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THE EPISTLE. Brittain's Ida. Written by that renowned poët, Edmond Spencer 32Kb

BRITTAIN'S IDA.

Written by that Renowned Poët, EDMOND SPENCER.

LONDON: Printed for THOMAS WALKLEY.

MARTIAL. WALKLEY, and are to be sold at his shop at the Eagle and Child in Brittaines Bursse. 1628.


TO THE RIGHT Noble Lady MARY,

DAUGHTER TO THE Daughter to the most Illustrious Prince GEORGE, DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.
Duke of Buckingham. MOST ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCE,
NOBLE LADY,

LADY:

I haue presumed to present this Poem to your honourable band, little Poëm to your Honourable hand, encouraged onely by the worth of the famous Author, (lor Famous Author (for I am certainely assured by the ablest ablest, and most knowing men, that it must be a worke Worke of Spencers, of whom it were pitty that any thing should bee lost,) lost) and doubting not but your Lady-ship will graciously accept, though from a meane hand, this humble present, since the man that offers it is a true honourer and observer of your selfe and your princely family, it, is a true Honourer and Obseruer of your Selfe, and your Princely Family, and shall ever euer remaine

The humblest of yonr devoted servants,

your deuoted Seruants. Thomas Walkley.



Martial.

Accipe facnndi Cnlicem stndiose facundi culicem studiose Maronis,
Ne nngta positia, nugis positis, arma virflmque canas.

See virumque Canas



SE here that stately Muse, that erst could raise raise,
In lasting numbers great Elizaes praise,
And dresse faire Vertoe drese faire Vertue in so rich attire,
That even her foes euen her Foes were forced to admire admire,
And court her heavenly beauty! Shee Heauenly beauty, shee that taught
The Graces grace, and made the Vertnes thought
More vertuons than Vertues thought
More vertuous then before, is pleased here here,
To slacke her serious flight, and feed your eare
With love's loues delightsome toys : toyes; doe not refuse
These harmlesse sports; sports, 'tis learned Spencer's Muse ,
But think Muse;
But thinke his loosest poems Poëms worthier then
The serious follies of vnskillfnll vnskillfull men.
CANTO I.

argument.


View document image [4] Document Images

Brittain's Ida.



The Argument. Cant. I.


The youthly Shepheards wonning here,
And Beauties rare displayd, appeare ; displayd appeare:
What exercise bee hee chiefe affects,
His name Name, and scornefull love loue neglects.

I.

In Ida vale

1

IN Ida Vale (who knowes not Ida vale ?)
When harmlesse Vale?)
When harmelesse Troy yet felt not Grecian Graecian spite:
A hundred Shepheards woon'd, and in the Dale,
While their faire Flockes the three leau'd Pastures bite:
The Shepheards boyes, with hundred sportings light,
Gave Gaue winges unto the times too vnto the times to speedy hast:
Ah, foolish Ah foolish Lads, that stroue with lauish wast,
So fast to spend the time, that spends your time as fast.

II.
2

Among the rest, rest that all the rest excel'd,
A dainty boy there wonn'd, whose harmlesse yeares Boy there wonn'd, whose harmelesse yeares,
Now in their freshest budding gently sweld;
His nimph-like face nere sweld ;
His Nimph-like face ne're felt the nimble sheeres,
Youth's downy blossome through his cheeke appeares;
His lovely limbes (but love appeares:
His louely limbes (but loue he quite discarded)
Were made for play (but he no play regarded)
And fit love to reward, and with love regarded,)
And fit loue to reward; and with loue be rewarded.


III.
3

High was his fore-head, arch't with silver siluer mould,
(Where never neuer anger churlish iinkle dighted,) rinkle dighted)
His auburne lockes hang hung like darke threds of gold,
That wanton aires (with their faire length incited)
To play among their wanton curies delighted;
His smiling eyes with simple truth were stor'd : theit wanton curles delighted.
His smiling eyes with simple truth were stor'd:
Ah! how should truth in those thiefe eyes be stor'd,
Which thousand loves loues had stol'n, and never one re-
stor'd?

IV. neuer one restor'd.


4

His lilly-cheeke might seeme an ivory Iuory plaine,
More purely white than frozen Apenine,
Where lovely Bashfulnesse did sweetly Apenine:
Where louely bashfulnesse did sweetely raine,
In blushing scarlet cloth'd cloth'd, and purple fine.
A hundred hearts bad this delightful had this delightfull shrine,
(Still cold it selfe) inflam'd with hot desire,
That well the face might seem, in divers seeme, in diuers tire,
To be a burning snow, or else a freezing fire.

v.

His cheerfull lookes

5

His cheerefull lookes, and merry face would proove prooue,
(If eyes the index be where thoughts are read)
A dainty play-fellow for naked Love; loue;
Of all the other parts enough is sed,
That they were fit twins for so fayre a head: head :
Thousand boyes for him, thousand maidens dy-'de; dy'de,
Dye they that list, for such his rigorous pride,
He thousand boyes (ah, Foole!) Ne thousand boyes (ah foole) and thousand maids
deni'd.

VI.
6

His ioy was not in musiques sweet sweete delight,
(Though well his hand had learnt that cunning arte,) arte)
Or dainty songs to daintier eares indite, indite ;
But through the plaines to chace the nible hart
With well-tun'd nimble Hart,
With well-run'd hounds; or with his certaine dart dart,
The tusked boare or savage beare to wound; Boare, or sauage Beare to wound ;
Meane time his heart with monsters doth abound;
Ah, Foole! abound,
Ah foole to seeke so farre what neerer might be
found!

VII. found !



7

His name (well knowne unto those woody vnto those Woody shades,
Where unrewarded lovers vnrewarded louers oft complaine them,)
A utilises them)
Anchises was; Anchises oft the glades
And mountains heard, glades,
And mountaines heard Anchises had disdain'd them; them ;
Not all their love loue one gentle looke had gain'd them, them ,
That rockey hills, with ecchoing echoing noyse consenting,
Anchises plain'd; but he no whit relenting,
Harderthen (Harder then rocky hils, hils) laught at their vaine lamenting.

CANTO II.

argument.

Cant. 2.


The Argument.


Diones Garden of Delight delight,
With wonder holds Anchises sight;
While from the bower snch musique .sounds, Bower such Musique sounds,
As all his senses neere confounds.

I.


1
One day it chanc't as hee the deere Deere persude,
Tyred with sport, and faint with weary play,
Faire Venus grove groue not farre away he view'd,
Whose trembling leaves invite leaues inuite him there to stay,
And in their shades his sweating limbes display; display:
There in the cooling glade he softly paces,
And much delighted with their even euen spaces,
What in himselfe he scorn'd, hee prais'd their kind

imbraces..

11.

The woode with Paphian myrtles kinde imbraces:



2

The Woode with paphian mirtles peopled,
(Whose springing youth felt never winters spiting,) neuer Winters spiting)
To laurels sweete were swectely sweetely married,
Doubling their pleasing smels in their uniting; vniting,
When single much, much more when mixt, delighting:
No foot of beaste mixt delighting :
No foote of beast durst touch this hallowed place,
And many a boy that long'd the woods to trace,
Entred with feare, but soone turn'd back his frighted

face. u 2

Iii.



3

The thicke-lockt boughs bowes shut out the tell-tale Sunne,
(For Venus hated his all-blabbing all blabbing light,
Since her knowne fault, which oft she wisht undon,) fault which oft she wisht vndone)
And scattered rayes did make a doubtfull sight, fight,
Like to the first of day day, or last of night: night is Love's hollyday.

IV.

So farre in this sweet labyrinth he stray'd
That now he views the Garden of Delight, :
The fittest light for lovers gentle play: Louers gentle play ;
Such light best shewes the wandring lovers louers way,
And guides his erring hand: Night is loues holly-day.



4

So farre in this sweete Labyrinth he stray'd,
That now he viewes the Garden of delight;
Whose breast, with thousand painted flowers array'd,
With divers ioy captiv'd his wandring sight;
But soon diuers ioy captiu'd his wandring sight;
But soone the eyes rendred the eares their right; right:
For such strange harmony he seem'd to heare,
That all his senses flockt into his eare,
And every euery faculty wisht to be seated there.

v.

From a close bower this dainty musique

5

From a close Bower this dainty Musique flow'd,
A bower Bower appareld round with divers roses,
Both red and white, which by their liveries diuers Roses
Both red and white; which by their liueries show'd
Their mistris Mistris faire, that there her selfe reposes;
Seem'd that would strive with those rare musiqne reposes :
Seem'd that would striue with those rare Musique clozes,
By spreading their faire bosomes to the light, [clozes,
Which the distracted sense should most delight;
That,raps delight ;
That, raps the melted eare; t this,both the smel and & sight.



