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DUKE
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY
Treasure "B^om
^hc Juliet ait0rthiefi' fibniti).
THE
W 0 E K S
IN
YEESE AND PEOSE COMPLETE
OF
THE RIGHT HONOUEABLE
FULKE GEEVILLE, LOED BEOOKE:
FOR THE
FIRST TIME COLLECTED AND EDITED: WITH
AND NOTES. BY THB
REV. ALEXANDER B. GROSART,
ST. George's, blaceburn, Lancashire.
IN roUE VOLUMES.
VOL. III. CONTAINING
CiELlCA IN ex. SONNETS: AND
THE Poem-Plays :
I. ALAHAM. II. JJUSTAPHA.
With Additions and Various Readings.
FEINTED FOE PEIVATE CIECULATION. 1870.
166 Copies only.
FAOB.
I. ^eelica T. 7—143.
II. Appendix 0 145— lo4,
III. Alaham, a Tragedy . . .?; 155—288.
IV. Mustapha, a Tragedy 289—417.
(1) Appendix of Additions from 4to of 1609
and MS 419—463.
(2) Notes and Illustrations* 465—497.
* This Appendix and all the * various readings ' of these Notes and Illustrations, belong to the Manu- script at Cambridge — the Warwick Castle MSS. not having reached me until after the present volume was printed. See Vol. IV. for description of these latter MSS, and important various readings and quotations from them. G.
9 on
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VOL. III.
#
2G0252
I.
^dim m ex. .^iiitnets,
These "Sonnets" will be found to have little in common with what are so known, beyond the name. Neither in form nor matter have they resemblance to the ' Sonnet ' proper. But they have all that belongs to the Cumberland word ' so7m ', which means to think deeply. The thought is deep and intense and as our Memorial-Introduction (Vol. 1st) and Essay (Vol. Ilnd) shew, there is in these sonnets much of rare auto- biographic interest, hitherto unobserved. Shakespeare uses the word ' Sonnet ' in the same wide sense as Lord Beooke, as including short poems more or less relating to the passion of Love : e. g.^ " I have a sonnet wLU serve " (Two Gentlemen of Verona, iii., 2) *' I have heard a son- net begun so ", (Henry V., iii., 7) and elsewhere. Calica will abundantly repay the profoundest study. There is no separate title-page : simply the heading throughout, of " Ceelica ". G.
^^^^«4S?^
C^tlira.
J
SONNET I.
OTJE, ,the delight of all well-thinking
minds ; Delight, the fruit of vertue dearely lov'd ; Yertue, the highest good, that Eeason finds ; Eeason, the fire wherein men's thoughts bee prov'd ; Are from the world by Nature's power bereft, And in one creature, for her glory, left.
Beautie, her couer is, the eyes' true pleasure ; In Honour's fame she lines ; the eares' sweet
musicke ; Excesse of wonder growes from her true measure ; Her worth is Passion's wound, and Passion's physicke ; From her true heart, cleare springs of wisdome
flow, Which imag'd in her words and deeds, men know.
10 C-SLICA.
Time faine would stay, that she might never leave
her; Place doth reioyce, that she must needs containe
her; Death eraues of Heauen, that she may not bereaue
her; The heauens know their owne, and doe maintaine
her; Delight, Loue, Eeason, Veitue let it be, To set all women light, but only she.
SONNET II.
i
AIRE dog, which so my heart dost teare
asunder. That my liue's-blood my bowels ouer- floweth : Alas, what wicked rage conceal' st thou vnder These sweet enticing ioyes thy forehead showeth : Me, whom the light-wing'd god of long hath
chased, Thou hast attain'd : thou gau'st that fatall wound "Which my soule's peacefull innocence hath rased, And Reason to her seruant Humour bound.
Kill therefore in the end, and end my anguish,
C^LICA. 11
Give me my death ; me thinks euen Time vp-
braideth A fulnesse of the woes, wherein I languish : Or if thou wilt I Hue , then Pittie pleadeth Helpe out of thee, since Nature hath reuealed, That with thy tongue thy by tings may be healed.
SONNET III.
ORE than most faire, full of that heauenly fire, Kindled aboue to shew the Maker's glory ;^ Beautie's first-born, in whom all powers conspire To write the Graces life and Muses storie : If in my heart all saints else be defaced. Honour the shrine, where you alone are placed.
Thou window of the skie, and pride of spirits. True character^ of Honour in perfection ; Thou heauenly creature, iudge of earthly merits, And glorious prison of man's pure affection ; If in my heart all nymphs else be defaced. Honour the shrine, where you alone are placed.
^ See our Essay, Volume II., page Ixxiii, for resembhng couplet from Spenser. G.
' See our Glossary -Index for ' charact ' elsewhere. G.
12
C^LICA.
SONNET lY.
OTJ little starres that Hue in skyes, And glory in Apollo's glorie j In whose^ aspects conjoyned lyes The heauen's wiU and Nature's storie, loy to be likened to those eyes : Which eyes make all eyes glad or sorie ; For when you force thoughts from aboue, These ouer-rule your force by loue.
And thou 6 Loue, which in these eyes Hast married Eeason with Affection, And made them saints of Beautie's skyes, "Where ioyes are shadowes of perfection ; Lend me thy wings that I may rise Yp not by worth but thy election ; For I haue vow'd in strangest fashion, To loue, and neuer seeke compassion.
SONNET Y.
HO tmsts for trust, or hopes of loue for loue, Or who belou'd in Cupid's lawes doth glory; Who ioyes in vowes, or vowes not to remoue,
CMLICA..
13
Who by this light god, hath not beene made sory ; Let him see me eclipsed from my sunne, "With shadowes of an Earth quite ouer-runne.
Who thinkes that sorrowe's felt desires hidden, Or humble faith with constant honour armed, Can keep loue from the fruit that is forbidden. Change I doe meane, by no faith to be charmed ; Looking on me, let him know, * Loue's delights Are treasures hid in caues, but kept with sp'rits.'^
SONNET VI. YES, why did you bring vnto me those
Grac'd to yeeld wonder out of her true measure ; Measure of all ioyes stay to phansie traces Module- of pleasure.
Eeason is now growne a disease in reason ; Thoughts knit vpon thoughts free alone to wonder ; Sense is a spie, made to doe phansie treason ; Loue goe I vnder.
1 Cf. " Of Humane Learning*' st. 120th, lines 5-6, and relative note, G.
2 Model. G.
14 C^LICA.
Since then eyes pleasure to my thoughts hetray
me, And my thoughts reason' s-leuell haue defaced- So that all my powers to be hers, obey me, Loue be thou graced.
Grac'd by me Loue ? no, by her that owes me ; She that an angell's spiiit hath retained In Cupid's faire skie, which her beauty showes me ;
Thus haue I gained.
SONNET YII.
jjHE world, that all containes is euer mou- ing; The starres within their spheeres for euer turned ; Nature — the Queene of Change — to change is lou-
ing, And Forme to matter new, is still adioumed.
Fortune our phansie-god, to varie liketh ; Place is not bound to things within it placed ; The present time vpon time passed striketh ; With Phoebus' wandring course the Earth is graced :
C^LICA. 15
The ayre still moues, and by its mouing, clcareth ; The fire, vp ascends and planets feedeth ; The water passeth on and all lets^ weareth ; The earth stands still, yet change of changes breedeth ;
Her plants, which Summer ripens, in "Winter fade Each creature in ynconstant mother lyeth ; Man made of Earth, and for whom Earth is made, Still dying Hues, and liuing euer dyeth ; Only like fate sweet Myra neuer varies. Yet in her eyes the doom of all change carries.
SONl^ET VIII.
ELFE-PITTIE'S teares, wherein my hope lyes drown' d, Sighs from Thought's fire — where my desires languish — Despaire, by humble loue of beauty crown 'd ; Eurrowes not worne by Time, but wheeles of anguish ; Dry yp, smile, ioy, make smooth, and see Eurrowes, despaires, sighs' teares, in Beauty be.
1 Obstacles, hindrances. G.
16 C^LICA.
Beauty, out of whose clouds my heart teares rained ! Beauty, whose niggard^fire sigh's smoke did nourish ! Beauty, in whose eclipse despaires remained ! Beauty whose scorching beames make wrinkles florish ! Time hath made free of teares, sighs, and
despaire, Writing in furrowes deep * she once was faire.'
SOJS'NET IX.
Loue, thou mortall sphere of powers diuine, The paradise of Nature in perfection ; What makes thee thus thy kingdome vndermine, Vailing Thy glories ynder woe's reflection ? Tyrannic counsell out of feare doth borrow, To think her kingdome safe in feare and sorrow.
If I by nature, wonder and delight, Had not swome all my powers to worship thee, lastly mine owne reuenge receiue I might, And see, thee tyrant, suffer tyrannic :
See thee thy selfe-despaire and soitow breeding, Ynder the wounds of woe and sorrow bleeding.
For sorrow holds man's life to be her owne,
CiELICA. 17
His thoughts her stage, where tragedies slie plaies, Her orbe she makes his Eeason ouerthrowne, His loue, foundations for her ruines layes ; So as while loue will torments of her borrow, Loue shall become the very loue of sorrow.
Loue therefore speake to CsBlica for me, Shew her thy selfe in euery thinge I doe. Safely thy powers she may in others see. And in thy power see her glories too ;
Moue her to pitty, stay her from disdaine, Let never man loue worthinesse in vaine.
SONNET X.
OUE, of man's wandring thoughts the restlesse being, Thou from my mind with glory wast inuited ; Glory of those faire eyes, where all eyes, seeing Vertue's and Eeautie's riches, are delighted ; "What angell's pride, or what selfe-disagreeing, What dazling brightnesse hath your beames be- nighted, That fall'n thus from those ioyes which you
aspired, Downe to my darkened minde you are retired ?
18 C^LICA.
Within which minde since you from thence ascend- ed,
Truth clouds it seLfe ; Wit serues but to resemble ;
Enuie is king, at others' good offended ;
Memorie doth worlds of wi'etchednesse assemble ;
Passion to mine passion is intended ;
My reason is but power to dissemble ;
Then tell me Loue, what glory you diuine Your selfe can find within this soule of mine ?
Eather goe backe vnto that heauenly quire Of l^ature's riches, in her beauties placed, And there in contemplation feed desire, Which till it wonder, is not rightly graced ; For those sweet glories, which you doe aspire, Must, as idea's,^ only be embraced.
Since excellence in other forme enioyed. Is by descending to her saints destroyed.
SONNET XI.
YNO, that on her head Loue's liuerie car- ried, Scorning to weare the markes of lo's pleasure,
» Notice apostrophe for plural, as before. G.
I
C^LICA. 19
Knew wliile the boy in sequinoctiall tarried, His heats would rob the heauen of heauenly
treasure ; Beyond the tropicks she the boy doth banish, "Where smokes must warme, before his fire do
blaze, And children's thoughts not instantly grow man- nish, Feare keeping lust there very long at gaze : Eut see how that poore goddesse was deceiued, For women's hearts farre colder there than ice, When once the fire of lust they haue receiued, With two extremes so multiply the vice. As neither partie satisfying other, Eepentance still becomes Desire's mother.
SONNET XII.
lUPID, thou naughtie boy, when thou wert loathed, Naked and blind, for vagabunding noted Thy nakednesse I in my reason clothed, Mine eyes I gaue thee, so was I denoted.
Eye wanton, fie ; who would shew children kind-
nesse ? No sooner he into mine eyes was gotten,
20 C.ELICA.
Eut straight he clouds them with a seeing blind-
nesse, Makes reason wish that Reason were forgotten.
From thence to Mira's eyes the wanton stray eth, "Where while I charge him with Tngratefull
measure, So with faii'e wonders he mine eyes betrayeth, That my wounds, and his wrongs, become my pleasure ; Till for more spite to Myra's heart he flyeth, Where liuing to the world, to me he dieth.
SONKET XIII.
YPID, his boye's play many times for- bidden. By Venus, who thinks Mars best man- hood boyish, While he shot all, stiU for not shooting chidden, Weepes himselfe blind to see that sexe so coyish.
And in this blindnesse wandreth many places, Till his foe Absence, hath him prisonner gotten ; Who breaks his arrowes, bow and wings defaces, Keepes him till he his boy's play hath forgotten ;
C^LICA. 21
Then lets him loose, no god of yeeres, but homes, Cures and restores him all things, but his blind-
nesse ; Forbids him nothing but the constant powers, Where Absence neuer can haue power of kindncsse Ladies, this blind boy that ran from his mother, Will euer play the wag with one or other.
SONNET XIY.
HY how now Eeason, how are you amazed ? Is Worth in Beauty shrind vp to be clothed ? Shall Nature's riches by your selfe be razed ? I In what but these can you be finely clothed ?
Though Myra's eyes, glasses of ioy and smart. Daintily shadowed, shew forth loue and feare ; Shall feare make reason from her right depart ? Shall lacke of hope the loue of worth forbeare ?
Where is the homage then that Nature oweth ? Loue, is a'tribute to perfection due ; Reason in Selfe-loue's-liuerie bondage showeth, And hath no freedome, Myra, but in you ;
Then Worth, Loue, Eeason, Beauty, be content,
In Myra oneiy to be permanent.
22 C^LICA.
SONNET XV.
HEN gentle Beautie's ouer-wanton kind- nesse, Had giuen Loue the liberty of playing, Change brought his eye-sight by and by to bUnd-
nesse, Still hatching in excesse her owne decaying ; Then cut I Selfe-loue's wings to lend him fethers, Gaue him mine eyes to see in Myra's glory, Honour and Eeauty reconcil'd togethers ; Of Loue, the birth, the fatall tombe and story. Ah wag, no sooner he that sphere had gotten, Eut out of Myra's eyes my eyes he woundeth ; And, but his boye's-play hauing all forgotten. His heate in her chast coldnesse so confoundeth, As he that bumes must freeze, who trusts must
feare : 111 quarter' d coats, which yet all loners beare.
SONNET XYI.
S^^iYE foolish Earth, thinke you^the heauen
1 M^^ wants glory,
^»SSlil Because your shadowes doe your selfe
benight ? All's dark vnto the blind, let them be sory; The heauens in themselues are euer bright.
CiELICA. 23
Fye fond Desire, thinke you that Loue wants
glory, Because your shadowes doe your selfe benight ? The hopes and feares of lust, may make men sorie, But Loue still in her selfe finds her delight.
Then Earth stand fast, the skye that you benight.
"Will tume againe, and so restore your glory ;
Desire be steady, hope is your delight,
An orbe wherein no creature can be sorie ; Loue being plac'd aboue these middle regions, Where euery passion warres it selfe with legions
SONNET XVII.
YNTHIA, whose glories are at full for euer, Whose beauties draw forth teares, and kindle fires, Eires, which kindled once are quenched neuer : So beyond hope your worth beares vp desires.
Why cast you clouds on your sweet -looking eyes ? Are you afraid they shew me too much pleasure ? Strong Nature decks the graue wherein it lyes : Excellence can neuer be exprest in measure.
24 C^LICA.
Are you afraid, because my heart adores you ?
The world will thinke I hold Endymion's place ?
Hippolytus, sweet Cynthia, kneel' d before you,
Yet did you not come downe to kisse his face. Angells enioy the heauens' inward quires : Starre-gazers only multiply desires.
SONNET XVIII.
OFFER wrong to my beloved saint,
I scorn e, I change, I falsify my loue ; Absence and time have made my homage faint, With Cupid I doe euery where remoue.
I sigh, I sorrow, I doe play the foole, Mine eyes like wether-cocks, on her attend : Zeale thus on either side she puts to schoole, That will needs haue Inconstancy to friend.
I grudge, she saith, that many shoidd adore her. Where loue doth suffer, and thinke aU things
meet; She saith, * all selfe-nesse must fall downe before
her:'
C^LICA. 25
I say, Where is the sauce should make that sweet ? Change and contempt — you know — ill speakers
be Caelica ; and such are all your thoughts of me.
SONNET XIX.
H silly Cupid, doe you make it coy To keepe your seate in Caelpja's fur- rowed face ? Thinke in her beauty what you did enioy, And doe not seruice done you so disgrace.
She that refused not any shaft you shot, Lent dewes to youth, and sparks to old desire j If such flat homage be so soone forgot, Many good-fellowes will be out of hii^e.
Good archers euer have two bowes at least, "With beauty faded shoot the elder sort ; For though all be not to shoot at the best, Yet archers with their butting-bowes make sport : The glory that men in good kingdomes see, Is when both yong, and old in traffique be.
26 CJSLICA.
SONNET XX.
HT how now Cupid, doe you couet change And from a stealer to a keeper's state, With barking doggs do you the couerts range, That carried bread to still them but of late ?
What shall we doe that with your bow are
wounded ? Your bow which blindeth each thing it doth hit : Since Feare and Lust in you are so confounded, As your hot fire beares water still in it.
Play not the foole, for though your dogs be good, Hardy, loud, earnest, and of little sleep ; Yet mad desires with cryes are not with-stood : They must be better arm'd that meane to keep : And since vn weapon' d care makes men forlorne, Let me first make your dogge an vnicome.^
SONNET XXI.
ATHAN, no woman, yet a wandring spirit, When he saw ships sail two wayes with one wind.
^ Id est, ' weapon ' such as the ' horn ' of the traditional- mythical ' unicorn.' G.
CJELICA. 27
Of saylers' trade he Hell did disiifherit ;
The diuell himself e loues not a halfe-fast mind.
The Satyre when he saw the shepheard blow To warme his hands, and make his pottage coole, Manhood forsweares ; and halfe a beast, did know Nature with double breath is put to schoole.
Cupid doth head his shafts in women's faces, Where smiles and teares dwell euer neere together, Where all the arts of change giue Passion graces ; While these clouds threaten, who feares not the weather ? Saylers and Satyres, Cupid's knights ; and I Feare women that sweare, nay ; and know they lye.
SONNET XXII.
WITH whose colors Myra drest her head, I, that ware posies of her owne hand- making,
I, that mine owne name in the chimnies read By Myra finely wrought ere I was waking : Must I looke on, in hope time comming may With change bring back my turne againe to play?
28 CiELICA.
I, that on Sunday at tlie Churcli-stile found, A garland sweet, with true-loue knots in flowers, "Which I to weare about mine arms was bound, That each of vs might know that all was ours :
Must I now lead an idle life in wishes ?
And follow Cupid for his loaues and fishes ?
I, that did weare the ring her mother left, I, for whose loue she gloried to be blamed, I, with whose eyes her eyes committed theft, 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 loue be awaked ?
I, that when drowsie Argus fell asleep,^ Like lealousie o'rewatched with Desire, Was euen warned modestie to keepe. While her breath speaking kindled I^ature's flre : Must I looke on a-cold,' while others warme
them? Doe Yulcan's brothers in such fine nets arme them.
^ In an anonymous verse-satire against the Puritans, "Ad Populum" &c., of one it is cleverly if also mahci- ously said,
" All Argus' body he'd have preached asleep *'. G.
C^LICA. 29
Was it for this that I might Myra see Washing the water with her beauties, white ? Yet would she neuer write her loue to me ; Thinks wit of change while thoughts are in delight ?
Mad giiies must safely loue, as they may leaue ;
No man can print a kisse ; lines may deceiue.
SONNET XXIII.
ERLIN they say, an English prophet borne When he was yong and gouem'd by his mother.
Took great delight to laugh such fooles to scorne, As thought by Nature we might know a brother.
His mother chid him oft, till on a day, They stood, and saw a coarse^ to buriall earned ; The father teares his beard, doth weepe and pray • The mother was the woman he had married.
Merlin laughs out aloud in stead of crying ; His mother chides him for that childish fashion ; Sayes '* Men must mourne the dead, themselue&
are dying. Good manners doth make answer vnto passion."
The child — for children see what should be hidden^ 1 Corse or Corpse. Q.
30 C^LICA.
Replies vnto his mother by and by : " Mother, if you did know, and were forbidden, " Yet you would laugh as heartily as I.
" This man no part hath in the child he sorrowes, " His father was the monke that sings before him : " See then now I^ature of adoption borrowes : " Truth couets in me, that I should restore him. *' True fathers' singing, supposed fathers'
ciying, '' I thinke make women laugh, that lye a-dying.
SOjSTNET xxiy.
AINTI^N'G the eloquence of dumpe
conceipt, i When it would figure forth confused passion, Hauing no tables for the World's receipt, With few parts of a few, doth many fashion. Who then would figure Worthinesse disgraced, [NTature and Wit imprisoned or sterued, Kindnesse a scorne, and courtesie defaced, If he doe well paint Want, hath well deserued, But who, his art in worlds^ of woe, would proue Let him within his heart but cipher Loue.
1 Query— words F G.
CiELICl. 81
SONNET XXY,
YPID, my pretty boy, leaue off thy crying. Thou shalt haue bells or apples, be not peeuish ; Kisse mee sweet lad ; beshrew her for denying; Such rude denyalls doe make children theeuish.
Did Eeason say that boyes must be restrained ? "What was it, tell ; hath cruell Honour chidden ? Or would they haue thee from sweet Myra weyned? Are her faire breasts made dainty to be hidden ?
Tell me — sweet boy — doth Myra's beauty threaten? Must you say grace when you would be a-playing ? Doth she cause thee make faults, to make thee
beaten ? Is Beautie's pride in innocent's betraying ? Giue me a bow, let me thy quiuer borrow. And she shall play the child with Loue or Sorrow.
SONNET XXVI.
jAS euer man so ouer-match't with boy ? "When I am thinking how to keep him I ynder,
32 C^LICA.
He plaies and dallies me with euerie toy ; "^'ith pretty stealths, and makes me laugh and wonder.
"When with the child, the child-thoughts of mine
owne Doe long to play and toy as well as he, The boy is sad, and melancholy growne, And with one humor cannot long agree.
Straight doe I scome and bid the child away The boy knowes furie, and soone sheweth me Caelica's sweet eyes, where Loue and Beauty play : Furie turnes into loue of that I see.
