Chapter I: Part 1

Transcriber’s Note: Variable spelling and hyphenation have been retained from the original printing. Some minor errors in punctuation and capitalisation have been corrected, and some changes to the text are listed at the end.

SIR P. S. HIS
ASTROPHEL AND
_STELLA_.

Wherein the excellence of sweete
Poesie is concluded.

At London,
Printed for Thomas Newman.
_Anno Domini._ 1591.

SIR P. S. HIS ASTROPHEL AND _STELLA_.

Loving in trueth, and fayne my love in verse to show,
That the deere _Shee_, might take some pleasure of my paine:
Pleasure might cause her read, reading might make her know,
Knowledge might pittie winne, and pittie grace obtaine.
I sought fit wordes to paint the blackest face of woe,
Studying inventions fine, her wittes to entertaine,
Oft turning others leaves, to see if thence would flowe,
Some fresh and fruitfull showre, upon my Sunne-burnt braine.
But wordes came halting out, wanting inventions stay,
Invention Natures childe, fledde Stepdame studies blowes:
And others feete, still seem’de but strangers in my way,
Thus great with Childe to speake, and helplesse in my throwes,
Byting my trewand penne, beating my selfe for spite:
Foole saide my Muse to mee, looke in thy heart and write.

Not at first sight, nor with a dribbing shot,
Love gave the wound, which while I breath will bleede:
But knowne, worth did in mine of time proceede,
Till by degrees it had full conquest got.
I sawe and lik’d, I lik’d but loved not,
I lov’d, but did not straight what Love decreede:
At length to Loves decrees, I forst agreede:
Yet with repining at so partiall lot.
Now even that foot-steppe of lost libertie
Is gone, and now like slave borne Muscovite:
I call it praise to suffer tyrannie,
And now imploy the remnant of my wit
To make my selfe believe that all is well,
While with a feeling skill I paint my hell.

Let Daintie wittes cry on the Sisters nine,
That bravely maskt, their fancies may be tolde:
Or Pinders Apes flaunt they in phrases fine,
Enamling with pyde flowers their thoughts of gold:
Or els let them in statelyee glorie shine,
Ennobling new found tropes with problemes old:
Or with strange similes, inricht each line,
Of hearbes or beasts, which _Inde_ or _Affricke_ hold.
For me in sooth, no Muse but one I know,
Phrases and Problemes from my reach do growe.
And straunge things cost too deere for my poor sprites,
How then? even thus in _Stellas_ face I reede,
What love and beautie be, then all my deede
But coppying is, what in her nature writes.

Vertue (alas) now let me take some rest,
Thou set’st a bate betweene my will and wit;
If vaine love have my simple soule opprest,
Leave what thou lik’st not, deale not thou with it.
Thy Scepter use in some olde _Catoes_ brest,
Churches or Schooles are for thy seat more fit:
I doe confes, (pardon a fault confest,)
My mouth too tender is for thy hard bit.
But if that needes, thou wilt usurping bee
The little reason that is left in mee.
And still th’ effect of thy perswasions proove,
I sweare, my heart such one shall shew to thee,
That shrines in flesh so true a deitie,
That Vertue, thou thy selfe shalt be in love.

It is most true, that eyes are found to serve
The inward light: and that the heavenly part
Ought to be King, from whose rules who doth swerve,
Rebels to nature, strive for their owne smart.
It is most true, what wee call _Cupids_ dart,
An Image is, which for ourselves we carve:
And fooles adore, in Temple of our hart,
Till that good God make church and Church-men starve.
True that true beautie vertue is in deede,
Whereof this beautie can but be a shade:
Which Elements with mortall mixture breede,
True that on earth we are but Pilgrimes made,
And should in soule, up to our Country move:
True and most true, that I must _Stella_ love.

Some Lovers speake, when they their Muses entertaine
Of hopes begot, by feare, of wot not what desires,
Of force of heavenly beames, infusing hellish paine;
Of lyving deathes, deere woundes, faire Stormes, and friesing fyres.
Some one his songs in _Jove_ and _Joves_ straunge tales attyres,
Bordered with Bulles and Swannes, poudered with golden raine:
Another humbler witte to shepheards pipe retyres,
Yet hiding royall blood, full oft in Rurall vaine.
To some a sweetest plaint a sweetest stile affordes,
Whiles teares poure out his inke, and sighes breathe
His paper pale despaire, and paine his penne doth move.
I can speake what I feele, and feele as much as they,
But thinke that all the mappe of my state I display,
When trembling voice brings foorth, that I do _Stella_ love.

When nature made her chiefe worke, _Stella’s_ eyes,
In collour blacke, why wrapt she beames so bright?
Would she in beamy blacke like Painter wise,
Frame daintiest lustre mixte of shades of light?
Or did she els that sober hewe devise,
In object best, to strength and knitt our sighte
Least if no vaile these brave gleames did disguise,
They Sun-like should more dazell than delight.
Or would she her miraculous power shewe,
That whereas blacke seemes Beauties contrarie,
Shee even in blacke doth make all Beauties flower
Both so and thus; she minding Love should bee
Plaste ever there, gave him this mourning weede:
To honour all their deathes, which for her bleede.

Love borne in _Greece_, of late fled from his native place,
Forst by a tedious proofe, that Turkish hardned hart
Were no fit marke, to pearce with his fine pointed dart:
And pleasd with our lost peace, staide here his fleeting race.
But finding these North climes, too coldlie him imbrace,
Not usde to frosen clippes, he strave to finde some part
Where with most ease and warmth, he might imploy his art.
At length he preach’d himselfe in _Stellas_ joyfull face,
Whose faire skinne, beamie eyes, like morning Sunne on snow:
Deceiv’d the quaking boy, who thought from so pure light,
Effects of livelie heate must needes in nature growe.
But shee most faire, most colde; made him thence take his flight
To my close hart; where while some fire brands he did lay,
He burnt unwares his wings, and cannot fly away.

