Bulchevy's Book of English Verse Part 10

Alas! how oft in dreams I see Those eyes that were my food; Which sometime so delighted me, That yet they do me good: Wherewith I wake with his return Whose absent flame did make me burn: But when I find the lack, Lord! how I mourn!

When other lovers in arms across Rejoice their chief delight, Drowned in tears, to mourn my loss I stand the bitter night In my window where I may see Before the winds how the clouds flee: Lo! what a mariner love hath made me!

And in green waves when the salt flood Doth rise by rage of wind, A thousand fancies in that mood a.s.sail my restless mind.

Alas! now drencheth my sweet foe, That with the spoil of my heart did go, And left me; but alas! why did he so?

And when the seas wax calm again To chase fro me annoy, My doubtful hope doth cause me plain; So dread cuts off my joy.

Thus is my wealth mingled with woe And of each thought a doubt doth grow; --Now he comes! Will he come? Alas! no, no.

drencheth] i. e. is drenched or drowned.

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. 1516-47

41. The Means to attain Happy Life

MARTIAL, the things that do attain The happy life be these, I find:-- The richesse left, not got with pain; The fruitful ground, the quiet mind;

The equal friend; no grudge, no strife; No charge of rule, nor governance; Without disease, the healthful life; The household of continuance;

The mean diet, no delicate fare; True wisdom join'd with simpleness; The night discharged of all care, Where wine the wit may not oppress.

The faithful wife, without debate; Such sleeps as may beguile the night: Contented with thine own estate Ne wish for death, ne fear his might.

Nicholas Grimald. 1519-62

42. A True Love

WHAT sweet relief the showers to thirsty plants we see, What dear delight the blooms to bees, my true love is to me!

As fresh and l.u.s.ty Ver foul Winter doth exceed-- As morning bright, with scarlet sky, doth pa.s.s the evening's weed-- As mellow pears above the crabs esteemed be-- So doth my love surmount them all, whom yet I hap to see!

The oak shall olives bear, the lamb the lion fray, The owl shall match the nightingale in tuning of her lay, Or I my love let slip out of mine entire heart, So deep reposed in my breast is she for her desart!

For many blessed gifts, O happy, happy land!

Where Mars and Pallas strive to make their glory most to stand!

Yet, land, more is thy bliss that, in this cruel age, A Venus' imp thou hast brought forth, so steadfast and so sage.

Among the Muses Nine a tenth if Jove would make, And to the Graces Three a fourth, her would Apollo take.

Let some for honour hunt, and h.o.a.rd the ma.s.sy gold: With her so I may live and die, my weal cannot be told.

fray] affright.

Alexander Scott. 1520?-158-

43. A Bequest of His Heart

HENCE, heart, with her that must depart, And hald thee with thy soverane!

For I had liever want ane heart, Nor have the heart that dois me pain.

Therefore, go, with thy love remain, And let me leif thus unmolest; And see that thou come not again, But bide with her thou luvis best.

Sen she that I have servit lang Is to depart so suddenly, Address thee now, for thou sall gang And bear thy lady company.

Fra she be gone, heartless am I, For quhy? thou art with her possest.

Therefore, my heart, go hence in high, And bide with her thou luvis best.

Though this belappit body here Be bound to servitude and thrall, My faithful heart is free entier And mind to serve my lady at all.

Would G.o.d that I were perigall Under that redolent rose to rest!

Yet at the least, my heart, thou sall Abide with her thou luvis best.

Sen in your garth the lily quhyte May not remain amang the laif, Adieu the flower of whole delite!

Adieu the succour that may me saif!

Adieu the fragrant balme suaif, And lamp of ladies l.u.s.tiest!

My faithful heart she shall it haif To bide with her it luvis best.

Deploir, ye ladies cleir of hue, Her absence, sen she must depart!

And, specially, ye luveris true That wounded bene with Luvis dart.

For some of you sall want ane heart As well as I; therefore at last Do go with mine, with mind inwart, And bide with her thou luvis best!

hald] keep. sen] since. belappit] downtrodden. perigall] made equal to, privileged. garth] garden-close. laif] rest. with mind inwart] with inner mind, i. e. in spirit.

Alexander Scott. 1520?-158-

44. A Rondel of Love

LO, quhat it is to love Learn ye that list to prove, By me, I say, that no ways may The ground of grief remove, But still decay both nicht and day: Lo, quhat it is to love!

Love is ane fervent fire Kindlit without desire, Short pleasure, long displeasure, Repentance is the hire; Ane pure tressour without measour; Love is ane fervent fire.

To love and to be wise, To rage with good advice; Now thus, now than, so gois the game, Incertain is the dice; There is no man, I say, that can Both love and to be wise.

Flee always from the snare, Learn at me to beware; It is ane pain, and double trane Of endless woe and care; For to refrain that danger plain, Flee always from the snare.

Robert Wever. c. 1550

45. In Youth is Pleasure

IN a harbour grene aslepe whereas I lay, The byrdes sang swete in the middes of the day, I dreamed fast of mirth and play: In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure.

Methought I walked still to and fro, And from her company I could not go-- But when I waked it was not so: In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure.

Therefore my hart is surely pyght Of her alone to have a sight Which is my joy and hartes delight: In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure.

Richard Edwardes. 1523-66

46. Amantium Irae

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, 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, till that on her it smiled.