen bearing . 9 Lower two breasts stand all their beauties bearing , Two breasts as smooth and soft ; but ah alas ! Their smoothest softnes farre exceedes comparing : More smooth and soft ; but naught that euer was , Where they are first deserues the second place : Yet each as soft and each as smooth as other ; And when thou first tri'st one & then the other , Each softer seemes then each , & each then each seemes smoother . 10 Lowly betweene their dainty hemisphaeres , ( Their hemisphaeres the heau'nly Globes excelling , ) A path , more white then is the name it beares , The lacteall path , conducts to the sweet dwelling , Where best delight all ioyes sits freely dealing ; Where hundred sweetes , and still fresh ioyes attending ; Receiue in giuing , and still loue dispending , Grow richer by their losse , and wealthy by expending . 11 But stay bold shepheard , here thy footing stay , Nor trust too much vnto thy now-borne quill , As farther to those dainty limbes to stray ; Or hope to paint that vale , or beautious hill , Which past the finest hand and choycest skill : But were thy Verse and Song as finely fram'd , As are those parts , yet should it soone be blam'd , For now the shameles world of best things is asham'd . 12 That cunning Artist , that old Greece admir'd , Thus farre his Venus fitly portrayed ; But there he left , nor farther ere as it'd : His Daedale hand , that Nature perfected By arte , felt arte by nature limitted . Ah! well he knew , though his fit hand could giue Breath to dead colours , teaching marble liue , Yet would these liuely parts his hand of skill depriue . 13 Such when this gentle boy her closly view'd , Onely with thinnest silken vaile o'er-layd , Whose snowy colour much more snowy shew'd , By being next that skin ; and all betray'd , Which best in naked beauties are aray'd : His spirits melted with so glorious sight , Ran from their worke to see so splendent light , And left the fainting limbes sweet slumbring in delight .

Cant. 4. The Argument . The swonding Swaine recouered is By th' Goddesse ; his soule rapting blisse : There mutuàll conference , and how Her seruice she doth him allow . 1 SOft-sleeping Venus waked with the fall , Looking behind , the sinking Boy espies , With all she starts , and wondereth withall , She thinkes that there her faire Adonis dyes , And more she thinkes the more the Boy she eyes : So stepping neerer , vp begins to reare him ; And now with loue himselfe she will confer him , And now , before her loue himselfe she will preferre him : 2 The Lad soone with that dainty touch reuiu'd , Feeling himselfe so well , so sweetly seated , Begins to doubt whether he yet here liu'd , Or else his flitting soule to heau'n translated , Was there in starry throne , and blisse instated : Oft would he dye , so to be often saued ; And now with happy wish he closly craued , For euer to be dead , to be so sweet ingraued . 3 The Paphian Princesse ( in whose louely breast , Spitefull disdaine could neuer find a place ) When now she saw him from his fit releast , ( To Iuno leauing wrath , and scolding base ) Comforts the trembling Boy with smiling grace , But oh ! those smiles ( too full of sweete delight ) Surfeit his heart , full of the former sight ; So seeking to reuiue , more wounds his feeble sprite . 4 Tell me faire Boy ( sayd she ) what erring chance , Hither directed thy vnwary pace : For sure contempt , or pride durst not aduance Their foule aspect , in thy so pleasant face : Tell me , what brought thee to this hidden place ? Or lacke of loue , or mutuall answering fire , Or hindred by ill chance in thy desire : Tell me , what is t thy faire and wishing eyes require ? 5 The Boy ( whose sence was neuer yet acquainted With ) such a musique ) stood with eares arected ; And sweetly with that pleasant spell enchanted , More of those sugred straines long time expected , Till seeing she his speeches not reiected , First sighes arising from his hearts low center , Thus gan reply ; when each word bold would venter , And striue the first , that dainty labyrinth to enter , 6 Faire Cyprian Queene ( for well that heauenly face ) Prooues thee the mother of all conquering loue ) Pardon I pray thee my vnweeting pace , For no presumptuous thoughts did hither mooue My daring feete , to this thy holy Groue ; But lucklesse chance ( which if you not gaine-say , I still must rue ) hath caus'd me here to stray , And lose my selfe ( alas ) in losing of my way . 7 Nor did I come to right my wronged fire , Neuer till now I saw what ought be loued , And now I see , but neuer dare aspire To mooue my hope , where yet my loue is mooued ; Whence though I would , I would it not remooued : Onely since I haue plac't my loue so high , Which sure thou must , or sure thou wilt deny , Grant me yet still to loue , though in my loue to dye . 8 But shee that in his eyes Loues face had seene , And flaming heart , did not such suite disdaine , ( For cruelty fits not sweete beauties Queene ) But gently could his passion entertaine , Though she loues Princesse , he a lowly Swaine : First of his bold intrusion she acquites him ; Then to her seruice ( happy Boy ) admits him ; And like another loue , with Bow and quiuer fits him . 9 And now withall the loues he grew acquainted , And Cupids selfe , with his like face delighted , Taught him a hundred wayes with which he daunted The prouder hearts , and wronged louers righted , Forcing to loue , that most his loue despited . And now the practique Boy did so approoue him , And with such grace and cunning arte did mooue him , That all the pritty loues , and all the Graces loue him .

