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SONNET.

CUPID abroad was lated in the night,

His wings were wet with ranging in the rain; Harbour he sought, to me he took his flight, To dry his plumes: I heard the boy complain; I op'd the door, and granted his desire, I rose myself, and made the wag a fire.

Looking more narrow by the fire's flame,
I spied his quiver hanging by his back:
Doubting the boy might my misfortune frame,
I would have gone for fear of further wrack ;
But what I drad, did me poor wretch betide,
For forth he drew an arrow from his side.

He pierc'd the quick, and I began to start,
A pleasing wound, but that it was too high;
His shaft procur'd a sharp, yet sugar'd smart:
Away he flew, for why his wings were dry;

But left the arrow sticking in my breast,
That sore I griev'd I welcom'd such a guest.

FROM PENELOPE'S WEB.

(ED. 1601.)

SONNET FROM ARIOSTO.

THE sweet content that quiets angry thought,
The pleasing sound of household harmony,
The physic that allays what fury wrought,
The huswife's means to make true melody,
Is not with simple, harp, or worldly pelf,
But smoothly by submitting of herself.

Juno, the queen and mistress of the sky,

When angry Jove did threat her with a frown, Caus'd Ganymede for nectar fast to hie,

With pleasing face to wash such choler down; For angry husbands find the soonest ease, When sweet submission choler doth appease.

The laurel that impales the head with praise,
The gem that decks the breast of ivory,
The pearl that's orient in her silver rays,
The crown that honours dames with dignity;
No sapphire, gold, green bays, nor margarite,
But due obedience worketh this delight.

BARMENISSA'S SONG.

THE stately state that wise men count their good,
The chiefest bliss that lulls asleep desire,
Is not descent from kings and princely blood,
Ne stately crown ambition doth require ;
For birth by fortune is abased down,
And perils are compris'd within a crown.
*find] The 4to. "findes."

The sceptre and the glittering pomp of mace,
The head impal'd with honour and renown,
The kingly throne, the seat and regal place,
Are toys that fade when angry fortune frown:
Content is far from such delights as those,
Whom woe and danger do envy as foes.

The cottage seated in the hollow dale,

That fortune never fears because so low,
The quiet mind that want doth set to sale,
Sleeps safe when princes seats do overthrow:
Want smiles secure when princely thoughts do feel
That fear and danger tread upon their heel.

Bless fortune thou whose frown hath wrought thy good,
Bid farewell to the crown that ends thy care;
The happy fates thy sorrows have withstood
By 'signing want and poverty thy share :
For now content, fond fortune to despite,
With patience 'lows thee quiet and delight.

VERSES.

ASPIRING thoughts led Phaethon amiss;
Proud Icarus did fall, he soar'd so high;
Seek not to climb with fond Semiramis,
Lest son revenge the father's injury:
Take heed, ambition is a sugar'd ill,
That fortune lays, presumptuous minds to spill.

The bitter grief that frets the quiet mind,
The sting that pricks the froward man to woe,

Is envy, which in honour seld we find,
And yet to honour sworn a secret foe :

tread] The 4to. "treads."

Learn this of me, envy not others' state;
The fruits of envy are* envy and hate.

The misty cloud that so eclipseth fame,
That gets reward a chaos of despite,
Is black revenge, which ever winneth shame,
A fury vild that's hatched in the night:
Beware, seek not revenge against thy foe,
Lest once revenge thy fortune overgo.

These blazing comets do foreshew mishap;
Let not the flaming lights offend thine eye: +
Look ere thou leap, prevent an after clap;

These three forewarned well may'st thou fly : If now by choice thou aim'st at happy health, Eschew self-love, choose for the common-wealth.

FROM ARBASTO.

(ED. 1626.)

SONG.

WHEREAT erewhile I wept, I laugh ;
That which I fear'd, I now despise ;
My victor once, my vassal is;

My foe constrain'd, my weal supplies:
Thus do I triumph on my foe;
I weep at weal, I laugh at woe.

are] The 4to. " is."

t eye] The 4to. "eyes."

My care is cur'd, yet hath no end;
Not that I want, but that I have;
My charge was change, yet still I stay;
I would have less, and yet I crave:

Aye me, poor wretch, that thus do live,
Constrain❜d to take, yet forc'd to give!

She whose delights are signs of death,
Who when she smiles, begins to lour,
Constant in this that still she change,
Her sweetest gifts time proves but sour:
I live in care, cross'd with her guile;
Through her I weep, at her I smile.

SONG.

IN time we see the silver drops
The craggy stones make soft;
The slowest snail in time we see
Doth creep and climb aloft.

With feeble puffs the tallest pine
In tract of time doth fall;
The hardest heart in time doth yield
To Venus' luring call.

Where chilling frost alate did nip,
There flasheth now a fire;

Where deep disdain bred noisome hate,
There kindleth now desire.

Time causeth hope to have his hap:
What care in time not eas'd?
In time I loath'd that now I love,
In both content and pleas'd.

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