If these mad changes doe make children gods, "Women and children are not farre at odds.
SONXET XXYII.
YPID, in Myra's faire bewitching eyes, — Where Beauty shewes the mii^acles of pleasure —
When thou laist lounil for Honour's sacrifice, Swome to thy hate, equalitie and measure. With open hand thou offeredst me her heart, Thy bow and arrowes, if I would conspire,
CJELICA. 33
To ruine honour ; with whose frozen art She tyranniz'd thy kingdome of desire.
I glad to dwell and raigne in such perfections, Gaue thee my reason, memory, and sense ; In them to worke thy mysticall reflexions, Against which Mature can haue no defence ; And wilt thou now to nourish my despaire, Both head and feather all thy shafts with feare ?
SOITKET XXYIII.
OTJ faithlesse hoy, perswade you me to reason ? "With vertue doe you answere my affect- ion ? Yertue, which you with liuerie and seisin^ Haue sold and changed out of your protection. "When you lay flattering in sweet Myra's eyes. And plaid the wanton hoth with worth and pleasure ;
• Mis-numlDered xxvii : and so erroneously onward, so that the correction shews ex instead of cix * Sonnets, G.
2 Liuerie = delivery : a Law-term still in use : seisin =po88ession, also in use still. G.
34 C^LICA.
In Beautie's field you told me vertue dies, Excesse and infinite in lone, was measure.
I tooke your oath of dalliance and desire, Myra did so inspire me with her graces ; But like a wag that sets the straw on fire, You running to doe harme in other places,
Sware what is felt with hand or scene with eye^, As mortall, must feele sicknesse, age and dye.
SOj^NET XXIX.
ACTIOI^, that euer dwells In Courts where wit excells, Hath set defiance : Fortune and Loue haue sworne, That they were neuer home, Of one alliance.
Cupid that doth aspire To he god of desire,
Sweares he giues lawes : That where his arrowes hit, Some ioy, some sorrow it :
Fortune no cause.
CiELICA.
Fortune sweares weakest hearts, The books of Cupid's arts
Turne with her wheele : Senses themselues shall proue, Venture hath place in loue ;
Aske them that feele.
This discord it begot Atheists, that honour not
Kature, thought good ; Fortune should euer dwell In Courts, where wits excell :
Loue keepe the Wood.
Thus to the Wood went I "With Loue to Hue and dye :
Fortune's forlorne : Experience of my youth Thus makes me thinke the truth,
In desart borne.
My saint is deare to me, Myra her selfe is she,
She faire, and true : Myra that knowes to moue, Passions of loue with loue :
Fortune adieu.
36 C^LICA.
SOXNET XXX.
OME, wHle thy Senate gouemours did chose, Your souldiers floiish'd, citizens were free ; Thy state by change of Consuls did not loose, They honour'd were that seru'd or ruled thee :
But after thy proud legions gaue thee lawes, That their bought voices Empire did bestow ; "Worthinesse no more was of election cause, Authority her owners did not know.
Sweet Myra, while good will your friends did
choose. Passions were dainty, sweet desires free, By one friend marriage did no honour loose. They were esteem' d, that seru'd or ruled thee :
But after flattring Change did giue thee lawes. That ber false voices did thy faith bestow ; Worthinesse no more was of affection cause, Desire did many heads like monsters show ; Thus Eome and Myra acting many parts, By often changes lost commanding arts.
C^LICA. 37
SONNET XXXI.
OOD-FELLOWES, whom men commonly doe call Those that doe line at warre with truth and shame ; If once to lone of honesty they fall, They both lose their good-fellowes and their name :
Eor theeues, whose riches rest in others' wealth, Whose rents are spoiles, and others' thrift their
gaine ; "When they grow bankrupts in the art of Stealth, Booties to their old fellowes they remaine.
Cupid, thou free of these good-fellowes' art : For while man cares not who, so he be one ; Thy wings, thy bow, thy arrowes take his part, He neither Hues, nor loues, nor lyes alone ;
But be he once to Hymen's close yoke sworne. Thou straight brau'st this good-fello we with the home.
SONNET XXXII.
EAUENS ! see how bringing vp corrupts or betters ; Cupid long prentice to his mother bound, c
38 C^LICA.
Hatli taken oath onely to scape her fetters, That he will still like to her selfe be found.
Which is faire in his youth, in old age painted, Kind out of lust, and humble for his pleasure ; l^ot long agreeing with things well acquainted, Couetous, yet prodigall of fame and treasure.
IN'ow as they wrong themselues, that for it thunders Elame skye or ayre, wherein these tempest blow : So doth he that at womens changes wonders, Since strange it should not be that all men know : Therefore if Myra change as others doe. Free her ; but blame the sonne and mother too.
SONNET XXXIII.
YPID, thy folly bleares sweet Myra'seyes, For Hke the blind, that vp wards looke for light.
You fix those fatall staiTes on Fortune's skies, As though such planets gaue not Fortune might.
Base boy, what heart will doe him sacrifice. That wraps repentance in his greatest pleasure ? And his true seruants vnder Fortune tyes. As though his owne coyne were no currant treasure.
C^LICA. 39
Must Danae's lap be wet with golden showers ?
Or through the seas must buls Europa beare ?
Must Leda onely serue the higher Powers ?
Base changeling boy, and wouldst thou haue me sweare The well knowne secrets of Astolpho's cup/ Kot to disclose, but with white wax scale up ?
SONNET XXXIV.
HE gods to shew they ioy not in offences, Nor plague of humane nature doe desire, When they haue made their rods and whipt our senses, They throw the rods themselues into the fire.
Then Cupid, thou whom man hath made a goji, Be like thy fellow gods in weight and fashion,
^Astolplio figures both in the Orlando Innamorato of Boiardo, and in the Orlando Furioso, of Ariosto. In the latter (Book xxxiv,) is related Astolfo's adventure in search of the jar, pot, or vial, which contained the lost wits of Orlando. Lord Brooke's allusion is obscure, if it be to this. In the interpretation of the allegory, hy Harrington, this is said to mean ' the Gospel ' : hut its appropriateness here, with such meaning, it is difficult to see. G.
40 C^LICA.
And now my faults are punish'd, burne the rod In fires blowne with many-headed passion.
The rod is Worth, in Mp-a's beauty plac'd, "Which like a sunne hath power to burne another ; And though it selfe can no affections taste, To be in all men else Affection's mother : Therefore if thou wilt proue thy selfe a god, In thy sweet fires, let me burne this faire rod.
son:n"et xxxy.
TJPID, my little boy, come home againe, I doe not blame thee for thy running hence,
Where thou found' st nothing but Desire's paine, lealousie, with selfe-vnwoi-thinesse, offence.
Alas, I cannot Sir, I am made lame,
I light no sooner in sweet Myra's eyes ;
— "Whence I thought ioy and pleasure tooke their
name — But my right wing of wanton passion dyes.
And I poore child am here in stead of play,
So whip'd and scourg'd with Modestie and Truth,
CiELICA.
41
As hauing lost all hope to scape away, I yet take pleasure to 'tice hither youth : That my schoole-fellowes plagu'd asweU as I, May not make merry when they heare me cry.
SONjS^ET XXXVI.
INGS that in youth like all things else, are fine, Haue some who for their childish faults are beaten ; When more yeeres vnto greater vice incline, Some, whom the world doth their errors threaten :
So Cupid, you, who boast of princes blood, For womens princelike weakenesse^ are blamed, And common errour, yet not understood, Makes you for their new-fanglenesse, defamed.
Poore women sweare, they ignorant of harmes, With gentle minds perchance take easie motions ; Sweet Nature ye elding to the pleasing charmes Of man's false lust disguised with deuotion ;
But which are worse ; kings ill, or easly led ?
Schooles of this truth are yet not brought a-bed.
^ 'Weak-e-iiesse=a trisyllable, as elsewhere de-six-e and other words. G.
42 C-SLICA,
SONNET XXXYII.
THEEFE, risen early vp to seeke his prey Spieth a pretty boy, whereas he lay, Crying fast by a well : He wills him why to tell. And sweares to make him well, if that he may.
The pretty boy smileth, and thanketh the man, Told him that he hath falne his father's canne, All of gold in the deepe : 'WTiich losse did make him weepe : Prayeth his counsell keepe, helpe if he can.
The man not for conscience, but onely for hope, Puts off his clothes, goes downe by the rope.
Meaning to haue the cup.
If he can get it vp ; He spills that steales a sup ; Hast loseth hope.
For while in the water the false fellow sought, The pretty boy steales his cloke ; well was he
taught :
Wet comes the fellow vp,
He cannot find the cup ; His cloke is taken vp ; falshood is naught.
C^LICA. 43
Little lad Cupid, by night and by day, Wonted in Beautie's face wanton to play ;
Fast bound and prison' d lyes,
In Myra's stealing eyes. Woefully whence he cries, to runne away.
I asked the boy, the boy telleth his cause,
He saith, that Yertue seeks Beautie's disgrace ;
Vertue that grieues to find,
With what an humble minde. Men are to Beautie kind, and her deface.
Yertue thinks all this is long of my bow,
Which hiding her beauties doe counterfeits show,
And beautie Yertue' s arme.
With such a modest charme, As my shafts doe no harme : she can say, no.
I that was wont to make wisdome a toy, Yertue a pastime, am now made a boy ;
I am throwne from the heart,
Banish'd is Passion's art, Neither may I depart, nor yet enioy.
This was the cause, he said, made him complaine ; He sweares, if I help him, to help me againe ;
And straightwayes offers me,
If Yertue conquer' d be, Beauty and Pleasure free ; loy without paine.
44 C^LICA.
I glad, not or pittie, but hope of the prize, And proud of this language from Caelica's eyes,
Threw off my liberty,
Hoping that blessed I Shall with sweet Cupid flye, in Beautie's skyes.
But when in my heart I had peeced^ his bow, And on the ayre of my thoughts made his wings goe;
The little lad feares the rod,
He is not there a god ; I, and delight are odd : Myra sayes, no.
The flint keepeth fire, the lad he sayes true, But bellowes, it wiU not be kindled by you ;
He that takes starres with staues,
Yet hath not all he craues ; Loue is not his that raues : hope is vntrue.
SOJS^NET XXXYIII.
-^LICA, I ouernight was finely vsed, Lodg'd in the midst of paradise, your heart:
Kind thoughts had charge I might not be refused, Of euery fruit and flower I had part.
^ = mended, patched. See Sonnet liii., line 7. G.
CuELICA. 45
But curious Knowledge, blowne with busie flame, The sweetest fruits had in downe shadowes
hidden. And for it found mine eyes had seene the same, I from my paradise was straight forbidden.
"Where that curre, Eumor, runnes in eueiy place, Barking with Care, begotten out of Feare ; And glassy Honour, tender of disgraces- Stand Ceraphin^ to see I come not there ;
While that fine soyle, which all these ioyes did yeeld,
By broken fence is prou'd a common field.
SOCKET XXXIX.
HE pride of flesh by reach of humane wit, Did purpose once to ouer-reach the skye ; And where before God drown' d the world for it, Yet Babylon it built vp, not to dye.^
God knew these fooles how foolishly they wrought, That Destiny with Policie would breake ;
^ Seraphim. Genesis iii., 24. G. ' Genesis xi. 1 — 7. G.
46 CiELICA.
Straight none could tell his fellow what he
thought, Their tongues were chang'd, and men not taught to
speake :
So I that heauenly peace would comprehend,
In mortall seat of Caelica's faire heart,
To Babylon my solfe there, did intend,
"With naturall kindnesse, and with Passion's art :
But when I though[t] my selfe of her selfe free ;
All's chang'd : she vnderstands all men but me.
SOIS'NET XL.
HE nurse-life wheat within his greene huske growing. Flatters our hope and tickles our desire ; IS'ature's true riches in sweet beauties shewing, "Which set all hearts, with labour's loue, on fire.
No lesse faire is the wheat when golden eare, Shewes vnto hope the ioyes of neare enioying : Faire and sweet is the bud ; more sweet and faire The rose, which proues that Time is not destroying.
Caelica, your youth, the morning of delight, Enamel'd o're with beauties white and red,
CJ5LICA. 47
All sense and thoughts did to beleefe inuite, That Lone and Glorie there are brought to bed ;
And your ripe yeeres loue none — he goes no higher —
Tumes all the spirits of man into desire.
SONNET XLI.
LAS poore soule, thinke you to master Loue^ With constant faith ; doe you hope true deuotion
Can stay that god-head, which Hues but to moue, And turne men's hearts, like vanes, with outward motion.
No ; proud Desire thou run'st Misfortune's way, Loue is to her's, like vessells made of glasse ; Delightefull while they do not fall away, But broken, neuer brought to that it was.
When Honour's audit cals for thy receipt, And chargeth on thy head much time mispent ; Nature corrupted by thy vaine conceipt, Thy reason seruile, poore, and passion-rent :
What shall be thy excuse, what can'st thou say ? That thou hast erred out of loue and wonder ?
48 C^LICA.
No hereticke ; thou Cupid dost betray,
And with religion would' st bring princes vnder.
Ey merit banish Chance from Beautie's sky, Set other lawes in women's hearts, than will ; Cut Change's wings, that she no more may flye, Hoping to make that constant, which is ill ;
Therefore the doome is, wherein thou must rest, Myra that scomes thee, shall loue many best.
so:n'net xlii.
ELITJS, that loth was Thetis to forsake, Had counsell from the gods to hold her fast; Fore- warn' d what lothsome likenesse she would
take, Tet, if he held, come to her selfe at last.
He held ; the snakes, the serpents, and the fire, !N"o monsters prou'd, but trauells ^ of desire.
"WTien I beheld how Caelica's faire eyes. Did shew her heart to some, her wit to me ; Change, that doth proue the error is not wise,
1 Travails. G.
C^LICA. 49
In her mishap made me strange visions see ; Desire held fast, till Loue's vnconstant zone, Like Gorgon's head transform' d her heart to stone.
From stone she tnrnes againe into a cloud.
Where water still had more power than the fire ;
And I poore Ixion to luno vowed,
With thoughts to clip^ her, clipt my owne desire : For she was vanisht, I held nothing fast, But woes to come and ioyes already past.
This cloud straight makes a stream, in whose
smooth face. While I the image of my selfe did glasse. Thought shadowes, I, for Beautie did embrace, Till streame and all except the cold did passe ; Yet faith held fast, like foyles^ where stones be
set, To make toyes deare, and fooles more fond to get.
1 Clasp, enfold. G.
2 The metal setting of a stone is called a foil, as being made of a thin plate of gold. See Shakespeare : Richard II., i., 3. G.
50 C^LICA.
Thus our desires besides each inward throw/ Must passe the outward toyles of Chance and Feare ; Against the streames of reall truthes they goe, With hope alone to ballance all they beare, Spending the wealth of nature in such fashion, As good and ill lucke, equally breeds passion.
Thus our delights, like fair shapes in a glasse, Though pleasing to our senses, cannot last ; The metall breaks, or else the visions passe, Onely our griefes in constant moulds are cast :
I'le hold no more : false Caelica, line free ;
Seeme faire to all the world, and foule to me.
son:n'et xliii.
JELICA, when you looke downe into your heart, And see what wrongs my faith endureth there :
Hearing the groanes of true loue, loth to part. You thinke they witnesse of your changes beare.
And as the man that by ill neighbours dwells. Whose curious- eyes discerne those works of shame
1 Throe. G. ^ Inquisitive. G.
C^LICA. 51
"Which busie Rumour to the people tells ; Suffers for seeing those dark springs of fame.
So I because I cannot choose but know, How, constantly you haue forgotten me ; Because my faith doth like the sea-marks^ show, And tell the strangers where the dangers be ; I, like the child, whom nurse hath ouerthrowne, Kot crying, yet am whipt, if you be knowne.
SOI^NET XLIY.
HE Golden- Age was when the world was yong; Mature so rich, as Earth did need no sowing ; Malice not knowne ; the serpents had not stung ; Wit was but sweet Affection's ouerflowing.
Desire was free, and Beautie's first-begotten ; Beauty then neither net, nor made by art, Words out of thoughts brought forth, and not for- gotten ; The lawes were inward that did rule the heart.
' Lighthouses or buoys. So Shakespeare," like a great sea-mark" (Coriolanus v. 3) '* very sea-mark of my utmost saU," (Othello v. 2.) G.
52 C^LICA.
The Brasen-Age is now when Earth is wome ; Eeauty growne sicke ; I^ature corrupt and nought ; Pleasure vntimely dead as soone as borne ; Both words and kindnesse strangers to our thoughts :
If now this changing "World doe change her head, Caelica, what haue her new lords for to boast ? The old lord knowes Desire is poorely fed, And sorrowes not a wauering prouince lost ; Since in the guilt- Age^ Satume rul'd alone, And in this painted, planets euery one.
SONNET XLIY.
'BSENCE, the noble truce
0^ Cupid's warre :
Whore though desires want vse, They honoured are. Thou art the iust protection, Of prodigall affection, Haue thou the praise ; When bankrupt Cupid braueth. Thy mines his credit saueth, With sweet delayes.
1 Gilded? G.
CJSLICA. 53
Of wounds which presence makes With Beautie's shot, Absence the anguish shakes, But healeth not : Absence records the stories, Wherein Desire glories ; Although she burne, She cherisheth the spirits Where Constancy inherits And passions moume.
Absence, like dainty clouds, On glorious-bright ;^ Nature's weake senses shrowds, From harming light. Absence maintaines the treasure Of pleasure vnto pleasure, Sparing with praise ; Absence doth nurse the fire, Which starues and feeds desire With sweet delayes.
Presence to euery part Of Beauty tyes,
» So Milton " dark with excess of bright Thy skirts appear". (P. L III. 380.) G. D
54 C^LICA.
Where "Wonder rules the heart
There Pleasure dyes :
Presence^ plagues minde and senses
With Modestie's defences,
Absence is free :
Thoughts doe in absence venter
On Cupid's shadowed center,
They winke and see.
Eut thoughts be not so braue,
With absent ioy ;
For you with that you haue
Tour selfe destroy :
The absence which you glory,
Is that which makes you sory.
And bume in vaine :
For thought is not the weapon
Wherewith thoughts-ease men cheapen,^
Absence is paine.
SONJSFIT XLYI
ATIEIS'CE, weake-fortun'd and weake- minded wit, Perswade you me to ioy, when I am banish'd ?
1 Misprinted ' pleasures.' G.
2 Cheapen : bargain for, bid for, and hence purchase G.
CiELICA. 53
Why preach you time to come, and ioyes with it, Since time already come, my ioyes hath vanished ?
Giue me sweet Cynthia, with my wonted blisse ; Disperse the clouds that coffer vp my treasure ; Awake Endymion with Diana's kisse ; And then sweet Patience, counsell me to measure.
But while my loue feeles nothing but correction, "While carelesnesse o'er-shadowes my deuotion, While Myra's beames shew riuall-like reflection, The life of Patience then must be commotion ; Since not to feele what wrong I beare in this, A senselesse state, and no true patience is.
SONNET XLVII.
TLAS vpon his shoulders bare the skye. The loade was heauy, but the loade was faire :
His sense was rauish'd with the melodic, Made from the motion of the highest sphere.
Not Atlas I, nor did I heanen beare ; Caelica, ' tis true, once on my shoulder sate. Her eyes more rich by many characts^ were
1 Characters, as before. G.
56 CiELICA.
Than starres or planets, which men wonder at : Atlas bare heauen, such burdens be of grace, Caelica in heauen, is the angels place.
SOISTKET XI^YIII.
11
AKKXN'DE, whose liues from houre to houre decay. Lest sudden .change himselfe should make him feare: For if his blacke head instantly waxt gray, Doe you not thinke man would himselfe forsweare ? Caelica, who ouemight spake, with her eyes My loue complaines, that it can loue no more,
Shewing me shame, that languisheth and dyes, Tyrannis'd by loue, it tyrannis'd before ;
If on the next day Cynthia change and leaue, Would you trust your eyes, since her eyes deceaue ?
SONI^T XLIX.
EINCES, who haue — they say — no minde but thought, "Whose vertue is their pleasure and their end:
CiELICA. 57
That kindnes, which in their hearts neuer wrought, They like in others, and will praise a friend.
Cupid, who, people say, is bold with blindnesse, Pree of excesse, and enemy to measure ; Yet glories in the reuerence of kindnesse, In silent-trembling eloquence hath pleasure.
Princes wee comprehend, and can delight, We praise them for the good they neuer had ; But Cupid's wayes are farre more infinite, Kisses at times, and curt'sies make him glad : Then Myra giue me leaue for Cupid's sake, To kiss thee oft, that I may curt'sie make.
SONNET L.
COGGIN, his wife, by chance mistooke her bed; ' Such chances oft befall poore women- kind ;
* Alas poore soules, for when they misse their head,
* What maruell it is, though the rest be blind ?
This bed it was a lord's bed where she light. Who nobly pittying this poore woman's hap, Gaue almes both to releeue, and to delight, Ajid made the golden shower fall on her lap.
58 C^LICA. . ,*
Then in a frogdome askes her as ttey lay, Whose were her lips and breasts : and she sware,
his : .
' For hearts are open when thoughts fall to play. At last he askes her, "Whose her backside is ? She vow'd that it was Scoggin's onely part, Who neuer yet came neerer to her heart.
Scoggin o're-heard ; but taught by common vse,
* That he who sees all those which doe him harme,
* Or will in marriage boast such small abuse,
* Shall neuer haue his night-go wne furred warme :
And was content, since all was done in play, To know his lucke, and beare his armes away.
Yet when his wife should to the market goe, Her breast and bellie he in canuasse di-est, And on her backe-side fine silke did bestow ; loying to see it brauer than the rest.
His neighbours askt him, why ? and Scoggin sware, That part of all his wife was onely his : The lord should decke the rest, to whom they are, But he knew not what lordly-fashion is : If husbands now should onely decke their owne, Silkes would make many by their backs be knowne.
