The Poems of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey

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SONGES AND SONETTES, written by the ryght honorable Lorde Henry Haward late Earle of Surrey, and other.

Apud Richardum Tottel . 1557.

Cum priuilegio.

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Descripcion of the restlesse state of a louer, with sute to his ladie, to rue on his diyng hart.

THe sonne hath twise brought furth his tender grene, his] the A

And clad the earth in liuely lustinesse:

Ones haue the windes the trees despoiled clene,

And new again begins their cruelnesse, new] now A

Since I haue hid vnder my brest the harm

That neuer shall recouer healthfulnesse.

The winters hurt recouers with the warm:

The parched grene restored is with shade.

What warmth (alas) may serue for to disarm

The frosen hart that mine in flame hath made? mine in flame] my inflame A

What colde againe is able to restore

My fresh grene yeares, that wither thus and fade?

Alas, I se, nothing hath hurt so sore, hath] to A

But time in time reduceth a returne: in time] somtyme Areduceth: ='brings back'; see OED s.v. reduce, 5reduceth: ='brings back'; see OED s.v. reduce, 5

In time my harm increaseth more and more, In] yet A

And semes to haue my cure alwaies in scorne.

Strange kindes of death, in life that I doe trie: kindes] kynd A

At hand to melt, farre of in flame to burne.

And like as time list to my cure aply,

So doth eche place my comfort cleane refuse. this and the previous line are wanting in A

All-thing aliue, that seeth the heauens with eye, All] eche A; seeth] sees A; heauens] heaven A

With cloke of night may couer, and excuse

It-self from trauail of the dayes vnrest, It] him A

Saue I, alas, against all others vse,

That then stirre vp the tormentes of my brest, tormentes] torment A

And curse eche sterre as causer of my fate. And] to A

And when the sonne hath eke the dark opprest, opprest] represt A

And brought the day, it doth nothing abate

The trauailes of mine endles smart and payn, trauailes] travaile A; mine] my A

For then, as one that hath the light in hate,

I wish for night, more couertly to playn,

And me withdraw from euery haunted place,

Lest by my chere my chance appere to playn: by] in A; appere] should pere A

And in my minde I measure pace by pace, in] with A

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To seke the place where I my-self had lost, the] that A

That day that I was tangled in the lace, the] that A

In semyng slack that knitteth euer most:

But neuer yet the trauaile of my thought

Of better state coulde catche a cause to bost.

For if I found sometime that I haue sought,found] fynde A

Those sterres by whome I trusted of the porte,

My sayles doe fall, and I aduance right nought,

As ankerd fast, my spretes doe all resorte

To stande agazed, and sinke in more and more agazed] atgaas A; sinke] sucke Aagazed: ='astounded', 'amazed', see OED agazed, agased; atgaas= "at gaze", see OED s.v. agaze, adv.agazed: ='astounded', 'amazed', see OED agazed, agased; atgaas= "at gaze", see OED s.v. agaze, adv.

The deadly harme which she dothe take in sport.

Lo, if I seke, how I doe finde my sore:

And yf I flee I carie with me still

The venomde shaft, whiche dothe his force restore

By hast of flight, and I may plaine my fill

Unto my-selfe, vnlesse this carefull song

Printe in your harte some parcell of my tene my tene] my will A, good will H

For I, alas, in silence all to long

Of myne olde hurte yet fele the wounde but grene.

Rue on my life: or els your cruell wronge on my] or me A

Shall well appere, and by my death be sene.

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Description of Spring, wherin eche thing renewes, saue onelie the louer.

The soote season, that bud and blome furth bringes,

With grene hath clad the hill and eke the vale:

The nightingale with fethers new she singes:

The turtle to her make hath tolde her tale:

Somer is come, for euery spray nowe springes,

The hart hath hong his olde hed on the pale:

The buck in brake his winter cote he flinges:

The fishes flote with newe-repaired scale:

The adder all her sloughe awaye she slinges:

The swift swalow pursueth the flyes smale:

The busy bee her honye now she minges:

Winter is worne that was the flowers bale:

And thus I see among these pleasant thinges

Eche care decayes, and yet my sorow springes.

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Descripcion of the restlesse state of a louer.

When youth had led me halfe the race,

That Cupides scourge me causde to ronne, me causde to] did make me A

I loked back to mete the place,

From whence my wery course begonne.

And then I sawe how my desire

Misguiding me had led the way: Misguiding me had led the way] By ill gydyng had let my waye A

Mine eyen to gredy of their hire, Mine eyen] whose eyes A

Had made me lose a better pray. Had made me lose a better pray] had lost me manye a noble praye A

For when in sighes I spent the day, sighes] sightes A

And could not cloke my griefe with game, with] by A

The boiling smoke did still bewray The] their A

The persaunt heate of secrete flame. The persaunt heate of secrete flame] the fervent rage of hidden flame A

And when salt teares doe bayne my brest, doe] did A

Where loue his pleasant traines hath sowen hath] had A

Her bewty hath the fruites opprest, Her bewty hath the fruites opprest] the brewt therof my frewt opprest A

Ere that the buds were spronge and blowen. buds] bloomes A

And when myne eyen dyd styll pursue when] where A

The flying chace that was their quest,

Their gredy lokes dyd oft renewe.

The hidden wound within my brest.

When euery loke these chekes might staine,

From deadly pale to glowing red: glowing] flaming A

By outwarde signes appered plaine,

The woe wherin my hart was fed. wherin] wherwith A

But all to late loue learneth me,

To painte all kinde of colours new,

To blinde their eyes that els shoulde see,

My specled chekes with Cupides hewe. specled] sparskled Asparskled error for sparkled or sparckled, "speckled"sparskled error for sparkled or sparckled, "speckled"

And nowe the couert brest I claime,

That worshipt Cupide secretely: worshipt] worshipps A

And norished his sacred flame, norished] nourysheth A

From whence no blasing sparkes doe flye.

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Description of the fickle affections panges and sleightes of loue.

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SUche waiward waies hath loue, that most part in discord waies: in A, original "wailes" changed to "wais" in another hand

Our willes do stand, whereby our hartes but seldom doe accord, doe] dooth A

Disceit is his delight, and to begile, and mock

The simple hartes whom he doth strike with froward diuers strok. whom] which A

He makes the one to rage with golden burning dart, He makes the one] he cawseth hertes A

And doth alay with leaden colde agayn the other hart. other] tothers A

Whote glemes of burnyng fire, and easy sparkes of flame whote: =hot

In balance of vnegall weight he pondereth by aime.

From easy forde, where I might wade and passe ful wel,

He me withdrawes, and doth me driue into a depe dark hel, a depe dark hel] the darke diep well A

And me withholdes where I am calde and offred place,

And willes me that my mortall foe I doe beseke of grace: willes me that] wooll that still A

He lettes me to pursue a conquest welnere wonne,

To folow where my paines were lost ere that my suite begonne. lost] spilt A

So by this meanes I know how soone a hart may turne So by this meanes] lo by these rules A; may] can A

From warre to peace, from truce to strife, and so again returne,

I know how to content my-self in others lust, content my-self] convert my will A

Of litle stuffe vnto my-self to weaue a webbe of trust:

And how to hide my harmes with soft dissembling chere, harmes] harme A; dissembling] dissembled A

When in my face the painted thoughtes would outwardly apere.

I know how that the blood forsakes the face for dred:

And how by shame it staines again the chekes with flaming red.

I know vnder the grene the serpent how he lurkes.

The hammer of the restles forge I wote eke how it wurkes. wote] know A

I know and can by roate the tale that I would tel:

But oft the wordes come furth awrie of him that loueth wel.

I know in heat and colde the louer how he shakes:

In singing how he doth complain, in slepyng how he wakes: doth] can A

To languish without ache, sicklesse for to consume: sicklesse: see OED S.V. sickless; sickles A

A thousand thinges for to deuise resoluing all in fume. in: in A, an original "hys" has been corrected to "in" in another hand

And though he list to se his ladies grace ful sore, And though he list to se his ladies grace ful sore,] A omits

Such pleasures as delight the eye doe not his health restore. Such pleasures as delight the eye doe not his health restore.] A omits

I know to seke the track of my desired foe,

And feare to finde that I do seke. But chiefly this I know,

That louers must transforme into the thing beloued,

And liue (alas who would beleue?) with sprite from life remoued, would] colde A

I know in harty sighes, and laughters of the splene

At once to change my state, my wyll, and eke my coloure clene.

