Beawtie dishonoured vvritten vnder the title of Shores wife Chascun se plaist ou il se trouue mieux.

SHORES WIFE . SIgh , sad musde accents , of my funerall verse , In lamentable grones , ( wrought from true pietie ) Sing you the wept song , on her wronged hearce , Is gratefull obsequie to her mortall deitie : Sighe : ô ; sing Actuallie the bewtie pained , With bewties wonder honorablie stained . Bleed pen in blacke teares , dombe , yet pittie mouing The weeping Elegies to the worthiest faire : Weepe pen in warme bloud , to the world approuing How faire , how good , how deare , old age did way her . Bleed teares : weepe bloud , pen , sing , sighe on her hearce Her gratefull obsequies in a funerall verse . Carelesse , so sleepe our Loethe drincking eyes , In present bewties , deemd deuinely rare Neglecting th' Ancient wonder time did pryse For such a trophie as had no compare , That now she seems as if she had bin neuer , Whom euen eternitie said should liue for euer . The high-musde period of the storie reader , ( Wondring or warre , or matter causing terror ) Omits her fortune , to her fates arreader , ( Precisly censuring bewtie by her error ) So she that euen the fairest she surmounted , Now of the fairest , is the fowlest counted . So variablie diuers in her willing , When vulgar rumor feedes on base suspect , Impeaching ielousie the best worth ylling Augments the matter of the least defect And bad suggestions secretly inuected Giue vild dishonour to the thing suspected . For whilst not priuiledgd from monster fame , The bewtie ( of the not so faire inuyed ) Lyes subiect to dishonorable name , With hate , and emulous surmises eyed , We finde it dayly true amongst the best He 's most inuyed most exceeds the rest . Hence haps her fortune to be yld so much , Whom fourth king Edward , excellently prised , And hence it haps , because there was none such , Shores wife , most faire , the most fowle is surmised And hence it haps , that dead to all disdaine her Her wronged ghost suruyueth to complaine her Who whilst she liud the subiect of impietie , Ground of a thousand voyces disagreeing , The matter of vnhollowed fames varietie , ( Which from her good hap had vnworthie being ) Euen on her dying bed deuinely sorrie , Pensiue in hart she weepes forth thus her storie . But when backe flying from her paled cheeke , Bash full Aurora did recall her red : And white-lockte Hyems , on her face did seeke , His Iuorie mantle , doubting she were dead : When red fled white , white red , and both had left her And wan apparance of her faire had reft her . When sincking downe , weaknesse dissolud her eyes , From vitall spirites Actuallie mouing , To waterish heauinesse dimd in drooping wise , In slow neglecting lookes their end approuing , And with their often opening toward heauen Seemd of their vertue and their powre bereauen . When through her oft and soft , expyring breath , ( That still reentring mou'd her panting breast ) She seem'd with euery sigh to draw in death , That willing gaspes held her eternall rest , Then when her head heauie did leane awry Seeming euen then she could not doe but dye , First teares , deuining speech , denouncing passion , That meete in greatnesse of their seuerall motions Fall from her eyes in that vnwilling fashion , Argued her hartes greefe , and her greefes commotions , Teares , the harts dombe pleas : ( words with greefe restrained ) Like loath departing pearles her eyes downe rayned . Then through transparance of the white was left her , Freshly peeres secret glorie of her bloud , When euen that death , of life that would haue reft her With feare and reuerence amazed stood , Doubting , though at the last gaspe she did lye , A bewtie so deuine could neuer dye , When teares the mother issue of greefes restraint ( bound in the greatnesse of their owne condition ) Passiue in Action , had performd complaint , In seene , not heard plea of her harts contrition , When eyes were dim , when panting she lay wan , Teares hauing playd their part , her toung began . Ah whence shall I quoth she , ( she wept agayne Opening her eyes , opening her handes to heauen ) Produce the storie of my liues remayne : My life of hap : I of my life bereauen . Or why should I vnto the world complaine me If all the world for my mishap disdayne me ? Then where from siluer streamed Isis lying , Sylent in Swans : and quyet in her brookes , Forsaken Thames , into her selfe backe flying , With muddie countnance , and vnwilling lookes , As discontent , doth make her sad resorte As farre as now decayeng Caesars forte : There recordes witnesse of mine education , And vulgar Parentes , of a meane degree , To whom my dying day hath iust relation : Yet was this meane a happie meane to me : That liuing fayrest farre aboue the best , Haplesse in life , in death I might be blest . But madding thoughtes , ambitious of promotions , Nurst in suspect of ages alteration , As swolne with furie of the mindes commotions , Deemes all things doubtfull , breedes not contentation , And this did discontent their mindes did guide me , That being young , there were too many eyde me For looke how matter , admirably rare , Drawes musing thoughts , to studdying contemplation : And time not hable to produce compare , Confermes the wonder with more admiration : So , and such was my bewties quaint compare Wonder it selfe did make me more then rare : Yet humble , honorable , chast , and deuine , True looking , pure , and bashfully reflecting , Were all the honors of my mayden eyne : In perfect Act true modestie affecting : And this Decorum I did euer seeke To grace my bewtie with a blushing cheeke . Myne eye no looke , no wanton wincke affected , ( The false fayre notes of Syren incantations ) No rash gase of immodestie detected , My chast minde , bent to wandering alterations , And yet , nor quoy , nor prowd my lookes were wayd But purely such , as might befit a mayd . Straunge gestures vsde not I , nor quaint behauing : Such as the seeming loath-to-looke , do practise With fainte denyall absolutely crauing : ( The outward fault wherein dishonest lacke lyes ) To these I left the light behauiours leaning As moderne subtleties of immodest meaning . But in my lookes , ciuilitie , and cheare , Bashfull , and decent , did import a purenesse : And where my bewtie brightest did appeare , A low regard argued a perfect surenesse : That euen the graces seem'd to say with mee , If I were not , them selues could neuer bee . Angell aspects , of gazing window wonders , Angling at eyes , with bewtie in the ayre : Bewties that nature from apparance sunders , With stolne shame of imaginarie fayre : These like to monsters euer