The affectionate shepheard Containing the complaint of Daphnis for the loue of Ganymede.

The Affectionate Shepheard . Containing the Complaint of Daphnis for the loue of Ganymede .

Amor plus mellis , quam fellis , est .

LONDON , Printed by Iohn Danter for T. G. and E. N. and are to bee sold in Saint Dunstones Church-yeard in Fleetstreet . 1594.

To the Right Excellent and most beautifull Lady , the Ladie PENELOPE RITCH . FAyre louely Ladie , whose Angelique eyes Are Uestall Candles of sweet Beauties Treasure , Whose speech is able to inchaunt the wise , Conuerting Ioy to Paine , and Paine to Pleasure ; Accept this simple Toy of my Soules Dutie , Which I present vnto thy matchles Beautie . And albeit the gift be all too meane , Too meane an Offring for thine Iuorie Shrine ; Yet must thy Beautie my iust blame susteane , Since it is mortall , but thy selfe diuine . Then ( Noble Ladie ) take in gentle worth , This new-borne Babe which here my Muse brings forth . Your Honours most affectionate and perpetually deuoted Shepheard : DAPHNIS .

The Teares of an affectionate Shepheard sicke for Loue . OR The Complaint of Daphnis for the Loue of Ganimede ▪ SCarce had the morning Starre hid from the light Heauens crimson Canopie with stars bespangled , But I began to rue th' vnhappy sight Of that faire Boy that had my hart intangled ; Cursing the Time , the Place , the sense , the sin ; I came , I saw , I viewd , I slipped in . If it be sinne to loue a sweet-fac'd Boy , ( Whoseamber locks trust vp in golden tramels Dangle adowne his louely cheekes with ioy , When pearle and flowers his faire haire enamels ) If it be sinne to loue a louely Lad ; Oh then sinne I , for whom my soule is sad . His Iuory-white and Alablaster skin Is staind throughout with rare Vermillion red , Whose twinckling starrie lights doe neuer blin To shine on louely Uenus ( Beauties bed : ) But as the Lillie and the blushing Rose , So white and red on him in order growes . Vpon a time the Nymphs bestird them-selues To trie who could his beautie soonest win : But he accounted them but all as Elues , Except it were the saire Queene Guendolen , Her he embrac'd , of her was beloued , With plaints he proued , and with teares he moued . But her an Old-Man had beene sutor too , That in his age began to doate againe ; Her would he often pray , and often woo , When through old-age enfeebled was his Braine : But she before had lou'd a lustie youth That now was dead , the cause of all her ruth . And thus it hapned , Death and Cupid met Vpon a time at swilling Bacchus house , Where daintie cates vpon the Boord were set , And Goblets full of wine to drinke carouse : Where Loue and Death did loue the licor so , That out they fall and to the fray they goe . And hauing both their Quiuers at their backe ●ild full of Arrows ; Th' one of fatall steele ; The other all of gold ; Deaths shaft was black , But Loues was yellow : Fortune turnd her wheele ; And from Deaths Quiuer fell a fatall shaft , That vnder Cupid by the winde was waft . And at the same time by ill hap there fell Another Arrow out of Cupids Quiuer ; The which was carried by the winde at will , And vnder Death the amorous shaft did shiuer : They being parted , Loue tooke vp Deaths dart , And Death tooke vp Loues Arrow ( for his part . ) Thus as they wandred both about the world , At last Death met with one of feeble age : Wherewith he drew a shaft and at him hurld The vnknowne Arrow ; ( with a furious rage ) Thinking to strike him dead with Deaths blacke dart , But he ( alas ) with Loue did wound his hart . This was the doting foole , this was the man That lou'd faire Guendolena Queene of Beautie ; Shee cannot shake him off , doo what she can , For he hath vowd to her his soules last duety : Making him trim vpon the holy-daies ; And crownes his Loue with Garlands made of Baies . Now doth he stroke his Beard ; and now ( againe ) He wipes the driuel from his filthy chin ; Now offers he a kisse ; but high Disdaine Will not permit her hart to pity him : Her hart more hard than Adamant or steele , Her hart more changeable than Fortunes wheele . But leaue we him in loue ( vp to the eares ) And tell how Loue behau'd himselfe abroad ; Who seeing one that mourned still in teares ( a young-man groaning vnder Loues great Load ) Thinking to ease his Burden , rid his paines : For men haue griefe as long as life remaines . Alas ( the while ) that vnawares he drue The fatall shaft that Death had dropt before ; By which deceit great harme did then insue , Stayning his face with blood and filthy goare . His face , that was to Guendolen more deere Than loue of Lords , or any lordly Peere . This was that faire and beautifull young-man , Whom Guendolena so lamented for ; This is that Loue whom she doth curse and ban , Because she doth that dismall chaunce abhor : And if it were not for his Mothers sake , Euen Ganimede himselfe she would forsake . Oh would shee would forsake my Ganimede , Whose sugred loue is full of sweete delight , Vpon whose fore-head you may plainely reade Loues Pleasure , grau'd in yuorie Tables bright : In whose faire eye-balls you may clearely see Base Loue still staind with foule indignitie . O would to God he would but pitty mee , That loue him more than any mortall wight ; Then he and I with loue would soone agree , That now cannot abide his Sutors sight . O would to God ( so I might haue my fee ) My lips were honey , and thy mouth a Bee . Then shouldst thou sucke my sweete and my faire flower That now is ripe , and full of honey-berries : Then would I leade thee to my pleasant Bower Fild full of Grapes , of Mulberries , and Cherries ; Then shouldst thou be my Waspe or else my Bee , I would thy hiue , and thou my honey bee . I would put amber Bracelets on thy wrests , Crownets of Pearle about thy naked Armes : And when thou sitst at swilling Bacchus feasts My lips with charmes should saue thee from all harmes : And when in sleepe thou tookst thy chiefest Pleasure , Mine eyes should gaze