6

The Boy 'twixt fearefull hope, and wishing feare,
Crept all along (for much he long'd to see

The bower, a long (for much he long'd to see
The Bower, much more the guest so lodged there;)

And, there)
And as he goes, he marks markes how well agree

Nature and Arte Nature and arte in discord unity,

Each striving vnity :
Each striuing who should best perform performe his part,

Yet Arte Yet arte now helping Nature, Nature Arte;
nature ; nature arte :
While from his eares a voyce thus stole his heart,

VII.

" Fond Men ! heart.



7

Fond men, whose wretched care the life soone ending,
By striving to increase striuing to iucrease your ioy, do spend it;
And, spending ioy, yet find no ioy in spending; it ;
And spending ioy, yet find no ioy in spending :
You hurt your life by striving striuing to amend it;
And, seehing it,
And seeking to prolong it, soonest end it:
Then, it :
Than while fit time affords thee time and leasure,
Enioy while yet thou mayst thy lifes sweet pleasure:
Too foolish is the man thut starves to feed his teeasure.

VIII.

" Love is lifes end; pleasure :
Too foolish is the man that starues to feed his treasure:

8

Loue is lifes end (an end, but never ending;) end but neuer ending)
All ioyes, all sweetes, all happinesse, awarding ;*
Love is life's happinesse awarding:
Loue is life wealth (nere spent, but ever spending,)
More rich by giving, tahing by discarding ;
Love's euer spending)
More rich, by giuing, taking by discarding:
Loue's lifes reward, rewarded in rewarding:
Thenfrom thy wretched heart fond care remoove;
Ah ! shouldst thou live but once loves rewarding,
Thy love Then from thy wretched heart fond care remooue ;
Ah should thou liue but once loues sweetes to proove, prooue,
Thou wili not love to live, unlesse thou live to love."

IK.

To this sweet voyce wilt not loue to liue, vnlesse thou liue to loue.



9

To this sweete voyce, a dainty musique fitted
It's well-tun'd strings, strings ; and to her notes consorted, consorted :
And while with skilfull voyce the song she dittied,
The blabbing Echo had her words retorted ;
That Dow the boy, now the Boy, beyond his soule transported,
Through all his limbes feelcs feeles run a pleasant shaking,
And, And twixt a hope and feare, & feare suspects mistaking,
And doubts he sleeping dreames, and & broad awake
feares waking.

CANTO III.

argument.

Faire Cythereas


Cant. 3.


The Argument.


Faire Cythareas limbes beheld,
The straying lads heart so intbral'd,
That in a trance his melted spright
Leaves th' sences slnmbring in delight.

I.

Now to the bower Lads ! that strove with lavish wast
So fast to spend the time heart so inthral'd:
That in a Trance his melted spright,
Leaues th'sences slumbring in delight.



1

NOw to the Bower hee sent his theevish eyes theeuish eyes,
To steale a happy sight; sight

VI.

The boy 'twjxt fearefull hope, and wishing feare,
; there doe they finde
Faire Venus, that within halfe naked lyes;
And straight amaz'd (so glorious beauty shin'd)
Would not returne the message to the mimlc ;
But, full of feare and supetstitious minde :
But full of feare, and superstitious awe,
Could not retire, or backe their beams withdraw, beames with-draw,
So fixt on on, too much seeing made they nothing saw.

11.

Her goodly length stretcht on a lilly-bed,

2

Her goodly length, stretch't on a Lilly-bed ;
(A bright foyle of a beauty farre more bright,)
Few roses Roses round about were scattered,
As if the lillies learnt to blush, for spight
Lillies learnt to blush for spite,
An hundred shepheards wonn'd, and in the dale,
While their faire flockes the three-leav'd pastures bite,
The shepheards boyes To see a skinne much more then lilly-white: Lilly-white :
The bed sanke with delight so to be pressed,
And knew not which to thinke a chance more blessed,
Both blessed so to kisse, and so agayne be kissed.

III.

3

Her spacious fore-head, fore-head like the clearest tnoone, Moone,
Whose full-growne orbe Orbe begins now to be spent,
Largely display'd in native silver natiue siluer shone,
Giving Giuing wide room to Beauty's regiment, roome to beauties Regiment,
Which on the plaine with Love loue tryumphing went; went :
Her golden haire a rope of pearle imbraced,
Which, with their dainty threds oft-times Which with their dainty threds oft times enlaced,
Made the eie think the pearle was there in gold in-
chased.

IV. inchased.


4

Her full large eye, in ietty-blacke array'd,
Prov'd Prou'd beauty not confin'd to red and white,
Bat But oft her selfe in blacke more rich display'dj display'd ;
Both contraries did yet themselves unite, themselues vnite,
To make one beauty in different delight;
A thousand Loves sate plajing in each eye;
And smiling Mirth, delight :
A thousand loues sate playing in each eye,
And smiling mirth kissing fair Courtesie, faire courtesie,
By sweete perswasion wan a bloodlesse victory.



5

The whitest white, white set by her silver siluer cheeke,
Grew pale and wan, like unto heavy lead ;
The freshest purple wan like vnto heauy lead:
The freshest Purple fresher dyes must seeke,
That dares compare with them his fainting red:
On these Cnpido Cupio winged armies led
Of little Loves led,
Of little loues, that with bold wanton traine
Under Vnder those colours, marching on the plaine,

Force every heart, and euery heart,and to low vasselage constrainc.

* vi.

Her lips, most happy each in other's constraine.



6

Her lips, most happy each in others kisses,
From their so wisht imbracemenls imbracements seldome parted,
Yet seem'd to blush at such their wanton blisses;
But, when sweet blisses ;
But when sweete words their ioyning sweet disparted,
To th' eare a dainty rnusiqne they imparted:
Upon them fitly sate, delightful! th'eare a dainty musique they imparted :
Vpon them fitly sate delightfull smiling,
A thousand soules wilh with pleasing stealth beguiling:
Ah! that such shews of iojes should be all ioyes exiling.

VII. beguiling :
Ah that such shew's of ioyes should be all ioyes exiling?



7

The breath came slowly thence, unwilling leaving
So sweet a lodge; but when she once intended vnwilling leauing
So sweet a lodge, but when she once intended,
To feast the aire with words, the heart deceiving, deceiuing,
More fast it thronged so to be expended ;
And at each word a hundred Loves loues attended,
Playing i' th' breath, more sweete than is that firing
ith'breath, more sweete then is that firing,
One kisse is all my love Where that Arabian onely bird, bird expiring, [spiring.
Lives
Liues by her death, by losse of breath more fresh re-

VIII. respiring.



8

Her chin, like to a stone in gold inchased,
Seem'd a faire iewell wrought with cunning hand,
And, And being double, doubly the face graced: graced.
This goodly frame on her round necke did stand;
Such pillar stand,
Such pillar, well such curious work sustained;
And, worke sustain'd ;
And on his top the heavenly heauenly spheare up-rearing, vp rearing,
Might well present, with daintier appearing,
A lesse but better Atlas, that faire heaven heauen bearing.

IX.

9

Lower two breasts stand all their beauties bearing,
Two breasts as smooth and soft; but, ah, alas! but ah alas !
Their smoothest softnes farre exceedes comparing;
More smooth and soft, comparing:
More smooth and soft; but naught that ever euer was,
Where they are first deserues the second place;
Yet each as soft, and each as smooth as other ;
And when place:
Yet each as soft and each as smooth as other ;
And whe~ thou first tri'st one, and then one & the~ the other,
Each softer seemes then each, and each then each
& each then each seemes smoother.

x.

10

Lowly betweene their dainty hemisphseres, hemisphaeres,
(Their hemispheres the heav'nly globes hemisphaeres the heau'nly Globes excelling,)
A path more white than path, more white then is the name it beares,
The Lacteal Path, lacteall path, conducts to the sweet dwelling
Where best Delight dwelling,
Where best delight all ioyes sits freely dealing;
Where hundred sweetes,and still fresh ioyes attending,
Receive in giving ; and, still love dealing ;
Where hundred sweetes, and still fresh ioyes attending ;
Receiue ingiuing, and still loue dispending,
Grow richer by their losse, and losse,and wealthy by expending.

XI.

But stay, bold Shepheard!

11

But stay bold shepheard, here thy footing stay,
Nor trust too much unto thy new-borne vnto thy now-borne quill,
As farther to those dainty limbs to stray, limbes to stray ;
Or hope to paint that vale vale, or beautious hill hill,
Which past the finest hand or and choycest skill:
But were thy verse and song skill :
But were thy Verse and Song as finely fram'd fram'd,
As are those parts, yet should it soone be blam'd,
For now the shameles world of best things is asham'd.

XII.

That cunning artist,

12

That cunning Artist, that old Greece admir'd,

Thus farre his Venus fitly portrayed,
Thus farre his Venus fitly portrayed ;
But there he left, nor farther ere aspir'd;

His daedale band, aspir'd:
His Daedale hand, that Nature perfected

By Arte, felt Arte by Nature By arte, felt arte by nature limitted.

