SONNET.

OE here behold these tributarie Teares

Paid to thy faire, but cruell tyrant Eyes;

Loe here the blossome of my youthfull yeares,

Nipt with the fresh of thy Wraths winter, dyes,

Here on Loues Altar I doo offer vp

This burning hart for my Soules sacrifice;

Here I receaue this deadly-poysned Cu[p]

Of Circe charm'd; wherein deepe Magicke lyes.

Then Teares (if thou be happie Teares indeed),

And Hart (if thou be lodged in his brest),

And Cup (if thou canst helpe despaire with speed);

Teares, Hart, and Cup conjoyne to make me blest:

Teares moue, Hart win, Cup cause, ruth, loue, desire,

In word, in deed, by moane, by zeale, by fire.

Ou modest Dames, inricht with Chastitie.

Maske your bright eyes with Vestaes sable Vaile,

Since few are left so faire or chast as shee;

(Matter for me to weepe, you to bewaile):

For manie seeming so, of Vertue faile;

Whose louely Cheeks (with rare vermillion tainted)

Can neuer blush because their faire is painted.

O faire-foule Tincture, staine of Woman-kinde,

Mother of Mischiefe, Daughter of Deceate,

False traitor to the Soule, blot to the Minde,

Vsurping Tyrant of true Beauties seate,

Right Cousner of the eye, lewd Follies baite,

The flag of filthines, the sinke of shame,

The Diuells dye, dishonour of thy name.

Monster of Art, Bastard of bad Desier,

Il-worshipt Idoll, false Imagerie,

Ensigne of Vice, to thine owne selfe a lier,

Silent Inchaunter, mindes Anatomie,

Sly Bawd to Lust, Pandor to Infamie,

Slaunder of Truth, Truth of Dissimulation;

Staining our Clymate more than anie Nature.

What shall I say to thee? thou scorne of Nature,

Blacke spot of sinne, vylde lure of lecherie;

Iniurious Blame to euerie faemale creature,

Wronger of time, Broker of trecherie,

Trap of greene youth, false Womens witcherie,

Hand-maid of pride, high-way to wickednesse;

Yet path-way to Repentance, nere the lesse.

Thou dost entice the minde to dooing euill,

Thou setst dissention twixt the man and wife;

A Saint in show, and yet indeed a deuill:

Thou art the cause of euerie common strife;

Thou art the life of Death, the death of Life!

Thou doost betray thyselfe to Infamie,

When thou art once discernd by the eye.

Ah, little knew Matilda of thy being,

Those times were pure from all impure complection;

Then Loue came at Desert, Desert of seeing,

Then Vertue was the mother of Affection,

(But Beautie now is vnder no subjection),

Then women were the same that men did deeme,

But now they are the same they doo not seeme.

What fæmale now intreated of a King

With gold and iewels, pearles and precious stones,

Would willingly refuse so sweete a thing?

Onely for a little show of Vertue ones?

Women haue kindnes grafted in their bones.

Gold is a deepe-perswading Orator,

Especially where few the fault abhor.

But yet shee rather deadly poyson chose,

(Oh cruell Bane of most accursed Clime;)

Than staine that milk-white Mayden-virgin Rose,

Which shee had kept vnspotted till that time:

And not corrupted with this earthly slime

Her soule shall liue: inclosd eternally,

In that pure shrine of Immortality.

This is my Doome: and this shall come to passe,

For what are Pleasures but still-vading ioyes?

Fading as flowers, brittle as a glasse,

Or Potters Clay; crost with the least annoyes;

All thinges in this life are but trifling Toyes:

But Fame and Vertue neuer shall decay,

For Fame is Toomblesse, Vertue liues for aye!

FINIS.

Ouely a Lasse, so loued a Lasse, and (alas) such a louing

Lasse, for a while (but a while) was none such a sweet bonny Loue-Lasse

As Helen, Mænelaus louing, lou'd, loulie a loue-lasse,

Till spightfull Fortune from a loue-lasse made her a loue-lesse

Wife. From a wise woman to a witles vvanton abandond,

When her mate (vnawares) made warres in Peloponessus,

Adultrous Paris (then a Boy) kept sheepe as a shepheard

On Ida Mountaine, vnknowne to the King for a Keeper

Of sheep, on Ida Mountaine, as a Boy, as a shepheard:

Yet such sheep he kept, and was so seemelie a shepheard,

Seemlie a Boy, so seemlie a youth, so seemlie a Younker,

That on Ida was not such a Boy, such a youth, such a Younker.