*. . CiELICA. 59
SONNET LI;
^LICA, because we now in absence line, Which liu'd so long in free-borne lotie at one ; " • •
Straight curious Eumour doth her censure giue, That our aspects are to another zone.
Yet Caclica, you know I do not change, My heart beares witnesse that there is no cause ; Authority may bid good- will be strange, But true desire is subiect to no lawes : If I haue spoken to the common sense, It Enuy kills, and is a wise offence.
SONNET LII.
WAY with these selfe-louing lads, Whom Cupid's arrow neuer glads : Away pooje soules, that sigh and weep, In loue of those that lye asleepe : For Cupid is a meadow god, And forceth none to kisse the rod.
Sweet Cupid's shafts like Destinie, Doe causelesse good or ill decree ; Desert is borne out of his bow,
<
60 C^LICA.
Reward vpon his wing doth goe ;
"\^at fooles are they that haue not knowne That Loue likes no lawes but his owne.
My songs they be of Cynthia's praise, I weare her rings on holy-dayes, In euery tree I write her. name, . And euery day I read the same.
Where Honour Cupid's riuall is
There miracles are seene of his.
If Cynthia craue her ring of me, I blot her name out of the tree ; If doubt doe darken things held deare, Then well-fare nothing once a yeare ;
Por many runne, but one must winne,
Fooles only hedge the cuckoe in.
The worth that worthinesse should moue, Is loue, that is the bow of Loue ; And loue aswell the^ foster can,
1 Misprinted ' thee ', on which and the line, I am in- debted to the Rev. Dr. Hannah of Trinity College, Glenalmond, N.B., for the following interesting and valuahle note : " A very curious misprint ; exactly mark- ing the disappearance of a word. Of course it means : " And loue as well the Foster can As can the mighty Noble-man '*.
C^LICA. 61
As 'can the mighty noble-man.
Sweet saint 'tis true, you worthy be, Yet without loue nought worth to me.
SONNET LIII.
VT that familiar things are neuer wonder, What gi^eater beauty than the heauen's glories ?
Where Phoebus shines, and when he is gone vnder, Leaueth in fairest starres man's fatall stories ; Yet Yenus choose with Mars the netty bed. Before that heauenly-life which Yulcan led.
For the sense compare a song reprinted in Eestituta (Vol. ii., p. 221), as follows :
*' Love as well can make abiding In a faithful stepherd's breast, As in prince's ; whose thoughts sHding, Like swift rivers never rest." It seems then that in 1633, compositors had begun to forget that *' Foster " was = forester. The text is clear, though in two other old copies thus,
" And love as well the shepheard can". (England's Helicon, p. 182 [reprint]) and
" And love as weU the foster can." (Collier, from Dowland, in Lyrical Poems, &c. [Percy Society: Vol. xiii., p. 627])." See also Lord Brooke's Minor Poems, Vol. II., p. 139. G.
62 C-SLici.
Who doth intreate the "Winter not to raine, Or in a storme the wind to leaue his blowing ? Ladies, shew you how luno did complaine, Of lupiter ynto Europa going.
Faire nymphs, If I wooe Cynthia not to leaue me,
You know 'tis I my selfe, not she deceaues me.
Masters that aske their schollers leaue to beat
them; Husbands that bid their wiues tell all they know ; Men that giue children sweet meates not to eate
them ; Ladies, you see what destinie they goe :
And who intreats, you know intreats in vaine, That Loue be constant, or come backe again.
SONl^ET LIY.
IGHT, rage and griefe, limmes of vnperfect loue, By ouer-acting euer lose their ends ;
For griefe while it would good affection moue, "With selfe-afliction doth deface her fiiends ; Putting on poore weake Pittie's pale reflexion,
CiELICA. 63
Whereas good-will is stirr'd with good complex- ion.^
Rage, againe, fond of her inflam'd desire, Desire which conquers by close inuasion, Forgetting light and heat line in one fire, So ouerhlowes the temper of Occasion,
That scorch' d with heate, by light discouered, Vntimely borne is, and vntimely dead.
Poore fooles, why striue you then, since all hearts
feele That idle Chance so gouernes in affection. As Cupid cannot turne his fatall wheele, ]^or in his owne orbe banish her election ?
Then teach Desire hope ; not rage, feare, griefe, Powers as vnapt to take, as giue reliefe.
SOKNET LY.
TNTHIA, because your homes looke di-
uerse wayes, Kow darkned to the East, now to the West, Then at full-glorie once in thirty dayes ;
^ See Glossary-Index for use of this word elsewhere, and for reference to explanation and illustration. G.
64 C.ELICA.
Sense doth beleeue that change is Nature's rest. Poore Earth, that dare presume to iudge the skye Cynthia is euer round, and neuer varies ; Shadowes and distance doe abuse the eye, And in abused sense Truth oft miscarries : Yet who this language to the people speaks, Opinion's empire Sense's idoll breaks.
SOIS^NET LYI.
LL my senses, like beacon's flame, Gaue alarum to Desire To take armes in Cynthia's name
And set aU my thoughts on fire :
Furie's wit perswaded me,
Happy loue was Hazard's hire ;
Cupid did best shoot and see
In the night where smooth is faire ;
Vp I start beleeuing well
To see if Cynthia were awake ;
"Wonders I saw, who can teU ?
And thus vnto my selfe I spake ;
Sweet god Cupid where am I,
That by pale Diana's light
Such rich beauties doe espie,
As harme our senses with deli2:ht ?
Am I borne vp to the skyes ?
See where loue and Venus shine,
Shewing in her heauenly eyes
That Desire is diuine :
Looke where lyes the Milken "Way,
"Way vnto that dainty throne,
Where while all the gods would play,
Vulcan thinkes to dwell alone :
I gaue reynes to this conceipt,
Hope went on the wheele of lust ;
Phansie's scales are false of weight,
Thoughts take thought that goe of trust.
I stept forth to touch the skye,
I a god by Cupid' dreames ;
Cynthia who did naked lye,
Eunnes away like siluer streames,
Leaning hollow banks behind :
Who can neither forward moue,
Nor if riuers be \Tikind,
Tume awaye or leaue to loue.
There stand I, like Articke pole,
Where Sol passeth o're the line.
Mourning my benighted soule,
Which so loseth light diuine.
There stand I like men that preach
From the execution place,
At their death content to teach
66 » C^LICA.
^ All the world witli their disgrace : He that lets his Cynthia lye, Naked on a bed of play, To say prayers ere she dye, Teacheth Time to runne away : Let no loue-desiring heart, In the starres goe seeke his fate ; Loue is onely Nature's art, Wonder hinders loue and hate. None can well behold with eyes, But what vndemeath him lies.
SONNET LVII.
^LICA, you blame me that I suffer not, Absence with ioy, authority with ease : Caelica, what powers can Nature's inside blot ? They must looke pale without that feele disease. You say that you doe like faire Tagus streames, Swell ouer those that would your channells choake ; Teelding due tribute vnto Phoebus' beames, Yet not made dry with losse of vapour's smoke.
Cselica, 'tis true, birds that doe swimme and flye, The waters can endure to haue and misse :
C^LICA. 67
Their feet for seas, their wings are for the skie,
Nor errour is it, that of Nature is.
I like the fish bequeath' d to Neptune's bed, No sooner tast of ayre, but I am dead.
SONNET LVII.
HE tree in youth proud of his leaues and springs, His body shadowed in his glorie layes ; Eor none doe flie with art, or others' wings, But they in whom all, saue Desire, decayes ; Againe in age, when no leaues on them grow, Then borrow they their greene of misseltoe.
Where Cselica, when she was young and sweet, Adorn' d her head with golden borrowed haire ; To hide her owne for cold, she thinkes it meet The head should mourne, that all the rest was faire; And now in age when outward things decay, In spite of age, she throwes that haire away.
Those golden haires she then vs'd but to tye Poore captiu'd soules with, she in triumph led. Who not content the sunne's faire light to eye,
68 C^LTCA.
Within his glory, their sense dazeled :
And now againe, her owneblackeh aire puts on, To moume for thoughts by her worths ouer- throwne.
SOISTNET LIX.
f^HO euer sailes neere to Bermuda coast, Goes hard aboord the monarchy of Feare Where all desires — but life's desire — are lost : For wealth and fame put off their glories there.
Yet this ile poy son-like, by mischief e knowne, Weanes not Desire from her sweet nurse, the sea ; But vnseene showes vs where our hopes be sowne, With woefull signes declaring ioyfull way.
For who will seeke the wealth of westeme sunne,
Oft by Bermuda's miseries must runne.
Who seekes the god of loue, in Beautie's skye, Must passe the empire of confused Passion ? Where our desires to all but horrors die, Before that ioy and peace can take their fashion.
CiELICA. 69
Yet this faire heauen that yeelds this soule- despaire, "Weanes not the heart fromhis sweet god, Affec- tion ; But rather shewes vs what sweet ioyes are there, Where Constancy is seruant to Perfection. "Who Caelica's chast heart then seeks to moue. Must ioy to suffer all the woes of loue.
so:n"]n^et lx.
^LICA, you said, I doe obscurely Hue, Strange to my friends, with strangers in suspect ;
— For darkenesse doth suspition euer giue. Of hate to men or too much selfe-respect —
' Fame' you doe say, ' with many wings doth
flye'; ' Who leaues himselfe ', you say, * doth lining dye'.
Caelica, 'tis true, I doe in darkenesse goe. Honour I soeke not, nor hunt after fame : I am thought- bound, I doe not long to know : I feele within, what men without me blame :
70 C-^LICA.
I scome the world, the world scomes me, 'tis
time; What can a heart doe more to honour you ?
Knowledge and fame in open hearts doe Hue, Honour is pure heart's homage vnto these ; Affection all men vnto Beauty giue, And by that law enioyned are to please ;
The world in two I haue diuided fit ;
My selfe to you, and all the rest to it.
SONNET LXI.
^LICA, while you doe sweare you loue
me best, And euer loved onely me, I feele that all powers are opprest By loue, and loue by Destinie*
For as the child in swadlin-bands, When it doth see the nurse come nigh, With smiles and crowes doth lift the hands, Tet still must in the cradle lie :
So in the boate of fate I rowe.
And looking to you, from you goe.
CiELlCA. 71
When I see in thy once-beloued browes, The heauy marks of constant loue, I call to minde my broken vowes, And child-like to the nurse would moue ;
* But Loue is of the phoenix-kind,
* And bumes itselfe, in selfe-made fire,
* To breed still new birds in the minde,
* From ashes of the old desire :
* And hath his wings from constancy,
* As mountaines call'd of mouing be.^
Then Caelica lose not heart-eloquence, Loue ynderstands not, ' come againe : ' Who changes in her own defence, I^eeds not cry to the deafe in vaine.
Loue is no true made looking-glasse, Which perfect yeelds the shape we bring ; It Tgly showes vs all that was. And flatters euery future thing.
When Phoebus' beames no more appeare,
'Tis darker that the day was here.
Change I confesse it is a hateful! power. To them that all at once must thinke ;
That is, mons quasi mo vena. G
72 C^LICA.
Yet Nature made both sweet and sower, She gaue the eye a lid to winke :
And though the youth that are estrang'd From mother's lap to other skyes, Doe thinke that Nature there is chang'd, Because at home their knowledge lyes ; Yet shall they see who farre haue gone, That Pleasure speaks more tongues than one.
The leaues fall off, when sap goes to the root, The warmth doth clothe the bough againe ; But to the dead tree what doth boot, The silly man's manuring paine ?^
Vnkindnesse may peece vp againe, But kindnesse either chang'd or dead, Selfe-pittie may in fooles complaine ; Put thou thy homes on others' head : For constant faith is made a drudge : But when requiting Lone is iudge.
1 Painstaking. G.
CiELICA. 73
SONNET LXTI.
HO worhips Cupid, doth adore a boy ; Boyes earnest are at first in their delight, But for a new, soone Icaue their dearest toy, And out of minde, as soone as out of sight ;
Their ioyes be dallyings and their wealth is
play, They cry to haue, and cry to cast away.
Mars is an idol, and man's lust his skye, Whereby his glories still are full of wounds ; Who worships him, their fame goes farre and nigh, But still of mine and distresse it sounds. Yet cannot all be wonne, and who doth line, Must roome to neighbours and succession giue.
Those Mercurists that upon humors worke, And so make others' skill and power their owne, And like the climats, which farre Northward
lurke, And through long Winters must reape what is sowne ; Or like the masons, whose art building well, Yet leaues the house for other men to dwell.
Mercuric, Cupid, Mars, they be no gods,
74 C^LICA.
But humane idols, built vp by Desire ;
Fruit of our boughs, whence heauen maketh rods,
And babyes^ too for child-thoughts that aspire :
"V\Tio sees their glories, on the earth must prye ;
"Who seeks true glory must looke to the skye.
SONNET LXIII.
|HE greatest pride of humane kind is wit, Which all Art out, and into methode drawes ;
Yet infinite, is farre exceeding it, And so is chance, of vnknowne things the cause ; The feet of men against our feet doe moue, No wit can comprehend the wayes of lone.
He that direct on paralells doth saile.
Goes Eastward out, and Eastward doth retume ;
The shadowed man, whom Phoebus' light doth faile,
Is blacke like him, his heat doth ouerbume ; The wheeles of high desire with force doe moue, Nothing can fall amisse to them that loue.
Vapours of Earth which to the sunne aspire, As Nature's tribute vnto heate or light,
2 = dolls. G.
CJELICA. 75
Are frozen in the midst of high Desire, And melted in sweet beames of selfe-delight ; And who to flye with Cupid's wings will prone, Must not bewaile these many ayres of lone.
Men that doe vse the compasse of the sea,
And see the needle ouer ^Northward looke :
Some doe the vertne in the loadstone lay,
Some say, the stone it from the !N'orth-starre tooke ;
And let him know that thinks with faith to moue,
They once had eyes, that are made blind by loue.
SONKET LXIY.
SI^ELICA, when I did see you eneiy day,
I saw so many worths so well vnited, I] As in this vnion while but one did play, ALL others' eyes both wondred and delighted :
Whence I conceau'd you of some heauenly mould, Since Loue, and Yertue, noble Fame and Pleasure, Containe in one no earthly metall could : Such enemies are flesh and blood to measure.
And since my fall, though I now onely see
Your backe, while all the world beholds your face *
76 C^LICA.
This shadow still shewes miracles to me, And still I thinke your heart a heauenly place : For what before was fil'd by me alone, I now disceme hath roome for euery one.
SONNET LXY.
I^LICA, when I was from your presence bound, At first good-will both sorrow'd and repined ; Loue, Faith, and Nature felt restraint a wound, Honour it selfe to kindnesse yet inclin'd ;
Your vowes one way with your desires did goe, Self-pittie then in you did pittie me ; Yea sex did scome to be imprisoned so, Eut fire goes out for lacke of vent, we see.
For when with time Desire had made a truce,
I onely was exempt, the world left free ;
Yet what winne you by bringing change in vse,
But to make currant infidelity ?
Caelica, you say, you loue me, but you feare : Then hide me in your heart and keep me there.
C^LICA. 77
SONNET LXVI.
^LICA, you whose requests command- ments be — Aduise me to delight my minde with books : ' The glasse where Art doth to posterity, ' Shew nature naked vnto him that looks ;
* Enriching vs, shortning the wayes of wit,
* Which with experience else deare buyeth it.
Caelica, if I obey not, but dispute,
Thinke it is darkenese which seeks out a light ;
And to presumption do not it impute,
If I forsake this way of infinite ; Books be of men ; men but in clouds doe see, Of whose embracements Centaures gotten be.
I haue for books, aboue my head the skyes, Vnder me. Earth ; about me ayre and sea ; The Truth for light, and Reason for mine eyes ; Honour for guide, and Nature for my way ;
With change of times, lawes, humors, manners, right;
Each in their diuerse workings infinite.
Which powers from that wee feele, conceiue, or doe.
78 CiELICA.
Raise in our senses through ioy or smarts, All formes, the good or ill can bring vs to : More liuely farre, than can dead books or arts ;
* Which at the second-hand deliuer forth,
* Of few men's heads, strange rules for all men's
worth.
False antidotes for vitious ignorance, Whose causes are within, and so their cure ; Errour coiTupting Mature not mischance : Por how can that be wise which is not pure ? So that man being but mere hypocrisie, What can his arts but beames of follie be ?
Let him then first set straight his inward spirit,
That his affections in the seruing roomes, May follow Eeason, not confound her light. And make her subiect to inferiour doomes ; For till the inward moulds be truly plac'd, All is made crooked that in them we cast.
But when the heart, eyes' light, grow pure
together, And so vice in the way to be forgot, Which threw man from creation, who knowes
whither ? Then this strange building which the flesh knowes
not,
CiELTCA. 79
Reuiues a new-form'd image in man's minde, Where arts reueal'd, are miracles defin'd.
"What then need halfe-fast helps of erring wit, Methods or books of vaine humanity ? Which dazell Truth, by representing it, And so entayle clouds to posterity.
Since outward wisdome springs from truth within,
Which all men feele, or heare, before they sinne.
SONJ^ET LXYII.
NCONST AISTT thoughts where light desires do moue, With euery obiect which sense to them showes. Still ebbing from themselues to seas of loue, Like ill led kings that conquer but to lose ;
With blood and paine these dearely purchase
shame, Time blotting all things out, but euill name.
The double heart that loueth it selfe best, Yet can make selfe-loue beare the name of friend ; Whose kindnesse onely in his wit doth rest. And can be all but truth, to haue his end,
80 C^LICA.
Must one desire in many figures cast : Dissemblings then are knowne when they are past.
The heart of man mis-seeking for the best, Oft doubly or vnconstantly must blot : Eetweene these two the misconceipt doth rest, Whether it euer were that lasteth not ; Vnconstancy and doublenesse depart, When man binds his desire to mend his heart.
SOIS'jS'ET LXYIII.
HILE that my heart an altar I did make, To sacrifice desii-e and faith to Loue, The little boy his temples did forsake, And would for me no bow nor arrow moue. Dues of disgrace my incense did depresse : That heat went in ; the heart burnt not the lesse.
And as the man that sees his house opprest, "With fire, and part of his goods made a prey. Yet doth pull downe the roofe to saue the rest, Till his losse giue him light to runne away : So when I saw the bell on other sheep, I hid my selfe, but dreames vex them that sleep.
C^LTCA.
81
My exile was not like the barren tree, Which beares his fruitlesse head vp to the skye, Eut like the trees whose boughs o'reloaden be, And with selfe-riches bowed downe to die ;
"When in the night with songs, not cries, I moane,
Lest more should heare what I complaine of one.
SONNET LXIX.
HEN all this all doth passe from age to age, And reuolution in a circle tume, Then heauenly Justice doth appeare like rage, The caues doe roare, the very seas doe bume ; Glory growes dark,, the sunne becomes a night, And makes this great world feele a greater might.
When Loue doth change his seat from heart to
heart, And worth about the wheele of Fortune goes, Grace is diseas'd, desert seemes ouerthwart, Vowes are forlone, and truth doth credit lose ; Chance then giues law. Desire must be wise. And looke more wayes than one, or lose her eyes.
82 C^LTCA.
My age of ioy is past, of woe begunne, Absence my presence is, strangenesse my grace ; ^ith them that walke against me, is my sunne : The wheele is tum'd, I hold the lowest place : What can be good to me since my loue is, To doe me harm, content to doe amisse ?
SONIS-ET LXX.
XJPID did pine, Yenns that lou'd her sonne Or lackt her sport, did looke with heauy heart :
The gods are cal'd, a councell is begunne, Delphos is sought, and ^sculapius' art.
Apollo saith, Loue is a relatiue,
Whose being onely must in others be ;
As bodies doe their shadowes keepe aliue,
So Eros must with Anteros agree ;
They found him out a mate with whom to play, Loue straight enioy'd, and pin'd no more away.
Caelica, this image shadowes forth my heart, Where Yenus moumes and Cupid prospers not ; For this is my affections ouerthwart, That I remember what you haue forgot j
C^LiCA. 83
And while in you my selfe I seeke to find,
I see that you your selfe haue lost your minde.
When I would ioy, as I was wont to doe,
Your thoughts are chang'd, and not the same to
me : My loue that lacks her play-fellow in you, Seeks vp and downe, but blinded cannot see. The boy hath stolne your thoughts some other
way, Where wantonlike they doe with many play.
SONI^ET LXXI.
J^^glOTJE, I did send you forth enamel'd faire I P^ With hope, and gaue you seisin and otiirmSm' liuery.
Of Beautie's skye, which you did claime as heyre,
By obiects and desire's affinitie.
And doe you now returne leane with despaire ? Wounded with riualls' warre, scorched with
iealousie ? Hence changeling; Loue doth no such colours
weare : Find suerties, or at Honour's sessions dye.
84 -CiELlCA.
Sir, know me for your owne, I onely beare, Faith's ensigne, which is Shame and Miserie, My paradise and Adam's diuerse were : His fall was knowledge, mine simplicitie.
What shall I doe, Sir ? doe me prentice bind, To knowledge, honour, fame, or honestie ; Let me no longer follow womenkinde, Where change doth vse all shapes of tyranny ; And I no more will stirre this earthly dust, Wherein I lose my name, to talke on lust.
SONNET LXXII.
iELICA, you that excell in flesh and wit. In whose sweet heart Loue doth both ebb and flow Eetuming faith more than it tooke from it : Whence doth the change, the World thus speakes on, grow?
If Woithinesse doe ioy to be admired,
My soule, you know, onely be-wonders you ;
If Beautie's glorie be to be desired,
My heart is nothing else ; what need you new ?
C^LICA. 85
If louing ioy of worths, beloued be,
And ioys not simple, but still mutuall,
"Whom can you more loue, than you haue lou'd me?
Ynlesse in your heart there be more than all ;
Since Loue no dooomes-day hath, where bodies change.
Why should new be delight, not being strange ?
SONNET LXXIII.
