The Golden Aphroditis: A pleasant discourse, penned by john Grange Gentleman, Student in the Common Law of England.  
Whereunto be annexed by the same Author aswell certain Metres upon sundry points, as also divers Pamphlets in prose, which he entitleth His GARDEN: pleasant to the ear, and delightful to the Reader, if he abuse not the scent of the flowers.  
Habet & musca splenem,  
Et formicae sua bilis inest.  
AT LONDON ANNO. 1577.   

¶ To the right Honourable and his singular good Lord the Lord Sturton, john Grange wisheth health, wealth, and prosperity, with increase of Honour.  
I Know (most Honourable) your wisdom may marvel, and not without cause, that I who of all other am to be reputed the most unlearned, would take upon me, having small skill, or little or none in Palmistry, to discourse or rather entreat of the elevation or declination of the Mount of Venus, seeing both finer wits, and ●yper heads before this time herein have waded over shoes for want of greater skill. Yet my Lord, under your most Honourable correction, to this your admiration, in mine own defence I object this lawful excuse: Honour (as Tully saith) alit arts, omnesque incenduntur ad studia gloriae Wherefore reckoning myself as one of this generality, and yet desirous to keep me within the bounds of this phrase, Ne ●utor ultra crepidam, lawfully alluded of Apelles for the curious carping at his undeserved pencil, I may (wanting feet to run) creep, though as slow as doth the Snail, who refusing to come at the call of jupiter unto his general feast for all living creatures, was justly punished as you see, with the carriage of her house on her back, whereby straying whether she list, is never the farther from home. Thus your wisdom may see the great desire which I had, somewhat to set forth, and that, what best might agreed with your Honour's youthful years, & not mislike my youthful authority, who desirous to paint, as well the pleasure as displeasure of Love, thought good (mingling the sweet with the sour) not only to discourse of the elevation, but also of the declination of the Mount of Venus, for that they are dependent (as fellow ●abians) the one to the other. And though (my Lord) nothing aught to be penned swerving or not proceeding from grave authority, yet often times under a defuse garment lieth a clod of wisdom. Likewise, if unskilful heads should frame themselves to the limitation of this Greek proverb, Quam quisque ●orit artem in bac se exerceat: then skill must die with the Auctor for want of youthful exercise, yea, nothing should be practised, much less learned, few than do as Plato, Pythagoras, and Democritus did, who (as some say) sought all the parts of the world wherein any thing was that might or could be learned. Yea Democritus, and Anaxago●as, loft both their goods and patrimonies (as all men do know) only for the desire of learning. Also Diodo●us the Stoic, is not much incomparable to these, who thorough his continual watch and excessive study, being blind of long time, knowing nothing but what was read unto him by a little child, yet gave himself unto the study of Geometry, teaching with words who were desirous to learn, how and in what manner each live should be laid. Wherefore (O graft of noble stock) having the like desire (if so I might say) as these have had to learning, my desire and not my skill, my good will and not my pen is to be accepted, as the simple Radish root wrapped in a piece of green Sarsenet was better accepted at the Prince his hands, than was a goodly fair Horse gorgeously trapped given him of his merchant, for that in deed he knew their wills were not alike: the poor man gave his Radish root for pure love, but the other his sumptuous Horse in hope of a greater benefit. Thus preacing (more boldly than wisely) upon your Honour's courtesy, I have brought unto your Lordship a handful of fragrant flowers (though not gathered in Adonis' garden). the chief whereof are Primroses and Violettes. Your choice is not great, yet choose what likes you best, the worst turn back again. For if some may please, and none displease, I shall not only think my time well spent, and my diligence better employed, but also my labour and travel best of all bestowed. And whereas I seem (as you shall hereafter perceive) to ground my paganical Pamphlet upon the song of Apollo, most melodiously sung unto me (as me thought) in a vision: I would not your Honour should think the painting of my pen to be Verbatim spoken of Apollo his mouth, but rather the ground thereof, which in most ample manner following I have delated, whereby each one may see (as it were in a gorgeous garish glass before their eyes) a pretty poetical Pamphlet, showing paganically, as well the lawful copulation between Vulcano and Venus, as the unlawful combat between her and Mars. Also in this merry mean a plain mirror of youthful vanities shall play his part, and the shade thereof shall bereave you of your senses. In the ensign likewise of this army, your Honour shall find writ (as it were with letters of pure Gold) a chief point of women's vanities, videlicet, look what they may have, cost it never so much, they esteem not: but by a toy of light value, and not easily comen by, they ●o●great store, whereof this Proverb came, Far fe● and dear bought are good for Ladies. Also divers other points in this glass your L. shall perceive worthy of noting, but why seem I (who as yet never received one point of discourtesy of any venerial Dame) to display with pen and ink upon the imbecility of their natures? God grant (say I) Euripides may well withstand their boisterous blasts, who in his Tragedy entitled Medea, affirmeth that women's wits are unapt to goodness, but very well inclined to unhappiness, because (said he) women are creatures unperfect, and where perfection is not, there can nothing rest that is good. It seemeth the nebbe of my pen is long, and that I less do fear the stubbing thereof. Such surmises (believe me) assent to verity, my young years say, I speak not by experience, but rather by hear say: and what of this? riper years & mellower wits know I fayne not herein, for many of them unwillingly have the proof thereof. Yet would I not, who have no title hereunto, should seem to challenge me as their unjust accuser, for I mean not generally, my surmise is not unknown, Rub a galled Horse on the back and it is a chance if ●ee kicketh not. I will not say but that Dame Nature hath played her part in dividing and distributing her gifts equally, as well to the one as to the other. For we see, as we have Apollo and Mercury for Gods, so Pallas and Minerva for Goddesses of wisdom as Mars so Bellona for war: as Cupid so Venus for love: as Pan so Ceres for invention of husbandry: yea, as Morpheus so Murcas for sleep. Thus (to be short) God hath appointed the pleasure of women to conteruayle the toil of man. Neither are the deeds of men more valiant than the minds of women, whose courage abateth no not with the fierceness of Tigers, as appeared by the wives and matrons of Persia, who thorough their valiant hearts, noble courage and impudency, being ashamed of the flight of their husbands, provoked them to return again unto battle, and not only to overcome them of whom sometimes not only they, but Cyrus himself stood in dread, but also in the same battle to take king Astyages prisoner. Moreover, who hath not red of the valiantness of Queen Thomyris? who hearing of the death of her only son, began not to revenge the same with tears, sobs, sighs, and pensiveness, as women use to do (Tully testifying the same in his second book of Tusculans questions, who inferring upon this proposition De tolerando dolore, afirmeth that Fletus muliebr● ingenio additus) but girded herself with the sword, and armed her body with the shield of Mars, cutting off the hear of her head, and attiring herself in the manner of a man, until such time as she had gotten the head of Cyrus, with the like wiles that he used toward her son. Also who knoweth not that the Amazons ruled their realm between themselves of a long time without the aid of any man, cutting off their right dugs for hindering the casting of their darts, whereof they took this name amazons (that is) wanting their right dugs? But soft here I check, lest some stick not to say behind my back, a blazing star will shoot. But what if they do? It is a great wind that shaketh corns: neither do I think but that the standers by which hear this (having any judgement at all) will easily discern a difference betveene Orpheus and Pan. I know all men are not given to say well, neither to judge alike. For (as Plato sayeth) Quot capitatet sunt sententiae▪ some men will say, this point was penned to mystically: and an other will say behind my back, this shade was to gross: here was to much learning showed, and here was none at all: here Apollo and Pallas guided his pen: here Pan molested him with his oaten pipe: here will th● male kind say, Naestor dreamt, here will the female say Achilles reigned. Thus in every corner of the house I look to find a baiting ●ogge, and not without a cause, for I know they can not speak so evil of me as my pen deserveth. But yet what so ever they say, the blind man may see in this glass, what apish wits women have to investigate by interrogative similitudes the perfect meaning and the sure ground of their lovers heart: and those which have their clear sight to look steadfastly herein, shall see perchance an Ape whipped, which somewhat may delight him. Whereupon certain young Gentlemen and those of my professed friends (well viewing this work) requested me earnestly to have entitled it A nettle for an Ape, but yet (being somewhat wedded as most fools are) to mine own opinion, who would hardly forego their babble for the Tower of London) I thought it good (somewhat to stop a zoilous mouth) to set a more cleanly name upon it, that is, Golden Aphroditis. For if the other had stood, who most had been bitten herewith peradventure would have sought all the means they could to have turned this whip for mine own tale. But stay here a little, I love not to be counted a ranger, lest thorough my appearing above the water, I seem to prognosticate thereby (as doth the Dolphin) that some storm or tempest approacheth at hand. I trust though my pen doth seem to paint at large, yet not to lavish. For whereas it seemeth to blaze or paint the incineration of venerial dames and ruffling Nymphs, it proceedeth not of any spite, malice, hatred, melancholy, or evil will that I bear unto the chaste Matrons, or unto any one that may justly challenge unto themselves one little spark of the spice thereof. Therefore who are willing to understand, I wish them to shun the fountain Chi●s, and rather to open the gates of their ears, whereby they might the better understand my meaning: judge likewise and know the difference of my voices and sounds. If any one seemeth to be touched herewith to the quick, let them propound their Quare, and I will always be at hand Reddere rationem thereunto. Yet on whom so ever it chanceth to sound forth this interrogation (what outward countenance so ever she bear) yet can it not be sounded, but as it were Tragico boatu, therefore who listeth so to do, to aid them in their enterprise, I think it best they call upon the doleful Muse Melp●me●●, on whom Virgil in his Epigrams thus writeth: 
Melp●mene Tragico proclamat m●esta boatu.   
For this I dare avouch, that oftentimes vyho seemeth most of all to blaze their chastity with the Tergate of Medusa, they play more legerdemaynes under this clean kind of conveyance, or at the lest as many, as do those who never woore the necklace of jasper, neither knew so much as the chain of Diamantes and Topazes, which are counted the instruments of chastity. And partly for a proof thereof, who marketh well each thing comprehended in this little volume, shall find, that I have somewhat noted hereof by the conception of Diana, who always bore the name of Chastity itself. Many other points (most Honourable) might here be noted, but that I hate the check of Ne quid nimis, and (as the Proverb goeth) Little said▪ soon amended. My good will I trust, shall suffice for this once, and though my well doing may not countervail the same, yet I trust your Honour will not stick to defend me, in saying in my behalf, Et voluisse sat est. Thus ceasing to trouble your Lordship any farther at this time. I commit you to the tuition of the highest, to direct your paths in true Honour and dignity: desiring also the Ladies of the destiny, so to prolong the fatal thread of this thy terrestrial life: that thou mayst run the race of hoary Naestor, to the pleasure of the almighty, and the great comfort of those which wish thee well.  
Your honours poor Orator JOHN GRANGE.   

¶ To the Courtelike Dames and Ladylike Gentlewomen, the Author sendeth greeting.  

I Greet (but whom?) the glittering stars & troops of Venus' crew,  
With painful pen of ranging fist, bedewde with Ganges dew,  
So ●ocundare leads my will, that wanton needless toil  
Of Courtlike Dames, my pestered wits d●claro seeks to foil.  
Draw near therefore ye wearied Nymphs, with such Minerva's toils,  
And view this lading scope, which yields for them venerial foils.  
As none so well as Caesar's pen, could Caesar's deeds indight,  
So none but of Morychus sect could dolour put to flight,  
Now I who wants Apollo's skill, and eke Dame Pallas wit,  
Herein to play Morychus part, have thought myself most fit.  
Yet shall you find an Ape, an Ape, in purple be she clothed,  
I come not from Trophonius care, for than I should be lothde:  
Nor from S. Patrick's purgatory, but play Nepenth●s part,  
The juice whereof perforce will keep such sadness from your heart.  
Thus labour I with tooth and nail of Lethe force to be:  
Then with oblivion might I force your carping cares to flee.  
Which once exiled, the better might the Muses than take place,  
And barefoot might the tripping Nymphs the better show their grace  
I oft have longed with pen to paint the trade of lovers love,  
Yet near cold found what pen deserved, which was not known before.  
Thus daily musing, where to find whereon to wreak my spite,  
Me thought I hard Apollo sing full sweetly in the night,  
And play upon his twinkling harp, whose warbling notes (me thought)  
Perforce constrained my pen to writ, what h● in songs had taught.  
Which fed full well my restless rheum with Stories somewhat strange:  
Mark now therefore, who list to know whereon I list to range.  
It chaunste N. C. a valiant knight, possessed riches store,  
Yet wanted whom his goods should rule when Cloth● yields no more.  
For chaste, and solemn vow once made, Diana's Nymph to be,  
Dame Nature held her as content to hear, and not to see.  
Wherefore as one devoid of joy, and having issue n●ne,  
He often reparde before the Gods, with great complaint, and moan,  
For that Cibile had transformed into a Lion's shape  
Hypponunes his cousin dear: for taking yielded rape,  
Without a reverence of the place: when beauty pricked his heart,  
His lust to serve (al●s to soon) his honey waxed tart.  
A Nymph likewise of S●●●os I'll, adorned with beauty rare,  
Before the Gods with earnest suit, full often she did repair:  
As for to have Atlanta fair to be restored again  
Unto her former shape, which once Cilele (to her pain)  
Together with Hyppomenes transformed to Lion's rout,  
And set them both at once to draw her chariot wheels about.  
Thus fortune frail doth turn her wheel, to give each man his chance:  
And fraught their lancing ships with wiles, Da● Cupid's round to dance  
For meeting both (as fortune would) before the Gods with plaints,  
Love gave assault, the sparks whereof, his tender heart attaints.  
Such beauty (as Apollo said) consisted in her face,  
That all the Heavens 'gan clear to shine, not Phoebus yet in place,  
Who, fearing jest the Gods themselves with love should be inflamed▪  
Sat all on thorn till she was gone, and was he to be blamed?  
Not, no.  
Thus I at length, have found a text to stub a ganders quill:  
Which if it prove Ell●borus, according to my will,  
A heavy heart needs must it purge, from care, and pensive plight▪  
And like unto Argivus heart enforce it to be light:  
To laugh indeed where cause is none, as this Argivus did,  
●et ajax ●●ses to frequent, my story doth forbidden.  
And I forbidden a carping knight to catch where catch he can,  
For hard it is one dish to please the mouth of every man.  
Who spies my fault (as easy) may by suit I him forbidden,  
To see and turn it to the worst, as Argus whilom did,  
That simple skill (which erst I had) I give it you to view,  
Not doing as this Argus did, who kept his wife in mew.  
For, quicquid in bucc●m venit, the same with haste I pend,  
No marvel then (dear Dames) if aught herein ye may amend.  
Thus standing to your courtesy (madams) load stars of light,  
The sequel shall my meaning show here offered to your sight.   

Tam Mineruae quàm Veneri.    

Cuiquam.  

Mark well my friend this ragged rhyme,  
thrust forth the Eldern pith:  
Spare not to cut a hazel wand  
to make a winding with.  
Seek forth the ground of every thing,  
esteem not filled phrase,  
The pith, but not the painting penn●  
doth yield the Authors praise.  
What though I seek by wantoness wit  
each man for to delight?  
Shall sense therefore enforced b●  
by mirth to see no light?  
Then is the Readers care but small,  
what fruit he reap thereby:  
And eke the Authors praise, by this,  
shall seem in dust to lie.  
Then who that knows, so foolishis  
his pen to take in h●nde?  
Sigh that the vewers' care is more,  
to read, than understand.   

Legore & 〈◊〉 intelligent negliger● 〈◊〉.    

C. G. Master of Art, in the praise of the Author.  Io●n 
In wisdoms school Apollo, and dame Pallas thought it fit  
Of all, therein your Author here, in highest room to si●.  
Hold there (quoth she) the Muses all have ●●lde thee in their lap,  
Not I alone have given thee suck, but they have given thee p●ppe.  Grange 
Gange●, thy streams bedewed, his pen thy sands have po'isht eke,  
Rare blossoms blown to mortal men, yet not in him to seek.  
Arethusa, thy influence in him it is not scant,  
Not Polymne●a eke her rules of Rhetoric doth he want,  
God guide thy steps therefore my Grange, and eke what is begun,  
Echidu●as sting thou only soughtes by secret means to shun.  john 
jove would it so, thou knowest well PeSnassus Mount to climb  
Of Momus mates, thou needst not care, nor muttering Mucius slym●▪  
Hold here therefore thy just reward, a crown of Laurel bays,  
Not sounding trump, but due deserts, thy flickering fame shall raise.  Grange 
Grant him ye fatal sisters three, old Naestors' race to run  
Renoumedly without default, & crack of fame to shun.  
A Grange in deed he may be termed, a Grange for each delight,  
Not Grange, nor grove, nor fertile field that is in each man's sight,  
Grange would I so accounted be, but such a Grange I mean,  
For outward mirth and secret sense as erst hath not been seen.  
FINIS.   

W. S. in commendation of the Author.  
OF silver pure thy pen is made, dippeth in the Muses well,  
Thy Eloquence and lofty style all other doth excel:  
Thy wisdom great and secret sense diffusedly disguysde,  
Doth show how Pallas rules thy mind, and Phoebu● hath devised  
Those Golden lines, which polished are with Tagus' glittering sands.  
A palace plain of pleasures great unto the vewers' hands.  
Thy learning doth bewray itself and worthy praise doth crave,  
Who so thee knew, did little think such learning thee to have.  
Here Virtue seems to check at Vice, and wisdom folly taunts:  
Here Venus she is set at nought, and Dame Diane she vaunts:  
Here Pallas Cupid doth detest, and all his carpet knights:  
Here doth she show, that youthful imps in folly most delights.  
And how when age comes creeping on, with show of hoary hears,  
Then they the loss of time repent, with sobs and brinish tears.  
Thou Ambidexter playste herein, to take the first rebound,  
And for to show thy mind at large, in earth doth the same compound:  
So that Apollo claddes his corpse all with Mory●●us clotheses,  
And shows himself still friendliest there, where most of all he lothe●.  
FINIS.   