Queene Vertues Court, which some call _Stellas_ face,
Prepar’d by Natures cheefest furniture:
Hath his front built of Alabaster pure.
Gold is the covering of that statelie place.
The doore, by which sometimes comes forth her grace
Red Porphire is, which locke of Pearle makes sure:
Whose Porches rich, with name of chekes indure,
Marble mixt red and white, doe enterlace.
The Windowes now, through which this heavenly guest
Lookes ore the world, and can finde nothing such,
Which dare claime from those lights the name of best,
Of touch they are, that without touch doe touch,
Which Cupids selfe, from beauties mine did drawe:
Of touch they are, and poore I am their strawe.

Reason, in faith thou art well serv’d, that still
Would’st brabling be, with sence and love in me:
I rather with thee climbe the Muses hill,
Or reach the fruite of Natures chiefest tree:
Or seeke heavens course, or heavens inside to see:
Why should’st thou toyle, our thornie soyle to till?
Leave sence and those that sences objects be,
Deale thou with powers, of thoughts leave love to will.
But thou wouldst needes fight both with Love and sence,
With sworde of witte, giving woundes of dispraise:
Till down-right blowes did foyle thy cunning fence,
So soone as they strake thee with _Stellas_ rayes.
Reason, thou knewest, and offered straight to prove;
By reason good, good reason her to love.

In truth oh Love: with what a boyish kinde
Thou doost proceede, in thy most serious waies;
That when the heaven to thee his best displaies,
Yet of that best thou leav’st the best behinde.
That like a Childe that some faire booke doth finde
With gilden leaves of colloured Velom, playes
Or at the most on some faire picture stares,
But never heedes the fruite of Writers minde.
So when thou sawest in Natures cabinet,
_Stella_, thou straight lokest babies in her eyes:
In her chekes pit, thou didst thy pitfall set,
And in her brest bo-peepe or touching lyes,
Playing and shining in each outward part:
But foole seekst not to get into her hart.

_Cupid_ because thou shin’st in _Stellas_ eyes,
That from her lookes thy day-nets now scapes free:
That those lips swelde so full of thee they be.
That her sweet breath makes all thy flames t’arise,
That in her brest thy pap well sugred lyes,
That her grace gracious makes thy wrongs, that shee,
What word so ere shee speakes, perswades for thee:
That her cleere voice, lifts thy fame to the skyes.
Thou countest _Stella_ thine, like those whose powres
Having got up a breach; (by fighting well)
Cry victorie, this faire day all is ours:
Oh no, her heart is such a Cytadell.
So fortified with wit, stor’d with disdaine:
That to winne it, is all the skill and paine.

_Phœbus_ was Judge, betweene _Jove_, _Mars,_ & love,
Of those three Gods whose armes the fairest were:
_Joves_ golden shield, did Eagle Sables beare:
Whose talents held young _Ganimede_ above.
But in verde fielde, _Mars_ bare a golden Speare,
Which through a bleeding heart, his point did shove:
Each had his Crest, _Mars_ carried _Venus_ glove.
_Jove_ on his Helme the Thunderbolt did reare.
_Cupid_ then smiles, for on his crest there lyes
_Stellas_ faire haire, her face he makes his shielde:
Where Roses gueules, are borne in silver fielde.
_Phœbus_ drewe wide the Curtaine of the skyes
To blase the last, and swore devoutly then:
The first thus macht, were scarcely Gentlemen.

Alas, have I not paine enough my friend,
Uppon whose breast, a fiercer gripe doth tyre,
Than did on him, who first stole downe the fyre;
While Love on me, doth all his quiver spend,
But with your rubarbe wordes you must contend,
To greeve me worse in saying, that desier
Doth plunge my well form’d soule, even in the mier
Of sinfull thoughtes, which doe in ruine ende.
If that be sinne which doth the manners frame,
Well stayed with trueth, in worde and faith of deede,
Readie of wit, and fearing nought but shame;
If it be sin which in fixt hart dooth breede,
A loathing of all lose unchastitie;
Then love is sin, and let me sinfull bee.

You that do search for every purling spring,
Which from the rybs of old _Parnassus_ flowes,
And every flower (not sweete perhaps) which growes
Neere there about, into your Poesie wring.
Ye that do Dictionaries method bring
Into your rymes, running in ratling rowes,
You that poore _Petrarchs_ long deceased woes
With new borne sighes, & devised wit do sing;
You take wrong wayes, those far-fet helps be such,
As doe bewray a want of inward tutch,
And sure at length stolne goods doe come to light.
But if both for your love and skill you name,
You seeke to nurse at fullest brest of Fame,
_Stella_ behold and then begin t’endite.

In nature apt to like, when I did see
Beauties which were of many Carrects fine,
My boyling spirits did thether soone encline,
And Love I thought that I was full of thee;
But finding not those restles flames in mee
Which others said did make their soules to pyne,
I thought those babes of some pins hurt did whine:
By my love judging what loves paines might be.
But while I thus with this young Lyon plaid,
Myne eyes (shall I say curst or blest) beheld
_Stella_: now shee is nam’de, neede more be sayd?
In her sight I a lesson new have speld.
I now have learnd love right, and learnd even so,
As who by being poysond doth poyson know.

His mother deere _Cupid_ offended late,
Because that _Mars_ grew slacker in her love,
With pricking shot he did not throughly move
To keepe the pace of their first loving state:
The boy refusde, for feare of _Marses_ hate;
Who threatned stripes, if he his wrath did prove:
But she in chafe him from her lap did shove,
Brake bowe, brake shafts, where _Cupid_ weeping sate,
Till that his Grandam Nature pittying it,
Of _Stellas_ browes made him two better bowes:
And in her eyes of arrowes infinit.
O how for joye he leapes, ô how he crowes;
And straight therewith, like wagges new got to play:
Falls to shrewde turnes, and I was in his way.

With what strange checkes I in my selfe am shent,
When into Reasons Audit I doe goe:
And by just counts my selfe a Bankerowt know
Of all those goods which heaven to me hath lent,
Unable quite, to pay even Natures rent,
Which unto it by birth-right I doe owe:
And which is worse, no good excuse can showe,
But that my wealth I have most idely spent,
My youth doth waste, my knowledge brings forth toyes,
My wit doth strive, those passions to defende
Which for reward, spoyle it with vaine annoyes;
I see my course, to lose my selfe doth bende.
I see and yet no greater sorrowe take
Than that I looke no more for _Stellas_ sake.