I know how to deceaue my-self with others help: with others help] withouten helpp A

And how the Lion chastised is by beating of the whelp.

In standyng nere my fire I know how that I freze:

Farre of I burne, in both I wast, and so my life I leze. I burne] to burn A; I wast] to wast A; I leze] to lese A

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I know how loue doth rage vpon a yelding mynde: a yelding] the yeldon A

How smal a net may take and meash a hart of gentle kinde:

Or els [w]ith seldom-[tasted] swete to season heapes of gall, Or els with] Or els withith 1557, which A; tasted] 1557 omits, tasted A, H; season] seasoned A

Reuiued with a glimse of grace olde sorowes to let fall,

The hidden traines I know, and secret snares of loue:

How soone a loke wil printe a thought, that neuer may remoue. may] will A

The slipper state I know, the sodain turnes from wealth, the slipper] that slipper A; the sodain] those sodayne A

The doubtful hope, the certain woe, and sure despeire of health. The doubtful] that doutfull A; the certain] that certayne A

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Complaint of a louer, that defied loue, and was by loue after the more tormented.

WHen sommer toke in hand the winter to assail,

With force of might, and vertue gret, his stormy blasts to quail,

And when he clothed faire the earth about with grene,

And euery tree new garmented, that pleasure was to sene:

Mine hart gan new reuiue, and changed blood dyd stur

Me to withdraw my winter woe, that kept within the dore.

Abrode, quod my desire: assay to set thy fote,

Where thou shalt finde the sauour swete: for sprong is euery rote.

And to thy health, if thou were sick in any case,

Nothing more good, than in the spring the aire to fele a space.

There shalt thou here and se all kindes of birdes ywrought,

Well tune their voice with warble smal, as nature hath them tought.

Thus pricked me my lust the sluggish house to leaue:

And for my health I thought it best suche counsail to receaue.

So on a morow furth, vnwist of any wight,

I went to proue how well it would my heauy burden light.

And when I felt the aire so pleasant round about,

Lorde, to my-self how glad I was that I had gotten out.

There might I see how Uer had euery blossom hent:

And eke the new-betrothed birdes ycoupled how they went.

And in their songes me-thought they thanked nature much,

That by her lycence all that yere to loue their happe was such,

Right as they could deuise to chose them feres throughout:

With much reioysing to their Lord thus flew they all about.

Which when I gan resolue, and in my head conceaue,

What pleasant life, what heapes of ioy these litle birdes receaue,

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And sawe in what estate I wery man was brought,

By want of that they had at will, and I reiect at nought:

Lorde how I gan in wrath vnwisely me demeane.

I curssed loue, and him defied: I thought to turne the streame.

But whan I well behelde he had me vnder awe,

I asked mercie for my fault, that so transgrest his law.

Thou blinded god (quod I) forgeue me this offense,

Unwillingly I went about to malice thy pretense.

Wherewith he gaue a beck, and thus me-thought he swore,

Thy sorow ought suffice to purge thy faulte, if it were more.

The vertue of which sounde mine hart did so reuiue,

That I, me-thought, was made as hole as any man aliue.

But here ye may perceiue mine errour all and some,

For that I thought that so it was: yet was it still vndone:

And all that was no more but mine empressed mynde,

That fayne woulde haue some good relefe of Cupide wel assinde.

I turned home forthwith, and might perceiue it well,

That he agreued was right sore with me for my rebell.

My harmes haue euer since increased more and more,

And I remaine, without his help, vndone for euer-more,

A miror let me be vnto ye louers all:

Striue not with loue: for if ye do, it will ye thus befall,

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Complaint of a louer rebuked.

LOue, that liueth, and reigneth in my thought, Loue, that liueth, and reigneth in my thought] Love that doth raine and liue within my thought A ; That] and A

That built his seat within my captiue brest,

Clad in the armes, wherin with me he fought,

Oft in my face he doth his banner rest.

She, that me taught to loue, and suffer payne, She, that me taught to loue] but she that tawght me love A

My doutfull hope, and eke my hote desyre,

With shamefast cloke to shadowe, and refraine,

Her smilyng grace conuerteth straight to yre.

And cowarde Loue then to the hart apace

Taketh his flight, whereas he lurkes, and plaines whereas he lurkes, and plaines] where he doth lorke and playne A

His purpose lost, and dare not shewe his face.

For my lordes gilt thus faultlesse byde I paynes. paynes] payine A

Yet from my lorde shall not my foote remoue.

Swete is the death, that takes his end by loue. takes his] taketh A

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Complaint of the louer disdained.

IN Ciprus, springes (whereas dame Uenus dwelt)

A well so hote, that whoso tastes the same,

Were he of stone, as thawed yse should melt,

And kindled fynde his brest with fired flame. fired] secret A

Whose moyst poyson dissolued hath my hate.

This creeping fire my colde lims so opprest,

That in the hart that harborde freedome late,

Endlesse despeyre longe thraldome hath imprest.

An-other so colde in frozen yse is founde, An-other] one eke A; yse] snow Ain A, 'snow' is written above cancelled 'sonne', probably in the same handin A, 'snow' is written above cancelled 'sonne', probably in the same hand

Whose chilling venom of repugnant kynde

The feruent heat doth quenche of Cupides wounde:

And with the spot of change infectes the minde:

Whereof my dere hath tasted, to my paine.

My seruice thus is growen into disdaine.

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Description and praise of his loue Geraldine.

FRom Tuskane came my Ladies worthy race:

Faire Florence was sometyme her auncient seate:

The Western yle, whose pleasaunt shore dothe face

Wilde Cambers clifs, did geue her liuely heate: Cambers] Chambares A

Fostered she was with milke of Irishe brest:

Her sire, an Erle: her dame, of princes blood.

From tender yeres, in Britain she doth rest,

With kinges childe, where she tasteth costly food. kinges] a kinges A; tasteth] tastes A; costly] gostly A

Honsdon did first present her to mine yien:

Bright is her hewe, and Geraldine she hight.

Hampton me taught to wishe her first for mine:

And Windsor, alas, dothe chase me from her sight.'of kind': in A, 'of kind' is written above a cancelled 'her wede'(?), probably in the same hand

Her beauty of kind her vertues from aboue.

Happy is he, that can obtaine her loue. Her] A omits; can] may A

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The frailtie and hurtfulnes of beautie.

BRittle beautie, that nature made so fraile,

Wherof the gift is small, and short the season, short] shorter is H

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Flowring to ####ab#### day, to ####ab#### morowe apt to faile,

Tickell treasure abhorred of reason,

Daungerous to dele with, vaine, of none auaile,

Costly in keping, past not worthe two peason,

Slipper in sliding as is an eles taile, Slipper] Slipperer H; as] than H

Harde to attaine, once gotten not geason, attaine] obtayne H; not] never H

Iewel of ieopardie that perill dothe assaile, Iewel] Well H

False and vntrue, enticed oft to treason, False and vntrue, enticed oft to treason,] H omits

Enmy to youth: that moste may I bewaile. may I] men H

Ah bitter swete infecting as the poyson: Ah bitter swete infecting as the poyson:] H omits

Thou farest as frute that with the frost is taken, frute] the fruite H

To ####ab#### day redy ripe, to ####ab#### morowe all to ####ab#### shaken.

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A complaint by night of the louer not beloued.

ALas so all thinges nowe doe holde their peace.

Heauen and earth disturbed in nothing:

The beastes, the ayer, the birdes their song doe cease:

The nightes chare the starres aboute dothe bring.

Calme is the Sea, the waues worke lesse and lesse:

So am not I, whom loue alas doth wring,

Bringing before my face the great encrease

Of my desires, whereat I wepe and syng,

In ioye and wo, as in a doutfull ease.

For my swete thoughtes sometyme doe pleasure bring:

But by and by the cause of my disease

Geues me a pang, that inwardly dothe sting,

When that I thinke what griefe it is againe,

To liue and lacke the thing should ridde my paine.

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How eche thing saue the louer in spring reuiueth to pleasure.