Golden Aphroditis.  
All-hail ye Lydian streams: what mean these doleful dumps? hath Io cast her horns? what if she ha●e, yet do the buds remain? what, are ye tasked to the prayers of Acheron, that ye flare the passage to his temple? or have ye to de●le with the memorable judges 〈◊〉 and Rhad●manthus▪ fear ye the torments of Hercules? the plagues of 〈◊〉 or the bar●yng of 〈◊〉 if aught of the●e be the cause fear you not, but draw near to ●ethe lake, s●one after the tas●ing whereof ye s●all forget this clod of car●yng ●are, though in deed ye have tasted before of the very Well of pensiveness, videlicet, the S●●g●a lake. But being thus wrapped in the v●●e of misery, I trust a caul●● sweet western wind after this your sharp & stormy winter can no sooner come in place, than he shallbe welcomen▪ neither in the Primetyde of the year (v●del●cet) in April and in May. can Phoeb●● so soon display his golden bright rays or glistering beams upon the earth▪ than will each heart rejoice, & each hea●●e which before hath been penned up or kept as it were in the prison of ●●arte frost, now laugh his jailor the frost to scorn: so I think, be it morning or evening▪ come I early or late. I come not to soon to dry up those surging seas or boisterous streams of carping care, which with pensiveness overflow your heavy hearts▪ nor to expel those doleful dumps which sore oppress your pestered wits. For as I take no small delight thoroughly to bas●e my corpse with the Nectar wine of the Homerical Gods, to reune my doleful spirits when I set occasion: so take I a great delight to have a portion of that marvelous heart ●●epenthes (which hath force to drive sadness and melancholy from each man's heart) about me▪ to impart to my friends coming in ●lace where such pensiveness doth reign. Now sir, I coming from my wonted custom, and associ●d with Nepenthes juice, chancing (as fortune would) into this fair flock of my faithful friends, whom I plainly see as it were in glass before mine eyes set altogether lumping and lowering as if ye had lately comen from Troph●nius cave, or rather escaped S. Patrick's Purgatory, fully persuade myself I can not better bestow it, than upon your crazed corpses: wherefore (my diligence employed ye shall see how neat I will be, not only in anointing each part of your s●omak●, whereby you might the eas●er avoid all Melancholy, but also in curiously washing your sweltering hearts, whereby all sadness may strait avoid and give place to Dame pleasure and all her troop, for so Nepenthes bids. Yet du●be not me for a merry knave, but Nepenthes juice for a pleasant Knight, to whom I am but a servant or rather an instrument to bring his feats about, as now plainly and manifestly appeareth in this amorous discourse of Sir N. O. and the worthy Nymph A. O. whom the Gods assigned at length to be his wife. And now (dear Dames) because I would not h●●● you (my rare being run) to stand in as foolish or rather in a foolisher doubt than Plato whilom did, who doubted in deed whether he should put your se●● among reasonable or unreasonable creatures: I will make every thing so plain unto you, as 〈◊〉 could not be, though in de●de you should be led by a line or pointed unto it with Democri●●● Anger. And for your better instruction, seeing men in these days thi●ke that the climate or the country wherein a man is borne, importeth not a little toward his nobility, ye shall understand, I will not faint (as the poets did,) and say, Sir N. O. was brought forth in flowing ●elos as Apollo was, nor yet in hollow rocks as was jupiter, neither that this Nymph A. O. took her beginning in wa●yng Seas as Venus did, or was begotten of the ●rayne of any as was Pallas b● jupiter: but Sir N.O. descended of the ancient house and noble parentage of Hippomenes, as this treatise maketh plain, and the worthy Nymph● A. O. ●● the other side (as Apollo said) was borne and educated in Pasquilles Heaven, daughter unto Dame Diana (though the poets sayne the contrary) begotten of hy● sweet heart Endymyon, whom in her hunting not seldom she visited by starts (if the poets, are to be credited) which starts you know full often requireth starting corners, and if you know not, these her starts may give you to understand: for why should she covet to have her Altar besprinkled with man's blood, if she took no delight in man? or why should she (using hunting as a copy of her countenance) visit so oft by stealth, her sweet heart End●m●on, if not for some such intent? for this we know, that womanhood and chastity forbiddeth pleasure. If then the like chasteness were grafted in her▪ as is reported to be, she would not have used in that order his company, nor yet have spent her days continually in hunting, as we see she doth. Yet marvel not (poetical Nymphs) that thus much hath not been revealed unto you before this time of our ancient poets: for no marvel it is if the poets hereof were ignorant, when none of the Gods knew it, excepting Apollo, neither had he known it, but thorough her coming to have the advice of his Oracle at Delphos (that is) to know whether it were a male or female that she went withal, who courteously answering▪ said, it was a female which with her should be Alpha and Omega (that is to say) the first and the last that ever she should bear: who was not before so much dismayed, discomforted, and grieved with her conception, lest (coming to light) the bands of chastity wherewith she was thought to be ●ound, should be counted broken, but ●entymes more now rejoiced at this Alpha and Omega, persuading herself, that how lendely soever she behaved her self, wantonness of pleasure would not be seen. But yet take heed Diana lest thorough thy to much credulity and light belief (as the Proverb goeth) Minertiam exercit●res: For not seldom the Oracle of Apollo beareth a double meaning (most like to the Images of Alcibi●des) who what imported life without, the same enclosed death within. Now Dame Diana keeping this escape very secretly (as wisdom warned her) and knowing her time of delivery to be near at hand, taking her bow and shafts as though she would have gone to her wonted game, conveyed herself primly under a cloud into Pasqu●lles heaven: where remaining until the time of her delivery was past, the Gods (not knowing where she had been) marveled much at this her long absence, and at her return, merrily gyving with her, as they sat at dinner. jupiter demanded of her where she had been, and what sport she had had all this time. Who first fixed her eyes upon her 〈◊〉 strings, secondly looking steadfastly in the midst thereof, strait forth had a ready answer by the end: which proveth not a little the readiness, ripeness, sharpness and subtlety of a woman's wit: for she meaning in deed to disclose the whole matter (lest some evesdropper or picketbanke should bewray her unto Venus, who always was and will be her mortal enemy) yet in such secret manner and after such a lofty style as the Gods themselves should hardly vnderst●nde her, answered him in this sort: Sir (quoth she) in sport I passed the bands of pleasure, and came to the Court of felicity, for I had no soo●●e entered the wild and fenny forest of my wonted game, but a goodly Buck forth of the thick and flaking serve began to rouse himself, who contrary to the nature of his sex, leaving both fierceness and wildness (as though he had known me) gan lovingly to fawn upon me, despairing me with his lips, and ticking my garments with his ●ong. Whereat I being amazed, and taking it to be some of Circe's enchantments, who had taken upon him the Crocodiles nature, I sent a piercing shaft to stick amidst his ribs, which contrary to his former force rebounded back again: the Buck likewise not f●aryng aught, began to lick afresh. Whereat I marvelling not a little, seeing this change of nature, persuaded myself it was some waned Buck, which of late had strayed from the lodge of my forest (and now forgotten thorough my tasting of Lethe lake at my first entering into the same,) wherefore I began to play with him, calling him by this name, Will, Will: who no otherwise as it were fle●ted upon me, than doth the child or little infant, who smiles upon his mother or nurse calling him by some childish name. And perceiving I had yielded unto his lore (as in deed I had) thinking I ●ould follow him, began lightly to trip before me, until such time as he came to a broad gate of a fair lawn field. I like a good bloodhound pursuing my chase leisurely, kept true footing, and drew near unto him, whom when he spied (more like a man than a beast) he opened the hatch with his crooked horn, and with the same h●lde it open until such time as I had entered. Then did I see him make toward the middle of the lawn, wherein was a slip hedged about with black & white thorn, but rather made in the order of a list wherein a combat had or should be foughten: whom incontinently I followed: he entered, I entered also: thus being entered, he laid him down to breath. I fate me down likewise to rest my wraried limbs, and played with his horns in my lap. But (to be short) he suddenly rising, 'gan fiercely to push at me with his pricking horns, and so fiercely pursued his fe●nishe thrusts, that before I could recover my feet again▪ he gave me a going wound. Whereat I being amazed▪ and yet desirous to see farther before I enjoyed his death, withstood him stoutly, nothing regarding his force. Wherein I found that a valiant Knight may soon be overcomen, but a fierce Soldier sooner tired, for so was her: yet being vanquished, he yielded himself, fawning upon me as he did before, to whom (being moved with pity,) and hoping in short time to recover my hurt, I granted life, yet broke his ●o●nes and let him go. Who was no sooner gone, but the sore incontinently began to swell: I (fearing the worst) sought straightfoorth for Elleborus to purge me thereof, which found, I stamped it and drank the juice thereof at my discretion: soon after the drinking whereof. all the corruption and matter which before was congealed in my gored wound, gushed forth, but to my deadly paint. Thus in a fair● large field between the lists I encountered with my mortal fo●: who receiving the foil but not the repulse, I broke his horn, and for the testimonial thereof behold the same (showing the Gods in deed the little ●●ngar of a born gauntlet which was her sweet hearts Endymyon, which we call the lovers fingar, but what she meant thereby I refer to you Madams, whose wits herein do pass my foolish skill:) The Gods hearing this tale (not perceiving her subtlety) laughing sore, commended her sport, and began (as Terence sayeth) Omnia bona dicere & Laudare fortunam eius, saying moreover, she had done valiantly, and in gibing order wished themselves there (being merrily disposed) some wish cap●ace and bodkyn, some with quisshyn and belhedded pin, other some with beer bung and fauset, an other with potlyd and ladel, and some again with chamberpot and bedstaf. Thus every God had his sundry wish, and every one his wish alike. But in the mean time Diana her escape was kept unknown, the knowing whereof she feared the less, seeing At●● and Momus, the Gods of reprehension, long time agone were cast down from heaven thorough the whole consent of the Poetical Gods, which maketh them now (as Homer sayeth) lead forth an cast life.  
Thus I trust (my glittering stars) ye are fully resolved of the birth and nativity of the Lady A. O. ye need not farther to doubt hereof, for though my rude stile be not penned with the golden Liduos' streams, neither curiously polisshed with Hermus' glittering sands, yet (my loving troop) if ye diligently mark the gloze thereof, you shall find it penned with Ganges siluery streams, the force whereof will draw Golden sands unto it to shade the same. Here resteth now (to go consequently) the cause why Dame Diana named this Nymph A. O. which is, because the Oracle of Apollo, (Alpha Omega) signified unto her mother first and last, therefore did she call her by the first letters of the same (videlicet) A. O. But now I know ye look I should return to my matter (that is) to show in deed the first original acquaintance of Sir V O. and the worthy Nymph Alpha Omega, which as briefly as I can, I will declare. N. O. being a man of great possessions, detesting always the froth of Venus, before such time as the wonderful beauty of this Nymph had not only dazzled his eyes, but also distraught him of his former senses, having neither male nor female to enjoy his goods and lands, what time the fatal thread of this his terrestrial life was thoroughly expired and ended, lamented sore the Metamorphosis of his cousin Hippomenes, and daily repaired before the presence of all the homerical Gods, cranuing most earnestly upon his knees his cousin's shape to be restored again, (whom Cibele the mother of the Gods had turned into a white lions shape with the beautiful Atlanta his wife, for seeking the fraytes of Venus in the wood where her daily habitation was, without any reverence of the place) which by no means he could obtain. Alpha Omega likewise remaining in the Island Seiros, bring praised of all others for her wonderful beauty (setting no less thereby than in deed others did) hearing of the fair maiden Atlanta who lately lived in the said Island, whom Hippomenes thorough the counsel of Venus won to be his wedded wife, desired upon a time of the Gods that her right shape might be restored again, meaning thereby (as I suppose) to see which of their beauties were most to be esteemed, seeing they were both of all men so highly allowed, and so greatly proved (for sure it is, one woman envieth the beauty of an other) and thinketh her self fairest of all. So frowning fortune and cruel destiny yet withstood her enterprise, that nought her suit before the Gods could prevail (Venus especially being her heavy friend (only for her beauty's sake.) It happened so, these two having both a like suit unto the Gods, met●e (by chance) in the heavenly throne of the mighty and thundering jupiter, at such time as the Gods were disposed to hear mortal men's vows and supplications (which I judge to be in the forenoon and sober hours of the day) for in the after noon, when th●y are well and thoroughly whirled with the Nectar wine, then lis●e they not to treat on earnest affairs, but look on which side the heavens bendeth lowest towards the earth, there sit they intentively beholding mortal men's doings, which unto them are as it were a Theatre of tragical discourses to move them to laughter: But behold (fair Dames) Venus bearing their supplications▪ grudging at N. O. for detesting her froth and hating A. O. for her beauty (not contented to deny their petitions) called Cupid that blind and conkered boy unto her, commanding him under affection to strike this N. O. in most ardent love with A. O. who (obeying her best,) straightfoorth ascended to the Mount Pernossus, where his guyver of arrows lay, who (choosing among the rest what best might work this feat) suddenly struck his silly heart, who felt no sooner the arrow prick, but straightfoorth came bound to lovers lore, yea, in such sort, that he sat all on thorn till she was g●●ne; whereby he might find time and place to utter his moaning mind unto her, and also to bewray his sweltering heart. love made him volde, he feared naught but lest the Gods should be inflamed with her, who (ravished with her sight) might bar him of his william. Such was her beauty, (said Apollo) as all the heavens 'gan clearly to shine (not Phoebus yet in place.) But to be short (her suit not avayling she departed from thence to her wonted Isle of Scyros, whom N.O. incontinently followed: and (guarding her to her lodge) in the way of familiarity taking the gentle congee of her (as a 〈◊〉 guerdon in lien of his pains) used unto her these words following: O Goddess of worthy price (quoth he) if so I might thee call, rebuke me not for my boldness, for what my lips have done and now profess, my heart hath wished long before. I grant (not vaunting of my parentage) a graft of wilding stock (as I am) deserveth not to encounter with the sugared lips of so worthy a Goddess (as by thine outward appearance) thou ●eemest in my sight to be: say therefore (O well of life) if trespass aught herein I have committed, then let my life a guerdon be for these my evil deserts, but in the me●ne time Lady (as doubtful of my offence,) I appeal to thy courtesy for grace. Who courteously answering, said: Not Goddess sir, yet often we see blind bayard hitteth the nail on the head, but tell me good sir I pray you what meaneth this kind of salutation? I, less than seldom have found in my wonted friends the like courtesy, much less in a stranger, wherefore your courteous demeanour (whatsoever it pleaseth you to say of yourself) giveth me to think, your race to have comen of some noble parentage, or rather of a worthy line. N.O. fearing the imbecility of his wit, and the foltering of his tongue (though in deed he needed not) answered in this sort: alas (thou fountain of my joy) my faltering tongue is bashful to recite the lingering love which this mine inward heart with deadly pain retaineth: wherefore by humble suit I crave, that what my trembling tongue for fear is bashful to recite, the same my painful pen may put in writing. I grant (quoth she) seeing nothing but reason you do require▪ if so you had leue● your pen to paint, than your tongue to express the same. Yet as it hath pleased you of your courtesy, to accompany me in this so long a voyage (I unworthy thereof) so I desire you to so●o●●e with me this night, taking a small repast in am of your good will, and a hard lodging to rest your wearied limbs, in part of satisfaction to recompense your proffered pain. No doubt but N.O. willingly accepted her courteous proffer: for at what time this proffer was made they were in the ●ight of the house, which bring most gorgeously adorned with high points, curious turrets, and few glass windows round about▪ inflamed his heart with a great desire to view the situation, and not only the rules and principles, but also the chiefest points and most centous workmanship thorough the device of Geometry which therein were used, which sure he had no sooner entered, but the ●egall pomp and princely furniture, seemed in all points correspondent to the brave painting, and the curious workmanship of the ba●tle●s & turrets without. But I will omit this sumptuous building (lest while I seem to praise it at the full) not giving it his true title (I diminish the glory thereof) and speak of his friendly entertainment, because it appertaineth partly to my charge, At si● N.O. his first entrance into the house, Alpha Omega taking him by the hand and bidding him according to the rules of courtesy most heartily welcome, showed him all the commodities of the house, and led him into a fair large gallery lying on the west side of the house, where first desirous to know his name, his native country and lineage, and after great parlance more (which were to tedious here to recite:) the board being covered after a stately manner, supper drew near, whereof being warned by the Steward of the house, she desired him to take a small repast, who (thanking her for her courtesy) sat down as he was placed of the Groom, which was at the upper end of the board next to his Lady, on whom he many a sheepish eye did cast. What should I here bring in the number and sorts of dainty dishes, or the curious carving and service at the board? the showing whereof is as cast as the numbering of the s●arres in the skies, or the telling of the sands in the seas. Yet think I it good and Opere precium, here to reduce their pretty Poems and Poëticall Pamphlets conveyed from the one to the other, for he that seeketh the ground and pith thereof, shall find aliquid salis, in them (as the proverb goeth.) First N. O. marking greatly her behaviour and gestures, often times cast his glancing eyes (as he thought) by stealth upon her, winking much withal whereat A. O. marveling, asked him if the light of the candle das●d his eyes. To whom he replied thus: Not so (dear dame) I wink for fear, lest my too much contemplation of thy wondered beauty daze my greedy eyes, for by proof I find it not over easy to climb the eagles nest, and thy great courtesy is a ready repulse to my rudeness, yet bear with my blynking folly: for it is great good will that gravelleth me, and the fear of repulse maketh my heart to freeze. Wherefore I beseech thee, grant fire in time to thaw. Good sir (quoth she) to found fire in frost, I count it ●etter lost. I grant (said N O.) who findeth fire in frost, he finds, but yet he lives by loss▪ but who findeth frost in fire, he gapeth for good luck. And yet although for fear my heart doth freeze, and craveth your lively countenance to thaw the same, yet hath the trump of thy beauty kindled such sparks of hot burning coals, as not all the water in the sea is able, yet one drop of the dew of thy lively countenance may qu●nch the same. Wherefore as after a manner I craved fire to thaw my fearful freezing: so now (as enforced to the same) I crave the lively draw of thy ●ountenance, to quench or lay the heat of these my kindling coals. Whereat with simpering lips she smiled▪ thinking he could not perceive her, but thereof she was deceived. Which cheered him on further to have said, but that the board being discovered, the sweet music and melodious harmony called upon them to dance. His Lady likewise (marveling at his Ephonicall tongue,) took him by the hand, craving him to lead her a gallyarde: whereof I dare swear not misliking) he granting her request, fulfilled her demand: they traced (as near as I can remember Ap●llo his words) the gracious galliardes dedicated to the Gods, and afterwards those measures, whose footing and gestures served best his turn, and some of their hearts likewise danced privily loath to depart. But (their legs fainting) he gave his lady the zucado d●z●labro●, and led her again to the place from whence she yielded herself. Soon after the company leaving their past once (the Chamberlain willing to show him his chamber (he courteously bid his Lady good night, saying what she had granted, he meant to put in ure. Whereby (as I suppose) he meant the grant of declaring his mind by writing. Who graciously wishing him good rest, said: What my lips have spoken, mine honour can not deny. Thus taking his leave, he marched toward his chamber. which he l●unde all hanged with white and black. Who knowing well the virtue of each colour, and the myrting of the same, thought verily he swymmed against the stream. For (as I have heard some say) these colours pretended virginity unto death. But yet N. O. knowing that out of one mouth, cometh both ho●te and cold, and knowing his heart with fear to s●cese more and more, thought long until such time as some t●●tale paper had blazed his privy scalding sighs and salt tears to whom her loved best Wherefore soon after his entering into the chamber, he discharged the Chamberlain of his duty, and made this letter following in a readiness, to give to her Lady at her first flight.  
N. O. to his best beloved A.O.  
WIth the morning salutation, or rather with an humble kind of gratulation, which Venus vouchsafed to call the gentle congee, and Mars her darling the Bezolas manes. (as ●ingring love commandeth me) I salute the● my second self, and greet thee here in blabbing paper poetically, not licentiously as testifieth the same. For why? if springs and seas were turned to ink▪ if lands were turned to paper▪ if shrubs & trees we turned to pens, if all the sands in seas were men, if every man took pen in hand, if Apollo & Pallas should give them wisdom, if Mercur● ambages, and A●ethusa influence, yet would their ink be dried up, their paper spent, 〈◊〉 pens stubbed, & (to be short) their wits graveled: yet would thy features be untouched, the which in number pass the sands in seas, and eke the glittering stars in skies. Thy faint doth pierce the cloudy roupes which 〈◊〉 winds suborn, it pierced vashe the dusky skies: thus art thou borne from Mount to mount, whose same shall never die: and if I might be bold to speak without the wrath of feigned Gods, then would I say, that juno, Pallas, and Venus adorned themselves with thy beauty, and Egeria supported her self by thy shape. Not marvel then (dear Dame) if I through the sound of thy Ueneriall trump have not only been trapped, but also ravished of my fatal senses: for none otherwise doth thy relucent beauty and surpassing qualities daily display before mine eyes, than doth the golden glistering beams or bright arrays of Phoebus display upon the earth, when through his force, the dim and darksome skies with cloudy roupes are put to flight, the which (O well of life) hath not only with fiery flakes, and flashing flames of ardent love set my heart on fire, but also (as annexed unto it) hath raised such surging seas of carping car●, as not jupiter his head (I think) was ever so pestered, what time he borrowed Vulcanus axe to hew Pallas out of his brain, as at this time am I through the fervent desire which I bear unto thee. Thus hath the trump of thy beauty conveyed me to the narrow of Cilla and Charybdu. Either if I seek to shun, my rustical deeds will show me to be Pan, and my folly in seeking to kick against the good, will say plainly in foolishness I pass Morychus. Wherefore I see, either I must sink in Syrtes sands, 'tis drown in Lethe lake. Thus is thy love a Labyrinth to me for my liking. I a toiling Theseus, and all for speeding: yet suffer me not to be tossed in thy Labyrinth, whom great good will hath graveled. My heart is in thy thrall, my corpse requires no less, by suit I crave, grant, save my life, by chin to hold me up, lest that thy beauty bid me say I tasted Circe's cup. For though I have tasted a sharp stormy winter, yet (standing to thy courtesy) I gape for a new Prymetide, flourishing with his causine sweet Western wind Let me not therefore be fed with a vain hope, if yea reigns, ●ay yea, if n●, nav, yet such a weak nay, as thereon I may build such a steadfast foundation of perfit requitaunce, as not Aeolus with all his winds may shake the top, much less move the foundation thereof, which granted, persuade thyself to find me as tried in truth, as Romeus and juliet, and as steadfast in faith, as P●sistratus to Catanea, who dost in my sight Home● her golden Aphroditis pass. Wherefore blame me not, if I wish the sharpness of Lynceus his sight, that every crevice I might found out, yea that thorough the hard flint and stony walls my glancing eyes might be fixed upon the lively shape of the corporal hew, whereby I might enjoy thy company, or at the lest have the fruition of those sweet Western winds, which I hope will breathe out of those thy sugared lips. For if (as one constrained thereunto) I went about of Lethe lake to taste, yet should I but do as the Giants did, who (as the Ports feigned) with their engines of Sciences, moved war against nature, which assuredly exceedeth the bands of my force, wherefore take pity upon him, who is, and will be while life doth last, more yours than his own.  
Yours in heart N. O.  
This (being finished) he laid his drowsy head upon his soft pillow to sleep: but (God wot) it was so sore pestered with the tedious thoughts of his fair Lady, that whilst he thought to have rested his wearied limbs in a bed of security, his senses were rested (as it were to the third heaven) with fear of digression. Thus (as one being placed where pleasure was, and could not participate the same) with many a sobbing sigh, and scalding tear he wrested forth the tedious night, in hope, that if the Muses Thaleia and Pelymneia favoured his tongue, as well as Phoebus and Calliope the direction of his pen, his rising should be on the right side on that day: yet wrestled he so his effeminate band to the siege of backward affection, that both trump and drum sounded nothing for their Alarm, but Baccare, Baccare: yet as the sound of trump and stroke of drum encourageth not a little thee▪ henlyke man to martial feats, bloody acts, and warlike prows, thinking thereby to raise an everlasting fame which neither the oblivion of memory should ●oulde in earth, nor yet the antiquity of time shall turn to dust: so the only sound of trump & drum (though in deed the troop of froward affection, stood as it were a band of mortal enemies before him, seeking the spoil of his innocent blood) enforced him to set the best leg forward, knowing that Phoebus with his ral●ant rays is able to put the cloudy roupes to flight, and therefore with a good courage be 'gan to rouse himself. Who (after each thing placed in order about him (thought to have greeted his Lady with the morning salutation, as other of his sect have used to do, and coming through the gallery which led him to his chamber, he met (as fortune would) with his lady upon the sudden, who not grieved with his chance, well liking the place, and not misliking the time, taking her by the hand, & giving her the courtesy of Aurora, she conmaunded her nimble feet to encounter a turn or twain about the gallery, where leaving foreign matters, they parled at the flest of domestical and private affairs. But yet as one word driveth forth an other, so this parlance being soon ended, N.O. issued forth in this sort: Lady (quoth he) I see dame Pa●las in thee hath played her part, wherefore be not offended with my encroaching upon thee, being desirous to be absolved of this doubt, which is: A valiant captain trusting the craking words of his soldiers ●not knowing their manhood, & pressed in haste thereunto) bringeth them to the field, whom sort assault (for the most part) proves rather cackling hens, than skilful soldiers in martial exploits. For being environed, or rather (as it were, hedged in round about of their enemies (who in deed were too strong for them) having no way to flee but through the surging Sea, some like hens having small lust to cackle, being expulsed off their nests, adventure to scape the seas, and are drowned. The second company stand to the direful dent of ●attred shield, and are slain. The third (seeing no resistance) yield to their enemies, in hope to find life, where not seldom we find life to be none. The captain seeing his hand broken, and his army scattered, standeth in a quandary, not knowing what to do. Thus good Lady (my question being moved) my demand is in this case, if you were captain, which of these three companies would you hold withal? The Lady marking well his proposition▪ made answer in this sort: Sir knight (quoth she) this case is plain, the valiant Souldioure had rather trust to the force of his arms amidst his enemies, than in the field a fair pair of heels to show. Therefore, who used that vain of manhood, I judge were justly served: the toys● and skilful Souldieors (s●●ing Mars to withstand them, and Mercury's shiftings not to prevail) will rather yield, standing to the courtesy of their enemies, than more boldly than wisely run headlong into their own destruction: For naught but direful death by seeking the extremity at tyrennous hands doth happen. Wherefore, who courteously yeeldeed (seeing none other remedy, if I had been their Captain, with them I would have holden. Then (quoth N O. mark well the consequent: the case being mine, and you the Castle which I seek to win, (Mars frowning upon me) I yield, what would you do? Take all your goods (quoth the Lady) for inveighing against me, then binding you by solemn oath and protestation while l●fe do●th last, never to bea●e spear and shield against me in the field again, with life and limb you should depart. Now assuredly (saith he) as a greater courtesy I would not wish, so thus much (as enforced thereto) I crave. For why (fair Lady) in such thundering sort doth clipping Echo sound forth the lofty Taratantara of thy amiable trump, that needs I must prefer my rude words unto thy learned ears. Thou art (ob amorous dame) that strong and steadfast Castle of amity which Cupid enforceth my heart to inveigh: Love is my standard which b●art●h up the banner of affection, under whom Dame Venus, enforceth my wits to fight: I am that captain, whose wailful eyes beholdeth mine army scattered. Fear of denial is that plat soldier, who with open mouth and continual cry calleth upon me to adventure the dangerous Lethe, which I see by no means can be compassed without the Ferry of Chav●n. Wherefore it is justly alluded, not all the weapons of Bre●e●, are able to arm fear: and Hope (for brevities sake) is that Soldier which standeth to your courtesy, whose shoulders in this my extremity) as seemed best by your former opinion) I make my pillar of assistance. Wherefore (thou radiant Star) seeing an easy conquest requireth the conquerors clemency, my trembling tongue giveth place. Alpha Omega liking well this ready derivation, so aptly alluded with an unfeigned similitude, with bridled lips answered, Rome was not builded in one day, wherewith N.O. held him as content for that time, delivering unto her this fore-recited letter, saying: if she wanted a bottom whereon to wind her silk, that waste paper would aptly serve her turn. Whereat (she plucking forth her sampler) accepted his writing willingly, saying: if it served not for white it should serve for black, but (perceiving suddenly somewhat to be enclosed therein) she turning her back towards him, opened it hastily, wherein she found a pretty ring, having a true lovers knot of white and blue ribben tied thereupon, the po●s●e wherein graven was this, Par parirefer, at the end whereof she found a hand reaching forth a heart, who had no sooner spied it, but closed it up as hastily as erst she unfolded it, and turning her face toward him again, filled his cares with a woman's excuse, saying, if all were gold that glistered, she had a heart of gold, meaning as well by the colours of the knot, as by the graving of the hand and heart in the ring, who answered: what you mean (fair Dame) I know not, but this I know, that ●yme trieth truth in every place. She replied him again, then hold you content, for hereafter cometh not yet, but N.O. desirous of farther hope, bolted forth once more saying, I grant to your silence, for haste maketh waste. A. O perceiving this wide shot, inferred, delay breedeth danger: what she meant thereby I can not tell, but yet it was prettily devised, seeing him hot on the spur (as in taking his leave) to make a post return, but yet I think if his business had not been thereafter, his spurs would have frozen (for want of heat) unto his heels, before he would have departed: for judge ye whether his heart daunted loath to depart or not, when as breakfast being ended, and he ready to mount upon his Chevall, taking his leave after the pleasantest order that might be, said, Lady, though my body departs, my heart and mind yet remaineth in thy custody, thus hoping thy corpse to be the hour wherein two faithful hearts do shroud, I commit you to the highest to direct thy paths as well in the division of Venus as Cupid: who mystically answering▪ said, The Dyamant cutteth the Glass. Thus using the trade of Dame Venus her soldiers, in showing their minds by signs & nods he departed, but (God wot) full sore against his will, thinking each hour ten till his return again. Yet was he no sooner departed, but in short time after, came I I an old courtier of A.O. who seeing in all his dealings the more he ran, the more behind, thinking it in vain longer time to waste, stayed not, but wrote upon the gallery door, Veni, vidi, saying unto his Lady: seeing you have oft given me (as Terence saith) Nodum in scirpo quaerere, behold here your rush again, the knots whereof are as ready to gravel your wits, as in time passed they have been to waste my wind. Thus departing, he gave his Lady this letter following, saying: The peach will have wine, and the fig water.  
I.I. his device to. A.O.  

THe soaring Hawk beyond his skill who seeks to soar so high,  
That wearied wings shall him annoy before he footing finds:  
The reckless bird on every branch that seeks to prove and pry,  
The sailor of his launching ship the 〈◊〉 which weakly binds,  
At length shall breed their bathing bane to scourge them in their kinds.   

And though the change of pasture helps by proof to make fat calves,  
Through slickenesse yet, the rolling stone we see can take no moss.  
Wherefore sith you will daily seek each thing to part by halves,  
Think for your part, & for your pains, naught else to gain but dross  
For while you seek a greater gain, your wits in vain you toss.   

Yourself to be the rolling stone, and I your Sisyphus  
You sought to make, but all in vain, I learned have to shun,  
The poisoning plagues of Circe's cup (as did Prometheus)  
Which was him sent as sauce, for the which erst by stealth he won:  
Wherefore with leisure now repent, with haste what you begun.   

Sigh Socrates us bid divide one Venus into two,  
In two likewise Dan Cupid God, love torments to abate:  
Therefore you will (as none erst did) her corpse divide in more,  
Which plainly shows your change with choice, your change I mean of late,  
Which turned your friends to mortal foes, by changing of your mate.   

When Aeolus minds to reign, than Boreas needs must hast,  
Elleborus hath me purged, I now defy thy crew.  
By proof I find an ape an ape, in purple be she placed.  
Let who list do as Argus did, keep thee within their mew:  
Yet who so list, or who so doth shall never find thee true.   

And sith you think your beauty such, as none enjoys the like:  
To Plato's City, fairies land, or to Utopia wen:  
Yea sigh you think your wisdom such, as no man hath the like:  
In deserts shrink (as Timon did) go seek some cave or den,  
There to enjoy your gifts alone, imparted not to men.   

Perhaps dan Phoebus in the day, Minippus else by night,  
In sight, which pass Lynceus eyes, will spy thee forth at length,  
With bending eyes from sun & Moon, who ravished with thy sight,  
In heaven will place thee as a star, none can withstand their strength.  
Thus thou despising mortal men, the Gods enjoys at length.   

Mitto tibi frontem Veneris, mediumque Dianae,  
Principium lucis quod mare claudat item.  
Tempus erit quo tu quia nunc excludis amantes  
Frigidia disertè nocte iacebis anus.   

This token herein closed I send as for my last farewell.  
'tis Eglantine, which plainly shows where sweet there sour lay.  
My love at first (most like the leaves) did give a fragrant smell.  
But now at last, 'tis like the pricks most hurtful bearing sway.  
Yet as the pricks do yield no hurt,  
Unless some one abuse the smell:   

