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O! what excufe will my poor beaft then find,
When swift extremity can feem but flow?
Then fhould I fpur tho' mounted on the wind;
In winged fpeed no motion I fhall know.
Then can no horfe with my defire keep pace,
Therefore defire (of perfect love being made)
Shall neigh no dull flesh in his fiery race,
But love for love thus fhall excufe my jade.
Since from thee going, he went wilful flow,
Towards thee I'll run, and give him leave to go.

Two Faithful Friends.

Mine eye and heart are at a mortal war,
How to divide the conqueft of thy fight:

Mine eye, my heart their pictures fight would bar,
My heart, mine eye the freedom of that right:
My heart doth plead, that thou in him dost lie;
(A closet never pierc'd with cryftal eyes)
But the defendant doth that plea deny,
And fays, in him their fair appearance lies.
To 'cide this title, is impannelled

A queft of thoughts, all tenants to the heart;
And by their verdict is determined

The clear eye's moiety, and the dear heart's part,

As thus; mine eyes due is their outward part,
And my heart's right, their inward love of heart.

Betwixt mine eye and heart a league is took,
And each doth good turns now unto the other:
When that mine eye is famifh'd for a look,
Or heart in love with fighs himself doth fmother::
With my love's picture then my eye doth feaft,
And to the painted banquet bids my heart.

Another time mine eye is my heart's gueft,

And in his thoughts of love doth share a part.
So either by the picture of my love,

Thyfelf away, are prefent ftill with me;

For thou not farther than my thoughts canft move,
And I am still with them, and they with thee.
Or if they fleep, thy picture in my fight
Awakes my heart, to heart's and eyes delight.

Careless Neglect.

How careful was I, when I took my way
Each trifle under trueft bars to thrust;
That to my use it might unused stay

From hands of falfhood, in fure wards of trust ?
But thou, to whom my jewels trifles are,
Moft worthy comfort, now my greatest grief:
Thou beft of deareft, and mine only care,
Are left the prey of every vulgar thief.
Thee have I not lock'd up in any cheft,
Save where thou art not; tho' I feel thou art,
Within the gentle closure of my breast,

From whence at pleasure thou mayft come and part;
And even thence thou wilt be stoln, I fear;
For truth proves thievifh for a prize fo dear.

Stout Refolution.

Against that time (if ever that time come)
When I fhall fee thee frown on my

defects;

Whenas thy love hath caft his utmost sum,
Call'd to that audit by advis'd refpects:

Against that time, when thou fhalt ftrangely pafs,

And scarcely greet me with that fun, thine eye;

When love, converted from the thing it was,
Shall reafons find of fettled gravity:
Againft that time, do I infconce me here,
Within the knowledge of mine own defert;
And this my hand against myself up-rear,
To guard the lawful reasons on thy part;

To leave poor me, thou haft the strength of laws, Since why to love, I can alledge no cause.

A Duel.

It was a lording's daughter

The faireft one of three,

That liked of her mafter, as well as well might be :

Till looking on an Englishman,

The faireft eye could fee,

Her fancy fell a turning.

Long was the combat doubtful,

That love with love did fight:

To leave the mafter loveless, or kill the gallant knight;

To put in practice either,

Alas! it was a fpite.

Unto the filly damfel.

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But one must be refused,

More mickle was the pain;

That nothing could be ufed, to turn them both to

For of the two the trufty knight

Was wounded with difdain,

Alas! fhe could not help it.

Thus art with arms contending,
Was victor of the day;

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Which by a gift of learning did bear the maid away. Then, lullaby, the learned man

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Hath got the lady gay :

For now my fong is ended.

Love-fick.

On a day (alack the day!)
Love, whofe month was ever May,
Spy'd a bloffom passing fair,

Playing in the wanton air.

Thro' the velvet leaves the wind,
All unfeen, 'gan paffage find,
That the lover (ick to death)
Wish'd himself the heaven's breath.
Air (quoth he) thy cheeks may blow;
Air! would I might triumph fo!
But (alas!) my hand hath fworn

Ne'er to pluck thee from thy throne;
Vow, (alack!) for youth unmeet

Youth, fo apt to pluck a fweet;

Thou, for whom ev'n Jove. would fwear

Juno but an Ethiop were;

And deny himself for Jove,

Turning mortal for thy love.

Love's Labour left.

My flocks feed not, my ewes breed not,
My rams speed not; all is amifs :
Love is dying, faith's defying,

Heart's denying, caufer of this.

All my merry jigs are quite forgot,
All my lady's love is loft (God wot)

"Where her faith was firmly fix'd in love,
There a nay is plac'd, without remove.
One filly crofs wrought all my lofs;

O! frowning fortune, curfed fickle dame!
For now I fee inconftancy

More in women than in men remain.

́In black mourn I, all fears fcorn I,
Love hath forlorn me living in thrall;
Heart is bleeding, all help needing;
O! cruel speeding, fraughted with gall!
My fhepherd's pipe can found no deal
My weather's bell rings doleful knell;
My curtail dog, that wont to have play'd,
Plays not at all, but feems afraid.

With fighs fo deep, procures to weep
In howling wife, to fee my doleful plight;
How fighs refound thro' heartless ground,
Like a thousand vanquish'd men in bloody fight.

Clear wells fpring not, fweet birds fing not,
Green plants bring not forth their dye;
Herds ftand weeping, flocks all fleeping,
Nymphs black peeping fearfully.

All our pleasure known to us poor swains;
All our merry-meetings on the plains;
All our evening fport from us is fled;
All our love is loft, for love is dead.

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Farewel, sweet love, thy like ne'er was,
For a fweet content, the cause of all my woe;
Poor Coridon must live alone,

Other help for him, I fee, that there is none.

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