To the Sunne of his Mistresse beauty WHEN as the Sunne eclipsèd is, some say It thunder, lightning, raine, and wind portendeth; And not vnlike but such things happen may, Sith like effects my Sunne eclipsèd sendeth ! Witnesse my throat made hoarse with thundring cries, And heart with loues hot flashing lightnings fired : Witnesse the showers which still fall from mine eies, And breast with sighes like stormy winds neare riued. O shine then once againe sweet Sunne on me, And with thy beames dissolue clouds of despaire, In my poore heart by absence of my faire. So shalt thou prooue thy beames, thy heate, thy light, Vpon sending her a gold ring with this Pure and Endlesse. IF you would know the love which I you beare, Shall make more precious, when you shall it weare : So my loues nature you shall vnderstand. Is it of mettall pure? so you shall proue My loue, which ne're disloyall thought did staine. So doth my loue: yet herein they dissent, By waxing lesse, doth shew some part is spent: My loue doth waxe more pure by your more trying, And yet encreaseth in the purifying. The hearts captivitie. MY cruell deere hauing captiu'de my heart, And bound it fast in chaines of restlesse loue : Requires it out of bondage to depart, Yet is she sure from her it cannot moue. Draw backe (said she) your helpeless loue from me, Your worth requires a farre more worthy place : Vnto your suite though I cannot agree, Full many will it louingly embrace. It may be so (my deere) but as the Sunne, When it appeares doth make the starres to vanish! So when your selfe into my thoughts do runne, All others quite out of my heart you banish. The beames of your perfections shine so bright, That straight-way they dispell all other light. I. D. VI. TO GEORGE CHAPMAN ON HIS OVID.2 I. D. of the Middle Temple. NELY that eye which for true loue doth weepe, ONELY Onely that hart which tender loue doth pierse, May read and vnderstand this sacred vierse— For other wits too misticall and deepe: Betweene these hallowed leaues Cupid dooth keepe The golden lesson of his second Artist; For loue, till now, hath still a Maister mist, Since Ouids eyes were closed with iron sleepe; But now his waking soule in Chapman liues, Which showes so well the passions of his soule; And yet this Muse more cause of wonder giues, And doth more Prophet-like loues art enroule : For Ouids soule, now growne more old and wise, Poures foorth it selfe in deeper misteries. 2 From "Ovid's Banquet of | SENCE. | A Coronet for his Mistresse Philosophie, and his amorous | Zodiacke. | With a translation of a Latine coppie, | written by a Fryer, Anno Dom. 1400. | Quis leget hæc? Nemo Hercule Nemo, | vel duo vel nemo. Persius. AT LONDON, Printed by J. R. for Richard Smith. Anno Dom. 1595. | " See our Memorial-Introduction. G. VII. REASON'S MOANE.3 HEN I peruse heauen's auncient written storie, WHEN part left in bookes, and part in contemplation: I finde Creation tended to God's glory: but when I looke upon the foule euasion, Loe then I cry, I howle, I weepe, I moane, and seeke for truth, but truth alas! is gone. Whilom of old before the earth was founded, or hearbs or trees or plants or beasts, had being, Or that the mightie Canopie of heauen surrounded these lower creatures; ere that the eye had seeing : Then Reason was within the mind of Ioue, embracing only amitie and loue. The blessed angels' formes and admirable natures, their happie states, their liues and high perfections, Immortall essence and vnmeasured statures, the more made known their falls and low directions. These things when Reason doth peruse she finds her errors, which she would excuse. 3 From close of A New Post' consisting of 'Essayes' by Sir John Davies. See Prose Works in Fuller Worthies' Library. G. |