Ah! well he knew, though his fit hand could give
giue
Breath to dead colours, teaching marble live,

Yet would these lively parts his hand of skill deprive.

XIII.

Such when this gentle boy her closly view'd,
Oncly liue,
Yet would these liuely parts his hand of skill depriue.



13

Such when this gentle boy her closly view'd,
Onely with thinnest silken vaile o'er-layd,
Whose snowy colour much more snowy shew'd shew'd,
By being next that skin, skin; and all betray'd,
Which best in naked beauties are array'd,
His spirits, aray'd:
His spirits melted with so glorious sight,
Ran from their worke to see so splendid splendent light,
And left the fainting limbes sweet slnmbring in delight.

CANTO IV.

argontfttt. slumbring in delight.




Cant. 4.


The Argument.


The swonding swaine recovered is

By th! goddesse ; his soole-raptiog blisse :

Their mutual conference, and how

Her service Swaine recouered is
By th'Goddesse ; his soule rapting blisse :
There mutuàll conference,and how
Her seruice she doth him allow.

.1.

Soft-sleeping Venus,

1

SOft-sleeping Venus waked with the fall,
Looking behind, the sinking boy espies; Boy espies,
With all she starts, and wondereth withall;
She thinks withall,
She thinkes that there her faire Adonis dyes,
And more she thinkes the more the boy she eyes:
So, Boy she eyes :
So stepping neerer, up vp begins to reare him ;
And now with loue himselfe she will confer him,
And now before her Love himselfe she will prefer him.

n.

The lad, soone with that dainty touch reviv'd, now, before her loue himselfe she will preferre him:

n.

" Ah, fond and haplesse Boy! nor know I whether
More fond

2

The Lad soone with that dainty touch reuiu'd,
Feeling himselfe so well, so sweetly seated,
Begins to doubt whether he yet here liv'd, liu'd,
Or else his flitting soul, to heav'n soule to heau'n translated,
Was there in starry throne and blisse instated; throne, and blisse instated :
Oft would he dye, so to be often saved;
And now with happy wish he closly craved
For ever saued;
And now with happy wish he closly craued,
For euer to be dead, to be so sweet ingraved.

in.

The Paphian princesse ingraued.



3

The paphian Princesse (in whose lovely louely breast,
Spitefull disdaine could neuer find a place)
When now she saw him from his fit releast,
(To Juno leaving wrath Iuno leauing wrath, and scolding base,) base)
Comforts the trembling boy with smiling grace:
But oh ! Boy with smiling grace,
But oh! those smiles (too full of sweete delight)
Surfeit his heart, full of the former sight;
So, seeking to revive, So seeking to reuiue, more wounds his feeble sprite.

IV.

" Tell me, fair Boy! (sayd she) what erring chance

4

Tell me faire Boy (sayd she) what erring chance,
Hither directed thy unwary pace?

For sure Contempt or Pride durst not advance
vnwary pace :
For sure contempt, or pride durst not aduance
Their foule aspect in thy so pleasant face:
aspect, in thy so pleasant face :
Tell me, what brought thee to this hidden place ?
place?
Or lacke of love, loue, or mutuall answering fire ?
fire,
Or hindred by ill chance in thy desire?
desire :
Tell me, what ist thy faire and wishing eyes require?"

V.

The boy, require?



5

The Boy (whose sence was never neuer yet acquainted
With such a musique,) With) such a musique) stood with cares arected,
And, eares arected ;
And sweetly with that pleasant spell enchanted,
More of those sugred straines long time expected ; expected,
Till seeing she his speeches not reiected,
First sighes arising from his heart's hearts low center,
Thus gati reply, gan reply ; when each word bold would venter,
And strive the first that dainty labyrinth to enter.

VI.

" Fair Cyprian Queene, (for well that heavenly face

Prooves striue the first, deserves that dainty labyrinth to enter,


6

Faire cyprian Queene (for well that heauenly face)
Prooues thee the mother of all-conquering Love,)

Pardon, all conquering loue)
Pardon I pray thee, my unweeting pace;
thee my vnweeting pace,
For no presumptuous thoughts did hither moove
mooue
My daring feete feete, to this thy holy grove ;
Groue ;
But lucklesse chance (which, if you not gaine-say,

I still must rue,) (which if you not gaine say,
I still must rue) hath caus'd me here to stray,

And lose my selfe (alas!) And lose my selfe (alas) in losing of my way.

VII.

"

7

Nor did I come to right my wronged fire ;
Never fire,
Neuer till now I saw what ought he loved; be loued,
And now I see, but never neuer dare aspire
To moove my hope, where yet my love is mooved; mooue my hope, where yet my loue is mooued;
Whence though I would, I would it not remooved;
Only since I have plac't my love remooued:
Onely since I haue plac't my loue so high,
Which sure thou must, or sure thou wilt, wilt deny,
Grant me yet still to love, though in my love to dye."
VOL. VII. X

VIII.

But shee that in his eyes Loves face had seen, loue, though in my loue to dye.



8

But shee that in his eyes Loues face had seene,
And flaming heart, did not such suite disdaine,
(For cruelty fits not sweete Beauties qneene,) beauties Queene)
But gently could his passion entertain,
Though she Loves princesse, entertaine,
Though she loues Princesse, he a lowly swain: Swaine:
First of his bold intrusion she acquites him,
Then to her service him ;
Then to her seruice (happy Boy!) Boy) admits him,
And, him;
And now with Love like another Love, with bow and quiver fits him.

IX.

And now with all the Loves loue,with Bow and quiuer fits him.



9

And now withall the loues he grew acquainted,
And Cupids selfe, with his like face delighted,
Taught him a hundred wayes with which be he daunted
The prouder hearts, and wronged lovers louers righted,
Forcing to love that most his love despited: loue , that most his loue despited.
And now the practique boy did so approve him,
And with such grace and cunning arte did moove him,
That all the pritty Loves and all the Graces love him.

CANTO V.

argument.

The lovers sad despairing plaints Boy did so approoue him,
And with such grace and cunning arte did mooue him,
That all the pritty loues, and all the Graces loue him.



Cant. 5.


The Argument.


The Louers saddespairing plaints,
Bright Venus with his love acquaints , loue acquaints;
Sweetly importun'd, he doth show importun'd be doth shew,
From whom proceedeth this his woe.

Yet never

1

YEt neuer durst his faint and coward heart
(Ah, Foole! faint heart faire lady ne're could wiu ?) heart,
(Ah foole! faint heart faire Lady ne're could win)
Assaile faire Venus with his new-learnt arte,
But kept his love hi s,both loue, and burning flame within,
Which more flam'd out, the more he prest it in;
And thinking oft in :
And thinkidg oft, how iust shee might disdaine him,
While some cool him ;
While some coole mirtle shade did entertaine him,
Thus sighing would he sit, and be fit, & sadly would he plain
him.



2

Ah fond, and haplesse Boy ! nor know I whether,
More fond, or haplesse more, that all so high
Hast plac't thy heart, where love loue and fate together together,
May never neuer hope to end thy misery,
Nor yet thy selfe dare wish a remedy: remedy.
All hindrances (alas!) (alas) conspire to let it;
Ah, fond, and hapless Boy! it ;
Ah fond, and haplesse Boy ! if canst not get it! it,
In thinking to forget, at length learne to forget it.

in.

" Ah, farre too fond, but much more haplesse Swaine!

3

Ah farre too fond, but much more haplesse Swaine !
Seeing thy love loue can be forgotten never,
Serve and observe thy love neuer.
Serue and obserue thy loue with willing paine;
And though in vaine thy love thou doe persever, loue thou doe perseuer,
Yet all in vaine doe thou adore her ever. euer.
No hope can crowne thy thoughts so farre aspiring,
Nor dares thy selfe desire thine owne desiring,
Yet live thou in her love, liue thou in her loue, and dye in her admiring."

IV. admiring.



4

Thus oft the hopelesse boy Boy complayning lyes;
But she, lyes ;
But she that well could guesse his sad lamenting,
(Who can conceal love from Loves conceale loue from loues mothers eyes ?) eyes?)
Did not disdaine to give his love contenting;
Cruel the soule that feeds on soules tormenting:
Nor did she scorne him, giue his loue contenting :
Cruell the soule, thatfeedes on soules tormenting :
Nor did she scorne him though not nobly borne,
(Love (Loue is nobility) nor could she scorne scorne,
That with so noble skill her title did adorne.

v.