Cant. 5. The Argument . The Louers sad despairing plaints , Bright Venus with his loue acquaints ; Sweetly importun'd be doth shew , From whom proceedeth this his woe . 1 YEt neuer durst his faint and coward heart , ( Ah foole ! faint heart faire Lady ne're could win ) Assaile faire Venus with his new-learnt arte , But kept hi● loue , and burning flame within , Which more flam'd out , the more he prest it in : And thinkidg oft , how iust shee might disdaine him ; While some coole mirtle shade did entertaine him , Thus sighing would be fit , & sadly would he plain him . 2 Ah fond , and haplesse Boy ! nor know I whether , More fond , or haplesse more , that all so high Hast plac't thy heart , where loue and fate together , May neuer hope to end thy misery , Nor yet thy selfe dare wish a remedy . All hindrances ( alas ) conspire to let it ; Ah fond , and haplesse Boy ! if canst not get it , In thinking to forget , at length learne to forget it . 3 Ah farre too fond , but much more haplesse Swaine ! Seeing thy loue can be forgotten neuer . Serue and obserue thy loue with willing paine ; And though in vaine thy loue thou doe perseuer , Yet all in vaine doe thou adore her euer . No hope can crowne thy thoughts so farre aspiring , Nor dares thy selfe desire thine owne desiring , Yet liue thou in her loue , and dye in her admiring . 4 Thus oft the hopelesse Boy complayning lyes ; But she that well could guesse his sad lamenting , ( Who can conceale loue from loues mothers eyes ? ) Did not disdaine to giue his loue contenting : Cruell the soule , that feedes on soules tormenting : Nor did she scorne him though not nobly borne , ( Loue is nobility ) nor could she scorne , That with so noble skill her title did adorne . 5 One day it chanc't , thrice happy day and chance ! While loues were with the Graces sweetly sporting , And to fresh musique sounding play and dance ; And Cupids selfe with Shepheards boyes consorting , Laught at their pritty sport , and simple courting : Faire Venus seates the fearefull Boy close by her , Where neuer Phoebus Iealous lookes might eye her , And bids the Boy his Mistris , and her name descry her . 6 Long time the youth bound vp in silence stood , While hope and feare with hundred thoughts begun , Fit Prologue to his speech ; and fearefull blood From heart and face , with these post-tydings runne , That eyther now he 's made , or now vndone : At length his trembling words , with feare made weake , Began his too long silence thus to breake , While from his humble eies first reuerence seem'd to speake . 7 Faire Queene of Loue , my life thou maist command , Too slender price for all thy former grace , Which I receiue at thy so bounteous hand ; But neuer dare I speake her name and face ; My life is much lesse-priz'd than her disgrace : And , for I know if I her name relate , I purchase anger , I must hide her state , Vnlesse thou sweare by stix I purchase not her hate . 8 Faire Venus well perceiu'd his subtile shift , And swearing gentle patience , gently smil'd : While thus the Boy persu'd his former drift : No tongue was euer yet so sweetely skil'd , Nor greatest Orator so highly stil'd ; Though helpt withall the choisest artes direction , But when he durst describe her heau'ns perfection , By his imperfect praise , disprais'd his imperfection . 9 Her forme is as her selfe , perfect Caelestriall , No mortall spot her heauenly frame disgraces : Beyond compare ; such nothing is terrestriall ; More sweete then thought or pow'rfull wish embraces , The map of heauen ; the summe of all the Graces . But if you wish more t●uely limb'd to eye her , Than fainting speech , or words can well descry her , Look in a glasse , & there more perfect you may spy her .