I esteemed , Worship their owne selues , for a bewtie deemed . I lookt : and in my decensie precise : ( Yet women looke , one , to enuie an other ) I found that euen the ancient wholy wise , Their young conceipts yet in their age did smother And euen the crooked old should now dispaire At least do hold them selues pure aged faire . And infant younglings , sucking from their mother , Selfe-like-dregs , of vnwomanly surmises , Add boldnesse to the mallice enuies other , For euen the young begins as bewtie rises : And this peculier to their sexe did see . Both old , and young and all would fairest bee : Which when my selfe in more iuditiall measure , ( Growne to conceipt vpon mine owne perfection : ) Saw held of all men , yearthes eternall treasure , And of the most n'er worse then sweet subiection : Disposd to vertue , chastitie did will me , Leaue selfe conceipt , for selfe conceipt did ill me : When intertaining to my bewties honor , The true instructions chastitie did teach me : Noting what hap , what heauen did wayt vpon her , Whilst no dishonoring blemish did impeach me , By nature and desire to this disposed Soone had my will my thoughtes thereto imposed . I saw my selfe was absolutely faire , Yet alterd not that vertue to a sin , I knew a small fault quickly would impaire The purest bewtie that should fall therein . I saw the sin , and saw that most had done it , And yet I had the grace to know and shunne it . My thoughts that then were bashfull , pure , and true Cleane from impietie : from ill : from stayne : Of nature wise , had reason to eschew The thing my nature did so much disdaine : I saw both bewtie and the good that blist it . Yet by seducing errour I haue mist it : For loe , those eyes , whom ielousie had fram'd , To false suggestions of mine vnstain'd youth : What they misdeem'd , deuiningly they blam'd , Fearing suspect might after turne to truth : When seing my selfe ( cleane in thought and deede ) Vnworthy blam'd : my hart begun to bleede : Then waxt I wanton as I grew to see , Doting suspect dishonour me so much , My selfe , yet chast , and pure , defam'd to bee , And to be deem'd false , though I were not such . And this was euen the first cause that I wrought false That though I were yet true , yet I was thought false . Such hap they haue , haue such attending eyes , Needlesly carefull of the not transgressing : But carefull parents do the worst surmise In doubted errour secretly redressing : Yet oft we see , so carefull some do proue They kill their car'de for with their too much loue . Which proofe confirm'd in me was lou'd too much : Whose bewtie then , when in her Aprill grace , It stood vnequal'd , fellowed with none such , As might the excellencie of my fayre abace : Loe then began my bewtie first to weame When first my bewtie gan to be extreame . My fathers house obscure , and I not knowne , But cloisterd vp to secresie , and sadnesse , My frendes misdoubting that as I was growne , Tempting desire might win my will to badnesse Wise-indiscrete , perforce they me constrained To wed my selfe to one that I disdained . Then holy rites of matrimonie vowed , I sold my bewtie , and my selfe vnwilling , To him , to whom I , and my bewtie bowed , Not for his loue , but for his mindes fulfilling . For though in byrth my match did equall me My bewtie was vnfit for such as he . And I that scorning tributarie loue : Should haue enioyn'd me to an after duetie , Fearing his vnrespect of me might proue , Th' incapable tyrant of my subiect bewtie . Before our contract came vnto conclusion : I knew his loue would be my liues confusion . Yet miser auarice : ( doting ayme of promotions ) Gaping at rich showres of a golden age , As feed prowd vultors by the windes commotions , Act monster wonders in a wealth rage Carelesse to what accompt the faire be wed Nor forcing discord of a loathed bed : Who sees the secrets of that widow thought The silent musings , and the discontent Mouing impatience in her minde hath wrought . Whose bewtie's subiect to inforst content ? Or how may we thincke she her passion brookes That dares not speake but plead her greefe in lookes . Discenting vnitie of a discord bed , Burning in vapours of suggestious quyet , Strain'd concord of th' infortunatly wed , Dissembling loue ; and framing wonders by it Who seeth this , may quickly iudge the ill That minde indures is wed against her will . In her raynes ielousie full of a selfe suspect , Deeming all eyes as doubling as her owne , Fearing her selfe , her owne selfe might detect ( For she thincke , what to her to all is knowne ) And this is still peculier to her vayne To hate the thing she feares may doubt agayne . Which haps from hence , that she suspecteth euer , That aduerse ielousie will come and see , The close wrought Act her secresies indeuor , And Acte againe , gainst her as close as shee , And though no fault nor any deed detectes her Yet will she hate the thing she feares suspectes her . Thus waking to her selfe and watching all : Discentious vnion in her selfe discording : Fearing the fortune worthie may be fall . Onel' in a diuers Sympathie according : By feare and doubt vnto her worst hap led Thus doth she worke still in th' vnwilling bed . She shrynes her greefe vp in a secret fashion , ( Which musing silence Agonies increase , ) And euer dombe , in discontented passion , She shakes her head , and sighes , and holdes her peace : Her greefe and feare is such she cannot say it Till her complayning eyes in teares bewray it . Looke how discountnanst in her eyes slow mouing ( The wakefull residence of a discontent , ) Heauely sighted , sad quyet sits approuing , The awd condition of enforst content And how her drooping , notes her myndes disquyet To be so great she seemes downe wayed by it . Marke how the down cast lookes her eyes reflect , Argues her life , sequestred from her mindes ease : And euery gesture , secretly detect , The note of silent passion neuer findes ease : And though she seemes vnwilling to bewray it , Yet in that seeming so she seemes to say it . She sits and heares , euen passionatly attentiue , How better fortunes ioy the happie wed , When in a sodaine thought hartely pensiue She castes her eyes vp , and she shakes her head Whilst many thoughtes concurring all in one Makes her greeu'd soule yeeld forth a deadly groane . Loe so vnited to a discontent , Departed from my selfe , to liue t'vnkindnesse , Too soone my ill-bestow'd youth did repent , My parentes auarice , and desaster blindnesse , That could not see the loathing that is bred , In discordiarring of an vnkind bed : And what is worse : ô this is interdicting , The fellow ioyings of a true met loue , More then her owne ill , this is still inflicting , Which neuer did the willing bridgroome proue , That loues but one , and gaynes such good thereby He 's lou'd againe and so doth liue and dye . But soone had Sutor eyes , with priuie looke , Noted the loathing that I bare vnto him , And mou'd by this , they quickly vndertooke , Or shame , or some dishonorable Acte to doe him : And that this might better performed be , They seem'd to mallice him , and pittie me . As song the Syrens to the wandring knight , Th' illusiue stanzaes of their charming song : Pleasing th' Attentiue eare with sweet delight , But hatefull Actors of intended wrong : So sweetly song they songs of loue to me , They seem'd , or Syrens , or more sweet to be . For looke how in a solitarie guise The virgine querester of the listning night , Chantes her sweet descant , in a flattering wise , Togayne her litle freedome if she might : And sings the sweeter by how much the more She mindes the libertie she had before . So when imprison'd in precise constrainte , Myne eye kept watch and my brow tyrannised : Those that their free enlargement did awayte , In arguing pratle sweetly subtelised : And as their passion did increase in feare , It pleasd so much the more my straunger eare . And so much more as doth the churlish riche , Keepe gold the safer , as the culler's pure So much the more my bewtie did bewich , Them to continuance as they were more sure : And these I knew so well to entertaine . They would not leaue loue , to be free agayne . For liueth that Philosophie precise Whom documentes haue quyte strain'd from this ? Liueth that ancient old , and aged wise , Whom yeares haue knowne to make to hate their blisse ? Then blame not yeouth if want only he wooes : Since doting old and bookewise cannot choese . Nor let my bewtie be impeacht with this , That I was woman like , though Angell fayre , For him doth puretie fortunately blisse , That is not blemisht with some blacke impayre : For this we see almost in things deuine T' is quickly stayned is the purest fine . Neuer did flocke to old Vlisses Queene , In wearie absence of her straying knight , Neuer more woers in her court were seene , ( Although perhaps more worthie persons might ) Then there were Sutors still importun'd me For I presume I was as fayre as she Nor could my seeming true to him I chose , Giue answere to their often suites renuing My fained loue to this , fayn'd hate to those , Could be no obstacle to their euer suing : And I not knowing quaintly to disdaine them Through want of Arte was forst to intertaine them . When oft intreaties breeding emulation In the corriuall thoughts of fellow louers , Wrought quyte chang'd being , and straunge alteration , As oftner vowes their constancie discouers : For that will issue to her full perfection Hath grounded being by the mindes affection . Then equall in my thoughtes making compare , T'wixte old forlorne , and personally young : I quickly saw th' Abuse my bewtie bare , And my harts greefe sat fresh vpon my toung : When noting this , my hart began to cry : And I exclaim'd against a doting eye : What Sympathie of loue ( quoth I ) can be Twixte crooked old , and excellently fayre Discording yeares will euer disagree , As different age to graue doth make repayre : And this to old men proper still doth proue , To sigh they are so old they cannot loue . Such one was he rest my youth of her blisse , He could no more of loue , his dayes were don : Crookt old , and cold , his yeares deny'd him this , And therefore greeu'd he had so soone begun ôist not greefe that age should so defame The reuerent title of so graue a name . But how can I , how can all woemen brooke this , Decrepit yeares from pleasure should restrayne them ? Ner liu'd they happie day that vndertooke this But of their fortune after did complaine them : For what is dotage that we should affect it Or moody age that women should respect it . Old quyte for lorne and ouerworne with yeares , He makes an infant humour of his age , And in his lined browes dotage appeares , A witlesse babie in a louing rage : And such a humour in his sences rayne , And being old he 's made a child agayne , He calls his Kate , and she must come and kisse him , Doting his madded loue vpon her face : Hee thinckes her smile hath where withall to blisse him , Thus franticques his loue to the fayres disgrace Which not withstood she dares not say him no ô is t not pittie bewtie's vsed so . But do not therefore blame the tripping fayre For euen the fayrest hath her imperfection : Let not precise respect the lighter way her , For euen the mayden seeming hath affection : And now a dayes the chast deuout will show loue , That hauing learn'd they may the better know loue . Let th' ancient doting therefore be precise The quicke ey'd young will haue a time to wincke it , Outward apparance can deceaue his eyes , And she play wanton when he doth not thincke it , For this as sure as selfe truth shall insue If age be ielious youth must be vntrue . Suggesting feare shall make the newly wed , Be false , because she feares she is suspected , And feare by Arte , to fayning shal be led , To double closly with the false affected : For what is their arm'de fortune better noting Then double Act t' expresse their priuie doting ? So may his mariage bed a loue bewray , Is fayning true and fearefully rebellious , Whom after age in time to come shall say , Is doting old , and cold , and foolish ielious : And let this title from his name n'er sunder He 's loues head monster and his armed wonder . But leauing this an ordinarie shame , To that graue being of a reuerent age , Whose ag'de graue decensie it doth defame , With madding matter of an idle rage : As made her monster by her childish follie Is reuerent old , and honorable whollie , Of oft intreating sutors I will say , Whose often vowes tempt me to further sin , And hoping time my frayltie might bewray , They vse all art to teach me to begin : Yet though I lou'de not him that I had chose , I knew not how to candescend to those : But hence grew hate , for now I grew admired , And by degrees begun to learne to sin , Then when I saw I was so much desired , I seem'd transform'd as I had neuer bin . And selfe opinion wrought so strong effect As now I grew to leaue all chast respect . For chastitie by wyles grew to be cold , My modest bewtie gan to alter wanton , I that from me , my selfe , my selfe had sold , Found this hard fortune for my hart to panton I now began to exercise myne eye And gase on all would gase aswell as I. My speech from humble , decent , pure , and true , That hid no secresie in a plainly meaning , To Courtlike , wanton , pleasant did insue : I left my nature to my follies wearing : And I by practise learn'd the worst so well In wanton arte the best I could excell : Thus I both wild and absolutely fayre , Charm'd with my bewtie , with my wyles allured ; My want of shame , myne honor did impayre , As long as I my selfe to sin inured , Which if I sin'd or did with sin dispence , My life must say , ( to whom I was offence : ) Yet not defam'd for other fault then those , The wanton Cittie-dwelling counte their grace , But euery toung vpon suspect did glose , And being apt new made reports t' imbrace I now was fam'd the fayrest she was euer , ( Which fame in that age was extinguisht neuer . ) For sooner had no motiues of desire , Taught me to exercise my witt , and bewtie ; But my conceipt could set delight on fire And wanton lookes impriuiledge all dewtie And I grew fayrer and the oftner named As quainte conceipt me for delightfull famed . When loe : ( for who liues so hid so obscure So secret from the world , remote from eyeng , As holdes him selfe of doubtfull talke so sure , But fame into his fortunes will be pryeng ? ) Euen then when we of obscure life doe boast It proues at last that then w' are knowne the most . For then pronouncing from incertaine thought , Th' vngrounded storie of a lyer muse : What secresie from subtle eyes had wrought , Incertaine fame with falshood will abuse : Fame secret witnesse to the guilt conceald Mads all infurie till it be reueal'd . Mindfull remembrer of a secret will , ( If secret may import worthie dishonor ) The periur'd counsailor of the close wrought ill , False testimonie of a hope , relyeng on her , Both truth , and falshood , in one period bounding , Contrarie to her selfe , her selfe confounding : False glosing toung , credulities relye , Error of nature , bad seede of base sedition , Suspectes false daughter , neuer borne to dye , Nurst of Erinnis , and of false suspition : Prou'd all the worldes plague and inur'd to sin : Happie had I liu'd , hadst thou neuer bin : For till thou first with thine vnhappie storie , Ecchoing relations of my worth and me : Intitul'dst my name to my bewties glorie , Vnworthie knowne , of such a worth to be Though not performed in so royall measure Yet then I ioy'd a life of quyet pleasure : So fares th' infortunate whom monster fame , Glosing , ambitious , false mus'd , makes her subiect , Enioyn'd by prayse , to bide eternall shame And rest the worldes dishonorable obiect Such fate had I , that was so highlie famed First to be held fayre , after euer shamed . For now ambitious in her fabling humor , Vnto my king , my bewtie she dispences , To whom sh'impartes a wonder working rumor , In speech Authenticall , to charme his sences : With Acte his eyes his eares , with wordes she won , His hart , his loue , his soule , ere she had don . She seemed sober hartie and precise , Framing her false lookes to a pleading fitnesse : T'vnthought-on truth sh'adaps her humbled eyes And euery Acte seem'd her tales truth to witnesse : And what she thought could win the king she wrought-on In Acte , and speech she let not passe vnthought-on . So as when at his oracles disclosing , Deuining Proteus , prophesying small thinges His selfe from culler from his shape disposing , Deludes the sutor hold by seeming all thinges Making him selfe a monster to the vew Before deceite can bring him to tell trew : Monster fame so , deuining on supposes : Suspitious of her selfe , ( her selfe a lyer : ) In altering tales her flatterie discloses Wrought to report ill by her owne desire Whilst that the king credits her tale for truth Which after turn'd a shame vnto his youth . For had she bin more ready to report-it His apt beleefe had sooner giuen it credit : His willing harkning eare did well import-it , Was so attentiue to the tale that spread it : For this fault euen is incident to kinges Too much to credit ouer pleasing thinges She told him now my bewties Aprill bud , Fresh bloom'd in honor of my flowring prime : In high degrees of excellencie stood , Ages admire , and wonderment of time , Amongst the best , so farre exceeding many : As it was neuer seconded by any : ( Quoth she ) behold how in her wanton fayre , Rosie Pallantias ( new stolne from her bed ) Blusheth her glorie on the morning ayre , In bashfull decensie of vermillion red : And from his stand the Northerne watchman frayes With brighter comming of her sommer rayes : Or as : whilst Thetis in her cu'ning greeting , Smileth her purple on the suns decline , And with her Tytan in the West seaes meeting , Appeares a wonder , bashfully deuine , Such is her face ( quoth she ) her selfe so fayre , She seemes as bewtious as the eu'ning ayre . Hast thou not seene how in her hemispheare The morninges henchman , and the starre of loue Vales in her bewtie at the suns appeare And seemeth dim'd his glorie to approue ? Euen so her eyes ( quoth she ) exceedes so farre As doth the sonne the sitting morning starre . More bewtie , more deuine doth her adorne , Then all Diana's , mesken virgins graces Those froes that in the dewy of the morne Trip on the flowres in those silent places , To which the feathered queresters resort And chante them many a musicall report . Oft haue I seene , when to the strond of Po , The floating swans did make their last repayre , And siluer plum'd , as white as any snow Blemisht Indimions Scynthia in her faire : Yet n'er did she , neuer did they excell : The Iuorie white vpon her brow doth dwell . As when before old sleepie Tython dawnes ( Dew'd in the wept teares of Auroraes eyes , ) Sweet sauoring flowers of the meddow lawnes , With sweet perfumes , vp into heauen arise So breathes her brethes perfume , so sweetly smelling It seem's her breath the flowers are excelling . Sung neuer at Euridices redeeming The Thracian Harper to the god of hell A song more honor worth , worth more esteeming Yet Orpheus touch pleased deuinly well Nor yet Arion euer so behau'd him Although he song so sweet the Dolphin sau'd him . Nor that old man , whose musicall recordes The following walls of ancient Theb's did reare : Nor Poean , pleasing in her sweet accordes The curious iudgement of the nycest eare Did euer sound were euer song so well But her sweet wordes , her voyce doth farre excell . N'er did her Nymphes , at bold Acteons gase , Nor combly Phoebe : ( seene with priuie eye ) Mans sence , mans thought , with sweeter smiles amase With richer glorie , of a wealthier dye , Then would this bewtie naked as was shee , Were you your selfe but priuie too 't as hee : To this she ads ( ô straunge impietie ) Vitious intycements of alluring sin , And with licentious wordes , altering varietie , She drownes his sences , and him selfe therein : So well the Syren knew her song to sing , She soone had luld a sleepe the willing king : And that she might the better bring to passe , Shame to my Lord , her selfe , and shame to mee , She ads how wanton , bucksome , young I was Fit consorte with his yonger yeares to bee And when at length she had discourst her fill , Away she flyes : abhominable ill . But he that standes inchanted with the wonders , By secret stealth dishonorable sin , Him from his sence , his sence from vertue sunders And now in madding loue lust doth begin , And that fowle stayne his furie is incenst with By maiestie ( saith he ) shall be dispenst with : Then to myne eares ( diuyning my misfortune , ) Secret reportes came whispering straunger wonders , And with their oratorie pleas myne eares importune . Whilst blind conceipt me from my good hap sunders : With charming profers still my king salutes me As one for absolutest fayre reputes me . And those , to whom he secretly commended , The inquisition of my bewties being : Those my attract , my chaunge of fortune tended My bewties worth and excellencie seing : Reporte my bewtie to be so deuine ; As now he prysed none so much as myne : And soone had giftes , soone had my Lordes desire , My soule from chastitie , my selfe from me , With often presents taught how to retire Tasting the profers of a high degree : And then me thought though I ner prou'd before A kings imbrace was euen a heauen or more : Loe then to Court , vnto my king I came , Monarke aspect of my recusant eye : Myne eye , the matter of my bodies shame , As long as shame , or sinne were nurst thereby , With niggard fauor , at the first did seeme , As one that held his crowne scarce worth esteeme . For now my scholler eyes had learn'd to fashion Their lookes authenticall , and quainte precise : My quoynesse argued a straunger passion , To make him so , more plyant to myne eyes : And I , whom he esteemed easie won Made him my subiect , ere myne eyes had don : For now I saw : when equallie precise , He saw the honor was due worth my bewtie : My browes recusancie gan tyrannise , And of my king exact a tribute dutie And if he profered loue , I would forsake it For woemen first say no , and then they take it . I wrought so well , my face did seeme to say , I prysed chastitie , but euen too much : My apt fram'd countenance seem'd to bewray , A purposd fermnesse to my seeming such : And my pretext by working so before : Was but to make him loue me so much more : For now in me varietie of loue , Had wrought such knowledge , by my seeming prone As whom I knew quickly sedu'st did proue , I knew was quickly got , and quickly gone : And therefore now oppos'd I seem'd the stronger , That late ere won , I might be lou'd the longer . For when I saw , him fawningly respect me , I playd vpon him with a straunger No : And so much more I saw he did affect me , As I seem'd further of in saying so , Yet then I knew my quoynesse so might proue A king would hardly bow too low to loue . In equall meane , therefore did I containe Th' impatience of my seeming loath to sin , No beggar humblenesse my face did staine , With apt desire to throw my selfe therein : And if my quoynesse made him loath to wooe Then would I lend him smiles , and kisses too , Nor did I in denying faintly so But secretly seeme to desire agayne , The hoped profers my consenting No , In secret wish already did containe : But long alasse could not persist therein For ere I left I sold my selfe to sinne . Who sees the chast liu'd Turtle on a tree , In vnfrequented groues sit and complaine her ? Whether alone all desolate poore shee , And for her lost loue seemeth to restraine her ? And there sad thoughted howleth to the ayre The excellencie of her lost-mates fayre ? So I when sinne had drown'd my soule in badnesse , To solitarie muse my selfe retired : Where wrought by greefe to discontented sadnesse , Repentant thoughtes , my new won shame admired , And I the monster of myne owne misfortune My hart with grones , and sorrow did importune . Behold ( quoth I ) how in her Iuie hidden The eu'nings shame , Pallas adulterate fowle , The sitting sonnes sight , and the day forbidden , With a sherle scritch her former sinne doth howle : And peering in the day but from her tree Is wonderd at of all the byrdes she see : So haps to thee , whom so thy sinne hath shamed And made the night-eyes wonder of thy tyme : So haps to thee , that hath thy selfe defamed , In tender springing of thine Aprill pryme But now too late t' haue sin'd thou doest repent thee , When thou hast lost the good that nature lent thee . A wonderment , and monster of her age , Following posteritie will account thy fall ; And this which euen no passion can asswage , Nor mittigate thy payned soule with all : When death in graue shall low haue layne thy head Thou shalt be yet desam'd when thou art dead . Thus in thy life , thus in thy death , and boath , Dishonored by thy fact , what mayst thou doe ? Though now thy soule the touch of sinne doth loath , And thou abhorst thy life , and thy selfe too : Yet cannot this redeeme thy spotted name , Nor interdict thy body of her shame : But he that could command thee , made thee sin : Yet that is no priuiledge , no sheeld to thee : Now thou thy selfe , hast drownd thy selfe therein . Thou art defam'd thy selfe , and so is hee : And though that kings commands haue wonders wrough ▪ Yet kings commands could neuer hinder thought . Say that a Monarke may dispence with sin , The vulgar toung proueth impartiall still , And when mislike all froward shall begin , The worst of bad , and best of worst to ill , A secret shame in euery thought will smother For sinne is sinne in kinges , as well as other : And yet agayne , when to suspition wrought , I saw the holly sinne , and sullen game , Whilst secret acte disclos'd no hidden thought , To preiudice an honorable name : And those to be such saints that best could seeme such As one would thincke suspition would not deeme such . Loe , too secure of variable rumor I gaue my selfe to pleasing disposition : Loue charming wantonesse and delightfull humor , Forst now no longer peeuish eyed suspition , And I thought none could testifie my fault Because I thought there was not any saw 't . And though my life had staine , yet this did mend it , That I was sorrie such an one to be , My pittie my respect did still commend it , And this was commendably praysd in me , That Sutor wrongs my selfe to right would bring If right might be procured from the king . And now so deem'd so highly was I prysed , No honor was too good , too great for mee , I could commaund what euer thought deuised , Delight to sence , or ioyes to mynde to bee : And whilst I sat seated alone so highe , The king could but command and so could I. But long my fortune had not traded so , In doubt full highnesse of prosperitie : Ere murder death had fram'd a worser woe , A true example vnto all posteritie : That those that mount so high so farre and fast , In tract of tyme come headlong downe at last . For now , the doomes day of my fortune 's neere , The day , the dome , peculier vnto all , Now in a death vnthought-on doth appeere , My bewties ruine and myne honors fall Such sightes are these vnto the pleased eye As are not sooner seene then they doe dye . So as when for his drown'd sonne pensiuly sorrie , Three times in blacke , three times his golden vrne , The sadder eye of heauens restrained glorie , In blacke , and heauie secresie did burne ; And moodie , by restraining so his light , In three dayes absence brought a triple night . Or as , when from some high clift sadly looking , A mistie tempest from the South ariseth , And disagreeing blastes no sayles stop brooking , The merrie sea-mans wandering barke surpriseth We sorrow at the sight vpon the shore But in the barke would sorrow ten times more . So now , eternall night , now desolation , Deuining horror to the nighted land : Insues to all by sodaine alteration , That of a tyrant ill suspected stand : But I whom this imported most of any Where all had but one feare : I one , had many . Ah death old father of our common end , Nurst of the mother night , and discontent Inuying hatreds neuer pleased frend , Incertaine accedent , and vnknowne euent , In what so much haue I offensed thee , That by my kinges death thou shouldst murther mee ? Thou art the father cause I am forlorne , It was thy too much pittie that procur'd this , Why didst not make me dye ere I was borne ? That being dead I might not haue indur'd this ? Cruell in what may harme in what may ill me But thrise more cruell that thou wouldst not kill me . Did my face feare thee from thy murdering will That being young , thou letst me liue so long ? Or hauing such a bewtie at thy will , Thoughtst thou the rape would be esteem'd a wrong ? O if thou didst , withall thou wild'st that I , Should liue so long that I should shame to dye : It was the auarice of thy list to kill , Founded my downefall on my kinges decease : Such is thy nature , and so much so ill : One murder with a second to increase : But thus we see who on a king relyes Findes death a liue whilst liuing yet he dyes . See how my end brought me to my confusion The common wonder of the wisest eye My end the period and my liues conclusion Turnes to my deathes shame , that I greeue to dye : And that whereof dying I am ashamed , I greeue to liue because I liue defamed , Dead vnto life , liuing vnto my death , The end of shame , and yet my shames beginning : Thus doe I araw the selfe disdayning breath , Hath worthie shame by myne vnworthie sinning And whilst at once I would both liue and dye I doe them both yet am not cur'd thereby . For when true penitencie doth begin , With contrite sorrow , and repentant zeale , To mynde the greatnesse of displeasing sin : That shame in hidden silence doth conceale . When these faultes in our selues our selues doe see We thincke that all know them aswell as wee . But stay thee here , and plaintiu'ly rehearce , The funerall tenor of thine after fortunes ; O wash his toombe with teares weepe on his hearce , Whose death gaue life , to greefe that thee importunes : For now behold vnhappely he dyes , On whom the essence of my good relyes . Euen as the gloomie sighted night , with cloudes , Obscures the sunbright bewtie of the ayre , And in her deadly looke frowningly shrowdes , Blacke desolation and forlorne dispayre , Threatning with sad aspect some future woe , By blacke deuining lookes presaging so : So seem'd the blacke ayre , that with fowle aspect , Feedes lowring heauinesse through a duskie light , That ouglie looking darknesse doth reflect , From caued bowells of the fearefull night , So at his death , darknesse seem'd to bewray , Eternall blacknesse to the heauie day : That so dissolu'd to euerlasting feares , That sun-reft-ages after posteritie , Might weepe his funeralls in complainyng teares , As rightes belonging to a dead prosperitie , And sing his obsequies in consorting woe , Sorrowing their light should be bereft them so : For now their sonne gone to his home for euer , Pronounces from declining of his rayes , A worser night with tyrannous indeuor , Would darke the bewtie of their after dayes And prowd ambition ayming at a crowne Would pull the dead kings true-borne issue downe . When loe , discentious in her owne proceeding Suspitious in her thoughtes , stil'd in her musing , Carefully thoughted , on her owne selfe feeding , With ielious doubt her proper wits abusing Sighes-and-greefe-breeding feare to heauen doth cry And wisht with him posteritie might dye For th' infant liue of his bloud left a pray , To vultar greedinesse of an easie crowne , In tyrant practises did soone bewray , Cruell protection would the land confound , And then as doubtfull minded as before , Feare would increase her sorrow ten times more . Thus stood suspected of incertaine fate And drawne by oft feares to a dead dispaire The neuter subiect , that did know too late , What hell it is to haue a different heyre . And that which all their discontent had sowne To haue a king to come not to be knowne . Now gan the trembling rich , and fearefull-wanting , Bequeath their fortunes to their hap of warre , And trembling woemen-harts , with sorrow panting Greeue that their fate should be vnknowne so farre As whilst they yet thought no ill could assay them , Vnthought-on death should sodaine come and slay them : And those , whom diuersly-affecting humor , Drew to the aduerse part an other would not , When running motions of deceiuing rumor , Make them affect the matter that they should not At last exclaime as on a heauie thing That none should know the man should be their king . Then what might I doe , where with all to saue , Me from confusion , that I might not dye , Now when dead sleeping carelesse in his graue My king was gone , on whom I did relye , What rests for me , a poore distressed woman , But hold me patient at my fortunes sommon ? And what is worse , impriuiledge from hope , Of my reflowring time , of my new being , I saw the bandes , I saw the narrow scope , Wherein my sinne must secret sit from seing : And this so narrow , and so strickte to be , As all the world might my misfortune see : Why haue myne eyes wept idle teares till now ? Why hath my groning hart sigh'd