WHen Windsor walles susteyned my wearied arme,

My hande my chin, to ease my restlesse hed:

The pleasaunt plot reuested green with warme, The] ech A

The blossomd bowes with lusty Uer yspred, with lusty: in A, 'with lustie' is written over cancelled 'which lively', probably in same hand

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The flowred meades, the wedded birdes so late

Mine eyes discouer: and to my mynd resorte discouer: and to my] discouerd. than did to A

The ioly woes, the hatelesse shorte debate,

The rakehell lyfe that longes to loues disporte.

Wherewith (alas) the heauy charge of care the] myne A

Heapt in my brest breakes forth against my will, breakes] brake A

In smoky sighes, that ouercast the ayer. In] and A

My vapord eyes suche drery teares distill,

The tender spring whiche quicken where they fall, whiche] to A

And I halfebent to throwe me downe withall. 'halfebent': in A, 'half bent' is corrected from an original 'have bent', probably in the same hand

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Vow to loue faithfully howsoeuer he be rewarded.

SEt me wheras the sunne doth parche the grene,

Or where his beames do not dissolue the yse:

In temperate heate where he is felt and sene:

In presence prest of people madde or wise.

Set me in hye, or yet in lowe degree:

In longest night, or in the shortest daye:

In clearest skye, or where clowdes thickest be:

In lusty youth, or when my heeres are graye.

Set me in heauen, in earth, or els in hell,

In hyll, or dale, or in the fomyng flood:

Thrall, or at large, aliue where-so I dwell:

Sicke, or in health: in euyll fame, or good.

Hers will I be, and onely with this thought

Content my-selfe, although my chaunce be nought.

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Complaint that his ladie after she knew of his loue kept her face alway hidden from him.

I Neuer sawe my Ladye laye apart

Her cornet blacke, in colde nor yet in heate,

Sith first she knew my griefe was growen so great,

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Which other fansies driueth from my hart

That to my-selfe I do the thought reserue,

The which vnwares did wounde my wofull brest:

But on her face mine eyes mought neuer rest,

Yet, sins she knew I did her loue and serue

Her golden tresses cladde alway with blacke,

Her smilyng lokes that hid thus euermore,

And that restraines whiche I desire so sore.

So dothe this cornet gouerne me alacke:

In somer, sunne: in winters breath, a frost:

Wherby the light of her faire lokes I lost.

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Request to his loue to ioyne bountie with beautie.

THe golden gift that nature did thee geue,

To fasten frendes, and fede them at thy wyll,

With fourme and fauour, taught me to beleue,

How thou art made to shew her greatest skill.

Whose hidden vertues are not so vnknowen,

But liuely domes might gather at the first domes: ='private judgements', 'opinions'

Where beautye so her perfect seede hath sowen,

Of other graces folow nedes there must.

Now certesse Ladie, sins all this is true,

That from aboue thy gyftes are thus elect:

Do not deface them than with fansies newe,

Nor chaunge of mindes let not thy minde infect:

But mercy him thy frende, that doth thee serue, mercy: ='thank', see OED S.V. mercy v, 2

Who seekes alway thine honour to preserue.

=HHSP15

Prisoned in windsor, he recounteth his pleasure there passed.

SO cruell prison how could betide, alas,

As proude Windsor? where I in lust and ioye,

With a kinges sonne, my childishe yeres did passe,

In greater feast than Priams sonnes of Troy:

Where eche swete place returns a taste full sower,

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The large grene courtes, where we were wont to houe,

With eyes cast vp into the maydens tower. into] vnto A

And easie sighes, suche as folke drawe in loue:

The stately seates, the ladies bright of hewe: seates] sales Asales: =halls, see OED s.v. sale, n1sales: =halls, see OED s.v. sale, n1

The daunces shorte, longe tales of great delight:

With wordes and lokes, that tygers coulde but rewe,

Where eche of vs did pleade the others right:

The palme-play, where, dispoyled for the game, palme-play: "an old game resembling tennis, in which the ball was struck with the palm of the hand instead of a racket", see OED s.v. palm, n. 2, 9 ('palm-play'); dispoyled='disrobed'; see OED s.v. despoil

With dazed eies oft we by gleames of loue,

Haue mist the ball, and got sight of our dame,

To baite her eyes, whiche kept the leads aboue: leads: ="the sheets or strips of lead used to cover a roof", see OED lead, n1, 7a

The grauell grounde, with sleues tyed on the helme: grauell] graveld A

On fomynge horse, with swordes and frendlye hartes:

With chere, as though one should another whelme: one should another whelme] the one should overwhelme A

Where we haue fought, and chased oft with dartes,

With siluer droppes the meade yet spred for ruthe,

In actiue games of nimblenes, and strength,

Where we did straine, trayned with swarmes of youthe. trayned with] trayled by A

Our tender lymmes, that yet shot vp in length:

The secrete groues, which oft we made resounde

Of pleasaunt playnt, and of our ladies prayse,

Recordyng ofte what grace eche one had founde, ofte] soft A

What hope of spede, what dreade of long delayes:

The wilde forest, the clothed holtes with grene:

With rayns auailed and swift-ybreathed horse,

With crye of houndes, and mery blastes betwene,

Where we did chase the fearfull harte of force, of force] a ####ab#### force A

The wide vales eke, that harborde vs ech night, wide vales] voyd walles A

Wherwith (alas) reuiueth in my brest reuiueth in] revive within A

The swete accorde: such slepes as yet delight,

The pleasant dreames, the quiet bed of rest:

The secrete thoughtes imparted with such trust:

The wanton talke, the diuers change of play:

The frendship sworne, eche promise kept so iust:

Wherwith we past the winter night away. night] nightes A

And, with this thought, the bloud forsakes the face, the face] my face A

The teares berayne my chekes of deadly hewe:

The whiche as sone as sobbyng sighes (alas)

Upsupped haue, thus I my plaint renewe:

O place of blisse, renuer of my woes,

Geue me accompt, where is my noble fere:

Whom in thy walles thou doest eche night enclose, doest] didest A

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To other leefe, but vnto me most dere.

Eccho (alas) that dothe my sorow rewe, Eccho] eache A

Returns therto a hollow sounde of playnte.

Thus I alone, where all my fredome grewe.

In prison pyne, with bondage and restrainte.

And with remembrance of the greater greefe

To banishe the lesse, I find my chief releefe.

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The louer comforteth himself with the worthinesse of his loue.

WHen ragyng loue with extreme payne

Most cruelly distrains my hart:

When that my teares, as floudes of rayne,

Beare witnes of my wofull smart:

When sighes haue wasted so my breath,

That I lye at the poynte of death:

I call to minde the nauye greate,

That the Grekes brought to Troye towne:

And how the boysteous windes did beate

Their shyps, and rente their sayles adowne,

Till Agamemnons daughters bloode

Appeasde the goddes, that them withstode.

And how that in those ten yeres warre,

Full many a bloudye dede was done,

And many a lord, that came full farre,

There caught his bane (alas) to sone:

And many a good knight ouerronne,

Before the Grekes had Helene wonne.

Then thinke I thus: sithe suche repayre,

So longe-time warre of valiant men,

Was all to winne a ladye fayre:

Shall I not learne to suffer then,

And thinke my life well spent to be,

Seruyng a worthier wight than she?

Therfore I neuer will repent,

But paynes contented stil endure.

For like as when, rough winter spent,

The pleasant spring straight draweth in vre:

sig: [B4]

ref.ed: 15

So after ragyng stormes of care

Ioyful at length may be my fare.

=HHSP17

Complaint of the absence of her louer being vpon the sea.

O Happy dames, that may embrace

The frute of your delight,

Help to bewaile the wofull case,

And eke the heauy plight

Of me, that wonted to reioyce

The fortune of my pleasant choyce:

Good Ladies, help to fill my moorning voyce.

In ship, freight with rememberance

Of thoughts, and pleasures past,

He sailes that hath in gouernance

My life, while it wil last:

With scalding sighes, for lack of gale,

Furdering his hope, that is his sail

Toward me, the swete port of his auail.

Alas, how oft in dreames I se

Those eyes, that were my food,

Which somtime so delited me,

That yet they do me good.

Wherwith I wake with his returne,

Whose absent flame did make me burne.

But when I find the lacke, Lord how I mourne?

When other louers in armes acrosse,

Reioyce their chiefe delight:

Drowned in teares to mourne my losse,

I stand the bitter night,

In my window, where I may see,

Before the windes how the cloudes flee.