So had my last been like my first,  
If thou the first had used well.  
Hereafter set by none so light,  
As I have found thee set by me:  
Lest they then do as I do now,  
Take of thy bells, and let thee flee.   
She received this letter with a coy look, saying: adieu good sir, I suffer the ill, hoping for the good: but in hoping to take two pigeons with one bean you are deceived (quoth I I) and thus he took his flight. She seeing this, red his letter, which pricked her not a little: and set her over the shoes in dumps. I will not say she would willingly have been revenged, but yet I dare say it rubbed her on the gall as much as the strokes grieved Venus which Diomedes gave her, when with weapon she would have been revenged upon him, but that jupiter calling her aside, said: Daughter mine, thine office is not to be occupied in warlike affairs, but about toyers & lovers, wherefore attend about love kisses, embracings and pleasures, and as for martial Princes, Mars and Bellona have the charge thereof: thus all women are not acquainted with Tisiphones' nature (though for the most part they are) as appeareth by A. O. for she not desirous of revengement, & fearing lest it should be blown by Boreas blasts of S●●mati● unto her lovers ears, bridled her nature with the bit of affection, and clapped him in sampson's post. For I.I. not minding longer to proceed in such havens of assistance, seeing Nept●ne with his three forked mace in this his long navigation never furthered his suit. And A. O. for her wits security refrained ●ir pen from blotting further paper in answering the cragged cliffs of his former letter, whereby this matter quailed, as one whose brows had Morpheus bound and laid to steep over head and ears in the snow of Tygetus, until such time as Titan with his parching beams had turned his bed to nought. But while their wits thus sailed in a bed of security. N.O. (daily troubled with the ruby blush of Aurora, & often warned by the example of Lady Ver, to greet his lady by writing in the absence of his body, who showeth her grace in green till Autumn yields the fruit thereof) greeted his lady in this order.  
N. O his visitation of A.O. by writing.  
near drowned in dumps of drowsiness, shall Morpheus bind my bed  
With kercher dippeth in Limbo lake? shall drowsy dumps forbed  
My pen to show the zealous love which I to thee do bear?  
Not not: if Dy●●● dungeon dark did hedge thee in▪ to fear  
I would not yield my lively spirits: for why▪ not Tartar's den,  
Not Cerberus he, Avernus deep, nor yet the G●●gon fen,  
Not Pluto's grisly gates I say, nor yet M●gera fierce,  
The Stygian pool, with thousand more, which now for to rehearse  
It were too long: not Phlegethons' flame should bar me fro thy sight,  
But needs I would adventure all to win thee in despite.  
Wherefore accept my willing pen descrying thus my heart,  
Until my corpse doth come in place, and maketh good his part.  
Thus far you well my gem of joy, the fountain of delight.  
Farewell once more, thou well of life, thus takes my pen his flight.  
Fill up my lamp with oil of grace.  
N.O. whom I vow to be, 〈◊〉 loyal be. Ade●e.  
This Letter pleased A. O very well for the time. But yet as mirth, so sorrow requireth a time. For soon after the reading hereof, the trumpet of news sounded in her ears a strange amorous combat foughten in the north part of the world, wherein all remorse of conscience being banished quite, and pity taking no place, so long as the banner of affection was holden up, and the arming weapons of Venus would hold, they spared not what beauty forced to, but lying with loyalty they forced not of brutishness, thinking consentaneum what ly●ed best their lust, for mistrust they knew might well 〈◊〉 ●et not condemn them. A.O. crediting the bruit of this 〈…〉 E●ch● full oft resoundeth an untruth, (as now manifestly appears) who bruited (contrary to verity) N.O. to be one of their 〈◊〉 soldiers, or rather hungrie-dogges who filled then 〈…〉 like to the carrion kite) with du●●ie puddyngs, & 〈…〉 habitation to be in the defiled & unlucky climate zone, whi●● thus ●ad ransacked her veins, all (cladding her corpse with mourning weeds, most like a vestal maid, or rather a sacred virgin, long lulled in Muse's laps) with vapoured eyes and boiled breast, which erst had bathed him in good will, caused her secretary to writ unto him in this order.  
A.O. to her lover, charging him with an untruth.  
WIth vapourd eyes, & scalding sighs, my tedious steps I trace,  
with wailful weeds I clad my corpse, salt tears bedews my face:  
A boiling breast like Aetna hill subdues my sweltering heart,  
And ransacked veins persuades me now to think on Cupid's dart.  
I see my heart with inward thoughts hath bathed in good will,  
That hound which seeks by ranging foot a virgin's rule to spill.  
Which loathsome death with fearful mace commands to work my doom,  
With aid likewise of sisters three to finish forth my tomb.  
O Ladies of the Destiny, shall this a guerdon be  
In am of my good will bestowed? may naught occasion be  
To bulwark my defence in need? have I a rolling stone  
All wrapped in gold, as if it were a gem that peer had none?  
Well well N O. unless you prove yourself a peerless gem:  
Unconstancy will me perforce constrain thee to condemn.  
By proof we see, what golden is, the same hath glittering spheres,  
As Phoebus hath his radiant rays, Pactolus eke that bears  
His siluerie sands on shore, and Tagus casts his gold to land  
Yea Lydius hath his golden streams and Hermes glittering sand:  
So Virtue would not lurk unknown, if virtue did thee rule,  
But needs would shine like glittering beams, though wrapped in friars ●ule.  
Report could not subvert thy fame, if thou the virgins path  
Had trod by rule of virgins law, or bathed thyself in bath  
Of loyal love. But yet I hope how that Dan Echo fails,  
With mumbling voice of faltering tongue (though truth embark the sails.)  
Wherefore as one devoid of joy, and yet would feign rejoice,  
Embark this foaming froth of waves, then with of pleasure choice  
I may adorn my daisy bank, which delectable seems  
To those, whose greedy senses seeks the scent which flowers teems.  
And thus Adieu. I 〈◊〉 lodge where I march all with my dumpish Muse. videlicet Me●pomenes. A. O.  
This letter being written with the juice of a Lemon for the secrecy thereof, because (as some say) it can not be read unless it be held near to the fire, and eke this sudden charge seemed very strange unto N. O. and no marvel, seeing he was accused of his enemies, & half condemned of his Lady, not being guilty of the crime, neither knowing what she meant thereby. Yet many thoughts occurred his mazed wits, but which to take unto his senses served not, neither knew he how to answer this letter (her meaning lying unknown) the inditing whereof caused him much to muse, for that it seemed rather unto him the device of Melpomenes the chiefest Muse than the wit of any other learned clerk, though in deed he had of long time been fostered up with Muse's milk, her clerk like pen he thought condemned his rural wits. Yet knowing himself in all respects unspotted and undefiled, seeing Veritas non query Angulos, he framed his rural pen (as he thought) to answer in this sort.  
N. O In his own defence.  
Shall zoilus he, or Momus mates imbash my pen to writ?  
Or shall the want of Homer's quill, or Virgil's vain to indite,  
A new diffused Chaos make of these my pestered wits?  
Not so, though Triton's trumpet shrill on fynned fish that sits,  
Hath blazed unto your tentive ears, what honour might defame,  
Sigh I unguilty am thereof, I will not seek the same  
Texcuse, for why? I know that time each thing will bring to light:  
And truth itself will come in place 'gainst falsehoods force to fight.  
By phrase of filled style you seem a verdict rash to give  
Of prisoner yours to die, but yet it grants my state to live.  
By rolling stone, and ranging hound unconstant me to be,  
Your painting pen by art declares: yet shall you never see,  
Nor know my senses, for to know the breath of any wight  
Save thou alone, as Biblia, who when Duellus height  
Himself to have a stinking breath by open parlance maid  
Of Roman dames unto his face: I have not known (she said,)  
But all men's breath have been alike, such was the vestal line  
Of that her chosen path, as well the stories do define.  
Wherefore in suspense now let hung, the judgement of my doom,  
Till truth through time for falsehoods corpse hath finished up a tome.  
Thus far thou well my gem of joy Let not our absence breed annoy.  
N.O. After the delivery of this letter thought long, as lovers do) to hear an answer of the same. Which seeing it came not according to his expectation, he mounted upon his bayard grey, making a post journey (being hot on the spur) partly to visit his Lady, and partly to answer unto her objections, which no doubt but in thundering wise soon after his coming she poured forth. 
Note hereby how hard it is for women to keep any thing secret, and the weightier the thing, the harder the restraint of blabbing the same,  I might do well here to bring in the curiosity of lovers & the care they have all things should be as near as might at the greeting of their Ladies. But especially in things about their forehead, because it is that front of their army which standeth in case to make or mar, as in mundifling their beards, cristalling their teeth, correcting their hairs, cutting their sublabes, or in demediating the hairs of their heads, some again in turning their monchachous the Turkey way, in washing their temples with rose water, & other some desire to perfume their clotheses, and set their ruffs after the french fashion. Thus to be short, every one delighteth in one thing or an other whereby they should elevate the spirits of their fair Dames, as with fragrante flowers, which represent their Ladies, or else with sweet perfumes which give occasion to the provocation of pleasure, as in opening their appetites, or else they have taken it of a custom of Venus▪ who (as the greek poets affirm) never departed from any place not leaving an exquisite perfume and odorous smell behind her in token of her presence: and as for their flowers (as I said before) some wear them for a representation of their ladies, as things most desired, and some again wear them to give unto their Ladies, as things most agreeing with their appetites. But happy is he● (I think) to whom his Lady giveth a nosegay, because the property of all women is rather, to take than give, and thus by such trifling toys lovers use to die in themselves and live in others, the heart being more where he loveth, than where he giveth life: the eye likewise will always be fixed where the heart is entered, thorough the preaching of Cupid's leaden shafts. But soft bold you here contented with these foolish toys, until occasion serve to bring such like in place. N. O. had no sooner greeted his Lady with an humble salutation, but (she hardly forbearing the suppression of her heart told him incontinently what she had heard: Who answering said, the higher the Sun, the lesser our shadows are, and Asterites keeping his light within, showeth it forth by little and little, yet who so beholdeth it thoroughly shall found it in property most like to the star●e. Wherewith and such like he clearly acquitted himself from all her former suspicions, to the great contentation of them both. For such was the force of the privy stroke of affection (as he saith) that beauty herself seemed but ugly in his sight, in comparison of the rosed cheeks of his lady, which his outward eyes and inward heart had chosen by vow to be his wedded mate: whereupon he craved of his Trust (for so he had termed her) that what soever he said in her presence (as perforce constrained thereunto) it might be taken not to proceed of any dissimulation, but rather of a pure and contrite heart, who (refraining her tongue for a season) said. As I find so in time will I lose (meaning thereby) (as I think) that if she found him loyal, faithful, and trusty as he had professed, then would she loose him from suspicion of dissimulation. But tell me sir (quoth she) can the force of affection so rule in any creature, that what seemeth not only foul and filthy, but also thorough mishap of body uggly in other's sight, the same should seem most beautiful and well proportioned in his sight? why not Lady (quoth he) for if a woman hath matched herself to one as uggly, misseshapen, and misfavored as Thersites, a● hoary, wrinkled, tanned, and withered thorough age as Nestor, and yet persuade herself, that neither beautiful Nireus, fair Phaon, nor yet Phoebus himself were comparable unto him, why should not this man, as well like her as if he were the best favoured and comeliest person, alive? likewise if a man taking to wife one, so ugly misseshapen, foul, filthy, and misfavored, that uglyer could not be, as seemly as a cow in a Cage, a dog in a doublet, or a sow with a saddle, yea such a one indeed as hath no our spark of comeliness whereby to delight the meanest man alive, though his innocency were such, as to choose for Minerva a Sow, (as the proue●be goeth) & yet thinketh her to be as comely in parsonage as Aegeri●, and of as fair a complexion as Venus, why should not this disfigured thing be unto him (so supposing) an 〈◊〉 A●geria in persuage as it were, & a second Venus in beauty? Marvel not lady at this, for daily examples do testify thus much, and more than this for need approves: for what was it but blind affection which moved Syblis to fall in love with her own brother? and Mir●ha to fancy her father most of all? or where was affection when poor Pasiphae was ravished with the sight of a Bul? But how far forth did fond affection rule in Clisophus, raging (none mediocri●er) upon an Image at Samos made of white pacian Marble? In Pygmalion, towards a white ivory image of naked Venus? & in a young man a Citizen of Athens, who so fervently raged in fleshly lust towards an image of good fortune, standing at the Prytaneum of Athens, that most oftentimes he lovingly embraced it, and kissed it most sweetly, being very desirous to buy it of the Senate, offering for the same a mighty mass of money? but so outrageously did it reign in the three Gentlewomen mentioned in the Courtier, that they fell in love with a gentleman at the sight of a letter in his commendations, whom as yet they never saw. Such is the force of fond affection. If this be true which stories make plain, what marvel is it then (fair Lady) that I with the sight of thee am ravished? whose lively countenance feedeth as well mine eye, as did the disputations of learned men in schools feed the earen of the worthy Emperor Charles the fourth, who seemest in my sight fair Helen of Troy, Polyxena, Calliope, yea Atlanta herself in beauty to surpass, Pandora's in qualities, Penelope and Lucretia in chastenesse to deface. O God why seem I thus thy dower to disgrace? who seemest rather in honour juno, in wisdom Pallas, in beauty Venus, in shape of parsonage Aegeria, in chastity Diana, & to be short, in housewifery Minerva. Or how dared I presume to lay my based finger upon thy stately corpse (I unworthy thereof) whose relucent beams as yet Gradatim do increase, which shows by perfect plea thy courteous heart, and eke thy brave demeanour therewithal: These fond feigned fancies (quoth she) and wanton foolish eyes deserveth a glass of dissembling water, but an x, or a nod shall serve for a due guard, & yet what make you then of beauty by this quoth she?) Plato defined it lady (quoth he) to be a privilege of nature: Carneades a solitary kingdom: but Pomitius said, that there was nothing more acceptable in an honest woman: Aristotle affirmed, that beauty is more worth than all the letters of commendation: Homer commended it for a glorious gift of nature, and Quid called it a grace of God. You seemed me thought (said A. O) to define this upon the beauty of an honest woman: but what think you of a Courtesan? who answered: their beauty (sayeth Socrates) is a tyranny of short time: Theophrastu● a secret deceit: and Theocritus a delectable damage. This pretty definition, and clawing by course of tongue liked A. O. very well: but especially to hear her self commended of her bestbeloved before Atlanta, who sometime bore the bell of beauty's price in that her native soil. Wherefore (his talk being ended) she said, his tongue was made of massive gold, inferring moreover, that Apelles pencil, nor yet Sulpicia the Roman dame, were able so to paint or carve in tables of brass, the stately corpse of Venus' ruffling Nymphs, as was his tongue their features to descry. Not so (dear dame) I would (quoth he) my tongue such vigour had, as to express thy virtues all which heart could never think, ne pen much less (as I suppose) with ease might well subscribe, whom Marcia she, that all surpassed hath in perfect work in imagery, could not her pencil frame in hand thy outward shape to grave, although in deed (as stories do unfold) she naught did use in those her living days but carving work, to paint, or else to draw the shapes of those whose beauty was a pattern to behold for ruffling dames, yet would she never carve nor draw the shape of any man, lest that the sight of carnal things might raise such carnal lusts, as might abridge her virgin's laws. Such was her chosen path. This praising of N.O. his rolling tongue did encourage him not a little by polished phrase of filled style to feed his Lady's appetites or humours with some one thing or other, whereby he might fancy what fancy most required. And therefore filling his ladies ears with words (occasion serving him so) he fell from this treatise into the discourse of chaste Matrons, as in declaring how that, when Atropos, Lachesis and Clothed, being the Ladies of the destiny had granted to Admetus' king of Thessalia (at the request of Apollo, being thrown into exile, or rather banished from the stately throne of the potential Gods by force of jupiter's fearful mace) that what time soever the turning spindle had thoroughly twined his fatal thread, if any one would take upon him death to award King Admetus his life, his proffer should be accepted to ●●iourne his former wish. This day being common, & none would yield his life for Admetus his sake, than Alceste she his true and faithful wife did yield to death for to award his life. Mark how N.O. seeketh to frame his tongue altogether in the commendation and setting forth of women, on whom she encroached in this order. No doubt N.O. but the like constancy is to be found in men? Alas Madame (quoth he) I can not for thy sake but say and think well of all womankind. Yet could I say as much as this of men, alluding the one with the other if so occasion served. And this persuade thyself, whilst life doth last, my care shall greater be of thee than of myself: yea Artemisia her self, was never found more constant to her make than I willbe to thee: although in deed the brute of blazing trump hath informed the very skies of her chastity, and feathered her fame, for that her pure love: who when M●usolus King of Caria, had yielded his life to the fearful mace of loathsome death, did call for death ten thousand times to change her state with his, who seeing her suit could not prevail, in regal sort with princely pomp enclosed his corpse in tome, yet did she keep his heart above the ground to keep her company, until continuance of time had turned the same by course to moultring dust. Then putting the same in a cup of wine, she drank it up, saying: while life did last his heart from hers asunder should not part. But soft, hold you here content (quoth A.O.) and yield to silence for a season, for my viewing eyes have seen your painting pen, and my listening ears have heard your rolling tongue. But who doth know your privy thoughts? not I Why Lady (quoth he) is the wind at that door now? then I plainly see the more I seek the less I find. Sometime your wisdom said, the Diamond cuts the glass: but as yet me thinketh it hath not razed the skin. Which daily consumes my languished limbs with loathsome life, and enforceth my moaning mind to cry upon my harms so huge. Yet wisdom warneth me to rue and not to rage's, still looking for that lingering hour which should forbidden my carping cares. For though thy heart were made of hard flint and sturdy steel, yet (as Terence saith) N●l tam difficale est quod non solercia vincat. And eke in time the brazen walls will start: which putteth me in hope (fair Lady) that (doing as the Poet Anacrion did by Bathillus, Horace by Ligurius, and the poets by Numa and Servius, who always had them either in their songs, or else at the end of their pens thou canst not but in time yield up the title of thy heart. I trust (Lady) I have not deserved, that thy love should wax colder and colder towards me, neither that thy charity should decrease, if so I have, then use the Adamant stone which (as Dioscorides sayeth) will enforce thee to draw it down again. But what need I thus to mistrust thy discourtesy? who already have found thy tongue to be made of pure Alabaster, which perforce will keep thee in amity and charity with all men: thy lips of Achates of Crete, which maketh thee gracious: and thy face of Ger●tites (not for his colour but for his singular virtue) which maketh thee so amiable, that no man can that seeth thee, but he enamoured with thee. Likewise the force of it (Lady) is such, that who carrieth it close in his mouth, knoweth what every one thinketh of him. Wherefore (Lady) I I need not longer to blaze unto thee, for thou knowest full well my heart being once set on fire with the pure l●ue which I bear unto thee (most like to the stone Albeston) can not be quenched again: neither my mind being once frozen with fear, can by any means but thorough thy gracious goodness be thawed again, like to the operation of Gelacia a very white gem, whose coldness in such, that no ●●re can heat the same. I well perceive your glozing talk (quoth A.O.) but tell me sir (quoth she) if your heart continually burn why vadeth it not? who answered, as well Lady you might have asked me why the hill Aetna which burneth day and night is not mouldered to ashes: or why Enid●●● being but a little stone always sweeting and dropping, is not turned to nought? who seeing she could not prevail, said, it is but in vain longer to argue with thee, for I see thy tongue is made of the pale and wan stone Chalcedon, which greatly befriendeth your sect in pleading your cause at Dame Ve●us her bar. Why lady (said N.O.) do you take me to be such a cold Orator, that if I could shake Dan Cup●ds shaft out of my ribs I would? no not, if I had (fair Dame) the herb Dictamus, or Tragion, planted in my bosom, the growth whereof should touch my lips, yet would I not taste thereof: although in deed they availed as much in man as in the Heart or Dear, who so soon as they feel the arrow stick amidst their ribs, straightfoorth (tasting thereof) can shake it forth. Say you so (quoth A. O.) what make you then of love? by this I compare it Lady (said he) unto a kind of stone called Pirr●tes, which touching it lightly is tolerable, but holding it hard in your hand it burneth your fingers before you are ware: so love being once grafted in your heart, using it moderately, not caring who know thereof, is tolerable: but being a secret kind of love, and seeking by all means possible to bide or oppress the same, it taketh on like ● bedlam, tormenting the owner with waves of woe, and burning his heart with unsatiable heat. Wherefore not without a cause did Socrates will us to divide one Venus into two Venus, and one Cupid into two Cupids. It is also like unto a gem called Lipparia, which huntsmen use to tame their game withal when course of greyhounds fails, the property whereof is to delight and enamour all kind of beasts with his look and show, unto the sight whereof they all do hastily run, staying there until their followers strick them down, so love when nothing can, yet it will all men tame: so you (quoth she) when no man can, yet you the game will gain. N.O. knew full well what she meant thereby, and was not a little glad thereof, but yet because she should know that he understood her meaning (seeing it made so well for him if at any time hereafter she should deny it) he said: glad am I (Lady) Kabiates so to favour me, that I should not only seem eloquent in thy sight, but also win favour of thy grace. But (lady quoth he) seeing the Music and company breaketh off our talk, remember the Proverb, Eat well of the Cresses. Whereby he meant, remember our talk, for Cresses is an herb which helpeth much the memory. Away she went, and naught she said but mum. Gentles of all sort both male and female wanted not in this company, who seeing supper time was passed, they sought to recreate their spirits, some in dancing, some in carding, some in dicing, and some again in pleasantly arguing of Ueneriall disputations, but N.O. thinking his Lady rather to delight in dancing than in any other exercise there used, (because the property of most women is to delight in the same) he took his Lady by the tender fist, fetching her from the place where she sat, and led her a stately dance called Thias round, a dance sometime dedicated unto Bacchus, whereto the gentles gave their whole consent, and held by hands a round: It fell by course N.O. should lead this trace, because he knew it best, the tracing of this round required in the middle thereof a congee, which he (forsaking his marroll) bestowed upon an other Gentlewoman, holding with hands the round, but not dancing, whether he mistook the one for the other, or thought that at all times he might be bold to kiss his own though not the other, so well as then, because the dance was as a cloak to cover the rain as touching his desire to the same, or the dance so required, I know not: but sure it is A.O. thought no small discourtesy herein, who for manners sake stayed till the dance was ended. But then she suddenly departed fro their companies, whom N.O. perceiving, pursued hastily, desirous to know the cause thereof, to whom she answered snappingly, One perch may not suffice a bird to prove and pry upon. Who knowing what she meant thereby, pressed to have entered the chamber to have excused himself, but she locking the door, said: Avaunt, Go rouse t●y self in flaking fern. Who answered, The privy is paste, and flaking fern doth whither. Thus perceiving her froward nature, being very sorrowful, he went to his company again, and argued with them for a space, lest they should take any discourtesy in his sudden departure. Their theme was this, whether he was most in favour with his Lady that receiveth any thing at her hand, or he of whom his Lady receiveth aught. N. O took the first part, & the other the la●t●●, but N.O. his tongue bore the bell away, it chanced N.O. talking of the dying of women's hear and painting of their faces (occasion serving him so) he told a Gentlewomen how to clarify her face, and to make it fair (although he needed not) for Dame nature had played her part) videlicet with the root of an herb called Dragaunce, beaten to powder and mingled with rose water. Which coming to his Lady's ears, Noctuas Athenas misit, or rather Opposuit ignem igni, as it were. But N.O. (freezing as it were with fear until such time as he had heard and also withstood the boisterous blasts of his Lady, hastily cut off his former disputations: and sitting close in his chamber, devised these verses following in her commendation, to lay in place where they should be found before they were lost.  

You Muses nine  
With grace divine  
My wits to shrine  
Give not consent,   

But aiding hand  
To bear my hand  
Through sea & land  
For good intent   

To rhyme not rail  
Hold up my sail  
Let not breath fail  
the virtuous mode   

With trump to blaze  
The condign phrase  
Of her who stayed  
Where virtue stood.   

