PART III.

SPECIMENS OF

OTHER COURTLY POETS

FROM 1540 TO 1650.

Y lute, awake! perform the last
Labour that thou and I shall

waste,

And end that I have now begun; And when this song is sung and past,

My lute, be still! for I have done.

As to be heard where ear is none;
As lead to grave in marble stone;

My song may pierce her heart as soon:
Should we then sigh, or sing, or moan?
No, no, my lute, for I have done.

1 In Tottel's "Songs and Sonnets," 1557, and in Nott's "Wyatt," p. 20, as Sir Thomas Wyatt's. Ascribed to Rochford in "Nugæ Antiquæ," vol. ii. p. 400, edit. Park.

The rocks do not so cruelly
Repulse the waves continually
As she my suit and affection:
So that I am past remedy:

Whereby my lute and I have done.

Proud of the spoil that thou hast got
Of simple hearts, thorough Love's shot,
By whom, unkind, thou hast them won;
Think not he hath his bow forgot,

Although my lute and I have done.

Vengeance shall fall on thy disdain :
Thou mak'st but game on earnest pain:
Think not alone under the sun
Unquit to cause thy lovers plain,
Although my lute and I have done.

May chance thee lie, withered and old,
In winter nights that are so cold,
Plaining in vain unto the moon.
Thy wishes then dare not be told;

Care then who list, for I have done.

And then may chance thee to repent
The time that thou hast lost and spent,

To cause thy lovers sigh and swoon :
Then shalt thou know beauty but lent,
And wish and want as I have done.

Now cease, my lute! This is the last
Labour that thou and I shall waste,

And ended is that we begun :
Now is this song both sung and past:
My lute, be still! for I have done.

II.

A DESCRIPTION OF A MOST NOBLE
LADY.1

(Uncertain, but claimed for John Heywood.)
(Before 1557.)

IVE place, you ladies, and begone!
Boast not yourselves at all!
For here at hand approacheth one
Whose face will stain you all.

The virtue of her lively looks

Excels the precious stone;

I wish to have none other books
To read or look upon.

In each of her two crystal eyes
Smileth a naked boy;

It would you all in heart suffice
To see that lamp of joy.

I think Nature hath lost the mould
Where she her shape did take;
Or else I doubt if Nature could

So fair a creature make.

1 In Tottel's "Songs and Sonnets," 1557, as "A Praise of his Lady," among "Uncertain Authors." Ascribed to John Heywood by W. Forrest (or the transcriber of his poems), in a copy containing many alterations, and adapting the poem to Queen Mary, in Harl. MS. 1703, fol. 108; title as above.