Lo, what a mariner loue hath made me.

And in grene waues when the salt flood

Doth rise, by rage of winde:

A thousand fansies in that mood

Assayle my restlesse mind.

Alas, now drencheth my swete fo,

That with the spoyle of my hart did go,

sig: [B4v]

ref.ed: 16

And left me but (alas) why did he so?

And when the seas waxe calme againe,

To chase fro me annoye.

My doutfull hope doth cause me plaine:

So dreade cuts of my ioye.

Thus is my wealth mingled with wo,

And of ech thought a dout doth growe,

Now he comes, will he come? alas, no no.

=HHSP18

Complaint of a diyng louer refused vpon his ladies iniust mistaking of his writyng.

IN winters iust returne, when Boreas gan his raigne,

And euery tree vnclothed fast, as nature taught them plaine:

In misty morning darke, as sheepe are then in holde,

I hyed me fast, it sat me on, my sheepe for to vnfolde.

And as it is a thing, that louers haue by fittes,

Under a palm I heard one crye, as he had lost hys wittes.

Whose voice did ring so shrill, in vttering of his plaint,

That I amazed was to hear, how loue could hym attaint.

Ah wretched man (quod he) come death, and ridde thys wo:

A iust reward, a happy end, if it may chaunce thee so.

Thy pleasures past haue wrought thy wo, without redresse.

If thou hadst neuer felt no ioy, thy smart had bene the lesse.

And retchlesse of his life, he gan both sighe and grone,

A rufull thing me-thought, it was, to hear him make such mone.

Thou cursed pen (sayd he) wo worth the bird thee bare,

The man, the knife, and all that made thee, wo be to their share.

Wo worth the time, and place, where I so could endite.

And wo be it yet once agayne, the pen that so can write.

Unhappy hand, it had ben happy time for me,

If, when to write thou learned first, vnioynted hadst thou be.

Thus cursed he himself, and euery other wight,

Saue her alone whom loue him bound to serue both day and night.

Which when I heard, and saw, how he himselfe fordid,

Against the ground with bloudy strokes, himself euen there to rid:

Had ben my heart of flint, it must haue melted tho:

sig: C1

ref.ed: 17

For in my life I neuer saw a man so full of wo.

With teares, for his redresse, I rashly to him ran,

And in my armes I caught him fast, and thus I spake hym than.

What wofull wight art thou, that in such heauy case

Tormentes thy-selfe with such despite, here in this desert place?

Wherwith, as all agast, fulfild wyth ire, and dred,

He cast on me a staring loke, with colour pale, and ded.

Nay, what art thou (quod he) that in this heauy plight,

Doest finde me here, most wofull wretch, that life hath in despight?

I am (quoth I) but poore, and simple in degre:

A shepardes charge I haue in hand, vnworthy though I be.

With that he gaue a sighe, as though the skye should fall:

And lowd (alas) he shryked oft, and Shepard, gan he call,

Come, hie the fast at ones, and print it in thy hart:

So thou shalt know, and I shall tell the, giltlesse how I smart.

His backe against the tree, sore febled all with faint,

With weary sprite he stretcht him vp: and thus hee told his plaint.

Ones in my hart (quoth he) it chanced me to loue

Such one, in whom hath nature wrought, her cunning for to proue.

And sure I can not say, but many yeres were spent,

With such good-will so recompenst, as both we were content.

Wherto then I me bound, and she likewise also,

The sonne should runne his course awry, ere we this faith forgo.

Who ioied then, but I? who had this worldes blisse?

Who might compare a life to mine, that neuer thought on this?

But dwelling in thys truth, amid my greatest ioy,

Is me befallen a greater losse, than Priam had of Troy.

She is reuersed clene: and beareth me in hand,

That my desertes haue giuen her cause to break thys faithful band.

And for my iust excuse auaileth no defense.

Now knowest thou all: I can no more, but shepard, hye the hense:

And giue him leaue to die, that may no lenger liue:

Whose record lo I claime to haue, my death, I doe forgiue.

And eke when I am gone, be bolde to speake it plain:

Thou hast seen dye the truest man, that euer loue did pain.

Wherwith he turned him round, and gasping oft for breath,

Into his armes a tree he raught, and sayd, welcome my death:

Welcome a thousand-fold, now dearer vnto me,

Than should, without her loue to liue, an emperour to be.

Thus, in this wofull state, he yelded vp the ghost:

And little knoweth his lady, what a louer she hath lost.

Whose death when I beheld, no maruail was it, right

sig: [C1v]

ref.ed: 18

For pitie though my heart did blede, to see so piteous sight.

My blood from heat to colde oft changed wonders sore:

A thousand troubles there I found I neuer knew before.

Twene dread, and dolour so my sprites were brought in feare,

That long it was ere I could call to minde, what I did there,

But, as eche thing hath end, so had these paynes of mine:

The furies past, and I my wits restord by length of time.

Then, as I could deuise, to seke I thought it best,

Where I might finde some worthy place, for such a corse to rest.

And in my mind it came: from thence not farre away,

Where Chreseids loue, king Priams sonne, the worthy Troilus lay.

By him I made his tomb, in token he was treew:

And, as to him belonged well, I couered it with bleew.

Whose soule, by Angels power, departed not so sone,

But to the heauens, lo it fled, for to receiue his dome.

=HHSP19

Complaint of the absence of her louer being vpon the sea.

GOod Ladies, ye that haue your pleasures in exile, ye] you H

Step in your foote, come take a place, and moorne with me a while

And such as by their lordes do set but little price,

Let them sit still: it skilles them not what chance come on the dice.

But ye whom loue hath bound by ordre of desire ye] you H

To loue your lords, whose good desertes none other wold require:

Come ye yet ones again, and set your foote by mine, ye] youe H

Whose wofull plight and sorrowes great no tong may wel define.

My loue and lord, alas, in whom consistes my wealth,

Hath fortune sent to passe the seas in hazarde of his health.

Whome I was wont t'embrace with well-contented minde Whome I was wont t'embrace with well-contented minde] That I was wontt for to enbrace / contentid myndes H; winde] wyndes H

Is now amidde the foming floods at pleasure of the winde.

Where God well him preserue, and sone him home me send. Where] Theare H; well him] hym well H; sone him home me] safelye me hym H

Without which hope, my life (alas) wer shortly at an end,

Whose absence yet, although my hope doth tell me plaine, Whose absence yet, although my hope doth tell me plaine,] H omits

With short returne he comes anon, yet ceasith not my payne. With short returne he comes anon, yet ceasith not my payne.] H omits

The fearfull dreames I haue, oft-times do greue me so: do] they H

That when I wake, I lye in doute, where they be true, or no. when then H; I lye] and stand H; where] yf H

Sometime the roring seas (me-semes) do grow so hye: do] they H

That my dere Lord (ay me alas) me-thinkes I se him die. That my dere Lord (ay me alas) me-thinkes I se him die.] that my sweete lorde in dawnger greate / alas doth often lye H; cumme] cumne 1557, comme H, comme Add. 28635

Another time the same doth tell me: he is cum[m]e:

sig: C2

ref.ed: 19

And playeng, where I shall him find with his faire little sonne. his faire] .T. his H

So forth I go apace to se that leefsom sight.

And with a kisse, me-think, I say: welcome my lord, my knight: me think] me thinckes H; welcome my lord] now well come home H

Welcome my swete, alas, the stay of my welfare.

Thy presence bringeth forth a truce atwixt me, and my care. atwixt] betwixt H

Then liuely doth he loke, and salueth me againe,

And saith: my dere, how is it now, that you haue all thys paine?

Wherwith the heauy cares: that heapt are in my brest,

Breake forth, and me dischargen clene of all my huge vnrest. Breake] breakes H; dischargen] dischardgeth H; huge] great H

But when I me awake, and finde it but a dreme, finde] fyndes H

The anguishe of my former wo beginneth more extreme:

And me tormenteth so, that vnneath may I finde

Sum hidden place, wherein to slake the gnawing of my mind Sum hidden place, wherein to slake the gnawing of my mind] some hydden wheare to steale the gryfe / of my vnquyet mynd H

Thus euery way you se, with absence how I burn:

And for my wound no cure I find, but hope of good return. I find] there is H; good] some H

Saue whan I think, by sowre how swete is felt the more: think, by] feele the H

It doth abate som of my paines, that I abode before.