ALthough of Helicone that well  
my tongue hath not assayed:  
And though the Horn of Acheloye  
his knowledge hath denayed:  
Yea, though Alcinous Orchard hath  
his fruit denayed my lore,  
Whereby I might the apt be  
my landing carme to score:  
Yet Arethusa, yield me thine  
influence to indite,  
And Phoebus' sharp my willing pen,  
expressly for to writ  
The blazing feats displaying wise  
of Nature's darling dear,  
Whom Virtue she with golden mace  
and trump doth seek to rear.  
Yet sith myself by painting pen  
I would so fayne disguise,  
Lucina grant Apollo may  
melodiously devise  
My filled phrase, so polished  
with Tagus' glittering sands,  
Whereby her viewing eyes might think  
she red of golden lands.  
You Gods seclude my rural pen,  
and yield a glozing stile,  
With curious polished phrase,  
or  
with relucent file,  
Of Tully's famous eloquence  
To praise her worthy excellence.  
Come yield thy leaves thou Laurel tree  
to make a garland round:  
To Crown her head, and let the trump  
her flying fame resound.  
Whose features all so many are,  
so worthy, and so clear.  
That of myself I dare be hold  
to say, she hath no pear.  
Such painting form, some comely hue  
consisteth in her face,  
That from the Gods I well suppose  
she may define her race.  
Polyxena fair, Caliop, and  
Penelop may give place.  
Atlanta, and dame Lucre's fair,  
she doth them both deface.  
The precious orient pearl  
so fair and gorgeous clear,  
Doth testify unto her mates  
the whiteness of her lere.  
Her lusty, lively gallant looks  
with rosed ruby ruddes,  
Resembles right to standers of  
the pleasant read rose buds.  
Her sweet and eke her sugared lips,  
soft, rounded like the berry,  
Right well to me resemble do  
the crimson bloomed cherry.  
So that to me poor wretch I count  
it were an heavenly bliss,  
At such a sweet and sugared mouth  
to steal a pleasant kiss.  
Her round, fair, and flouting cheeks  
most  
rosedlyke are painted,  
What though dame Fortune caused her  
front to be attainted?  
Perforce each heart with truth must grant,  
it can not be denayed,  
But that this scar upon her front  
was womanly conveyed.  
Which seemeth from a far  
To be a radiant Star  
Her butned, ruby chin, her face,  
and eke her neck did shine,  
As though they were with ivory white  
all burnished marvelous fine.  
Her pretty nose is somewhat short,  
it well becomes her face,  
Her frizzle hear in knotted wi●e  
is to her front a grace.  
Her temples smooth, and eke her veins  
stand full of lusty crew.  
I liken them therefore as likest  
to Indie sapphire blue.  
Her twinkling ey●e both steep and grey,  
they seem like Christ all clear.  
Her siluery teeth, and golden tongue,  
do say she hath no pear.  
Her fingers are both long and small,  
her hands are soft as silk:  
The palms thereof are somewhat short,  
yet whiter than the milk.  
Her comely sides are long and strait,  
all shapde in massive gold.  
What heart alive could her deny  
with fame to be enfold?  
My heart it doth both skip and joy  
to see her trace the ground.  
Her feet they are so fine, and feat,  
her heels so short and round.  
But stay, O Muse, thy golden mace,  
and Ganges now bedew  
My painting pen with siluery streams,  
that I forthwith may show  
What feats within this comely corpse  
by parant proof doth rest,  
I thank thee that thou seemest to grant  
at first to my request.  
Her courteous heart, and ●owly mind  
adorned with virtues rare:  
Her sober looks with bridled cheer  
doth show she hath a care  
To trace the chaste Diana's laws  
as well by deed as thought,  
That naught may seem to scape her hands  
which virtue hath not taught.  
Her tongue it rolls in Rhetoric terms  
to give each man delight:  
Which ravished hath my senseless wits  
by cankered Cupid's spirit.  
Alas poor wretch what should I say?  
to look on her again  
I may nor can it not abide,  
though 'tis a pleasant pain.  
With her ay to remain,  
Some hearts ease for to gain:  
This blossom of fresh flower  
Bears Hearts case for her bower.   
A. O. Worthy to be in rolled, With letters of gold. Car elle vault.  
These clawing verses did N.O. lay in a narrow entry, which led to A. O her chamber, which according to his expectation (as fortune would) she found in the morning at her first flight: which being read, her mind did challenge them as her right & dew: she made no words thereof, but closed it by again, mistrusting the author, & marvelling at the unperfect end thereof, which N.O. left so raw, because he minded was to greet his Lady with a letter depending upon these former verses, before such time as he spoke with her face to face, whereby she might the easier judge the author thereof. His mo●ing letter in manner of complaint thus began.  
Which flower fair and fresh in Adonis garden saw I gro●:  
The sight whereof hath ravished me, ill might I it forego.  
But (to my grief) to win the same, no way find out I can:  
Wherefore this fragrant flower I might full justly curse and ban,  
The sight whereof and pleasant h●● hath forced me to yield  
Unto their lore, as Si●enes, whose songs both sweet and mild,  
Perforce them to do draw the sailors by, but none escape  
Fro them alive, no more shall I: for while with hope I gape  
My joys to win, my life departs: what do I then prevail,  
Unless I had Vl●sses art, then might I safely sail?  
For while through pleasant outward sight I seek for to obtain  
My hearts desire, and win it not, what joys do then remain?  
I would to God my wit had served to use that famous grace  
Of Percian Kings, who never go● abroad with open face,  
But with some lawn or silken scarf: than it I had not spied,  
The want whereof doth force me now in ●orments to abide.  
For why? I can not turn myself into a golden rain,  
Nor to a Bull, as Gods they can, their pleasure to obtain.  
Wherefore thus much, though strange it be, yet justly may I say,  
I pleasure take, yet as my foe, it brings me to decay.  
For while I pleasure take to see, the sight doth me confound:  
As doth the Gorgon whose fierce eyes do yield a deadly wound.  
And when I strive to come away, and leave that pleasant sight,  
I seem as though with Hydra fierce that serpent I did fight:  
Who lee●●ng one of all his heads, seven springeth in his ryne,  
So I through voiding of this sight, seven times my cares do twine,  
With 〈◊〉 I play the Faukner kind, I hallow, and I whoupe,  
I shake my fist, I whistle shrill, but naught will make her stoop,  
Wherefore (though sore against my will) I find the proverb true,  
Vnmanned Hawks forsake the lure, which maketh me to rue,  
I see I swim against the stream, I kick against a good,  
I cast a stone against the wind: my tongue that near abode  
To say thee well, my feet to go, my hands to do the like,  
Yet you denial give, which doth my heart asunder strike.  
Yet somewhat would my greedy gripes, & eke my carping cares,  
My griping grieves, my sobbing sighs, and eke my tedious tears  
Abate, if that but half my heart it would return again:  
What doth prevail complaint or none, for naught thereby I gain?  
Yet poets say that Triton can with sounding trump enforce  
Each thing that hath exceeded bands receive his former corce.  
If this be true, than Triton come retreyte with me to blow:  
I call in vain, there is no such, the poets brains did crow.  
Yet will I woeful wight my corpse with steadfast colours clad,  
As Russet decte with Blue, as steadfast suits as may be had  
To represent my faithful heart, a banner to be true,  
And like unto the turtle Dove which changeth not for new.  
As carped knight thus stands my eace, woe to me woeful wight,  
Whose heart is like to Aetna hill which burneth day and night.  
I spend my time in sobbing sighs, from sighs I turn to ●●ares,  
From tedious tears to pensive plaint, and thus my life it wears.  
Yea thus the shell of carping care hath put my joys to flight:  
That joyful times increase my woe, thus do I mourn aright,  
And if by chance I hear the sound of song or instrument,  
Me thinks the tune that doleful is doth help me to lament.  
And as the dear which strike is, doth draw himself alone,  
So will I seek some secret place where I might make my moan,  
Secluding joy, embracing c●●e, the increase trade to use  
I will incline, who closed in walls no pleasure can peruse.  
Each side enclosed, part of my grave my nails shall daily scrape,  
In token that my death shall soon reward my cursed hap.  
Yet mayst thou all with ease prevent, if pity taketh place,  
If not, then doleful dumps approach to rue my wretched case.  
N. O.  
N.O. folding up this letter in his chamber, Mistress Angelica one of A.O. her gentlewomen having occasion to go thorough his chamber, and seeing him folding up these verses, snatched them away from him, but with his consent, for he knew she would as well show them unto her Mistress, as his heavy cheer and sad countenance used for the nonce, which was his whole desire. For if she had not thus used him, he would have laid them in the place of his other verses, privily stealing away until such time as this cloud were overcast: which in deed he did. For willing the young gentlewoman to remember her mistress of this phrase, Eat well of the Cresses, unknowing to any in the house, he secretly went his way. A.O. perceiving the beginning of these morning verses to depend upon the other poetical commendation, she persuaded herself then that she perfectly knew the author thereof. N.O. within a day or two after his sudden departure (as most wooers do, sparing no cost) sent many a precious & costly jewel unto his Lady in token of his great good will toward her. But she naught regarding the cost (by reason as it should seem of the easy coming thereby) neglected his gifts, saying: Each bird can have corn in the harvest time, meaning thereby (as I think) that while she lived in that order, she could not want what might so easily be comen by, what soever it cost. Whereupon he remembering the commendation which sometime she set upon a rare and sumptuous jewel which Venus wore upon her front, whose like for virtue was not to be found again, and remembering the common Proverb and usual experience, far fet and dear bought do fancy Ladies most of all, he sought by all means possible that might be invented, some pretty device whereby to get the same. Who seeing the wild horses to have gotten their reins at will from unskilful Phaeton, who wilfully would have the guiding of the Chariot which carried the radiant Sun about the world: and knowing the same of force to provoke a great hurly-burly among the Gods and Goddesses in heaven, repaired thither in haste, whom according to his expectation he found almost besides themselves, fearing the consuming both of Heaven and Earth by fire. Where seeing the Goddesses most of all skuddeling and seeking to defend themselves longest from smothering, he besought Diana upon his knees, as she loved her natural daughter, to help him with the same. Who being moved with pity, willed him to go unto Venus, telling her that her temple is set on fire, and Cypress where she was worshipped most of all is consumed to nought, whereat (quoth she) she will not only rend her clotheses, but also (neglecting where) cast them here and there, which when you see her do, take the jewel and go your way. This precept liked N.O. very well, who (doing as she had commanded him) found each thing to fall out in all respects according unto her divination before, wherefore he taking up this jewel, departed with great joy and gladness, and sent it unto his Lady for a token, who knowing it at the first sight, received it joyfully, although in the bringers sight but scornfully, by reason of her cloaked countenance: for giving the servant thanks, and rewarding him liberally, she sent his Master none at all. Thus each man may see, though the lovers purse be strung with the blade of a leek, as the poets feign by Cupid dreaming of their to much liberality, yet nothing will please the froward minds of their Ladies, if affection bear not a stroke among them, or else the gift be as hardly won as this. For Venus' perceiving her Temple to stand, and the isle of Cypress as yet unwasted, and seeing the Father of Phaeton had taken upon him again the guiding of the Sun (at the earnest request of jupiter) waxed very wroth, with the misinformer of these things, sending Circe's with a cup of all kind of diseases to plague him for the same. Which he thorough the advice of his stepmother Dian● utterly refused. But Venus further perceiving the jewel whereof she set such great store, to be taken fro the place where she fling her upper garments, and knowing well the bereaver thereof (for nothing unto the Gods and Goddesses are unknown) she turned him for his subtlety in stealing the same into a wily Fox. But Diana (perceiving the same) wearied him incontinently with her hounds, and of his blood restored his shape again. Then fearing the discovery of her daughter for wearing the same: she changed not only the colour, but also the property of the jewel, even as it hanged on her daughter's front: So that dame Venus knew not what was become thereof. But (ad propositum) whether these moaning verses of N.O. moved his Lady to pity or not, I can not tell, but sure they might, for the thing itself was pitiful. Nothing she said of a long time: but yet the smothering fire at length breaks forth in flame. For she seeing his long absence, and hearing in deed how heavily he took the matter, greatly regarding also his gifts in token wise, could not refrain, but spent her days in sobbing sighs for woe, and being about somewhat to have written unto him, whereby he might have taken hearty grace, these verses following came unto her hands.  
THe fountain Granus giveth strength unto the weakened bone,  
And eke the force of Spawe doth help all those that have the Stone.  
Who hath the lither Fever, runs to Padua for help,  
And to Veronas well he hies whose want of blood doth yelp.  
Yet as by proof Buckestones do stand, to those that here doth dwell,  
In steed of Grane, and Padua, of Spawe and Verone well:  
So mightst thou hearts ease be to me, that all these things do need,  
In steed of Buckstones present help, if so it be thy meed.  
For why? I sink in Syrtes sands, through tasting Circe's cup,  
Unless thou speedy help wilt bring by chin to hold me up.  
For tangled thus in Scylla's bands, and whelmed in Lethe lake,  
Who can me help but thou alone? 'tis only for thy sake.  
If naught may breed remorse, nor make your stony heart relent,  
Then may I wake, & wail the night, my bed with tears be sprent.  
Then may I say as Atlas did, I bear this weight in vain.  
My thirst doth likewise say, I may with Tantalus complain.  
Then may I say as Sisyphus, I toil to none effect,  
As Theseus, and Ticius, with other of my sect.  
Then is thy love a Labyrinth unto me for my liking:  
Whom great good will hath graveled, since Cupid fell a striking.  
But yet in time I hope to find such mercy at thy hand:  
That where thy wrath sometime bore sway, thy friendship once shall stand.  
If not,  
Then,  
What Cloth● doth on distaste place for Lachesis to twine,  
Come Atropos with speedy pace to bring the same to fine.  
N.O.  
Which read, be dewing her pen with privy tears, she answered thus:  
A.O. to recomfort her lover again.  
THy sudden departure (N.O.) seemed somewhat strange unto me, and stranger would have seemed, if not thy pen & deeds bewrayed had the cause thereof. As touching the which thou knowest right well (N.O.) the Hawk which seems to check at fist, deserveth well the loss of silver bells, but yet, as thou seekest so shalt thou find, I thirst for no man's blood. Your wound as yet is green, and I no Surgeon am, but yet if so you grant yourself my patient for to be, if that to heal your grief my art may stand in steed, behold good will is pressed this cure to take in hand. I have not much to say, but where your wound doth find his cure, in them repose your trust. And look who gave the sore, let them provide the salve. Thus far you well from my lodge where I march in dumps of musing mind.  
As cause doth serve your loyal she A. O.  
What better could have pleased N.O. than this? or who could give a better salve? who could have given a better drink, or Physic to the sick? whose languished limbs forthwith recovered strength: whose wounds and sores forthwith shaken off their pain. For finding a present remedy after the reading hereof, his poor palfreys took small rest until such time as he had washed his hands in the lively draw of his Lady's countenance: who gretted her in this sort. All hail (fair Lady) whom proof declares most full of grace, I see in time the brazen walls will start, and wa●rishe drops do pierce the craggy flint. By this you seem said A.O. to condemn my body for brazen walls, and my heart insclosed for stony flint. Not so Lady (said N. O) for if it were, I would not doubt but that in time my sorrowful sighs, and scalding tear●s would pierce the same. Who answered, your salt and brinish tears they need not in this case, for if I have anointed your p●la●● wi●h hope, spit on your hands and take good hold my brains are washed with Cress' juice, and mine honour forbiddeth my words to ●●ue. I thank thee Lady (quoth he) for this thy undeserved courtesy, the which my deeds can not repair, much l●sse my thanks may w●ll require. Whose constancy and subtelitie forbiddeth Penelope to be thy mate, and warneth me (as perforce constrained thereunto by the wondered juice of the herb Nymphs to give my daily attendance upon thee, not being able to start from the place where this thy constant body r●steth. I crave no more at thy hands (Lady) but the fulfilling of thy letter: thou gavest me the sort, wherefore provide the salve. Who answered, show me thy wound and I will show my salve. But he not able this to do, said, my wound is inwardly, therefore thy outward eyes can not perceive it. Describe it then (quoth she) who willing thereunto said, Dan Cupid's direful dart divided hath my heart in twain, the one half consisteth in thee, the other doth remain. Why then be hold thy salve (quoth she) Manus manum fricat, call back thine own again, else take thou half of mine to recompense the same. But N. O not so content, said: Isidore affirmeth the liquor or juice of malowes being tempered with clammy oil, anointed upon man's body forbiddeth the s●ing of Bees: and Diosc●●ides likewise testifieth, that wild R●e being applied to any part of man, no Scorpion can sting or wound him, or if it do●, it can not prevail: which ointment (Lady) or wild Rue if it were available or of the like force against the sting of Love, yet should not my body once taste thereof. By this you seem (said she) to agreed with Plato, who in writing set down that the sudden passions and extreme rage of fervent lovers was not only to be embraced, but also to be desired and wished for, as the happiest and most blissful life of al. Who answered, I grant hereunto: and sithence (Lady) Dan Cupid hath enforced me to bestow half my heart upon thee (whereof I do not repent me) I willing am to bestow the other half upon thee, as a thing most necessarily depending on the former, to retain life within my crazed corpse. Wherefore, as you said before, One good turn requireth an other, so say I now, Tender like for like. Who (not willing to make him such an absolute answer: (forsaking her text) said: If thy heart remain in me, how can thy life retained ●ee? N.O. (not being to seek of his answer) said: I die in myself and live in thee, for where the heart is entered, there the life remaineth: but my heart is in thy corpse, Ergo my life consisteth in thee. Who denying his Minor, he answered: I mean not really but effectually. A O. (mistrusting more than she needed) would not seem to grant over hastily, but seeking the pith and ground of every thing, asked him, what if thy friend bestow an acre of ground upon thee (not having proof thereof) you plough it deep, you harrow it well, and bestow good seethe thereon, and yet (not falling out according to your expectation) it yieldeth no fruit to requited your labour, much less the seed bestowed thereon? N.O. (perceiving her mystical proposition) answered thus: Lady (as Tull●● sayeth) Non nob●● solum nati sumus, portem potria, partem liberi, & partem amici vendicant, wherefore (supposing myself to be borne rather for the pleasure of thee, than to mine own use) I am content to yield myself thy man and not mine own. And as touching the acre of barren ground whereon thy proposition dependeth, be it never so mean, so simple, or of so small a value, the good will of the giver and not the gift is to be accepted. Yet Lady I would be loath (if otherwise I might choose) To spend my seed in vain as ●xion lunos Secretary whilom did. But not withstanding, S●rs sua ●uique est, wherefore my destiny appointed I am content therewith. Me thinketh you bend to much (quoth she) for to intend to good. Who answered, the sweeter the Violet the more he bends to the ground. But N.O. not so content, de●●rous to knit such a sure knot of amity before they departed. as should not be broken without the loss of life, pressed on further, saying: I know (dear Dame) if it were thy pleasure to shake me of, thy comely parsonage, thy courteous heart, thy lowly mind, thy friendly cheer, thy cheerful countenance, and eke thy brave demeanour therewithal, deserveth to match with one whose feet standeth higher than ever my head will reach: yet (Lady) where true love, friendship, and charity remaineth, there goods can never want. Wherefore though I want the pomp of Caesar, the goods of Croesus, the wealth of Crassus, the gold of Midas, and the excessive treasure of Artalus the old, yet hope I still a blissful life to lead. Who answered, They live not most at ease that have the world at will, but they whom true love hath united and 〈◊〉 together do lead the pleasant life: for, (as Salus● testifieth) Concordia paruares crescunt, discordia maxima dilabuntur. Which is, by concord small things grow to great, and discord maketh great things small. N O. liked this well, yet being in the vain of hope, he was not content to feed his eyes with the sight of his Lady, and his ears with the pleasant words which flowed forth of her sugared mouth, yea, sweeter to him than the honey or the honey comb, said, these words (Lady) make me leap for joy, transporting my corpse (as it were) to Paradise, placing my mind in a Palace of pleasure, rocking my wits in a Cradle of security, and penning up my heart in a Castle of comfort, yet (Lady) God grant I play not as the swan of Menander or Apollo's bird, who joyfully sings before his death, even when the pangs themselves draw near. For this we see, the Ca●te delights to play a long time with the mouse her prisoner, before she enjoys his death. A. O. looking frowningly, bending her brows, and scowling with her eye lids like unto Pallas, who can no otherwise do▪ for that she was engendered of the brains of jupiter, who always are troubled and vexed, answered, am I the Ca●●e by whom thou meanest? N. O perceiving her bending brows▪ turned himself about, as though he had been annoyed with some impediment, & lifting up his hands and 〈◊〉 said with a soft voice, juno lucinafer opem, which said, he turned his face again, & answered her in this sort, Lady ●e not offended, for my words beseem me very well, intending none evil: my meaning is this, if thou shouldest (as Terence sayeth) Verba mihi dare, vel me fucum facere, then might I justly condemn thee comparing thy words to the nature of a Cockatrice, whose breath alone sufficeth to minister death. She (hearing this) asked him if women's words deserved such light credence at his hands? whereat he stood as Mutus illico, which I suppose was, because this sentence was printed in his mind, Mulieri ne credas ne m●●tuae quidem. Likewise she demanded further of him whether her mouth seemed to pronounce the bitter words of Achilles, which he used leaning over the walls of Troy, or the sweet words of hoary N●stors mouth. Who answered, Tully sayeth: Non solium, utrum honestum an turpe sit, deliberari solet: sed etiam, duobus propositis us ●onestis, utrum honestius, itemque duo bus propositis utilibus, utrum utilius. Not withstanding (Lady) seeing the two latter questions want, it resteth to infer upon the former proposition, which scythe (as Tully sayeth) it deserveth no deliberation (for blind men may judge the difference of contrarieties) I award my judgement by this affirmation: the buzzing bees which flew about Plato's mouth, sleeping in his cradle, have likewise left part of their honey in thy mouth, which proveth rather it to pronounce the sweet words of Naestor, than the bitter talk of Achilles: which Bees likewise sitting upon the mouth of Anbrose being a child without hurting him, I gather thereby, thy words proceeding of their relict honey, pretendeth me no evil. At this she held her peace▪ whereby N.O. (remembering this phrase, Qui cacet conse●tire videtur,) understood her meaning as touching that point, yet she (perceiving his unsatiable thirst in having an absolute answer) willed him to spend the night in pleasant conceits, and in the morning to repair unto h●r for their final composition. N. O granting her the advice of her pillow, seemed content, breaking off their talk for that time (supper time especially moving thereunto) which ended, and the board discovered, N.O. after his old wont and accustomed manner, provoked the whole congregation and common assembly of gentility, some to one kind of pastance, and some to another, to drive away with hasty foo●e the long and weary winter's night. But he and his Lady, the one taking his Lute in hand, and the other her Sythernes, tuning and setting them both to one note, sang distically three slaves to their instruments in this sort:  

N. O. beginning, A. O. followeth, craving aid of the Muses and chief Musicians.  He 
NOw Venus with your ruffling Nymphs  
Keep back Diana's darlings dear:  
And Muses grant your aiding imps,  
Our strings to tune and notes to rear:  
With perfect dew of Helicons well.  
Where poets fayne your Muse to devil.  She 
Orpheus with thy Harp in hand,  
Arion also with the like,  
Wrinche up your strings, and make them stand  
In equal height: Amphion strike  
Thy twinkling Harp with fingers small,  
That joyful tunes may rise withal.  He 
Me thinks I hear Apollo grant  
Melodiously for to devise,  
And Venus bid Minerva vaunt,  
So that no doleful dumps may rise:  
The Muses likewise (granting aid,)  
Do bid strike up, thus none denayed.   
These three slaves they sang distically, both playing▪ the one and the other by course singing, nothing meaning thereby but as a preamble or rather an introduction of their song following, to clarify their throats, endeavouring the concord of their instruments.  
She 
WHat man doth longer think, than he,  
the weary winter's night,  
Whose cares forbids his eyes to sleep?  
what is a greater spirit  
To him who thinks he sails in seas  
whose waves of honey are,  
Yet time purloynes his former joy,  
and brings him to despair?  He 
W●th gazing eyes for him to look  
which hath no care to come  
To serve where no acceptance is  
(as Ladies deal by some)  
To be in bed and not to sleep,  
what greater grief than this?  
To die for want of food, and yet  
he feeds on dainty dishe●  She 
To rue and rage, to fry and freeze,  
these are the lovers pangs:  
Who dies himself and lives in her  
his life in suspense hangs.  
Yet if he live in after hope  
his Lady's love to gain,  
Then holds his heart, and rendeth not  
by direful dart in twain.  He 
Happed looketh for requitance made  
which oftentimes doth fail,  
Or else to gain his heart again  
which were a lucky jail.  
But less than seldom scene it is,  
what given doth not return,  
From women's hands, who rather had  
to fry then else to turn.  She 
But what if neither seem to come,  
and hope begins to faint?  
Then seem they all to weep and wail,  
and tears with streaks doth paint  
Their leather cheeks are (proof declares,)  
stolen nature to provoke,  
Whose heart oppressed with scalding sighs,  
their throats doth seem to choke.  He 
Thus witless wights do breed their woe:  
yea, riper years and settled heads  
Herein do want their skoking points,  
whose glancing eyes by rule forbeddes.  
Thus trapte they let these words to fly:  
o get my grave in readiness,  
Remediless I die, I die,  
I die remediless.  
Finis.   
While they this pithy song did sing, who seemed (to those whose tentive ears were distilled with a greedy desire of hearing) to have tasted of the fountain Tharsa: the force whereof not only clarifieth the voice, but also maketh it seem both pleasant and armonious: certain of the other young gentles both male and female were arguing hard between themselves as touching this point. How the poisonous Serpent, or rather venomous snake named Chelidros, can not only give an odorous smell, but also 'cause the ground whereon she slides to cast the like sweet savour & pleasant scent, being of himself thorough outward appearance both foul and ugly as all men know: which N. O. perceiving, and seeing them thorough their 〈◊〉 opinions and erroneous minds tangled as it were with Vulcan's nets, stepped in among them, easily absolving their obstinate doubts, which being absolved, they broke off company, marching each one toward their chambers. But N. O thinking of things to come, could not frame himself that night to sleep: wherefore rising somewhat early in the morning, he walked a pretty space in a grove butting or adjoining upon the house, casting as it were all such objections unto himself as he thought by any means she could object unto him in the morning, (which done) he laboured earnestly to premeditate such answers as might refel the same. But being soon weary thereof, he returned again: and standing in the door of the Hall of common assembly (none as yet stirring in the house save he alone) he talked to himself as touching the great desire which he had of his good success, which Dan Echo (never sleeping) cut off diffusedly by the latter syllable. N.O. perceiving this division of vocables, thought good to note the sense thereof, because (said he, as some say) it importeth not a little to the Prognostication or foreshowing of things to come. Wherefore framing his words in this order unto himself, he noted Verbatim the clipping sound of Echo.  

N. O. his Echo. Echo  
God grant I may prevail: for words I will not spare. Spare  
What: should I spare to speak or not? not  
But will she hear, and grant me thereunto? to  
What then should let at large to speak? speak  
I grant: I will most boldly try obeying thee: thee  
For Fortune sayeth adventure wins the game. game  
Thus if Dan Echo tells me as it is: is  
Then hope doth say, fear not, the game is won. won.   
N. O. seeing his talk or rather surmise ended with full sense, spared not to construe the meaning of Echo, whose carping syllables being placed in order Verbatim wise, as his hollow voice pronounced them, tended to this sense: 
Spare not to speak, the game is won.  Which encouraged N. O. to speak more at large, who was so friendly cheered on, wherefore he issued forth once more in this order.  

Echo  
If fear oppress, how then may hope me shield? shield  
Denial says, vain hope hath pleased well well  

Meaning 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉.  But as such hope thou wouldst not be thine, thine  
So would I not the like to rule my heart heart  
For if thou lovest, it bids thee grant forthwith with  
Which is the joy whereof I live in hope. hope.   
N.O. placing these words in order, picked forth this sense therein, shield well thine heart with hope. But behold, they were no sooner ended, and the meaning thereof constered (which A. O. had heard with the whole discourse unknowing to her paragon, for that her chamber and eke the head of her bedstead buried upon the hall) than she replied with a shrill and hollow voice in manner following: which N O. (supposing it to have been the oracle of Apollo) in steed of an Echo resounded the latter syllable himself.  

The conceits of A.O. N O. his reviving.  
The hath of love alured not: why didst thou hath therein? In  
What was the meaning, tell forthwith? may love the stand in stead? stead  
If that it may, I yield it thee: fear not to trust thereof, of  
But arm thyself from top to toe, yea, arm thyself with hope, hope,  
For whom the lovest I dare report they will requited thy love, love  
And though 〈◊〉 wight would it withstand, yet I it never shall: shall  
If it descent then leap for joy I may thy love requited. requited  
And if you seem to ask for why? I answer thee for thy, thy  
For I am she I say again that will requi●● thy pain. pain.   
N.O. (hearing this fell in a trance for joy, persuading himself that he naught else but dreamt: but speedily recovering his former senses again, be 'gan to view the note which he took of these verses with his pen in manner of echoes replication: the sense whereof agreeing in all points with the former allusion, enforced him to put no small trust and confidence in this di●mation. Yet could he not persuade himself whether he dreamt all this while or no, (although he knew of a certainty his eyes winked not) by reason of this vn●oth sound. But if he dreamt I know he wished it of longer continuance: & if it were a perfect voice, much more he wished it longer to have been dilated. Which according to his wish fell forth: for behold, once more it sounded in his tentive ears in manner following, which he in former manner most diligently noted.  

