UPON PRESENTING HER WITH THE SPEECH OF

GRAY'S-INN MASK, AT THE COURT, 1595,

Consisting of Three Parts-The Story of Proteus' Transformations, The Wonders of the Adamantine Rock, and a Speech to Her Majesty.!

WHO in these lines may better claim a part,
That sing the praises of the maiden Queen,
Than you, fair sweet, that only sovereign been
Of the poor kingdom of my faithful heart?

Or to whose view should I this speech impart, Where th' adamantine rock's great power is shown; But to your conq'ring eyes, whose force once known, Makes even iron hearts loath thence to part?

Or who of Proteus' sundry transformations,
May better send you the new-feigned story,.
Than I, whose love unfeign'd felt no mutations,
Since to be yours I first received the glory?
Accept, then, of these lines, though meanly penn'd,
So fit for you to take, and me to send.

1 Some observations on this Masque, and of the part taken in it by Francis Davison, will be found in the Memoir of him in this volume. That portion of it which is considered to have been written by Davison is inserted in a subsequent page.

ELEGY.

HE RENOUNCETH HIS FOOD, AND FORMER DELIGHT

IN MUSIC, POESY, AND PAINTING.

SITTING at board sometimes, prepared to eat,

mind on these

If't hap my
my woes to think,
Sighs fill my mouth instead of pleasant meat,
And tears do moist my lips in lieu of drink :
But yet, nor sighs, nor tears, that run amain,
Can either starve my thoughts, or quench my pain.

Another time with careful thought o'erta'en,

I thought these thoughts with music's might to chase: But as I'gan to set my notes in frame,

A sudden passion did my song displace:

Instead of rests, sighs from my heart did rise;
Instead of notes, deep sobs and mournful cries.

Then, when I saw, that these my thoughts increas'd,
And that my thoughts unto my woes gave fire,
I hop'd both thoughts and woes might be releas'd,
If to the Muses I did me retire;

Whose sweet delights were wont to ease my woe:
But now, alas! they could do nothing so.

For trying oft, alas! yet still in vain,

To make some pleasant numbers to arise, And beating oft my dullen" weary brain,

In hope some sweet conceit for to devise: Out of my mouth no words but groans would come; Out of my pen no ink but tears would run.

Of all my old delights yet one was left;
Painting alone to ease my mind remain'd;
By which, when as I look'd to be bereft

Of these heart-vexing woes that still me strain'd, From forth mine eyes the blood for colours came, And tears withal to temper so the same.

Adieu, my food! that wont'st my taste to please, Adieu, my songs! that bred mine ears' delight; Adieu, sweet Muse! that oft my mind didst ease; Painting, adieu! that oft refresh'd my sight; Since neither taste, nor ears, nor sight, nor mind, In your delights can aught, save sorrow, find.

m Dulled.-edit. 1608. The proper reading appears to be, "And beating oft my dull and weary brain."

SONNET.

TO PITY.

WAKE, Pity, wake! for thou hast slept too long
Within the tig'rish heart of that fierce fair,
Who ruins most where most she should repair,
And where she owes most right, doth greatest wrong.
Wake, Pity, wake! Oh do no more prolong

Thy needful help, but quickly hear my prayer;
Quickly, alas! for otherwise despair,

By guilty death, will end my guiltless wrong.
Sweet Pity, wake, and tell my cruel sweet,
That if my death her honour might increase,
I would lay down my life at her proud feet,
And willing die, and dying, hold my peace.
And only live, and living, mercy cry,
Because her glory in my death will die.”

n This sonnet, in the first edition, concludes thus :
"Tell her I live, and living, cry for grace,
Because my death her glory would deface."

I

ODE.

THAT ONLY HER BEAUTY AND VOICE PLEASE HIM.

I.

PASSION may my judgment blear,

Therefore sure I will not swear

That others are not pleasing :

But, I speak it to my pain,

And my life shall it maintain,

None else yields my heart easing.

II.

Ladies I do think there be

Other-some as fair as she,

But

Though none have fairer features;

my turtle-like affection,

Since of her I made election,

Scorns other fairest creatures.

III.

Surely I will not deny

But some others reach as high

With their sweet warbling voices :

But since her notes charmed mine ear,
Even the sweetest tunes I hear,

To me seem rude harsh noises.