vpon thine eye-lids Treasure . And euery Morne by dawning of the day , When Phoebus riseth with a blushing face , Siluanus Chappel-Clarkes shall chaunt a Lay , And play thee hunts-vp in thy resting place : My Coote thy Chamber , my bosome thy Bed ; Shall be appointed for thy sleepy head . And when it pleaseth thee to walke abroad , ( Abroad into the fields to take fresh ayre : ) The Meades with Floras treasure should be strowde , ( The mantled meaddowes , and the fields so fayre . ) And by a siluer Well ( with golden sands ) I le sit me downe , and wash thine yuory hands . And in the sweltring heate of summer time , I would make Cabinets for thee ( my Loue : ) Sweet-smelling Arbours made of Eglantine Should be thy shrine , and I would be thy Doue . Coole Cabinets of fresh greene Laurell boughs Should shadow vs , ore-set with thicke-set Eughes . Or if thou list to bathe thy naked limbs , Within the Christall of a Pearle-bright brooke , Paued with dainty pibbles to the brims ; Or cleare , wherein thy selfe thy selfe mayst looke ; Wee le goe to Ladon , whose still trickling noyse , Will lull thee fast asleepe amids thy ioyes . Or if thou lt goe vnto the Riuer side , To angle for the sweet fresh-water fish : Arm'd with thy implements that will abide ( Thy rod , hooke , line ) to take a dainty dish ; Thy rods shall be of cane , thy lines of silke , Thy hooks of siluer , and thy bayts of milke . Or if thou lou'st to heare sweet Melodie , Or pipe a Round vpon an Oaten Reede , Or make thy selfe glad with some myrthfull glee , Or play them Musicke whilst thy flocke doth feede ; To Pans owne Pype I le helpe my louely Lad , ( Pans golden Pype ) which he of Syrinx had . Or if thou dar'st to climbe the highest Trees For Apples , Cherries , Medlars , Peares , or Plumbs , Nuts , Walnuts , Filbeards , Chest-nuts , Ceruices , The hoary Peach , when snowy winter comes ; I haue fine Orchards full of mellowed frute ; Which I will giue thee to obtaine my sute . Not proud Alcynous himselfe can vaunt , Of goodlier Orchards or of brauer Trees Than I haue planted ; yet thou wilt not graunt My simple sute ; but like the honey Bees Thou suckst the flowre till all the sweet be gone ; And lou'st mee for my Coyne till I haue none . Leaue Guendolen ( sweet hart ) though she be faire Yet is she light ; not light in vertue shining : But light in her behauiour , to impaire Her honour in her Chastities declining ; Trust not her teares , for they can wantonnize , When teares in pearle are trickling from her eyes . If thou wilt come and dwell with me at home ; My sheep-cote shall be strowd with new greene rushes : Wee le haunt the trembling Prickets as they rome About the fields , along the hauthorne bushes ; I haue a pie-bald Curre to hunt the Hare : So we will liue with daintie forrest fare . Nay more than this , I haue a Garden-plot , Wherein there wants nor hearbs , nor roots , nor flowers ; ( Flowers to smell , roots to eate , hearbs for the pot , ) And dainty Shelters when the Welkin lowers : Sweet-smelling Beds of Lillies and of Roses , Which Rosemary banks and Lauender incloses . There growes the Gilliflowre , the Mynt , the Dayzie ( Both red and white , ) the blew-veynd-Violet : The purple Hyacinth , the Spyke to please thee , The scarlet dyde Carnation bleeding yet ; The Sage , the Sauery , and sweet Margerum , Isop , Tyme , & Eye-bright , good for the blinde & dumbe . The Pinke , the Primrose , Cowslip and Daffadilly , The Hare-bell blue , the crimson Cullumbine , Sage , Lettis , Parsley , and the milke-white Lilly , The Rose , and speckled flowre cald Sops in wine , Fine pretie King-cups , and the yellow Bootes , That growes by Riuers , and by shallow Brookes . And manie thousand moe ( I cannot name ) Of hearbs and flowers that in gardens grow , I haue for thee ; and Coneyes that be tame , Yong Rabbets , white as Swan , and blacke as Crow , Some speckled here and there with daintie spots : And more I haue two mylch and milke-white Goates . All these , and more , I le giue thee for thy loue ; If these , and more , may tycethy loue away : I haue a Pidgeon-house , in it a Doue , Which I loue more than mortall tongue can say : And last of all , I le giue thee a little Lambe To play withall , new weaned from her Dam. But if thou wilt not pittie my Complaint , My Teares , nor Vowes , nor Oathes , made to thy Beautie ; What shall I doo ? But languish , die , or saint , Since thou dost scorne my Teares , and my Soules Duetie : And Teares contemned , Vowes and Oaths must faile ; For where Teares cannot , nothing can preuaile . Compare the loue of faire Queene Guendolin With mine , and thou shalt ee how she doth loue thee : I loue thee for thy qualities diuine , But Shee doth loue another Swaine aboue thee : I loue thee for thy gifts , She for hir pleasure ; I for thy Vertue , She for Beauties treasure . And alwaies ( I am sure ) it cannot last , But sometime Nature will denie those dimples : In steed of Beautie ( when thy Blossom's past ) Thy face will be deformed , full of wrinckles : Then She that lou'd thee for thy Beauties sake , When Age drawes on , thy loue will soone forsake . But I that lou'd thee for thy gifts diuine , In the December of thy Beauties waning , Will still admire ( with ioy ) those louely eine , That now behold me with their beauties baning : Though Ianuarie will neuer come againe , Yet Aprill yeres will come in showers of raine . When will my May come , that I may embrace thee ? When will the hower be of my soules ioying ? Why dost thou seeke in mirth still to disgrace mee ? Whose mirth 's my health , whose griefe 's my harts annoying . Thy bane my bale , thy blisse my blessednes , Thy ill my hell , thy weale my welfare is . Thus doo I honour thee that loue thee so , And loue thee so , that so doo honour thee , Much more than anie mortall man doth know , Or can discerne by Loue or Iealozie : But if that thou disdainst my louing euer ; Oh happie I , if I had loued neuer . Finis . Plus fellis quam mellis Amor.