Sonne now reconcil'd to the Father, fained a letter

Sent him by Iupiter (the greatest God in Olympus)

For to repaire with speede to the brauest Græcian Hauen,

And to redeeme againe Hesyone latelie reuolted

From Troy by Aiax, whom she had newly betrothed.

Well, so well he told his tale to his Aunt Amaryllis

That Amaryllis, (his Aunt,) obtaind aid of his aged

Syre, that he sent him a ship, and made Capten of Argus.

Great store went to Greece with lust-bewitched Alexis,

Telamour, and Tydias: with these he sliceth the salt seas,

The salt seas slicing, at length he comes to the firme land,

Firme land an auntient Iland cald old Lacedæmon.

Argus (eye full Earle) when first the ken of a Castle

He had spide bespake: (to the Mate, to the men, to the Mates-man)

Lo behold of Greece (quoth he) the great Cytadella.

(Ycleaped Menela) so tearmed of Deliaes Husband:

Happie Helen, Womens most woonder, beautifull Helen.

Oh would God (quoth he) with a flattring Tongue he repeated:

Oh would God (quoth he) that I might deserue to be husband

To such a happie huswife, to such a beautifull Helen.

This he spake to intice the minde of a lecherous young-man:

But what spurres need now, for an vntam'd Titt to be trotting:

Or to add old Oile to the flame, new flaxe to the fier:

Paris heard him hard, and gaue good eare to his hearkening:

And then his loue to a lust, his lust was turnd to a fier,

Fier was turnd to a flame, and flame was turnd to a burning

Brand: and mothers Dreame was then most truelie resolued.

Well so far th'are come, that now th'are come to the Castle,

Castle all of stone, yet euery stone vvas a Castle:

Euerie foote had a Fort, and euerie Fort had a fountaine,

Euerie fountaine a spring, and euerie spring had a spurting

Streame: so strong without, vvithin, so stately a building,

Neuer afore vvas seene; If neuer afore Polyphœbe

Was seene: vvas to be seene, if nere to be seene vvas Olympus.

Flovvers vvere framd of flints, Walls, Rubies, Rafters of Argent:

Pauement of Chrisolite, Windows contriu'd of a Cristall:

Vessels were of gold, with gold was each thing adorned:

Golden Webs more worth than a vvealthy Souldan of Egypt,

And her selfe more vvorth than a vvealthy Souldan of Egypt:

And her selfe more worth than all the wealth shee possessed;

Selfe? indeede such a selfe, as thundring Ioue in Olympus,

Though he were father could finde in his hart to be husband.

Embassage ended, to the Queene of faire Lacedæmon;

(Happie King of a Queene so faire, of a Countrey so famous)

Embassage ended, a Banquet braue was appointed:

Sweet Repast for a Prince, fine Iunkets fit for a Kings sonne.

Biskets and Carrawayes, Comfets, Tart, Plate, Ielley, Gingerbread,

Lymons and Medlars: and Dishes moe by a thousand.

First they fell to the feast, and after fall to a Dauncing,

And from a Dance to a Trance, from a Trance they fell to a falling,

Either in other armes, and either in armes of another.

Pastime ouer-past, and Banquet duely prepared,

Deuoutly pared: Each one hies home to his owne home,

Saue Lord and Ladie; Young Lad, but yet such an old Lad,

In such a Ladies lappe, at such a slipperie by-blow,

That in a vvorld so vvilde, could not be found such a wilie

Lad: in an Age so old, could not be found such an old lad:

Old lad, and bold lad, such a Boy, such a lustie Iuuentus:

Well to their vvorke they goe, and both they iumble in one Bed:

Worke so well they like, that they still like to be vvorking:

For Aurora mounts before he leaues to be mounting:

And Astræa fades before she faints to be falling:

(Helen a light Huswife, now a lightsome starre in Olympus.)

FINIS.