On _Cupids_ bowe, how are my hart strings bent?
That see my wracke, and yet imbrace the same:
When most I glorie, then I feele most shame;
I willing run, yet while I runne repent;
My best wittes still their owne disgrace invent,
My verie ynke, turnes straight to _Stella’s_ name:
And yet my words (as them my penne doth frame)
Against themselves that they are vainely spent.
For though she passe all things, yet what is all
That unto me, who fare like him that both
Lookes to the skyes and in a ditch doth fall,
O let me prop my mind yet in his grouth
And not in nature, for best fruits unfit;
Scholler saith Love bend hitherward your wit.

Fly, flye my friends, I have my deathes wound, flye;
See there that boy, that murthering boy I say,
Who like a thiefe hid in a bush doth lye,
Tyll blooddy bullet get him wrongfull pray.
So, tyrant he no fitter place could spy,
Nor so farre levell in so secrete stay:
As that sweete blacke which veiles thy heavenly eye.
There himselfe with his shot he close doth laye.
Poore passenger, passe now thereby I did,
And staid pleasd with prospect of the place,
While that black hue from me the bad guest hid,
But straight I saw motions of lightnings grace,
And there descried the glisterings of his dart:
But ere I could flie thence, it pearst my hart.

Your words my freend right helthfull caustickes blame.
My young minde marde whom Love doth windlase so:
That my owne writings like bad servants showe
My wits, quick in vaine thoughts, in vertue lame;
That _Plato_ I reade for nought, but if he tame
Such coltish giers; that to my birth I owe
Nobler desires: lest els that friendly foe
Great expectation were a traine of shame.
For since mad _March_ great promise made to mee,
If now the _May_ of my yeeres much decline,
What can be hop’d my harvest time will be,
Sure you say well, your wisedomes golden myne
Digs deepe with learnings spade: now tell me this,
Hath this world ought so faire as _Stella_ is?

In highest way of heaven the Sunne did ride,
Progressing then from fayre Twynns golden place,
Having no maske of Clowdes before his face,
But shining forth of heat in his chiefe pride,
When some faire Ladies by hard promise tyde,
On horsebacke met him in his furious race,
Yet each prepar’de with Fannes well shading grace,
From that foes wounds their tender skinnes to hide.
_Stella_ alone, with face unarmed marcht,
Either to doe like him, which open shone:
Or carelesse of the welth, because her owne.
Yet were the hid and meaner beauties parcht,
Her dainties bare went free; the cause was this,
The Sunne which others burnt, did her but kisse.

The curious wits, seeing dull pensivenes
Bewray it selfe in my long setled eyes:
Whence those same fumes of mellancholie rise,
With idle paines and missing ayme do gesse;
Some that know how, my spring I did adresse,
Deem’d that my Muse some fruite of knowledge plyes:
Others, because the Prince my service tryes,
Thinke that I thinke, State errors to redresse;
But harder Judges, judge ambitious rage,
(Scourge of it selfe, still clyming slippery place)
Holds my young braine captiv’d in golden cage.
O fooles, or over-wise, alas the case;
Of all my thoughts have neither stop nor start,
But onely _Stellas_ eyes, and _Stellas_ hart.

Rich fooles there there be, whose base and filthie hart,
Lyes hatching still the goods wherein they flow:
And damning their owne selves to _Tantal’s_ smart,
Welth breeding want, more rich, more wretched grow.
Yet to those fooles, heaven doth such wit impart,
As what their hands doe hold, their heads doe know.
And knowing love, and loving lay apart,
As scattered things, farre from all dangers show.
But that rich foole, who by blind Fortunes lot,
The richest gem of love and life enjoyes,
And can with foule abuse such beauties blot:
Let him deprived of sweet, but unfelt joyes
Exilde for aye, from those high treasures which
He knowes not grow, in onely follie rich.

The wisest scholler of the wight most wise,
By _Phœbus_ doome, with sugred sentence sayes:
That vertue if it once meete with our eyes,
Strange flames of love it in our soules would rayse.
But for that man with paine this truth discries,
While he each thing in sences ballance wayes,
And so, nor will nor can behold those skyes,
Which inward Summe to heroicke mindes displaies.
Vertue of late with vertuous care to stir
Love of himselfe, takes _Stellas_ shape, that hee
To mortall eyes might sweetly shine in her.
It is most true, for since I her did see,
Vertues great beautie in her face I prove,
And finde th’ effect, for I doe burne in love.

Though duskie wits dare scorne Astrologie,
And fooles can thinke those lampes of purest light,
Whose number, waies, greatnes, eternitie,
Promising wondrous wonders to invite,
To have for no cause birth-right in the skyes.
But for to spangle the blacke weedes of Night,
Or for some Braule which in that Chamber hie,
They should still daunce to please a gazers sight.
For mee I doe Nature unydle know,
And know great causes, great effects procure,
And know those bodies high, raigne on the low.
And if these rules did fayle, proofe makes me sure,
Who oft foresee my after following case,
By onely those two starres in _Stella’s_ face.

Because I oft in darke abstracted guise,
Seeme most alone in greatest company,
With dearth of words, and aunswers quite awry,
To them that would make speech of speech arise;
They deeme, and of their doome the rumor flies,
That poyson foule of bubling pride doth lie
So in my swelling brest, that onely I
Faune on my selfe, all others doe dispise:
Yet pride (I thinke) doth not my soule possesse,
(Which lookes too oft in this unflattering glasse)
But one worse fault, ambition I confesse,
That makes me oft my best freends over-passe,
Unseene unheard, while thought to highest place
Bends all his powers, even unto _Stellas_ grace.

