ELIZABETHAN LYRICS. GEORGE GASCOIGNE, The Ad ventures of Master Ferdinando Ieronimi, Posies, 1575. SONNET. THE stately dames of Rome their pearls did wear But she whom I do serve, her pearls doth bear A bloody heart within so white a breast GEORGE GASCOIGNE, Posies, THE STRANGE PASSION OF A LOVER. AMID my bale I bathe in bliss, I swim in heaven, I sink in hell; I find amends for every miss And yet my moan no tongue can tell. I live and love, what would you more? I laugh sometimes with little lust, And yet mistrust breeds mine annoy. I live and lack, I lack and have, I have and miss the thing I crave. These things seem strange, yet are they true; Both slakes my grief and breeds my grutch. Then like the lark that passed the night In heavy sleep, with cares oppressed, Yet when she spies the pleasant light 5 ΙΟ 15 20 The which to thee, dear wench, I write, That know'st my mirth, but not my moan. I pray God grant thee deep delight, To live in joys when I am gone. ! I cannot live, it will not be, 35 Such a one did I meet, good sir, Such an angel-like face, Who like a queen, like a nymph, did appear, By her gait, by her grace. She hath left me here all alone, All alone, as unknown, Who sometimes did me lead with herself, And me loved as her own. What's the cause that she leaves you alone, And a new way doth take, Who loved you once as her own, And her joy did you make? 5 IO 15 20 Of womankind such indeed is the love, Or the word love abused, Under which many childish desires And conceits are excusèd. But true love is a durable fire, In the mind ever burning, Never sick, never old, never dead, From itself never turning. THOMAS LODGE, Scilla's Meta- LAMENT. THE earth, late choked with showers, Is now arrayed in green, Her bosom springs with flowers, 40 The air dissolves her teen ; The heavens laugh at her glory, 5 Yet bide I sad and sorry. |