The second Dayes Lamentation of the Affectionate Shepheard . NExt Morning when the golden Sunne was risen , And new had bid good morrow to the Mountaines ; When Night her siluer light had lockt in prison , Which gaue a glimmering on the christall Fountaines : Then ended sleepe : and then my cares began , Eu'n with the vprising of the siluer Swan . Oh glorious Sunne quoth I , ( viewing the Sunne ) That lightenst euerie thing but me alone : Why is my Summer season almost done ? My Spring-time past , and Ages Autumne gone ? My Haruest's come , and yet I reapt no corne : My loue is great , and yet I am forlorne . Witnes these watrie eyes my sad lament , ( Receauing cisternes of my ceafeles teares ) Witnes my bleeding hart my soules intent , Witnes the weight distressed Daphnis beares : Sweet Loue , come ease me of thy burthens paine ; Or els I die , or else my hart is slaine . And thou loue-scorning Boy , cruell , vnkinde ; Oh let me once againe intreat some pittie : May be thou wilt relent thy marble minde , And lend thine eares vnto my dolefull Dittie : Oh pittie him , that pittie craues so sweetly ; Or else thou shalt be neuer named meekly . If thou wilt loue me , thou shalt be my Boy , My sweet Delight , the Comfort of my minde , My Loue , my Doue , my Sollace , and my Ioy ; But if I can no grace nor mercie finde , I le goe to Caucasus to ease my smart , And let a Vulture gnaw vpon my hart . Yet if thou wilt but show me one kinde looke , ( A small reward for my so great affection ) I le graue thy name in Beauties golden Booke , And shrowd thee vnder Hellicons protection ; Making the Muses chaunt thy louely prayse : ( For they delight in Shepheards lowly layes . ) And when th' art wearie of thy keeping Sheepe Vpon a louely Downe , ( to please thy minde ) . I le giue thee fine ruffe-footed Doues to keepe , And pretie Pidgeons of another kinde : A Robbin-red-brest shall thy Minstrell bee , Chirping thee sweet , and pleasant Melodie . Or if thou wilt goe shoote at little Birds With bow and boult , ( the Thrustle-cocke and Sparrow ) Such as our Countrey hedges can afford's ; I haue a fine bowe , and an yuorie arrow : And if thou misse , yet meate thou shalt lacke , I le hang a bag and bottle at thy backe . Wilt thou set springes in a frostie Night , To catch the long-billd Woodcocke and the Snype ? ( By the bright glimmering of the Starrie light ) The Partridge , Phaesant , or the greedie Crype ? I le lend thee lyme-twigs , and fine sparrow calls , Wherewith the Fowler silly Birds inthralls . Or in a mystie morning if thou wilt Make pit-falls for the Larke and Pheldifare ; Thy prop and sweake shall be both ouer-guilt : With Cyparissus selfe thou shalt compare For gins and wyles , the Oozels to beguile ; Whilst thou vnder a bush shalt sit and smile . Or with Hare-pypes ( set in a muset hole ) Wilt thou deceaue the deep-earth-deluing Coney ? Or wilt thou in a yellow Boxen bole Taste with a woodden splent the sweet lythe honey ? Clusters of crimson Grapes I le pull thee downe ; And with Vine-leaues make thee a louely Crowne . Or wilt thou drinke a cup of new-made Wine Froathing at top , mixt with a dish of Creame ; And Straw-berries , or Bil-berries in their prime , Bath'd in a melting Sugar-Candie streame : Bunnell and Perry I haue for thee ( alone ) When Vynes are dead , and all the Grapes are gone . I haue a pleasant noted Nightingale , ( That sings as sweetly as the siluer Swan ) Kept in a Cage of bone ; as white as Whale , Which I with singing of Philemon wan : Her shalt thou haue , and all I haue beside ; If thou wilt be my Boy , or els my Bride . Then will I lay out all my Lardarie ( Of Cheese , of Cracknells , Curds and Clowted-creame ) Before thy male-content ill-pleasing eye : But why doo I of such great follies dreame ? Alas , he will not see my simple Coate ; For all my speckled Lambe , nor milk-white Goate . Against my Birth-day thou shalt be my guest : Wee le haue Greene-cheeses , and fine Silly-bubs ; And thou shalt be the chiefe of all my feast . And I will giue thee two fine pretie Cubs , With two yong Whelps , to make thee sport withall , A golden Racket , and a Tennis-ball . A guilded Nutmeg , and a race of Ginger , A silken Girdle , and a drawn-worke Band , Cuffs for thy wrists , a gold Ring for thy finger , And sweet Rose-water for thy Lilly-white hand , A Purse of silke , bespangd with spots of gold , As braue a one as ere thou didst behold . A paire of Kniues , a greene Hat and a Feather , New Gloues to put vpon thy milk-white hand I le giue thee , for to keep thee from the weather ; With Phoenix feathers shall thy Face be fand , Cooling those Cheekes , that being cool'd wexe red , Like Lillyes in a bed of Roses shed . Why doo thy Corall Lips disdaine to kisse , And sucke that Sweete , which manie haue desired ? That Baulme my Bane , that meanes would mend my misse : Oh let me then with thy sweete Lips b' inspired ; When thy Lips touch my Lips , my Lips will turne To Corall too , and being cold yce will burne . Why should thy sweete Loue-locke hang dangling downe , Kissing thy girdle-steed with falling pride ? Although thy Skin be white , thy haire is browne : Oh let not then thy haire thy beautie hide ; 〈◊〉 thy Locke , and sell it for gold wier : ( The purest gold is tryde in hottest fier ) . Faire-long-haire-wearing Absolon was kild , Because he wore it in a brauerie : So that which gracde his Beautie , Beautie spild , Making him subiect to vile slauerie , In being hangd : a death for him too good , That sought his owne shame , and his Fathers blood . Againe , we read of old King Priamus , ( The haplesse syre of valiant Hector slaine ) That his haire was so long and odious In youth , that in his age it bred his paine : For if his haire had not been halfe so long , His life had been , and he had had no wrong . For when his stately Citie was destroyd , ( That Monument of great Antiquitie ) When his poore hart ( with griefe and sorrow cloyd ) Fled to his Wise ( last hope in miserie ; ) Pyrrhus ( more hard than Adamantine rockes ) Held him and halde him by his aged lockes . These two examples by the way I show , To proue th' indecencie of mens long haire : Though I could tell thee of a thousand moe , Let these suffice for thee ( my louely Faire ) Whose eye 's my starre ; whose smiling is my Sunne ; Whose loue did ende before my ioyes begunne . Fond Loue is blinde , and so art thou ( my Deare ) For thou seest not my Loue , and great desart ; Blinde Loue is fond , and so thou dost appeare ; For fond , and blinde , thou greeust my greeuing hart : Be thou fond-blinde , blinde-fond , or one , or all ; Thou art my Loue , and I must be thy thrall . Oh lend thine yuorie fore-head for Loues Booke , Thine eyes for candles to behold the same ; That when dim-sighted ones therein shall looke They may discerne that proud disdainefull Dame ; Yet claspe that Booke , and shut that Cazement light ; Lest th' one obscurde , the other shine too bright . Sell thy sweet breath to'th'daintie Musk-ball-makers ; Yet sell it so as thou mayst soone redeeme it : Let others of thy beauty be pertakers ; Els none but Daphnis will so well esteeme it : For what is Beauty except it be well knowne ? And how can it be knowne , except first showne ? Learne of the Gentlewomen of this Age , That set their Beauties to the open view , Making Disdaine their Lord , true Loue their Page ; A Custome Zeale doth hate , Desert doth rue : Learne to looke red , anon waxe pale and wan ; Making a mocke of Loue , ascorne of man . A candle light , and couer'd with a vaile , Doth no man good , because it giues no light ; So Beauty of her beauty seemes to faile , When being not seene it cannot shine so bright . Then show thy selfe and know thy selfe withall , Lest climing high thou catch too great a fall . Oh foule Eclipser of that fayre sun-shine , Which is intitled Beauty in the best ; Making that mortall , which is els diuine ; That staines the fayre which Women steeme not least : Get thee to Hell againe ( from whence thou art ) And leaue the Center of a Womans hart . Ah be not staind ( sweet Boy ) with this vilde spot , Indulgence Daughter , Mother of mischaunce ; A blemish that doth euery beauty blot ; That makes them loath'd , but neuer doth aduaunce Her Clyents , fautors , friends ; or them that loue her ; And hates them most of all , that most reproue her . Remember Age and thou canst not be prowd , For age puls downe the pride of euery man ; In youthfull yeares by Nature t is allowde To haue selfe-will , doo Nurture what she can ; Nature and Nurture once together met , The Soule and shape in decent order set . Pride looks aloft , still staring on the starres , Humility looks lowly on the ground ; Th' one menaceth the Gods with ciuill warres , The other toyles till he haue Vertue found : His thoughts are humble , not aspiring hye ; But Pride looks haughtily with scornefull eye . Humillity is clad in modest weedes , But Pride is braue and glorious to the show ; Humillity his friends with kindnes feedes , But Pride his friends ( in neede ) will neuer know : Supplying not their wants , but them disdaining ; Whilst they to pitty neuer neede complayning . Humillity in misery is relieu'd , But Pride in neede of no man is regarded ; Pitty and Mercy weepe to see him grieu'd That in distresse had them so well rewarded : But Pride is scornd , contemnd , disdaind , derided , Whilst Humblenes of all things is prouided . Oh then be humble , gentle , meeke , and milde ; So shalt thou be of euery mouth commended ; Be not disdainfull , cruell , proud , ( sweet childe ) So shalt thou be of no man much condemned ; Care not for them that Vertue doo despise ; Vertue is loathde of fooles ; loude of the wise . O faire Boy trust not to thy Beauties wings , They cannot carry thee aboue the Sunne : Beauty and wealth are transitory things , ( For all must ende that euer was begunne ) But Fame and Vertue neuer shall decay ; For Fame is toombles , Vertue liues for aye . The snow is white , and yet the pepper's blacke , The one is bought , the other is contemned : Pibbles we haue , but store of Ieat we lacke ; So white comparde to blacke is much condemned : We doo not praise the Swanne because shee s white , But for she doth in Musique much delite . And yet the siluer-noted Nightingale , Though she be not so white is more esteemed ; Sturgion is dun of hew , white is the Whale , Yet for the daintier Dish the first is deemed ; What thing is whiter than the milke-bred Lilly ? That knowes it not for naught , what man so silly ? Yea what more noysomer vnto the smell Than Lillies are ? what 's sweeter then the Sage ? Yet for pure white the Lilly beares the Bell Till it be faded through decaying Age ; House-Doues are white , and Oozels Blacke-birds bee ; Yet what a difference in the taste , we see ? Compare the Cow and Calfe , with Ewe and Lambe ; Rough hayrie Hydes , with softest downy Fell ; Hecfar and Bull , with Weather and with Ramme , And you shall see how far they doo excell ; White Kine with blacke ; blacke Coney-skins with gray , Kine , nesh and strong ; skins , deare and cheape alway . The whitest siluer is not alwaies best , Lead , Tynne , and Pewter are of base esteeme ; The yellow burnisht gold , that comes from th' East , And West ( of late inuented ) may beseeme The worlds ritch Treasury , or Mydas eye ; ( The Ritch mans God , poore mans felicitie . ) Bugle and Ieat , with snow and Alablaster I will compare : White Dammasin with blacke ; Bullas and wheaton Plumbs , ( to a good Taster , ) The ripe red Cherries haue the sweetest smacke ; When they be greene and young , th' are sowre & naught ; But being ripe , with eagernes th' are baught . Compare the Wyld-cat to the brownish Beauer , Running for life , with hounds pursued sore ; When Hunts-men of her pretions Stones bereaueher , ( Which with her teeth sh 'had bitten off before ) : Restoratiues , and costly curious Felts Are made of them , and rich imbroydred Belts . To what vse serues a peece of crimbling Chalke ? The Agget stone is white , yet good for nothing : Fie , fie , I am asham'd to heare thee talke ; Be not so much of thine owne Image doating : So faire Narcissus lost his loue and life . ( Beautie is often with it selfe at strife ) . Right Diamonds are of a russet hieu , The brightsome Carbuncles are red to see too , The Saphyre stone is of a watchet blue , ( To this thou canst not chuse but soone agree too ) : Pearles are not white but gray , Rubies are red : In praise of Blacke , what can be better sed ? For if we doo consider of each thing That flyes in welkin , or in water swims , How euerie thing increaseth with the Spring , And how the blacker still the brighter dims : We cannot chuse , but needs we must confesse , Sable excels milk-white in more or lesse . As for example , in the christall cleare Of a sweete streame , or pleasant running Riuer , Where thousand formes of fishes will appeare , ( Whose names to thee I cannot now deliuer : The blacker still the brighter haue disgrac'd , For pleasant profit , and delicious taste . Salmon and Trout are of a ruddie colour , Whiting and Dare is of a milk-white hiew : Nature by them ( perhaps ) is made the fuller , Little they nourish , be they old or new : Carp , Loach , Tench , Eeles ( though black & bred in mud ) Delight the tooth with taste , and breed good blud . Innumerable be the kindes , if I couid name them ; But I a Shepheard , and no Fisher am : Little it skills whether I praise or blame them , I onely meddle with my Ew and Lamb : Yet this I say , that blacke the better is , In birds , beasts , frute , stones , flowres , herbs , mettals , fish . And last of all , in blacke there doth appeare Such qualities , as