One name there is, which name aboue all other

I most esteeme, as time and place shall proue:

The one is Vesta, th'other Cupids Mother,

The first my Goddesse is, the last my loue;

Subiect to Both I am: to that by berth;

To this for beautie; fairest on the earth.

Hylom that in a shepheards gray coate masked,

(Where masked loue the nonage of his skill)

Reares new Eagle-winged pen, new tasked,

To scale the by-clift Muse sole-pleasing hill:

Dropping sweete Nectar poesie from his quill,

Admires faire CYNTHIA with his iuory pen

Faire CYNTHIA lou'd, fear'd, of Gods and men.

Downe sliding from that cloudes ore-pearing mounteine:

Decking with double grace the neighbour plaines,

Drawes christall dew, from PEGASE foote-sprung fountain,

Whose flower set banks, delights, sweet choice containes:

Nere yet discouerd to the country swaines:

Heere bud those branches, which adorne his turtle,

With loue made garlands, of heart-bleeding Mirtle.

Rays'd from the cynders, of the thrice-sact towne:

ILLIONS sooth-telling SYBILLIST appeares,

Eclipsing PHOEBUS loue, with scornefull frowne,

Whose tragicke end, affords warme-water teares,

(For pitty-wanting PACOE, none forbeares)

Such period haps, to beauties price ore-priz'd:

Where IANVS-faced loue, doth lurke disguiz'd.

Nere-waining CYNTHIA yeelds thee triple thankes,

Whose beames vnborrowed darke the worlds faire eie

And as full streames that euer fill their bankes,

So those rare Sonnets, where wits ripe doth lie,

With Troian Nimph, doe soare thy fame to skie.

And those, and these, contend thy Muse to raise

(Larke mounting Muse) with more then common praise.

Eng. Sch. Lib. No. 14.

Right Starre of Beauty, fairest Faire aliue,

Rare president of peerelesse chastity;

(In whom the Muses and the Graces striue,

VVhich shall possesse the chiefest part of thee:)

Oh let these simple lines accepted bee:

VVhich here I offer at thy sacred shrine:

Sacred, because sweet Beauty is diuine.

And though I cannot please each curious eare,

With sugred Noates of heauenly Harmonie:

Yet if my loue shall to thy selfe appeare,

No other Muse I will inuoke but thee:

And if thou wilt my faire Thalia be,

Ile sing sweet Hymnes and praises to thy name,

In that cleare Temple of eternall Fame.

But ah (alas) how can mine infant Muse

(That neuer heard of Helicon before)

Performe my promise past: when they refuse

Poore Shepheards Plaints? yet will I still adore

Thy sacred Name, al though I write no more:

Yet hope I shall, if this accepted bee:

If not, in silence sleepe eternally.

Ow was the Welkyn all inuelloped

With duskie Mantle of the sable Night:

And Cynthia lifting vp her drouping head,

Blusht at the Beautie of her borrowed light,

When Sleepe now summon'd euery mortal wight.

Then loe (me thought) I saw or seem'd to see,

An heauenly Creature like an Angell bright,

That in great haste came pacing towards me:

Was neuer mortall eye beheld so faire a Shee.

Thou lazie man (quoth she) what mak'st thou heere

(Luld in the lap of Honours Enimie?)

I heere commaund thee now for to appeare

(By vertue of Ioves mickle Maiestie)

In yonder Wood. (Which with her finger shee

Out-poynting) had no sooner turn'd her face,

And leauing mee to muze what she should bee,

Yuanished into some other place:

But straite (me thought) I saw a rout of heauenlie Race.

Downe in a Dale, hard by a Forrest side,

(Vnder the shaddow of a loftie Pine,)

Not far from whence a trickling streame did glide,

Did nature by her secret art combine,

A pleasant Arbour, of a spreading Vine:

Wherein Art stroue with nature to compaire,

That made it rather seeme a thing diuine

Being scituate all in the open Aire:

A fairer nere was seene, if any seene so faire.

There might one see, and yet not see (indeede)

Fresh Flora flourishing in chiefest Prime,

Arrayed all in gay and gorgeous weede,

The Primrose and sweet-smelling Eglantine,

As fitted best beguiling so the time:

And euer as she went she strewd the place,

Red-roses mixt with Daffadillies fine,

For Gods and Goddesses, that in like case

In this same order sat, with il-beseeming grace.