YRAPHILL, 'tis true, I lou'd. and you lou'd me, My thoughts as narrow as my heart, then were; Which made change seeme impossible to be, Thinking one place could not two bodies beare, This was but earnest Youth's simplicitie, To fadome^ Nature within Passion's wit ; Which thinks her eamestnesse eternity, Till selfe-delight makes change looke thorough it : You banish'd were, I grieu'd, but languish'd not, Por worth was free and of affection sure ; So that time must be vaine, or you forgot,
1 Fathom. G.
86 C^LICA.
]S"ature and Loue, no vacuum can endure ; I found desert, and to desert am true, Still dealing by it, as I dealt by you.
SO]Sr:N^ET LXXIY.
X the window of a graunge, "Whence men's prospects cannnot range Ouer groues and flowers growing :
K'ature's wealth, and pleasure showing;
But on graues where shepheards lye.
That by loue or sicknesse die ;
In that window saw I sit,
Caelica, adorning it ;
Sadly clad for Sorrowe's glory,
Making ioy glad to be sorie :
Shewing Sorrow in such fashion,
As Truth seem'd in loue with Passion :
Such a sweet enamell giueth
Loue restrain' d, that constant liueth.
Absence, that bred all this paine.
Presence heal'd not straight againe ;
Eyes from darke to suddaine light,
See not straight, nor can delight :
Where the heart reuiues from death,
Grones doe first send forth a breath :
CiELICA. 87
So, first looks (lid looks beget,
One sigh did another set.
Hearts within their breast did quake,
While thoughts to each other spake.
Philocell entraunced stood,
Rackt and ioyed, with his good ;
His eyes on her eyes were fixed
Where both true Loue and Shame were mixed
In her eyes he Pittie saw,
His Loue did to Pittie draw :
But Loue found when it came there,
Pitty was transform'd to Feare :
Then he thought that in her face.
He saw Loue, and promis'd Grace.
Loue calls his loue to appeare :
But as soone as it came neere,
Her loue to her bosome fled,
Vnder Honour's burthens dead.
Honour in Loue's stead tooke place,
To grace Shame, with Loue's disgrace ;
But like drops throwne on the fire,
Shame's restraints enflam'd Desire :
Desire looks, and in her eyes,
The image of it selfe espies,
Whence he takes Selfe-pittie's motions
To be Cynthia's owne deuotions ;
And resolues Feare is a lyar,
88 C^LICA.
Thinking she bids speake Desire ; But true loue that feares, and dare Offend it selfe with pleasing Care, So diuers wayes his heart doth moue, That his tongue cannot speake of loue. Onely in himselfe he sayes, How fatall are blind Cupid's waies !
SONNET LXXV.
NDTMION'S poore hapt is, That while Loue sleepes, the heauens kisse :
But silent Loue is simple wooing, Euen Destiny would haue vs doing. Boldnesse neuer yet was chidden. Till by Loue it be forbidden, Myra leaues him, and knowes best, What shall become of all the rest.
SONNET LXXVI.
N the time when herbs and flowers, Springing out of melting powers, Teach the Earth that heate and raine Doe make Cupid Hue againe :
C^LICA. 8 9
Late when Sol, like great hearts, showes
Largest as he lowest goes :
Cselica with Philocell
In fellowship together fell :
Caelica her skinne was faire,
Daintie aborne^ was her haire ;
Her haire, N^ature dyed browne,
To become the morning gowne,
Of Hope's death, which to her eyes,
Offers thoughts for sacrifice.
Philocell was true and kind,
Poore, but not of poorest minde :
Though Mischance to harme affected^
Hides and holdeth Worth suspected ;
He good shepherd loued well.
But Caelica scorn'd Philocell.
Through enamel' d meades they went,
Quiet, she, he passion-rent.
Her worths to him hope did moue,
Her worths made him feare to loue.
His heart sighs and faine would show.
That which all the World did know i
His heart sigh'd the sighs of feare.
And durst not tell her loue was there ;
* But as thoughts in troubled sleepe,
^ Auburn. G. ^ Inclined, as before. G.
90 C-SLICA.
' Dreaming feare, and fearing weepe,
' When for helpe they faine would cry,
* Cannot speake, and helplesse lie :
So while his heart, full of paine,
"Would it selfe in words eomplaine,
Paine of all paines, louer's feare,
Makes his heart to silence sweare.
Strife at length those dreames doth breake,
His despaire taught Feare thus speake :
' Caelica, what shall I say ?
You, to whom all passions pray :
Like poore flies that to the fire,
"Where they hurne themselues, aspire :
You, in whose worth men doe ioy,
That hope neuer to enioy :
"Where both grace and beauties framed,
That Loue being might be blamed.
Can true "Worthinesse be glad,
To make hearts that loue it, sad ?
"What meanes Nature in her iewell,
To shew Mercie's image cruell ?
Deare, if euer in my dayes,
My heart ioy'd in others' praise :
If I of the world did borrow,
Other ground for ioy or sorrow :
If I better wish to be
But the better to please thee ;
I say, if this false be proued, Let me not loue, or not be loued» But when Reason did inuitc, All my sense to Fortune's light ; If my loue did make my reason, To it selfe for thy selfe treason ; If when Wisdome shewed me Time and thoughts both lost for thee ; If those losses I did glory, For I could not more lose, sory ; Cselica then doe not scorne Loue, in humble humour borne. Let not Fortune haue the power, Cupid's godhead to deuoure For I heare the wise-men tell, l^ature worketh oft as well, In those men whom Chance disgraceth. As in those she higher placeth. Cselica, 'tis neare a god. To make euen fortunes odd ; And of farre more estimation, Is creator, than creation. Then deare, though I worthlesse be, Yet let them to you worthy be, Whose mceke thoughts are highly graced, By your image in them placed. Herewithall like one ppprest,
92 c^rr.iCA
With selfe-burthens he did rest;
Like amazed were his senses,
Both with pleasure and offences. J
Cselica's cold answers show,
That which fooles feele, wise men know :
How selfe-pitties haue reflexion,
Backe into their owne infection :
And that passions onely moue
Strings tun'd to one note of Lone :
She thus answers him with reason,
iN'euer to desire in season :
' Philocell, if you loue me ■ — For you would heloued be, — Tour owne will must be your hire. And desire reward desire. Cupid is in my heart sped, "Where all desires else ai'e dead. Ashes o're Loue's flames are cast, All for one is there disgrac'd. Make not then your owne mischance, "Wake your selfefrom Passion' s-traunce, And let Keason guide affection, From despaire to new election.'
Philocell that onely felt Destinies which Cupid dealt ; 1^0 lawes but Loue-lawes obeying, Thought that gods were wonne with praying,
CMLTCA. 93
And with heart fix'd on her eyes. Where Lone he thinks lines or dyes, . ' His words, his heart with them leading, Thus vnto her dead lone pleading :
Caelica, if ener you Loued haue, as others' doe ; Let my present thoughts be glassed In the thoughts which you haue passed ; Let self-pittie, which you know, Frame true pittie now in you ; Let your forepast woe and glorie. Make you glad them, you make sory : Loue reuengeth like a god, When he beats he burnes his rod : Who refuse almes to Desire, Dye when drops would quench the fire. But if you doe feele againe What peace is in Cupid's paine, Grant me, deare your wished measure, Paines, but paines that be of pleasure ; Pind not these things strange in me, Which within your heart we see : For true Honour never blameth Those that Loue her seruants nameth. But if your heart be so free ; As you would it seeme to be, JS'ature hath in free hearts placed
94 C^LICA.
Pitty fo^ the poQre disgraced. . His eyes great with child with teares, Spies in her eyes many feares ; Sees hfe Ihinks, that sweetnesse vanish Which all feares was wont to banish. Sees, sweet Loue, there wont to play, Airm'd and drest to runne away, >
To her heart, where she alone, Scometii all the world but one. Cselica with clouded face, ' -
Giuing jrnto anggr grace ;♦•- ' • * ? v' 3^hilc4^he threatned hrfti displeasure. . Making ang^- looke]^like pleasure ; Thtls in furie to him spake, ' "Word^ which make'euen hearts to quake : ' Philocell, farre from me get you. Men are false, we cannot let^ you ; Humble, and yet full of pride. Earnest, not to be denyed ; Now vs, for not louing, blaming, K'ow vs, for too much, defaming : Though I let you posies beare, Wherein my name cyphred were. For I bid you in the tree. Cipher downe your name by me :
Hinder. G.
CJELICA. 95
For the bracelet pearle-like white*, ' Which you stale from me by night, I content was you should carry Lest that you should longer tarry ; ' Thinke you that you might encroach, . -To set kindnesse more abroach ? Thinke you me in friendship tyed, So that nothing be denyed ? Doe you thinke that you must Hue, Bo^ind to that which you will giue ? PhiloceH, Isjty^tlepart, *. ' t • Elot my love .but of thy heart ; •. ^'» Cut my name out of the tree,^ Beare not memoiie of me. My delight is all my care^, All lawes else despised are, I will neuer rumour move. At least for one I do not loue/
Shepheardesse, if it proue, Philocell she once did loue, Can kind doubt of true affection, Merit such a sharp correction ? "When men see you fall away, Must they winke to see no day ? Is it worse in him that speaketh. Than in her that friendship breaketh ? Shepheardesse, when you change,
96 C^LICA.
Is your ficklenesse so strange ? Are you thus impatient still ? Is your honour slaue to will ? - They to whom you guiltie be, Must not they your errour see ? May true martyrs at the fire Kot so much as life desire ?
Shepheardesses, yet marke well, The martyrdome of Philocell : Eumour made his faith a scorne, Him, example of forelorne : Feeling he had of his woe, Yet did loue his overthrow : For that she knew Loue would beare, She to wrong him did not feare ; lelousie of riual's grace, In his passion got a place ; ' But Loue, lord of all his powers, ' Doth so rule this heart of ours, * As for our belou'd abuses, ' It doth euer find excuses. Loue teares Heason's law in sunder, Loue, is god, let Reason wonder. For nor scornes of his affection, Nor despaire in his election, Nor his faith damn'd for obeying, Nor her change, his hopes betraying
C^LICA. 97
Can make Philocell remoue, But he Cailica will loue.
Here my silly song is ended, Faire nymphs be not you offended ; For as men that trauell'd farre, For seene truths oft scorned are : By their neighbours idle lines, Who scarce know to please their wiues ; So though I haue sung you more, Than your hearts haue felt before. Yet that faith in men doth dwell, Who trauells Constancy can tell.
SOl^l^ET LXXYII.
OETUNE, art thou not forc'd sometimes to scorne. That seest ambition striue to change our state ? As though thy scepter slaue to lust were borne^ Or wishes could procure themselues a fate. I, when I haue shot one shaft at my mother, That all her desires a-foote thinke all her owne; Then straight draw vp my bow to strike another, For gods are best by discontentment knowne. And when I see the poore forsaken sp'rit,
98 C^LICA,
Like sicke men, whom the doctor saith must dye : Sometimes with rage and strength of passion fight, Then languishing enquire what life might buy : I smile to see Desire is neuer wise, But warres with change, which is her paradise.
SOJS^XET LXXYIII.
HE heathen gods finite in power, wit, birth. Yet worshipped for their good deeds to men, At first kept stations between heauen and earth Alike iust to the castle and the denne ; * Creation, merit, nature, duly weighed, And yet, in show, no rule, but Will obeyed. Till time and selfenesse, which turne worth to arts, Loue into complements, and things to thought ; Found out new circles to enthrall men's hearts By lawes ; wherein while thrones seeme ouer- wrought. Power finely hath surpriz'cl this faith of man, And tax'd his freedome at more than he can.
* A cave or wild beast's dwelling, and so more strongly contrasted with * castle ' than even a ' hut ' would be. G.
CiELICA. 99
For to the scepters, iudges lawcs reserue As well the practicke as expounding sense ; From which no innocence can painlesse swerue, They being engines of omnipotence :
"With equall showes, then is not humble man Here finely tax'd at much more than he can ? Our moderne tyrants, by more grosse ascent, Although they found distinction in the State Of Church, Law, Custome, People's gouernment, Mediums— at least — to giue excesse a rate, Yet fatally haue tri'd to change this frame. And make will law, man's wholesome lawes but name. For when Power once hath trod this path of
Might, And found how Place aduantagiously extended Waines, or confoundeth all inferiors right With thinne lines hardly scene, but neuer ended ; It straight drownes in this gulfe of vast affec- tions. Faith, truth, worth, law, all popular protec- tions.
100 CiELICA.
SOT^NET LXXIX.
HE little hearts, where light-wing'd Passion raignes, Move^ easily vpward, as all frailties doe Like strawes to ieat,^ these follow princes veines, And so, by pleasing, doe corrupt them too.
Whence as their raising proues kings can create ; So States prone sicke, where toyes^ beare staple- rates.
* Like atomi they neither rest, nor stand,
* Nor can erect ; because they nothing be
* But baby-thoughts, fed with Time -present's hand* ' Slaues* and yet darlings of Authority ;
' Eccho's of wrong ; shade wes of princes might ;
* Which glow-worme-like, by shining show
'tis night,
* Curious of fame, as foule is to be faire ;
* Caring to seeme that which they would not be ;
* Wherein Chance helpes, since praise is power's
heyre,
* Honar the creature of Authoritie :
* So as borne high, in giddie* orbes of grace,
1 Misprinted, 'more.' G. 2 jet. G. ^ Trifles. G. * So Milton :
" Of lincked sweetness long drawn out
C^LICA. 101
* These pictures are, which are indeed but Place.
* And as the bird in hand, with freedome lost,
* Serues for a stale, ^ his fellowes to betray :
' So do these darlings rays' d at princes' cost ' Tempt man to throw his libertie away ; ' And sacrifice Law, Church, all rcall things ' To scare, not in his owne, but eagle's wings.
"Whereby, like JEsop's dogge, men lose their meat, To bite at glorious shadowes, which they see ; And let fall those strengths which make all States
great By free truths chang'd to seruile flatterie.
"Whence, while men gaze upon this blaziug
starre, Made slaues, not subiects, they to tyrants are.
With wanton heed and giddy cunning." (L. Allegro, line, 140-1) and " Giddy and restless let them reel.'* (Psalm Ixxxiii. 51st.) We speak of a '■giddy height,' as in text. G. 1 Decoy. See our Phineas Fletcher's Glossary-Index s.v, for full explanations. G
102 CMLICA..
SOIS^IS^ET LXXX.
S when men see a blazing starre appeare, Each stirres vp other's leuitie to wonder, In restlesse thoughts holding those visions deare, Which threaten to rent Gouernment in sunder ; Yet be but horrors from vaine hearts sent forth, To prophecie against annointed worth : So likewise mankinde, when true Gouernment Her great examples to the world brings forth, Straight in the errors natiue Discontent, Sees apparitions opposite to worth ;
Which gathers such sense out of Enuie's beames, As still casts imputation on Supreames.
SOI^NET LXXXL
p^LEARE spirits, which in images set forth The wayes of Nature by fine imitation, ire oft forc'd to hyperboles of worth,
As oft againe to monstrous declination ;
So that their heads must Hn'd be, like the skie, Eor all Opinions' arts to traffike by.
Dull spirits againe, which loue all constant grounds,
CiELICA. 103
As comely veyles for their vnactiuenesse, Are oft forc'd to contract or stretch their bounds, As actiue Power spreads her beames more or lesse : For though in N'ature's waine these guests come
forth ; Can place or stampe make currant ought but worth ?
SOKNET LXXXII.
NDEE. a throne I saw a virgin sit, The red and white rose quarter'd in her face;
Starre of the I^orth ! and for true guards to it. Princes, Church, States, all pointing out her grace The homage done her was not borne of Wit ; "Wisdome admir'd, Zeale tooke ambition's place. State in her eyes taught Order how to fit, And fixe Confusion's vnobseruing race.
Fortune can here claime nothing truly great, But that this princely creature is her seat.
104 C^LICA.
SONNET LXXXIII.
jOTJ that seeke what life is in death, Now find it aire that once was breath. New names Ynknowno, old names gone Till Time end bodies, but soules none. Reader ! then make time, while you be, But steppes to your Eternitie.
SONNET LXXXIV.i
HO grace for zenith had, from which no shadowes grow ; Who hath secne ioy of all his hopes, and end of all his woe ;
^ The non-capital of the alternate line and their non- rhyming, seem to indicate that the Poet intended the present sonnet to be after the type of his lament for Sidney. (Minor Poems : Vol. II. pp 143—147). In the folio the division of the lines is several times mistaken. Dr. Hannah has admirably corrected these: hut he prints as if in four- lined stanzas. We deem it preferable to re-print in the full lines. On this Sonnet see our Essay on Lord Brooke's Poetry in volume II. (pp Ixxi-ii) and also Dr. Hannah's "Courtly loem- (I870j pp 166-173 et alibi. I give as an Appendix to " Caelica" agreeably to promise in our Essay, Sir Edward Dyer's " Fancy " and Southwell's " Use '' of it— both from Dr. Hannah's text, as supra. G.
CiELICA. 105
"Whose loue belou'd, hath beene the crowne of his
desire ; Who hath seene Sorrowe's glories burnt in sweet
Affection's fire : If from this heauenly state, which soules with
soules vnites, He be falne downe into the darke despaired warre
of sp'rits, Let him lament with me ; for none doth glorie
know, That hath not beene aboue himselfe, and thence
falne downe to woe : But if there be one hope left in his languish' d
heart ; If feare of worse, if wish of ease, if horrour may- depart. He plays with his complaints ; he is no mate for
me, Whose loue is lost, whose hopes are fled, whose
feares for euer be : Yet not those happy feares which shew Desire
her death, Teaching with vse a peace in woe, and in despairs
a faith : No, no ; my feares kill not, but make vncured
wounds, WTiere ioy and peace do issue out, and onely
paine abounds,
106 CiEUCA.
* Ynpossible^ are helpe, reward and hope to me ;
* Yet while vnpossible they are, they easie seeme
to be,
* Most easie seemes remorse, despaii-e, and deaths
to me ;
* Yet while they passing easie seeme, ynpossible
they be. So neither can I leaue my hopes that doe deceiue, Nor can I trust mine owne despaire and nothing
else receiue. Thus be vnhappy men blest, to be more accurst ; Neere to the glories of the sunne, clouds with
most horrour burst.
* Like ghosts raised out of graues, who line not,
though they goe ;
* Whose walking, feare to others is, and to them-
selues a woe : So is my life by her whose loue to me is dead, On whose worth my despaire yet walks, and my
desire is fed : I swallow downe the baite, which carries down©
my death ; I cannot put loue from my heart, while life drawes
in my breath ;
Transition-form of * impossible.' G.
CJELICA. 107
My Winter is within, which withereth my ioy ; My knowledge, seate of ciuill warre, where friends
and foes destroy ; And my desires are wheeles, whereon my heart
is borne, "With endlesse turning of themselnes, still lining
to be torne. My thoughts are eagles' food, ordayned to be a
prey To worth^; and being still consum'd, yet neuer
to decay. My memorie, where once my heart laid vp the
store Of helpe, of ioy, of spirit's wealth to multiply
them more ; Is now become the tombe wherein all these lye
slaine ; My helpe, my ioy, my spirit's wealth all sacrific'd
to paine. In Paradise I once did Hue, and taste the tree, Which shadowed was from all the world, in ioy to
shadow me :
^ I regret that I cannot accept Dr. Hannah's correction of ' wrath ' for * worth.' The Poet points to his beloved and loveahle, albtifc to him rejecting " Caslica" : and it is her worth that aggravates his misery. G.
108 CMLICA.,
The tree hatli lost his fruit, or I haue lost my
seate ; My soule both blacke with shadow is, and ouer-
humt with heat : Truth here for triumph serues, to shew her power
is great, Whom no desert can ouercome, nor no distresse
intreat. Time past layes up my ioy ; and time to come
my griefe ; She euer must he my desire, and neucr my reliefe. Wrong, her lieutenant is ; my wounded thoughts
are they. Who haue no power to keepe the field, nor will to
runne away. 0 ruefull Constancy, and where is Chauge so base, As it may be compar'd with thee in scorne, and in
disgrace ? Like as the kings forlome, ' depos'd from their
estate ;
* Yet cannot choose but loue the crowne, although
new kings they hate ; ' If they doe plead their right, — nay, if they only line, —
* Offences to the crowne alike their good and ill
shall giue :
C^LICA. 109
So — I would I were not — because I may com-
plaine, And cannot choose but loue my wrongs, and ioy
to wish in vaine ; This faith condemneth me ; my right doth rumor
moue ; I may not know the cause I fell, nor yet without
cause loue. Then, Loue, where is reward, at least where is the
fame Of them that, being, beare thy crosse, and, being
not, thy name ? The World's example I, a fable euery where, A well from whence the springs are dried, a tree
that doth not beare : ' I, like the bird in cage, at first with cunning
caught, ' And in my bondage for delight with greater *
cunning taught. * Kor owner's humour dyes ; I neither loued nor
fed, Nor freed am, till in the cage forgotten I be dead. The ship of Greece,^ the streame, and she be not
the same,
^ ' The ship of Greece " is clearly the famous ship in which Theseus returned after slaying the Minotaur. The
110 C2ELICA.
They were, although ship, streame, and she still
beare their antique name. The wood which was, is worne ; the waues are
runne away ; Yet still a ship, and still a streame, still running to
a sea. She lou'd, and still she loues, but doth not still
loue me; To all except my selfe yet is, as she was wont to
be.
Athenians professed to preserve it till the days of Demetrius Phalereus, tlie rotten timbers being carefully removed and renewed from time to time, so that it became a favourite question whether a ship of which every plank had been often changed could still be called the same : (Plutarch, Thes. p 10. edn 1620). This passage, in which Lord Brooki compares the changes of his mistress to that ship of Greece, and to the ever-flowing stream— the same yet not the same— perpetually altering, yet bearing con- tinuously "the antique name", — is an excellent speci- men of the subtle conceptions which he loved to elaborate in his poetry. But the whole poem is raised to a level of thought curiously diflferent from that of the two pieces by Dyer and Southwell, with which it is connected ". (Dr. Hannah in " Courtly Poets " as before, p 247) G.
