AMANTIUM IRAE

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Then kissed she her little babe, and sware by God

above,

The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of love.

She said that neither king nor prince nor lord could live aright,

Until their puissance they did prove, their manhood and their might.

When manhood shall be matched so that fear can take no place,

Then weary works make warriors each other to embrace,

And left their force that failed them, which did consume the rout,

That might before have lived their time, their strength and nature out:

Then did she sing as one that thought no man

could her reprove,

The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of love.

She said she saw no fish nor fowl, no beast within her haunt,

That met a stranger in their kind, but could give it

a taunt:

Since flesh might not endure, but rest must wrath succeed,

And force the fight to fall to play in pasture where they feed,

So noble nature can well end the work she hath

begun,

And bridle well that will not cease her tragedy in

some:

Thus in song she oft rehearsed, as did her well behove, The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of love.

I marvel much pardy (quoth she) for to behold the rout,

To see man, woman, boy, and beast, to toss the world about:

Some kneel, some crouch, some beck, some check, and some can smoothly smile,

And some embrace others in arm, and there think many awile,

Some stand aloof at cap and knee, some humble and some stout,

Yet are they never friends in deed until they once fall out;

Thus ended she her song and said, before she did

remove,

The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of love.

Anon.

CCXCI

MYRA

I, WITH whose colours Myra dress'd her head,
I, that wore posies of her own hand-making,
I, that mine own name in the chimneys1 read
By Myra finely wrought ere I was waking:
Must I look on, in hope time coming may
With change bring back my turn again to play?
1 Cheminées, chimney-screens of tapestry work.

A NOSEGAY

I, that on Sunday at the church-stile found

A garland sweet with true-love-knots in flowers, Which I to wear about mine arms was bound

That each of us might know that all was ours:
Must I lead now an idle life in wishes,
And follow Cupid for his waves and fishes?

I, that did wear the ring her mother left,

I, for whose love she gloried to be blamed, I, with whose eyes her eyes committed theft,

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I, who did make her blush when I was named : Must I lose ring, flowers, blush, theft, and go naked, Watching with sighs till dead love be awaked?

Was it for this that I might Myra see

Washing the water with her beauties white? Yet would she never write her love to me.

Thinks wit of change when thoughts are in delight! Mad girls may safely love as they may leave; No man can print a kiss: lines may deceive.1

Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke.

CCXCII

A NOSEGAY

SAY, crimson Rose and dainty Daffodil,

With Violet blue;

Since you have seen the beauty of my saint,
And eke her view;

1 Betray.

Did not her sight (fair sight!) you lonely fill,
With sweet delight

Of goddess' grace and angels' sacred teint1
In fine, most bright?

Say, golden Primrose, sanguine Cowslip fair,
With Pink most fine;

Since you beheld the visage of my dear,
And eyes divine ;

Did not her globy front, and glistening hair,
With cheeks most sweet,

So gloriously like damask flowers appear,
The gods to greet?

Say, snow-white Lily, speckled Gilly-flower,
With Daisy gay;

Since you have viewed the Queen of my desire,

In her array;

Did not her ivory paps, fair Venus' bower,
With heavenly glee,

A Juno's grace, conjure you to require

Her face to see?

Say Rose, say Daffodil, and Violet blue,

With Primrose fair,

Since ye have seen my nymph's sweet dainty face,

And gesture rare,

Did not (bright Cowslip, blooming Pink) her view (White Lily) shine

(Ah, Gilly-flower, ah Daisy !) with a grace

Like stars divine?

John Reynolds.

Tint, hue.

MY LADY GREENSLEEVES

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CCXCIII

MY LADY GREENSLEEVES

ALAS! my love, you do me wrong
To cast me off discourteously;
And I have loved you so long,

Delighting in your company.
For oh, Greensleeves was all my joy!
And oh, Greensleeves was my delight!

And oh, Greensleeves was my heart of gold!

And who but my Lady Greensleeves!

I bought thee petticoats of the best,
The cloth as fine as might be;

I gave thee jewels for thy chest,
And all this cost I spent on thee.
For oh, Greensleeves

Thy smock of silk, both fair and white,
With gold embroider'd gorgeously:

Thy petticoat of sendal right:

And these I bought thee gladly.
For oh, Greensleeves .

Greensleeves now farewell! adieu!
God I pray to prosper thee!
For I am still thy lover true:
Come once again and love me!

For oh, Greensleeves . . .

Anon.