You that with allegories curious frame
Of others children changelings use to make,
With mee those paines for good now doe not take,
I list not dig so deepe for brasen fame.
When I see _Stella_, I doe meane the same
Princesse of beautie, for whose onely sake,
The raynes of love I love, though never slake;
And joy therein, though Nations count it shame:
I begge no subject to use eloquence,
Nor in hid waies to guide Philosophie,
Looke at my hands for no such quintessence,
But know that I in pure simplicitie,
Breath out the flames which burn within my hart,
Love only leading me into this arte.

Like some weake Lords Neighbord by mightie kings,
To keepe themselves and their chiefe Cities free,
Doe easily yeelde, that all their coast may be
Readie to serve their Campe of needfull things:
So _Stellas_ hart finding what power Love brings,
To keepe it selfe in life and libertie,
Doth willing graunt that in the Frontire he
Use all to help his other conquerings.
And thus her hart escapes, but thus her eyes
Serve him with shot, her lips his Heralds are,
Her brests his Tents, legges his tryumphall Chare,
Herselfe his foode, her skin his Armour brave.
And I but for because my prospect lyes:
Upon that coast, am given up for slave.

Whether the Turkish new Moone minded be,
To fill her hornes this yeere on Christian coast,
How Polands King mindes without leave of hoast,
To warme with ill made fire cold _Muscovie_,
If French can yet three parts in one agree,
What now the Dutch in their full diets boast,
How Holland harts, now so good Townes are lost,
Trust in the shade of pleasing Orange tree.
How Ulster likes of the same goldenbitt,
Wherewith my Father made it once halfe tame,
If in the Scottish Court be weltering yet;
These questions busie wits to me do frame,
I combered with good manners, aunswere doe,
But know not how, for still I thinke on _you_.

With how sad steps ô Moone thou clim’st the skyes,
How silently, and with how meane a face,
What may it be, that even in heavenly place,
That busie Archer his sharpe Arrowes tryes?
Sure if that long with love acquainted eyes
Can judge of love, thou feelst of Lovers case,
I reade within thy lookes thy languisht grace.
To mee that feele the like, my state discries.
Then even of fellowship ô Moone tell me,
Is constant love deemde there but want of wit?
Are beauties there, as proude as here there be?
Doe they above, love to be lov’d, and yet
Those Lovers scorne, whom that love doth possesse?
Doe they call vertue there ungratefulnesse?

_Morpheus_ the lively sonne of deadlie Sleepe,
Witnes of life to them that living die:
A Prophet oft, and oft an Historie,
A Poet eake as humors flye and creepe:
Since thou in me so sure a power doost keepe,
That never I with clos’d up fence doe lye,
But by thy worke, my _Stella_ I discry,
Teaching blind eyes both how to smile and weepe,
Vouchsafe of all acquaintance this to tell,
Whence hast thou Ivorie, Rubies, Pearle, and Golde,
To shew _her_ skin, lips, teeth, and head so well?
(Foole aunswers he) no _Indes_ such treasures hold,
But from thy hart, while my Sire charmeth thee,
Sweet _Stellas_ Image I do steale to mee.

I might, unhappy word, (woe me) I might,
And then would not, nor could not see my blisse:
Till now, wrapt in a most infernall Night,
I finde, how heavenly day (wretch) did I misse;
Hart rent thy selfe, thou doost thy selfe but right.
No lovely _Paris_ made thy _Helen_ his,
No force, no fraude, robd thee of thy delight,
Nor fortune of thy fortune Author is;
But to my selfe, my selfe did give the blow,
While too much wit forsooth so trubled me,
That I respects for both our sakes must show,
And yet could not by rysing morne fore-see,
How faire a day was neere, (ô punisht eyes)
That I had beene more foolish, or more wise.

Come let me write, and to what end? to ease
A burthened hart, (how can words ease, which are
The glasses of thy daily vexing care?)
Oft cruell fights well pictured forth doe please,
Art not asham’d to publish thy disease?
Nay, that may breede my fame, it is so rare,
But will not wise men thinke thy words fonde ware?
Then be they close, and they shall none displease,
What idler thing than speake and not be heard?
What harder thing than smart and not to speake?
Peace foolish wit, with wit my wit is marde;
Thus write I while I doubt to write, and wreake
My harmes in ynkes poore losse, perhaps some finde
_Stellas_ great power, that so confus’d my minde.

What may words say? or what may words not say,
Where truth it selfe must speake like flattery?
Within what bounds can one his lyking stay,
Where Nature doth with infinite agree?
What _Nestors_ counsell can my flames allay,
Since Reasons selfe doth blow the coles to me?
And ah, what hope that hope should once see day,
Where _Cupid_ is sworne page to Chastitie;
Honour is honoured that thou dost possesse
Him as thy slave, and now long needie Fame
Doth even grow rich, meaning my _Stellas_ name;
Wit learnes in _thee_ perfection to expresse,
Not _thou_ by praise, but praise in _thee_ is raised,
It is a praise, to praise where _thou_ art praised.

_Stella_, whence doth these newe assaults arise,
A conquerd, yeelding, ransackt hart to win?
Whereto long since, through my long battred eyes,
Whole Armies of _thy_ beauties entred in,
And there long since, Love thy Lieuetenant lyes,
My forces raz’d, thy banners rais’d within
Of conquest, what do these effects suffise,
But wilt new warre uppon thine owne begin,
With so sweet voyce, and by sweet nature so,
In sweetest strength, so sweetly skild withall,
In all sweet stratagems sweet Art can shew:
That not my soule which at thy foot did fall
Long since forst by thy beames; but stone nor tree
By sences priviledge can scape from thee.

This night while sleepe begins, with heavie wings
To close mine eyes, and the unbitted thought
Doth fall to stray, and my chiefe powers are brought
To leave the scepter of all subject things,
The first that straight my fancies errour brings
Unto my minde, is _Stellas_ Image, wrought
By Loves owne selfe, but with so curious draught,
That she me thinkes not onely shines but sings:
I start, looke, harke, but what inclos’d up sence
Was helde in open sence it flyes away,
Leaving me nought but wayling eloquence.
I seeing Better sights in sighes decay,
Conclude a new, and woed Sleepe againe,
But him her hoast that unkind guest had slaine.