A.O. 〈◊〉 second allusion. The second 〈◊〉.  
From whence I come, and what I am, you wish to know: 'tis I. I  
Yea, what I would, & what I mean, this stand you looking for. for  
It hoteth not to show the same: and why? I say for thy: thy  
And vow, the end of all these things shall tender love for love. love  
Than this, how canst thou ask for more, each thing to please thy will? will  
Can any living wish for more, than good for good to tender? tender  
who looks for more through folly's rule, 'tis sure, he knows not love love  
To stop thy mouth, and end withal, look to have love again. again.   
It this full stop, N.O. sought the allusion of these posterior syllables: which yielding him greater joy than heart could think, as well this, as the other agreeing in dependent sense, just feet, and perfit Meter, he rated thus beginning with the former rebecke.  
In steed of hope love shall requited thy pain:  
I for thy love will tender love again.  
This animation not misliking him. guarded as it were in a Castle of comfort, and clothed with garments of hope, there wanted no diligent attendance in him to give unto his Lady as she had willed him in hope to receive his final answer. Which according to his expectation most happily fell out. For imparting a rare salutation upon her, she said, Good morrow my Trust, whereby he seemed to gather in more and more, using this kind of speech or familiarity with her. Lady, the courtesy of P●ometheus hath yielded me a body shaped with mould, which craveth life not of Pythagoras' quaternion, but of thy courteous heart. Which if I receive not of thy gracious goodness, then may my mo●ing mind sojourn with Pythagoras his opinion, who for diverse pretences being transformed into divers shapes and likenesses, as to a king, a woman, a horse, a fish, and a frog, yea, to sundry other shapes, as to a sponge and such like, commended yet all things before the life of man, as Grillus, who had rather lie grunting in a sly with swine, than change his state with man. Who answering said, I see N.O. thy flesh is naught to heal, yet fear thou not, for every grief I have a salve in store, and eke good will is priest to do the best he can. Who hearing these gentle offers. said, then is it no mastery for me (Lady) with streaking arms to swim in a sea of honey, seeing it hath pleased thee of thy gracious goodness with tender fist to hold me up by the chin. A. O. replied, I see you build your Castles in the air. But yet no doubt their foundations may light on the ground. But he desirous to make short work thereof, said, Lady, some on● hath written upon this gallery door, Veni, vidi, who it was I know not, but yet the meaning thereof I partly conjecture: suffer me as a testimonial that the foundations of my forebuylded castles shall light upon the ground, to make full and perfect sense of this phrase, doing either as ●●lius Caesar did, who valiantly & most victoriously conquering his enemies wrote upon his shield as followeth, Veni, vidi, & vici, or else as the Emperor Charles the fift, who taking john Frederick duke of Saxony prisoner, though i● deed with great difficulty by reason of his valiantness, Veni, vidi, & dominus Deus vicit. A. O. desirous to see if Lady Fortune in choice so coy, would him to be her mate or not, seemed not incontinently to grant, but said, Vici sir knight is eminent to conquests gotten by dazing din●e of direful dart, by force of battered shield, by push of pike, by glittering sword, or else by pealing shot of gun, wherefore whatsoever the author's meaning was thereby, yet Vici in your sense in no wise may aptly he alluded thereunto. Who answered, might it please thee (Lady) to yield up unto me the whole interest and title of thine heart, I would not only think and say, but also prove that no victorious conqueror nor valiant knight (be his conquest never so great or manfully foughten by force of arms) might better returning from the field, cause this phrase Veni, vidi, & vici, to be graven or importered upon his arming shield. Then might I pronounce the same at the end of my tongue: which winning so worthy a Lady by the glozing talk thereof, deserveth in my judgement a branch of Laurel tree before the clink of harness clapped on back, or arming weeds that battered tower and town. For Tully sayeth, Cedant arma toga concedat Laurea ling●ae. The words whereof flying faster and swifter than doth the teacher of Gander's quill, entereth and pierceth sooner the heart of any wight, than doth the force of any gliding shaft. But behold (these words not fully pronounced) 〈◊〉. not minding thus easily to be shaken off (most like to the toothless dog and grudgying that any one should reaped the seed where sometime his senses were content with the fragrant flowers thereof, wrote unto N.O. this letter following, wherein he did not only accuse the Lady of a former grant or promise' made unto him, but also offered to gauge his glove with tooth and nail, to hazard life and limb if (so occasion served) to prove the same.  
I.I. unto N.O.  
MArs though he was the first that Venus' overwhelmed: yet did he ride unknown in ridden boots. Gnaw on this bone, all is not gold that glistereth, the 〈◊〉 mouse mistrusting naught, is trapte in sugared hayte, she hath her wish, she sails in the dew of Apollo's kine. But yet at length, her sail being rent, and dares broken, she ducks, she dives, yea, yea in her most desired haven she swims without her breath. You think you are the first which hath the grant of A.O. her love. Not so, your Hawk is mewed, and twice reclaimed, she weathered is, and manned well. She needs not sore aloft. I did reclaim her soaring flight, I manned her and mewed her well, in recompense whereof. I had her former grant: but seeing at the first she stooped unto thy lure, I was content to take her bells and let her fly. If this you think I fain or any part thereof, herein, I gauge my glove, swearing by the Sergian pool, and eke by jupiter's fearful mace, not only to answer all comers in this case, but also to stand in destaunce with all gainsayer. Neither do I repent me herein, but rather think dame Pallas streaked mine oar as well in this case, as did Ulysses prevail thorough her counsel against the sirens in stopping his Mariner's ears with waxy, and binding himself to the mast of the ship. Her sugared words persuadeth you not to believe my pen: but yet time trieth truth, and therefore tr●e and trust. Thus far you well, from my lodge oppressed with Ti●iphone.  
Yours, if Mars so william. I.I.  
THis letter caused N.O. to scratch where it itched not. Which A. O perceiving, not changing her modest countenance, said: I see the proverb is true▪ who will she curnell of the nut must b●●ake the shell. But yet (as Terence sayeth) who speaketh what he list, must hear what be listeth not. Which N.O. hearing, said, why (Lady) can you gainsay these words? or know you not the man? who answered, thought is free, ● words are but wind, although in this case they lie as logs before my feet to stumble at in the dark. But yet, I know in this midst of darkness, truth willbe a lantern for me. I cannot stop his mouth, neither forbidden, yet may I reprove his pen, condemn his ireful heart, & also with his former quill refill his now debated mind: in token whereof behold here, how rudely he r●●ed upon me in his former letter, because I seemed not to grant what 〈◊〉 he craved hath. Also for a further proof hereof, this raw sentence, Veni, vidi, which you se● here written, was his own h●ndy work at his last departure from me, because in deed he tried his wits in vain. If this you believe, in token thereof to make full sense, set vici, hereunto. N.O. thanking his Lady in most humble manner, felt not the ground whereon he stood till this he had done, & done, he whispering the messenger in his ear, willed him to carry his martial glove unto his master (as unto one unknown) in token that according to the subscription of his letter, he minded was in such a place, at such an hou●e of such a day, to encounter with him personally, man to man in the defence of his Lady. Thus rewarding well the fellow, be willingly departed, A.O. was very inquisitive (as most women are of their husband's affairs) what answer he had sent in this ence. But N. O (fearing the worst) not certifying her of the truth (as wise men will do) said, he willed him to commend him unto his master (as unto one unknown saying, not trusting his spiteful pen, I took great scorn to answer the pen: she points thereof. A.O. thinking each sore to be thoroughly salurd, seemed herewith content (and occasion serving her so) she broke off company for that time. N.O. likewise pressed into the company of the young youths, because as yet the hour was not comen for the Instie young gentlewomen to rouse from slothful sleep: whom finding idle for want of some Dallida to make them whet their poetical tongues, and taking pity that such ripe heads, sharp wits, and fine tongues should be as it were annulled for want (as I said before) of some wanton & toying Dallida, or else of some lusty young Phaon to provoke their solitary company either to laughter or else to some youthful exercise (leaving such questions as intended to the Love, because the chiefest orators and greatest arguers as touching that point were not in place) he dividing the rout in two companies, propounded two moral questions in manner following. first if the fragility of terrene nature, or the terrestrial life of man may aptly bend and yield, or with facility frame themselves to the information of this phrase penned by Tulli● in his fourth book of Tusculans questions, Videlicet, Dummodo ●oleat aliquid, doleat quod lubet. The second alluded in the same book, if nature may and can consent to Tully his exhortation herein, Nihilo plus aga● quàm sides operam ut cum ratione insanity: that is, first if pleasure may displease? and than if men may crave with reason? which two pretty points held them tug with hard hold until such time as the Ladies of pleasure were stirring, which was about dinner time, for (as Terence sayeth) Dum comuntur annu● est. But then (no doubt) as the company changed, so their talk altered: for sure (in my mind, the company of men is nothing worth, if women be not in place, whose painting form and lively ships importeth such virtue, as sufficeth alone to make an eloquent tongue: for proof declares their fair words maketh fools sayn●. especially be they somewhat snoutefayre and cleanly, under the clo●e whereof let them use what pride they william. But Phabu● restraining the reins of his breathless horses in the midway of his circute or round circle to stay his chariot wheels withal, these lusty Ladies then (●oary Hyem● forbidding the liberty which otherwise Lady 〈◊〉 would have provoked them unto began to reason earnestly as touching the great affection which Plato, Pythagoras, and Democritus bore unto learning, whom they say, traveled into all the parts of the world wherein any thing was that might or could be learned. But afterward, one nail driving forth an other, they fell in great admiration at the sudden and short anger of lovers, which N O. said, fair Ladies used for the renewing of love, but the women snarring at this, defined it in this order. First (said they) the humours and spirits of lovers b●ing exceeding ●ote and continually boiling, doth contaminate their wits, and then earnestly shooting at one mark, the wagging of a straw (think they) hindereth the ●ight thereof. But seeing the occasions of their anger are small, they endure the lesser while. (These reasons being allowed of all sides) N. O (remembering the loyalty which he aught unto his amorous paramour) suddenly departed (unknowing to the Ladies) to get those things in a readiness which should perform the gauging of his glove. Which were not so soon prepared, but as soon he had conquered her enemy (having the best end of the staff in his hand) but A. O. maru●●●ng hereat, mistrusted forthwith the verity, and fearing the worst, her flesh trembling, her pulses beat, her sinews shrunk, each part fell numb, her lively blood descended, her deadly face bring wan, her colour came and went, the cramp overtook her feeling. her shivering nails started, her sapphire veins racked, her joints in order cracked, yea her eyes staring, the yellow hair of her head stood upright thus was she ●●lly soul racked, from extreme agonies to tormenting woes, from dining pangs to griping grieves, from greedy gripes to carping cares, from plunging paint to sorrowful sighs, from scalding sobs to tedious ●eares, from thence to pensiu● plaint. What better did become her case then moaning weeds to ●ladde her corpse? who cried & wished ten thousand times, that earth it might enclose the same. Thus (abandoning each joy with pensinenesse) she enclosed her crazed corpse within her solatarie chamber, until such time as her victorious Pa●agon was returned again. The sight of whom conducted home in safety, recomforted her moaning mind. Such was her whole desire to countervail his love. Who finding his Lady in such a perplexity, rolling and sweltung as it were in sudden pass●ons of the mind, or rather in extremity of raging woe, refrained not his tongue, but said: Is this the Target of Me usa (Lady) to blaze thy chastity in mine absence? why speak you not? is this the spear and shield of Pallas to encounter with my Martial deeds? what sudden chance is this? what nothing but mum? thou knowest quoth he) the fountain Epy●●● is not far hence, dip thy fingar and b●the thy tongue therein, the water whereof sufficeth to extinguish thy sorrow newly lightened, and likewise to lighten thy pleasures lately extinguished. Who answered, esteem not my silence a banner of defiance (my Lord) neither blame my heart but good will, for these my spring● of tears. But tell me sir (quoth ●he) have you tasted of the flood Dalmatida since your departure, that you seem more amorous, than in times past or did our presence breed annoy? N. O marvelling hereat▪ said: Let this suffice (Lady) the valiantness of Mars made him better esteemed of Venus, than Vulcan that halting lymphalt smith given her in marriage. What need you range thus far (quoth she?) her●in you seem to blaze yourself after the Poetical painting of the rural God Pan, to trot on gotishe feet. (Whose patience being somewhat moved hereat) answered, either you have mistaken my words (Lady) or else misconstered my meaning: for whereas I seemed before, more boldly than wisely) to say the valiantness of soldiers to be greatly accepted of courageous women▪ and also had of great price & in no less veneration of dayntir Dames: my meaning was thereby, that the trial of my manhood & soldierly grace, maketh me rather to resemble now the amorous B●●all unto thee, than I did before. Well well (quoth she by this I see the mount ●f Mars was elevated at your entrance into the field. I found it so (quoth he) and also the mount of Venus not declined when I first repaired unto this Castle of comfort. Who courteously inferred. the lusty gre●ne of Lady Ver enforced your heart to live in hope. Yea (Lady said he) and the want of changeable colours maketh me not to mistrust inconstancy. For as thou hast unfolded me oft in thy colours white and black: so have I replied white and blue. But behold, I.I. knowing their knot of amity to be steadfastly knit (pretending much evil and mischief) sought many a prithee, yet croftie and subtle devised mean is reduce himself (forgetting his former derogation) into the former and accustomed league of amity, not only with A. O. but also with her lately gained paragon (not in the way of preferment, for why, he knew it was in vain, and se●●ed also very well content therewith) but only to use her friendship, if so he sl●●de in need thereof, as he would her to make hold with him, in the like case, if occasion served. Whereunto they seemed to grant, being very well content therewith, & not mistrusting his spiteful heart, which so he showed with sweet and figured words. Thus as it were a new feigned friendship my ●ed between them: it chanced upon a time being merely disposed, he told Angelica for want of other talk, or else (as I think) of better matter, that her beauty made her a torcht bearer, and that beauty her self was but a ●ugered bait confected of gall and honey, bearing inwardly the contrary to her outward importance (most like to the double images of Alcibiades) for look what beareth life without (said he) enclosed death within: wherefore it aught to hear in his mouth a scroll, whereon should be written this phrase Far and near. This wanton, but not lascivions talk, she forthwith (according unto the nature of most women, who can hardly keep any thing secret: for the greater the weight thereof, that greater is their desire to tell it, who thinks they should burst if they should not ●a●e their stomach with the telling thereof) carried unto her mistress her cares. which was no sooner told her, but she straightforth pressed into his company to hear his former allu●●●, or rather (as I might justly term it) illusions. I.I. seeing hi● desirous of his company (thinking to have sped the better with his enterprise) was very glad thereof, & walking together alone in a place (as he thought most ●●tte for his villainy) that is, to deflower her, for this was his only seeking) he told her he bore a hungry Hawk upon his fist without any alteration of his countenance, yea, with a bold & impudent face,) who for want of a pheasant or Partridge, desired much to gorge herself upon the brains of a Pigeon whereof she bore the charge. But A.O. understanding his meaning thereby, answered very scornfully (and not without cause) that a sta●e pigeon was to good or at the lest might very well serve a carrion Kite to plume upon. Not so (lady quoth he) I am no carrion kite, neither love I to plash in a massy grosid. Why (said she) do you fear the alteration of your complexion? assuredly me thinketh you need not, for it must be a hot restority in deed that moveth your wainscot face and brazen countenance to blush. If needs you would have opened (quoth she) your budget of villainy unto me, yet better might you have done it with pen and ink, who (as the Proverb goeth) never blusheth, then with that shameful tongue of yours: but thought your villainy giveth somewhat an extraordinary motion to my lips, yet a small grief doth it set to my heart. For the unconstancy and falsehood of such brutes as you are (unto their Ladies) is not unknown to me: it appeareth not a little by Demophon, Theseus, Pha●●, Aeneas, and jason. Wherefore you had need to rise very early, if that flattering face of yours could go beyond me herein. Why Lady, if you got to that (quoth he) what should we think of Lollia Paulina the wife of Caligula? Agrippina wife unto Claudius Caesar? Poppea wife unto Nero? Cleop●t●● Queen of Egypte? Domicia wife to Domitian the Emperor, who defiled her body with Paru a stage player? and yet not long before was 〈◊〉 proclaimed Augusta of her husband the emperor: or what should we think of Marci●, who sought to poison her husband? Of her in England in the reign of Henry the eight, who having twelve sons, and lying sore sick, confessed to her husband that after the first year she was never true unto him? and was not Cressida turned unto a Lepre for her unconstancy? defy this if you can.) But yet further to prove the lightness of women: do we not read that in a company of Gentlemen and Gentlewomen there befell a discourse of a noble woman of Sienna, commonly accounted fair and honest, & albeit she were praised in a manner of all men (as she that deserved it) their were some who either for desire they had to speak against womankind▪ or else to have a repulse at her hand, reproved her of vanity and lightness? the honourable Lady the Pecc● hearing this, answered: why sir if you will take vanity and lightness from us, what shall we have left? as though vanity & lightness were their proper and peculiar indewments. How think you by ●as? and yet I have not recited the hundred part of those examples which I have or could rehearse of your lightness: For if I should recite them all, a volume of an hundred choir of paper were to little to retain the sa●●. But whether think you that women are the only allurers of men to folly or not, when as their own tongues bewrayeth their secrets, unconstancy and lightness of 〈◊〉, as appeareth somewhat more at large by this? when the Emperor Sigismunde was dead, one of his kindred persuaded the Empress to remain a widow: showing her at large a great circumstance of the Turtle, who losing her mate, above all other birds liveth chaste ever after: but she smile hereat, answered: ●●the that you counsel me to follow an unreasonable bird, why do you not rather set before me the do●e or the sparrow which have a more pleasant nature for women? and yet of common unwedded hoores I mean not, for they can not be unconstant to their mates, because they have them not: to prove then on the otherside the faithfulness of men to their lemans or paramours, do we not read that Paru, Leander, and Troilus, with a thousand more died for love and their false Lady's sakes? ah poor Pyramus, what reward hadst thou for thy poor Lady's sake? ah poor Thi●be (quoth she) how false waste thou to him again? I trust your rolling tongue hath not enjoined me yet to silence, although for a space I have refrained the use thereof. How false I pray you hath Dido, Hipsiphile, Phillis, Ari●dne, Oenone, and Sappho been to theirs? died these for love? how unconstant or wavering I pray you was Alcestis to Admetus' king of Thessalia? or what man was ever more constant, faithful, true, loving, or more lust to his mate, than Artemesia was to hers? No doubt but I wished his words unspoken, although he set a good face thereon, saying: A blazing star will shoot. Whereunto most bitingly she answered, if the shooting of blazing stars, and every clap of thunderbolts, yea, if every gale and little puff of wind should rend and tear the sail: no doubt but these boisterous blasts would shake much corn in time. I.I. rejoiced inwardly at this word (if) for hereby he feared the less the discovery of his shameful demand. Thus in lou●yng manner they departed for that time, but in the next morning she let these tauntyng verses following drop down thorough the crevice of the boards into his chamber as he lay in his bed.  

●It fatal fools fat fed with food  
of talped mind and ranging head:  
O talpes, think ye to change the mood  
of buzzing Bees with Mel so fed?   

O talped talpes, O buzzing Bees,  
think ye Dame Venus hath no wit  
To shun the gin when she it sees  
but that she must needs fall in it?   

Then she and all Uenereall kind  
Apollo wanted for his skill  
To clear their eyes, which were too blind,  
if not they could withstand your william.   

Of naughty seed since you have store,  
will you it cast on other's ground:  
Then are they common to foolish lore,  
which pokes it up and hath it found.   

When Venus listeth for to ride,  
to deck her heels with your spurs,  
Her nature can it not abide  
she hath no gap that wanteth furs.   

Of aught whereof she stands in need,  
she needeth not to seek redress,  
When Vulcan fails, Mars stands in steed  
her corpse with his for to suppress.   

But yet,  
What needs a mate while Marrow lives,  
this is the mark whereat you shoot:  
To tell each hole contained in slues  
v●bende y●●r bow it is no boo●e.   

Unmanned Hawks forsake the lure,  
all whistling brings them not to fist:  
Wherefore with shame put up your lure,  
a Hawk will check still when she list.   
I.I. sting the fall of these verses, rose forth of his bed to take them up to read: which read, his guilty conscience challenged them unto himself, although they wanted (as you see,) both direction and underscription, who (naught regarding her womanly taunts, which gave him (as it were) a bit to gnaw upon) kept the biting thereof secretly unto himself, until such time as occasion served him to crave her company into the open air: which she utterly refused saying, she was no hare for greyhounds course. Whereat I.I. calling to mind the description of Venus after the order of Phidias painting, (that is) to set her feet upon a Tortoise, her denial moved him not, considering, that Ladies of honour, courtlike Dames, and Ladylike gentlewomen are seldom ●●iners forth of their doors, but much less strayers abroad, lest the sharp winds of Aeolus, or the boisterous blasts of Boreas should nip their lively blood, or the excessive heat of ●itans parching beams, should turn their rosed looks, which are so crystal clear into a berry brown: which maketh them either to refrain their feet from straying abroad like housedours or else if they peep never so little into the open air, either to cover their front with a half pail, or else wholly to shade that phisnomicall face of theirs with a large silken or lawn scarf, like unto the stately grace of Persian kings when they stray forth of their doors. I know some dainty Dames will not stick to take hold at the greedy desire which I.I. had unto the wanton will of pleasure: but what of this? it might be the merry month of May, or else the prescription of August moved him unto it thorough the advice aswell of the Physician as of the Astronomer for his health sake. And if it were so, then were he greatly to be borne withal. And peradventure also Asmodeus of Hell, thorough the continual company of his amorous paramour, moved him to become a Satire for the time, which have their toys most fit for Lady's lusts. For even as the wind (called Secias) East and by North, hath power to draw the clouds unto him because his motions are round: even so hath the sweet south-west wind, which proceeds from beauty's price, the force, to be as it were a Ueneriall rampire to s●urre up carnal lusts. Which once thorough greedy affection being set on fire, can hardly be quenched again. For look how the Bee dieth by pricking with her own s●yng, because she can not draw back again the point thereof without the great hurt of her self, as in bursting her belly: so doth the amorous person die before such time as his delectable darts (once flung by violent source of arms) can b● revoked again: by reason that, the repulse of the fervent lovers darts doth rend his heart in twain: which of force not able to endure, or abide the division (and love herewith not mitigated) doth send his grisly ghost amids the cloudy ropes. Therefore I would wish each hunter which delighteth in the chase of this game, to build upon a rock & not on the sands, to lay a sure foundation, to choose his mark in a mud & not in a stony wall, lest it reboundeth back again: & then his mark thus chosen, to shoot level with a steadfast and not with a quivering hand. For he that followeth the limitation or prescription of this line, shallbe sure to make a speedy joy thereof: because here wanteth a Labyrinth to toss his wavering minded ship. But each man looketh to match so high in these days, that the riches and not the love of the party buyeth a husband. For be she never so soul a piece, misshaped, crokebacked, untydy, uncomely, withered, misfavored, yea be she never so crooked a piece, so wrinkled, so old, or so tanned a hag, that a wife of clouts may stand a man in better steed, yet for her riches sake she can not want a lusty young Phaon to be her mate, to whom once wedded, then glad she is to hire some princocks buy to daub her leather cheeks, lest thorough her ugly and misfavored face, he forced be to cast his wanton and youthful tie aside. And this is the daily end of such toothless hags, which matcheth with heardlesse boys: and also of such old dotards as marrieth with garish ge●les, who seeing his youthful days are spent, and also such scarcity of sowing seed, that an ill, much less a good crop can hardly be reaped thereof, are glad for pleasure sake, to hire new and sundry workmen to set on work, some to plough. some to harrow, and some to sow. But yet who soever ploweth, harroweth, and soweth it, her 〈◊〉 husband is sure to reap it (mistrusting naught) & she to carry it home to the barn. Thus of each side they bear a warrant to bid each other to pick a worm between two forked fingers. For a better end of bought marriages are seldom seen. Wherefore they hold themselves content, saying seldom cometh a better. There be also certain made marriages between infants of their parents sides, and all for a little lucre or muck of the world, which most commonly come to the like effect. For being matched so young (thorough the folly of their parents) not seldom seen it is (love taking no root) a great disparagement riseth when they come to age or years of discretion, each saying to the other for want of liking, folly and not wisdom, yea, goods and not love brought us together. Thus not agreeing, but continually sacring the one at the other, sometimes they seek divorcement, which if they do not, yet better I think were these marriages unmade. Who mindeth therefore to match himself in such order as to lead a godly life, might do very well to follow Socrates rule therein, who thus prescribed unto a certain young gentleman, demanding of him what wife were best to marry, Nube equalem, for so (said he) thou shalt be sure in no point to mislike or disagree. But why seem I thus to stray from my text? a good pen man will say, or at the lest think, rither I did it for want of matter, else was I no perfit dilater in this case. To whom I answer thus, though I serve from my te●te, yet not from the matter. But (Ad rem redeam) for I know my recorded notes ye look for. The sacked love of A. O being won as you see by my former style, N. O. was very desirous to know of a certainty the day wherein this solemn marriage should be solemnized, for that the preparation thereof required a long deliberation, whereby each thing belonging to this sumptuous furniture might be had in such a readiness, as no heart alive could wish it better to be. And judge ye whether time wanted to consult thereof, when as this demand being made before Christmas, the time appointed was contrived or deferred until Easter, because in deed of force she must so do, what though he thought it long? it was a braven to live in hope. Neither passed this tedious time (as he thought) without unfeigned joys & unspeakable pleasure, for each day they fed their rheum, and pleased their appetites with choice thereof. For first N. O caused (as the time required the twelve labours of Hercules, and also his own death to be lively set forth in tragical manner before her eyes, videlicet, first the overcoming of the Lion thorough the aid of Nemea: secondly the slaying of the poisonous seven headed snake, called Hydra: thirdly the conquering of the foul sow of Erymanthius: fourthly the death of the heart with his gilde● horns: fifthly the oppression of the birds of S●ymphalide with his bended bow: s●●tly the losing of Hyppolita from her binding chains: seventhly the cleansing of the stable of Auria by his device of running waters: for the eight the conquering of the mighty Bull in wrestling: then for the ninth as well the conquest of the horses of Diomedes, as of the King himself: for the tenth his overcoming of Geriones with his triple body. In the eleventh the victory of Cerberus in descending for Proserpina: and last of all, being conqueror of Hesperides, the winning of the golden apples. Yet being the author of so many worthy deeds, how miserably and pityfully, yea in what lamentable order at the length he ended his life thorough the wearing of a shirt which De●anira put him on for the nonst, besprinkled with the blood of a Centaur, which cleaned so fast unto his unwitting body, that with greedy gripes it rent his heart asunder. Also in this tragedy was mentioned the betraying of Samson thorough a woman's wilt. Whereat some of the company departed with a dog in their sleeve. Who in mine opinion it becomed rather to have stayed, and lulled her fancy in hi● lap: whose stinking breath annoys the gentle rout. But what of this? I dare swear, they are not only persuaded that the scent thereof is perfit restority, but also it to cast as odoriferous a smell to their noses, and to be as sweet to them, and better accepted, than the cod itself of musk. But much good may it do them. From such sweet and savoury smells God shield me. And yet, so long as they persuade themselves this stew or hot bath to be both a restority and perfect musk: I see no cause but that to them so supposing it should be musk itself. For I remember divers pretty jests looking in my budget of pleasant conceyts: First between a young man who persuaded himself that his nose was so great that no ro●me be it never so wide could receive him, neither was there any Monster alive so foul as he, although indeed his nose was in as good form and fashion as needed to be. But notwithstanding such was his foolish persuasion & fond belief, that until a Barber had deceived him in the cutting thereof at his own request, that he would not believe it. I find also that an other persuaded himself that he was a glass, and none might come near, much less touch him lest he should break. And to be short, I find an other merry jest as touching this point, between a man of the country and his parish Priest, who lying very sore sick (and the people about him looking always when he should say, In manus Domini commendo spiritum meum) because the pangs of death had enforced him often before to say in raging wise, Cupio dissolui & esse cum Christo, sent unto master Parson earnestly requesting him to communicate the holy Sacrament unto him, before he yielded up his ghost: but this being at midnight, and he lying warm in his bed, was loath to forego the same: Wherefore he wrote to this patient by the messenger (as touching the Sacrament) C●ode quod edu & edu. Thus master Parson (little regarding the eagerness of the wolf, and much less his soul's salvation, forgetting also this sentence, B●n● est Pastoris ●●ndere pecus non diglubere) by no means could be gotten forth of his warm bed. It chanced yet in short time after, this grievous sick man recovered his health again, and having occasion to ride a little way upon some earnest business, he sent to this Parson to borrow his horse, who (nothing mistrusting) ●ente it him. But knowing afterward that he was returned again, he sent for his horse. Who remembering his new kind of ministering the Sacrament, kept still the horse, and wrote unto him in this order: Non meministi, quid mihi dixisti, de corpore Christi, Crede quod edu & edis: Sic ego rescribo, de tuo Palphrido, Crede quod habes & habes. Now sir whether he served him well or not, I refer the judgement thereof to some apish wit. For each man knoweth the feather of an Eagle is of force to consume the feathers of meaner birds. But I will●-omitte these cragged snubbes and crooked boughs to take hold once again of the straight body of the tree. first I.I. seeing he could not prevail with his glossed talk, he gave the assault once more (not only by proffered service and professed friendship) but also by offering her rare jewels and costly gifts, intending thorough despair to be the more courageous. Whereof Virgil thus writeth, Optima spes victis nullam sperare salutem. Yet she naught regarding his vain offers and less his proffered service with professed good will, answered: It seemeth you are well acquainted with this phrase of Juvenal, Rara in tenui facundia panno est, and that maketh you to offer such large sums of money in this case: but yet in vain you spend your wind, for I know too well by proof, that Fistula d●lce cani● volueres dum decipit auceps. Stay therefore herein thy clattering bell, for Nulla fides fronti, as Juvenal doth report. In deed Lady quoth he) not affection alone, but this verse of Ovid moved me toward this liberality, seeing Munera (crede mihi) placant hominesque deos●. I thought as much quoth she, Ex abundantia cordis os loqu●tur. And thinkest thou therefore I am so foolish, so light of belief, so light of behaviour, or so covetous, as to accept thy feigned friendship? no no I defy thy crew, thy progeny, and eke thy race. I set not so much by the muck of the world, as to yield unto thy filthy greedy lust, neither to make a God thereof For while I live, as I do, so will I always become as subject unto this verse of Horace, Et mihi res non me rebus, submittere con●r. And I tell thee plain for my last adieu that if thou were able to maintain me as I read of a Cardinal's harlot (although this comparison is odious who set so light of pearl and precious stone that she set the upper part of her shoes clean over with the same. Or if thou were able to give me as precious a pearl as julius Caesar bestowed upon his leman Seruilia, the price whereof was Sexagies, which is in our coin six and forty thousand eight hundred threescore and seventeen pounds and ten shillings, yet neither couldst nor shouldest thou nor any other whatsoever enjoy the same at my hands. Why art thou armed with Diamonds (as the poets feign by Mars) (quoth he) that thou seemest so obstinately to withstand? yea in this respect, quoth she) and such like each one shall find me. Then for my last farewell (said he) to thee and thine adieu. Who answered, adieu likewise by land, thy luck in boats is barking. Thus by her outward appearance she seemed glad thereof. It resteth now by lineal course to infer upon the peregrination of her peerless paragon, marching pedetent●m unto the bark of love, whom finding bedecked with a green rob after the painting of Zenius, caused him the more to live in hope. But yet this Epigram written in his forehead by Apelles: Spring time and summer: caused him to judge thereby that it fostered both prosperity and adversity with one pap, and ●ulled both life & death together in one lap. Wherefore he endeavoured by all invented means to please her as well after as before her grant of love, not only by loyalty of service, but also by gorgeous attire (which pleaseth women not a little) delicate fare, costly byre, and sumptuous gifts, with the whole discourse of his business, no counsel kept unknown, which pleased her most of al. But the new year stealing upon them, whose presence he thought his duty provoked him to adore with some rare gift, to impart or represent unto his, Lady in token of his great good will towards her. Or for a pledge of his eminent loyalty, with an unfeigned fidelity. Each country far and near by a vision he sought, and in his rolling mind he viewed each thing therein. Yet nothing he found therein worthy (as he thought) to bestow upon her, yet did his steadfast love persuade him no travel spent ●●●aine, who turning himself about, and viewing each thing at will, misliked the unworthiness thereof. Wherefore he hied hastily unto the Muses of Boetia the daughters of jupiter, whom the poets fain continually to devil at the bathe of Helicon. But yet by daily industry he found them at the length (by his own report) in a pleasant green arbour, sitting all together most huswifely occupied each one in their proper vocation: singing most melodiously to pass the time away. This green Arbour (said he) was planted in a dale not far from this former well wherein they bathe themselves, most curiously bedecked with fragrant flowers that keepeth their pleasant hew all times of the year alike: at the head hereof each one had her several bed of long green grass, intermingled with all kind of sweet and fragrant flowers, the growth whereof short up in height above the lower grass (by his report) two foot, curiously carved and cut of each side, adorned with pinnacles and pillars in manner of a fair large bedsteede, beset with goodly green ivy, twined about with some shoring privy. Thus was their beds most formally framed and eke as soft as is the pillow down. Then had they maniles to cover them with intermingled ivy: the overcasting of the Arbour served for a Cannape, and the carving of each side stood for indented vallance. At the feet of their beds, was erected a good●● green Mount, with round circled steps up to the top. But there was to be found a stately chair all made of ivory white, wherein Melpomene the chiefest Muse (Phoebus displaying) doth place her self, the other eight Muses sitting in order beneath her upon the former round steps. Thus squatted upon this pleasant mount from morning to evening they spend their time most earnestly in their vocation (if no one interrupt them with calling them upon, to aid them in their enterprise, as the poets were accustomed to do) each one singing by course in the commendation of her own Art (Melpomene always beginning, because of her worthiness among them) and while the one singeth, the other eight helpeth her recorded song with the variety of notes, it was commonly called the Arbour of amity. N.O. seeing them in this order, thought verily he had ●●nded to heaven itself. Wherefore his wits abashed at the first to utter his mind unto them, but Melpomene seeing him to stand in such amaze, conjectured thereby he had some matter to break unto them, which not the imbecility of wit, but the bashfulness of his tongue forbid him there to utter. Wherefore most courteously she cheered him on, saying: what is thy will? fear not but show it forth at large: whereat N. O. taking a better courage, told forth his will and chief desire in this order. O Muses worthy of musing, by earnest suit I crave of your wonted & accustomed courtesy, to unlace your liberality, extending your benevolence in filling this Goblet of mine, with the heavenly and unspeakable dew of your gracious Fountain. Whereat Melpomene answered for them all as you shall hear. This sacred well (quoth she) is of such force, that who tasteth thereof partaketh of our virtues: and by this means if it should be made common, we should in time be had in the less reputation and honour. Also our father jupiter gave us the same, conditionally, that none should be partaker thereof, except they could define their race to have descended from the mighty powers. Alas Goddess (quoth he) I crave it not for myself but for my vowed wife, whose birth I know to thee is not unknown. No sir (quoth she) I know her race full well, thy Lady is in my liberty, and eke I know the cause of thy demand. Thou shalt not come in vain, I grant thee thy request, and herewith she took her silver pencil (and dipping it in this well) she graved within the cover of his Goblet in waving manner these verses following.  
COngealed air doth make the stars to shoot.  
But seldom yet 'tis seen such stars to fall:  
By earnest suit not I but all our rout  
We yielded have to aid you when you call.  
And that you should such call as best can aid  
I send thee here what is each one her trayde.  
But in the Goblet she graved these verses following in the same order as she had done before.  
I For my part, love tragedies to pen.  
And Cleo notes the worthiness of men.  
Thaleia she delights in cunning talk.  
In sounding trump Euterpes' wits do walk:  
In Music rules Terpsichore delights.  
Erato loves Geometry that hightes.  
Heroical verse Calliope first did know.  
Euranea loves Astrology to show.  
And last of all Polymneia she,  
Will force thy tongue Rhetorical to be.  
Thus to usurp at any time our aid,  
Take heed of this, lest that you be denayed.  
No doubt but N. O. rejoiced much that he had gotten such a gift to give unto his Lady: wherefore (not tasting of it himself through his unworthiness of birth) he sent it with all expedition unto her, which she received very thankfully, and would fain have requi●ed him with such like again, but it wanted in her: wherefore she sent unto him for his new years gift these verses following.  
Sigh Croesus' wealth, with Crassus' pomp, & Midas gold is scant, It shall suffice to wish you well, good will shall never want: Thrice Naestors years to live in age I crave that Cloth● grant, that of your health good fame & wealth, your willers well might vaunt.  
Altar  
Atropos and Lachesis with Clotho grant you the life of  
Long lyfed Naestor, whose youth not soon being cut off,  
Aged and hoarse as Hyem● who did call him?  
Wrinkled, yet sugared in words, so who hath not termed him?  
These verses N.O. received as thankfully, as worthily, and in as good part as if they had been a thing of greater price: and in short time after, he visited his Lady with his presence, whereas before he had greeted her with his gifts and good william. His coming was somewhat late, and (according unto the time) he found them at supper, where after his salutation, due reverence and courtesy he sat him down: it chanced in this supper (as a point of courtesy) he offered a Gentlewoman salt upon her trencher, who at that proffered courtesy weeped most bitterly, and would have risen from the board if her trencher had not been quickly changed. But an other gentlewoman on the contrary nature, weeped because she was denayed salt after this at his hands, who made a vow (for her sake) he would never give women salt again: their contrariety of natures caused the Gentlemen to demand at the board, which seemed of them to be most▪ testy of nature? she to whom the salt was offered, or she to whom it was denayed? some held that she who loved it was most angry: and some held the contrary, showing how the Dove which delighteth most therein, is the gentlest, lowliest, lovingest, meekest, and friendliest bird that is. But the other side argued to prove their reason, that all those kind of creatures which have the gall, if they delight in salt, of force can not be testy, affirming also that the Dove hath no 〈◊〉, which is the only cause of her simpleness. Thus in open parlance their nature was bewrayed. On the morrow after, N. O to try the wits of the young Gentlemen which argued so hard and so prettily the evening before, he wrote with a red 〈◊〉 stone upon the shrine of the ha●● this De●●ir (who will the) four times on a row, hoping that some of them would break their heads (not a little) to make full sense thereof. At the sight whereof all men mused, but none would take it in hand: at the length as an unknown Author, he ended them thus: 
Who will the curnell of the nutie,  
must break the shell:  
Who will the spoil of any town,  
must sack the walls:  
Who will the heart of any Dame,  
must touch her harp:  
Who will the fruit that harvest yields,  
must take the pain.   
All men desired much to know the true Author of these verses, but much more the sense and meaning thereof. But N. O in no case would be acknown thereof. His meaning thereby was this, he perceiving certain gentlemen to be inflamed with love toward a lusty young Lady of the company, who were abashed to show their great good will towards her, thought by the sight hereof privily to bolden them to give the attempt: but the Ladies burned so inwardly with a greedy desire of knowing the Author, that at the board Alpha Omega with the rest of the gentlewomen, wished openly no greater treasure than his wisdom to countervail their beauty. Whereat three drops of lively blood fell down from N.O. his nose, which (A.O. perceiving) mistrusted thereby the Author: and meaning to discover him in some secret order (she said) how cheer you (N O.) I see Apolloe sings, but not bewrays his pen. Why Madame (quoth he) it is too fresh to be superfluous blood, meaning thereby, that it was penned to mystically to intend to none effect. But what should I further speak hereof? the faggots were dry and the fire flamed. It resteth to infer upon their solemn marriage, for the day wherein it should be accomplished approached at hand. Whereof Diana (as meetest thereof) was made overseer at the request of her son in law, and eke of her only daughter Alpha Omega (as well for the ordering of the feast, as for the placing of the Gods and Goddesses in their degree.) and for their right usage and due service of them in their kind, whom D●a●● after a solemn manner had bidden thereunto. Who being 〈◊〉 according unto her request, she placed in order thus. But first by the way ye must understand, that for the solemnizing of this marriage, a stately, a gorgeous, a costly, and a curious house w●s ordained, of the building whereof ●ra●● her self that Muse which first invented Geometry of voluntary good will become a diligent and careful overseer. The pillars whereof were made of jasper, and Marble stone. The pinnacles and ba●●lettes of white f●ee stone, the brave and curious turrets were made of slurdy s●●●le intermingled with ●●led iron, most curiously carved of Vulcan's proper hands: It far surmounted in bravery and cost the buildings of Lucius Lucull●●, ●●●ius C●sar, Appian, Paulus Clodius, Ne●o, or Heliogabalus, who used to strew his floors with the filings of gold and silver: yea the sumptuous house of Caligula, whose floors of his chamber were usually set with pearl and precious stone each point seeming correspondent to the other. In th●s house also was three stately chambers erected, one strait above an other, made for the purpose, in every whereof was a fair large & long table, at the end whereof was a chair of state with a curious crown all made of the purest and finest gold, most richly beset with precious p●a●les, and costly gems hanging over the same, for the three imperial brethren, jupiter, Neptune, and Pl●to, the first being the mighty and thundering God of heaven, he set according to his degree & worthiness in the stately chair of the highest room in a rob of reverence rounded and horned as his manner was with a fearful mace in his hand, at the shaking whereof both Heaven and Earth doth quake for fear. In the second chair and middle room sat Neptune, the God of the land and sea, with his three for●ed mace in hand, and also with a rich tarantyne road coming down to the ground. But in the lower chair and lower chamber did Pluto the rich God of Hell place himself, having a golden mace in his hand twined about with loathsome and ugly snakes most horrible and scarefull to behold. At this upper board next unto jupiter on the right hand, sat juno that Honourable and gracious Goddess his wife: next unto her sat Venus the Goddess of love with a glove made of flowers sticking in her bosom, whom Homer hath termed Golden Aphrodit●s: next unto her Minerva that wise and housewifely Goddess with a Scythian bow and a club lying by her: and next unto her Egeria the Goddess of all shape and comeliness: but on his left hand was placed first and highest of all Cibile the mother of the Gods with divers panes and woodnymphes waiting upon her. And then on a row sat Pal●as the Goddess of wisdom, with a shield lying by her, and a spear cross at her back. Diana her self whom the poets feign and suppose to be the Goddess of Chastity, her bow and arrows lying by her. Cares she that first invented husbandry with a fine plough share of beaten gold hanging down on her kirile. And Murcea the Goddess of sleep. As for the other meaner Goddesses they placed themselves as they thought good (whom being placed in order) beneath them all sat Alpha Omega the bird, but below her sat Apollo the God of wisdom, Ph●bus the God which ruleth the Sun, Cupid the God which striketh hearts in Love, Bacchus that drunken God, for so the Pots have termed him, because he (said they) invented first of all sorts of wine. Mars the God of war, Mercury that crafty thievish & juggling god with a Petasus on his head & a Caduceus at his side, Priapus the great toole● god, Vulcan that limphault smith, Momu● the God of reprehension, Pan the rural God, and Morpheus the God of sleep, with the whole rout of the homerical gods, which were to tedious here to name. What should my gross wit speak of their spiritual & heavenvly food? it was Mamna itself, their bread was Nectar, & their drink Ambrosia. It pitieth me to speak of the toil of their servitors for I know (poor Ganymedes) thy feet fainted under thee with trotting so often to & fro with goblets & cups of wine quaffed from the one to the other. I will omit therefore the recognizing of the waiters toil to register (as it were in marble stone) their pleasant mirth their sweet & delectable harmony, their unspeakable pastimes and dalliance, their heavenly music, and their strange and wonderful sights, with unnumerable toys to cheer them up, and to provoke their sens & to laughter, mirth, and solace. First at jupiter's board stood Orpheus, Amp●●on, and Aryo●, Lorceas, H●rmogines, Hellycontus, and last of all 〈◊〉, playing each one most sweetly upon their haps, wrinched and set to the highest note of D●ateasse●o●, striving each one who should excel the other. To these their haps did T●●en, Ag●●h●●●, and An●●reon frame their voices, singing most sweetly in the commendation of the Gods and Goddesses at the board. Of this their heavenly noise and sweet melody was Apollo, and Minerva appointed for iudge●, who because they would not discourage any one of them in their doing, said, they played all so well and so alike, that no judgement consisted therein. After these Pan himself began to play on his O●en pipe, babies likewise singing and harping so rustically, that he which had but one laughter in his belly could not but have laughed hereat. It would have made a sick horse to have broken his halter to have heard their jarring, who made as pleasant a scraping, as if ye● had set (as the proverb goeth) Asinus ad Lyram. Yet notwithstanding they persuaded themselves they did surpass therein: and surely in my judgement it was good enough to make sport (as at that time) whom they had rather hear (being thoroughly whittled with these Nectar wine) than the Muses themselves. To this their rustical harping came Polyphemus boisterously stamping, with a ●●oute fair tru●● in his hand to foot it cheek by cheek: after these came Silenus that hoarehedded lover, treading the hornpype: the Woodnymphes likewise followed most nicely tripping, and tracing the ground barefooted with their clotheses as short as their knees. And the Satyr's half goats to make up the 〈◊〉 followed them dancing the Antic. But after all these came the Muses themselves in a rank, vaunting it so smoothly upon the ground as if a ship had launched upon the seas, they were in number nine, and (as the poets feign) the daughters of jupiter and M●emosynes, at whose presence all things were whis●e. At their first entrance Melpomene with a stately courtesy delivered to jupiter her father's hand a curious carved cup all made of mass●● gold filled with the water of the fountain Helicon, whereof jupiter ●asting, he delivered it unto juno, from whose hands it went through the whole board. After the tasting whereof, jupiter willed them (according as the time required) to frame their song upon the discourse of wowing, and to divide themselves into two companies, five on the one side, and four on the other. Whereby they should seem not only to declare the order of wowing, but rather as it were in lively order to do the thing itself (the one side taking the Paragons pa●●e, and the other the paramouras). And for your better understanding the order of my prescription, let (FLETCHER) stand for the Courtier, and (G) for the Courtresse. And where you find (PEA) before the verse, there understand you the man speaketh, and where you find (G) before the verse, there presuppose likewise the woman answereth. Thus marking this rule, you can not fail the understanding of my mind. This note mark also further, that where you find (All) set before the verse, there (FLETCHER and G embracing) all the Muses sing together, and where a line divideth, there the staff doth end.  

