? 1581-1584.J

MUSIC more lofty swells
In speeches nobly placed;
BEAUTY as far excels
In actions aptly graced.
A friend each party draws
To countenance his cause.

LOVE more affected seems
BEAUTY'S lovely light;
And WONDER more esteems
Of MUSIC's wondrous might:
But both to both so bent
As both in both are spent.

MUSIC doth witness call
The ear, his truth to try;
BEAUTY brings to the hall
The judgment of the eye:
Both in their objects such,
As no exceptions touch.

The common SENSE which might
Be arbiter of this;

To be forsooth upright,

To both sides partial is:

He lays on this side chief praise;
Chief praise on that he lays.

Then REASON, Princess high!
Whose throne is in the mind;
Which music can in sky,
And hidden beauties find.

Say! whether thou wilt crown
With limitless renown?

W

SEVENTH SONG.

HOSE SENSES in so evil
Nature lays,

consort their stepdame

That ravishing delight in them most sweet tunes doth not raise :

Or if they do delight therein, yet are so closed with wit ;
As with sententious lips to set a title vain on it.

O let them hear these sacred tunes, and learn in
WONDER'S schools

To be (in things past bounds of wit) fools, if they be not fools.

Who have so leaden eyes, as not to see sweet BEAUTY'S show;

Or seeing, have so wooden wits as not that worth to know;
Or knowing, have so muddy minds as not to be in love;
Or loving, have so frothy thoughts as easy thence to move:
O let them see these heavenly beams! and in fair letters
read

A lesson fit, both sight and skill, love and firm love to breed.

Hear then! but then with wonder hear; see! but adoring

see

No mortal gifts, no earthly fruits, now here discerned be. See! do you see this face? A face! nay image of the skies; Of which the two life-giving lights are figured in her eyes. Hear you this soul-invading voice! and count it but a voice?

The very esserce of their tunes when Angels do rejoice.

? 1581-1584.J

EIGHTH SONG.

IN A GROVE most rich of shade,
Where birds wanton music made;

May then young, his pied weeds showing,
New perfumed with flowers fresh growing;

ASTROPHEL with STELLA sweet,
Did for mutual comfort meet;
Both within themselves oppressed,
But each in the other blessed.

Him great harms had taught much care;
Her fair neck a foul yoke bare:

But her sight his cares did banish,

In his sight her yoke did vanish.

Wept they had, alas the while,
But now tears themselves did smile;
While their eyes by love directed,
Interchangeably reflected.

Sigh they did, but now betwixt
Sighs of woe were glad sighs mixt;
With arms crossed, yet testifying
Restless rest, and living dying.

Their ears hungry of each word,
Which the dear tongue would afford:
But their tongues restrained from walking,
Till their hearts had ended talking.

But when their tongues could not speak,

Love itself did silence break:

P.

Love did set his lips asunder,

Thus to speak in love and wonder.

"STELLA! Sovereign of my joy!
Fair triumpher of annoy!
STELLA! Star of heavenly fire!
STELLA! Loadstar of desire!"

"STELLA! in whose shining eyes,
Are the lights of CUPID'S skies;
Whose beams where they once are darted,
Love therewith is straight imparted."

"STELLA! whose voice when it speaks,
Senses all asunder breaks.

STELLA! whose voice when it singeth,
Angels' to acquaintance bringeth."

"STELLA! in whose body is

Writ each character of bliss.
Whose face all, all beauty passeth;
Save thy mind which yet surpasseth."

"Grant! O grant! but speech, alas,
Fails me, fearing on to pass:
Grant! O me! what am I saying?
But no fault there is in praying."

Grant! O Dear! on knees I pray"
Knees on ground he then did stay
"That not I; but since I love you,
Time and place for me may move you!"

P.

"Never season was more fit:

Never room more apt for it.

Smiling air allows my reason;

These birds sing: now use the season!"

"This small wind which so sweet is,

See how it the leaves doth kiss!
Each tree in his best attiring,
Sense of love to love inspiring."

"Love makes earth, the water drink;
Love to earth makes water sink :
And if dumb things be so witty,
Shall a heavenly grace want pity?"

There his hands in their speech, fain
Would have made tongue's language plain :
But her hands, his hands repelling,
Gave repulse, all grace excelling.

The eight following stanzas are omitted in NEWMAN'S
Quartos of 1591.]

Then she spake, her speech was such,

As not ears, but heart did touch;
While such wise she love denied,
As yet love she signified.

"ASTROPHEL!" said she, "my love!
Cease in these effects to prove.
Now be still! yet still believe me,

Thy grief more than death would grieve me."

"If that any thought in me,
Can taste comfort but of thee;
Let me fed with hellish anguish,

Joyless, hopeless, endless languish."