5

One day it chanc't, thrice happy day and chance!
While Loves chance !
While loues were with the Graces sweetly sporting,
And to fresh musique sounding play and dance,
And Cupids selfc, with shepheards dance ;
And Cupids selfe with Shepheards boyes consorting,
Laugh'd at their pritty sport and simple courting,
Faire Venus seats the fearfull boy close by her,
Where never Phoebus jealous Laught at their pritty sport, and simple courting :
Faire Venus seates the fearefull Boy close by her,
Where neuer phoebus Iealous lookes might eye her,
And bids the boy his mistris and her name descry her.

VI. Boy his Mistris, and her name descry her.



6

Long time the youth bound up vp in silence stood,
While hope and feare with hundred thoughts begun begun,
Fit prologue Prologue to his speech ; and fearefull blood
From heart and face face, with these post-tydings runne,
That eyther now he's made, or now undon;
At length his trembling words, with feare madeweake, vndone :
At length his trembling words, with feare made weake,
Began his too long silence thus to breake,
While from his humble cies first reverence seem'd to
speake.

VII.

" Faire Queene of Love! my lifethou eies first reuerence seem'd to speake,



7

Faire Queene of Loue, my life thou maist command,

Too slender price for all thy former grace,

Which I receive Which I receiue at thy so bounteous hand ;

But never dare I speak her name and face ;
But neuer dare I speake her name and face ;
My life is much lesse-priz'd than her disgrace :

And, for I know if I her name relate
And, for I know if I her name relate,
I purchase anger, I must hide her state,

Unless? Vnlesse thou sweare by Stix I purchase not her hate."

Faire Venus well perceiv'd stix I purchase not her hate.

8

Faire Venus well perceiu'd his subtile shift,
And, And swearing gentle patience, gently smil'd,
While thus the boy smil'd :
While thus the Boy persu'd his former drift:
" No tongue was ever yet so sweetly drift :
No tongue was euer yet so sweetely skil'd,
Nor greatest orator Orator so highly stil'd, stil'd;
Though helpt with all the choicest withall the choisest artes direction,
But when he durst describe her heaven's heau'ns perfection,
By his imperfect praise praise, disprais'd his imperfection.

IX.

"

9

Her forme is as her selfe, perfect coelestriall,
No rnortall Caelestriall,
No mortall spot her heavenly frame disgraces:
Beyond compare such nothing is terrestrial!
More sweete than heauenly frame disgraces :
Beyond compare ; such nothing is terrestriall ;
More sweete then thought or pow'rfull wish embraces; embraces,
The map of heaven, heauen ; the summe of all her graces:
But if you wish more truely the Graces.
But if you wish more tiuely limb'd to eye her,
Than fainting speech speech, or words can well descry her,
Look in a glasse, and & there more perfect you may spy
her."

CANTO VL

argument.

The boyes her.




Cant. 6.


The Argument.


The Boyes short wish, her larger grant,
That doth his smile soule with blisse enchant ;
\Vhereof impatient uttering :
Whereof impatient vttering all,
Inraged Jove contrives Ioue contriues his thrall.

I.

" Thy

1

THy crafty arte," reply'd the smiling queene,
" arte (reply'd the smiling Queene)
Hath well my chiding and not rage prevented, chiding, and not rage preuented,
Yet might'st thou thinke thinke, that yet 'twas never seene neuer seene.
That angry rage and gentle love consented;
But if to me thy true love rage, and gentle loue consented :
But if to me thy true loue is presented,
What wages for thy service seruice must I owe thee?
For hy the selfe-same vow I here avow thee,
Whatever thou require thee ?
For by the selfe same vow, I here auow thee,
What euer thou require, I frankly will allow tbee."

n.

" Pardon," replies the boy, " for so affecting
Beyond mortallity, and not discarding
Thy service, was much more than my expecting; thee.



2

Pardon (replies the Boy) for so affecting,
Beyond mortallity ; and not discarding,
Thy seruice was much more than my expecting ;
But if thou (more thy bounty-hood regarding)
Wilt needs heap up needes heape vp reward upon vpon rewarding ;
Thy loue I dare not aske, or mutual mutuall fixing,
One kisse is all my loue, and prides aspiring,
And after starve my heart, for my loo much desiring."

in.

" Fond Boy!" said she," too fond, that asktnomore; starue my heart, for my too much desiring.



3

Fond Boy! (sayd she) too fond that askt no more ;
Thy want by taking is no whit decreased,
And giving giuing, spends not our increasing store:"—
Thus with a kisse store
He doubly takes, yet finds himself :
Thus with a kisse, his lips she sweetly pressed;
Mostblessed kisse! but hope more than most blessed.
The boy did thinke heaven pressed ;
Most noble Lady! I have blessed kisse ; but hope more than most blessed,
The Boy did thinke heauen fell while thus he ioy'd, ioy'd;
And while ioy he so greedily enioy'd,
He felt not halfe his ioy by being over-ioy'd.

IV.

" ouer-ioy'd.



4

Why sighst? faire Boy!" said she, " sighst faire Boy? (sayd she) dost thou repent thee

Thy narrow wish in such straight bonds to stay ?" " ?
Well may I sigh," said he, " sigh (sayd he) and well lament me, That never such a debt may hope to pay." " A kisse," said she, " a kisse will back repay." " Wilt thou," reply'd the boy, too much delighted, "
That neuer such a debt may hope to pay :
A kisse (sayd she) a kisse will backe repay :
Wilt thou (reply'd the Boy too much delighted)
Content thee with such pay to be requited?" [cited. She grants; and thee, with such pay to be requited?
She grants;& he his lips, heart, soule, to payment

V.

Look as a ward, long from his lands cited.



5

Looke as a Ward, long from his Lands detain'd,
And subiect to his guardians Guardians cruel lore,.
Now spends the more, the more he was restrain'd;
So be; lore,
Now spends the more, the more he was restrain'd,
So he; yet though in laying out his store,
He doubly takes ; yet findes himselfe grow poore;
With that poore:
With that, he markes, and tels her out a score,
And doubles them, and trebles all before. [more.
Fond boy! the more thou paist, thy before :
Fond Boy ! the more thou paist,thy debt still grows the

VI.

At length, whether these favours more.


6

At length, whether these fauours so had fir'd him him,
With kindly beate, heate, inflaming his desiring, desiring ;
Or whether those sweete kisses had inspir'd him,
He Ihinkes that something him ;
Hee thinkes that some thing wants for his requiring, requiring;
And still aspires, yet knows not his aspiring;
But yet though that hee knoweth so she gave, aspiring :
But yet though that hee knoweth,so she gaue,
That he presents himselfe her bounden slave,
Still bis more wishing face seem'd somewhat else to
crave.

VII.

And, slaue ;
Stil his more wishing face seem'd some what else to craue.



7

And boldned with successe and many graces,
His hand, chain'd up in feare, he now releast, vp in feare, he now releast :
And asking leave, leaue, courag'd with her imbraces,
Agaiuc imbraces ;
Againe it prison'd in her tender breast:
Ah, blessed prison! breast
Spiteful disdaine could never ;
Ah blessed prison ! prisners too much blest! blest !
There with those sisters long time doth he play, play ;
And now full boldly enters loves highway, [stray.
While downe the pleasant vale loues high way ;
While downe the pleasant vale, his creeping hand doth

VIII.

She, not displeas'd with this his wanton play. stray.



8

She not displeased with this his wanton play,
Hiding his blushing with a sugred kisse, kisse ;
With such sweete heat his rndenesse rudenesse doth allay,
That now he perfect knowes whatever blisse what euer blisse,
Elder Love loue taught, and he before did misse; misse :
That moult with ioy, in such uutri'd vntri'd ioyes trying,
He gladly dies; and, and death new life applying, lifeapplying,
Gladly againe he dyes, that dyes,that oft he may be dying.

IX.

Long thus he liv'd,

9

Long thus he liu'd, slumbring in sweete delight,
Free from sad care care, and fickle worlds annoy, annoy ;
Bathing in liquid ioyes his melted sprite; sprite ;
And longer mought, but he (ah, foolish Boy!) (ah foolish Boy !)
Too proud, and too to impatient of his ioy,
To woods, and hcav'n, and earth, his blisse imparted,
That Jove upon himdowne heau'n, and earth his blisse imparted ;
That Ioue vpon him downe his thunder darted,
Blasting his splendent face, and all his beauty swarted.

Such be his chance that to his love doth wrong;

Unworthy he to have
10

Such be his chance, that to his loue doth wrong,
Vnworthy he to haue so worthy place,

That cannot hold his peace and blabbing tongue;
tongue :
Light ioyes float on his lips, but rightly grace

Sinckesdeepe, audth' heart's Sinckes deepe, and th'hearts low center doth imbrace,
imbrace :
Might I enioy my love till I unfold it,

I'd lose all favours loue till I vnfold it,
I'de lose all fauours when I blabbing told it:

He is not fit for love that is not fit to hold it. it :
He is not fit for loue,that is not fit to hold it.