Thus beginneth their song.  F 
Unfold your courtesy o amorous dame,  
join leagues of amity my dear by name.  G 
Unlace your loyalty, break up your love,  
For so fidelity it doth behove.  F 
I can though I vaunt not,  G 
So I though I grant not,  
May yield thy request.  F 
Dan Cupid constraineth.  G 
So Venus refraineth  
No time for to les●e.  F 
I jest not,  G 
I west not,  F 
Then it for to try  
I vow this my heart within that doth lie,  
Thy own undefiled and ever to be.  G 
Soon hot, soon cold I see,  
Soon withered what redress?  F 
This counsel give I thee,  
Such like for like profess.  G 
My fancy lays liking, o let thy suit fall,  
Withstand Cupid's striking, o give him a fall.  F 
I can not, nor will not, it pricketh mine heart,  
I dare not, I may not, withstand that his dart.  G 
My fancy denayes thee,  F 
But yet sith I like thee  
O say me not nay.  G 
Affection scholeth  FLETCHER 
No reason it ruleth  
To say me denay.  G 
And what then?  F 
Be flat then,  G 
No liking I have,  
To wed 'gainst liking, your pardon I crave:  
For good will deserveth good will for to have.  F 
Then tender love for love,  
Else shall I die for woe:  G 
We see how pines the dove,  
But yet he dies not tho.  F 
May nothing purchase grace my joys to renew?  
Shall pity take no place? then pleasure adieu.  G 
'tis folly I tell thee you lull in your lap,  
It grieves me (believe me) that such was your hap.  F 
My bale then delights me,  G 
Curse Cupid that struck thee,  
To like for no gain.  F 
That will not suffice me,  G 
That love should so tyce thee,  
The greater thy pain.  F 
I find it:  G 
Untwine it:  F 
● alas I can not,  
So Vulcan's nets twine me, that not a denay  
Can force me to leave thee, though 'twere my decay.  G 
My fancy bids avaunt,  
You spend your wind in vain.  F 
Though thus you seem to taunt,  
I hope your heart to gain.  G 
over loved soon lost, betrothe not your h●nde:  
Lest you gain to your cost, a willow garland.  F 
Alas, fancy moves me, to change for no new,  
But still for to love thee, my pain to renew.  G 
And what though you change not?  F 
The harder were my lot  
Thus far for to range.  G 
Your folly it harmeth:  FLETCHER 
Is wisdom you warneth,  
Yet be not to strange.  G 
I grant it,  F 
I vaunt it,  G 
Then if you fayne not,  
I vow undefiled thine own for to be:  
Thy faith it shall bind me again to love thee.  F 
My joys are unfeigned,  
And banish my griping:  G 
My heart thou hast gained,  
In am of thy liking.  F 
Then college me and kiss, which art my delight:  
Let flaunta, galanta, put sorrows to flight.  G 
In hope that Dame pleasure us never will fail,  
Let flanta galanta stiff hold up our sail.  F 
Then hoist it and vaunt it:  G 
Yea vaunt it, and grant it:  
With huff and with hi●●.  F 
To spa●e I beshrew thee,  G 
To flaunt it believe me,  
I sit in my ruff.  F 
Then vaunt it,  G 
I grant it,  F all 
So this 〈◊〉 well:  
Our 〈◊〉 are squenched, with pleasant delight,  
Huff, huff, let us huff it, by day and by night.  G 
Let pleasure ●e hoisted,  
New fangles devised,  F 
Yea let it be ioysted,  
And new pastime trysed:  All 
With all a flantare then let us begin,  
Our goods have no ending, sing let us not linne. 〈◊〉.  
FINIS.   
THis pleasant and new devised song liked them very well, for such was their warbling notes and variety of tunes, that than the hearing of them, there could be no greater joy. But Venus above all other liked it most of all, in so much that she caused Hypparchus (whom the Poets feign to be secretary to the Gods) to write it for her. But lest I should seem somewhat tedious unto you, who will not stick to say behind my back that this little volume of mine smelleth of the oil and candle (as Pythias the Orator sometime reported of the works of Demosthenes) I will the slightlier pass over the commendation of this song to speak of their other pasta●nce. At the end of this pleasant and delectable harmony, the board was discovered, & the Gods began each one to play their part. For jupiter touching the heavens with his wand, caused them to thunder & vainbrishe lightnings. Vulcan being 〈◊〉 smothered, and swarted with the embers and smoke of his forge, with a knack of his office showing in lively form and manner (as with his gestures and motions of his body,) the continual toasting toil of his art, and the order and course they keep sometimes in pitpatting with their hammers (as a shift of deskant 〈◊〉 mitigate the fame.) Cupid that fair and wanton boy, he sits playing and jesting, showing many a fond toy, and yet pretty devices in the Goddesses laps. Minerva she fell hard to her music, singing most sweetly, whom Pan with his sudden frayments and tumults disquieted much. Apollo he showed there his cunning at the Harp. Bacchus he being as drunk as an Ape, discovered many a vanity: And Mercury (to be brief) what with his theft, and juggling, juggled so long, that some of them dropped under the board with laughing, or else to smother a scape (as Pryap●o● did for fear, when he chanced to see by night season the sorceries of the two witches Canidia and Sagana: but mum lack, no more of these b●gges words for forty pound, ●●e, will you be a tell-tale, and carry tales out of the school? you shall be no more a Lady's chambermaid. Thus I have briefly showed unto you the merry conceits used at that board. Let us therefore behold (as it were in a glass) the strange and wonderful sights which were to be seen in Neptune's room: for I know each one delighteth in new fangles and toys. First at this board sat Neptune in his chair of majesty, accompanied with E●lus the king of winds, and Boreas his lief tenant, the sea Nymphs and all such as he thought good to be placed at his board. His waiters were Tryton and such like, but the sights were these: first the sirens appeared in number three, Pa●then●●e, Lygea, and Lucasia, the daughter of Achelous, and Callio●e singing as sweetly, and making as heavenly a noise, as doth an arbour of Nightingales in a calm winded night. Who had heard them, would have thought a Nightingale had breathed upon their mouths being sucking babes, as they did by Steficho●u● lying in his cradle. They showed there (at the request of Neptune) before the common assemble, their habitation to be in a little Isle, beset about with Willows & Sallowes, in such order, as none might easily see them as they p●ssed by: it was betwixt ●al●e and Cicile, where thorough their sweet music, they alured and perforce constrained with their sugared bait, all such as sailed by, to come unto them, whom incontinently they slew. The poets feign that none ever passed them but Ulysses, who thorough the force of an hear●e which was given him, escaped them, binding himself to the mast of the ship, and stopping his Manners ears with wax. Some say this was dame Pallas her advice, whose prescription he used in all his affairs and dealings. But they took such a displeasure at his escaping of them, and sorrowed ●o, that in short time after they threw themselves headlong into the Sea, whom (Neptune foreseeing) hath turned into Marmaydes. The sea Nymphs they displayed with lively gestures their waterish streaks, and eke the pleasure they have in the bottom of the seas, with the daily contention they have with the Marmaydes and their hard escaping of the Crocodiles allurements. Here Boreas with his swelling checks showed a cast of his office, with many other pretty sights which were to tedious here to name. But now by course I come to the description of Pluto that golden God with his recreation. At his board was placed Orcus, Saturnus, and Chaos, Charon the fer●y man of ●●ll with his three daughters Allecto, Tisiphone, and Megaera: Prose●pina, and ugly Medusa, a Lady of whom the poets feign, that 〈◊〉 Minerva her hairs were turned into Adders, and they which bywelde her head were turned into stones. Yea, all the hellish bags of Tarcurs den, and the furies of hell were placed in order about him. Whose delights were only to see, how Ixion turned the wheel full of Serpents. Ticius whose entrails were torn by greedy gripes: Tantalus standing up to the chin in water died for thirst. The cousins of Lyncius that draws up water continually to fill a brinklesse tub, S●siphus that rolled continually a stone to the top of an high hill, which being thither brought, rolleth down again. Pethemena boiling in pitch, with divers others, who there received their purgatory. And last of all how Minos and Rhadamanthus those inexorable judges sat judging and condemning of them to the like plagues and torments. Thus briefly I have discoursed unto you the whole manner of this marriage, with each private collusion touching the same. Yet one chief point of so many I had almost overslipped, which is, the excess of their Nectar and Ambrosia, for I swear by the Stygian pool, and by the Homerical faith, it had overflowed the whole earth if not Neptune had caused a gulf to receive the same. Thus (to be short) each court of charges being broken up, and the presence of the Gods discharged, my kercher of drowsiness being unknit I began to wake my Muse, leaving each surmise unto your after wits. Thus far you well, and 〈◊〉 you merry, be not oppressed with doleful dumps, repeat each fancy upon your Lute, weary not your needles, but clap your hands all together (as Virgil exhorteth you in this verse.) Claudire iam ri●os pueri: sat prata biberunt.  
FINIS.  Sine Cerere & Baccho friget Venus.  

The conclusion of this Book, and an Introduction of the Book following.  
WHereas (most Honourable) I said in my former Epistle, I have brought unto your honour a handful of fragrant flowers, Videlice●, Primroses and Violets: I trust your wisdom (beholding mine inward meaning, and not my phrase of writing) understandeth the hidden mystery herein. For (according unto my judgement) well might they be so termed, because (as yet) they are the first fruits which my Muse hath yielded. Notwithstanding, your Lordship knoweth right well, that of these Prymeroses and Violets, there be divers and sundry kinds: whereof some are double, and some again are single: the double we see are peculiar to private gardens, and become so double thorough their often planting, but the single are wild, and grow in the common fields: the one fort is far more beautiful to the eye, and sweeter than the other. Whereof (most Honourable) I count these my Prymeroses to be of the worse and meaner sort, by reason of their first planting. But if your Honour shall like well thereof, I do not double but that by often moving of them in their kinds, they may aspire to some lively sparks of savour, and become as double as the better sort. But yet, thus much I do conjecture, that if they were the sweetest flowers of all, yet would they be misliked of some, and, those of the greater sort, which maketh some in deed for fear of their Z●ilus mouths to refrain their learned pen. But who so bold as blind Bayarde? for he mistrusting naught, comes stumbling forth at william. My meaning is hereby, that if I had Virgilles vain to indite, or Homer's quill, Terence his familiar kind of talk, or Chaucer's vain in writing, yea, if I were as eloquent as Cicero himself, yet could I not want a Ciceronian whip (as the Proverb goeth) by Sallust, his great malice towards him. Think ye that Polymneia that rhetorical Muse is commended of all men? no, though they seem not openly to rail upon her with their Z●ilus mouths, or to be carping at her like Mo●ius mates, yet lie they sweltering inwardly as muttering Mu●ius doth. And although it lieth not in my power to requited such curious carping Knights, as it lay in Virgil to requited both Bauiu● and Mevius: notwithstanding I trust a better end will not fall to the one than the other. But whatsoever it shall please the common sort to think of me (as pardie I partly conjecture) yet trusting to your honours courtesy, I hope your wisdom will consider, that at the making hereof, I was neither at Athens, nor yet in the hearing of Cratippus. The dew of Helicone is not free to all men: neither hath Apollo and Pallas granted wisdom to all alike. Every one can not aspire to the right rhetoric of Polymneia. Wherefore I desire your honours courtesy to bear with my rude pen, and to excuse my bold attempt in writing. For though I seem at the first to entreat of trifling toys (〈◊〉 Virgil did in praising the silly Gnat, & Oui● likewise in commending the ●asell Nut (yet (no doubt) but thorough your Honours well liking hereof, I may hereafter atcheeve some greater enterprise, as in grafting some better piece of work. But if my Muse would take in hand to entreat or rather to declare, what the orbs of the whole world, the ●●rmament, the skies, the Stars, the Moon and the Sun, or to make manifest thru things which pass man his capacity, yea if I could do these things, (as in deed I cannot) so lively and so learnedly, that none could surpass me therein: yet should I be sure to have some of them which could do lest herein, to think themselves in all points equivalent with me. As Marcias' supposed himself equal to Apollo, and Thamiras to the Muses. But what was their reward? Apollo he all to be beat the one, and the Muses put out the other his eyes, such was their just deserres. And whereas (most Honourable) heretofore I have annoyed your senses with the unsavoury scente of my wild flowers: I have thought it good, to bring your Lordship now into that rude garden wherein these my vnsau●ry flowers grow: because if your Honour can find there any flowers among them all, which shall better please, like, or delight you, than these have done: I willing am, and with as free a hair to bestow them upon your Honour, as ●a●st I have done these before. But (woe alas) a piece of wild ground▪ lately taken into the gardiner's hands, and ●edged in, being but new set, can not, or very hardly delight any man. Notwithstanding, to please your Honour I am contented to grant you free liberty at your wisdoms pleasure to crop each flower therein, although in deed as yet they have hardly taken root. But seeing this phrase (Boni est pastoris condere pec●● non diglubere) is not unknown to your Honour, I less regard or fear the pulling of them up by the roots, so boldly do I build upon your honours courtesy. Whose courteous heart, & friendly cheer, with bountiful hands to requited each courtesy: whose noble mind, lowly behaviour, gentle language, and good demeanour therewithal, so shineth toward all men, that needs I must commend thee, & with a sounding trump resound thy worthy acts, & feather thy fame with immortal wings: that when the Ladies have consulted upon thy destiny, yet mayst thou live through worthiness in each man's mouth, and touch the skies with flying fame. But what need I to blaze thy golden gifts of nature, when as thy wisdom of itself doth countervail thy courtesy, and fame already hath encountered with thy worthiness? stay therefore O Muse, lest while I seek to praise him at the full, for want of ability I seem rather to diminish his fame than otherwise: or to discommend in seeking to commend him. Your honours wisdom may well surmise that my homely stile is so plainly painted without any shade or canopy, that a great many will blush in the reading thereof, and rather reap harm than profit thereby. Such bashful youths I exhort to do as Socrates did, who when he heard any one talk dishonestly, did hide his head with his cloak until the tale was ended. But as for those which rather reap harm than good by the reading hereof, I compare them to the spider, who sucketh poison forth of the Honey suckle, whereas the Be before did reap the chief of his honey. Also who are evil given will be naught, although they be locked in stony walls: for although power wanteth to do evil, yet an evil disposed mind or a wicked thought shall not be wanting in them. But who so marketh well my glozing stile, shall find Aliquid sal●● (as the Proverb goeth) in the meanest or basest point thereof. For if they could conten● themselves ●●il with one coat as Dionysius of Siracusa did, being called from a private man to be a King, (that is) if they could diligently read this pleasant volume, and be drawn neither one way nor other with the reading thereof, then should they find some taste therein: whereas otherwise it will seem but an unsavoury morsel of meat to digest. For by what means could Skelton that Laureate poet, or Erasmus that great and learned clerk have uttered their minds ●o well at large, as thorough their cloaks of merry conceits in writing of toys and foolish themes? as Skelton did by Speak Parr●t, Beware the hawk, The Tunning of Elynour rumming, Why come ye not to the Court? Philip sparrow, & such like, yet what greater sense or better matter can be, than is in this ragged time contained? or who would have heard his fault so plainly told him if not in such giving sort? also Erasmus under his praise of folly, what matters hath he touched therein, even the chiefest points which pertaineth to man's salvation? And sure in my mind he showed no greater learning in any one book of his penning, than he did in this. But I pass beyond my bounds, thus much I thought good to bring in for the allowing of my pleasant stile of writing. And as for my rudeness therein, I trust no reader will seem to condemn me for the lest fault therein, as Domician the Emperor, who for every fault committed, would condemn the malefactor to die. Lest thorough their tyranny and rash judgement they purchase the like hatred as Domician whilom did: for judicium durum sequitur sententia dura. Bear therefore (gentle Reader) I beseech thee with my bold attempt in writing, accepting rather my good will herein than the thing itself (unless in your own judgement it deserveth to be accepted) yet judge thereof with equity. And if it deserve commendation, so it is, if not, then use thy discretion therein. For I must needs say that such Tragedies as intent to inhumanity, are not worthy of reading, neither to be put in print. But yet the Tragedies of Euripides and Sophocles interlaced with pretty Poems and pleasant talk I condemn not, whose sweet language did as it were intermeddle the graces with the Muses. Wherefore such paganical histories and poetical Pamphlets aught to be red●e with indifferency. Thus trusting to your honours courtesy, at noon I bid good night.   

GRANGES GARDEN: Containing as well certain verses upon sundry points, in Metre, as also diverse Pamphlets in prose: Pleasant to the ear, and delightful to the Reader, if he abuse not the scent of the Flowers.   

