Part 13

_Louely 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._

_Cynthia._

VVITH CER- taine Sonnets, and the Legend of _Cassandra._

_Quod cupio nequeo._

_At London_, Printed for Humfrey _Lownes, and are to bee_ sold at the VVest doore of Paules. 1595.

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

_Right Honorable, the dutifull affection I beare to your manie vertues, is cause, that to manifest my loue to your Lordship, I am constrained to shew my simplenes to the world. Many are they that admire your worth, of the which number, I (though the meanest in abilitie, yet with the formost in affection) am one that most desire to serue, and onely to serue your Honour._

_Small is the gift, but great is my good-will; the which, by how much the lesse I am able to expresse it, by so much the more it is infinite. Liue long: and inherit your Predecessors vertues, as you doe their dignitie and estate. This is my wish: the which your honorable excellent giftes doe promise me to obtaine: and whereof these few rude and vnpollished lines, are a true (though an vndeseruing) testimony. If my ability were better, the signes should be greater; but being as it is, your honour must take me as I am, not as I should be. My yeares being so young, my perfection cannot be greater: But howsoeuer it is, yours it is; and I my selfe am yours; in all humble seruice, most ready to be commaunded._

Richard Barnefeilde.

_To the curteous Gentlemen Readers._

Gentlemen; the last Terme [_i.e._, _November_ 1594] there came forth a little toy of mine, intituled, _The affectionate Shepheard:_ In the which, his Country _Content_ found such friendly fauor, that it hath incouraged me to publish my second fruites. _The affectionate Shepheard_ being the first: howsoeuer undeseruedly (I protest) I haue beene thought (of some) to haue beene the authour of two Books heretofore. I neede not to name them, because they are two-well knowne already: nor will I deny them, because they are dislik't; but because they are not mine. This protestation (I hope) will satisfie th'indifferent: as for them that are maliciously enuious, as I cannot, so I care not to please. Some there were, that did interpret _The affectionate Shepheard_, otherwise then (in truth) I meant, touching the subiect thereof, to wit, the loue of a Shepheard to a boy; a fault, the which I will not excuse, because I neuer made. Onely this, I will vnshaddow my conceit: being nothing else, but an imitation of _Virgill_, in the second Eglogue of _Alexis_. In one or two places (in this Booke) I vse the name of _Eliza_ pastorally: wherein, lest any one should misconster my meaning (as I hope none will) I haue here briefly discouered my harmeles conceipt as concerning that name: whereof once (in a simple Shepheards deuice) I wrot this Epigramme.

_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._

Thus, hoping you will beare with my rude conceit of _Cynthia_, (if for no other cause, yet, for that it is the first imitation of the verse of that excellent Poet, Maister _Spencer_, in his _Fayrie Queene_) I will leaue you to the reading of that, which I so much desire may breed your Delight.

_Richard Barnefeild._

T. T. in commendation of the _Authour his worke_.

Whylom 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.

_To his Mistresse._

Bright 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.

_CYNTHIA._

Now 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.

_The Conclusion._

Thus, 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).

FINIS.

[_SONNETS._]

_SONNET. I._

Sporting 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.

_SONNET. II._

Be[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.

_SONNET. III._

The 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.

_SONNET. IIII._

Two 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?

_SONNET. V._

It 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.

_SONNET. VI._