First, in a royall Chaire of massie gold,

(Bard all about with plates of burning steele)

Sat Iupiter most glorious to behold,

And in his hand was placed Fortunes wheele:

The which he often turn'd, and oft did reele.

And next to him, in griefe and gealouzie,

(If sight may censure what the heart doth feele)

In sad lament was placed Mercurie;

That dying seem'd to weep, and weeping seem'd to die.

On th'other side, aboue the other twaine,

(Delighting as it seem'd to sit alone)

Sat Mulciber; in pride and high disdaine,

Mounted on high vpon a stately throne,

And euen with that I heard a deadly grone:

Muzing at this, and such an vncouth sight,

(Not knowing what shoulde make that piteous mone)

I saw three furies, all in Armour dight,

With euery one a Lampe, and euery one a light.

I deemed so; nor was I much deceau'd,

For poured forth in sensuall Delight,

There might I see of Sences quite bereau'd

King Priams Sonne, that Alexander hight

(Wrapt in the Mantle of eternall Night.)

And vnder him, awaiting for his fall,

Sate Shame, here Death, and there sat fel Despight,

That with their Horrour did his heart appall:

Thus was his Blisse to Bale, his Hony turn'd to gall.

In which delight feeding mine hungry eye,

Of two great Goddesses a sight I had,

And after them in wondrous Iollity,

(As one that inly ioy'd, so was she glad)

The Queene of Loue full royallie yclad,

In glistring Gold, and peerelesse precious stone,

There might I spie: and her Companion had,

Proud Paris, Nephew to Laomedon,

That afterward did cause the Death of many a one.

By this the formost melting all in teares,

And rayning downe resolued Pearls in showers,

Gan to approach the place of heauenly Pheares,

And with her weeping, watring all their Bowers,

Throwing sweet Odors on those fading flowers,

At length, she them bespake thus mournfullie.

High Ioue (quoth she) and yee Cœlestiall powers,

That here in Iudgement sit twixt her and mee,

Now listen (for a while) and iudge with equitie.

Sporting our selues to day, as wee were woont

(I meane, I, Pallas, and the Queene of Loue.)

Intending with Diana for to hunt,

On Ida Mountaine top our skill to proue,

A golden Ball was trindled from aboue,

And on the Rinde was writ this Poesie,

Pvlcherimæ for which a while we stroue,

Each saying shee was fairest of the three,

When loe a shepheards Swaine not far away we see.

I spi'd him first, and spying thus bespake,

Shall yonder Swaine vnfolde the mysterie?

Agreed (quoth Venus) and by Stygian Lake,

To whom he giues the ball so shall it bee:

Nor from his censure will I flie, quoth shee,

(Poynting to Pallas) though I loose the gole.

Thus euery one yplac'd in her degree,

The Shepheard comes, whose partial eies gan role,

And on our beuties look't, and of our beuties stole.

I promis'd wealth, Minerua promised wit,

(Shee promis'd wit to him that was vnwise,)

But he (fond foole) had soone refused it,

And minding to bestow that glorious Prize,

On Venus, that with pleasure might suffize

His greedie minde in loose lasciuiousnes:

Vpon a sudden, wanting goode aduice,

Holde heere (quoth he) this golden Ball possesse,

Which Paris giues to thee for meede of worthines,

Thus haue I shew'd the summe of all my sute,

And as a Plaintiffe heere appeale to thee,

And to the rest. Whose folly I impute

To filthie lust, and partialitie,

That made him iudge amisse: and so doo we

(Quoth Pallas, Venus,) nor will I gaine-say,

Although it's mine by right, yet willinglie,

I heere disclaime my title and obey:

When silence being made, Ioue thus began to saie.

Thou Venus, art my darling, thou my deare,

(Minerua) shee, my sister and my wife:

So that of all a due respect I beare,

Assign'd as one to end this doubtfull strife,

(Touching your forme, your fame, your loue, your life)

Beauty is vaine much like a gloomy light,

And wanting wit is counted but a trife,

Especially when Honour's put to flight:

Thus of a lonely, soone becomes a loathly sight.

VVit without wealth is bad, yet counted good,

wealth wanting wisdom's worse, yet deem'd as wel,

From whence (for ay) doth flow, as from a flood,

A pleasant Poyson, and a heauenly Hell,

where mortall men do couet still to dwell.

