Pride did intend the sequel of my ruth, Began the faults and follies of my youth.
I left the fields and took me to the town, Fold sheep who list, the hook was cast away; Menalcas would not be a country clown,
Nor shepherd's weeds, but garments far more gay: Even then,
Aspiring thoughts did follow after ruth, Began the faults and follies of my youth. My suits were silk, my talk was all of state, I stretch'd beyond the compass of my sleeve; The bravest courtier was Menalcas' mate, Spend what I would, I never thought on grief: Even then,
I lash'd out lavish, then began my ruth, And then I felt the follies of my youth.
I cast mine eye on every wanton face, And straight desire did hale me on to love; Then lover-like I pray'd for Venus' grace, That she my mistress' deep affects might move: Even then,
Love trapp'd me in the fatal bands of ruth, Began the faults and follies of my youth. No cost I spar'd to please my mistress' eye, No time ill-spent in presence of her sight; Yet oft she frown'd, and then her love must die, But when she smil'd, O then a happy wight!
Desire did draw me on to deem of ruth,
Began the faults and follies of my youth.
The day in poems often did I pass,
The night in sighs and sorrows for her grace; And she, as fickle as the brittle glass,
Held sun-shine showers within her flattering face: Even then,
I spied the woes that women's loves ensu'th, I saw and loath the follies of my youth.
I noted oft that beauty was a blaze, I saw that love was but a heap of cares; That such as stood as deer do at the gaze, And sought their wealth amongst affection's tares,* Even such
With hot pursuit did follow after ruth, And foster'd up the follies of their youth.
Thus clogg'd with love, with passions, and with grief, I saw the country life had least molest;
I felt a wound, and fain would have relief, And this resolv'd I thought would fall out best: Even then,
I felt my senses almost sold to ruth,
I thought to leave the follies of my youth.
To flocks again; away the wanton town,
Fond pride avaunt; give me the shepherd's hook, A coat of gray, I'll be a country clown; Mine eye shall scorn on beauty for to look :
Both pride and love are ever pain'd with ruth, And therefore farewell the follies of my youth.
DESCRIPTION OF THE LADY MÆSIA.*
HER stature and her shape were passing tall, Diana like, when 'longst the lawns she goes; A stately pace, like Juno when she brav'd The Queen of love,‡ 'fore Paris in the vale; A front beset with love and majesty ; A face like lovely Venus when she blush'd A seely shepherd should be beauty's judge; A lip sweet ruby-red grac'd with delight; Her eyes two sparkling stars in winter night, When chilling frost doth clear the azur'd sky; Her hairs in tresses twin'd with threads of silk, Hung waving down like Phœbus in his prime; Her breasts as white as those two snowy swans That draw § to Paphos Cupid's smiling dame; A foot like Thetis when she tripp'd the sands To steal Neptunus' favour with her|| steps; In fine, a piece despite of beauty fram'd, To see what Nature's cunning could afford.
SWEET are the thoughts that savour of content; The quiet mind is richer than a crown; Sweet are the nights in careless slumber spent ; The poor estate scorns fortune's angry frown: Such sweet content, such minds, such sleep, such bliss, Beggars enjoy, when princes oft do miss.
*This is an alteration and abridgement of a copy of verses in the Morando: see p. 215.
t were] The 4to. "was."
love] The 4to. "heaven:" but see p. 215.
$ draw] The 4to. "drawes."
The homely house that harbours quiet rest; The cottage that affords no pride nor care; The mean that 'grees with country music best; The sweet consort of mirth and music's fare; Obscured life sets down a type of bliss:
A mind content both crown and kingdom is.
LINES TRANSLATED FROM GUAZZO.
He that appal❜d* with lust would sail in haste to Corinthum,
There to be taught in Lais' school to seek for a mistress, Is to be train'd in Venus' troop and chang'd to the
Rage embrac'd, but reason quite thrust out as an exile; Pleasure a pain, rest turn'd to be care, and mirth as a madness;
Fiery minds inflam'd with a look enrag'd as Alecto ; Quaint in array, sighs fetcht from far, and tears, many, feigned;
Pensive,+ sore deep plung'd in pain, not a place but his heart whole;
Days in grief and nights consum'd to think on a god
Broken sleeps, sweet dreams, but short fro the night to the morning;
Venus dash'd, his mistress' face as bright as Apollo; Helena stain'd, the golden ball wrong-given by the shepherd;
Hairs of gold, eyes twinkling stars, her lips to be rubies; Teeth of pearl, her breasts like snow, her cheeks to [kneestead ; Sugar candy she is, as I guess, fro the waist to the Nought is amiss, no fault were found if soul were
All were bliss if such fond lust led not to repentance.
*appal'd] Qy. "assail'd."
+ Pensive] The 4to. " Pen sicke."
A MONSTER seated in the midst of men, Which, daily fed, is never satiate; A hollow gulf of vild ingratitude,
Which for his food vouchsafes not pay of thanks, But still doth claim a debt of due expence. From hence doth Venus draw the shape of lust; From hence Mars raiseth blood and stratagems. The wrack of wealth, the secret foe to life; The sword that hasteneth on the date of death; The surest friend to physic by disease; The pumice that defaceth memory; The misty vapour that obscures the light, And brightest beams of science' glittering sun, And doth eclipse the mind with sluggish thoughts: The monster that affords this cursed brood, And makes commixture of those dire mishaps, Is but a stomach overcharg'd with meats, That takes delight in endless gluttony.
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