Come Sleepe, ô Sleepe, the certaine knot of peace,
The bathing place of wits, the balme of woe,
The poore mans wealth, the prysoners release,
The indifferent judge betweene the high and lowe,
With shield of proofe, shield me from out the presse
Of these fierce darts, Dispaire at me doth throw;
O make in me those civill warres to cease:
I will good trybute pay if thou do so.
Take thou of me smooth pillowes, sweetest bed;
A chamber deafe of noyse, and blinde of light,
A rosie garland, and a wearie head.
And if these things (as being thine in right)
Move not thy heavie grace, thou shalt in mee
Livelier than els where _Stellas_ Image see.

As good to write, as for to lie and groane,
O _Stella_ deere, how much _thy_ power hath wrought,
That hast my minde now of the basest brought,
My still kept course while others sleepe to moane;
Alas if from the height of Vertues throane,
Thou canst vouchsafe the influence of a thought,
Upon a wretch which long _thy_ grace hath sought,
Way then how I by thee am overthrowne;
And then thinke thus, although _thy_ beautie be
Made manifest, by such a victorie,
Yet noblest Conquerers doe wreake avoide;
Since then _thou_ hast so farre subdued me,
That in my hart I offer still to _thee_,
O doe not let thy Temple be destroide.

Having this days, my horse, my hand, my Launce
Guided so well, that I obtaind the prize,
Both by the judgment of the English eyes,
And of some sent from that sweet enmie Fraunce,
Horsmen my skill in horsmanship advaunce,
Towne folke my strength: a daintier Judge applies
His praise to flight, which from good use doth rise:
Some luckie wits, impute it but to chaunce:
Others, because from both sides I doe take
My blood, from them that doe excell in this,
Thinke Nature me a man at Armes did make.
How farre they shoot awry; the true cause is,
_Stella_ lookt on, and from her heavenly face,
Sent forth the beames, which made so faire a race.

O Eyes which doe the Spheres of beautie move,
Whose beames all joyes, whose joyes all vertues be:
Who while they make Love conquer, conquer Love,
The Schooles where _Venus_ hath learnd Chastitie;
O eyes, where humble lookes most glorious prove,
Onely loved tyrants just in crueltie.
Doe not, doe not, from poore me, once remove,
Keepe still my Zenith, ever shine on me;
For though I never see them, but straight waies
My life forgets to nourish languisht sprights:
Yet still on me (ô eyes) dart downe your rayes;
And if from Majestie of sacred Lights
Oppressing mortall sence, my death proceede:
Wreckes tryumphs best, which Love hie set doth breed.

Faire eyes, sweet lips, deere hart, that foolish I
Could hope by _Cupids_ helpe, on you to pray:
Since to himselfe he doth your gifts apply,
As his maine force, chiefe sport, and easefull stay.
For when he will see who dare him gainsay,
Then with those eyes he lookes, loe by and by,
Each soule doth at Loves feete his weapons lay,
Glad if for _her_ he give them leave to die.
When he will play, then in _her_ lips he is,
Where blushing red, that Loves selfe them do love,
With either lip he doth the other kisse
But when he will for quiets sake remove
From all the world, _her_ hart is then his roome:
Where well he knowes, no man to him can come.

My words I know doe well set forth my minde,
My minde bemones his sence of inward smart;
Such smart may pittie claime of any hart;
_Her_ hart, sweete hart, is of no Tygers kinde,
And yet _she_ heares, and I no pittie finde,
But more I cry, lesse grace _she_ doth impart;
Alas, what cause is there so overthwart,
That Noblenes it selfe makes thus unkinde?
I much doe gesse, yet finde no truth save this,
That when the breath of my complaint doe touch
Those daintie doores unto the Court of Blisse,
The heavenly nature of that place is such:
That once come there, the sobs of my annoyes,
Are metamorphos’d straight to tunes of joyes.

_Stella_ oft sees the verie face of woes
Painted in my beclowded stormie face:
But cannot skill to pittie my disgrace;
No though thereof the cause _her selfe shee_ knowes.
Yet hearing late a fable which did show,
Of Lovers never knowne, (a grievous case)
Pittie thereof got in her breast such place,
As from _her_ eyes, a Spring of teares did flow.
Alas, if Fancie drawne by ymag’d things,
Though false, yet with free scope more grace doth breede
Then Servants wreck, where new doubts honor brings,
Than thinke my _Deere_, that in me you doe reede
Of Lovers ruine some thrise sad Tragædie:
I am not I, pittie the tale of me.

I curst thee oft, I pittie now thy case,
Blind hitting Boy, since _shee_ that thee and me
Rules with a becke, so tyranniseth thee,
That thou must want or foode or dwelling place;
For _Shee_ protests to banish thee _her_ face.
_Her_ face (ô Love) a roge thou then should’st bee,
If Love learne not alone to love and see,
Without desire to feede on further grace.
Alas poore wagge, that now a Scholler art
To such a Schoole-mistris, whose lessons new
Thou needes must misse, and so thou needes must smart;
Yet _deere_, let me this pardon get of _you_,
So long though he from booke mich to desire.
Till without Fuell, _thou_ can make hote fire.

What, have I thus betraide my libertie,
Can those black beames, such burning marks engrave
In my free side, or am I borne a slave,
Whose necke becomes such yoke of tyrannie?
Or want I sence to feele my miserie,
Or spirit, disdaine of such disdaine to have,
Who for long faith the daily helpe I crave,
May get no almes, but scorne of beggerie.
Vertue awake, beautie but beautie is;
I may, I must, I can, I will, I doe
Leave following that which it is gaine to misse,
Let her goe: soft, but there she comes, goe to,
Unkind I love you, not, (O mee) that eye
Doth make my hart give to my tongue a lye.