1 The reading 'streame' in the singular, line 7th on- ward, shews that ' streames ' is a misprint here, and two lines on, as silently corrected by Dr. Hannah. G.
OJELICA. 1 1 1
0, my once happy thoughts ! the heauen where
grace did dwell ! My saint hath turn'd away her face, and made
that heauen my hell ! A hell, for so is that from whence no soules return ; Where, while our spirits are sacrific'd, they waste
not though they burne. Since then this is my state, and nothing worse
than this ; Behold the mappe of death-like life exil'd from
lonely blisse ; Alone among the world, strange with my friends
to he. Shewing my fall to them that scome, see not or
will not see : My heart a wildernesse, my studies only feare, And as in shadowes of curst death, a prospect of
despai e. My exercise, must he my horrours to repeat ; My peace, ioy, end, and sacrifice, her dead lone to
intreat : My food, the time that was ; the time to come,
my fast ; For drinke, the barren thirst I feele, of glories
that are past ; Sighs and salt teares my bath , Reason my looking-
glasse ;
112 C^LICA.
To shew me he most wretched is, that once most
happy was. Forlone desires my clocke to tell me euery day That Time hath stolne loue, life, and all, but my
distresse away. For musicke, heauy sighes ; my walke an inward
woe ; Which like a shadow ener shall before my body
goc: And I my selfe am he, that doth with none com- pare, Except in woes and lacke of worth, whose states
more wretched are. Let no man aske my name, nor what else I should
be ; For Greiv-ill, paine, forlome estate, doe best
decipher me.-
SOjS^KET lxxxy.
ABE WELL sweet boy, complaine not of my truth ; Thy mother lou'd thee not with more de- no tio a :
^ Misprinted ' signes '. G.
2 Not observing the mis-numbering of xxvii twice, this Sonnet is usually quoted as Ixxxiii instead of Ixxxiv. G.
CJilLICA. 113
For to thy boye's play I gaue all my youth: Yong Master, I did hope for your promotion.
"While some sought honours, princes thoughts ob-
seruing ; Many woo'd fame, the child of paine and anguish, Others iudg'd imvard good a chiefe descruing; I in thy wanton visions ioy*^ to languish.
I bow'd not to thy image for succession,
Nor bound thy bow to shoot reformed kindnesse ;
Thy playes of hope and feare were my
confession. The spectacles to my life was thy blindnesse : But Cupid now farewell, I will goe play me, With thoughts that please me lesse, and lesse betray me.
SONNET LXXXVI.
OTJE is the peace, whereto all thoughts do
i
^^^ striue,
Done and begun with all our powers in one : The first and last in vs that is aliue. End of the good, and therewith pleas'd alone.
Perfection's spirit, goddcsse of the miude, Passed through hope, desire, griefe and feare ; A simple goodnesse in the flesh refind,
114 C^LICA.
Which of the ioyes to come doth witnesse heare.
Constant, because it sees no cause to varie, A quintessence of passions ouerthrowne ; Eais'd aboue all that change of obiects carry, A nature by no other nature knowne : For Glorie's of etemitie a frame, That by all bodies else obscures her name.
SONIS-ET LXXXYII.
HE Earth with thunder torne, with fire blasted, With waters drowned, with windie palsey shaken, Cannot for this with heauen be distasted, Since thunder, raine and winds from Earth are
taken : Man tome with lone, with inward furies blasted, Drown'd with despaire, with fleshly lustings
shaken, Cannot for this with heauen be distasted : Loue, furie, lustings out of man are taken. Then man, endure thy selfe, those clouds will
vanish ; Life is a top which whipping Sorrow driueth ; Wisdome must beare what our flesh cannot banish ;
C^LICA. 115
The humble leade, the stubborne bootlesse striueth : Or man, forsake thy selfe, to heauen turne thee, Her flames enlighten jSTature, neuer burne thee.
SO]N^]^ET LXXXYIII.
HEK as man's life, the light of humane lust, In soacket of his earthly lanthome burnes, That all His glory vnto ashes must : And generations to corruption turnes ;
Then fond desires that onely feare their end, Doe vainely wish for life, but to amend.
But when this life is from the body fled.
To see it selfe in that eternall glasse,
Where Time doth end, and thoughts accuse the
dead. Where all to come is one with all that was ; Then lining men aske how he left his breath. That while he lined neuer thought of death.
SOCKET LXXXIX.
AlSr, dreame no more of curious mysteiies : As, what was here before the world was made,
116 C^LICA.
The first man's life, the state of Paradise^ Where heauen is, or hell's etemall shade ;
For God's works are like Him, all infinite ;
And curious search, but craftie Sinne' s delight.
The Flood that did, and dreadfull Fire that shall, Drowne and burne vp the malice of the Earth ; The diuers tongues, and Babylon's downe-fall, Are nothing to the man's renewed birth ;
First, let the Law plough yp thy wicked heart, That Christ may come, and all these types depart.
When thou hast swept the house that all is clears, When thou the dust hast shaken from thy feete, When God's All-might doth in thy flesh appeare. Then seas with streames aboue the skye doe meet ; For goodnesse onely doth God comprehend, Knowes what was first, and what shall be the end.
SOTS'IS^ET XC.
HE Manicheans did no idols make. Without themselues, nor worship gods of wood; Yet idoUs did in their idea's take,
CiELlCA. 117
And figur'd Christ as on the crosse He stood. Thus did they when they earnestly did pray, Till clearer faith this idoll tooke away :
"We seeme more inwardly to know the Sonne, And see our owne saluation in His blood ; When this is said, we thinke the work is done, And with the Father hold our portion good :
* As if true life within these words were laid,
* For him that in life neuer words ohey'd.
If this be safe, it is a pleasant way, The crosse of Christ is very easily borne ! But sixe dayes labour makes the sabboth day ; The flesh is dead before grace can be borne. The heart must first bears witnesse with the
booke ; The Earth must bume, ere we for Christ can looke.
SONNET XCI.
HE Turkish gouernment allowes no law, Men's Hues and states depend on his behest ;
We thinke subiection there a seruile awe, Where Nature finds both honour, wealth, and rest. o
118 CiELICA.
Our Christian freedome is, we haue a law, Which euen the heathen thinke no power should
wrest ; Yet proues it crooked as Power lists to draw, The rage or grace that lurkes in princes brests. Opinion bodies may to shadowes giue, But no burnt zone it is where people Hue.
SONNET XCII.
EWAEDS of Earth, nobilitie and fame. To senses glorie, and to conscience woe,^ How little be you, for so great a name!
Yet lesse is he with men that thinks you so, Eor earthly Power, that stands by fleshly wit. Hath banish'd that truth which should goueme it.
Nobilitie, Power's golden fetter is. Wherewith wise kings Subiection doe adome. To make man thinke her heauy yoke, a blisse, Because it makes him more than he was borne. Yet still a slaue, dimm'd by mists of a crowne, Lest he should see, what riseth, what puis downe.
^ Misprinted ' wee.' Gr.
CiELICA. 119
Fame, that is but good words of euill deeds, Begotten by the harme we haue or doe, Greatest farre off, least euer where it breeds, "We both with dangers and disquiet wooe. And in our flesh — the vanitie's false glasse — We thus deciau'd^ adore these calues of brasse.
SONNET XCIII.
lEGULA diuina, Sorcerers call a rod, Gather' d with vowes and magicke sacri- fice j
Which borne about, by influence doth nod, Vnto the siluer, where it hidden lyes ;
Which makes poore men to these black arts
deuout, Eich onely in the wealth which Hope Andes out.
Nobilitie, this pretious treasure is. Laid vp in secret mysteries of State, King's creature, Subjection's gilded blisse, Where grace, not merit, seemes to gouerne fate. ' Mankinde I thinke to be this rod diuine, ' For to the greatest euer they incline.
^ Sic = deceived. G.
120 C^LICA.
Eloquence, that is but wisdome speaking well, — The poets faigne — did make the sauage tame ; Of eares and hearts chain' d vnto tongues they tell I thinke IN'obilitie to be the same :
* For be they fooles, or speake they without wit,
* We hold them wise, we fooles be-wonder it.
Inuisible there is an art to goe, — They say that studie IN'ature's secret works — And art there is to make things greater show ; In Noblenesse I thinke this secret lurks, ' Por place a coronet on whom you will,
* You straight see all great in him, but his ill.
SONIS^ET XCIY.
HE augurs were of all the world admir'd, Flatter'd by Consulls, honour'd by the State,
Because the euent of all that was desir'd, They seem'd to know, and keepe the books of Fate: Yet though abroad they thus did boast their
wit. Alone among themselues they scorned it.
C^LICA. 121
Mankinde, that with his wit doth gild his heart, Strong in his passions, but in goodnesse weake ; Making great vices o're the lesse an art, Breeds wonder, and moues Ignorance to speake, Yet when his fame is to the highest borne, "We know enough to laugh his praise to scorne.
SONl^ET XCV.
EN, that delight to multiply desire, Like tellers are that take coyne but to
pay;
Still tempted to be false, with little hire, Blacke hands except, which they would haue away : For, where Power wisely audits her estate, The Exchequer-Men's best recompense is hate.
The little maide that weareth out the day, To gather flow'rs, still couetous of more, At night when she with her desire would play, And let her pleasure wanton in her store, Discernes the first laid vnderneath the last, Wither' d, and so is all that we haue past :
Fixe^ then on good desire, and if you finde 1 Misprinted 'fixt.' G.
11
122 C^LICA.
Ambitious dreames or feares of ouer-thwart ; Changes, temptations, bloomes of earthy minde, Yet wane not, since earthy change, hath change of smart. Por lest man should thinke flesh a seat of blisse, God workes that his ioy mixt with sorrow is.
SONNET XCYI.
ALICE and Loue in their waies opposite : The one to hurt it selfe for others' good, The other to haue good by others' spite, Eoth raging most when they be most withstood : Though enemies, yet doe in this agree. That both still breake the hearts wherein they be.
Malice a habit is, wrought in the spirit,
!By intricate Opinion's information
Of scornefull wrong or of suppressing merit :
Which either wounds men's states or reputation ;
And ■ tyrant-like, though shew of strength it beare,
Yet is but weaknesse growne, enrag'd by feare.
Loue is the true or false report of sense, Who sent as spies, returning newes of worth,
CiELICA. 123
With oner- wonder breed the heart's offence, ITot bringing in, but carrying pleasure forth ;
And child-like, must haue all things that they see,
So much lesse loners than things loued be.
Malice, like mine, with itselfe ouerthrowes Mankinde ; and therefore plaies a diuel's part : Loue puis it selfe downe, but to build vp those It loues ; and therefore beares an angel's heart. Tyrants through feare and malice feed on blood, Good kings secure at home, seeke all men's good
SOJ^NET XCYII.^
N those yeeres, when our sense, desire and wit, Combine, that Eeason shall not rule the heart ; Pleasure is chosen as a goddesse fit. The wealth of Nature freely to impart ; "Who like an idoU doth apparrel'd sit ; In all the glories of Opinion's art ;
* The further off, the greater beauty showing,
* Lost onely or made lesse by perfect knowing.
^ Curiously printed, lxxxxvi. G.
124 CiELICA.
"Whicli faire vsurper runnes a rebel's way, Por though elect of sense, mt, and desire, ' Yet rules she none but such as will obey ; And to that end becomes what they aspire, Making that torment which before was play : Those dewes to kindle which did quench the fire :
* Now Honour's image, now againe like lust,
* But earthly still, and end repenting must.
While man, who satyr-like, then knowes the flame, When kissing of her faire appearing light, Hee feeles a scorching power hid in the same, Which cannot be reuealed to the sight, Yet doth by ouer heat so shrinke this frame, Of fiery apparitions in delight ;
That as in orbes, where many passions raigne, What one affection ioyes, the rest complains :
In which confused sphere man being plac'd
With equall prospect ouer good or ill :
The one unknowne, the other in distaste,
Flesh, with her many moulds of change and will ;
So his affections carries on, and casts
In declination to the errour still ;
As by the truth he gets no other light,
But to see vice, a restlesse infinite.
By which true mappe of his mortality,
C-BLICA. 125
Man's many idols are at once defaced, And all hypocrisies of fraile humanity, Either exiled, waned, or disgraced; Falne nature by the streames of vanity, Forc'd vp to call for grace aboue her placed : Whence from the depth of fatall desolation, Springs vp the height of his regeneration.
Which light of life doth all those shadowes warre Of woe and lust, that dazell and inthrall, "Whereby man's ioyes with goodnesse bounded are, And to remorse his feares transformed all ; His sixe dayes labour past, and that cleere starre, Figure of Sabboth's rest, rais'd by this fall ;
For God comes not till man be ouerthrowne ;
Peace is the seed of grace in dead flesh sowne.
Flesh but the top, which onely whips make goe, The Steele whose rust is by afflictions wome, The dust which good men from their feet must
throw, A liuing-dead thing, till it be new-bome, A phenix-life, that from selfe-ruine growes. Or viper rather thorough her parents tome : A boat, to^which the world it selfe is sea, Wherein the minde sayles on her fatall way.
126 C^LICA.
SONNET XCVIII.
TERNALL Truth, almighty, infinite, Onely exiled from man's fleshly heart, "Where Ignorance and Disobedience fight, In hell and sinne, which shall haue greatest part :
"When thy sweet mercy opens forth the light, Of grace, which giueth eyes vnto the blind. And with the Law euen plowest vp our sprite To faith, wherein flesh may saluation finde :
Thou bidst vs pray, and wee doe pray to thee, But as to power and God without ys plac'd. Thinking a wish may weare out vanity, Or habits be by miracles defac'd :
One thought to God wee giue, the rest to sinne ; Quickely vnbent is all desire of good ; True words passe out, but haue no being within, "We" pray to Chi'ist, yet helpe to shed His blood;
For while we say * beleeve,' and feele it not, Promise amends, and yet despaire in it, Heare Sodom iudg'd, and goe not out with Lot, Make Law and Gospell riddles of the wit :
"We with the lewes euen Christ still crucifie,
As not yet come to our impiety.
CiELICA. 1 27
SONNET XCIX.
RAPT vp, o Lord, in man's degeneration The glories of Thy truth, Thy ioyea eternall,
Eeflect ypon my soule darke desolation, And Ygly prospects o're the sp'rits infemall.
* Lord, I haue sinn'd, and mine iniquity,
* Deserues this Hell ; yet Lord deliuer me.
Thy power and mercy neuer comprehended. Rest lively imag'd in my conscience wounded ; Mercy to grace, and power to feare extended. Both infinite, and I in hoth confounded ;
* Lord, I haue sinn'd, and mine iniquity,
* Deserues this hell ; yet Lord deliver me.
If from this depth of sinne, this hellish graue, And fatall absence from my Sauiour's glory, I could implore His mercy Who can saue. And for my sinnes, not paines of sinne, be sorry : Lord, from this horror of iniquity, And hellish graue, Thou wouldst deliuer me.
128 CMLICA,
SOIS^NET C.
OWNE in the depth of mine iniquity, That vgly center of infemall spirits : Where each sinne feeles her owne deformity, In these peculiar torments she inherits ; Depriu'd of humane graces and diuine, Euen there appeares this sauing God of mine.
And in this fatall mirrour of transgression,
Shewes man as fniit of his degeneration.
The errour's ugly infinite impression,
"Which beares the faithlesse doome to desperation ; Depriu'd of humane^ graces and diuine, Euen there appeares this sauing God of mine.
In power and truth, Almighty and etemall, "Which on the sinne reflects strange desolation, With glory scourging all the sp'rits infemall. And uncreated Hell with vnpriuation : ^ Depriu'd of humane graces and^ diuine, Euen there appeares this sauing God of mine.
1 Misprinted * humanite ': I read ' humane ' on authority of next and preceding stanza. G.
2 See Alaham, Prologus, and Glossary -iadex s. v. G. ' Here and in next stanza misprinted ' not.' G.
CJELICA. 129
Por on this sp'rituall crosse condemned lying, To paines infemall by etemall doome, I see my Sauiour for the same sinnes dying, And from that hell I fear'd, to free me, come ; Depriu'd of humane graces and diuine, Thus hath His death rais'd vp this soule of mine.
SONNET CI.
N night when colours all to blacke are cast, Distinction lost, or gone downe with the light ; The eye a watch to inward senses plac'd, Not seeing, yet still hauing power of sight :
Giues vaine alarums to the inward sense, Where feare stirr'd vp with witty^ tyranny. Confounds all powers, and thorough selfe-offence, Doth forge and raise impossibility.
' So Herbert in the well-known lines,
" Nothing is so plain, But may be witty if thou had the vein. Here = wise (in a sense) G.
1 30 C^LICA.
Such as in thicke depriuing darkenesse, Proper reflections of the errour b e, And images of self e-confusedn esse, Which hurt imaginations onely see,
And from this nothing scene, tels newes of devils ;
* Which but expressions be of inward euils.
SOIN'XET CII.
AN'S youth, it is a field of large desires, Which pleas'd -within, doth all withou them please ; For in this lone of men Hue those sweet fires, That kindle worth and kindnesse vnto praise ; And where selfe-loue most from her selfenesse
giues, Man greatest in himselfe, and others lines.
Old age againe which deemes this pleasure vaine, Dull'd with experience of Ynthankefulnesse, Scornefull of fame, as but eJffects of paine, Folds up that freedome in her narrownesse ;
* And for it onely loues her owne di-eames best,
* Scorn' d and contemn' d is of all the rest.
C^LICA.. 131
Such working youth there is againe in state, Which at the first with iustice, piety, Fame and reward, true instruments of fate, Striue to improue this fraile humanity :
By which as kings inlargolferue worth in us, So crownes againe are well inlarged thus.
But States grow old, when princes turne away From honour, to take pleasure for their end ; For that a large is, this a narrow way, That winnes a world, and this a few darke friends; The one improuing worthinesse spreads farre, Vnder the other good things prisoners are.
Thus scepters shadow-like, grow short or long. As worthy or vnworthy princes reigne ; And must contract, cannot be large or strong, If man's weake humours reall powers restraine ; ' So that when Power and N^ature doe oppose, * All but the worst men are assur'd to lose.
For when respect which is the strength of States, Grows to decline by kings' descent within, That Powers' babie-creatures dare set rates Of scorne upon worth, honour upon sinne ;
Then though kings, player-like, act Glorie's part.
Yet all within them is but feare and art.
132 C^LICA.
SONNET cm.
HE serpent, Siime, by shewing humane lust, Visions and dreames, inticed man to doe Follies, in wjliich exceed his God he must, And know more than hee was created to ;
A charme which made the ugly Sinne seeme
good, And is by faLne spirits onely vnderstood.
Kow man no sooner from his meane creation, Trode this excesse of vncreated sinne. But straight he chang'd his being to priuation : HoiTOur and death at this gate passing in ; "WTiereby immortal life, made for man's good. Is since become the hell of flesh and blood.
But grant that there were no eternity. That life were all, and pleasure life of it ; In sinne' s excesse there yet confusions be, "Which spoyle his peace, and passionate his wit ;
Making his nature lesse, his reason thrall.
To tyranny of vice vnnaturall.
And as hell-fires, not wanting heat, want light ; So these strange witchcrafts which like pleasure
be. Not wanting faire inticements, want delight,
C^LICA. 133
Inward being nothing bnt deformity ; And doe at open doores let fraile powers in To that straight binding Little-ease of sinne.
Is there ought more wonderfuU than this, That man, euen in the state of his perfection. All things vncurst, nothing yet done amisse, And so in him no base of his defection ;
Should fall from God and breake his Maker's will?
"Which could haue no end, but to know the ill.
I aske the rather since in Paradise, Eternity was obiect to his passion, And hee in goodnesse like his Maker wise, As from His spirit taking life and fashion ; "What greater power there was to master this, Or how a lesse could worke, my question is ?
For Who made all, 'tis sure yet could not make, Any aboue Himselfe, as princes can. So as, against His will, no power could take, A creature from Him, nor corrupt a man ;
' And yet who thinks He marr'd, that made vs
good, * As well may think God lesse than flesh and blood.
H
134 C^.LICA.
Where did our being then seeke out priuation ?
Aboue, within, without us, all was pure ;
Onely the angels from their discreation,
Ey smart declar'd no being was secure,
But that transcendent Goodnesse which subsists, By forming and reforming what it lists.
So as within the man there was no more,
But possibility to worke upon ;
And in these spirits which were falne before,
An abstract curst eternity alone ;
Refined by their high places in creation, To adde more craft and malice to temptation.
How with what force upon these middle spheares, Of probable and possibility, "Which no one constant demonstration beares, And so can neither binde, nor bounded be ;
What those could work that hauing lost their God,
Aspire to be our tempters and our rod :
Too "v^ll is witnessed by this fall of ours ;
For wee not knowing yet that there was ill,
Gaue easie credit to deceiuing powers,
"Who wrought upon us onely by our will ; Pers wading, like it, all was to it free, Since where no sinne was, there no law could be.
C^LICA. 135
And as all finite things seeke infinite, From thence deriuing what beyond them is ; So man was led by charmes of this darke sp'rit, Which hee could not know till hee did amisse ; To trust those serpents, who leam'd since they
fell, Knew more than we did ; euen their own made Hel.
"Which crafty oddes made us those clouds imbrace, "Where sinne in ambush lay to overthrow IsTature ; — that would presume to fadome^ grace — Or could beleeue what God said was not so :
* Sin, then we knew thee not and could not hate,
* And now we know thee, now it is too late.
SONNET CIV.
False and treacherous Probability, Enemy of truth, and friend to wicked-
With whose bleare eyes Opinion learnes to see. Truth's feeble party here, and barrennesse.
* Fathom, as before. Cr.
136 C^LICA.
When thou hast thus misled Humanity, And lost obedience in the pride of wit, With reason dar'st thou iudge the Deity, And in thy flesh make bold to fashion it.