not in yuorie ; Blacke cannot blush for shame , looke pale for feare , Scorning to weare another liuorie : Blacke is the badge of sober Modestie , The wonted weare of ancient Grauetie . The learned Sisters sute themselues in blacke , Learning abandons white , and lighter hues : Pleasure and Pride light colours neuer lacke ; But true Religion doth such Toyes refuse : Vertue and Grauity are sisters growne , Since blacke by both , and both by blacke are knowne . White is the colour of each paltry Miller , White is the Ensigne of each common Woman ; White , is white Vertues for blacke Vyces Piller ; White makes proud fooles inferiour vnto no man : White , is the white of Body , blacke of Minde , ( Vertue we seldome in white Habit finde . ) Oh then be not so proud because th' art fayre , Vertue is onely the ritch gift of God : Let not selfe-pride thy vertues name impayre , Beate not greene youth with sharpe Repentance Rod: ( A Fiend , a Monster , a mishapen Diuel ; Vertues foe , Vyces friend , the roote of euill . ) Apply thy minde to be a vertuous man , Auoydill company ( the spoyle of youth ; ) To follow Vertues Lore doo what thou can , ( Whereby great profit vnto thee ensuth : ) Reade Bookes , hate Ignorance ; ( the Foe to Art , The Damme of Errour , Enuy of the hart . ) Serue Ioue ( vpon thy knees ) both day and night , Adore his Name aboue all things on Earth : So shall thy vowes be gracious in his sight , So little Babes are blessed in their Birth : Thinke on no worldly woe , lament thy sin ; ( For lesser cease , when greater griefes begin ) . Sweare no vaine oathes ; heare much , but little say ; Speake ill of no man , tend thine owne affaires , Bridle thy wrath , thine angrie mood delay ; ( So shall thy minde be seldome cloyd with cares : ) Be milde and gentle in thy speech to all , Refuse no honest gaine when it doth fall . Be not beguild with words , proue not vngratefull , Releeue thy Neighbour in his greatést need , Commit no action that to all is hatefull , Their want with welth , the poore with plentie feed : Twit no man in the teeth with what th' hast done ; Remember flesh is fraile , and hatred shunne . Leaue wicked things , which Men to mischiefe moue , ( Least crosse mis-hap may thee in danger bring , ) Craue no preferment of thy heauenly Ioue , Nor anie honor of thy earthly King : Boast not thy selfe before th' Almighties sight , ( Who knowes thy hart , and anie wicked wight ) . Be not offensiue to the peoples eye , See that thy praiers harts true zeale affords , Scorne not a man that 's falne in miserie , Esteeme no tatling tales , nor babling words ; That reason is exiled alwaies thinke , When as a drunkard rayles amidst his drinke . Vse not thy louely lips to loathsome lyes , By craftie meanes increase no worldly wealth ; Striue not with mightie Men ( whose fortune flies ) With temp'rate diet nourish wholesome health : Place well thy words , leaue not thy frend for gold ; First trie , then trust ; in ventring be not bold . In Pan repose thy trust ; extoll his praise ( That neuer shall decay , but euer liues ) : Honor thy Parents ( to prolong thy dayes ) , Let not thy left hand know what right hand giues : From needie men turne not thy face away , ( Though Charitie be now yclad in clay ) . Heare Shepheards oft ( thereby great wisdome growes ) , With good aduice a sober answere make : Be not remoou'd with euery winde that blowes , ( That course doo onely sinfull sinners take ) . Thy talke will shew thy fame or els thy shame ; ( A pratling tongue doth often purchase blame ) . Obtaine a faithfull frend that will not faile thee , Thinke on thy Mothers paine in her child-bearing , Make no debate , least quickly thou bewaile thee , Visit the sicke with comfortable chearing : Pittie the prisner , helpe the fatherlesse , Reuenge the Widdowes wrongs in her distresse . Thinke on thy graue , remember still thy end , Let not thy winding-sheete be staind with guilt , Trust not a fained reconciled frend , More than an open foe ( that blood hath spilt ) ( Who tutcheth pitch , with pitch shal be defiled ) Be not with wanton companie beguiled . Take not a flattring woman to thy wife , A shameles creature , full of wanton words , ( Whose bad , thy good ; whose lust will end thy life , Cutting thy hart with sharpe two edged swords : ) Cast not thy minde on her whose lookes allure , But she that shines in Truth and Vertue pure . Praise not thy selfe , let other men commend thee , Beare not a flattring tongue to glauer anie , Let Parents due correction not offend thee : Rob not thy neighbor , seeke the loue of manie ; Hate not to heare good Counsell giuen thee , Lay not thy money vnto Vsurie . Restraine thy steps from too much libertie , Fulfill not th' enuious mans malitious minde ; Embrace thy Wife , liue not in lecherie ; Content thy selfe with what Fates haue assignde : Be rul'd by Reason , Warning dangers saue ; True Age is reuerend worship to thy graue . Be patient in extreame Aduersitie , ( Mans chiefest credit growes by dooing well , ) Be not high-minded in Prosperitie ; Falshood abhorre , no lying fable tell . Giue not thy selfe to Sloth ( the sinke of Shame , The moath of Time , the enemie to Fame . ) This leare I learned of a Bel-dame Trot , ( When I was yong and wylde as now thou art ) : But her good counsell I regarded not ; I markt it with my eares , not with my hart : But now I finde it too-too true ( my Sonne ) When my Age-withered Spring is almost done . Behold my gray head , full of siluer haires , My wrinckled skin , deepefurrowes in my face : Cares bring Old-Age , Old-Age increaseth cares ; My Time is come , and I haue run my Race : Winter hath snow'd vpon my hoarie head , And with my Winter all my ioyes are dead . And thou loue-hating Boy , ( whom once I loued ) Farewell , a thousand-thousand times farewell ; My Teares the Marble Stones to ruth haue moued ; My sad Complaints the babling Ecchoes tell : And yet thou wouldst take no compassion on mee , Scorning that crosse which Loue hath laid vpon mee . The hardest steele with fier doth mend his misse , Marble is mollifyde with drops of Raine ; But thou ( more hard than Steele or Marble is ) Doost scorne my Teares , and my true loue disdaine ; Which for thy sake shall euerlasting bee , Wrote in the Annalls of Eternitie . By this , the Night ( with darknes ouer-spred ) Had drawne the curtaines of her cole-blacke bed ; And Cynthia muffling her face with a clowd , ( Lest all the world of her should be too prowd ) Had taken Conge of the sable Night , ( That wanting her cannot be halfe so bright ; ) When I poore forlorne man and outcast creature ( Despairing of my Loue , despisde of Beautie ) Grew male-content , scorning his louely feature , That had disdaind my euer-zealous dutie : I hy'd me homeward by the Moone-shine light ; Forswearing Loue , and all his fond delight . FINIS .

