By Nature's grant this must ensue,—
No woman false, but all most true :
None sow debate, but love maintain,
None wish to see their lover's pain.
As turtles true their chosen one
They love, and pine when he is gone.
This is most true, none can deny :-
I pray you ask them if I do lie?

No lamb so meek as women be,

Their humble hearts from pride are free. Rich things they wear;-and wot you why?Only to please their husband's eye!

They never strive their wills to have,

Their husband's love, nought else they crave;
Vain talk in them none can espy:-
I pray you ask them if I do lie?

The eagle with his piercing eye

Shall burn and waste the mountains high;
Huge rocks shall fleet as ship with sail;

The crab shall run, swim shall the snail;

Springs shall return from whence they came;

Sheep shall be wild, and tigers tame;

Ere these words false my

you

shall try―

Ha, ha! methinks I make a lie!

MAY.

[From the Paradise of Dainty Devices. Ed. 1576.]

WHEN May is in his prime,

Then may each heart rejoice:

When May bedecks each branch with green, Each bird strains forth his voice.

The lively sap creeps up

Into the blooming thorn :

The flowers, which cold in prison kept,

Now laughs the frost to scorn.

All Nature's imps 1 triumphs
Whiles joyful May doth last;
When May is gone, of all the year
The pleasant time is past.

May makes the cheerful hue,

May breeds and brings new blood, May marcheth throughout every limb, May makes the merry mood.

May pricketh tender hearts

Their warbling notes to tune.

Full strange it is, yet some, we see,
Do make their May in June.

1 i. e. sons.

Thus things are strangely wrought,

Whiles joyful May doth last.

Take May in time: when May is gone, The pleasant time is past.

All ye that live on earth,

And have your May at will; Rejoice in May, as I do now, And use your May with skill.

Use May, while that you may,
For May hath but his time;
When all the fruit is gone, it is
Too late the tree to climb.

Your liking and your lust

Is fresh whiles May doth last: When May is gone, of all the year The pleasant time is past.

Amantium iræ amoris redintegratio est.

[In the Paradise of Dainty Devices.]

In going to my naked bed, as one that would have slept,

I heard a wife sing to her child, that long before had wept.

She sighed sore, and sang full sweet,' to bring the babe to rest,

2

That would not cease, but cried still, in sucking at her breast.

She was full weary of her watch, and grieved with her child,

She rocked it, and rated it, until on her it smil'd; Then did she say, "Now have I found the proverb true to prove,

"The falling out of faithful friends renewing is 3 "of love."

Then took I paper, pen, and ink, this proverb for to write,

In register for to remain of such a worthy wight. As she proceeded thus in song unto her little brat, Much matter utter'd she of weight in place whereas she sat ;

1 So ed. 1580.-Ed. 1576, "sore." So ed. 1580.-Ed. 1576,"rest." 3 So ed. 1580.-Ed. 1576, "is the renewing."

And proved plain, there was no beast, nor creature bearing life,

Could well be known to live in love without discòrd and strife:

Then kissed she her little babe, and sware by God above,

"The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of "love."

"I marvel much, pardie," quoth she," for to be"hold the rout,

"To see man, woman, boy, and beast, to toss the "world about;

"Some kneel, some crouch, some beck, some "check, and some can smoothly smile,

"And some embrace others in arms, and there "think many a wile.

"Some stand aloof at cap and knee, some humble, "and some stout,

"Yet are they never friends indeed untill they once fall out."

Thus ended she her song, and said, before she did

remove,

"The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of "love."