SONNET.

[From "Astrophel and Stella."]

BECAUSE I breathe not love to every one,
Nor do not use set colours for to wear,

I

Nor nourish special locks of 1 vowed hair, Nor give each speech a full point of a groan ; The courtly nymphs, acquainted with the moan Of them who in their lips Love's standard bear, "What, he?" say they of me, 66 now 3 I dare

66 swear

"He cannot love! No, no; let him alone."
And think so still! so Stella know my mind:
Profess4 indeed I do 5 not Cupid's art; 6
But you, 7 fair maids, at length this true shall

find,

8

That his right badge is but worn 9 in the heart. Dumb swans, not chattering pies, do lovers prove: They love indeed, who quake to say 10 they love.

7 Ed. 1591, "how."

"is learned."

4 Ed. 1591, "Protest."

6 Ed. 1591,

"dart."

Ed. 1591,"truth." 10 Ed. 1591,

"dare not say."

• Ed. 1591, N. B. Ed. 1591 of Astrophel and Stella, from which the various readings in this and the preceding pages are taken, is not the same which was printed by Thomas Newman in that year; (see Ritson's Bibliographia, and Herbert's Ames:) but one by Matthew Lownes which is without date, agrees with it in title, and is, in all probability, a reprint. The year in which it was published may be ascertained from internal evidence.

SONG.

[From "Astrophel and Stella." Not contained in ed. 1591.]

"WHO is it that this dark night
"Underneath my window plaineth ?"

It is one who, from thy sight

Being (ah!) exil'd, disdaineth
Every other vulgar light.

"Why, alas! and are you

he?

"Be not yet those fancies changed ?"

Dear, when you find change in me,
Though from me you be estranged,

Let my change to ruin be.

"What if you new beauties see?

"Will not they stir new affection?"

I will think they pictures be

(Image-like of saint's perfection) Poorly counterfeiting thee.

"Peace! I think that some give ear;
"Come no more, lest I get anger.'
Bliss! I will my bliss forbear,
Fearing, sweet, you to endanger:
my soul shall harbour there.

But

"Well, begone! begone, I say,

"Lest that Argus' eyes perceive you

O! unjust is Fortune's sway,

Which can make me thus to leave you,
And from louts to run away !

A TALE.

[Vide "Pembroke's Arcadia,” p. 705, octavo edit. and 377, ed. 1596]

A NEIGHBOUR mine not long ago there was,
But nameless he, for blameless he shall be,
That married had a trick and bonny lass
As in a summer day a man might see:
But he himself a foul unhandsome groom,
And far unfit to hold so good a room.

Now, whether mov'd with self-unworthiness,
Or with her beauty, fit to make a prey,
Fell jealousy did so his brain oppress,

That if he absent were but half a day,

He guest the worst (you wot what is the worst), And in himself new doubting causes nurst.

While thus he fear'd the silly innocent,

Who yet was good, because she knew none ill, S

VOL. II.

Unto his house a jolly shepherd went,

To whom our prince did bear a great good will; Because in wrestling, and in pastoral,

He far did pass the rest of shepherds all.

And therefore he a courtier was benamed;

And as a courtier was with cheer received (For they have tongues to make a poor man blamed

If he to them his duty misconceived);

And, for this courtier should well like his table, The good man bade his wife be serviceable.

And so she was, and all with good intent:

But few days past, while she good manner used,

But that her husband thought her service bent
To such an end as he might be abused;
Yet, like a coward, fearing stranger's pride,
He made the simple wench his wrath abide.

With chumpish looks, hard words, and secret nips, Grumbling at her when she his kindness sought, Asking her how she tasted courtier's lips,

He forc'd her think that which she never thought. In fine, he made her guess there was some sweet In that which he so fear'd that she should meet.

When once this enter'd was in woman's heart,
And that it had inflam'd a new desire,

There rested then to play a woman's part;

Fuel to seek, and not to quench the fire. But (for his jealous eye she well did find) She studied cunning how the same to blind.

And thus she did. One day to him she came,

And, though against his will, on him she lean'd, And out 'gan cry, "Ah, well-away for shame!

"If you help not, our wedlock will be stain'd!" The good man, starting, ask'd what did her move? She sigh'd, and said the bad guest sought her love.

He, little looking that she should complain

Of that, whereto he fear'd she was inclin'd; Bussing her oft, and in his heart full fain,

He did demand what remedy to find; How they might get that guest from them to wend, And yet, the prince, that lov'd him, not offend.

"Husband," quoth she, "go to him by and by, "And tell him you do find I do him love: "And therefore pray him, that of courtesy

"He will absent himself, lest he should move "A young girl's heart to that were shame for both : "Whereto you know his honest heart were loth.