Cant. 6. The Argument . The Boyes short wish , her larger grant , That doth his soule with blisse enchant : Whereof impatient vttering all , Inraged Ioue contriues his thrall . 1 THy crafty arte ( reply'd the smiling Queene ) Hath well my chiding , and not rage preuented , Yet might'st thou thinke , that yet 't was neuer seene . That angry rage , and gentle loue consented : But if to me thy true loue is presented , What wages for thy seruice must I owe thee ? For by the selfe same vow , I here auow thee , What euer thou require , I frankly will allow thee . 2 Pardon ( replies the Boy ) for so affecting , Beyond mortallity ; and not discarding , Thy seruice was much more than my expecting ; But if thou ( more thy bounty-hood regarding ) Wilt needes heape vp reward vpon rewarding ; Thy loue I dare not aske , or mutuall fixing , One kisse is all my loue , and prides aspiring , And after starue my heart , for my too much desiring . 3 Fond Boy ! ( sayd she ) too fond that askt no more ; Thy want by taking is no whit decreased , And giuing , spends not our increasing store : Thus with a kisse , his lips she sweetly pressed ; Most blessed kisse ; but hope more than most blessed , The Boy did thinke heauen fell while thus he ioy'd ; And while ioy he so greedily enioy'd , He felt not halfe his ioy by being ouer-ioy'd . 4 Why sighst faire Boy ? ( sayd she ) dost thou repent thee Thy narrow wish in such straight bonds to stay ? Well may I sigh ( sayd he ) and well lament me , That neuer such a debt may hope to pay : A kisse ( sayd she ) a kisse will backe repay : Wilt thou ( reply'd the Boy too much delighted ) Content thee , with such pay to be requited ? She grants ; & he his lips , heart , soule , to payment cited . 5 Looke as a Ward , long from his Lands detain'd , And subiect to his Guardians cruel lore , Now spends the more , the more he was restrain'd , So he ; yet though in laying out his store , He doubly takes ; yet findes himselfe grow poore : With that , he markes , and tels her out a score , And doubles them , and trebles all before : Fond Boy ! the more thou paist , thy debt still grows the more . 6 At length , whether these fauours so had fir'd him , With kindly heate , inflaming his desiring ; Or whether those sweete kisses had inspir'd him ; Hee thinkes that some thing wants for his requiring ; And still aspires , yet knows not his aspiring : But yet though that hee knoweth , so she gaue , That he presents himselfe her bounden slaue ; Stil his more wishing face seem'd some what else to craue . 7 And boldned with successe and many graces , His hand , chain'd vp in feare , he now releast : And asking leaue , courag'd with her imbraces ; Againe it prison'd in her tender breast ; Ah blessed prison ! prisners too much blest ! There with those sisters long time doth he play ; And now full boldly enters loues high way ; While downe the pleasant vale , his creeping hand doth stray . 8 She not displeased with this his wanton play , Hiding his blushing with a sugred kisse ; With such sweete heat his rudenesse doth allay , That now he perfect knowes what euer blisse , Elder loue taught , and he before did misse : That moult with ioy , in such vntri'd ioyes trying , He gladly dies ; and death new life applying , Gladly againe he dyes , that oft he may be dying . 9 Long thus he liu'd , slumbring in sweete delight , Free from sad care , and fickle worlds annoy ; Bathing in liquid ioyes his melted sprite ; And longer mought , but he ( ah foolish Boy ! ) Too proud , and to impatient of his ioy , To woods , and heau'n , and earth his blisse imparted ; That Ioue vpon him downe his thunder darted , Blasting his splendent face , and all his beauty swarted . 10 Such be his chance , that to his loue doth wrong , Vnworthy he to haue so worthy place , That cannot hold his peace and blabbing tongue Light ioyes float on his lips , but rightly grace Sinckes deepe , and th' hearts low center doth imbrace : Might I enioy my loue till I vnfold it , I 'de lose all fauours when I blabbing told it : He is not fit for loue , that is not fit to hold it .

FINIS .