Yaine thought, the word of Power a riddle is. And till the vayles be rent, the flesh new-borne : Eeveales no wonders of that inward blisse. Which but where faith is, euery where Andes scorne ;
* Who therefore censures God with fleshly sp'rit
* As well in time may wrap vp infinite.
SONNET CV-
WO sects there be in this Earth opposite : The one make Mahomet a deity, A tyrant Tartar rais'd by warre and sleight : Ambitious waies of infidelity :
The world their heauen is ; the world is great, And racketh those hearts, where it hath receit.
The other sect of cloystered people is,
Lesse to the world, with which they seeme to
warre. And so in lesse things drawne to doe amisse,
CJKLICA. 137
As all lusts, lesse than lust of conquest are : IsFow if of God, both these haue but the name, What mortall idoll then can eqnall Fame ?
son:n'et cyi.
HE.ee things there be in man's opinion
deare, Eame, many friends, and Fortune's dig- nities : False visions all, which in our sense appeare, To sanctifie Desire's idolatry.
For what is Fortune but a watr'y glasse "Whose chrystall forehead wants a steely backe ? Where raine and stormes beare all away that was, Whose ship, alike both depths and shallowes wracke.
Fame againe, which from blinding Power takes
light, Both Caesar's shadow island Cato's friend ; * The child of humour, not allyed to right ; * Lining by oft exchange of winged end.
And many friends, false strength of feeble mind, Betraying equals, as true slaues to might ;
138 CMLICA.
Like echoes still send voyces down the wind, But neuer in aduersity finde right.
Then man, though Yertu^ of extremities,
The middle be, and so hath two to one,
By place and I^ature constant enemies,
And against both these no strength but her owne,
Yet quit thou for her, fiiends, fame, Fortune's throne ;
Diuels, there many be, and gods but One.
SONI^ET CVII.
OTV fals it out, the sincere magistrate, — Who keepes the course of lustice sacredly —
Eeapes from the people reuerence, and hate, But not the loue which followes liberty ?
The cause is plaine, since taxe on People's good, Is hardly borne ; Sense hauing no foresight. Hates Reason's workes as strange to flesh and blood "Whence he that striues to keepe man's heart up- right
Taxeth his phansies at an higher rate ; And laying lawes vpon his frailty,
C-STLICA. 1 59
Brings all his vices to a bankrupt state,
So much is true worth more refin'd than we :
Againe, who taskes* men's wealth, pierce but their skin,
"Who roots their vice out, must pierce deeper in.
SONNET CVIII.
SIS, in whom the poet's feigning wit, Figures the goddesse of Authority, And makes her on an asse in triumph sit> As if Power's throne were man's humility, Inspire this asse, as well becomming it, Euen like a type of wind-blowne vanity :
With pride to beare Power's gilding scorching
heat For no hire, but opinion to be great.
So as this beast, forgetting what he beares, Bridled and burdend by the hand of Might, "While he beholds the swarmes of hope and fearea Which wait vpon ambition infinite^ Proud of the glorious furniture hee weares, Takes all to Isis offer'd, but his right ;
Till wearinesse, the spurre, or want of food, Makes gilded curbs of all beasts vnderstood.
1 Taxes. G.
140 C^LICA.
SONNET CIX.i
^HAT is the cause, why States that war and win, Hane honour, and breed men of better fame, Than States in peace ? since war and conquest sin In blood, wrong liberty : all trades of shame : Force-framing instruments, which it must vse. Proud in excesse, and glory to abuse.
The reason is ; Peace is a quiet nurse
Of Idlenesse, and idlenesse the field,
Where wit and Power change all seedes to the worse,
Ey narrow self-wit upon which they build ; And thence bring forth captiu'd inconstant ends Neither to princes, nor to people fiiends.
Besides, the sinnes of Peace on subiects feed, And thence wound Power, which for it all things
can, "With wrong to one despaires in many breed ; Tor while lawes, oathes — Power's creditors to
man —
1 Mis-numbered xcix. G.
C^LICA. 141
Make humble subiects dreame of natiue right, Man's faith abus'd addes courage to despite.
"Where conquest workes by strength, and stirs up
fame: A glorious echo, pleasing doome of paine,
* Which in the sleepe of death yet keepes a name,
* And makes detracting losse speake ill in vaine.
Tor to great actions Time so friendly is. As ore the meanes — albeit the meanes be ill — It casts forgetfulnesse ; vailes things amisse, With power and honour to encourage will.
Besides things hard a reputation beare,
To dye resolu'd, though guilty, wonder breeds,^
Yet what strength those be which can blot out
feare. And to selfe-ruine ioyfuUy proceeds,
Aske them that from the ashes of this fire, With new Hues still to such new flames aspire.
* = the dying resolute though guilty, breeds won- der. G.
142 C^LICA.
so^:j^et ex.
YON lyes waste, and Thy lerusalem, 0 Lord, is falne to vtter desolation ; Against Thy prophets and Thy holy men. The sinne hath wrought a fatal combination ; Prophan'd Thy name, Thy worship ouerthrowne, And made Thee lining Lord, a God vnknowne.
Thy poweifull lawes, Thy wonders of creation, Thy word incarnate, glorious heauen, darke hell, Lye shadowed vnder man's degeneration ; Thy Christ still crucifi'd for doing well ; Impiety, 0 Lord, sits on Thy throne. Which makes Thee lining^ Lord, a God vn- knowne.
Man's superstition hath Thy truth entomb' d, His atheisme againe her pomps defaceth ; That sensuall vnsatiable vaste wombe, Of Thy scene Church, Thy vnseene Church dis- graceth ; There Hues no truth with them that seeme
Thine own. Which makes Thee lining Lord, a God vnknowne.
^ Misprinted * Hght '. G.
C^LICA. 143
Yet YD to Thee Lord — mirrour of transgression — "Wee who for earthly idols haue forsaken, Thy heauenly image — sinlesso, pure impression — And so in nets of vanity lye taken, All desolate implore that to Thine owne, Lord, Thou no longer Hue a God vnknowne .
Yet Lord let Israel's plagues not be eternall, ^OT sinne for euer cloud Thy sacred mountaines, Nor with false flames spirituall but infernall, Dry up Thy Mercie's euer springing fountaines : Eather, sweet lesus, fill up time and come, To yeeld the sinne her euerlasting doome.
#ms*
^ppcnbix,
I. A FANCT.^
(BY SIR EDWAUD DYER.)
HE that his mirth hath lost, Whose comfort is dismayed, Whose hope is vain, whose faith is scorned, Whose trust is all betrayed,
If he have held them dear, And cannot cease to moan. Come, let him take his place by me ; He shall not rue alone.
But if the smallest sweet Be mixed with all his sour : If in the day, the month, the year, He feel one lightening hour,
1 MS. Eawl. Poet. 85, fol. 109, signed as below ; MS. Tann. 306, fol. 173, with the same signature; MS. Ashm. 781, p. 140, signed " Sr Ed. Dyer : " and Harl. MS. 6910, fol. 169. Authenticated by Dyer himself through the secret signature near the end, and ascribed to him by R. Southwell in the poem which follows in this volume. Wrongly claimed for Lord Pembroke in the " Poems of Pembroke and Rudyard," 1660, p. 29. [See Sonnet Ixxxiv of Lord Brooke and the "secret signature "of " Greiv HV\ G.]
146 APPENDIX.
Then rest he by himself ; He is no mate for me, Whose hope is fall'n, whose succour void, Whose hap his death must be.
Yet not the wished death, Which hath no plaint nor lack. Which, making free the better part, Is only nature's wrack.
0 no ! that were too well ; My death is of the mind, Which always yields extremest pains, And leaves the worst behind.
As one that lives in show, But inwardly doth die. Whose knowledge is a bloody field Where all hope slain doth lie ;
Whose heart the altar is ; Whose spirit, the sacrifice Unto the powers, whom to appease No sorrow can sufiB.ce.
My fancies are like thorns. On which I go by night ; Mine arguments are like an host Which force hath put to flight.
My sense is passion's spy ; My thoughts like ruins old Of famous Carthage, or the town Which Sincn bought and sold.
Which still before mine eyes My mortal fall do lay. Whom love and fortune once advanced. And now hath cast away.
0 thoughts, no thoughts, but wounds, Sometime the seat of joy. Sometime the seat of quiet rest. But now of all annoy.
APPENDIX. 147
I sowed the soil of peace ; My bliss was in the spring ; And day by day I ate the fruit Which my life's tree did bring.
To nettles now my corn, My field is turned to flint, Where, sitting in the cypress shade, I read the hyacint.
The peace, the rest, the life, That I enjoyed before Came to my lot, that by the loss My smart might sting the more.
So to unhappy men The best frames to the worst ; 0 time, O place, 0 words, 0 looks, Dear then, but now accurst !
In teas stands my delight ; In is and sJinll, my woe : My horror fastens on the yea ; My hope hangs on the no.
I look for no relief; Eelief would come too late ; Too late I find, I find too well, Too well stood my estate.
Behold, such is the end ; What thing may here be sure ? 0, nothing else but plaints and moans Do to the end endure.
Forsaken first was I, Then utterly forgotten ; And he that came not to my faith, Lo ! my reward hath gotten.
Then, Love, where is the sauce That makes thy torment sweet ? Where is the cause that some have thought Their death through thee but meet ?
148 APPENDIX.
The stately chaste disdain, The secret shamefastness, The grace reserved, the common light Which shines in worthiness.
O would it were not so. Or I it might excuse !
0 would the wrath of jealousy
My judgment might ahuse !
O frail inconstant kind,
0 safe in trust to no man ! No women angels be, and lo !
My mistress is a woman !
Yet hate I but the fault. And not the faulty one, Nor can I rid me of the bands "Whereiu I lie alone.
Alone I lie, whose like Was never seen as yet ; The prince, the poor, the old, the young, The fond, the full of wit.
Hers still remain must I
By wrong, by death, by shame ;
1 cannot blot out of my mind
The love wrought in her name.
1 cannot set afc nought That once I held so dear ;
I cannot make it seem so far That was indeed so near.
Not that I mean henceforth This strange wiU to profess. As one that would betray such troth. And build on fickleness.
But it shall never fail That my faith bare in hand ; I gave my word, my word gave me ; Both word and gift must stand !
APPENDIX. 149
Sith then it must be thus, And thus is all-to ill, I yield me captive to my curse, My hard fate to fulfil.
The solitary -woods My city shall become ; The darkest den shall be my lodge, Wherein I'll rest or roam.
Of heben black my board : The worms my feast shall be, On which my carcass shall be fed Till they do feed on me ;
My wine of Niobe, My bed of craggy rock, The serpent's hiss my harmony. The shrieking owl my clock.
My exercise nought else But raging agonies ; My books of spiteful Fortune's foils And dreary tragedies.
My walk the paths of plaint, My prospect into hell. Where wretched Sisyphe and his pheres In endless pains do dwell.
And though I seem to use The poet's feigned style, To figure forth my rueful plight, My fall or my exile,
Yet is my grief not feigned.
In which I starve and pine , Who feel it most shall find it least
If his compare with mine.
My Muse if any ask, Whose grievous case was such ? Dy ere thou let his name be known ; His folly shows so much.
150 APPEIfDIX.
But best 'twere thee to hide, And never come to light ; For on the earth may none but I This action sound aright.
Miserum estfuisse.
E. Dl£R.
II. MASTER DYER'S EAISTCY TURNED TO A SKs^XER'S COMPLAI]S"T.
(BY EGBERT SOUTHWELL. BORN 1540 ; DIED 1595.)
HE that his mirth hath lost, "Whose comfort is to rue, Whose hope is fallen, whose faith is crazed, Whose trust is found untrue ;
If he have held them dear, And cannot cease to moan. Come, let him take his place by me ; He shall not rue alone.
But if the smallest sweet Be mixed with all his sour ; If in the day, the month, the year. He feels one lightening hour,
Then rest he with himself ; He is no mate for me, Whose time in tears, whose race in ruth, Whose life a death must be.
^ Southwell's " Poems," edit. 1630, sign f 7, &c., with the title, "A Fancy turned to a Sinner's Complaint." The title which I have adopted is found in the MS. of Southwell's poems used in both the modem editions, of Walter, p. 84, and Tumbull, p. 81.
APPENDIX. 151
Yet not the wished death, That feels no pain or lack, That, making free the better part, Is only nature's wrack :
0 no ! that were too well ; My death is of the mind, That always yields extremest pangs. Yet threatens worse behind.
As one that lives in show, And inwardly doth die ; Whose knowledge is a bloody field, Where Virtue slain doth lie ;
Whose heart the altar is, And host, a God to move ; From whom my ill doth fear revenge, His good doth promise love.
My fancies are like thorns. In which I go by night ; My fi'ighted wits are like an host That force hath put to flight.
My sense is passion's spy ; My thoughts like ruins old, Which show how fair the building was, While grace it did uphold.
And still before mine eyes My mortal fall they lay : Whom grace and virtue once advanced, Now sin hath cast away.
0 thoughts, no thoughts, but wounds. Sometime the seat of joy,
Sometime the store of quiet rest, But now of all annoy.
1 sowed the soil of peace ; My bliss was in the spring ;
And day by day the fruit I ate, That virtue's tree did bring.
152 APPENDIX.
To nettles now my com, My field is turned to flint, "Where I a heavy harvest reap Of cares that never stint.
The peace, the rest, the Ufa, That I enjoyed of yore, Were happy lot, but by their loss My smart doth sting the more.
So to unhappy men The best frames to the worst : 0 time, 0 place, where thus I fell, Dear then, but now accurst !
In was stands my delight ; In is and shall, my woe ; My horror fastened in the yea ; My hope hangs in the no.
Unworthy of relief, That craved is too late, Too late I find, I find too weU, Too well stood my estate.
Behold, such is the end That Pleasure doth procure ; Of nothing else but care and plaint Can she the mind assure.
Forsaken first by Grace, By Pleasure now forgotten, Her pain I feel, but Grace's wage Have others from me gotten.
Then, Grace, where is the joy That makes thy torments sweet ? Where is the cause that many thought Their deaths through thee but meet ?
Where thy disdain of sin, Thy secret sweet delight. Thy sparks of bliss, thy heavenly joys, That shined erst bo bright ?
APPENDIX. 163
O that they were not lost, Or I could it excuse !
0 that a dream of feigned losse
My judgement did abuse !
0 frail inconstant flesh, Soon trapped in every gin !
Soon wrought thus to betray thy soul, And plunge thyself in sin !
Yet hate I but the fault, And not the faulty one. Nor can I rid from me the mate That forceth me to moan ;
To moan a sinner's case. Than which was never worse. In prince or poor, in young or old, In blest or full of curse.
Yet God's must I remain.
By death, by wrong, by shame ;
1 cannot blot out of my heart
That Grace writ in His name.
1 cannot set at nought Whom I have held so dear ;
I cannot make Him seem afar, That is indeed so near.
Not that I look henceforth For love that erst I found ; Sith that I brake my plighted troth To build on fickle ground.
Yet that shall never fail Which my faith bare in hand ; I gave my vow ; my vow gave me ; Both vow and gift shall stand.
But since that I have sinned, And scourge none is too ill, I yield me captive to my curse. My hard fate to fulfil.
154 APPENDIX.
The solitary wood My city shall become ; The darkest dens shall he my lodg-e ; In which I rest or come ;
A sandy plot my board, The worms my feast shall be, Wherewith my carcass shall be fed, Until they feed on me.
My tears shall be my wine, IMybed a craggy rock. My harmony the serpent's hiss, The screeching owl my clock.
My exercise, remorse. And doleful sinners' lays ; My book, remembrance of my crimes, And faults of former days.
My walk the path of plaint ; My prospect into hell, "Where Judas and his cursed crew In endless pains do dwell.
And though I seem to use The feigning poet's style, To figure forth my careful plight, My fall and my exile ;
Yet is my grief not feigned, Wherein I starve and pine ;
Who feels the most shall think it least, If his compare with mine.
II.
|0m=Hag0.
I. ALAHAM.
II. MUSTAPHA, WITH LARGE ADDITIONS AND AN APPENDIX.
I. ^laljam.
§.oiz.
' Alaham' has no separate title-page, being simply headed * Alaham ' with the " Speakers' Names " below, as with us. It occupies pp 1 — 79 (fresh pagination) after *' Of "Warres " in the folio of 1633 : and as therein it precedes " Mustapha " we adhere to the arrangement.
Langbaine has these remarks on " Alaham " : " 'Tis mostly written in rhime, and is adorned with many moral sentences and political maxims. It seems an imitation of the Ancients, and the prologue is spoken by a ghost, one of the old Kings of Ormus, an island situated at the entrance of the Persian Gulph, where the scene of the drama lies. The spectre gives an account of each character, possibly in imitation of Euripides, who usually introduced one of the chief actors, as the prologue, whose business was to explain all those circumstances which preceded the open- ing of the stage. The Author has been so careful in ob- serving the rules of Aristotle and Horace, (as to the num- ber of interlocutors) that he has in no scene throughout, introduced above two speakers, except in the chorus be- tween each act, and even there, he observes aU the rules laid down by the lattsr of those masters in the art of poe- try &c." ("Account of the English Dramatic Poets. Oxon. 1691 p 38.) G.
Jlkkam,
THE SPEAKERS' IS^AMES.
The old King. Zoplii, the eldest Sonne.
Alaham's second Sonne. Salay Alaham^s wife. Caine, Bassha. Mahomet, Bassha.
Priest.
Nuntius.
Coelica^ the old Kingh daughter. Nutrix.
The Speach of a Ghost, one of the old kings of Ormus.
HOU monster horrible ! vnder whose vgly doome/ Downe in Etemitie's perpetuall night, Man's temporall sinnes beare torments infinite : For change of desolation, must I come
^ Judgment. See Glossary-Index s. v. for references to other examples. G.
158 ALAHAM.
To tempt the Earth, and to prophane the light ; From mournefuU silence, where Paine dares not
rore With libertie ; to multiplie it more ! JS'or from the lothsome puddle Acheron, Made foule with common sinnes, whose filthie
dampes Feed Lethe's sinke, forgetting all but mone : 'Noi from that fowle infemall shaddowed lampe, "Which lighteth Sisiphus to rowle his stone : These be but bodies' plagues, the skirts of Hell ; I come from whence Deathe's seate doth Death
excell. A place there is vpon no centre placed, Deepe vnder depthes, as farre as is the skie Aboue the Earth ; darke, infinitely spaced : Pluto the king, the kingdome, miserie. The chry stall may God's glorious seate resemble ; Horror it selfe these horrors but dissemble.^
Priuation would raigne there : by God not made, Put creature of \Ticreated Sinne ; "Whose being is all beings to inuade, To haue no ending though it did beginne :
1 = The ' chrystall ' may present some faint figure of God's seat : but Horror itself cannot represent these hor- rors. G.
ALAHAM. 159
And so of past, things present, and to come. To giue depriuing, not toimenting doome ; But horror, in the vnderstanding mixt, And memorie, by Eternitie's seale wrought ; Vnto the bodies of the euill fixt. And into reason by our passion brought ; Here rackt, torne, and exil'd from vnitie. Though come from nothing, must for euer be.
The sinnes that enter here are capitall : Atheisme, where creatures their Creator lose ; Vnthankfull Pride, nature and grace's fall ; Mate of mankinde, in man vnnaturall ; Hypocrites, which bodies leaue, and shadowes
chose. The persons, either kings by Fortune blest, Or men by nature made kings of the rest. Here tyrants that corrupt authoritie, Councell'd out of the feares of wickednesse, Cunning in mischiefe, prowd in crueltie. Are furies made, to plague the weaker ghosts, Whose soules, entising pleasure only lost; The weaker kings, whose more vnconstant vice Their States vnto their humors made a prey , Por suffering more then kings to tyrannise, Are damn'd ; though here to be, yet not to stay : For backe they goe, to tempt with euery sinne, As easiest it the world may enter in.
160 ALAHAM.
My selfe sometimes was such : Ormus my State. I bare the name, yet did my Basshas raigne : Trusts to few windowes are vnfortunate ;^ For subiects growing full is piince's wane. Loe ! all misdeeds procure their owne misfate ; For by my trusted Basshas was I slaine : K'ow sent to teare downe my posteritie, That haue their sinnes' inheritance from me.
My first charge is, the ruine of mine owne : Hell keeping knowledge still of earthlinesse, None coming there but spirits ouergrowne, And more embodied- into wickednesse, The bodie by the spirit liuing euer, The spirit in the body ioying neuer : In heauen perchance no such affections be ; Those angell-soules in flesh imprisoned, Like strangers liuing in mortaHtie, Still more and more themselues enspirited, Eefining nature to Eternity ; By being maids in Earth's adulterous bed : And idly forget all here below, Where we our parents, but to plague them, know.
1 The metaphor is here obscure, probably some Eastern (recondite) usage. But see our glossarial -index under * windows.' G.
' = niledby the flesh or imbruted. G.
ALAHAM. 161
My next charge is, from this darke regiment^ "With wiles to scourge this age effeminate ; Not open force, or humors' violent : Time fashions mindes, mindes manners, manners
fate. Here Eage giues place, Wit must rule ill intent. Proud Honor being an ill for this State Too strong ; Sleight, must misleade the innocent ; Craft, the corrupt. For though none dare be iust, Yet coward 111, with care, grow wicked must.
This present king, weake both in good and ill, Louing his trust, and trusting but his ghesse, Shall perish in his owne faith's wantonnesse ; Bctray'd by Alaham, whom he know'th ill, Yet to beware lackes actiue constantnesse ; A destinie of well-beleeuing wit, That hath not strength of iudgement ioyn'd with it.
Alaham his sonne : fond of the father's thi^one, Desire his idoll, libertie his might. As ouerborne with error infinite, Shall finde that Fate all secret faults can hit : For he, that for himselfe would ruine all, Shall perish in his craft vnnaturall.
Hala his wife : diuerse, and strong in lust, Liberall out of selfe-loue, of error proud ;
Government. G.
162 ALAHAM.
When shamelesse craft and rage haue seru'd her
tume, In Pride's vainglorious martyrdome shall bume.