Yet one there is to Vertue so inclin'd,

That as for Maiesty she beares the Bell,

So in the truth who tries her princelie minde,

Both Wisdom, Beauty, Wealth, and all in her shall find.

In Westerne world amids the Ocean maine,

In compleat Vertue shining like the Sunne,

In great Renowne a maiden Queene doth raigne,

Whose royall Race, in Ruine first begun,

Till Heauens bright Lamps dissolue shall nere be done:

In whose faire eies Loue linckt with vertues been,

In euerlasting Peace and Vnion.

Which sweet Consort in her full well beseeme

Of Bounty, and of Beauty fairest Fayrie Queene.

And to conclude, the gifts in her yfound,

Are all so noble, royall, and so rare,

That more and more in her they doe abound;

In her most peerelesse Prince without compare,

Endowing still her minde with vertuous care:

That through the world (so wide) the flying fame,

(And Name that Enuies selfe cannot impaire,)

Is blown of this faire Queen, this gorgeous dame,

Fame borrowing al men's mouths to royalize the same.

And with this sentence Iupiter did end,

This is the Pricke (quoth he), this is the praies,

To whom, this as a Present I will send,

That shameth Cynthia in her siluer Raies,

If so you three this deed doe not displease.

Then one, and all, and euery one of them,

To her that is the honour of her daies,

A second Iudith in Iervsalem.

To her we send this Pearle, this Iewell, and this Iem.

Then call'd he vp the winged Mercury,

(The mighty Messenger of Gods enrold,)

And bad him hither hastily to hie,

Whom tended by her Nymphes he should behold,

(Like Pearles ycouched all in shining gold.)

And euen with that, from pleasant slumbring sleepe,

(Desiring much these wonders to vnfold)

I wak'ning, when Aurora gan to peepe,

Depriu'd so soone of my sweet Dreame, gan almost weepe.

Hus, sacred Virgin, Muse of chastitie,

This difference is betwixt the Moone and thee:

Shee shines by Night; but thou by Day do'st shine:

Shee Monthly changeth; thou dost nere decline:

And as the Sunne, to her, doth lend his light,

So hee, by thee, is onely made so bright:

Yet neither Sun, nor Moone, thou canst be named,

Because thy light hath both their beauties shamed:

Then, since an heauenly Name doth thee befall,

Thou Virgo art: (if any Signe at all).

Porting at fancie, setting light by loue,

There came a theefe, and stole away my heart,

(And therefore robd me of my chiefest part)

Yet cannot Reason him a felon proue.

For why his beauty (my hearts thiefe) affirmeth,

Piercing no skin (the bodies fensiue wall)

And hauing leaue, and free consent withall,

Himselfe not guilty, from loue guilty tearmeth,

Conscience the Iudge, twelue Reasons are the Iurie,

They finde mine eies the be[a]utie t' haue let in,

And on this verdict giuen, agreed they bin,

VVherefore, because his beauty did allure yee,

Your Doome is this: in teares still to be drowned,

VVhen his faire forehead with disdain is frowned.

E[a]uty and Maiesty are falne at ods,

Th'one claimes his cheeke, the other claimes his chin;

Then Vertue comes, and puts her title in.

(Quoth she) I make him like th'immortall Gods.

(Quoth Maiestie) I owne his lookes, his Brow,

His lips, (quoth Loue) his eies, his faire is mine.

And yet (quoth Maiesty) he is not thine,

I mixe Disdaine with Loues congealed Snow.

I, but (quoth Loue) his lockes are mine (by right)

His stately gate is mine (quoth Maiestie,)

And mine (quoth Vertue) is his Modestie.

Thus as they striue about this heauenly wight,

At last the other two to Vertue yeeld,

The lists of Loue, fought in faire Beauties field.

He Stoicks thinke, (and they come neere the truth,)

That vertue is the chiefest good of all,

The Academicks on Idea call.

The Epicures in pleasure spend their youth,

The Perrepatetickes iudge felicitie,

To be the chiefest good aboue all other,

One man, thinks this: and that conceaues another:

So that in one thing very few agree.