And then vnto my-self I saye: when [that] we [two] shal meete. that we two] we 1557, that we two H, Add. 28635

But litle while shall seme this paine, the ioy shal be so sweete. while] tyme H; the] that H

Ye windes, I you coniure in chiefest of your rage, coniure] convart H

That ye my lord me safely sende, my sorowes to asswage: ye] you H

And that I may not long abide in this excesse. this] suche H

Do your good will, to cure a wight, that liueth in distresse.

=HHSP20

A praise of his loue: wherin he [r]eproueth

reproueth] teproueth 1557; that] tha 1557

them tha[t]

compare their Ladies with his.

GEue place ye louers, here-before

That spent your bostes and bragges in vaine:

My Ladies beawtie passeth more

The best of yours, I dare well sayen,

Than doth the sonne, the candle-light:

Or brightest day, the darkest night.

And thereto hath a trothe as iust,

As had Penelope the fayre.

For what she saith, ye may it trust,

As it by writing sealed were.

And vertues hath she many moe,

Than I with pen haue skill to showe.

I could rehearse, if that I wolde,

The whole effect of natures plaint,

sig: [C2v]

ref.ed: 20

When she had lost the perfit mold,

The like to whom she could not paint:

With wringyng handes howe she dyd cry,

And what she said, I know it, I.

I knowe, she swore with ragyng mynd:

Her kingdom onely set apart,

There was no losse, by lawe of kind,

That could haue gone so nere her hart.

And this was chiefly all her payne:

She coulde not make the lyke agayne.

Sith nature thus gaue her the prayse,

To be the chiefest worke she wrought:

In faith, me-thinke, some better waies

On your behalfe might well be sought,

Then to compare (as ye haue done)

To matche the candle with the sonne.

=HHSP21

To the Ladie that scorned her louer.

ALthough I had a check,

To geue the mate is hard.

For I haue found a neck, neck: ="in Chess, a move to cover check", see OED s.v. neck, n. 2

To kepe my men in gard.

And you that hardy ar

To geue so great assay

Unto a man-of-warre,

To driue his men away,

I rede you, take good hede,

And marke this foolish verse:

For I will so prouide,

That I will haue your ferse. ferse: =the queen in chess, see OED s.v. fers

And when your ferse is had,

And all your warre is done:

Then shall your-selfe be glad

To ende that you begon.

For yf by chance I winne

Your person [in the] feeld: in the] the in 1557

To late then come you in

sig: C3

ref.ed: 21

Your-selfe to me to yeld.

For I will vse my power,

As captain full of might,

And such I will deuour,

As vse to shew me spight.

And for-because you gaue

Me checke in such degre,

This vantage loe I haue:

Now checke, and garde to the.

Defend it, if thou may:

Stand stiffe, in thine estate.

For sure I will assay,

If I can giue the mate.

=HHSP22

A warning to the louer how he is abused by his loue.

TO dearely had I bought my grene and youthfull yeres,

If in mine age I could not finde when craft for loue apperes.

And seldom though I come in court among the rest:

Yet can I iudge in colours dim as depe as can the best.

Where grefe tormentes the man that suffreth secret smart,

To breke it forth vnto som frend it easeth well the hart.

So standes it now with me for my beloued frend.

This case is thine for whom I fele such torment of my minde.

And for thy sake I burne so in my secret brest

That till thou know my hole disseyse my hart can haue no rest.

I see how thine abuse hath wrested so thy wittes,

That all it yeldes to thy desire, and folowes the by fittes.

Where thou hast loued so long with hart and all thy power.

I se thee fed with fayned wordes, thy fredom to deuour.

I know, (though she say nay, and would it well withstand)

When in her grace thou held the most, she bare the but in hand.

I see her pleasant chere in chiefest of thy suite:

Whan thou art gone, I se him come, that gathers vp the fruite.

And eke in thy respect I se the base degre

Of him to whom she gaue the hart that promised was to the.

I se (what would you more) stode neuer man so sure

On womans word, but wisedome would mistrust it to endure.

sig: [C3v]

ref.ed: 22

=HHSP23

The forsaken louer describeth and forsaketh loue.

O Lothsome place where I

Haue sene and herd my dere,

When in my hert her eye

Hath made her thought appere.

By gl[ims]ing with such grace glimsing] glsiming 1557

As fortune it ne would,

That lasten any space

Betwene vs lenger should.

As fortune did auance,

To further my desire:

Euen so hath fortunes chance

Throwen all ammiddes the myre.

And that I haue deserued

With true and faithful hart,

Is to his handes reserued

That neuer felt the smart.

But happy is that man,

That scaped hath the griefe

That loue well teche him can

By wanting his reliefe.

A scourge to quiet mindes

It is, who taketh hede,

A common plage that bindes,

A trauell without mede.

This gift it hath also,

Who-so enioies it most,

A thousand troubles grow

To vexe his weried ghost.

And last it may not long

The truest thing of all

And sure the greatest wrong

That is within this thrall.

But sins thou desert place

Canst giue me no accompt

Of my desired grace

That I to haue was wont,

Farewel thou hast me tought

sig: C4

ref.ed: 23

To thinke me not the furst,

That loue hath set aloft.

And casten in the dust.

=HHSP24

The loue[r]

louer] loue 1557

describes his restlesse state.

AS oft as I behold and se

The soueraigne bewtie that me bound:

The nier my comfort is to me,

Alas the fresher is my wound.

As flame doth quenche by rage of fire,

And running stremes consume by raine: consume] consumes A

So doth the sight, that I desire,

Appease my grief and deadely paine,

[Like as the flee that seethe the flame

And thinkes to plaie her in the fier

That fownd her woe and sowght her game

Whose grief did growe by her desire]This stanza is wanting in 1557 and is supplied from A

First when I saw those cristall streames, First when] When first A; those] theise A

Whose bewtie made my mortall wound: my] this A

I little thought within her beames her] these A

So swete a venom to haue found.

[Wherein is hid the crewell bytt

Whose sharpe repulse none can resist

And eake the spoore that strayn'thapostrophe above cancelled 'i' eche wytt

To roon the race against his list]This stanza is wanting in 1557 and is supplied from A

But wilfull will did prick me forth,

And blind Cupide did whippe and guide: And] A omits; did] dyd me A

Force made me take my griefe in worth:

My fruitles hope my harme did hide.

As cruell waues full oft be found

Against the rockes to rore and cry:

So doth my hart full oft rebound

Ageinst my brest full bitterly.

I fall, and se mine own decay,

As on that beares flame in hys brest, on] he A

Forgets in paine to put away in] for A; put] cast A

The thing that bredeth mine vnrest. mine] his A

[And as the spyder drawes her lyne

Wt labour lost I frame my sewt

The fault is hers the losse ys myne fault] gayne Harl

Of yll-sown seed such ys the frewte.]This stanza is wanting in 1557 and is supplied from A

=HHSP25

The louer excuseth himself of suspected change.

THough I regarded not

The promise made by me,

Or passed not to spot

My faith and honeste:

sig: C4v]

ref.ed: 24

Yet were my fancie strange,

And wilful will to wite,

If I sought now to change

A falkon for a kite.

All men might well dispraise

My wit and enterprise,

If I estemed a pese

Aboue a perle in price:

Or iudged the oule in sight

The sparehauke to excell,

Which flieth but in the night,

As all men know right well:

Or if I sought to saile

Into the brittle port,

Where anker-hold doth faile,

To such as doe resort,

And leaue the hauen sure,

Where blowes no blustring winde,

Nor fickelnesse in vre

So farforth as I finde.

No, thinke me not so light,

Nor of so chorlish kinde,

Though it lay in my might

My bondage to vnbinde,

That I would leue the hinde

To hunt the ganders fo.

No no I haue no minde

To make exchanges so:

Nor yet to change at all.

For think it may not be

That I should seke to fall

From my felicite,

Desyrous for to win,

And loth for to forgo,

Or new change to begin:

How may all this be so?

The fire it can not freze:

For it is not his kinde,

Nor true loue cannot lese

The constance of the minde.

Yet as sone shall the fire

Want heat to blaze and burn,

sig: D1

ref.ed: 25

As I in such desire,

Haue once a thought to turne.