FINIS.
Brittain's Ida. Written by that renowned poët, Edmond Spencer 32Kb

BRITTAIN'S IDA.

Written by that Renowned Poët, EDMOND SPENCER.

LONDON: Printed for THE EPISTLE.

TO THE RIGHT Noble Lady NOBLE LADY:

I haue LADY,

MARY, Daughter to the most Illustrious Prince

DAUGHTER TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCE,
GEORGE, Duke of Buckingham. DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

Most blessed kisse ; but hope more than most blessed,
The Boy did thinke heauen noble Lady! I have presumed to present this little Poëm to your Honourable hand, Poem to your honourable band, encouraged onely by the worth of the Famous Author (for famous Author, (lor I am certainely assured by the ablest, ablest and most knowing men, that it must be a Worke worke of Spencers, of whom it were pitty that any thing should bee lost) lost,) and doubting not but your Lady-ship will graciously accept, though from a meane hand, this humble present, since the man that offers it, is a true Honourer and Obseruer of your Selfe, and your Princely Family, it is a true honourer and observer of your selfe and your princely family, and shall euer ever remaine

The humblest of your deuoted Seruants. Thomas Walkley.



Martial. yonr devoted servants,

THOMAS WALKLEY, and are to be sold at his shop at the Eagle and Child in Brittaines Bursse. 1628.
WALKLEY.

MARTIAL.

Accipe facundi culicem studiose facnndi Cnlicem stndiose Maronis,
Ne nugis positis, nngta positia, arma virumque Canas



SE virflmque canas.

See here that stately Muse, that erst could raise, raise
In lasting numbers great Elizaes praise,
And drese faire Vertue dresse faire Vertoe in so rich attire,
That euen her Foes even her foes were forced to admire, admire
And court her Heauenly beauty, shee heavenly beauty! Shee that taught
The Graces grace, and made the Vertues thought
More vertuous then Vertnes thought
More vertuons than before, is pleased here, here
To slacke her serious flight, and feed your eare
With loues love's delightsome toyes; toys : doe not refuse
These harmlesse sports, sports; 'tis learned Spencer's Muse;
But thinke Muse ,
But think his loosest Poëms poems worthier then
The serious follies of vnskillfull vnskillfnll men.



View document image [4] Document Images

Brittain's Ida.



The Argument. Cant. I.
CANTO I.

argument.

The youthly Shepheards wonning here,
And Beauties rare displayd appeare: displayd, appeare ;
What exercise hee bee chiefe affects,
His Name, name and scornefull loue love neglects.



1

IN Ida Vale I.

In Ida vale (who knowes not Ida Vale?)
When harmelesse vale ?)
When harmlesse Troy yet felt not Graecian spite:
A hundred Shepheards woon'd, and in the Dale,
While their faire Flockes the three leau'd Pastures bite:
The Shepheards boyes, Grecian spite,
An hundred shepheards wonn'd, and in the dale,
While their faire flockes the three-leav'd pastures bite,
The shepheards boyes with hundred sportings light,
Gaue Gave winges vnto the times to unto the times too speedy hast:
Ah foolish Lads, that stroue with lauish wast,
So fast to spend the time, Ah, foolish Lads heart so inthral'd:
That in a Trance his melted spright,
Leaues th'sences slumbring in delight.



1

NOw to the Bower ! that strove with lavish wast
So fast to spend the time that spends your time as fast.


2 II.

Among the rest rest, that all the rest excel'd,
A dainty Boy there wonn'd, whose harmelesse yeares, boy there wonn'd, whose harmlesse yeares
Now in their freshest budding gently sweld ;
His Nimph-like face ne're sweld;
His nimph-like face nere felt the nimble sheeres,
Youth's downy blossome through his cheeke appeares:
His louely limbes (but loue appeares;
His lovely limbes (but love he quite discarded)
Were made for play (but he no play regarded,)
And fit loue to reward; and with loue regarded)
And fit love to reward, and with love be rewarded.



3 III.

High was his fore-head, arch't with siluer silver mould,
(Where neuer never anger churlish rinkle dighted) iinkle dighted,)
His auburne lockes hung hang like darke threds of gold,
That wanton aires (with their faire length incited)
To play among theit wanton curles delighted.
His smiling eyes with simple truth were stor'd: their wanton curies delighted;
His smiling eyes with simple truth were stor'd :
Ah! how should truth in those thiefe eyes be stor'd,
Which thousand loues loves had stol'n, and neuer one restor'd.


4 never one re-
stor'd?

IV.

His lilly-cheeke might seeme an Iuory ivory plaine,
More purely white than frozen Apenine:
Where louely bashfulnesse did sweetely Apenine,
Where lovely Bashfulnesse did sweetly raine,
In blushing scarlet cloth'd, cloth'd and purple fine.
A hundred hearts had this delightfull bad this delightful shrine,
(Still cold it selfe) inflam'd with hot desire,
That well the face might seeme, in diuers seem, in divers tire,
To be a burning snow, or else a freezing fire.



5

His cheerefull lookes, v.

His cheerfull lookes and merry face would prooue, proove
(If eyes the index be where thoughts are read)
A dainty play-fellow for naked loue; Love;
Of all the other parts enough is sed,
That they were fit twins for so fayre a head : head:
Thousand boyes for him, thousand maidens dy'de, dy-'de;
Dye they that list, for such his rigorous pride,
Ne thousand boyes (ah foole) He thousand boyes (ah, Foole!) and thousand maids
deni'd.


6 VI.

His ioy was not in musiques sweete sweet delight,
(Though well his hand had learnt that cunning arte) arte,)
Or dainty songs to daintier eares indite ; indite,
But through the plaines to chace the nimble Hart,
With well-run'd nible hart
With well-tun'd hounds; or with his certaine dart, dart
The tusked Boare, or sauage Beare to wound ; boare or savage beare to wound;
Meane time his heart with monsters doth abound,
Ah foole abound;
Ah, Foole! to seeke so farre what neerer might be found !



7
found!

VII.

His name (well knowne vnto those Woody unto those woody shades,
Where vnrewarded louers unrewarded lovers oft complaine them)
Anchises them,)
A utilises was; Anchises oft the glades,
And mountaines heard glades
And mountains heard, Anchises had disdain'd them ; them;
Not all their loue love one gentle looke had gain'd them , them,
That rockey hills, with echoing ecchoing noyse consenting,
Anchises plain'd; but he no whit relenting,
(Harder then Harderthen rocky hils) hils, laught at their vaine lamenting.



Cant. 2.


The Argument.
CANTO II.

argument.

Diones Garden of delight, Delight
With wonder holds Anchises sight;
While from the Bower such Musique sounds, bower snch musique .sounds,
As all his senses neere confounds.



1 I.

One day it chanc't as hee the Deere deere persude,
Tyred with sport, and faint with weary play,
Faire Venus groue grove not farre away he view'd,
Whose trembling leaues inuite leaves invite him there to stay,
And in their shades his sweating limbes display: display;
There in the cooling glade he softly paces,
And much delighted with their euen even spaces,
What in himselfe he scorn'd, hee prais'd their kinde imbraces:



2

The Woode with paphian mirtles kind

imbraces..

11.

The woode with Paphian myrtles peopled,
(Whose springing youth felt neuer Winters spiting) never winters spiting,)
To laurels sweete were sweetely swectely married,
Doubling their pleasing smels in their vniting, uniting;
When single much, much more when mixt delighting :
No foote of beast mixt, delighting:
No foot of beaste durst touch this hallowed place,
And many a boy that long'd the woods to trace,
Entred with feare, but soone turn'd back his frighted

face.



3 u 2

Iii.

The thicke-lockt bowes boughs shut out the tell-tale Sunne,
(For Venus hated his all blabbing all-blabbing light,
Since her knowne fault which oft she wisht vndone) fault, which oft she wisht undon,)
And scattered rayes did make a doubtfull fight, sight,
Like to the first of day, day or last of night:
The fittest light for Louers gentle play ; lovers gentle play:
Such light best shewes the wandring louers lovers way,
And guides his erring hand: Night is loues holly-day.



4

So farre in this sweete Labyrinth he stray'd,
That now he viewes the Garden of delight; night : is Love's hollyday.

IV.

So farre in this sweet labyrinth he stray'd
That now he views the Garden of Delight,
Whose breast, with thousand painted flowers array'd,
With diuers ioy captiu'd his wandring sight;
But soone divers ioy captiv'd his wandring sight;
But soon the eyes rendred the eares their right: right;
For such strange harmony he seem'd to heare,
That all his senses flockt into his eare,
And euery every faculty wisht to be seated there.



5

From a close Bower this dainty Musique v.

From a close bower this dainty musique flow'd,
A Bower bower appareld round with diuers Roses
Both red and white; which by their liueries divers roses,
Both red and white, which by their liveries show'd
Their Mistris mistris faire, that there her selfe reposes :
Seem'd that would striue with those rare Musique clozes, reposes;
Seem'd that would strive with those rare musiqne
By spreading their faire bosomes to the light, [clozes,
Which the distracted sense should most delight ;
That, raps delight;
That,raps the melted eare; this,both t hi loue, s,both the smel & sight.



6

The Boy 'twixt fearefull hope, and wishing feare, and sight ;

VI.

The boy 'twjxt fearefull hope, and wishing feare,

Crept all a long (for much he long'd to see
The Bower, along (for much he long'd to see

The bower, much more the guest so lodged there)
And there;)

And, as he goes, he markes marks how well agree
Nature and arte
Nature and Arte in discord vnity :
Each striuing unity,

Each striving who should best performe perform his part,
Yet arte
Yet Arte now helping nature ; nature arte : Nature, Nature Arte;

While from his eares a voyce thus stole his heart.



7

Fond men, heart,

VII.

" Fond Men ! whose wretched care the life soone ending,
By striuing to iucrease striving to increase your ioy, do spend it ;
And spending ioy, yet find no ioy in spending : it;
And, spending ioy, yet find no ioy in spending;
You hurt your life by striuing striving to amend it,
And seeking it;
And, seehing to prolong it, soonest end it :
Than it:
Then, while fit time affords thee time and leasure,
Enioy while yet thou mayst thy lifes sweet pleasure :
Too foolish is the man that starues to feed his treasure:

8

Loue is lifes end pleasure:
Too foolish is the man thut starves to feed his teeasure.

VIII.

" Love is lifes end; (an end but neuer ending) end, but never ending;)
All ioyes, all sweetes, all happinesse awarding:
Loue is life happinesse, awarding ;*
Love is life's wealth (nere spent, but euer spending)
More rich, by giuing, taking by discarding:
Loue's ever spending,)
More rich by giving, tahing by discarding ;
Love's lifes reward, rewarded in rewarding:
Thenfrom thy wretched heart fond care remoove;
Ah ! shouldst thou live but once loves sweetes to prooue, proove,
Thou wilt not loue to liue, vnlesse thou liue to loue.



9

To this sweete voyce, wili not love to live, unlesse thou live to love."

IK.

To this sweet voyce a dainty musique fitted
It's well-tun'd strings ; strings, and to her notes consorted : consorted,
And while with skilfull voyce the song she dittied,
The blabbing Echo had her words retorted ;
That now the Boy, Dow the boy, beyond his soule transported,
Through all his limbes feeles feelcs run a pleasant shaking,
And And, twixt a hope & feare and feare, suspects mistaking,
And doubts he sleeping dreames, & and broad awake
feares waking.




Cant. 3.


The Argument.


Faire Cythareas CANTO III.

argument.

Faire Cythereas limbes beheld,
The straying lads heart so intbral'd,
That in a trance his melted spright
Leaves th' sences slnmbring in delight.

I.

Now to the bower hee sent his theeuish eyes, theevish eyes
To steale a happy sight; there doe they finde
Faire Venus, that within halfe naked lyes;
And straight amaz'd (so glorious beauty shin'd)
Would not returne the message to the minde :
But full of feare, and superstitious mimlc ;
But, full of feare and supetstitious awe,
Could not retire, or backe their beames with-draw, beams withdraw,
So fixt on, on too much seeing made they nothing saw.



2

Her goodly length, stretch't on a Lilly-bed ; 11.

Her goodly length stretcht on a lilly-bed,
(A bright foyle of a beauty farre more bright,)
Few Roses roses round about were scattered,
As if the Lillies learnt to blush for lillies learnt to blush, for spight
To see a skinne much more then Lilly-white : lilly-white:
The bed sanke with delight so to be pressed,
And knew not which to thinke a chance more blessed,
Both blessed so to kisse, and so agayne be kissed.



3 III.

Her spacious fore-head fore-head, like the clearest Moone, tnoone,
Whose full-growne Orbe orbe begins now to be spent,
Largely display'd in natiue siluer native silver shone,
Giuing Giving wide roome to beauties Regiment, room to Beauty's regiment,
Which on the plaine with loue Love tryumphing went : went;
Her golden haire a rope of pearle imbraced,
Which with their dainty threds oft times Which, with their dainty threds oft-times enlaced,
Made the eie think the pearle was there in gold inchased.


4 in-
chased.

IV.

Her full large eye, in ietty-blacke array'd,
Prou'd Prov'd beauty not confin'd to red and white,
But Bat oft her selfe in blacke more rich display'd ; display'dj
Both contraries did yet themselues vnite, themselves unite,
To make one beauty in different delight :
A thousand loues sate playing in each eye,
And smiling mirth delight;
A thousand Loves sate plajing in each eye;
And smiling Mirth, kissing faire courtesie, fair Courtesie,
By sweete perswasion wan a bloodlesse victory.



5

The whitest white white, set by her siluer silver cheeke,
Grew pale and wan like vnto heauy lead:
The freshest Purple wan, like unto heavy lead ;
The freshest purple fresher dyes must seeke,
That dares compare with them his fainting red:
On these Cupio Cnpido winged armies led,
Of little loues, that led
Of little Loves that, with bold wanton traine
Vnder Under those colours, marching on the plaine,

Force euery heart,and every heart, and to low vasselage constraine.



6

Her lips, most happy each in others constrainc.

* vi.

Her lips, most happy each in other's kisses,
From their so wisht imbracements imbracemenls seldome parted,
Yet seem'd to blush at such their wanton blisses ;
But when sweete blisses;
But, when sweet words their ioyning sweet disparted,
To th'eare a dainty musique they imparted :
Vpon them fitly sate delightfull th' eare a dainty rnusiqne they imparted:
Upon them fitly sate, delightful! smiling,
A thousand soules with wilh pleasing stealth beguiling :
Ah that such shew's of ioyes should be all ioyes exiling?



7 beguiling:
Ah! that such shews of iojes should be all ioyes exiling.

VII.

The breath came slowly thence, vnwilling leauing
So sweet a lodge, but when she once intended, unwilling leaving
So sweet a lodge; but when she once intended
To feast the aire with words, the heart deceiuing, deceiving,
More fast it thronged so to be expended ;
And at each word a hundred loues Loves attended,
Playing ith'breath, more sweete then is that i' th' breath, more sweete than is that firing
Where that Arabian onely bird bird, expiring,
Liues [spiring.
Lives by her death, by losse of breath more fresh respiring.



8 re-

VIII.

Her chin, like to a stone in gold inchased,
Seem'd a faire iewell wrought with cunning hand,
And And, being double, doubly the face graced. graced:
This goodly frame on her round necke did stand;
Such pillar well such curious worke sustain'd ;
And work sustained;
And, on his top the heauenly heavenly spheare vp rearing, up-rearing,
Might well present, with daintier appearing,
A lesse but better Atlas, that faire heauen heaven bearing.



9 IX.

Lower two breasts stand stand,
Such pillar, all their beauties bearing,
Two breasts as smooth and soft; but ah alas ! but, ah, alas!
Their smoothest softnes farre exceedes comparing:
More smooth and soft; comparing;
More smooth and soft, but naught that euer ever was,
Where they are first deserues first, that dainty labyrinth to enter,


6

Faire cyprian Queene (for well that heauenly face)
Prooues deserves the second place:
Yet each as soft and each as smooth as other ;
And whe~ place;
Yet each as soft, and each as smooth as other ;
And when thou first tri'st one & the~ one, and then the other,
Each softer seemes then each, & each then each and each then each
seemes smoother.



10 x.

Lowly betweene their dainty hemisphaeres, hemisphseres,
(Their hemisphaeres the heau'nly Globes hemispheres the heav'nly globes excelling,)
A path, more white then path more white than is the name it beares,
The lacteall path, Lacteal Path, conducts to the sweet dwelling,
Where best delight dwelling
Where best Delight all ioyes sits freely dealing ;
Where hundred sweetes, and still fresh ioyes attending ;
Receiue ingiuing, and still loue dealing;
Where hundred sweetes,and still fresh ioyes attending,
Receive in giving ; and, still love dispending,
Grow richer by their losse,and losse, and wealthy by expending.



11

But stay bold shepheard, XI.

But stay, bold Shepheard! here thy footing stay,
Nor trust too much vnto thy now-borne unto thy new-borne quill,
As farther to those dainty limbes to stray ; limbs to stray,
Or hope to paint that vale, vale or beautious hill, hill
Which past the finest hand and or choycest skill :
But were thy Verse and Song skill:
But were thy verse and song as finely fram'd, fram'd
As are those parts, yet should it soone be blam'd,
For now the shameles world of best things is asham'd.



12

That cunning Artist, XII.

That cunning artist, that old Greece admir'd,
Thus farre his Venus fitly portrayed ;
Thus farre his Venus fitly portrayed,

But there he left, nor farther ere aspir'd:
His Daedale hand, aspir'd;

His daedale band, that Nature perfected
By arte, felt arte by nature
By Arte, felt Arte by Nature limitted.

Ah! well he knew, though his fit hand could giue give

Breath to dead colours, teaching marble liue,
Yet would these liuely parts his hand of skill depriue.



13

Such when this gentle boy her closly view'd,
Onely live,

Yet would these lively parts his hand of skill deprive.

XIII.

Such when this gentle boy her closly view'd,
Oncly with thinnest silken vaile o'er-layd,
Whose snowy colour much more snowy shew'd, shew'd
By being next that skin; skin, and all betray'd,
Which best in naked beauties are aray'd:
His spirits array'd,
His spirits, melted with so glorious sight,
Ran from their worke to see so splendent splendid light,
And left the fainting limbes sweet slumbring in delight.




Cant. 4.


The Argument.
slnmbring in delight.

CANTO IV.

argontfttt.

The swonding Swaine recouered is
By th'Goddesse ; his soule rapting blisse :
There mutuàll conference,and how
Her seruice swaine recovered is

By th! goddesse ; his soole-raptiog blisse :

Their mutual conference, and how

Her service she doth him allow.



1

SOft-sleeping Venus .1.

Soft-sleeping Venus, waked with the fall,
Looking behind, the sinking Boy espies, boy espies;
With all she starts, and wondereth withall,
She thinkes withall;
She thinks that there her faire Adonis dyes,
And more she thinkes the more the Boy she eyes :
So boy she eyes:
So, stepping neerer, vp up begins to reare him ;
And now with loue him;
And now with Love himselfe she will confer him,
And now, before her loue himselfe she will preferre now before her Love himselfe she will prefer him.

n.

The lad, soone with that dainty touch reviv'd,
Feeling himselfe so well, so sweetly seated,
Begins to doubt whether he yet here liu'd, liv'd,
Or else his flitting soule to heau'n soul, to heav'n translated,
Was there in starry throne, and blisse instated : throne and blisse instated;
Oft would he dye, so to be often saued;
And now with happy wish he closly craued,
For euer saved;
And now with happy wish he closly craved
For ever to be dead, to be so sweet ingraued.



3

The paphian Princesse ingraved.

in.

The Paphian princesse (in whose louely breast,
Spitefull disdaine could neuer lovely breast ;
Ah blessed prison !
Spiteful disdaine could never find a place)
When now she saw him from his fit releast,
(To Iuno leauing wrath, Juno leaving wrath and scolding base) base,)
Comforts the trembling Boy with smiling grace,
But oh! boy with smiling grace:
But oh ! those smiles (too full of sweete delight)
Surfeit his heart, full of the former sight;
So seeking to reuiue, So, seeking to revive, more wounds his feeble sprite.


4

Tell me faire Boy (sayd she) what erring chance, IV.

" Tell me, fair Boy! (sayd she) what erring chance

Hither directed thy vnwary pace :
For sure contempt, or pride durst not aduance unwary pace?

For sure Contempt or Pride durst not advance

Their foule aspect, in thy so pleasant face : aspect in thy so pleasant face:

Tell me, what brought thee to this hidden place? place ?

Or lacke of loue, love, or mutuall answering fire, fire ?

Or hindred by ill chance in thy desire : desire?

Tell me, what ist thy faire and wishing eyes require?



5

The Boy require?"

V.

The boy, (whose sence was neuer never yet acquainted
With) such a musique) With such a musique,) stood with eares arected ;
And cares arected,
And, sweetly with that pleasant spell enchanted,
More of those sugred straines long time expected, expected ;
Till seeing she his speeches not reiected,
First sighes arising from his hearts heart's low center,
Thus gan reply ; gati reply, when each word bold would venter,
And striue the strive the first that dainty labyrinth to enter.

VI.

" Fair Cyprian Queene, (for well that heavenly face

Prooves thee the mother of all conquering loue)
Pardon all-conquering Love,)

Pardon, I pray thee my vnweeting pace, thee, my unweeting pace;

For no presumptuous thoughts did hither mooue moove

My daring feete, feete to this thy holy Groue ; grove ;

But lucklesse chance (which if you not gaine say,
I still must rue) (which, if you not gaine-say,

I still must rue,) hath caus'd me here to stray,
And lose my selfe (alas)
And lose my selfe (alas!) in losing of my way.



7

VII.

" Nor did I come to right my wronged fire,
Neuer fire ;
Never till now I saw what ought be loued, he loved;
And now I see, but neuer never dare aspire
To mooue my hope, where yet my loue is mooued; moove my hope, where yet my love is mooved;
Whence though I would, I would it not remooued:
Onely since I haue plac't my loue remooved;
Only since I have plac't my love so high,
Which sure thou must, or sure thou wilt wilt, deny,
Grant me yet still to loue, though in my loue to dye.



8

But shee that in his eyes Loues face had seene, love, though in my love to dye."
VOL. VII. X

VIII.

But shee that in his eyes Loves face had seen,
And flaming heart, did not such suite disdaine,
(For cruelty fits not sweete beauties Queene) Beauties qneene,)
But gently could his passion entertaine,
Though she loues Princesse, entertain,
Though she Loves princesse, he a lowly Swaine: swain:
First of his bold intrusion she acquites him ;
Then to her seruice him,
Then to her service (happy Boy) Boy!) admits him,
And, like another loue,with Bow and quiuer fits him.



9

And now withall the loues Love, with bow and quiver fits him.

IX.

And now with all the Loves he grew acquainted,
And Cupids selfe, with his like face delighted,
Taught him a hundred wayes with which he be daunted
The prouder hearts, and wronged louers lovers righted,
Forcing to loue , that most his loue despited. love that most his love despited:
And now the practique Boy did so approoue him,
And with such grace and cunning arte did mooue him,
That all the pritty loues, and all the Graces loue him.



Cant. 5.


The Argument.


The Louers saddespairing plaints, boy did so approve him,
And with such grace and cunning arte did moove him,
That all the pritty Loves and all the Graces love him.

CANTO V.

argument.

The lovers sad despairing plaints
Bright Venus with his loue acquaints; love acquaints ,
Sweetly importun'd be doth shew, importun'd, he doth show
From whom proceedeth this his woe.



1

YEt neuer Yet never durst his faint and coward heart,
(Ah foole! faint heart faire Lady ne're could win) heart
(Ah, Foole! faint heart faire lady ne're could wiu ?)
Assaile faire Venus with his new-learnt arte,
But kept his love and burning flame within,
Which more flam'd out, the more he prest it in :
And thinkidg oft, in;
And thinking oft how iust shee might disdaine him ;
While some coole him,
While some cool mirtle shade did entertaine him,
Thus sighing would be fit, & he sit, and sadly would he plain him.



2

Ah fond, and haplesse Boy ! nor know I whether,
More fond,
him:



2

The Lad soone with that dainty touch reuiu'd, n.

" Ah, fond and haplesse Boy! nor know I whether
More fond or haplesse more, that all so high
Hast plac't thy heart, where loue love and fate together, together
May neuer never hope to end thy misery,
Nor yet thy selfe dare wish a remedy. remedy:
All hindrances (alas) (alas!) conspire to let it ;
Ah fond, and haplesse Boy ! it;
Ah, fond, and hapless Boy! if canst not get it, it!
In thinking to forget, at length learne to forget it.



3

Ah farre too fond, but much more haplesse Swaine ! in.

" Ah, farre too fond, but much more haplesse Swaine!
Seeing thy loue love can be forgotten neuer.
Serue and obserue thy loue never,
Serve and observe thy love with willing paine;
And though in vaine thy loue thou doe perseuer, love thou doe persever,
Yet all in vaine doe thou adore her euer. ever.
No hope can crowne thy thoughts so farre aspiring,
Nor dares thy selfe desire thine owne desiring,
Yet liue thou in her loue, live thou in her love, and dye in her admiring.



4 admiring."

IV.

Thus oft the hopelesse Boy boy complayning lyes ;
But she lyes;
But she, that well could guesse his sad lamenting,
(Who can conceale loue from loues conceal love from Loves mothers eyes?) eyes ?)
Did not disdaine to giue his loue contenting :
Cruell the soule, thatfeedes on soules tormenting :
Nor did she scorne him give his love contenting;
Cruel the soule that feeds on soules tormenting:
Nor did she scorne him, though not nobly borne,
(Loue (Love is nobility) nor could she scorne, scorne
That with so noble skill her title did adorne.



5 v.