¶ A valiant young Gentleman being trained up in Martial prows, and alured by evil counsel to women's follies, bewaileth his life in this order.  
SOmetime in Martial deeds, I set my whole delight:  
And eke my steadfast eyes did hate, of wanton dames the sight.  
But now I take delight, each blazing star to view,  
My tongue likewise with sugared words, inquireth of their mewe.  
Then thither fast I hie, if hope doth give me grace,  
And many wanton looks I cast, to view her comely face.  
Thus hath she won my heart, my purse is never tied,  
Good will hath given a dasing dente, fro thence I may not bide.  
In hope I spend my time, in hope to gain my will,  
I dance attendance every day, in hope to have my fill.  
Sometime I have my wish, the bensel of her bow,  
Sometime I have my hearts desire, of certain this I know.  
Sometime again I want, what is my hearts desire,  
Which as dry wood, and kindling coals, doth set my heart on fire.  
Then I to late repent my want on foolish eye,  
Which gustheth forth like springs of tears, my constant heart to try.  
Than this, what greater grief? to spend my wind in vain,  
On those who naught regard my heart, & less regard my pain.  
Then wish I all to late, that Mars had ruled my will,  
Then Cupid he, nor Venus had, not known my heart to kill.  
My goods are wasted whole, and I consumed am,  
Beware therefore by others harms, a Tiger seems a lamb.  
But judgement here I crave, who greater sorrows sent,  
Of him who tyste me hereunto, or her to whom I lente?  
If he, than all beware, of me who bought my wit,  
And shun the counsel of the nought, a wise man's rule to hit.  
If she, likewise eschew, th'allurements of the naught,  
And learn by me, for sure it is, I have my wisdom bought.  
Though 'tis a sugared bait, it is but for the time,  
And riper years lamenteth much, the loss of former time.  
But youth regardeth not, the things that are to come,  
O would to God I followed had, the sound of trump & drum.  
For aged years forbidden to run this youthful race,  
And warned me often, who would not hear, for lighting in this case.  
Young men thinks old men fools, but old men knoweth well,  
Young men are fools, and wants the wit, wherein they do excel.  
Let no man therefore shun, the counsel of the old,  
For he a fool may counted be▪ whose faults would not be told.  
Thus happy I him count, who can ●●ght well beware,  
Of others harms, lest he himself, should fall in such a snare.  
His Poes●●  
What wisdom warn●th mark you well  
That folly har●●●th truth doth tell.   

The force of Beauty's price.  
AS Cacia● wind, hath force the clouds to draw:  
Is Gea●e, or ●umbre, likewise doth by straw:  
As Adamant stones, doth Iron pluck them to:  
So amorous looks, hath force the like to do.  
And as Dan Titan, with his radiant guise,  
The withering grass, doth skorche in smothr●ng wise:  
Ueneriall Dames do likewise parch the har●es,  
Of ravening youths, with there Cupidall darts.  
Thus being set on fire with ma●ing mind they stand,  
Of ardent love, and waves of woe, to see the upper hand.  
Tace c●mmo●i.   

A Gentleman revealeth his former life.  
WHen youth was in his prime, and florish● most of all,  
I s●t my whole delight to view, whom gallant dames men call.  
So wauring was my wit●●, so wanton was mine eye,  
That all the day I walked the streets, to see who passed buy.  
And when a crew I spied, adorned with tops of pleumes,  
Such gazing sights did please me well, and dainty fed my rheums.  
If her I did suspect a Courtesan to be,  
Then would I clap her on the lips, though every man did see.  
And say all hail fair dame. I joy to see your health,  
You will not know your wont friends, such is your store of wealth.  
Then she herewith amazed not knowing me before,  
Will think I come (as one a fresh) acquaintance new to score.  
If she whom thus I kiss, did sail in virtues bark,  
I cry you mercy than I said, I did mistake my mark.  
No harm, she would reply: thus I a kiss would gain,  
Of those whom near I saw before, else was it to my pain.  
And when my hand was in, with those which were of wealth.  
The table● hanging on her neck, sometime I got by stealth.  
Sometime I got her ring, sometimes her chain of gold,  
Sometime she gave me money store, to buy me what I would.  
Thus making up my mouth, I made thereof a scoff,  
I count I got it all by stealth, her mate knew not thereof.  
If her by chance I met, in presence of her mate,  
I passed by, I knew her not, nor looked at her gate.  
Yet if he marked not, my nobbes a nod should have,  
My Cony she would wink again, but none should it perceive.  
If that she bit her lip, thereby I knew her heart,  
I must be jogging all in haste, her husband would not start.  
And for a token true, to pass betwixt us twain,  
Yea, for to keep our hearts in love, she broke a ring in twain.  
If aught I stood in need, this token did I send,  
At sight whereof she ready was, what might for ever lend.  
Yea glad she was to bend, lest her I should forsake,  
Who did herself unto my lure, so courteously betake.  
Good cheer I could not want, when gone he was from home,  
Nor nothing else which pleased mine eye (neglecting silly mo●●e)  
This got my ranging foot, this got my glancing ●ye,  
This got I say my trying tongue, which told ●yr many a lie.  
But now the prime is pass, the flower of all my joy,  
Yea, now my youthful days are spent, and fortune seemeth coy.  
Each thing most fresh of hue, in time of Lady Ver,  
Now Titan with his parching beams, begins himself to ste●.  
Now Autumn he is paste, and Hiems comes in place,  
My goods are wasted whole & some, whom should I sue for grace?  
What should I lean unto? my pillars now are gone,  
And eke the trulls whereto I lente, are changed every ●hone.  
Now must I turn my coat, and cleave unto my God,  
Desiring pardon for my crime, that spared hath his rod.  
This is the common end, of those which use the game,  
Happy is he that sees the snare, and can eschew the same.  
Compare your former lust, unto your after wit.  
For wisdom says for virtues school dame Follie is not fit.  
And time will force thee see, how folly did annoy,  
For where dame pleasure bend thy bow, now fortune seemeth coy.  
Thus thou at length wilt turn, if virtue gives thee grace,  
If not, assure thyself to burn, where pleasures hides her face.  
His Poesy▪  
Serò sapiunt Phryges'.   

A Gentleman suing for grace.  
NOT foolish fantasy through fond affection, in this my sore fainting could I find my (dear dame) to turn my pain to pleasure: wherefore, as one through stung with fierce Achidmas sting, requireth the second time to taste thereof, because plain proof declares one poison to drive forth an other: so I (as a foolish fly, who seeing the bright flame of the candle, never linneth buzzing about the same till his wings are scorched with heat) perforce am constrained willingly to enter the same, as a present remedy to mitigate my former grief. Which foreshowing unto certain of my friends, one among the rest which before that time had been stung with the same sting, wished me rather to seek forth some cunning Physician who should bathe me in the fountain Lethe, the virtue whereof is to lead his ta●●er unto Morpheus his house, who of courtesy straightfoorth knitteth his brows with a kercher dippeth in Limbo lake, and layeth him over head and ears in the snow of Taygetus, whereby through a sweet slumber which overtaketh his senses, he forgetteth each thing which hath passed him before. But I (God knoweth) seeking this bath at the Physicians hands was deceived herein. For he (as it should seem) delighting to see me pine in pain, gave me in steed hereof the juice of the herb Cresses which helpeth much the memory: which once perceiving, I told it again to my former friend, who grieved thereat, told me most comfortless there was no way for remedy but where I took my wound. Wherefore (mine only Castle of comfort) to thee I sue for grace. Thou know'st right well (my Diamond dear) that twice before this time I have been arraigned at dame Venus her bar, in which arraignment (Lady) as guiltless I have held up my hand, standing to your courtesy as one accused I know not whereof but for loyalty. Thus as a poor prisoner have I held up my hand, answering at the judges call, and appealing to your courtesy only for some spark of grace. But you as one willing to hear my pitiful playn●e, commanded me with retire to turn again to the jail of affection, where being clogged with chains of extremity all liberty was restrained, neither can my trembling tongue tell forth so tedious a tale as should express the pinching pain and pining penury, wherein my crazed corpse and loathsome limbs have languished this seven months day and more. Twice hope hath reproved me to appeal my chief dorrs herein, which as yet I would never. But the third time (in extremity of pangs and dreadful doubt of life) I am content. Brave beauty, demeanour, Cupid, and affection hath moved me hereunto. Lo, to thy demand I have yielded, grant therefore grace in time, else, I wish not to live but die. My griping griefs would enjoin me to silence but that extremity forceth me to speak: make answer therefore I pray thee to this demand, what should be the cause of the restraint of your courtesy? as to base of birth have I climbed to high? then the greater my fall. But my parentage may countervail▪ our wealth may encounter, unlace therefore your loyalty. But is there any mistrust of true meaning, constancy, great good will or perfit love? proof declares this needed not, or think you extremity will 'cause me change? those mistrustful hands of dissimulation do but hinder your wits of well thinking, and yet are no dainties for fine affection to feed upon it so any courtesy rested in you. Wherefore think upon my painful pangs, and what I suffer for your sake, all is to little to gain my which, and the lest to much to lose it. Grant therefore with pity what resteth to grant, or else at the lest in steed of a perfit yea, grant but a weak denay. Then lingering hope will persuade me, that where I took a deadly wound, there shall I find a salve. Thus trusting to your unknown courtesy, wailing in woe and doubtful of redress, I leave you to liking. And yet my constancy commends me thine own for ay.  
Yours and not mine, F. E.   

The painting of a Courtesan.  

IT is a world to see, each feat displaying wise,  
Of Venus' Nymphs, of Courtesans, whom folly doth disguise.  
Yea, how, and by what means, they do allure the youth,  
To spend upon them all they have, whose beauty whettes their tooth.  
Who listeth to behold, and mark my painting pen,  
Shall see their garish tricks set down, whereby they allure the men.  
First with their lawns, and calls of gold beset with spangs,  
With died, and frizzled periwigs, with hearts fro thence that hangs,  
With velvet caps, and plumes, they do adorn their heads,  
With read & white they paint their face, to 'tice them to there beds.  
There partlets set with spangs, come close unto their chin,  
There gorgets fairly wrought without, enclose black necks within.  
And from their ear there hangs, a pearl and silver ring,  
As for a bell, the sound whereof, such like to her doth bring.  
About her neck likewise, there hangeth many a chain,  
Yea, many a costly iem they wear, that's given them of their train.  
Their gowns in fashion are, there farthingales are great,  
Their gowns likewise which are so side, do sweep along the street.  
Their pomps most often are white, their pantofles are black,  
Their wo●●ed hose are purple bl●w, thus nothing do they lack.  
Their gloves are all befumde, with pure and perfect smell,  
Yea, all their clotheses which smells of musk, lo here she goes they tell.  
Their smocks are all bewrought, about the neck & hand,  
And (to be short) I tell you plain, all things in order stand.  
They only walk the streets, to see and to be seen,  
Their wanton eyes cast here & there, will tell you what they been.  
But if her flaunting looks, hath trained any one,  
Unto the mewe wherein she keeps, along as she hath gone,  
They shallbe sure to find, all kind of music there,  
And she herself (at his request) to play she will not spare.  
Which doth inflame his heart, with flashing sparks of heat,  
To try with sugared words, if so, his heart would cease to beat.  
Then she to pass the time, at cards will seek to play,  
Or else 〈◊〉 tables will they go, to drive the time away.  
Then will they vaunt, and grant, and for affinity,  
At cards they will vie, and revy, each their virginity.  
At Irish game she will, contrary to the game,  
At bearing bear more than she should, by proof I know the same.  
If that she taken be, with this, that her foul play,  
Then makes she strait thereof a jest (I saw it not) to say  
But with this oversight, she doth provoke the man,  
To think the worst and try the best, by all the means he can.  
Then must she have such cheer, as may be got for coin,  
That by the food of dainty dish, her woes he might purloin.  
To spend and make no spare, he must himself incline,  
No coin, good cheer, array, nor gems, for cost he may define.  
For, give me, and fetch me, this is their daily song,  
But yet with this word Adfer she drives him strait along.  
This word for to fulfil, he sets on sale his land,  
And naught he seeth her want, but buyth it out of hand.  
His presence doth deserve, remembrance for to have,  
But out of sight so out of mind: good will doth presence crave.  
And if she grants him grace, to mitigate his woes,  
His handkerchief she will bewet, with water of a rose.  
And then such wanton toys, she willbe sure to find,  
That he persuades himself herewith, to him she is full kind.  
Who would require more? it full requites his cost.  
And he likewise (as proud thereof) will make thereof his boast.  
Yea, yea, she treads so nice, she would not wafers break,  
And maulte horse like she bears her main, that air her arms doth streak.  
Thus as a floating fish, she glides a long the street,  
As lancing ships she cuts the seas, her plumes the sails doth greet.  
But if by candle light, she chance herself to show,  
Her painted form so glistreth, as the stars appeared arrow.  
Such cousining tricks they have, each man for to deceive,  
That while they credit give thereto, her words their wits bereave.  
Wherefore let not thine eye, reduce thy wanton woe,  
Nor give no credit to their words, which honey like do flow.  
Light won, light lost again, be sure them thus to find,  
For lightly comen, so lightly gone, this is a harlot's kind.  
Believe a harlot's words, and weave a web of woe:  
Not credit therefore give thereto, believe it is not so.  
She will not stick to swear she hath not known a man,  
And thou alone her maydenhed, by filled phrase haste won.  
And that no man alive, could ever gain his will,  
When many an one, yea, every day, of her hath had their fill,  
No man hath touched her skin, excepting hand and face,  
Thus will they lie with every breath, it is their wonted grace.  
Take heed therefore betime, lest thou too late repent.  
And curse the time that ere you knew, thereby what folly ment.  
Believe, my words are true, by proof thou shalt them find,  
Adieu at last, I wish thee well, take heed of womankind.   

The Authors Poesy.  
Ne femina, ne tela, non piglia alla candela.    

A Gentleman seeing his brother desirous to go to the seas, written these verses following, unwitting to any, and laid them in his brother's way.  
TRue to see the raging of the seas,  
When nothing may king Aeolus wrath appease.  
Boreas' blaste● asunder rends our sails:  
Our tacklings break, our anchors likewise fails.  
The surging seas, they battered have my ship,  
And eke mine oars avail me not a chip.  
The ropes are slackte, the mast stands nothing strong:  
Thus am I toast, the surging seas along.  
The waves beat in, my bark to overflow,  
The rugged seas, my ship will overthrow.  
Yea, driven I am, sometimes against a Rock,  
Sometimes again a Whale his back I lock.  
When Neptune thus, and Eol falls to strife,  
Then stand I most in danger of my life.  
And when the wind beginneth most to rage,  
Then out I cast (my bark for to assuage)  
Each thing of weight, and then if sea at will  
I chance to have, I less regard mine ill.  
It shipwreck once, I suffer in my life,  
Farewell my goods, farewell my gentle wife.  
Adieu my friends, adieu my children all,  
For naught prevails, though on your help I call.  
First go I to the bottom of the seas,  
And thrice I rise, but nothing for mine ease.  
For why? at length, when last of all I fall,  
My wind doth fail, wherewith I burst my gall.  
My body then, so full as it may be  
With water store, then may each man me see  
All borne aloft, amid the foaming froth,  
And driven to land, if Neptune waxeth wroth.  
But yet if so I cunning have to swim,  
When first I fall into the water brim:  
With streaking arms and eke with playing feet,  
My part I play the water flouddes to great.  
And then perchance, some ship comes sailing ●ye,  
Which saves my life▪ if me they do espy.  
Perchance likewise I drown before they come,  
Perchance the cramp my feet it maketh numb.  
If so it doth, then sure I am to die,  
In this distress the sea will aid deny.  
Wherefore (I wish) who well may live by land,  
And him forbidden the sea to take in hand.   

A Gentleman half in despair seeketh release.  
Making repair (dear dame) to the comely Court of curiosity where choice with change of courtesy doth abound, hoping to find it a Castle of Comfort, dame Beauty being Queen contrary to all expectation being frustrate of hope, amazed I stood like a carped knight whose eyes had been dazed with her to much contemplation, as not of force to gaze upon the Sun. In this trance of troubles my trembling tongue was partly enjoined to silence, but yet extremity forced me to appeal to her courtesy for grace: notwithstanding bootless it was to strive against the stream, for suspection had accused me unto this prince, and she herself with rash judgement had half condemned me, for that Affection had sworn to the same: no Lawyerly plea quoth she holds at the bar unless Affection quit thee clear, which ●ring, with pitiful cheer I got me on my knees, holding up my hands, and saying in this sort: I see Mistrust is no mistress for me in this case, wherefore most gracious prince it extendeth not to equity that in so weighty a matter a perjured witness should judge upon my doom. To his peril be it (quoth she) if he judge thee not aright. Alas (quoth I) S●minum iu● summa iniuria est, and if be found me guilty, 'tis but of loyalty: wherefore take pity and quit me before of courtesy, no fault is there in me (most renowned) for if my heart hath offended, and Affection as foreman of the jury, so find it yet no death, it deserveth but acquittance: wherefore challenging Affection, as by due order of law licensed, let curtsy I beseech thee for indifferency judge between us both. Who climbeth so high (quoth she) must needs get a fall: might not berry brown have contented dame Pleasure, considering the great store of Menowes that flow in every lake? how say you to this? Menowes Lady (I answered) serve but as baits for greater fish, & the brightness of the Sun daseth the light of the Moon. Thus my Dyamon hoping upon an haven in doubt I stand of shipwreck, lend me therefore thy helping hand, for in doubtful danger of destiny, the ready faculty of a woman's wit availeth most of all: Thus forced to fry in my fustian fumes, extremity calleth upon your present help.  
Yours allowed, F. G.   

The description of the love of a Gentleman and a Gentlewoman.  
IN the time of Lady Ver, the sweet and fragrant smell  
Of each delight, it doth a ranging foot compel.  
For when the April showers, descend with western winds,  
Each herb, each flower, and plant, do flourish in their kinds.  
Each leaf upon the tree, the grass upon the ground,  
The Hatherne buds new sprung, on earth what may be found,  
Doth yield as pleasant scentes, as nature can devise:  
All things in lusty green, appears displaying wise.  
And every bird that lives, then straineth forth his voice:  
So that of each delight, each man may take his choice.  
Thus in this merry month, he took delight to view,  
Aught that of nature was, most pleasant in his hew.  
Yea, many a time and often, in springs and groves alone,  
Himself he would apply, as yet where none had gone.  
There in distilling wise, she took delight to see,  
The chirping birds full oft, from bush to bush to flee.  
Whose warbling notes him thought, enforced to believe,  
That nothing under Sun, such merry lives did live.  
In every bush again, the Primrose did appear,  
The Violet at hand, was priest to be his fear:  
Which cast such fragrant smells, amid this pleasant spring,  
That every bush it did, a new delight forth bring.  
But walking all alone, in this his whole delight,  
The Primrose as him thought, and Violet did fight.  
Wherewith as one amazed, at large he them beheld,  
Hoping at length to see, the one or other yield.  
But lighting in a vain, which fortune had not tried,  
Behold even near at hand, a damsel he espied,  
Whose beauty was so brave, and eke so crystal clear,  
That nature could not frame, the like to be her peer.  
Her peer I never saw, for beauty in the face,  
The like was never seen, such was her comely grace.  
And where he took delight, before in fragrant scente,  
Now her to gaze upon, his mind was wholly bent.  
And as good fortune would, he stood behind a bush,  
Where well he might behold, and need not start the thrush.  
For while she took delight, to view this pleasant field,  
He did obtain his will, at large he her beheld.  
And naught she did suspect, for here he lay unknown,  
Until such time as love, his kindling coals had blown.  
Her round and cherry lips, and eke her scarlet hew,  
Her crimson cheeks was cause, the more he did them view.  
her rosed looks him thought, his tentive ears forth fold,  
The more that them he did, the more he should behold.  
So fell it forth at length, he could not have his fill,  
The more he did her view, the more he wished his william.  
When long he viewed had through many a pleasant tune,  
Him thought this April month, was turned to ●oly june.  
For in her face him thought, the red rose and the white,  
In lively form did seem, with other for to fight.  
The Columbine likewise, which commendable is,  
With Dasles did contend, that delectable bliss.  
And as a marygold amazed, he her behold,  
Until her das●ng dentes, his rueful heart it filled.  
Then out alas he cried, but all it was in vain,  
His heart fro him was gone, and did with her remain.  
This damsel single was, and eke did want a mate,  
And he to feed her rheum, did want a dainty date.  
But yet his heart was good, and love did make him ●olde,  
He spared not at length, his meaning to unfold.  
For her he went unto, and greeted in this wise,  
Alhayle dear dame he said, the chief of virtues prise.  
I see that Lady Ver, with sweet and fragrant scente,  
Inflames your heart to see, whereto dame nature lente.  
The Nightingale likewise, with her recorded song,  
Hath given you this desire, this grove to walk along.  
For now each thing that is, doth flourish in his kind,  
And is of force (me thinks) to recreate the mind.  
And eke no greater health, upon the earth is found,  
Then early and late to walk, upon this pleasant ground:  
The scent whereof will so, restore your lively blood,  
That you yourself will say, therefore 'tis very good.  
A thousand fancies more, for to delight the mind,  
Within this pleasant grove, by walking you may find.  
A flower by chance I spy, whose beauty fresh and gay,  
Doth force against my will, what I to you do say.  
It ravished hath my wits, wherefore I crave your aid,  
Herewith my garland make, let me not be denayed.  
For you the flower are, wherewith aghast I stand,  
And choice there resteth none, for beauty at your hand.  
With you my heart shall rest, when as my corpse is slain,  
Take pity on my woe, take pity on my pain.  
At which she stood aghast, not knowing what to say,  
She soon with love was pricked, and could not say me nay.  
So friendly Venus is, so friendly Cupid was,  
That fancy brought her soon, unto my wished pass.  
She answered again, a flower likewise I see,  
Wherein the proof declares, my constant heart to be.  
And where I heretofore, was mo●de by many a voice,  
Yet none my heart could gain, so curious was my choice.  
The sap now creepeth up, and vapours do increase,  
Lust doth enforce the flesh, to war and not to peace.  
When Ver is in her prime, each one desires a mate:  
And now the thing doth please, which I before did hate.  
For erst I did detest, to see a gallant dame,  
But now I take delight, of thee to hear the name.  
And sith that none before, did please my gazing eye,  
Until such time I did, your presence here espy.  
So now your love I crave, my love for to requited,  
Lest cause I have to curse, the cankered Cupid's spite.  
Betake yourself I say, unto a trusty friend,  
In me repose such trust, as ye in me shall find.  
For why, in you I live, and in myself I die:  
Which as a rampire is, your love again to try.  
My harms so huge would cry, if it I should not gain,  
And none alive I think, should suffer the like pain.  
But hope a Castle is, for me to winter in,  
And bids me not to fear, nor yet my suit to lin.  
With this she walked home, unto her mansion place:  
And all the way he sued, of her to purchase grace.  
Who fancide him as much, as he did fancy her,  
Though it she kept unknown, as best was thought to her.  
The end it tried all, such love to him she bore,  
He was her whole delight for him was all her care.  
His sight it did her good, his absence bred annoy,  
His presence was her meat, her drink, and all her joy.  
For if he missing were, at most but half a day,  
Her eyes like springs of tears would run i● like 〈◊〉.  
Or else like Xanthus' streams, her trickling tears ran down,  
As salt as brine, and eke her scalding sighs unknown,  
Most ready were sometimes, to end her loathsome life,  
Or else in haste she called for Atropos her knife.  
Thus nothing was to much for him that was so kind,  
And yet the more he sought, the less his luck to find.  
Such peevish luck had he, in vain to spend his wind,  
That, look the more he ran, the more he came behind.  
jove would it so, I think, dame fortune being coy,  
Delay it danger bred, and absence bred annoy.  
Though either was most true, and faithful eke in heart,  
If fortune turn her wheel, than pleasure is but tart.  
So quaint by proof she was, and to●●ing in her chance,  
That where Dame pleasure stood, she rigour did advance.  
For why? it happened so, the trump of Muse had blown,  
Unto her ears, that he far forth was better known  
To other than to her, and eke betrothed had  
His hand, his heart, and faith unto an other Dame,  
So that she did despair, and yet he not in blame.  
But farther it was noysde, that he naught else did seek  
Of her, but for to have his pleasure for a week.  
Which though it was most false, and blazed in despite,  
Yet it her ravished had of all her fore delight.  
For she believed strait, how that these words were true,  
And in this wise began to rage and eke to rue.  
Have I long fostered up, a naughty soaring Hawk.  
That now forsakes the lure, when I to her it shake?  
May whistling naught prevail, needs wilt thou cheek at fist,  
Then soar aloft at will, and take thee up whose list●.  
In deed thy slicknesse showed, thou wast a rolling stone,  
Wherefore adieu my joy, sith needs thou wilt be gone.  
sith fortune was so quaint, and nothing could prevail,  
With grief she cursed her hap, and thus began to rail.  
An other hath my right, and it enjoys perforce,  
The Gods revenge it will, for this thy sought divorce.  
Take heed ye Ladies all, on whom ye ●et your love,  
●●ce that he constant be, for so it doth behove.  
Too late now am I wise, be warned all by me,  
By others harms, beware the snare ye do not see.  
The best that now I can, is others to forewarn.  
Lest they as I have done, do light in such like harm.  
Wherefore I wish you all, whom C●p●d doth assault.  
Him to divide in twain, lest through your own default,  
To late you do repent, the force of Cupid● bow,  
And curse the time ye witted, what Venus meant to know.  
And learn each one by me, which way to frame your love,  
Be constant, just and true, as is the turtle Dove.  
But yet beware on whom, ye let your love to light,  
Lest want of ●endring like, doth put your joys to flight.  
Know first his nature well, and then repose your trust,  
Let nothing be to dear, if so ye find him just.  
Spend not your love on those, that will it not requited,  
For why? that want of love, it can no one delight.  
Thus ponder well my words, let Pallas be your guide,  
Lest that in w●●ton lust, your feet begin to slide,  
Adieu my pleasures all, adieu my chief delight,  
Love hath me wounded now, and put you all to flight.  
Wherefore.  
Ye Tigr●s whelps unkind, and eke ye ravening Wolves,  
The Stygian pool and eke, the Acherontes golues.  
Yea, yea, the Man●icors, the Lions in their rage,  
Cerborus, Allecto, with the Leopards savage.  
And (to be short) draw near, ye● furies' all of Hell,  
Ye Fairies with the rest, elsewhere where so you devil.  
And Cloth● now leave off, thy disloffes ay to head,  
Lachesis sit still, and spin no longer thread.  
But Atropos make haste, and with thy shredding knife,  
Asunder cut the thread, which doth prolong my life.  
For why? Milecian maids, your ●●ippes I mean to tr●●●,  
And as Lucretia did, my life for to unlace.  
Wherefore ye doleful dumps, and eke ye Ladies all,  
Come rue the wretched chance, which did to me befall.  
Come Heraclitus now, to weep and eke to wail,  
And Ladies now to rue, hoist up your mourning sail.  
Melpomene likewise, now take thy pen in hand,  
In mourning wise to paint, how fortune doth withstand.  
Likewise I thee beseech, Sulpicia of Rome,  
Some pos●e to indite, to set upon my tome.  
That all which hears or sees, may rue my wretched case,  
And know the cause wherefore, my life I did unlace.  
This said, with bloody hand, she took her dyrchill knife,  
And to her heart it thrust, to end her loathsome life.  
Which blown unto his ears, he rued in raging wise,  
But naught he could withstand, her fond and foolish guise.  
Why live I on the earth, that thus am left alone?  
Why seek I not to die, and first to make my moan?  
Alas my gem of joy, and eke my Dymande dear,  
Ah fountain of delight, as dead why liest thou here.  
What shall of me become, my joys exiled are,  
My heart with grief will ●urst, hope lodged is so far.  
Hath Paris, Leander, Pyrame or Troilus,  
Ay truer been than I, to thee my pretty muss?  
Pesistratus in faith, or Romeus in truth?  
What cause then hast thou had, to fall in such a ruth?  
These words are but in vain, I do but seek to drown  
Thy crazed corpse in tears, of certain this is known.  
It shall not ay be said, that thou for me shalt die,  
For I the like to do, thy former deed will try.  
Blood shall be shed for blood, and life shall pay for life,  
I have like force I know, like hand, and the like knife.  
With like, adieu my ghost, adieu my latter breath,  
Adieu each pleasure that is found upon the earth.  
Yet Ladies thus much grant, our corpse one tome to have,  
One Epitaphe thereon, this only thing I crave.  
This said, he kis●e her corpse, ten thousand times and more,  
With tears be filled those wounds, that grieved him full sore.  
He called upon her name, ten thousand times and more,  
But life it yielded had to cruel death his lore.  
Her eyes they were clung fast, priest down with heavy death,  
Adieu my dear he said, and thus he stopped his breath.   