=HHSP26

A carelesse man, scorning and describing, the suttle vsage of women towarde their louers

WRapt in my carelesse cloke, as I walke to and fro:

I se, how loue can shew, what force there reigneth in his bow

And how he shoteth eke, a hardy hart to wound:

And where he glanceth by agayne, that litle hurt is found.

For seldom is it sene, he woundeth hartes alike.

The tone may rage, when tothers loue is often farre to seke.

All this I se, with more: and wonder thinketh me:

Howe he can strike the one so sore, and leaue the other fre.

I se, that wounded wight, that suffreth all this wrong:

How he is fed with yeas, and nayes, and liueth all to long.

In silence though I kepe such secretes to my-self:

Yet do I se, how she somtime doth yeld a loke by stelth:

As though it seemd, ywys I will not lose the so.

When in her hart so swete a thought did neuer truely go.

Then say I thus: alas, that man is farre from blisse:

That doth receiue for his relief none other gayn, but this.

And she, that fedes him so, I fele, and finde it plain:

Is but to glory in her power, that ouer such can reign.

Nor are such graces spent, but when she thinkes, that he,

A weried man is fully bent such fansies to let flie:

Then to retain him stil she wrasteth new her grace, to] to. 1557

And smileth lo, as though she would forthwith the man embrace.

But when the proofe is made to try such lokes withall:

He findeth then the place all voyde, and fraighted full of gall.

Lorde what abuse is this: who can such women praise?

That for their glory do deuise to vse such crafty wayes.

I, that among the rest do sit, and mark the row,

Fynde, that in her is greater craft, then is in twenty mo.

Whose tender yeres, alas, with wyles so well are spedde:

What will she do, when hory heares are powdred in her hedde?

sig: [D1v]

ref.ed: 26

=HHSP27

The meanes to attain happy life.

MArtiall, the thinges that do attayn that do] for to A

The happy life, be these, I fynde.

The richesse left, not got with pain: richesse] riches A

The frutefull ground: the quiet mynde:

The egall frend, no grudge, no[r] strife: egall] equall A; nor] no 1557, nor A

No charge of rule, nor gouernance:

Without disease the healthfull lyfe:

The houshold of continuance:

The meane diet, no delicate fare:

Trew wisdom ioyned with simplenesse: Trew] A omits; simplenesse] simplicitye A

The night discharged of all care,

Where wine the wit may not oppresse: Where wine the wit may not oppresse] Where wyne may beare no soveranty A; faithful] chast wise A

The faithful wife, without debate:

Suche slepes, as may begyle the night:

Contented with thine owne estate,

Ne wish for death, ne feare his might. Ne wish for death, ne] neyther wisshe death nor A

=HHSP28

Praise of meane and constant estate.

OF thy lyfe, Thomas, this compasse well mark:

Not aye with full sayles the hye seas to beat:

Ne by coward dred, in shonning stormes dark,

On shalow shores thy keel in perill freat. Harl adds "lest" before "On" in text hand in left margin"en" added above line before "halsethe" by text hand in Harl"en" added above line before "halsethe" by text hand in Harl

Who-so gladly halseth the golden meane,

Uoyde of dangers aduis[e]dly hath his home halseth] enhalsethe Harl; aduisedly] aduisdly 1557, advisedly Harl; vncleane] vnplayne Harl

Not with lothsom muck, as a den vncleane:

Nor palacelyke, wherat disdayn may glome.

The lofty pyne the great winde often riues: lofty] lustyer Harl; great] greatter Harl; riues] reues Harl

With violenter swey fal[l]e turrets stepe: swey] sweightes Harl; falle] falne 1557, fall Harl

Lightninges assault the hye mountains, and cliues, cliues] cleves Harl; stayd] scholed Harl; amendes] amendment Harl; doth feare the] ferethe Harl

A hart well-stayd, in ouerthwartes depe,

Hopeth amendes: in swete, doth feare the sowre. "fall" added above line with caret by text hand in Harlsweightes: see OED sweight, "'the force of a body in motion', impetus"; falne=fallen, i.e. 'fall', pl. indic.?; cliues: =cliffs; for cleve, see OED s.v. cleve, cleevesweightes: see OED sweight, "'the force of a body in motion', impetus"; falne=fallen, i.e. 'fall', pl. indic.?; cliues: =cliffs; for cleve, see OED s.v. cleve, cleeve

God, that sendeth, withdraweth winter sharp.

Now ill, not aye thus: once Phebus to lowre

With bow vnbent shall cesse, and frame to harp. With] Harl omits; frame to harp] voyice fram to sharpe Harl

His voyce. In straite estate appere thou stout: His voyce] Harl omits; stout] hardie and stoute Harl

And so wisely, when lucky gale of winde lucky gale of] full vnlucky Harl

sig: D2

ref.ed: 27

All thy puft sailes shall fil, loke well about:

Take in a ryft: hast is wast, profe doth finde. ryft] rief Harlryft=reef, type of sail; see OED s.v. reef, n.1

=HHSP29

Praise of certain psalmes of Dauid, translated by sir .T. w. the elder.

THe great Macedon, that out of Persie chased

Darius, of whose huge power all Asie rong,

In the rich ark dan Homers rimes he placed, dan] yf A

Who fayned gestes of heathen princes song.

What holy graue? what worthy sepulture

To Wiattes Psalmes should Christians then purchase?

Where he doth paint the liuely faith, and pure,

The stedfast hope, the swete returne to grace

Of iust Dauid, by perfite penitence.

Where rulers may se in a mirrour clere

The bitter frute of false concupiscence:

How Iewry bought Urias death full dere.

In princes hartes gods scourge imprinted depe, imprinted] yprinted A

Ought them awake, out of their sinfull slepe. Ought] mowght A

=HHSP30

Of the death of the same sir .T. w.

DYuers thy death doe diuersly bemone.

Some, that in presence of thy liuelyhed liuelyhed: ='living form', see OED s.v. livelihead, 1bthy liuelyhed] that livelye hedd A; swolne] sowne A thy liuelyhed] that livelye hedd A; swolne] sowne A

Lurked, whose brestes enuy with hate had swolne,

Yeld Ceasars teares vpon Pompeius hed.

Some, that watched with the murdrers knife,

With egre thirst to drink thy giltlesse blood,

Whose practise brake by happy end of lyfe,

Wepe enuious teares to here thy fame so good.

But I, that knew what harbred in that hed:

What vertues rare were temperd in that brest:

Honour the place, that such a iewell bred,

And kisse the ground, whereas thy corse doth rest,

With vapord eyes: from whence such streames auayl,

As Pyramus dyd on Thisbes brest bewail.

sig: [D2v]

ref.ed: 28

=HHSP31

Of the same.

W . resteth here, that quick could neuer rest:

Whose heauenly giftes encreased by disdayn,

And vertue sank the deper in his brest.

Such profit he by enuy could obtain.

A hed, where wisdom misteries did frame:

Whose hammers bet styll in that liuely brayn,

As on a stithe, where that some work of fame stithe] stythye Harlstithe: =stithy, see OED s.v. stithstithe: =stithy, see OED s.v. stith

Was dayly wrought, to turne to Britaines gayn.

A visage, stern, and myld: where bothe did grow,

Uice to contemne, in vertue to reioyce:

Amid great stormes, whom grace assured so,

To lyue vpright, and smile at fortunes choyce.

A hand, that taught, what might be sayd in ryme:

That reft Chaucer the glory of his wit:

A mark, the which (vnparfited, for time)

Some may approche, but neuer none shall hit.

A toung, that serued in forein realmes his king:

Whose courteous talke to vertue did enflame.

Eche noble hart: a worthy guide to bring

Our English youth, by trauail, vnto fame.

An eye, whose iudgement none affect could blinde,

Frendes to allure, and foes to reconcile:

Whose persing loke did represent a mynde

With vertue fraught, reposed, voyd of gyle.

A hart, where drede was neuer so imprest, was neuer so imprest] yet neuer so opprest Harl

To hyde the thought, that might the trouth auance:

In neyther fortune lost, nor yet represt, In neyther fortune lost, nor yet represt] In nether fortune lyste nor sore opprest Harl

To swell in wealth, or yeld vnto mischance.