The Shepheards Content . OR The happines of a harmles life . Written vpon Occasion of the former Subiect . OF all the kindes of common Countrey life , Me thinkes a Shepheards life is most Content ; His State is quiet Peace , deuoyd of strife ; His thoughts are pure from all impure intent , His Pleasures rate sits at an easie rent : He beares no mallice in his harmles hart , Malicious meaning hath in him no part . He is not troubled with th' afflicted minde , His cares are onely ouer silly Sheepe ; He is not vnto Iealozie inclinde , ( Thrice happie Man ) he knowes not how to weepe ; Whil'st I the Treble in deepe sorrowes keepe : I cannot keepe the Meane ; for why ( alas ) Griefes haue no meane , though I for meane doo passe . No Briefes nor Semi-Briefes are in my Songs , Because ( alas ) my griefe is seldome short ; My Prick-Song's alwayes full of Largues and Longs , ( Because I neuer can obtaine the Port Of my desires : Hope is a happie Fort. ) Prick-song ( indeed ) because it pricks my hart ; And Song , because sometimes I ease my smart . The mightie Monarch of a royall Realme , Swaying his Scepter with a Princely pompe ; Of his desires cannot so steare the Healme , But sometime falls into a deadly dumpe , When as he heares the shrilly-sounding Trumpe Of forren Enemies , or home-bred Foes ; His minde of griefe , his hart is full of woes . Or when bad subiects gainst their Soueraigne ( Like hollow harts ) vnnaturally rebell , How carefull is he to suppresse againe Their desperate forces , and their powers to quell With loyall harts , till all ( againe be well : When ( being subdu'd ) his care is rather more To keepe them vnder , than it was before . Thus is he neuer full of sweete Content , But either this or that his ioy debars : Now Noble-men gainst Noble-men are bent , Now Gentlemen and others fall at iarrs : Thus is his Countrey full of ciuill warrs ; He still in danger sits , still fearing Death : For Traitors seeke to stop their Princes breath . The whylst the other hath no enemie , Without it be the Wolfe , and cruell Fates ( Which no man spare ) : when as his disagree He with his sheep-hooke knaps them on the pates , Schooling his tender Lambs from wanton gates : Beasts are more kinde than Men , Sheepe seeke not blood But countrey caytiues kill their Countreyes good . The Courtier he fawn's for his Princes fauour , In hope to get a Princely ritch Reward ; His tongue is tipt with honey for to glauer ; Pride deales the Deck whilst Chance doth choose the Card , Then comes another and his Game hath mard ; Sitting betwixt him , and the morning Sun : Thus Night is come before the Day is done . Some Courtiers carefull of their Princes health , Attend his Person with all dilligence Whose hand 's their hart ; whose welfare is their wealth , Whose safe Protection is their sure Defence , For pure affection , not for hope of pence : Such is the faithfull hart , such is the minde , Of him that is to Vertue still inclinde . The skilfull Scholler , and braue man at Armes , First plies his Booke , last fights for Countries Peace ; Th' one feares Obliuion , th' other fresh Alarmes : His paines nere ende , his trauailes neuer cease ; His with the Day , his with the Night increase : He studies how to get eternall Fame ; The Souldier fights to win a glorious Name . The Knight , the Squire , the Gentleman , the Clowne , Are full of crosses and calamities ; Lest fickle Fortune should begin to frowne , And turne their mirth to extreame miseries : Nothing more certaine than incertainties ; Fortune is full of fresh varietie : Constant in nothing but inconstancie . The wealthie Merchant that doth crosse the Seas , To Denmarke , Poland , Spaine , and Barbarie ; For all his ritches , liues not still at ease ; Sometimes he feares ship-spoyling Pyracie , Another while deceipt and treacherie Of his owne Factors in a forren Land : Thus doth he still in dread and danger stand . Well is he tearmd a Merchant-Venturer , Since he doth venter lands , and goods , and all : When he doth trauell for his Traffique far , Little he knowes what fortune may befall , Or rather what mis-fortune happen shall : Sometimes he splits his Ship against a rocke ; Loosing his men , his goods , his wealth , his stocke . And if he so escape with life away , He counts himselfe a man most fortunate , Because the waues their rigorous rage did stay , ( When being within their cruell powers of late , The Seas did seeme to pittie his estate ) But yet he neuer can recouer health , Because his ioy was drowned with his wealth . The painfull Plough-swaine and the Husband-man Rise vp each morning by the breake of day , Taking what toyle and drudging paines they can , And all is for to get a little stay ; And yet they cannot put their care away : When Night is come , their cares begin afresh , Thinking vpon their Morrowes busines . Thus euerie man is troubled with vnrest , From rich to poore , from high to low degree : Therefore I thinke that man is truly blest , That neither cares for wealth nor pouertie , But laughs at Fortune and her foolerie ; That giues rich Churles great store of golde and fee , And lets poore Schollers liue in miserie , O fading Branches of decaying Bayes Who now will water your dry-wither'd Armes ? Or where is he that sung the louely Layes Of simple Shepheards in their Countrey Farmes ? Ah he is dead the cause of all our harmes : And with him dide my ioy and sweete delight ; The cleare to Clowdes , the Day is turnd to Night . SYDNEY , The Syren of this latter Age ; SYDNEY , The Blasing-starre of Englands glory ; SYDNEY , The Wonder of the wise and sage ; SYDNEY , The Subiect of true Vertues story : This Syren , Starre , this Wonder , and this Subiect ; Is dumbe , dim , gone , and mard by Fortunes Obiect . And thou my sweete Amintas vertuous minde , Should I forgetthy Learning or thy Loue ; Well might I be accounted but vnkinde , Whose pure affection I so oft did proue : Might my poore Plaints hard stones to pitty moue ; His losse should be lamented of each Creature , So great his Name , so gentle was his Nature . But sleepe his soule in sweet Elysium , ( The happy Hauen of eternall rest : ) And let me to my former matter come , Prouing by Reason , Shepheards life is best , Because he harbours Vertue in his Brest ; And is content ( the chiefest thing of all ) With any fortune that shall him befall . He sits all Day lowd-piping on a Hill , The whilst his flocke about him daunce apace , His hart with ioy , his eares with Musique fill : Anon a bleating Weather beares the Bace , A Lambe the Treble ; and to his disgrace Another answers like a middle Meane : Thus euery one to beare a Part are faine . Like a great King he rules a little Land , Still making Statutes , and ordayning Lawes ; Which if they breake , he beates them with his Wand : He doth defend them from the greedy Iawes Of rau'ning Woolues , and Lyons bloudy Pawes . His Field , his Realme ; his Subiects are his Sheepe ; Which he doth still in due obedience keepe . First he ordaines by Act of Parlament , ( Holden by custome in each Country Towne ) That if a sheepe ( with any bad intent ) Presume to breake the