II. A DESCRIPTION OF A MOST NOBLE (Uncertain, but claimed for John Heywood.) IVE place, you ladies, and begone! The virtue of her lively looks Excels the precious stone; I wish to have none other books In each of her two crystal eyes It would you all in heart suffice I think Nature hath lost the mould So fair a creature make. 1 In Tottel's "Songs and Sonnets," 1557, as "A Praise of his Lady," among "Uncertain Authors." Ascribed to John Heywood by W. Forrest (or the transcriber of his poems), in a copy containing many alterations, and adapting the poem to Queen Mary, in Harl. MS. 1703, fol. 108; title as above. She may be well compared Unto the Phoenix kind, Whose like was never seen nor heard, In life she is Diana chaste, In work and eke in deed steadfast. If all the world were sought so far, Her roseal colour comes and goes More ruddier, too, than doth the rose, At Bacchus' feast none shall her meet, Ne at no wanton play, Nor gadding as a stray. The modest mirth that she doth use And hateth idleness. O Lord! it is a world to see Truly she doth so far exceed As doth the gillyflower a weed; How might I do to get a graff This gift alone I shall her give: III. BEING DISDAINED HE COMPLAINETH.1 (By Thomas Lord Vaux. Died in 1557.) F friendless faith, if guiltless thought may shield; If simple truth that never meant to swerve; If dear desire accepted fruit do yield; If greedy lust in loyal life do serve; My wonted cheer,-eclipsed by the cloud "Paradise of Dainty Devices," 1576, &c. K Yet heaven and earth, and all that nature wrought, No shade I seek in part to shield my taint, If that I quail, let justice me confute: Go, heavy verse; pursue Where pity shrined in cell of secret breast Awaits my haste the rightful lot to place, And loathes to see the guiltless man oppressed: Whose virtues great have crowned her more with fame Than kingly state, though largely shine the same. L. VAUX. IV. OF THE MEAN ESTATE.1 (By Thomas Lord Vaux or W. Hunnis.) HE higher that the cedar tree unto the heavens do[th] grow, The more in danger is the top when sturdy winds gan blow. Who judges them in princely throne to be devoid of hate, 1 "Paradise of Dainty Devices;" in edit. 1578 signed W. H; in edits. 1580 and 1596 signed W. Hunnis; in other edits. L. V. (or Lord Vaux). Doth not yet know what heaps of ill lie hid in such estate. Such dangers great, such gripes of mind, such toil do they sustain, That oftentimes of God they wish to be unkinged again. For as the huge and mighty rocks withstand the raging seas, So kingdoms in subjection be whenas Dame Fortune please. Of brittle joy, of smiling cheer, of honey mixed with gall, Allotted is to every prince in freedom to be thrall: What watches long, what sleeps unsure, what griefs and cares of mind, What bitter broils, what endless toils, to kingdoms be assigned! The subject then may well compare with prince for pleasant days, Whose silent night brings quiet rest, whose steps no storm bewrays. How much be we then bound to God, who such provision makes To lay our cares upon the prince! Thus doth He for our sakes. To Him therefore let us lift up our hearts and pray amain, That every prince that He hath placed may long in quiet reign. |