Zophi the eldest sonne : whose reason is With frailty drown' d, and sillinesse confus'd ; Borne but to Hue, and yet denied this, — So well knowes Power what spirits may be
abus'd — Becomes the prey of factious craftie wit, Which stints that mine vp that mines it.
Caine Bassha — like the clouds, who live in ayre, Th' orbe of Nature's constant inconstancie — !N'ow fame, now shame shall in his fortune beare j His vice and vertue still in infancy: Change for his wisdome and chance for his ends, Harm'd by his hopes, and ruin'd by his friends.
Mahomet, with honor faine would change the tide Of times corrupt, here stopping violence, There contermining^ craft, and pleading right : But Reason swome in generall to Sense Makes honor, bondage ; iustice, an offence : Till Liberty, that faii'e deceiuing light, Turnes mischiefe to an humor popular. Where good men catch 'd in nets of dutie are.
^ Countermining. G.
ALAHAM. 163
Caelica — because in flesh no secdes are sowne Of heauenly grace, but they must bring vp weedes — Death in her father's murther she affects ; Seduc'd by glory ; whose excesse still feedes It selfe, vpon the barren steepes of mono : For humane wit wants power to diuide, Whereby affections into error slide.
Heli the priest : who teaching from without, Corrupted faith, bound vnder lawes of might ; "Not feeling God, yet blowing him about, In euery shape, and likenesse, but the right ; Seeking the world, finds change there ioyn'd with
chance, To mine those whom Error would advance.
;N'ow marke your charge ! Each fury worke his part, In senselesse webs of mischiefe ouerthwart. You are not now to worke on priuate thoughts, One instant is your time to alter all ; Corruption vniuersall must be wrought : Impossible to you is naturall ; Plots and effects together must be brought ; Mischiefe and shame, at once must spring and fall. Vse more than power of man to bring forth that, Which — it is meant — all men shall wonder at.
Craft ! Go thou forth, worke Honor into Lust. Malice ! Sow in Selfe-loue vnworthinesse.
164 ALAHAM.
Feare ! Make it safe for no man to be iust . "Wrong ! Be thou clothed in Power's comelinesse. Wit ! Play with Faith ; take Glory in mistrust ; Let Duty and Eeligion goe by ghesse. Furies ! Stirre you vp warre ; which follow must, When all things are corrupt with doublenesse. From vice to vice let Error multiply. "With vncouth sinnes, murthers, adulteries, Incoi-porate all kindes of iniquity. Translate the State to forraigne tyrannies : Keepe down the best, and let the worst haue
power, That Warre and HeU may all at once deuoure.
Actus 1. Scena 1. ALAHAM. HELI.
LAHAM. Thou coward soule ! Why standst thou doubting now ? Why to and fro ? The dice of Chance are cast: Counsells of law, of shame, of loue, are past, Thinke what the worst haue done ; what they
enioy. That plucke downe States to put vp priuate lawes, Whom Fame enobles while she would destroy.
ALAHAM. 16.5
Honor hath many wings : Chance hath no bookes "Who follow, treade but where men trode before ; Who giiie example still are something more.
Beare witnesse yet yee good and euiU spirits ! Who in the ayre inuisibly do dwell ; That these strange pathes I walke of vglinesse, Are forc'd by threatning gulfes of treacherie, Nourisht by States and times iniurious. l^or is it sinne, which men for safety choose ; Nor hath it shame, which men are forc'd to vse.
Heli. What be these agonies indefinite ? These sudden changes, secret, violent. Both argue euill lucke and ill intent.
Alah. That which I most did hate and least did feare, Is fall'n : ISTature cares not for natiue blood, I wickedly must doe, or mischiefe beare ; I must no more be, or no more be good.
Hell. How growes this change ? Reueale this secret work : Both cures and wounds doe oft together lurcke.
Alah. Heli ! you know the time when this fraile king, Languish'd, and wanton'd in a powerfull throne, Sent to the gods to leame what should befall, Hauing but peace and wealth to doubt withall. Their answer was : My father's eldest sonne
J
166 ALAHAM.
Must be a sacrifice for this estate,
And with his blood wash out the doome of Fate.
The Basshas, swoll'n by vse of ruling kings,
Presume on God : and what by God's decree
Was death ; by their' s must onely exile be.
And proud againe with this vniust successe,
A second error on the first they build ;
And he that Hues against the heauenly doome,
Must now not Hue, but raigne : yet onely raigne.
To put downe me they feare, for him they scorne :
Is innocency to no other home ?
And must my right, and royall blood abide
Traytors, to be my lords ; the dead, my king ?
Is honor to so many masters tied ?
ShaU I not Hue, except I scorned Hue ?
WeU : where the choice is left to kiU or dye,
The best estates doe but in hazard lie.
Eeli. T'is rashnesse to commit our right to chance.
Alah. T'is madnesse at the worst ^to feare mischance.
Heli. Vnfold this factious clowdie mysterie ; What cannot help, yet wiU experience be.
Alah. The dayes be fresh, when aU the world in hate With Mahomet's supreme authority, The Basshas idly Hu'd ; no forme of state
ALAHAM. 167
Obseru'd ; no councells held ; no maiesty ; Wcake spirits did corrupt ; the strong did rust ; Worth withered vp ; Craft only was in trust ; The court a farme : strange, ominous, ill signe, "When publike States to priuatenesse encline. Such was my father's frayle simplicity, As wanting judgement how to stand alone ; He — passion-ledd — could loue and trust but one. The world saw all was nought ; yet I saw Feare "Would, while it murmur' d, Mischief's councells
keepe ; So blind are men, or with respects asleep. Enuy wrought more in me, and made me know, This passion in the king — which did aduance Mahomet aboue the reach of ouerthrow — Had counter-passions, change, inconstancy, For wit, and malice, possibility. I stir'd the king with enuies of his slaue ; For great estates inlarge not little harts. My charge suspitions,^ which no answer haue ; Power still concluding all in evill part. With kings not strong in vertue, nor in vice, I knew Truth was like pillars built on ice. Factions besides I in the Basshas mou'd, And in their divers witts my malice cast,
^ Misprinted * suspitious '. G.
168 ALAHAiT.
Conspiracy with good successe I prou'd : For kings are easily ledd away with many, That hearing all, want strength to iudge of any ; Thus we exil'd him with pretence of State, Whom — it is true — I for myself did hate. But now, when Mahomet was banisht hence, His fellow Bassha's, fond of gouemment, To rule their prince with his name they intend, And ruine heires, yet seeme Succession's friends. For while I by my brother's exile stood, They hide their mindes to vndermine the more ; And much to me in pettie things they leaue. That craft in good^apparell might deceive,
Heli. Their craft and power against you thus combin'd,^ How could you shunne, or worke the Basshas so, As they might leaue to seeke your ouerthrow ?
Alah. I found their crafte, and made my good of all : Some I did winne ; the rest I did disgrace. Even binding them by what they gaue to me : So great the scopes of braue ambition be :
^ Misprinted * combui'd ' : and here and onward, as there are lacking rhymes, I suspect corruption of the text, albeit the rhymes are not kept up throughout. Yet are the Warwick Castle MSS. as in text. G.
ALAHAM. 169
Nor staid I here ; but as a man in doubt
To trust this tickle art of men too farre,
Where many witts to one kept subiect are :
I forthwith sought on fewer heades to lay
This wardshippe of the king effeminate.
A farre lesse seruile course for me, that meant
To steale in change into this gouernment.
This made me thinke of Caine, whose spirits I
saw Officious^ were, already entred grace, Pleasant, and fit to multiplie a place. The scruple that diuided him and me, "Was feare he did too much possesse my wife : "With priuate scome I waigh'd with publike ends ; And saw, who will not see, needs no amends. For he, to hide his fault, straight puts on faith And care of me ; a badge of seruile lust, Which euer iniure those it pleaseth must. In him I did accept the sacrifice Of ruling him, that rul'd this waning masse : Who cannot beare, what can be bring to passe ? Now though by him the present state I gain'd. Yet to my after-ends this gaue no ayde : For their foundations only were, by fame, On people's loues and wonders to be layd.
^ Excessively forward. So Shakespeare and Milton. G.
170 ALAHAJT.
How little princes' fauors helpe the same
They know, that marke what feet men goe withaU,
Who while they rise in grace, in credit fall.
The people then it was that I must seeke,
A future, not a present vse of power ;
'Not strength estahlish'd, but a strength, to change ;
To all, but onely those who worke it, strange.
With this Caine's place had no affinity ;
It presage being of a kingdome's fall,
When kings trust any one to goueme all.
His nature lesse, for it monarchall was,
Sharpe, narrow-humour' d, only fit to rise
By that, which people hate, crowne-flatteries.
Since ^^yTature therefore cannot change her face,
To thinke one fit for all, were foolishnesse,
To force an instrument experience feares.
Since wit may take of each the fruit it beares.
Of Mahomet, I then bethought my selfe, Wh ose absence pittie had. And as in sects, The present errors doe prepare a place For masked Change, to shew her pleasing face : So did the hate of present gouemment Forget his faults, as they forget their wounds. I saw that he alone did fit my ends ; Occasion mother is of truest friends. My ends were not to broyle the preserfifctate, Nor leaue obedience in my father's dayes ;
ALA HAM. 171
But after he was dead, to dispossesse
My brother, whom the heauens did depresse.
Chance wrought me good : lest it should worke
me feare, I meant to goe beyond the wayes of spite, Both stay and winne the world, with Mahomet : For who can stirre are fittest meanes to let.^ My father I did moue, remou'd and sped : Feare made him pittifuU, and Folly kinde ; In Passion's orbe most patient to be led ; Each argument begat another minde ; Doubt had no memory, Oifence was dead, Distresse seem'd safety, Likelinesse did binde : For in these captiue wits, borne to be thrall, Who sees one thought beyond them, seeth all.
Mahomet returnes : But whether deeply shrin' d, Within the hollow abstracts of his heart. His malice lay ; or that ambitious kinde Be easie, for it selfe, from all to pai-t ; Respect to me and honour, layd behinde, Finding this king to be but Humor's art, He takes his soule, and miracles he showes ; Restores the lost, th' establish'd ouerthrowes. My elder brother — whom the gods fore-spake, Lawes had depriu'd, exil'd, and men forgot —
^ Hinder, oppose. G.
172 ALAHAM.
He straight calls home ; and dares to vndertake That which Audacity beleeueth not. Ah ! Error of good meaning, apt to trust ; For want of ill enough, I perish must. And am I borne for Dutie's sacrifice, To watch for change of times, or God's reuenge ? Is patience scome, and hazard yet vnwise ? 1^0, "No : Confusion raignes ; Despaire is it, That now makes change a god ; and Danger, wit. Inflam'd, distract, confus'd, put out of feare I am
Visions I feele of better hopes arise. Malice and rage, whose heats had barrennesse, Are, with ambition of reuenge, made wise. Birth, chance, occasion right, good fortunes be To some : and wrong can all these be to me ?
Melt. Alaham ! I grant these trialls be seuere : But know Temptation is Misfortune's spie, To worke in resolution change or feare ; Attend^ your father's death ; still hold you there ; Before to vndermine a monarchy Is hard. Besides, iudge you your own intent : For such your brother is in this to you, As you before unto your brother were ; He hath his owne, and you Hue out of feare.
^ = await. G.
ALAHAM.
173
Alaham. Who measures hopes and losses by the truth, Goes euer naked in this world of might : Mine be the crowne ; my brother's be the right.
Hell. Will you exceed his mischiefe whom you blame ?
Alah. When euill striues, the worst haue great- est name.
Heli. Goodnesse is only at the greatest, best.
Alaham. Those mischiefes prosper that exceed the rest.
Heli. Thou art but one : for all a sujfferer be.
Alaham. That one is more than all the world to me.
Heli. Faults to the State all priuate faults ex- ceed.
Alaham. My wounds then heale, when all the Earth doth bleed.
Heli. Let father moue thee : pittie thou the State.
Alaham. Father descending kindnesse signifies :
Our State is there where our well-being lies.
Heli. Fame euer lines and euer will defame :
The mine of thy father ; and his crowne.
Alaham. They euer prosper whom the world doth blame ;
Shame sees not climbing vp, but falling downe.
1 74 ALAHAM.
Heli. Yet feare thy selfe, if Fame thou doest not feare ; Eeuenge falls heauie, when God doth forbeare,
AlaJiam. Men only giddie be that be aboue, And will looke down to doubts, when they be
there. Shall name of king o'erthrow a king's estate ? ]Iath publike good no friend ? shall piiuate feare Of one weake man make all vnfortunate ? 1^0, no, deare Heli ! I God's champion am; And will my father for a while depose, Lest he the kingdome, we the Church doe lose.
Heli. Alaham ! if hands you on your father lay For priuate ends, and make the Church your
stayres, By which you clime your owne ambitious way ; Tour glory will be short, and full of feares : Since nothing for the Church is done amisse ; And nothing well done that against her is.
Alaham. So be the God eternall my beleefe. As I my father from his state depose. Only for feare the Church should honor lose. But Heli ! iudge not things with common eyes, The Church it is one linke of gouernment, Of noblest kings the noblest instrument. For while kings sacred keepe her mysteries, She keepes the world to kings obedient ;
ALAHAM. 175
Giuing the body to obey the spirit,
So carrying power vp to infinite.
But here with vs, the discipline is stain'd :
Forme lost : Truth scandaliz'd with noueltie,
Louingnesse with craft ; and Faith with atheisme.
Honor, and zeale, with curiosity ;
The worst best vs"d; Shame carrying Honor's
face, And Innouation king in euery place. Downe must these mines to be set vpright ; Misfortune peec'd' growes more vnfortunate ; And parents lawes must yeeld to lawes of
State. Heli. Then see the means : for though the
end were good, Yet for a priuate man to change a State, "With monarch's sleights to alter monarchic, Seemes hard, if not impossible, to me.
Alaham. Impossible is but the faith of Feare ; " To make hope easie fetch beliefe elswhere» Yet lest these sparkes rak'd vp in hollow hearts, Should spread, and burne before their fury show ; Keepe on the course which you haue vs'd to goe. Preach you with firie tongue, distinguish might, Tyrants from kings ; duties in question bring
^^ = pieced, patched up. G.
176 ALAHAM.
Tvrixt God and man : where power infinite
Compar'd, makes finite power a scornful! thing.
Safely so craft may with the truth giue light,
To iudge of crownes without enammelling ;
And bring contempt vpon the monarch's State ;
Where straight unhallowed power hath people's hate.
Glaunce at prerogatiues indefinite ;
Taxe cnstomes, warres, and lawes all gathering ;
Censure kings faults, their spies and fauourites ;
Holinesse hath a priuiledge to sting,
t Men he not wise ; hittemesse from zeale of spirit,
Is hardly iudg'd ; the enuy of a king
Makes people like reproofe of Maiesty ;
"Where God seemes great in priests' audacity.
Thus keep a god ; For be he true, or no,
Mixt faith so workes on man's idolatrie,
That minds, in bonds ; bodies, delight in woe.
Eeligion carrying men aboue respect :
For what thing else can stand in selfe neglect ?
And when men's mindes thus tun'd and tempted
are To change, with arguments 'gainst present times, Then Hope awakes, and man's ambition climes. Heli. What hope can blot the feare of princes'
power ? Alaham. Taxes, and scomes of Basshsas gouem-
ment.
I
ALAHAM. 177
Which vnder kings make present times still sowre ; Hope leads the ill, and they the innocent.
Sell. These hopes are poore : For feare is with
them^ mixt. Aldham. All feares are weake, where any hope
is fixt. JELeli, Dissolue— tis true — you may with enuy, feare, Craft, treacherie, contempt, neglect, !N"ot build : these sands will no foundations beare : These engines are to mine, not erect. Will you a father, can you a king throw downe ? Alaliam. Or suffer that the Christians weare
his crowne ? Sell. The Christians with what faith or policy, Can you call in ? Such remedies are ill : For what they conquer, that enioy they will. Besides, the force lies in Caine Basshas hands, In Mahomet wealth, law and gouemment : What way to them ? . . . .
Alaliam. My wife, their mutuall trust. ^
These Basshas with themselues she shall betray ; Arts of reuenge are wi'itten downe in lust. What cannot women doe with wit and play ?
Misprinted ' the '. G.
178 ALAHAM.
Heli. Who would bestow his wife in works of
shame ? Alaham. They that thiuke ought more deare than honest name. Good fortune doth in Humor's market sit, And those that buy, must sell all else for it. Heli. The shame is sure ; the good in hazard
lies. Alaham. Such staires they clime, that vnto fortune rise : Opinion raignes without, and Truth within. "Who others please, against themselues must sin.
Uxit Heli. You spirits then growne subtile by your age ! Not you that doe inhabite Paradise, "Whose constant ioyes most vnacquainted be With, all affections, that should make you wise ! No : I inuoke that blacke Eternity, As apt to put in action, as deuise ! Helpe me, that haue to doe with princes' power, To plucke downe king, with king's authority, And make men slaues, with show of liberty.^ Free hope from euill lucke, reuenge from feare ; E-uine and change, adorne you euery where.
^ As the Napoleonic Plebiscite in France, formerly and in the present year. G.
ALA HAM. 17D
Actus Primus : Scena secunda. MAHOMET : ALAHAM.
Mahomet. Y lord ! So oft alone, pulls downc the heart To thoughts, and courses far vnmeet for it. Princes must shew themselues in open sight : Men ioy in them that doe in men delight. Triumphs of common peace, sacrifice, thanks, praise,
Prepared are
To soleminze this vniuersall ioy, Wherein your selfe the greatest part enioy.
Alaham. If change were currant in Eternity, As here amongst vs in this mortall spheare, Passion might hope for counterpassion there. My brother's doome decreed was from aboue : Truth varies not : God's pleasure constant is : Time present shewes not all that is amisse.
Mahomet. Ioy opens mindes, and Enuy shuts them in : God, by your brother's life, adioumes our sinne. Alah. When God speaks vnto men, and they expound, Truth easily scapes, all threatned woes seeme light ;
180 ALAHAM.
Misprision euer giues Misfortune might : For Power is proud till it looke downe to Feare, Though only safe, by euer looking there, besides, if fates be past, what meanes this starre, Whose glorious taile threatens vnglorious dayes, Feare vnto kings, and to the' State a warre? What meane these bloody showers ? These dark-
ned rayes Of sunne and moone, which still eclipsed are ? Are all signes chance? For if the starres can
worke, These signes that threaten proue their bodies
lurke.^ What added is in honor to the crowne, Or what increase of empire to the king ; That exiles are call'd home to put me downe ? Strange innouation some increase should bring. Kings fondly'' else tempt God, and trust to Chance, Where change and hazard nothing doe aduance. Mahomet^ Your brother's fault was only
prince's feare : One ill example hurts to many were.
1 Lurke = lie in wait for mischief. The signs are bloody showers and eclipses : the bodies are sun, moon and stars. G. 2^foohshly. G.
ALAHAM. 181
AlaJmm. God's law it was, wherby he was dcpriu'd ; My elder brother's right was but the law. Change in estates is like vnto a sleepe, ^
"Which but it selfe can nothing constant keepe, Mahomet. It is no change to giue the elder
place. Alah. The wounds are new that present right
deface. Mah. The second borne are not borne to the
crowne. Alah. Hope, which our God sets vp, dare
man pull downe ? Mahomet. Alaham ! Our God's decree did not exile Thy brother : it was heauenly mystery, "Which Faction construed to impiety. "When I return' d, I saw foundations layed In princes' faults, for Basshas tyrannic ; "Who keeping both the princes' heyres aliue, The one exil'd, the other enuious, "Would make each plague to other ; both, to vs. I wrought, and ouercame the prince's hate, Eestor'd his sonne, and in his sonne the State. Alaham. And wast thou then call'd into grace by me, To be the meane that I should ruin'd be ?
182 ALAHAM.
Fo Mahomet : That labyrinth thy heart, Artisan of craft, great empire of deceipt, The plague of all inferiors, and the bait ; In prince's frailty shall not drowne this State. Sense and thy wrongs alike be generall ; A prince's power cannot protect them all. When flatteiy giues scope to tyrannize, Extremes then from extremities doe rise. Mahomet. The giddy head that sees with daz'led
sight. Imagines all the world to tume about ; And rage, which to yourselfe makes you seeme
great. Is lesse to me, than if you did entreat.
Alaham. "Who tmth doe only but to hate it
know. They nothing feare, but only to be good : Vnthankfulnesse is euer valiant so.
Mahomet. To them God thanklesse seemes, not
thanklesse is. That sacrifice for leaue to doe amisse.^ If wi'ongfuUy you had not banish'd me; To whom could my retume thank-worthy be ?
^ God seemes but is not thankless, to them that offer sacrifice in order to get leave to doe amiss (and do not get it). G.
i^LAHAM. 183
Alaham. Our gods seem'd wroth; and Fame
spake strangely ill : That sure my wife did worse than dote of thee ; This was dishonour, wrong, and losse to me. Yet I distract with good beleefe and feare. Detest her could not : Loue forbade it me : Loue her I did not, for mistrust was there ; While I suspected her, I hated thee. At length — 'tis true— I got Thee banished ; If not reuenge, at least security : Till humorous Time, that blots to print againe, Shew'd me in Hala's thoughts Caine Bassha's name. I call'd thee home; and though I scorne still
beare By Fame — who when she lies, recanteth not — Yet I forgaue the shame, and pardoned feare ; Brought thee good lucke, where good tumes are
forgot. And is it a returne of that you owe, For you to worke your patrone's ouerthrow? Maliomet. Alaham ! Put off this fruitlesse
peeuishnesse Of expectation, lost in ill desires. For you in witnesse of my thankfull heart. The gouernment of old Ormus I got ; And by possession man's hope loseth not.