Soules joy, bend not those morning starres from me,
Where vertue is made strong by beauties might,
Where love is chastnes, paine doth learne delight,
And humblenes growes on with majestie;
What ever may ensue, O let me be
Copartner of the ritches of that sight:
Let not mine eyes be driven from that light;
ô looke, ô shine, ô let me die and see,
For though I oft my selfe of them bemone,
That through my hart their beamie darts be gone,
Whose curelesse wounds even nowe most freshly bleede;
Yet since my deaths wound is already got,
Deere killer, spare not _thy_ sweete cruell shot,
A kinde of grace it is to slaye with speede.

I on my horse, and Love on me doth trie
Our horsmanship, while by strange worke I prove,
A horsman to my horse, a horse to Love;
And now mans wrongs in me poore beast discry.
The raines wherewith my ryder doth me tie
Are reverent thoughts, which bit of reverence move,
Curbde in with feare, but with gilt bosse above
Of hope, which makes it seeme faire to the eye:
The wande is will, thou fancie saddle art,
Girt fast by memorie; and while I spurre
My horse, he spurres with sharpe desires my hart,
He sits me fast how ever I doe sturre,
And now hath made me to his hand so right,
That in the manage, my selfe do take delight.

_Stella_, the fulnes of my thoughts of thee
Cannot be stayed within my panting brest:
But they do swell and struggle forth of me,
Till that in words thy figure be exprest;
And yet as soone as they so formed be,
According to my Lord Loves owne behest,
With sad eyes I their weake proportion see
To portract what within this world is best.
So that I cannot chuse but write my minde,
And cannot chuse but put out what I write,
While those poore babes their death in birth doe find;
And now my penne these lynes had dashed quite,
But that they stop his furie from the same:
Because their fore-front beares sweet _Stellas_ name.

Pardon mine eares, both I and they doe pray,
So may _your_ tongue full flauntingly proceede,
To them that doe such entertainments neede;
So may _you_ still have somewhat new to say.
On sillie me, doe not _you_ burthen lay
Of all the grave conceipts _your_ braine doth breede,
But find some _Hercules_, to beard (in steede
Of _Atlas_ tyrde) _your_ wisedomes heavenly sway.
For me while you discourse of courtly tydes,
Of cunningst Fishers in most troubled streames,
Of straying waves when valiant errour guides:
Meane while my hart confers with _Stellas_ beames,
And is even woe that so sweet Comedie,
By such unfuted speech, should hindered be.

A Strife is growne betweene Vertue and Love,
While each pretends, that _Stella_ must be his;
Her eyes, her lips, her all, saith Love doe this,
Since they doe weare his badge, most firmely prove;
But Vertue thus, that title doth disprove.
That _Stella_, (ô deere name) that _Stella_ is,
That vertuous Soule, sure heyre of heavenly Blisse:
Not this faire outside, which our hart doth move;
And therefore, though _her_ beauty and _her_ grace,
Be Loves indeede, in _Stellas_ selfe he may
By no pretence claime any manner place.
Well Love, since this Demurre our sute doth staie.
Let Vertue have that _Stellas_ selfe, yet thus,
That Vertue but that body graunt to us.

In Martiall sportes I had my cunning tryde,
And yet to breake more Staves I did mee adresse
While that the peopl’s showtes: I must confesse,
Youth, luck, and praise, even filld my vaines with pride;
When _Cupid_ having me his slave descride,
In _Mars_ his liverie, prauncing in the presse.
What now sir foole said he (I would no lesse)
Looke heere I say; I lookt, and _Stella_ spide:
Who hard by through a window sent forth light;
My hart then quake, then daz’led were my eyes.
One hand forgot to rule, th’ other to fight,
No Trumpet sound I heard, nor freendly cries;
My foe came on, and beate the ayre for mee,
Till that her blush, taught me my shame to see.

Because I breathe not love to every one,
Nor doe not use sette Colours for to weare:
Nor nourish speciall locks with vowed haire,
Nor give each speech a full point of a grone,
The Courtly Nymphes acquainted with the mone
Of them, which in their lips Loves Standard beare:
What he, (say they of me) now I dare sweare,
He cannot love: no, no, let him alone.
And thinke so still, so _Stella_ know my minde.
Professe in deede, I do not _Cupid’s_ art.
But you faire Maides, at length this true shall find,
That his right badge, is but worne in the hart.
Dumbe Swans, not chattering Pyes doe Lovers prove,
They love in deed, who quake to say they love.

Fie schoole of Patience, fie, your Lesson is
Far far too long, to learne it without booke:
What, a whole weeke, without one peece of looke?
And thinke I should not your large precepts misse,
When I might reade those Letters faire of blisse,
Which in _her_ face teach vertue, I could brooke,
Somewhat thy leaden counsels which I tooke:
As of a freend that meant not much amisse:
But now alas, that I doe want _her_ sight,
What doost thou thinke that I can ever take,
In thy colde stuffe, a phlegmatick delight?
No Patience, if thou wilt my good, then make
Her come, and heare with patience my desires
And then with patience bid me beare my fire.

Muses, I oft invoked your whole ayde,
With choisest flowres, my speech t’engarland so,
That it disguisde, in true (but naked) show,
Might winne some grace in your sweet skill arraide;
And oft whole troupes of saddest words I stayde,
Striving abroade, a forraging to goe,
Untill by your inspiring I might know,
How their blacke banners might be best displaid.
But now I meane no more your helpe to trye.
Nor other sugering of speech to prove,
But on _her_ name uncessantly to cry.
For let me but name _her_ whom I doe love,
So sweete sounde straight my eares and hart doe hit,
That I well finde no eloquence like it.

Woe having made with many sighs his owne
Each sense of mine; each gift, each power of minde
Growne now his slaves, he forst them out to finde
The throwest words, fit for woes selfe to grone
Hoping that when they might finde _Stella_ alone,
Before _she_ could prepare to be unkind,
_Her_ soule (armed with such a daintie rinde,)
Should soone be hurt with sharpnes of the mone.
_She_ heard my plaints, and did not onely heare.
But them, so sweet is _she_, most sweetly sing,
With that faire brest, making Woes darknes cleere,
A prittie case I hoped her to bring,
To feele my griefe, and she with face and voice,
So sweetes my paines, that my paines me rejoyce.