A Song which the Gentlewoman made, before she slew herself.  
O Cupid, why art thou to me unkind?  
Unequal art thou in thy raging mood,  
Why didst thou seek with love to make me blind?  
By love to die, it will do thee no good,  
Unless perchance you joy to see my woe,  
I gave no cause to find you such a foe.  
Did 〈◊〉 offend thy mother any time?  
Whereby she sought on me to wreck her spite,  
Did I commit at any time a crime,  
Which moved you to put my joys to flight?  
If so I have, than didst thou serve me well,  
If not, me thinks thy nature is to fell.  
jove knoweth all, but I do feel the smart,  
I have the wound which breeds my endless woe,  
Alas, alas, what means that direful dart?  
It makes me love whom neither may forego.  
Alas to late I may repent the time,  
Of my delight, when Ver was in her prime.  
For my delight hath given this deadly wound,  
Which by no means again may cured be,  
Alas, alas, love doth me now confound,  
By parant proof each man the same may see.  
And none alive doth rest to cure the same,  
Thee Cupid now full justly may I blame.  
And Lady Ver, thou art my mortal foe,  
For thy delights did force my feet to range,  
Thou art the cause of all this endless woe,  
Though Fortune coy she seemed somewhat strange.  
Thus all alike did give this mortal wound,  
And all alike hath sought me to confound.  
If Lethe lake should yield unto my lore,  
Yet would it want in me his former force.  
It could not be a salve for such a sore,  
For Cress' juice it would his wont divorce.  
Wherefore in vain I cry and look for aid,  
For hope itself at need hath me denayed.  
Come Ladies now, put on your mourning weeds,  
Mourn and lament the cause of my distress,  
Through want of will my heart it daily bleeds.  
For hope denies to yield me aught redress.  
Mourn and lament each day with doleful tunes,  
For I am she whom lingering love consumes.  
What woman will in man repose her trust,  
And findeth them so often to be unjust?  
Worse than a beast is he that plights his troth,  
And then for to perform the same is loath:  
But worse is he that gives his faith to one,  
When long before to others it was gone.  
Falser art thou to me than Demophon,  
Theseus, Phaon, Aeneas, jason:  
Falser to me, than ever any wight,  
Who waste my joy, and eke my whole delight:  
And of my death thy falsehood is in blame,  
Whose blood shall pay the ransom of the same.  
Come rue therefore with me ye wretched wights,  
With doleful tunes approach ye near at hand,  
Weep now and wail forbidding all delights,  
And pleasures eke at elbow yours to stand.  
For love it seeks to make me now a tome,  
And love it will me bring unto my doom.  
FINIS.   

An answer to a letter written unto him by a Curtyzan.  
A Bottom for your silk it seems  
my letters are become,  
Which with often winding off and on  
are wasted whole and some.  
Who nilling other for to find  
but through my painting pen,  
Thereto to give occasion  
to write you will not lenne.  
And sith you take such great delight  
my bottoms for to spend,  
Behold now granting to your will,  
an other here I send.  
Ne suitor ultra crepidam,  
I give this phrase to view,  
Forbidding souters to exceed,  
the clouting of a shoe.  
'tis seldom seen a Swan to dive,  
of Morehennes had been best  
For you to talk, although you seem  
that name for to detest.  
Diana's troop it best may blaze  
the Swan of Menander,  
It best becomes your pen to paint  
the Goose and the gander.  
Whose tongue doth run before your wit,  
and shows, fools bolts soon shot:  
You would a good Virgillian be,  
if Virro in place were not.  
Sometime if Ovid took delight  
to praise the hazel Nut,  
If Virgil vaunting of his Gnat,  
why do not I forth put  
Myself to paint thy juggling tricks?  
secluding dalliance,  
Who knows so well thy legerdemaynes  
with false conveyance.  
You are Meduse that feendlike mare,  
no more a Courtesan,  
You are no more a soaring Hawk,  
what then, a chaste Diane?  
Not so, what then? the ramping fly,  
who vaunts on every dish  
Whereon he lights, and sows his seeds,  
a bait for those that fish.  
For with your privy winks, and nods,  
yea with your smile looks,  
With wanton toys, and sugared words,  
which are your chiefest hooks:  
With Demi grants, and weak denayes,  
to those that crave good william.  
Thou dost provoke the bashful youths,  
a virgins rule to spill.  
For sure such is thy change with choice,  
and eke thy choice to change,  
That it enforceth many an one  
his wanton wits to range.  
Thy beauty as a trumpet is  
this Alarm forth to sound,  
Tantara, tara, Tantara,  
which when it doth rebound  
Intentine ears, of force it is  
each man for to delight,  
And bids them s●oupe unto thy lure  
to put their cares to flight.  
Then Alleluya they cry,  
with down, down, down, down,  
Terlyterlowe, terlyterlowe,  
pipe down, down, down, down.  
If so the hunt be up, then sound,  
tathane, tathane, enough.  
I see it is the hounds do yelp,  
bowgh, bowgh, baugh, baugh, baugh, baugh.  
The game is dead, beat off the hounds,  
rate, rate, hawe, hawe, dead, dead.  
They spoil the hare, 'tis nothing worth,  
they mangle all his head.  
You know my mind, how beauties price  
contendeth still with lust,  
Affection yet once let aside,  
lays pleasure in the dust.  
Farewell and thus adieu.  
Sound trump Aleluya,  
It th'end of Taratantara,  
To joy my pleasant Dallyda,  
So clothed with the Lily.   

A song of a Lover, wherein he shows his love toward his Lady.  

THe feathered foul that flies so high  
And floating fish which swims so low,  
When as their time they do espy,  
They take refuge for every woe.   

Yet I forlorn a doleful wight,  
Who lives in vain upon the earth,  
Do wish me set far from the light:  
And rid of this my spyring breath.   

For that no refuge can I find,  
Which will abate my raging woe,  
Which forceth me to err from kind:  
And eke from nature quite to go.   

It Hobbyes hover in the wind,  
When as they seek to get a pray:  
Then am I sure of such like kind,  
Their trade in me doth bear such sway.   

My Lady fair whose shape doth shine  
And glister in my vading sight,  
Doth force my heart with woe to pine,  
And bids my joys at noon good night.   

Yet hover I full often in thair  
My Ladies but which hedgeth in:  
Hoping at length of her so fair,  
The longed love with ease to win.   

I strided the streets both long and wide,  
I stealed sight of her to have:  
Escaping neither time nor tide,  
But still I seek for that I crave.   

What though her love she said me nay,  
When as I craved it at her hand?  
Of trothfull troth hope bids me say,  
That love hath hedged me in her hand.   

I Proverb old I bear in mind,  
The which I hope will be full true:  
The falling out of lovers kind,  
Is feigned wrath love to renew.   

If so it be, I less regard  
Her frowning looks which feigned are,  
If not, what then? my luck is hard,  
And heart from hope is lodged far.   
FINIS.   

A Gentleman being half forsaken by mistrust, appealeth to his Lady again by humility.  
LOyalty (Lady bindeth me, and lingering love commandeth me to salute thee my double dear. And sith (as the proverb goeth) Ink and paper blusheth not. I think it best rather to unfold my meaning unto thee by some tell-tale paper (hoping thereby to gain at thy wonted courtesy, the yielding up of the Castle of Comfort, which of long time hath been sacked & sieged with force) than by trembling tongue to appeal to Humility, whose bashfulness in pleading my cause at your bar, neglecteth to countervail good william. Thus thorough default being made by my faltering tongue in this case, wisdom would enjoin me for a season to silence, but that love maketh me bold in this raignement of Affection without mistrust of thy wonted courtesy to ●olde up my hand, standing and appealing no less to the same for indifferency in ●earyng my cause, t●an equity in judging of the same. Hope doth encourage me to stand without fear, not looking for a rash but a well devised judgement. Let me not (Lady) be frustrate of hope. With equity judge my cause, and according to thy discretion define thereof, though dotage (Lady) in some, yet in me 'tis no good plea: wherefore let not my writ abayte, my feet with long standing fainteth, my hand with long holding wearieth, and mine eye with long looking daseth, wherefore take pity on my senses and lean to affection. Mistrust were no Mistress for me, whom loyalty casteth in thraldom: and distress were no Master, if liberty were free: discharge me therefore I beseech thee of these mistrustful hands of dissimulation, enjoining me once again to thy Arbour of amity, and repose no less trust and confidence in me, than my loyalty and true meaning in equal balance were able to way down. Try therefore and tr●●● me. for time trieth truth; truth causeth trust, trust, true love and friendship, and true love man's desire. Call therefore thy wits and senses to a general counsel, therein to determine of my life or doom. Thus as your poor prisoner clogged with chains of deep despair (but that hope recomforteth) I appeal to your courtesy, gaping no less for equity than clemency in this case▪  
Your poor prisoner, F. G.   

A new Married man being stung with wedlock, declareth his mind Cantico more, upon this text: Content yourself as well as I, let reason rule your mind, As Cuckolds come by destiny, so Cucko●●s sing by kind.  
WHen as Aurora in the morn, did buskle up to rise,  
And Lucifer that broad day Star, did vance himself in skies.  
I 'gan Morpheus to resist, and eke his mace to scorn,  
Murcea likewise stepped aside, and I as one new borne.  
In stretching forth my slothful limbs, amid my naked bed,  
Began to think oppressed with care, which way my life to lead.  
For thrice seven times the Lady Ver, had flourished in her prime,  
And thrice seven times Dan E●tas he, appeared in my time.  
No less likewise had Autumn he, by course me showed his face,  
With hoary Hiems at his train according to his grace.  
Which when I saw how Time did pass, and bald he was behind,  
I thought it best myself tapply, his former bush to find,  
And found, thereon to lay fast hold, because he flits away,  
For time and tide it tarrieth none, nor keepeth at a stay.  
Thus musing much with masing mind, which way for me were best,  
At length I found that hard it was, for aught to live at rest.  
For if dame Pleasure streak mine oar, in this my youthful race,  
Sweet meat sharp sauce, I know requirs no judgement in this case.  
And what though Venus grants me grace? naught thereby shall I  
Such pleasures lasteth but a time, & yet they do ask pain. again,  
And then if so affection fond, within my breast should raygnt,  
A Lion in an Asses skin my heart it should retain.  
Whereof Valerius doth report, that Aristophnes' once,  
In templis Acharon●●s made prayers for the nonce▪  
That he in Charon's ferry boat might pass the Stygian lake,  
To Pluto's grisly gates of Hell: which for his daughter's sake  
He did obtain, through feigned love, which he to them did bear,  
Allecto, and Tisiphone, Megaera: these for fear  
He flattered much, to whom I know such credit did they give,  
That they him taught with sops to feed (if so he sought to live)  
The Triceps head of Cerberus the porter of his gate,  
But see within thou stay not long, lest forth thou come to late.  
This council did he keep full well, and as they had him taught  
He did, and saw what was his will, he found eke what he sought.  
But what he found that rests unknown, but when he came again  
Unto Thatheniensians, he 'gan to warn them plain,  
For wanton Lions fostering up within the City walls,  
Lest while they think of Melt to feed, they taste of bitter galls,  
Thus liking breeds extremity, lulled in affections lap,  
And look what others pleaseth moste, therein I find lest sap.  
Alas what one can ●rame himself his youthful race to spend,  
All in Minerva's comely court? doth not Diana hende  
Sometime unto Dame pleasures laws? how then can I withstand  
The fiery force of Cupid●s bow? doth not dame Venus stand  
At Beauty's bar with comely crews & routs of dainty dames?  
Whose smiling looks & pranking toys, doth cast such fiery flames  
Before my greedy glancing eyes, that rolleth here and there,  
That I poor soul do rest betrayed, as doth the fearful hare.  
What shall I do poor silly sot? make answer in this case:  
Where are thy wits as now become, that art so wan of face?  
If so they wandering be abroad, then call them home again,  
A counsel general to hold it asketh them no pain.  
Therein determine of my life, how I the same shall lead,  
But yet determine of thyself that perfit path to tread,  
That leads unto the perfit joys, else thou thyself beshrew  
Mayst soon perchance, & unawares the pain thereof shalt know.  
Thus being set in counsel grave, this counsel did they give,  
That I my running head to stay, and eke at ease to live,  
A wife should wed (o waylfull woe) what could have chanced worse?  
The wedded man best lives at ease, when fast bound in his purse  
He hath the tongue of wedded wife, else will she clatter so,  
Both to his face and at his back, that glad he is to go  
His way and leave her all alone, for why a shrewishe tongue,  
Is like unto an Aspen leaf, that nothing veils to clangue.  
But yet for this they councellde me a wedded wife to take,  
That I the fish of common sewer might whole and clean forsake.  
I was content, my wits did serve, and would me so to do,  
To wive I went, as bootless bent, a gosling for to shoe.  
For look whose wife in beauty brave, doth pass the middle sort,  
Each thinks her naught, a secret whore, and gives her this report.  
But further yet of wives to speak, thus much I have to say,  
Whose wife in wealth her mate exceeds, she then will bear the sway,  
And tread upon her husbands crown, as for her feet to low,  
Thou mightst have beggde, this will she say (if so she be a shrew)  
If not for me, thou knowest full well, thus will she bear the rule,  
And wear the breeches of her mate, as wrapped in Friars cule.  
I did deserve a better man than ever thou wilt be,  
Why seekst thou then thy whole affairs or aught to hide fro me?  
Why should not I thy council be, without restraint of will?  
So aught it be, and so it shall, till pleasure hath his fill.  
Then she disdaining of her match, some one will soon procure,  
To pay the box, and eke with salve, her former wound to cure.  
To Cuckolds hall she will him send, as warden for to be,  
With grifted horns upon his head, as every one may see.  
Her husbands wealth shall wasted be, upon her bilbo boys,  
Thus overfayre, and all to rich, do want no tedious toys.  
Then who so wives, whom beauty wants, be she ere poor or rich,  
He will her loath, she can not please, she is not for his pitch.  
Thus which way can a married man at this day live at ease,  
When neither fair, the foul, nor rich, his fancy fond may please?  
Yet I a merry mean did find, which is a berry Browne,  
Browne and lovely (thus they say) she only bears the crown.  
If so it be (as Gods it grant) then am I all to wed,  
For Browne and lovely have I caught, taccompany me in bed.  
New married wives and young men too, do think the day is long,  
Wherein they wedded be, and wish for want of other song  
The night were come, & so did I, that Phoebus to the west,  
With steeds were drawn on chariot wheels, and there to take his rest.  
His course was done, & Vesper she with Luna played their parts,  
Which pleased us well, for joys approached, most meet for loving hearts,  
But passing forth this pleasant night, with lovely tricks I say,  
Alas to soon dan Phoebus he did show, that it was day.  
And with his radiant glittering beams began for to display,  
It was not meet for lovers, yet so timely for to rise,  
But for to chat an hour or two, this is their wonted guise:  
And playing thus with wanton toys, the Cuckoo bad good morrow,  
Alas thought I, a token 'tis, for me to live in sorrow:  
Cuckoo sang he, Cuckoo said I, what destiny is this?  
Who so it hears, he well may think, it is no sacred bliss.  
Alas (quoth she) what cause have you, as yet thus for to say,  
In Cuckoo time few have a charm, to 'cause his tongue to stay.  
Wherefore,  
Content yourself as well as I, let reason rule your mind.  
As Cuckolds come by destiny, so Cuckoos sing by kind.  
FINIS.   

The Lover forsaken, bewaileth his chance.  
IF ever man had cause to wail,  
then have I cause to mourn,  
Who joys to see my vowed foe,  
I like and am forlorn.  
I serve where no acceptance is  
and have this seven years space,  
And thrice seven in years I would her serve  
in hope to purchase grace.  
But all alas it is in vain,  
I like but to my cost,  
For why the love I have bestowed  
I count it is but lost.  
I take delight to view that face  
which yields my deadly wound,  
I love to serve in loyal thrall  
although no thanks are found.  
O gulfs of care, O doleful dumps  
that sore oppress my heart,  
Why do ye run in raging wise,  
have I deserved a part?  
Not not, I see 'tis bootless now  
for me to call or cry,  
For none I see doth rest alive  
whose aid I mean to try.  
Her breath alone it doth suffice  
to end my loathsome life,  
For why the Cockatrice 'tis like  
and I deserve no wife.  
Sigh Fortune quaint hath granted so,  
needs must I be content,  
No way there is for to withstand  
the chance she hath me sent.  
sith 'tis my hap my joys to cease  
dame Pleasure now adieu,  
And doleful dumps approach at hand.  
my wretched case to rue.  
FINIS.   

The Lover hearing his Lady to be cast in dumps, writeth unto her in this order.  
LAdy, I hear of thy sad perplexity, but what should be the cause thereof I know not, yet if Hearts ease may heal thee, the Dasle delectable delight thee, or the pleasant Pink may please thee, behold here I grant thee the key of my garden, gather them, use them, and wear them at will: for even the chiefest flower therein I afford it thee willingly to furnish forth thy garland. Leave off therefore thy mourning weeds, let me be thy comfort, who am thine own for ay. Try and trust me, use and wear me, I am thine own and willbe while life doth last. I want the Rhetorical terms of Polymneia to polished forth my writing, my heart is true, my love unfeigned, wherefore bear with my rudeness, for great good will doth gravel me. Ink and paper blusheth not, wherefore if my pen were able, well might I here unlace my loyalty: but neither tongue can tell, heart think, nor pen subscribe the unfeigned love which I bear unto thee, who only art the Castle of my Comfort: wherefore I will omit the showing thereof myself, committiing each surmise unto thy after wit. For bashfulness in writing incountreth with my Muse, and facility neglecteth to countervail good william. In secret thought therefore think of my loyalty, perpend well my meaning, for constancy it buffeteth a wavering mind: more yours than mine own my tried troth shall bind me. Open therefore thy breast and let it shroud two faithful hearts in one. Cupid hath commanded me to be no changeling, for as I am so will I be. O would thou couldst perceive mine inward heart or else conceive my secret thought. But time ●●eth troth and bringeth all to light, the smothering heat at length breaks forth in flame O open thy breast and let me enter, for the Sun shall shine at midnight, the Moon and Stars at noon day, the Sea shall become the Land, and the land the Sea, yea the Heaven shall become the Earth, and the Earth Heaven, before such time as I forsake thee. Thus printing my words in thine heart, and rolling full often the sense thereof in thy mind, I leave thee to judge thereof according unto thy discretion.  
Your vowed friend, F. G.   

I G. biddeth his friend A. T. good morrow.  
Have madama, good morrow if it please.  
Bone iour ma mistress did you lie at ease?  
Dieu vou done bone iour, will nothing make you speak?  
What rest have you taken? your mind to me break.  
What nothing but mum? an Almon for parrot,  
Speak Parrot I pray thee, may nothing be got?  
Your pillow misliketh, else care hath forbidden,  
Your eyes to be sleeping, while pleasure is hid.  
Else saith M●rcea, the sleep is in thine eyes,  
Disdain else forbiddeth (through vanities cries)  
To bid me good morrow, if heart will not break.  
Then say but Aueto: I like when you speak.  
Comporte vou madam? in French you do excel.  
Bien sire gramercy, this likes me very well.  
je suu bien a●se p●ur vou voye in bone sante:  
I am glad to see that your breath is not faint.  
And sith that you speak, now for my god morrow,  
je vou pry de bon ceur, take this that I own,  
A verse tis or twain, wherewith I mean to greet,  
Your morning's first flight as love hath thought it meet.  
Perliez bien ou perliez rien, you know my mind:  
Nothing will I speak, which shall not seem full kind.  
As hoary Hiems frost, keeps back with pining pain,  
Each brave delight, till Ver doth show her face again:  
Thy going so to bed doth put my joys to flight,  
Till morning doth appear, wherefore I hate good-night.  
For as the falling sap which creeps into the earth,  
Disgrace the trees until return of Ver her birth:  
As naked seems the trees which gallant were of hue:  
So naked seems the house when laid thou art in mew.  
Thy bed is like thy grave, the earth presents the sheets:  
The fricking fleas are like, the worms dead corpse which greets.  
But when the lively sap creeps up in blowing thorn,  
And each delight doth seem to laugh the frost to scorn:  
As Ver most fresh of hue, sends forth her new delights,  
With just return, and greets us all with pleasant sights:  
So doth Aurora seem, his gifts for to bestow,  
Although to Lady Ver he be a g●●e below.  
For as the spring delights each thing upon the earth,  
Which moveth them to wish and call upon her birth:  
So doth the morn (me thinks) unclose and eke unbind,  
Each thing which in the night, are closed in their kind.  
And nothing grieves me more, than when the night draws on,  
For than I know full well we sunder most anon.  
And then in vain I wish the morn for ay remain,  
That then my pleasure lost I might enjoy again.  
For in the morn (me thinks) I see the sap creeps up,  
Which to my will, doth seek with joys to fill my cup.  
As great is my delight to view thy comely face,  
As is the birds, to see the Lady Ver in place.  
And every morn by course doth show me thee again,  
Whereas the night before us parted hath in twain.  
The bridegroom in his course doth take no more delight,  
Than I do daily take, of thee to have a sight.  
ave I say therefore, I joy to see thy face:  
Aueto to reply, this point I ask of grace:  
For while my life doth last, with thee my dart shall rest;  
And for thy sake I will, all other choice detest.  
For sure it is in time, the brazen walls will start,  
And eke the water flouddes the craggy rocks will part.  
In time the waterish drops, we see doth pierce the stone.  
Wherefore I hope to find, as yet where love is none.  
This salutation print it within thy breast,  
And (as desert deserves) therein so let it rest.  
As time it trieth troth, so then repose thy trust,  
I crave good will for ay, and not to serve my lust.   

His good night to the same A. T.  
I Brone in grief my tower of trust  
to set Morpheus' mace:  
For needs it will divide us both  
though for a little space.  
Yet can it not so little be,  
though for an hour or twain,  
But sure me thinks it is a year,  
asunder to remain.  
For going to thy naked bed  
thou goest to thy grave:  
And every thing resembleth right  
the course which death doth crave.  
Within thy face consists my joys,  
within thy heart my life,  
When death doth call upon thy corpse  
then do I end my life.  
At night my joys begin to end,  
because we must depart:  
And doleful dumps oppress my mind,  
so loath I am to start.  
And when of force depart we must,  
with lingering steps I go:  
For why thy sweet abode I wish  
whose want doth breed my woe.  
My heavy heart within my corpse  
loath to depart doth dance:  
And in my moaning mind me thinks  
whole barks of care doth lance.  
Thy mewe it is a haven of hope  
whereto I cleave and hold:  
Hold Cable ropes, and Anchor fast  
for hope doth make me bold.  
Sigh driven by drift we must depart,  
Morpheus thus much grant,  
That all the night I dream on her  
whom in the day I haunt.  
And that in lively form her face  
before me may appear,  
So that I may persuade myself  
she were in presence here.  
I would embracing in mine arms  
I could myself persuade,  
For sure it were a golden dream  
to walk in such a shade.  
Shall I not lull thee in my lap  
as well by night as day?  
Though not, I hope thy heart fro mine  
it will not go astray.  
For why I bear thee in my breast  
and will while life doth last,  
My heart to thine I vow by oath  
it shall be linked fast.  
And le●te one corpse two faithful hearts  
shroud up▪ yea all in one.  
We linger time and all in vain  
of force we must be gone.  
Good night therefore, God send you rest,  
and eke Hearts ease at william.  
God grant your joys they may increase,  
also the world at william.  
In health the Gods prolong thy life,  
of wealth to have thy fill.  
Good fame I say and good report,  
according to their william.  
With heavy cheer I bid good night,  
time calleth us away:  
Against my will we must depart,  
and that without delay.   

His Farewell to the same.  
A Greater grief can hardly be,  
Then faithful friends for to depart,  
Thy tried friendship bids me say,  
That absence thine will cut my heart.  
Thou art my gem of all my joy,  
The Fountain eke of my delight.  
Thou art the staff whereto I lean▪  
How might I miss thee fro my sight?  
Though space is great and miles are long  
Which seems to part our corpse in twain:  
Yet distance shall not part our love,  
Our hearts alike shall still remain.  
O Titus true, O Phoenix kind,  
How loath am I to bid farewell?  
It grieves me that such faithful friends  
For ay together may not devil.  
Shall we asunder parted be,  
Who thus have lived in tried troth?  
If needs we must, then far you well,  
Yet to depart I am full loath.  
Not greater joy on earth is found  
Than faithful friends to live in one.  
Not greater grief can likewise chance,  
Than when the one must needs be gone.  
Ten thousand times I rather had  
A grisly ghost to end my life:  
Come Atropos therefore in haste  
On me to use thy shredding knife.  
Come loathsome death with fearful mace,  
Spare not to work my latter doom.  
Make haste, make haste, I live to long,  
Breath yielded hath, bring me my tome.  
When thou art dead, than all the world  
With me is gone, thou art so kind:  
Who would then willing let thee go?  
Such faithful friends are hard to find.  
My lingering feet no power have  
Fro thee at all for to depart.  
Each stone becomes a Mountain huge  
My feet to stop, O faithful heart.  
Love it hath made mine eyes so blind  
I can not see to find the way.  
No marvel then if so I seek  
A bad excuse to make delay.  
Each hour I know will seem a year  
Until thou dost return again.  
Wherefore against my will adieu.  
The want of thee doth breed my pain.  
Return in haste, omit no time,  
Thy absence spins a web of woe.  
Loath to depart come let us dance,  
And make no haste away to go.  
The time and tide it tarrieth none,  
Wherefore this suit is but in vain.  
Of force I see away you must,  
But yet make haste to come again.  
Adieu, farewell my faithful friend,  
As dear to me as is my heart.  
Now grief, now care, now endless woe  
Draws on because thou must depart,  
But why seem I thy steps to stay?  
The longer stay the greater grief:  
As good at first as at the last  
Hope of return will yield relief.  
No worse to thee than to myself,  
Adieu therefore God be thy speed.  
With faithful heart and moaning mind  
I wish the Lord to be thy guide.  
Farewell.   

 

   

Epilogus.  
THe proud Peacock (gentle Reader) strouteth and playteth his gorgeous tail so long, till at the length he discovereth the filth thereof: so some will think, and will not stick to say, that while I endeavour to discover the imbecility of other men's natures, I reveal thereby mine own licentious living, if so (at the lest) I speak by experience. And what if I did? yet are they far deceived herein, and do but dream (as it were) upon falsehood itself. For the market declareth how the coin is sold: and though I am but young of years, yet may I daily hear & see that whereof by action I am not partaker. It seemeth also the vanities of this world are the greater, when as they lie so open, and are so manifest unto my youthful years. And though it hath not pleased Polymneia so to favour my pen, as to countervail my well willing: yet I trust ye will accept of me for my well meaning, who am not therein & straw breadth incomparable to Cleanthes. Comparisons are odious, I mean not therefore by his learning (for thereunto I am many a degree below) but by the great desire he had in writing, and by the pleasure he took all his life time therein. How simple yet so ever this little volume of mine be, if thou wilt bestow thy travel to seek forth the ground and the depth thereof, thou shalt soon espy, and quickly perceive, how in every point and clause thereof is hidden, besides the mirth, some deeper sense and purpose. But unto the careless Reader it is (as it were) a piece of unleavened dough, wherefore for such I think it better to have their brows knit hard with the kercher of Morpheus, and so to lay them down to sleep, than Legere & non intelligere, nempe neglegire est. And as I have been brief in all things heretofore, so will I be likewise herein: and as I have brought you into my rude Garden, so (turning the key) here will I leave you, to choose what flowers shall like you best. My pen is stubbed, my paper spent, my Ink wasted, my wits graveled, and (to be short) time calleth me away: wherefore standing to your courtesies, and hoping of your good acceptance hereof, wishing to you as to myself, in haste I bid you Farewell.  
FINIS.   

Imprinted at London by Henry Bynneman.