Let Stoicks haue their Vertue if they will,

And all the rest their chiefe-supposed good,

Let cruell Martialists delight in blood,

And Mysers ioy their bags with gold to fill:

My chiefest good, my chiefe felicity,

Is to be gazing on my loues faire eie.

Wo stars there are in one faire firmament,

(Of some intitled Ganymedes sweet face),

VVhich other stars in brightnes doe disgrace,

As much as Po in clearenes passeth Trent.

Nor are they common natur'd stars: for why,

These stars when other shine vaile their pure light,

And when all other vanish out of sight,

They adde a glory to the worlds great eie.

By these two stars my life is onely led,

In them I place my ioy, in them my pleasure,

Loue's piercing Darts, and Natures precious treasure

With their sweet foode my fainting soule is fed:

Then when my sunne is absent from my sight

How can it chuse (with me) but be dark night?

T is reported of faire Thetis Sonne,

(Achilles famous for his chiualry,

His noble minde and magnanimity,)

That when the Troian wars were new begun,

Whos'euer was deepe-wounded with his speare,

Could neuer be recured of his maime,

Nor euer after be made whole againe:

Except with that speares rust he holpen were.

Euen so it fareth with my fortune now,

Who being wounded with his piercing eie,

Must either thereby finde a remedy,

Or els to be releeu'd, I know not how.

Then if thou hast a minde still to annoy me,

Kill me with kisses, if thou wilt destroy me.

Sweet Corrall lips, where Nature's treasure lies,

The balme of blisse, the soueraigne salue of sorrow,

The secret touch of loues heart-burning arrow,

Come quench my thirst or els poor Daphnis dies.

One night I dream'd (alas twas but a Dreame)

That I did feele the sweetnes of the same,

Where-with inspir'd, I young againe became,

And from my heart a spring of blood did streame,

But when I wak't, I found it nothing so,

Saue that my limbs (me thought) did waxe more strong

And I more lusty far, and far more yong.

This gift on him rich Nature did bestow.

Then if in dreaming so, I so did speede,

What should I doe, if I did so indeede?

Weet Thames I honour thee, not for thou art

The chiefest Riuer of the fairest Ile,

Nor for thou dost admirers eies beguile,

But for thou hold'st the keeper of my heart,

For on thy waues, (thy Christal-billow'd waues,)

My fairest faire, my siluer Swan is swimming:

Against the sunne his pruned feathers trimming:

Whilst Neptune his faire feete with water laues,

Neptune, I feare not thee, not yet thine eie,

And yet (alas) Apollo lou'd a boy,

And Cyparissus was Siluanus ioy.

No, no, I feare none but faire Thetis, I,

For if she spie my Loue, (alas) aie me,

My mirth is turn'd to extreame miserie.

SONNET.

THE COMPLAINT
OF CHASTITIE.

Hellens Rape.

Cynthia.
VVITH CER-
taine Sonnets, and
the Legend of
Cassandra.

To the Right Honorable, and
most noble-minded Lorde,
William Stanley, Earle of
Darby, &c.

To the curteous Gentlemen Readers.

T. T. in commendation of the
Authour his worke.

To his Mistresse.

CYNTHIA.

[SONNETS.]

SONNET. I.

SONNET. II.

SONNET. III.

SONNET. IIII.

SONNET. V.

SONNET. VI.

SONNET. VII.

SONNET. VIII.

SONNET.

THE COMPLAINT OF CHASTITIE.

Hellens Rape.

Cynthia. VVITH CER- taine Sonnets, and the Legend of Cassandra.

To the Right Honorable, and most noble-minded Lorde, William Stanley, Earle of Darby, &c.

To the curteous Gentlemen Readers.

T. T. in commendation of the Authour his worke.

To his Mistresse.

CYNTHIA.

[SONNETS.]

SONNET. I.

SONNET. II.

SONNET. III.

SONNET. IIII.

SONNET. V.

SONNET. VI.

SONNET. VII.

SONNET. VIII.

THE COMPLAINT
OF CHASTITIE.

Cynthia.
VVITH CER-
taine Sonnets, and
the Legend of
Cassandra.

To the Right Honorable, and
most noble-minded Lorde,
William Stanley, Earle of
Darby, &c.

T. T. in commendation of the
Authour his worke.