Doubt there hath beene, when with his golden chaine
The Orator so farre mens harts doth bind:
That no pace els their guided steps can find;
But as in them more shorte or slacke doth raine.
Whether with words this sou’raigntte be gaine,
Clothde with fine tropes with strongest reason lin’d,
Or els pronouncing grace, wherewith his minde
Prints his owne lively forme, in rudest braine.
Now judge by this, in pearcing phrases late
Th’ Anatomie of all my woes I wrate,
_Stellas_ sweete breath the same to me did reede.
Oh voyce, oh face mauger my speeches might,
With wooed woe, most ravishing delight,
Even in sad mee a joy to me did breede.

Deere, why make you more of a dogge than me?
If he doe love, alas I burne in love;
If he waite well, I never thence would move;
If he be faire, yet but a dogge can be;
Little he is, so little worth is he:
He barkes, my songs thyne owne voyce oft doth prove;
Bidden, (perhaps) he fetcheth _thee_ a glove?
But I unbid, fetch even my soule to _thee_
Yet while I languish, him that bosome clips,
That lap doth lap, nay lets in spight of spight
This sour-breath’d mate tast of those sugred lips;
Alas, if _you_ graunt onely such delight
To witles things, then Love I hope, (since wit
Becomes a clogge) will soone ease me of it.

When my good Angell guides me to the place
where al my good I do in _Stella_ see,
That Heaven of joyes throwes only downe on me
Thundred disdaines, and Lightning of disgrace;
But when the ruggedst step of fortunes race
Makes me fall from _her_ sight, then sweetly _she_
With words, whereing the _Muses_ Treasures be,
Shewes love and pittie to my absent case.
Now I (witt-beaten long, by hardest fate)
So dull am, that I cannot looke into
The ground of this fierce love, and loving hate?
Then some good body tell me how to do,
Whose presence absence, absence presence is:
Blest in my curse, and curssed in my blisse.

Oft with true sighes, oft with uncalled teares,
Now with slow words, now with dumbe eloquence,
I _Stellas_ eyes assailde, invade _her_ eares,
But this at last is _her_ sweete breath’d defence,
That who indeede a sound affection beares,
So captives to his Saint both soule and sence,
That wholie _Hers_, all selfnes he forbeares.
Thence his desire he learnes, his lives course thence,
Now since this chast love, hates this love in mee;
With chastned minde I needes must shew, that shee
Shall quickly me from what she hates remove.
O Doctor _Cupid_, thou for me reply:
Driven els to graunt by Angell Sophistry,
That I love not, without I leave to love.

Late tyr’d with woe, even ready for to pine
With rage of love, I call my Love unkinde.
_Shee_ in whose eyes, love though unfelt doth shine,
Sweetely saide, I true love in her should finde.
I joyed, but straight thus watred was my wine:
That love she did, but with a love not blinde.
Which would not let me, whome she lov’d decline.
From Nobler course, fit for my birth and minde.
And therefore her loves Authoritie;
Wild me those Tempests of vaine love to flee:
And Anchor fast my selfe on vertues shore.
Alas if this the onely mettall be,
Of love newe coyn’d to help my beggery:
Deere, love me not, that you may love me more.

Oh Grammer rules, oh now your vertues showe,
So Children still read you with awfull eyes,
As my young Dove may in your precepts wise,
Her graunt to me by her owne vertue knowe.
For late with hart most hie, with eyes most lowe;
I crav’d the thing which ever she denies.
Shee lightning Love, displaying _Venus_ skyes,
Least one should not be heard twise, said no no.
Sing then my Muse, now I do Pæan sing.
Heavens Envy not at my high triumphing:
But Grammers force with sweete successe confirme,
For Grammer sayes (ah this deere _Stella_ way)
For Grammer sayes (to Grammer who sayes nay)
That in one speech, two negatives affirme.

No more my deere, no more these Counsels try,
O give my passions leave to runne their race:
Let Fortune lay on me her worst disgrace.
Let Folke orecharg’d with braine against me cry,
Let Cloudes be dimme, my face breake in my eye,
Let me no steps but of lost labour try,
Let all the earth in scorne recount my race;
But doe not will me from my love to fly.
I do not envie _Aristotles_ wit,
Nor do aspire to _Cæsars_ bleeding fame:
Nor ought to care though some above me sit;
Nor hope nor with another course to frame:
But that which once may winne thy cruell hart,
Thou art my wit; and thou my vertue art.

Love, by sure proofe I may call thee unkinde,
That gives no better cares to my just cryes:
Thou whom to me, such my good turnes shouldst binde,
As I may well recount, but none can prise.
For when nak’d boy, hou couldst no harbour finde
In this olde world, (growne now so to be wise)
I lodg’de thee in my heart: and being blinde
By nature borne, I gave to thee my eyes.
Mine eyes, my light, my life, my hart alas,
If so great services may scorned be:
Yet let this thought thy Tygrish courage passe,
That I perhaps am somewhat kin to thee:
Since in thine armes, if learn’d fame truth hath spred,
Thou bearst the Arrowe, I the Arrowhed.

And doe I see some cause a hope to feede
Or doth the tedious burthen of long woe
In weakned mindes, quick apprehension breede
Of every Image which may comfort showe.
I cannot brag of word, much lesse of deede,
Fortune wheels still with me in one sort slowe.
My wealth no more, and no whit lesse my neede,
Desier, still on stilts of feare doth goe.
And yet amids all feares, a hope there is
Stolne to my hart: since last faire night (nay day)
_Stellas_ eyes sent to me the beames of blisse,
Looking on mee, while I looke other way:
But when mine eyes backe to their heaven did move:
They fled with blush, which guiltie seem’d of love:

Hope art thou true or doost thou flatter me?
Doth _Stella_ now beginne, with pitteous eye
The raigne of this her conquest to espie?
Will shee take time before all wracked be?
Her eye speech is translated thus by thee.
But failste thou not in phrase so heavenly hye?
Looke on againe, the faire text better prie;
What blushing notes dost thou in Margent see?
What sighes stolne out, or kild before full borne
Hast thou found such and such like arguments?
Or art thou els to comfort me forsworne?
Well how so thou interpret the contents,
I am resolv’d thy error to maintaine:
Rather than by more trueth to get more paine.