A valiant corps, where force and beawty met:

Happy, alas, to happy, but for foes:

Liued, and ran the race, that nature set:

Of manhodes shape[,] where she the molde did lose. manhodes shape,] manhodes, shape 1557

But to the heauens that simple soule is fled:

Which left with such, as couet Christ to know,

Witnesse of faith, that neuer shall be ded:

Sent for our helth, but not receiued so. helth] welthe Harl

Thus, for our gilte, this iewel haue we lost:

The earth his bones, the heauens possesse his gost.

sig: D3

ref.ed: 29

=HHSP32

Of Sardinapalus dishonorable life, and miserable death.

TH'assirian king in peace, with foule desire, assirian] assyryans A

And filthy lustes, that staynd his regall hart

In warre that should set princely hartes on fire: on fire] a ####ab#### fyre A

Did yeld, vanquisht for want of marciall art. Did yeld, vanquisht] vaynquyshd dyd yelde A

The dint of swordes from kisses semed strange: dint] dent A

And harder, then his ladies syde, his targe:

From glutton feastes, to souldiars fare a change:

His helmet, farre aboue a garlands charge.

Who scace the name of manhode did retayn, scace: =scarce

Drenched in slouth, and womanish delight,

Feble of sprite, impacient of pain: impacient] vnpacyent A

When he had lost his honor, and his right:

Proud, time of wealth, in stormes appalled with drede,

Murthered himself, to shew some manful dede.

=HHSP33

How no age is content with his own estate, and how the age of children is the happiest, if they had skill to vnderstand it.

LAyd in my quiet bed, in study as I were,

I saw within my troubled head, a heape of thoughtes appere:

And euery thought did shew so liuely in myne eyes,

That now I sighed, and then I smilde, as cause of thought doth ryse.

I saw the lytle boy in thought, how oft that he

Did wish of god, to scape the rod, a tall yongman to be.

The yongman eke that feles, his bones with paines opprest,

How he would be a rich olde-man, to lyue, and lye at rest.

The ryche oldman that sees his end draw on so sore,

How he would be a boy agayn, to lyue so much the more.

Wherat full oft I smilde, to se, how all these three,

From boy to man, from man to boy, would chop and change degree

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ref.ed: 30

And musyng thus I thynck, the case is very strange,

That man from welth, to lyue in wo, doth euer seke to change.

Thus thoughtfull as I lay, I saw my wytherd skyn,

How it doth show my dented chewes, the flesh was worne so thyn: dented chewes] dynted Iawes Hdented: ='hollow', 'sunken', see OED s.v. dented, 2; chewes: ='jaws'; see OED s.v. chaw, chawedented: ='hollow', 'sunken', see OED s.v. dented, 2; chewes: ='jaws'; see OED s.v. chaw, chawe

And eke my tothelesse chaps, the gates of my right way,

That opes and shuts, as I do speake, doe thus vnto me say:

Thy white and hoarish heares, the messengers of age,

That shew, like lines of true belief, that this life doth asswage,

Byds thee lay hand, and fele them hanging on thy chin:

The whiche do write two ages past, the third now comming in.

Hang vp therfore the bit of thy yong wanton tyme:

And thou that therin beaten art, the happiest life define.

Wherat I sighed, and sayd, farewell, my wonted ioy:

Trusse vp thy pack, and trudge from me to euery litle boy:

And tell them thus from me, theyr tyme most happy is:

If, to their time, they reason had to know the trueth of this.

=HHSP34

Bonum est mihi quod humiliasti me.

THe stormes are past these cloudes are ouerblowne,

And humble chere great rygour hath represt:

For the defaute is set a paine foreknowne,

And pacience graft in a determed brest. determed: =determined, see OED s.v. determ v.

And in the hart where heapes of griefes were growne,

The swete reuenge hath planted mirth and rest,

No company so pleasant as myne owne.

[...................................] The rhyme scheme indicates that a line is wanting here

Thraldom at large hath made this prison fre,

Danger well past remembred workes delight:

Of lingring doutes such hope is sprong pardie,

That nought I finde displeasaunt in my sight:

But when my glasse presented vnto me.

The curelesse wound that bledeth day and nyght,

To think (alas) such hap should graunted be

Unto a wretch that hath no hart to fight,

To spill that blood that hath so oft bene shed,

For Britannes sake (alas) and now is ded.

=HHSP35

Exho[r]tacion

Exhortacion] Exhottacion 1557

to learne by others trouble.

sig: D4

ref.ed: 31

MY Ratclif, when thy rechlesse youth offendes:

Receue thy scourge by others chastisement.

For such callyng, when it workes none amendes:

Then plages are sent without aduertisement.

Yet Salomon sayd, the wronged shall recure:

But Wiat said true, the skarre doth aye endure.

=HHSP36

The fansie of a weried louer.

THe fansy, which that I haue serued long,

That hath alway bene enmy to myne ease,

Semed of late to rue vpon my wrong,

And bad me flye the cause of my misease.

And I forthwith dyd prease out of the throng,

That thought by flight my painfull hart to please

Som other way: tyll I saw faith more strong:

And to my-self I sayd: alas, those dayes

In vayn were spent, to runne the race so long.

And with that thought, I met my guyde, that playn

Out of the way wherin I wandred wrong,

Brought me amiddes the hylles, in base Bullayn:

Where I am now, as restlesse to remayn,

Against my will, full pleased with my payn.

=HHSP37

The constant louer lamenteth.

SYns fortunes wrath enuieth the welth,

Wherin I raygned by the sight:

Of that that fed mine eyes by stelth,

With sower swete, dreade, and delight.

Let not my griefe moue you to mone,

For I will wepe and wayle alone.

Spite draue me into Borias raigne,

Where hory frostes the frutes do bite,

When hilles were spred and euery playne:

With stormy winters mantle white.

And yet my deare such was my heate,

When others frese then did I swete.

And now though on the sunne I driue,

Whose feruent flame all thinges decaies,

His beames in brightnesse may not striue,

With light of your swete golden rayes,

Nor from my brest this heate remoue,

The frosen thoughtes grauen by loue.

Ne may the waues of the salt floode,

Quenche that your beauty set on fire,

For though mine eyes forbere the fode,

That did releue the hote desire.

Such as I was such will I be,

Your owne, what would ye more of me.

=HHSP38

A praise of sir Thomas wyate th'elder for his excellent learning.

IN the rude age when knowledge was not rife, knowledge] Scyence A'the' not in A, as is an original 'so' before 'rife''the' not in A, as is an original 'so' before 'rife'

If Ioue in Create and other were that taught, were that] where they A

Artes to conuert to profite of our life, conuert] reverte A

Wende after death to haue their temples sought, Wende] wan A

If vertue yet no voyde vnthankefull time, no voyde] in no A

sig: [Cc4]

Failed of some to blast her endles fame,

A goodly meane both to deterre from crime:

And to her steppes our sequele to enflame,

In dayes of truth if wyates frendes then wayle,

The only det that dead of quick may claime:

That rare wit spent employd to our auaile.

Where Christ is taught we led to vertues traine. we led to vertues traine] deserve they Monnis blame A

His liuely face their brestes how did it freat, their brestes] thy brest A

Whose cindres yet with enuye they do eate. they do] doo the A

=HHSP39

¶A song written by the earle of Surrey by a lady that refused to daunce with him.

EChe beast can chose hys fere according to his minde,

And eke can shew a frendly chere like to their beastly kinde. can] to H

A Lion saw I late as white as any snow, late] theare H

Which semed well to lead the race his port the same did show.

Upon the gentle beast to gaze it pleased me, the] this H; pleased] lyked H

For still me-thought he semed well of noble blood to be. he] it H; well] me H

And as he praunced before, still seking for a make,

As who wold say there is none here I trow will me forsake.

I might parceiue a wolfe as white as whales-bone, whales bone] whale his bone H

A fairer beast of fresher hue beheld I neuer none.

Saue that her lokes were coy, and froward eke her grace, coy] fearce H

Unto the which this gentle beast gan him aduance apace. Unto] Toward H

And with a beck full low he bowed at her feete,

In humble wise as who would say I am to farre vnmete.

But such a scornefull chere wherwith she him rewarded,

Was neuer sene I trow the like to such as well deserued.

With that she start aside welnere a fote or twaine, With that] Wheare with H

And vnto him thus gan she say with spite and great disdaine.