to releeue me ? Or why hath greefe eclipst my sadded brow ? Since now , I would weepe , grone , and sigh , and greeue me , And now I neede them , now I can doe none , For greefe , and sighes , and grones , and teares , be gone , Weepe eyes , grone hart , greefe sighe and take agayne Your second quintescence from my second woe , O neuer will I wast your wet in vayne , Nor grone , nor greeue , nor sigh , nor weepe you so . But with my dayes , date all your discontent , And weepe you truely , till my selfe be spent . O you are comfort in your issuing motions , Vnto the mynde with passion is afflicted Whom wearieng greatnesse of her owne commotions Of wordes and speech , with greefe hath interdicted . Werte not for you , th' opressed hart would breake When greefe doth grow so bigge we cannot speake . Werte not for you ( and yet I want you too ) My harts distresse , that makes you her relye , Could neuer know , nor how , nor what to doe , But liue in silence , and in dombnesse dye : O none can tell , the ease the mynde doth gayne her When eyes can weepe , th' hart grone , or greefe complaine her But wanton teares haue dryde myne idle eyes , And wayn'd away the bewtie of my fayre ; My hart , for want of grones distressed dyes , And sighes are vanisht to vnworthie ayre : Then what remaynes for me forlorne thereby , But know my greefe , and hold my peace and dye , T' is now that I should weepe a thousand teares ; Now , when my starres in fixed opposition , Denounces sorrow to my greeuing eares , And tells me I must chaunge my liues condition : And trust to fauoring destinie no more , For I must begge my bread , from doore to doore : What fortune ere thou art enuiest our age , A tyrant monster , in a madding vayne , Returne in furie of thy prowdest rage , And Acte the Scene of all thy hate agayne ; And if ere any bad like woes as I , Yet giue me ten times more , but let me dye . Sayd ere Philosophie hell was confind Below the yearth where neuer any were ? O if it be so , yet withall I finde , That hell 's aboue the yearth as well as there And neuer could Philosophie approue , That there was one below but one aboue . T' is but th' inuention of th' highe-witted wise , Allow'd of any there , more then t' expresse , Th' extreame of tortures , that might tyrannise Them being dead , that liuing did transgresse : Nor haue they left vs any confirmation , But deem'd surmises of imagination ; This t' was rayn'd on the yearth , and prayd on me , T' was this which I esteem'd a heauen before , And more infernall cannot any he , For hell is but extreame , yet this was more : And we ner know what t' is in heauen to dwell , Vntill we know what t' is to liue in hell . O could my wordes expresse in mourning sound , The ready passion , that my mynde doth trye , Then , greefe all eares , all sences would confound , And some would weepe with me , aswell as I : Where now because my wordes cannot reueale it I weepe alone inforced to conceale it . O , and alone , let me weepe myne owne fortunes . Peculier to my selfe , am woe begone : Me whom it euer secretly importunes As willing I should weepe my fate aloane : O therefore weeping let me liue and dye , For none can weepe so worthie teares , as I : Well may some sorrie , greeuedly supposing , Suggest a passion excellently strange : And in true Acte pittifully disclosing An inward greefe , neere at my fortunes range : But none can Acte greefe in complaint so right As he that is him selfe agreeued by 't . O God what error is in natures will , That nature so vnkinde , so bad should be , The poore improuident should endure such ill , As through securitie not this ill to see , For had I seene before what now I try , Or I had fear'd to liue , or learn'd to dye . But ill brookes th' high aspiring thoughtes surmise Coward respect of vulgar education : And hungering greedinesse of attempting eyes , Deeme nor deuine their after alteration , But minde their mindes will , not their owne condition Thus mads th' aspiring in her mindes ambition . This was my fault had worthie fortune by it , And worthie was it , since I could not see , How discontent is ordinarie quyet , To wakefull mindes , that n'er contented be . To ioye the sweet meane of a low content , But mount so high they after must repent : Had I bin fayre , and not allur'd so soone , To that , at which all thoughtes leuell their sadnesse My sunbright day had not bin set ere noone Nor I bin noted for detected badnesse But this is still peculier to our state , To sinne too soone , and then repent too late . But euen as soard the feathered boy so highe , ( Reaching his infant thoughtes vnto the sonne , ) By whotter rayes , in all his highth did dye , And gain'd his prides meede ere his pride were done : So I vnto the low was made the nighest Whilst now I thought I ouertopt the highest : For now rain'd tyrannie in ambitious throane , A true-borne-infant-bloud-spilling murtherer : Vsurping monster , yet contrould of none , Fowle guilts Appeale , and mischiefs furtherer , Prowd Richard Gloster in his pride I saw Acte all thinges at his will : for will was law . He sayes ( and then he shewes a withered arme Dryde at his byrth-day lame and vselesse still ) Quoth he t' was thou by charmes wroughtst me this harme And therefore doomes me to his tyrant will : For neuer is th' offended mightie Armelesse To wreake his furie on the hated harmelesse . Beare hence quoth he ( and there withall reflected Fire sparkling furie from incensed eyes , Whose madding threat his lunacie detected , And told me he was taught to tyrannize ) And then agayne in more incensedrage He cryes , beare hence this monster of her age . When loe the seruaunt sworne performeth on me , Th' vnwilling office of a greeued sorrie : And whilst he yet layes forced handes vpon me Noting my bewtie , and my bewties glorie He does his duetie : yet his loookes doe shoe , He craueth pardon for his doing so . For what eye fram'd to enuie and disdayne Would not inforce the hart to shake the head , When that pure mayden blush that did destayne My purple cheeke with fainte vermillon red , Seem'd constant fayre not chang'd for threatning will But fearefull true and modest comely still : I seem'd vnwilling that the tyrant should By force of will haue tyrant-like compel'd me And therefore made the litle shift I could To burst away out of their armes that held me , But as I strugled bewtie grew the more , Which seene , they held me faster then before . And those vnwilling handes that prayd vppon me ( Happie they held me to behold my bewtie ) Imbraste me faster with still gazing on me , To feede their eyes-listes not performe their duetie For had it bin in them I