_Stella_, the only Plannet of my light
Light of my life, and life of my desire,
Cheife good, whereto my hope doth onely spire,
World of my wealth and heaven of my delight.
Why doost thou spend the Treasure of thy sprite
With voice more fit to wed _Amphyons_ Lyre?
Seeking to quench in me the noble fyre,
Fed by thy worth and kindled by thy sight.
And all in vaine, for while thy breath most sweete
With choisest words, thy words with reasons rare:
Thy reasons firmely set, are vertues feete,
Labor to kill in me this killing care
Oh thinke I then, what Paradise of joy
It is, so faire a vertue to enjoye.

Oh joy, too high for my Love still to showe,
Oh blisse, fit for a nobler seat than mee
Envie put out thine eyes, least thou doe see
What _Oceans_ of delight in me doth flowe.
My friend that oft saw’st through all maskes, my woe,
Come, come, and let me poure myself on thee:
Gone is the winter of my miserie.
My spring appeares, ô see what heere doth growe,
For _Stella_ hath with wordes (where faith doth shine)
Of her high hart given me the Monarchie
I, I, ô I may say that she is mine.
And though she give but thus condicionally,
This Realme of blisse, while vertues course I take,
No Kings be Crownd, but they some covenant make.

My Muse may well grudge at my heavenly joy,
Yf still I force her in sad rymes to creepe:
She oft hath drunke my teares, now hopes t’enjoy
_Nectar_ of mirth, since I _loves_ Cup do keepe.
Sonnets be not bound Prentice to annoy,
Trebbles sing high, so well as bases deepe:
Griefe but Loves winter liverie is, the boy
Hath cheekes to smile, so well as eyes weepe.
Come then my Muse, shew the height of delight
In well raisde noates my pen the best it may
Shall paint out joy, though but in blacke and white.
Cease eager Muse, peace pen for my sake stay.
I give you heere my hand for truth of this:
Wise silence is best Musique unto blisse.

Who will in fayrest booke of nature know,
How Vertue may best lodgde in Beautie bee,
Let him but learne of love to read in thee
_Stella_ those faire lines which true goodnes showe.
There shall he finde all vices overthrowe:
Not by rude force, but sweetest soveraigntie
Of reason, from whose light, the night birdes flie,
That inward Sunne in thine eyes shineth so.
And not content to be perfections heir,
Thy selfe doth strive all mindes that way to move:
Who marke in thee what is in deede most faire,
So while thy beautie drives my hart to love,
As fast thy vertue bends that love to good:
But ah, Desire still cryes, give me some food.

Desire, though thou mine olde companion art,
And oft so clinges to my pure Love, that I
One from the other scarcely can discry:
While each doth blowe the fier of my hart:
Now from thy fellowship I needs must part.
_Venus_ is taught with _Dians_ wings to flye,
I must no more in thy sweete passions lie,
Vertues golde now, must head my _Cupids_ dart,
Service and honour wonder with delight,
Feare to offend, well worthie to appeare:
Care shining in mine eyes, faith in my spright,
These things are left me by my onely deare.
But thou Desire, because thou wouldst have all:
Now banisht art, yet alas how shall?

Love still a Boy, and oft a wanton is,
Schoolde only by his Mothers tender eye:
What wonder then if he his lesson misse,
When for so soft a rod deare play he trye.
And yet my starre, because a sugred kisse,
In sport I sucke, while she a sleepe did lye:
Doth lowre, naye chide, nay threat for onely this:
Sweet it was saucy love, not humble I.
But no scuse serves, she makes her wrath appeare,
In Beauties throne, see now who dares come neere
Those scarlet Judges, threatning blooddie paine.
O heavenly Foole, thy most kisse worthy face
Anger invests with such a lovely grace,
That Angers selfe I needes must kisse againe.

I Never dranke of _Aganippe_ well,
Nor never did in shade of _Tempe_ sit:
And Muses scorne with vulgar braines to dwell,
Poore Lay-man I, for sacred rites unfit.
Some doe I heare of Poets fury tell,
But God wot, wot not what they meane by it:
And this I sweare by blackest brooke of hell,
I am no Pickepurse of an others wit.
How fals it than, that with so smooth an ease
My thoughts I speake? And what I speake doth flowe
In verse; and that my verse best wittes doth please,
Gesse we the cause. What is it this? fie no,
Or so? much lesse. How then? sure thus it is,
My Lips are sure inspir’d with _Stellas_ kisse.

Of all the Kings that ever heere did raigne,
_Edward_ namde fourth, as first in praise I name:
Not for his faire outside, nor well linde braine,
Although lesse guift, imp feathers oft no fame.
Nor that he could young wise, wise valliant frame
His Syres revenge, joynde with a kingdomes gaine:
And gaind by _Mars_, could yet mad _Mars_ so tame,
That ballance waide what sword did late obtaine.
Nor that he made the Flower de lys so fraide,
Though strongly hedgd of bloody Lyons pawes:
That wittie _Lewes_ to him a tribuite paide;
Nor this nor that, nor any such small cause,
But onely, for this worthy King durst prove,
To loose his Crowne, rather then fayle his Love.

_Shee_ comes, and straight therewith her shining twins do move
Their raies to me: who in her tedious absence lay
Benighted in cold woe; but now appeares my shining day,
The only light of joy, the only warmth of Love,
_Shee_ comes with light and warmth, which like _Aurora_ prove;
Of gentle force, so that my eyes dare gladly play
With such a rosy Morne: whose beames most freshly gay
Scorch not; but onely doe darke chilling spirits remove.
But loe, while I do speake it groweth noone with mee,
Her flamy glittering lights increase with time and place:
My heart cryes ah it burnes, mine eyes now dazled be:
No winde, no shade can coole: what helpe then in my case?
But with short breath, long lookes, staide feete, and walking hed,
Pray that my Sunne goe downe with me her beames to bed.