184 ALAHAM.
Alaham, besides, iudge both your thoughts and
State : King's children are no kings ; Authority Goes not by blood ; she sets another rate ; Yse, is her kinne ; grace her affinity. Then looke not in Desire's earnestnesse ; Impossible is easie there, wishes' effect ; .The future great, the present ever lesse : Comparison still carrying vp the eye To make all that we haue but miserie. Care, bought with blood, and feare, with treach-
erie ; Danger, with wrong, and shame, with venturing ; Vntertaine hopes, and certaine misery, The fortunes be of haste to be a king.
Alaham. 0 God ! what's this ? Mine inward
spirits shake ; Senses doe leaue their worke ; thoughts are con-
fus'd ; Horror and glory now possession take ; ]S"ew visions to my darknesse are infus'd ; Like Delpho's^ mayd, I finde a mightie worke ; !My heart with more than it selfe doth resolue ; "What I thinke, speake, or doe, is not mine owne. I feele what made me wish my brother's fall, Ajid finde what mischiefe gets, it goes withall.
^ iiic = Delphos i. e, Deli^hi. G.
ALAFAM. 185
His safety now, I see, my safety is, And honor you that haue procured this.
MaJiomet. A blessed worke, if it be wrought within.
Alaham. It is no worke : it is a heauenly blisse Which perfect be, as soone as they beginne. Spite ! — thou impostume of aspiring hearts, Whose nature is, that if the bagge remaine, The wicked humors straight will fill againe — I will lay open thee, and all thy arts : It is no shame to say we were amisse. Since man doth take his name of that he is. Thy life is sought : nay more, thy death is sworne.
Mahomet. By whom ?
Alah. By them that hate, because they loue. And cither's kindnesse doe in mischiefe proue.
Mahomet. What is my fault ?
Alah. That thou of fault are free.
Mahomet. What his reward ?
Alah. Their loue that malice thee.
Mahomet. Where lies my hope ?
Alah. To kiU, or to be kill'd.
Mahomet A wicked choice, where mischiefe is the best : Is their delight in shedding guiltlesse blood ?
Alaham. What moues the wicked else to hate the good ?
Mahomet. Who be the men ?
186 ALAHA3I.
Alah. I to my selfe am free ; But faith forbids to tell what others be.
Mahomet. Disperse these clouds : Secrecy is Euil's friend ; IN'eutrality hath neuer noble end. Tell me their names, that I my foes may know, And you with honor, from ill friendship goe.
Alaham. I witnesse take of these light-bearing starres, Wherein the doomes are laid of man's desires ; 1^0 lacke of hope or power, to conceale : Eemorse alone doth them and me, reueale. My wife hath compass'd Caine so cunningly As he hath sworne, you by his hand, shall dye.
Mahomet. Yncredible it is to thinke men neuer change ; To thinke they alter easily, is as strange. Vpon what grounds should this strange malice moue ? Alaham. Ypon what grounds doe men beginne to lone ?
Mahomet. "What moued Caine ?
Alaham. That which I may not see : For they loue well that doe in hate agree.
Mahomet. Are Truth and Friendship but ambiti- ous traps. To feed desii-e with all that she can get ? Are words and good tumes but hearts' counterfeit ?
ALAHAM. 187
Alaham. "When enemies bid enemies take heed, They trust not them, and yet they will beware : For disaduantago growes of little care : Eesolue to die ; or else resolue to feare.
Mahomet. Good angells still protect the innocent : Hell would haue all, if harme were ill intent.
Alah. Mischiefe still hides her selfe from them she hits, In hopes and feares of vnresoluing wits.
Mahomet. I well know Caine : his nature to excesse Of good or ill, is forc'd by Industrie : In others' spite lies his impietie : Appease your wife, for that must lie in you.
Alaham. Call vp the dead, for that is lesse to doe. A woman's hate is euer dipt in blood, «
And (Ict'i exile all counsells that be good.
Mahomet. Eeason and Tiuth shall pleade to her for me.
Alahaw. The eyes of Rage it selfe doe only see : And Truth semes vnto rage, but for a glasse To decke her selfe in, and bring spite to passe. Eeason to Rage, is like hands to a sore, "Whose often stroking makes the anguish more.
Mahomet. Impossible, all counsell doth refuse.
Alaham. Let Caine be kill'd : and then my wife accuse.
188 ALAHAM.
Mahomet. My heart shall first take coimsell with my fate : If it foretell the worst, it teacheth feare ; If it diuines no ill, how can it hate ? If what shall fall it feeles not, I must beare. The time growes on : The king — I know — makes
haste To sacrifice to God : for common ioyes Are made much dearer by the sorrowes past.
CEORVS PRIMVS.
Of good Spirits.
E that are made to guard good men, and binde the ill, See both miscarried here below, against our power and will. As if the Earth, and her's, were to the worst left
free, And we made subiect by their curse, to Death's
blacke colonie. Yet is our Maker strong, and we His first creation, Wheras the state of that darke quire, is meerly
our priuation. "Whence doth this ods then grow, which seemes to master all
A.LAHAM. 189
Since we are more than nature is, they much lesse, by their fall?
Are we not diligent, or is the good not wise ?
Showes Truth lesse glorious in the Earth, than her ill picture Lies ?
Then audit vs in grosse ; at least we equall be :
And if in minutes men seeke out true inequality.
Compare words with the life, Eternity with Time,
Insulting Pride with humble Loue, pure Inno- cence with crime :
And if these in their natures equally be weigh' d,
The one Hues euer building vp, what others haue decay' d.
So that to make and marre, is our true difference ;
To marre, expressing finite power; to make, omni- potence.
The obiect then it is, from which these oddes doth grow,
By which the ill o' re weighs the good in euery thing below.
And what is that but man ? a crazed soule, vn- fix'd;
Made good, yet fall'n, not to extremes, but to a meane betwixt :
Where — like a cloud — with windes he toss'd is here and there,
"We kindling good hope in his flesh ; they quench- ing it with feare.
190 ALAHAM.
We with our abstract formes and substance bodi-
lesse. Image by glaunces into him our glories, their dis-
tresse. And in prospectiue maps make ill farre off appeare Lest it should worke with too great power, when
it approacheth neare. Beauties againe of Truth — which those ill spirits
conceale — With optike glasses we reflect on man to kindle
zeale. But whether idle man, exceeding Order's frame, — As out of heauen iustly cast — must Yulcan-like
goe lame : Or that those euill spirits so dazle humane eyes, As they thinke foule forbidden things more beauti-
full, more wise ; Wee see, though they want power to change our
reall frame, Yet in the world they striue to gaine, by chang- ing of our name : Calling the Goodnesse, weake ; Patience, a lacke
of sense. Or seeming not to feele, because it dares make no
defence. True pietie in man, which vpward doth appeale, They doe deride, as argument of little strength,
much zeale.
ALAHAM. 191
And as the painter's art, by deeping^ colors there, Here sleighting o're, and finely casting shadowes
euery where, Makes from a flat, a face shew off, as if imboss'd; In which the forme, not matter, is the summe of
all his cost : So take these fayries from, or adde vnto our
meane, With Art's fine casting shadows, till they seeme
to change ys cleane ; ^
And make a picture which they couet should
excell ; And which yet, to be like, must lose the life of
doing well. This image is their wit, and so their deitie. Which though not keeping one shape long, in all
would worship'd be. In precept, doctrine, rite, and discipline agree'd. That, but prosperity on Earth, there is no lining
creed : Out of which fatall guide Alaham now \Tider-
takes The ruine of his king and father, for ambition's
sake ;
deepening. Gr.
192 ALAHIM.
m
Against the lawes of nations, power and natiue blood ;
As if the vttermost of ill a scepter could make good.
But marke how Vice still makes example her owne fate ;
For with like mischiefe Hala shakes both him and his estate.
He in his father's bowels "seeks an earthly throne ;
Whence she ^upplants his heires againe with bastards of her owne.
He makes "Wrong triumph ouer Eight and Inno- cence ;
She makes her lust Religion's lord, Confusion her defence :
Thus, as that tyrant who cut off the statue's head,
"Which bare the name of lupiter Olympian chris- tened ;
Euen by this scomfull act to what was god in name,
Taught people to encroch vpon the sacred mon- arch-frame :
So while the o'reswoll'n pride of this Mahumetan,
By wounding of his princely race, playes false with God and man ;
He in it doth disperse those clouds of reuerence,
Which betweene man and monarch's seate keep sweet intelligence ;
. * A.LAHAM. 193
And while he would be lord of order, nature, right, Brings in disorder — that deuouring enemy of
Might— "Which with her many hands vnweaues what
Time had wrought, And proues, what Power obtaines by wrong, is
euer dearlj^ bought. So that our griefe and ioy is in this tragedy, t'
To see the 111, amongst her owne, act vnprosperity ; The corne fall to the ground, the chaffe in siues
remain e, "Which of the corne was* once, and yet cannot be
corne againe. But as their ancient mates and sudden-kindled
windes, Broken out of the watry clouds, wherein they
were enshrin'd ; Afflict the sturdy oke, are heauy to the reed : And equally spend out themselues^ with good or
euill speed : So of these windy spirits, which wander in the
ayre, By their malignity to blast, both what is foule
and faire ; "Whether they prosper doe, or faile in their intent,
^ Misprinted ' theselues ', G,
194 ALAHAM.
Their vglinesse disclosed is, their \dolence is
spent : "While we vphold the world, and were we all but
one. By legions of those angels curs'd, could not be
ouerthrown^ :
V Yet among stones, as the authors' winne no praise, ^^hich truly write, but they who Time with
flatteries doe please :
So in man's muddy soule, the meane doth not content,
Nor equally the two extremes but that which fits is bent.
This makes some soare and burne ; some stoope and wet their wings ;
And some againe commit excesse, even in indiffer- ent things.
• For who maintaines one vice to multiply another, Incestuously begets more heyres vpon his owne
first mother. And in venerian acts, as concubine and wife. Only expresse that difference which pictures do
from life ; The act being all in one, and but the same in all.
Misprinted * ouerthrown'd.' Q.
ALAHAM. 195
Saue that the bondage of the vice delighteth to
enthrall : So in man's choice, suppose his ends indifferent : The good and ill, like equall wayes ; yet will the
worst content.
Actus secundiis : scena prima. HALA alone.
ALA. I will no more smother confusedly This inward warre, where Modesty and Shame
"Would subject Sense to Dutie's tyrannic : "Wrongei with doubt I line ; a wife to lust, A stranger both to honour, loue, and trust : My friends despis'd, my seruants made my spies, 1^0 way but by betraying me, to rise. Is this the only right of womanhood ? Then know base men, in whom all loue is lost, That wit moues wit ; power, feare ; feare, hate ; '^0 farther bondage hath a wiue's estate. While Mahomet, that faithlcsse hypocrite. Canker of loue, all-ill in one, that man
Shew'd loue to m ) :
Alaham was wroth, an husband's honour touch'd, He yile, I worse : the eyes of lealousie
196 ALAHAM.
Seeing her owne disease in him and me.
But since this wretch, with his aspiiing craft,
To Alaham hath falsly sold my shame,
My iniuries and dishonours are his fame ;
And shall this traffike of ambition thriue.
And bury vs in modesty aliue ?
"No Caine : for thy example I resolue
To study spite, and practise cruelty :
Scome else will grow their sport, our falls their
fame. That glory to deceiue, and ioy in shame. But what means this ? Alaham hasts to the
crowne ; He tries, moues, breakes all that will not be bowed; These only stand which helpe his father downe. "Wife is a priuate name : Ambition's wayes Lie not within the bounds of loue, but vse : "When things are ripe, I must be ouerthrowne, And shall I lose my selfe in idle lust ? Each yassall is as great as queenes in it : Princes haue strength, they erre for empire must. What feare I then ? Fame that is great, is good : Hazard all men behold with reuerent eyes ; And must we only in remorse be wise ? !No, no : my heart and state doe more embrace : Purple shall hide my lust, a crowne my shame : Passion with passions hath such vnity,
ALA HAM. 197
As one must euer be another's frame.
Beyond the truth I am in louing Caino :
The monuments of lust are secrecy,
Suspition, shame, remorse, aduersity ;
If Caine be king, the way to that are change, u
Wrong, hazard, care, mine, confusion, blood :
Poore thoughts, that feare or rest haue neuer good.
My partie's strong, I build upon the vice, Question the yoke of princes, husband, law ; My good successe break es ail the links of awe. Then Chance ! be thou my friend ; Desire ! my
guide, My heart extended is to great attempts. Which, if they speed, eternize shall my fame , If not, 'tis glory to excell in shame.
Loe where my husband comes ? ISTow Reason must Disguise these passions, lest I lose my end, Who hides his minde is to. himselfe a friend. "^
Actus secundus : Seena secunda. HALA. ALAHAM.
ALA. King of myselfe! Redeemer of our fame ! What secret clouds doe ouercast youj: heart?
L
198 ALAHAM.
Counsell and Time doe both worke one effect, And either cure or cleare what "we suspect.
Alah. My wounds can haue no cure ; my feares haue cast Nature and Truth into Affliction's moulds ; The workes of Time and Counsell both are past. "When hearts once from themselues are runne
astray, Chance must their guide be, violence their way. Hala. Chance is not cast in moulds, like other Arts; Her counsells but the hope of rashnesse be ; ' Aduice did neuer any man betray : If truth be luckie, counsell is the way.
Alaham. If counsell be the guide of vnder- taking. Our powers best with our owne wits doe agree, Where both the meanes and ends together be. Sola. Who trusts his passion multiplies his care; All paines within, all cures without vs are.
Alaham. If you captiued be I speake withall, Then from my passion into your's I fall.
Sola. My state of minde, good will, and homage is ; My being, reuerence ; my end, your will ; Selfe-loue it selfe payes tribute vnto this.
ALAHAM. 199
Alah. If Lone haue power to leaue and breake her vow ; How can I trnst to tliat yon promise now ? If Lone change not ; how can I trust and know, That you lone Mahomet, my ouerthrow ?
ffala. His place deseru'd respect, his virtue praise ; Our freedome, not inhibited by you. Found many things indifferent to doe.
Alaham. Forbidding is the prison of the thought: A violence which on themselues they draw, That inwardly of nothing stand in awe ; But marke the end : he first despiseth thee, Then triumphs in thy once forsaken lone ; Proclaimes deceipt to be thy state of mind, Vncompetible, vnpossible^ to finde. So as if I should rule this glorious throne. You ruling me — as he assumes you doe — The State and I at once were ouerthrowne.
Sola. Good nature then — I see — is not the art, "With which a woman's honor safe may goe Through hollow seas of man's dissembling heart ; His faithlesnesse yet doth this good to me,
^ Transition-form of ' incompatible ' and ' impossible.' G.
200 ALAHAM.
That I may freely hate all men, but thee.
Alaham. Hate is the hand of Furie in the heart ; "Without reuenge, no more but sense of smart,
Sala. Hate is the print of iniurie violent ; Only in ruine and reuenge content.
Alaham. Reuenges, in your sex, dishonor be ; And in your strength, impossibilitie. Impatience only doth with God make warre.
Mala. Furie findes armes; Wrong hath ill destinie ; While God is, it is basenesse to desparre : For Eight more credit hath then Power there.
Alaham. Yet God and kings vse wisdome in their might, Eeward and grace doe from their owne hands part; They others vse for the instrument of spite.
JSala. Whom can we vse ? Since he we hate is great. And we disgrac'd : who hazard will his State With him, that for his owne good must intreat ?
Alaham. Aspirers are not voyd of riuall hate: If any enuy him, or lone our right, Reuenge lies there ; their lines desire['s] art.
Eala. Of God I aske it ; and in men wiU moue, As much as can be wrought with hope or loue. But men vncertaine are, blowne here and there,
ALAHAM. 201
"With loue, remorse, feares, which in frailtie Hue ; Who need forgiuenesse, easily doe forgiue. The heart which feeles, most liuely can ^xpresse Eeuenge, that picture of his guiltinesse.
Alaham. Euine, the power — not art — of princes is : Caine is ingag'd as deep as we in this.
Hda. The wounds are mine ; to me belongs reuenge ; Sense my aduiser is ; you, sir, my end : What needs a woman's passion more to friend ?
Alaham. Mischiefe ! now claime thy due. Malice ! feare not, To offer all thy sleights to wicked wits ; Ruine lights not amisse where ere it hits. My engines worke, care is already past ; My hopes arise out of these Basshas' blood : If both, my wish ; if either dye, my good.
Hala ! Good fortunes are together linkt ; Thy faith stirres up new light within my minde : Behold, the throne descends to take me vp. Antiquitie, in her vnenuied wombe, Kow offers vs the fatall president^ Of sixteene kings, my predecessors, all Blinded, and then depos'd by Basshas hand : So tickely Ynworthinesse doth stand.
1 Precedent. G. » Ticklishly. G.
202 ALAHAM.
Doth wit, and courage only rest in slaues ? Hath hazard ought more horrible than scorne ? Haue I occasions sure, and shall I stay To giue all, but my miserie, away ?
Alaham.^ l^o Hala, no : thy dowry shall be fame : Thy stile, a crowne ; thy prospect, reuerence : The East shall doe thee honor in my name. Out shall my father's, and my brother's eyes ; Authority is only for the wise.
But since these mighty workes haue many parts, And I but one, which one cannot doe all : I'le send thee Caine : keepe firme ypon your
strengths. Beauty and Honor, iN'ature's scepters be, And haue on men's desires, authority. Exit.
Hala. Kow Hala, seeke thy sex ; lend Scorne thy wit. To worke new patterns of reuenges in. Let Kage despise to feed on priuate blood ; Her honor lies aboue, where danger is, In thrones of kings, in vniuersall woe. Worke that which Alaham may enuie at, And men wish theirs, that 111 it selfe may tremble, Monstrous, incredible, too great for words.
^ Left out inadvertently, as also in "Warwick Castle MS. &.
ALAHIM. 203
Keepe close, and adde to furie with restraint ; Doe not breake forth vntii thou breakest all.
Is "Wrong so proud ? Shall man once dare to fashion A woman's ruine in a woman's passion ? Husband ! most odious name : scorne of subicction : Is loue to women but your rage of thoughts ? Are your desires let blood by your enioying ? Ah
fooles ! We see your lusts relent, you see not ours ; And from that change Aduantage hath her powers. But on : still vse thy craft : thy strength lies
there. Ignorance, that sometimes makes the hypocrite, ^ Wants neuer mischiefe, though it oft want feare : For while thou thinkst Paith made to answer wit, Obserue the iustice that doth follow it.
Caine, Mahomet, and me, thou hat'st alike, For vnlike cause, and craftie wayes do'st take. That each may ruin'd be for other's sake. Shall I, for thee, hazard Caine's life I loue ? And weigh downe my affection with my hate ? Can highest thoughts haue anything aboue ?
Ah ! but perchance my safety in the blood Of Mahomet doth rest, the good of Caine : Then were it losse to make occasion vaine.
And shall I looke but only to be safe ?
204 AL.VHAlf.
Can Iniurie and Malice adde no more ? Ah coward sex ! faint, shallow passion Farre from me be : a worke that no age dares Allow, yet none conceale, I must attempt. Purie ! then spurre thy self e, embedlam^ wit : Poyson my thoughts, to make my reason see Pleasure in crueltie, glorie, in spite : Rage to exceed examples doth delight.
Thoughts ! doe you blush ? To Alaham what's iU? His death ? 0 barren wit and sandie rage ! No marble pillars, no enamells rich, Buried in silence, worne away with age, Are furies that no greater plagues deuise : HoiTors they be that haue eteraities.
What saith my heart ? Grow millions out of
one
Doth passion leaue her infancie by vse ? And shall I, by the death of Mahomet, More skill, at least more crueltie beget ? Then let him die. But can I venture Caine, And leaue Misfortune power ouer loue ? Triumphs to Alaham, if both be slaine ?
Ah sleepy sexe ! how slow is their progression.
1 A noticeable word which I have not met with else- where. G.
ALAHAM. 205
That would exactly measure infinite, By tender fearcs or minutes of delight ?
Then Hala, leaue this circle of selfe-loue : Beginne ; goe on : Hate must stride ouer Feare.
"Who are secure,
And nothing venture, all things must endure.
For Alaham, that traitor's ouerthrow. My rage is yet too yong to worke vpon : "What to resolue of him I dare not thinke, Till this great frame wherein our fortunes lie, Be surer linkt vnto Prosperitie, Then shall Occasion horrors strange deuise ; Fooles only lose their ends to tyrannize.
Adus secimdus : Scena Tertia. CAINE BASSHA. HALA.
AINE. Princesse of me ! I finde care in your face, "Woe smothered vp ; T came to know your will ; l^othing which you command me can be ill. Kala. That which I least did feare is fall'n on me, "Wrong and mishap ; which needing others' loue, Make them vnlouely that vnhappy be.
206 iXAHAM.
From kings themselues when Fortune turnes her
face, Then need they most, yet least may vse their
owne ; So dearly man's rnthankfulnesse is knowne. Caine. "What is the cause that makes you thus
accuse The world of faults, your selfe of inward feare ? Hala. The little faith which all the world doth
vse; The iuiuries which strength of heart must beare : Enui'd of all, if it be set aboue ; If humble, then too low for men to loue.
Caine. Doe not forsake your selfe : for they
that doe Offend, and teach the world to leaue fhem too. Mortall our God shall be ; The truth shall lie ; Darknesse shall see herselfe ; Fame lose her
Yoyce ; Er'e I will leaue my loue, or my loue you : Affliction's wounds affection doe renew,
Hala. Perchance you loue both those I hate,
and me ; Affections then against affection be. Perchance a vow, good turnes, and good beleefe Are mists between e your loue and my releefe. Caine. You know I loue : speake plaine, and
doe not feare,
ALAHAM. 207
That reason other is than kindnesse there.
Sala. Then heare : and if my iudgement you disproue, You shall haue cause to thinke, I trust and loue. Mahomet the faultie is ; his faults be these : Enuious of thee, to my loue treacherous ; The king must lose his sight, his crowne, his sonne : This wickednesse hath Mahomet begunne.
Caine. 0 Hell! and is thy seate in fleshly