am assured Such tyrant lawes I should not haue endured . But he , whom hell nurst-furie hath infected , Threats death to them , and me that him offended And from his knitted browes horror reflected , Th' inraged doome his fellon thoughtes intended : Impatient , moodie , mad , and full of yre , He sweares by heauen that shame shal be my hyre , Posteritie sayes he ( and then agayne The knit vaynes of his prowdly-looking browes Swelling with mallice , and extreame disdaine , Like to an yrefull bore he prowdly bowes ) And sweares by hell heauie reuenge shall date Th' incenst displeasure of his falling hate , Posteritie shall know thine Acte ( quoth hee ) And then he bids that my attyres be rent , And termes the habit vnbefitting mee A Sorcer witch full of her fowle intent : And that which wordes for anger could not say A furious acte in iesture did bewray . When I reft of my habite and attyre , Stood yet as modest , as a mayd should be , Bashfully feared with the new admire , Of this base tyrants rauishing of mee . Who not content with this commandes that I , Be turn'd into the streets and begge or dye . Euen as an angerie Bull incenst with yre , Bellowing his menaces with a hollow rore , Impatient , madd , wanting his lustes dosire , Augments his madded fiercenesse more and more And yet no quyet any murther bringes Although he prayes vpon a thousand thinges . So vnappeas'd , vnquyet , mad , and yrefull Rages th' insatiate furie of his will : And in his looke , fierce , wan , and pale , and dyrefull He seem's impatient , moodie , madded , still , And not content with this disgrace to greeue me He sayes that all shall dye , ( that dare relieue me . ) ( Then from the Court , the martirdoome of mee , ) All solitarie , alone , forlorne , I went Thether where discontentment I did see , Threatning my miserie ere my dayes were spent And needie want as naked as was I , Told me that thus perplexed I should dye . When I vnapt to frame alyer-tale , Vnapt to craue my bread with beggar prayer , My poore discountnanst looke all wan and pale Through hungers nature wayned from her fayre I could not : ôshame would not then that I Should begge at all but rather choose to dye . And yet necessitie did vrdge constrainte , To brooke th' impatience of her proper will , Whilst silence breaking out to no complainte , In secret passion hid her sorrow still : And shame with fearefull blush all greeu'd did cry And wisht she did but know but how to dye . Nor could remembrance of my high degree , Brooke my resorting into publicke place : For I did sigh as oft as I did see , Or thincke that any thought on my disgrace And who dispayres in such a kinde as this Thinckes that the whole world knoweth all amisse . But ô , why doe I thus wearie prolong , The wofull Tragedie of my pleasures wayne , Suffices that I knew to bide the wrong , And brooke with patience what I did sustaine , Idly we greeue when greeuingly we plaine vs , For that must be perform'd that needes constraine vs . I can no more delate my further ill , T' is sooner iudg'd then told , the greefe is such , The wise-iuditiall may if so they will , Sooner conceiue then I can say so much : Since so much now would call agayne the pryme , And those that tell greefe feele it for the tyme . I must ( quoth she ) addresse my selfe to death , And therewithall , clasping her handes in one , And wresting oft sighes with a deepe fetcht breath , She panteth forth a poore complayning grone , When closing fast her eyes ( first ope to heauen ) She now seem's both of speech and life bereauen . When coward death , fainting , and fearefull slow , Lookes on her fayre face , with a vultar eye , And nils him selfe his force vpon her show , As doting fearefull she could neuer dye , And yet he would : and yet he doth dispayre And feares she cannot dye she is so faire , And yet her toung now stil'd could say no more She panted , and she sigh'd , and gaue a grone , And euen that bewtie was pure-fayrebefore , Wayn'd with her liues expire , and now was none , Yet death suspected still , doth still dispayre , And sayes she cannot dye and be so fayre . For euen as looketh at the sunnes late sitting A witherd lilly , dry'd , and saplesse quyte , And in her weakned leaues , inwardly knitting , Seem's dead : and yet , retaines a perfect white : So seem'd her face , when now her fayre did fall That death still fear'd she would not dye at all . He saw 't , and sigh'd , and yet he could not see , Cause to induce his hope-perswading eye , To thincke that there was any cause that shee , Could be so passing fayre and yet could dye : He thinckes the bewtious neuer life should loose And yet withall he thinckes , she should not choose : O what a combat wrought her life and death , Both clayming interest in her end , to spill her , Life would not that the fayre should loose her breath : Death would not loose his right , yet would not kill her , But lookes vpon her with a curious eye , Doubting ( though she were dead ) she could not dye . At last , perswading palenesse seem's to say , O she is dead , her breathlesse sences fayled , Her life hath lost her ioy , her death his pray , And now nor her life , nor her death auayled , O then did any euer ought else trye Then life or death that maketh vs to dye . Death tooke delight in her , vntill she dyed , Life fed vpon her lookes , he did so way her , Death and his life vpon her end relied , And greeuing life likt her she was so fayre This lent her liuing : that prolong'd her breath , O then ther 's somthing else that kills then death . For he wisht that he were not death , she might not dye , Pittieng in this , he greeues he wanteth pietie , Tyrant in Acte , his will doth this deny That her death should conferme him in his diety : And rather then of life he would bereaue her He would giue leaue to all , to liue for euer , Rather then she should not , he would not be , Or to a mortall being he would bow , So she might , all should liue as well as she , ( For death did neuer doubt vntill t' was now ) And yet by death if she might gained be , The world should dye and none should liue but she , But as a Christall with a tender breath Receiues dim thicknesse , and doth seeme obscure So darkt with palenesse of a breath'd on death ( If it were death that did this darke procure , ) She seem's aliue and yet ah she was gone And then life greeu'd , and death did fetch a grone . Yet would they part the remnant of her being Her body went to death : her fame to life Thus life , and death , in vnitie agreeing Dated the tenor of their sonderie strife , Death vow'd her body should be eyed neuer , Yet life hath vow'd her fame should liue for euer . FINIS .