neighbour Hedges downe , Or haunt strange Pastures that be not his owne ; He shall be pounded for his lustines , Vntill his Master finde out some redres . Also if any proue a Strageller From his owne fellowes in a forraine field , He shall be taken for a wanderer , And forc'd himselfe immediatly to yeeld , Or with a wyde-mouth'd Mastiue Currre be kild . And if not claimd within a twelue-months space , He shall remaine with Land-lord of the place . Or if one stray to feede far from the rest , He shall be pincht by his swift pye-bald Curre ; If any by his fellowes be opprest , The wronger ( for he doth all wrong abhorre ) Shall be well bangd so long as he can sturre . Because he did anoy his harmeles Brother , That meant not harme to him nor any other . And last of all , if any wanton Weather , With briers and brambles teare his fleece in twaine , He shall beforc'd t' abide cold frosty weather , And powring showres of ratling stormes of raine , Till his new fleece begins to grow againe : And for his rashnes he is doom'd to goe , without a new Coate all the Winter throw . Thus doth he keepe them still in awfull feare , And yet allowes them liberty inough ; So deare to him their welfare doth appeare , That when their fleeces gin to waxen rough , He combs and trims them with a Rampicke bough , Washing them in the streames of siluer Ladon , To cleanse their skinnes from all corruption . Another while he wooes his Country Wench ( With Chaplets crownd , and gaudy girlonds dight ) Whose burning Lust her modest eye doth quench , Standing amazed at her heauenly sight , ( Beauty doth rauish Sense with sweet Delight ) Clearing Arcadia with a smoothed Browe When Sun-bright smiles melts flakes of driuen snowe . Thus doth he frollicke it each day by day , And when Night comes drawes homeward to his Coate , Singing a Ijgge or merry Roundelay ; ( For who sings commonly so merry a Noate , As he that cannot chop or change a groate . ) And in the winter Nights ( his chiefe desire ) He turnes a Crabbe or Cracknell in the fire . He leads his Wench a Country Horne-pipe Round , About a May-pole on a Holy-day ; Kissing his louely Lasse ( with Garlands Crownd ) With whoopping heigh-ho singing Care away ; Thus doth he passe the merry month of May : And all th' yere after in delight and ioy , ( Scorning a King ) he cares for no annoy . What though with simple cheere he homely sares ? He liues content , a King can doo no more ; Nay not so much , for Kings haue manie cares : But he hath none ; except it be that sore Which yong and old , which vexeth ritch and poore , The pangs of Loue . O! who can vanquish Loue , That conquers Kingdomes , and the Gods aboue ? Deepe-wounding Arrow , hart-consuming Fire ; Ruler of Reason , slaue to tyrant Beautie ; Monarch of harts , Fuell of fond desire , Prentice to Folly , foe to fained Duetie , Pledge of true Zeale , Affections moitie ; If thou kilst where thou wilt , and whom it list thee , ( Alas ) how can a silly Soule resist thee ? By thee great Collin lost his libertie , By thee sweet Astrophel forwent his ioy . By thee Amyntas wept incessantly , By thee good Rowland liu'd in great annoy ; O cruell , peeuish , vylde , blind-seeing Boy : How canst thou hit their harts , and yet not see ? ( If thou be blinde , as thou art faind to bee ) . A Shepheard loues no ill , but onely thee ; He hath no care , but onely by thy causing : Why doost thou shoot thy cruell shasts at mee ? Giue me some respite , some short time of pausing : Still my sweet Loue with bitter lucke th' art sawcing : Oh , if thou hast a minde to shew thy might ; Kill mightie Kings , and not a wretched wight . Yet ( O Enthraller of infranchizd harts ) At my poore hart if thou wilt needs be ayming , Doo me this fauour show me both thy Darts , That I may chuse the best for my harts mayming , ( A free consent is priuiledgd from blaming : Then pierce his hard hart with thy golden Arrow , That thou my wrong , that he may rue my sorrow . But let mee feele the force of thy lead Pyle , What should I doo with loue when I am old ? I know not how to flatter , fawne , or smyle ; Then stay thy hand , O cruell Bow-man hold : For if thou strik'ft me with thy dart of gold , I sweare to thee ( by Ioues immortall curse ) I haue more in my hart , than in my purse . The more I weepe , the more he bends his Brow ; For in my hart a golden Shaft I finde : ( Cruell , vnkinde ) and wilt thou leaue me so ? Can no remorce nor pittie moue thy minde ? Is Mercie in the Heauens so hard to finde ? Oh , then it is no meruaile that on earth , Of kinde Remorce there is so great a dearth , How happie were a harmles Shepheards life , If he had neuer knowen what Loue did meane : But now fond Loue in euery place is rife , Staining the purest Soule with spots vncleane , Making thicke purses , thin ; fat bodies , leane : Loue is a fiend , a fire , a heauen , a hell ; Where pleasure , paine , and sad repentance dwell . There are so manie Danaes now a dayes , That loue for lucre ; paine for gaine is sold : No true affection can their fancie please , Except it be a Ioue to raine downe gold Into their laps , which they wyde open hold : If legempone comes , he is receau'd , When Uix haud habeo is of hope bereau'd . Thus haue I showed in my Countrey vaine The sweet Content that Shepheards still inioy ; The mickle pleasure , and the little paine That euer doth awayte the Shepheards Boy : His hart is neuer troubled with annoy . He is a King , for he commaunds his Sheepe ; He knowes no woe , for he doth seldome weepe . He is a Courtier , for he courts his Loue ; He is a Scholler , for he sings sweet Ditties ; He is a Souldier , for he wounds doth proue ; He is the same of Townes , the shame of Citties : He scornes false Fortune , but true Vertue pitties . He is a Gentleman , because his nature Is kinde and affable to euerie Creature . Who would not then a simple Shepheard bee , Rather than be a mightie Monarch made ? Since he inioyes such perfect libertie , As neuer can decay , nor neuer fade : He seldome sits in dolefull Cypresse shade , But liues in hope , in ioy , in peace , in blisse : Ioying all ioy with this content of his . But now good-fortune lands my little Boate Vpon the shoare of his desired rest : Now must I leaue ( awhile ) my rurall noate , To thinke on him whom my soule loueth best ; He that can make the most vnhappie , blest : In whose sweete lap I le lay me downe to sleepe , And neuer wake till Marble-stones shall weepe . FINIS .

SONNET . Loe here behold these tributarie Teares , Paid to thy faire , but cruell tyrant Eyes ; Loe here the blossome of my youthfull yeares , Nipt with the fresh of thy Wraths winter , dyes , Here on Loues Altar I doo offer vp This burning hart for my Soules sacrifice ; Here I receaue this deadly-poysned Cu , Of Circe charm'd ; wherein deepe Magickelyes . Then Teares ( if you be happie Teares indeed ) , And Hart ( if thou be lodged in his brest ) , And Cup ( if thou canst helpe despaire with speed ) ; Teares , Hart , and Cup conioyne to make me blest : Teares moue , Hart win , Cup cause , ruth , loue , desire , In word , in deed , by moane by zeale , by fire . FINIS .

