I know (though she say nay, and would it well withstand) When in her grace thou held thee most, she bare thee but in hand.1 I see her pleasant chere in chiefest of thy suit; When thou art gone, I see him come that gathers up the fruit. And eke in thy respect, I see the base degree Of him to whom she gave the heart, that promised was to thee. I see (what would you more) stood never man so sure On woman's word, but wisdom would mistrust it to endure. THE FORSAKEN LOVER DESCRIBETH AND FORSAKETH LOVE. LOATHSOME place! where I As fortune did advance Even so hath fortune's chance 1 An expression used in a variety of ways-as to keep a person in play, to pretend for a sinister purpose, to deceive. 2 Shining or flashing upon the sight. But happy is that man A scourge to quiet minds This gift it hath also: But since thou, desert place, And casten in the dust. THE LOVER DESCRIBETH HIS RESTLESS STATE.1 AS oft as I behold, and see The sovereign beauty that me bound; The nigher my comfort is to me, 1 Three additional stanzas, the third, sixth, and eighth, are supplied by Dr. Nott from the Nuga Antiquæ. There is a poem, Of Love, by Wyatt in which the images in this piece are reproduced, sometimes in the same words. As flame doth quench by rage of fire, Like as the fly that seeth the flame, First when I saw those crystal streams,1 But wilful will did prick me forth, Wherein is hid the cruel bit, As cruel waves full oft be found And as the spider draws her line, Of ill sown seed, such is the fruit. 1There is no expression,' says Dr. Nott, 'more common among our early poets than streams for eyes.' The same remark applies to the frequent use of the expression crystal eyes.' An instance occurs amongst the poems of Uncertain Authors:' 'In each of her two crystal eyes, Smileth a naked boy.'-p. 237. 2 That is, to bear, or endure it. The old word worthe meant to be, to go-hence to suffer and submit. I fall, and see mine own decay; The thing that breedeth his unrest. THE LOVER EXCUSETH HIMSELF OF SUSPECTED CHANGE. HOUGH I regarded not If I sought now to change All men might well dispraise Or if I sought to sail Where anchor hold doth fail To such as do resort; And leave the haven sure, Where blows no blustering wind; Nor fickleness in ure, So far-forth as I find. The word occurs in Chaucer in the sense of blame or censure; it also means to know. 2 This familiar comparison was in general use amongst the poets of the 16th century. Not worth a pese' was a common phrase, and occurs in Spenser's Pastorals. No! think me not so light, Nor yet to change at all; The fire it cannot freeze, Have once a thought to turn. A CARELESS MAN SCORNING AND DESCRIBING THE SUBTLE USAGE OF WOMEN W RAPT in my careless cloak, as I walk to and fro, I see how love can shew what force there reigneth in his bow: And how he shooteth eke a hardy heart to wound; And where he glanceth by again, that little hurt is found. 1 In no instance is Dr. Nott's system of perversion more conspicuous than in the title he has given to this poem; the purpose of which is declared by the opening line, which describes a looker-on, himself |