Lyon she sayd if thou hadst knowen my mind before, before] beforne H

Thou hadst not spent thy trauail thus nor al thy paine forlore. nor] and H; forlore] forlorne H

Do way I let the wete thou shalt not play with me,

Go range about where thou mayst finde some meter fere for the: Go] but H; where] H omits; finde] seeke oute H

With that he bet his taile, his eyes began to flame, With that] Forthwith H

I might perceiue hys noble hart much moued by the same.

Yet saw I him refraine and eke his wrath aswage,

And vnto her thus gan he say when he was past his rage.

sig: [Cc4v]

ref.ed: 208

Cruell, you do me wrong to set me thus so light,

Without desert for my good-will to shew me such despight.

How can ye thus entreat a Lion of the race,

That with his pawes a crowned king deuoured in the place:

Whose nature is to pray vpon no simple food,

As long as he may suck the fleshe, and drink of noble blood.

If you be faire and fresh, am I not of your hue?

And for my vaunt I dare well say my blood is not vntrue.

For you your-self haue heard it is not long agoe, haue heard] dothe know H

Sith that for loue one of the race did end his life in woe Sith] sins H

In tower strong and hie for his assured truthe, strong] both strong H

Where-as in teares he spent his breath, alas the more the ruthe.

This gentle beast likewise whom nothing could remoue, whom] who H

But willingly to lese his life for losse of his true loue. lese his life] seeke his death H

Other there be whose liues doe lingre still in paine, liues] lyfe H; doe] to H

Against their willes preserued ar that would haue died faine. willes] will H; ar] is H; faine] right fayne H

But now I doe perceue that nought it moueth you, now] well H; doe] may H; moueth] movid H

My good entent, my gentle hart, nor yet my kind so true.

But that your will is such to lure me to the trade,

As other some full many yeres to trace by craft ye made. ye] you H

And thus behold our kyndes how that we differ farre. our kyndes] my kynd H

I seke my foes: and you your frendes do threten still with warre. your] my H

I fawne where I am [fed]: you slay that sekes to you, fed] fled 1557, fedd H, Add. 28635; slay] flee H

I can deuour no yelding pray: you kill where you subdue.

My kinde is to desire the honoure of the field:

And you with blood to slake your thirst on such as to you yeld. on] of H

Wherfore I would you wist that for your coyed lokes, coyed] Coy Hcoyed: see OED s.v. coy v1coyed: see OED s.v. coy v1

I am no man that will be trapt nor tangled with such hokes. trapt] traynd H; with] bye H

And though some lust to loue where blame full well they might lust] list H; loue] bow H

And to such beasts of currant [fawne] that should haue trauail bright. of currant] a Currant H; fawne] sort 1557, fawne H, Add. 28635of currant: a Currant H: Hughey reads (following Nott) 'a Currant' as 'accurrent', 'running toward'-but this is a very rare term: see OED, accurrentof currant: a Currant H: Hughey reads (following Nott) 'a Currant' as 'accurrent', 'running toward'-but this is a very rare term: see OED, accurrent

I will obserue the law that nature gaue to me,

To conquer such as will resist and let the rest goe fre.

And as a faucon free that soreth in the ayre,

Which neuer fed on hand nor lure, nor for no stale doth care, nor lure] or lure H; nor for] that for H

While that I liue and breath such shall my custome be,

In wildnes of the woodes to seke my pray where pleseth me.

Where many one shal [rue], that neuer made offense. rue] ruse 1557, Rew H, rew Add. 28635All later eds. have rue-Rollins 2:313; OED ruse v.1, 2 might fit the context, but latest quot. is c. 1410All later eds. have rue-Rollins 2:313; OED ruse v.1, 2 might fit the context, but latest quot. is c. 1410

This your refuse against my power shall bode them n[o] defence.

And for reuenge therof I vow and swere therto, This] thus H; no] ne 1557, no H, Add. 28635; And for] in the H; therof] wherof H; A] I 1557, A H, Add. 28635

[A] thousand spoiles I shall commit I neuer thought to do.

And if to light on you my luck so good shall be, luck] happ H

I shall be glad to fede on that that would haue fed on me.

sig: Dd1

ref.ed: 209

And thus farewell vnkinde to whome I bent and bow, and bow] to low H

I would ye wist the ship is safe that bare his sailes so low. ye] you H; sailes] saile H

Sith that a lions hart is for a wolfe no pray, a wolfe] woolfe H

With bloody mouth go slake your thirst on simple shepe I say. go slake your thirst on simple shepe] of symple sheepe / go slake your wrath H

With more dispite and ire than I can now expresse,

Which to my pain though I refraine the cause you may wel gesse.

As for-because my-self was aucthor of the game, the] this H

It bootes me not that for my wrath I should disturbe the same. for] by H

=HHSP40

The faithfull louer declareth his paines and his vncertein ioies, and with only hope recomforteth somwhat his wofull heart.

IF care do cause men cry, why do not I complaine?

If eche man do bewaile his wo, why shew I not my paine?

Since that amongest them all I dare well say is none,

So farre from weale, so full of wo, or hath more cause to mone.

For all thynges hauing life sometime haue quiet rest.

The bering asse, the drawing oxe, and euery other beast.

The peasant and the post, that serue at al assayes,

The shyp-boy and the galley-slaue haue time to take their ease,

Saue I alas whom care of force doth so constraine

To waile the day and wake the night continually in paine,

From pensiuenes to plaint, from plaint to bitter teares,

From teares to painfull plaint againe: and thus my life it wears.

No-thing vnder the sunne that I can here or se,

But moueth me for to bewaile my cruell destenie.

For wher men do reioyce since that I can not so,

I take no pleasure in that place, it doubleth but my woe.

And when I heare the sound of song or instrument,

Me-thinke eche tune there dolefull is and helpes me to lament.

And if I se some haue their most desired sight,

Alas think I eche man hath weal saue I most wofull wight.

Then as the striken dere withdrawes him-selfe alone,

So doe I seke some secrete place where I may make my mone.

There do my flowing eyes shew forth my melting hart,

So that the stremes of those two welles right wel declare my smart

sig: [Dd1v]

ref.ed: 210

And in those cares so colde I force my-selfe a heate,

As sick men in their shaking fittes procure them-self to sweate,

With thoughtes that for the time do much appease my paine.

But yet they cause a ferther fere and brede my woe agayne.

Me-thinke within my thought I se right plaine appere,

My hartes delight my sorowes leche mine earthly goddesse here.

With euery sondry grace that I haue sene her haue,

Thus I within my wofull brest her picture paint and graue.

And in my thought I roll her bewties to and fro,

Her laughing chere her louely looke my hart that perced so.

Her strangenes when I sued her seruant for to be,

And what she sayd and how she smiled when that she pitied me.

Then comes a sodaine feare that riueth all my rest

Lest absence cause forgetfulnes to sink within her brest.

For when I thinke how far this earth doth vs deuide.

Alas me-semes loue throwes me downe I fele how that I slide.

But then I thinke againe why should I thus mistrust,

So swete a wight so sad and wise that is so true and iust.

For loth she was to loue, and wauering is she not.

The farther of the more desirde thus louers tie their knot.

So in dispaire and hope plonged am I both vp an[d] doune, and] an 1557

As is the ship with wind and waue when Neptune list to froune.

But as the watry showers delay the raging winde,

So doth good hope clene put away dispayre out of my minde.

And biddes me for to serue and suffer pacientlie,

For what wot I the after-weale that fortune willes to me.

For those that care do knowe and tasted haue of trouble,

When passed is their woful paine eche ioy shall seme them double.

And bitter sendes she now to make me tast the better,

The plesant swete when that it comes to make it seme the sweter.

And so determine I to serue vntill my [final] brethe. final] 1557 omits

Ye rather dye a thousand times then once to false my feithe.

And if my feble corps through weight of wofull smart.

Do fayle or faint my will it is that still she kepe my hart.

And when thys carcas here to earth shalbe refarde, refarde: ='restored'; see OED s.v. refer, 1b

I do bequeth my weried ghost to serue her afterwarde.

sig: [Dd3v]

Imprinted at London in flete strete within Temple barre, at the sygne of the hand and starre, by Richard Tottel the fift day of June. An. 1557.

Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum.