I joyed; but straight thus wat'red was my wine,
That love she did, but loved a love not blind;
Which would not let me, whom she loved, decline
From nobler course, fit for my birth and mind:
And therefore, by her love's authority,
Wiled me these tempests of vain love to fly,
And anchor fast myself on virtue's shore.

Alas, if this the only metal be

Of love new-coined to help my beggary,
Dear, love me not, that you may love me more.

THOMAS LODGE

1556-1625

ROSALYND'S MADRIGAL

LOVE in my bosom, like a bee,
Doth suck his sweet;

Now with his wings he plays with me,
Now with his feet.

Within mines eyes he makes his nest,
His bed amidst my tender breast;

My kisses are his daily feast,
And yet he robs me of my rest:
Ah! wanton, will ye?

And if I sleep, then percheth he
With pretty flight,

And makes his pillow of my knee
The livelong night.

Strike I my lute, he tunes the string;
He music plays if so I sing :

He lends me every lovely thing,
Yet cruel he my heart doth sting:
Whist, wanton, will ye?

Else I with roses every day

Will whip you hence,

And bind you, when you long to play,
For your offence;

I'll shut my eyes to keep you in,
I'll make you fast it for your sin,

I'll count your power not worth a pin:
Alas! what hereby shall I win,

If he gainsay me?

What if I beat the wanton boy
With many a rod?

He will repay me with annoy,
Because a god.

Then sit thou safely on my knee,
And let thy bower my bosom be;
Lurk in mine eyes, I like of thee!
O Cupid! so thou pity me,

Spare not, but play thee!

ROSALINE

LIKE to the clear in highest sphere
Where all imperial glory shines,
Of selfsame colour is her hair
Whether unfolded, or in twines:
Heigh ho, fair Rosaline!

Her eyes are sapphires set in snow,
Resembling heaven by every wink;
The gods do fear whenas they glow,
And I do tremble when I think-
Heigh ho, would she were mine!

Her cheeks are like the blushing cloud
That beautifies Aurora's face,

Or like the silver crimson shroud
That Phoebus' smiling looks doth grace;
Heigh ho, fair Rosaline!

Her lips are like two budded roses
Whom ranks of lilies neighbour nigh,

Within which bounds she balm encloses
Apt to entice a deity :

Heigh ho, would she were mine!

Her neck is like a stately tower
Where Love himself imprisoned lies,
To watch for glances every hour
From her divine and sacred eyes:
Heigh ho, fair Rosaline!

Her paps are centres of delight,

Her breasts are orbs of heavenly frame, Where Nature moulds the dew of light To feed perfection with the same:

Heigh ho, would she were mine!

With orient pearl, with ruby red,
With marble white, with sapphire blue

Her body every way is fed,

Yet soft in touch and sweet in view:

Heigh ho, fair Rosaline!

Nature herself her shape admires;
The gods are wounded in her sight;
And Love forsakes his heavenly fires
And at her eyes his brand doth light:
Heigh ho, would she were mine!

Then muse not, Nymphs, though I bemoan

The absence of fair Rosaline,

Since for a fair there's fairer none,

Nor for her virtues so divine:

Heigh ho, fair Rosaline;

Heigh ho, my heart! would God that she were mine!

THE SOLITARY SHEPHERD'S SONG

O SHADY vale, O fair enriched meads,

O sacred woods, sweet fields, and rising mountains; O painted flowers, green herbs where Flora treads, Refreshed by wanton winds and watery fountains!

O all ye winged choristers of wood,

That perched aloft, your former pains report; And straight again recount with pleasant mood Your present joys in sweet and seemly sort!

O all you creatures whosoever thrive

On mother earth, in seas, by air, by fire; More blest are you than I here under sun! Love dies in me, whenas he doth revive

In you; I perish under Beauty's ire,

Where after storms, winds, frosts, your life is won.

ANONYMOUS

I SAW MY LADY WEEP

I SAW my Lady weep,
And Sorrow proud to be advanced so

In those fair eyes where all perfections keep.
Her face was full of woe,

But such a woe (believe me) as wins more hearts
Than Mirth can do with her enticing parts.

Sorrow was there made fair,

And Passion, wise; Tears, a delightful thing;
Silence, beyond all speech, a wisdom rare :
She made her sighs to sing,

And all things with so sweet a sadness move
As made my heart at once both grieve and love.

O fairer than aught else

The world can show, leave off in time to grieve!
Enough, enough: your joyful look excels:

Tears kill the heart, believe.

O strive not to be excellent in woe,
Which only breeds your beauty's overthrow.

GEORGE PEELE

1558 (?)-1597

FAREWELL TO ARMS

His golden locks time hath to silver turned;
O time too swift! O swiftness never ceasing!
His youth 'gainst age, and age at time, hath spurned,
But spurned in vain; youth waneth by increasing:
Beauty, strength, youth, are flowers but fading seen;
Duty, faith, love, are roots and ever green.

His helmet now shall make an hive for bees,
And lovers' sonnets turn to holy psalms;
A man-at-arms must now serve on his knees,
And feed on prayers, that are old age's alms :
But though from court to cottage he depart,
His saint is sure of his unspotted heart.