THE COMPLAINT OF CHASTITIE . Briefely touching the cause of the death of Matilda Fitzwalters an English Ladie ; sometime loued of King Iohn , after poysoned . The Storie is at large written by Michael Dreyton . YOV modest Dames , inricht with Chastitie . Maske your bright eyes with Vestaes sable Vaile , Since few are left so faire or chast as shee ; ( Matter for me to weepe you to bewaile ) : For manie seeming so , of Vertue faile ; Whose louely Cheeks ( with rare vermilion tainted ) Can neuer blush because their faire is painted . O faire-foule Tincture , staine of Woman-kinde , Mother of Mischiefe , Daughter of Deceate , False traitor to the Soule , blot to the Minde , Vsurping Tyrant of true Beauties seate , Right Cousner of the eye , lewd Follies baite , The flag of filthines , the sinke of shame , The Diuells dye , dishonour of thy name . Monster of Art , Bastard of bad Desier , Il-worshipt Idoll , false Imagerie , Ensigne of Vice , to thine owne selfe a lier , Silent Inchaunter , mindes Anatomie , Sly Bawd to Lust , Pandor to Infamie , Slaunder of Truth , Truth of Difsimulation ; Staining our Clymate more than anie Nation . What shall I say to thee ? thou scorne of Nature , Blacke spot of sinne , vylde lure of lecherie ; Iniurious Blame to euerie faemale creature , Wronger of time , Broker of trecherie , Trap of greene youth , false Womens witcherie , Hand-maid of pride , high-way to wickednesse ; Yet path-way to Repentance , nerethelesse . Thou dost entice the minde to dooing euill , Thou setst dissention twixt the man and wife ; A Saint in show , and yet indeed a deuill : Thou art the cause of euerie common strife ; Thou art the life of Death , the death of Life ; Thou doost betray thy selfe to Infamie , When thou art once discerned by the eye . Ah , little knew Matilda of thy being , Those Times were pure from all impure complection ; Then Loue came of Desert , Desire of seeing , Then Vertue was the mother of Affection ; ( But Beautie now is vnder no subiection ) Then women were the same that men did deeme , But now they are the same they doo not seeme . What faemale now intreated of a King With gold and iewels , pearles and precious stones , Would willingly refuse so sweete a thing ? Onely for a little show of Vertue ones : Women haue kindnes grafted in their bones . Gold is a deepe-perswading Orator , Especially where few the fault abhor . But yet shee rather deadly poyson chose , ( Oh cruell Bane of most accursed Clime ; ) Than staine that milke-white Mayden-virgin Rose , Which shee had kept vnspotted till that time : And not corrupted with this earthly slime , Her soule shall liue : inclosd eternally , In that pure shrine of Immortality . This is my Doome : and this shall come to passe ; For what are Pleasures but still-vading ioyes ? Fading as flowers , brittle as a glasse , Or Potters Clay , crost with the least annoyes ; All things in this life are but trifling Toyes : But Fame and Vertue neuer shall decay , For Fame is Toomblesse , Vertue liues for aye . FINIS .

Hellens Rape . OR A light Lanthorne for light Ladies . Written in English Hexameters . LOuely a Lasse , so loue da Lasse , and ( alas ) such a louing ( Lasse Lasse , for a while ( but a while ) was none such a sweet bonny Loue - As Helen , Maenelaus louing , lou'd , louelie , a loue-lasse , Till spight full Fortune from a loue-lasse made her a loue-lesse Wife . From a wise woman to a witles want on abandond , When her mate ( vnawares ) made warres in Peloponessus , Adultrous Paris ( then a Boy ) kept sheepe as a shepheard On Ida Mountaine , vnknowne to the King for a Keeper Of sheep , on Ida Mountaine , as a Boy , as a shepheard : Yet such sheep he kept , and was so seemelie a shepheard , Seemelie a Boy , so seemelie a youth , so seemelie a Younker , That on Ide was not such a Boy , such a youth , such a Younker . Sonne now reconcil'd to the Father , fained a letter Sent him by Iupiter ( the greatest God in Olympus ) For to repaire with speede to the brauest Graecian Hauen , And to redeeme againe Hesyone latelie reuolted From Troy by Ayax , whom she had newly betrothed . Well , so well he told his tale to his Aunt Amaryllis That A maryllis , ( his Aunt , ) obtained of his aged Syre , that he sent him a ship , and made him Capten of Argus . Great store went to Greece with lust-bewitched Alexis , Telamour , and Tydias : with these he sliceth the salt seas , The salt seas slicing , at length be comes to the firme land , Firme land , an auntient Iland cald old Lacedaemon . Argus ( eye full Earle ) when first the ken of a Castle He had spide , bespake : ( to the Mate , to the men , to the Mates-man ) Lo behold of Greece ( quoth he ) the great Cytadella , ( Ycleaped Menela ) so tearmd of Deliaes Husband : Happie Helen , Womens most woonder , beautifull Helen . Oh would God ( quoth he ) with a flattring Tongue he repeated : Oh would God ( quoth he ) that I might deserue to be husband To such a happie huswife , to such a beautifull Helen . This he spake to intice the minde of a lecherous young-man : But what spurres neednow , for an vntam'd Titt to be trotting : Or to add old Oile to the flame , new flaxe to the fier . Paris heard him hard , and gaue good eare to his harkening . And then his loue to a lust , his lust was turnd to a fier , Fire was turnd to a flame , and flame was turnd to a burning Brand : and mothers Dreame was then most truelie resolued . Well so far th' are come , that now th' are come to the Castle , Castle all of stone , yet euery stone was a Castle : Euerie foote had a Fort , and euerie Fort had a fountaine , Euerie fountaine a spring , and euerie spring had a spurting Streame : so strong without , within , so stately a building , Neuer afore was seene : If neuer afore Polyphoebe Was seene : was to be seene , if nere to be seene was Olympus . Flowers were framd of flints , Walls Rubies , Rafters of Argent : Pauements of Chrisolite , Windows contriu'd of a Christall : Vessels were of gold , with gold was each thing adorned : Golden Webs more worth than a wealthy Souldan of Egypt , And her selfe more worth than a wealthy Souldan of Egypt : And her selfe more worth than all the wealth shee possessed ; Selfe ? indeede such a selfe , as thundring Ioue in Olympus , Though he were father could finde in his hart to be husband . Embassage ended , to the Queene of faire Lacedaemon ; ( Happie King of a Queene so faire , of a Country so famous ) Embassage ended , a Banquet braue was appointed : Sweet Repast for a Prince , fine Iunkets fit for a Kings sonne . Biskets and Carawayes , Comfets , Tart , Plate , Ielly , Ginge-bread , Lymons and Medlars : and Dishes moe by a thousand . First they fell to the feast , and after fall to a Dauncing , And from a Dance to a Trance , from a Trance they fell to a falling Either in others armes , and either in armes of another . Pastime ouer-past , and Banquet duely prepared , Deuoutly pared : Each one hies home to his owne home , Saue Lord and Ladie : Young Lad , but yet such an old Lad , In such a Ladies lappe , at such a slipperie by-blow , That in a world so wide , could not be found such a wilie Lad : in an Age so old , could not be found such an old lad : Old lad , and bold lad , such a Boy , such a lustie Iuuentus . Well to their worke they goe , and both they iumble in one Bed : Worke so well they like , that they still like to be working : For Aurora mounts before he leaues to be mounting : And Astraea fades before she faints to be falling : ( Helen a light Huswife , now a light some starre in Olympus . ) FINIS .