One day it chanc't, thrice happy day and chance !
While loues chance!
While Loves were with the Graces sweetly sporting,
And to fresh musique sounding play and dance ;
And Cupids selfe with Shepheards dance,
And Cupids selfc, with shepheards boyes consorting,
Laught at their pritty sport, and simple courting :
Faire Venus seates the fearefull Boy close by her,
Where neuer phoebus Iealous Laugh'd at their pritty sport and simple courting,
Faire Venus seats the fearfull boy close by her,
Where never Phoebus jealous lookes might eye her,
And bids the Boy his Mistris, and her name descry her.



6 boy his mistris and her name descry her.

VI.

Long time the youth bound vp up in silence stood,
While hope and feare with hundred thoughts begun, begun
Fit Prologue prologue to his speech ; and fearefull blood
From heart and face, face with these post-tydings runne,
That eyther now he's made, or now vndone :
At length his trembling words, with feare made weake, undon;
At length his trembling words, with feare madeweake,
Began his too long silence thus to breake,
While from his humble eies first reuerence seem'd to speake,



7

Faire Queene of Loue, my life thou cies first reverence seem'd to
speake.

VII.

" Faire Queene of Love! my lifethou maist command,

Too slender price for all thy former grace,
Which I receiue
Which I receive at thy so bounteous hand ;
But neuer dare I speake her name and face ;
But never dare I speak her name and face ;

My life is much lesse-priz'd than her disgrace :
And, for I know if I her name relate,
And, for I know if I her name relate

I purchase anger, I must hide her state,
Vnlesse
Unless? thou sweare by stix I purchase not her hate.

8

Faire Venus well perceiu'd Stix I purchase not her hate."

Faire Venus well perceiv'd his subtile shift,
And And, swearing gentle patience, gently smil'd :
While thus the Boy smil'd,
While thus the boy persu'd his former drift :
No tongue was euer yet so sweetely drift:
" No tongue was ever yet so sweetly skil'd,
Nor greatest Orator orator so highly stil'd; stil'd,
Though helpt withall the choisest with all the choicest artes direction,
But when he durst describe her heau'ns heaven's perfection,
By his imperfect praise, praise disprais'd his imperfection.



9

IX.

" Her forme is as her selfe, perfect Caelestriall,
No mortall coelestriall,
No rnortall spot her heauenly frame disgraces :
Beyond compare ; such nothing is terrestriall ;
More sweete then heavenly frame disgraces:
Beyond compare such nothing is terrestrial!
More sweete than thought or pow'rfull wish embraces, embraces;
The map of heauen ; heaven, the summe of all the Graces.
But if you wish more tiuely her graces:
But if you wish more truely limb'd to eye her,
Than fainting speech, speech or words can well descry her,
Look in a glasse, & and there more perfect you may spy her.




Cant. 6.


The Argument.


The Boyes
her."

CANTO VL

argument.

The boyes short wish, her larger grant,
That doth his soule smile with blisse enchant :
Whereof impatient vttering ;
\Vhereof impatient uttering all,
Inraged Ioue contriues Jove contrives his thrall.



1

THy I.

" Thy crafty arte (reply'd the smiling Queene)
arte," reply'd the smiling queene,
" Hath well my chiding, and not rage preuented, chiding and not rage prevented,
Yet might'st thou thinke, thinke that yet 'twas neuer seene. never seene
That angry rage, and gentle loue consented :
But if to me thy true loue rage and gentle love consented;
But if to me thy true love is presented,
What wages for thy seruice service must I owe thee ?
For by the selfe same vow, I here auow thee,
What euer thou require, thee?
For hy the selfe-same vow I here avow thee,
Whatever thou require I frankly will allow thee.



2

Pardon (replies the Boy) for so affecting,
Beyond mortallity ; and not discarding,
Thy seruice was much more than my expecting ; tbee."

n.

" Pardon," replies the boy, " for so affecting
Beyond mortallity, and not discarding
Thy service, was much more than my expecting;
But if thou (more thy bounty-hood regarding)
Wilt needes heape vp needs heap up reward vpon rewarding ;
Thy loue upon rewarding,
Then from thy wretched heart fond care remooue ;
Ah should thou liue but once loues Thy love I dare not aske, or mutuall fixing,
One kisse is all my loue, mutual firing,
One kisse is all my love and prides aspiring,
And after starue my heart, for my too much desiring.



3

Fond Boy! (sayd she) too fond that askt no more ; starve my heart, for my loo much desiring."

in.

" Fond Boy!" said she," too fond, that asktnomore;
Thy want by taking is no whit decreased,
And giuing, giving spends not our increasing store:"—
Thus with a kisse his lips she sweetly pressed ; pressed;
Mostblessed kisse! but hope more than most blessed.
The boy did thinke heaven fell while thus he ioy'd; ioy'd,
And while ioy he so greedily enioy'd,
He felt not halfe his ioy by being ouer-ioy'd.



4

over-ioy'd.

IV.

" Why sighst faire Boy? (sayd she) sighst? faire Boy!" said she, " dost thou repent thee

Thy narrow wish in such straight bonds to stay ?
?" " Well may I sigh (sayd he) sigh," said he, " and well lament me,
That neuer such a debt may hope to pay :
A kisse (sayd she) a kisse will backe repay :
Wilt thou (reply'd the Boy too much delighted)
That never such a debt may hope to pay." " A kisse," said she, " a kisse will back repay." " Wilt thou," reply'd the boy, too much delighted, " Content thee, with such pay to be requited?
She grants;& thee with such pay to be requited?" [cited. She grants; and he his lips, heart, soule, to payment cited.



5

Looke as a Ward, long from his Lands

V.

Look as a ward, long from his lands detain'd,
And subiect to his Guardians guardians cruel lore,
Now spends the more, the more he was restrain'd,
So he; lore,.
Now spends the more, the more he was restrain'd;
So be; yet though in laying out his store,
He doubly takes ; yet findes himselfe store :
Thus with a kisse,
He doubly takes, yet finds himself grow poore:
With poore;
With that he markes, and tels her out a score,
And doubles them, and trebles all before :
Fond Boy ! the more thou paist,thy before. [more.
Fond boy! the more thou paist, thy debt still grows the more.


6

At length, whether these fauours

VI.

At length, whether these favours so had fir'd him, him
With kindly heate, beate, inflaming his desiring ; desiring,
Or whether those sweete kisses had inspir'd him ;
Hee thinkes that some thing him,
He Ihinkes that something wants for his requiring; requiring,
And still aspires, yet knows not his aspiring :
But yet though that hee knoweth,so she gaue, aspiring;
But yet though that hee knoweth so she gave,
That he presents himselfe her bounden slaue ;
Stil his more wishing face seem'd some what else to craue.



7

And slave,
Still bis more wishing face seem'd somewhat else to
crave.

VII.

And, boldned with successe and many graces,
His hand, chain'd vp in feare, he now releast : up in feare, he now releast,
And asking leaue, leave, courag'd with her imbraces ;
Againe imbraces,
Agaiuc it prison'd in her tender breast:
Ah, blessed prison! prisners too much blest ! blest!
There with those sisters long time doth he play ; play,
And now full boldly enters loues high way ;
While downe the pleasant vale, loves highway, [stray.
While downe the pleasant vale his creeping hand doth stray.



8

She not displeased with this his wanton play,

VIII.

She, not displeas'd with this his wanton play.
Hiding his blushing with a sugred kisse ; kisse,
With such sweete heat his rudenesse rndenesse doth allay,
That now he perfect knowes what euer blisse, whatever blisse
Elder loue Love taught, and he before did misse : misse;
That moult with ioy, in such vntri'd uutri'd ioyes trying,
He gladly dies; and and, death new lifeapplying, life applying,
Gladly againe he dyes,that dyes, that oft he may be dying.



9

Long thus he liu'd, IX.

Long thus he liv'd, slumbring in sweete delight,
Free from sad care, care and fickle worlds annoy ; annoy,
Bathing in liquid ioyes his melted sprite ; sprite;
And longer mought, but he (ah foolish Boy !) (ah, foolish Boy!)
Too proud, and to too impatient of his ioy,
To woods, and heau'n, and earth his blisse imparted ;
That Ioue vpon him downe hcav'n, and earth, his blisse imparted,
That Jove upon himdowne his thunder darted,
Blasting his splendent face, and all his beauty swarted.


10

Such be his chance, that to his loue doth wrong,
Vnworthy he to haue Such be his chance that to his love doth wrong;

Unworthy he to have so worthy place,

That cannot hold his peace and blabbing tongue : tongue;

Light ioyes float on his lips, but rightly grace
Sinckes deepe, and th'hearts
Sinckesdeepe, audth' heart's low center doth imbrace : imbrace,

Might I enioy my loue till I vnfold it,
I'de lose all fauours love till I unfold it,

I'd lose all favours when I blabbing told it :
He is not fit for loue,that is not fit to hold it.

it:

He is not fit for love that is not fit to hold it.

FINIS.