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 God that I were perigall
Under that redolent rose to rest!

Yet at the least, my heart, thou sali
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 lustiest!

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!

belappit] downtrodden.

garth] garden-close.

inner mind, i. e. in spirit.

perigall] made equal to, privileged. with mind inwart] with

laif] rest.

44.

Lo

A Rondel of Love

O, 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.

45.

In Youth is Pleasure

Na harbour grene aslepe whereas I lay,

IN

C. 1550

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:

46.

In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure.

RICHARD EDWARDES

Amantium Irae

1523-66

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 crièd still, in sucking at her breast. She was full weary of her watch, and grievèd with her child, She rocked it and rated it, till that on her it smiled. Then did she say, Now have I found this proverb true to prove, The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of love.

Then took I paper, pen, and ink, this proverb for to write, In register for to remain of such a worthy wight:

As she proceeded thus in song unto her little brat,

Much matter utter'd she of weight, in place whereas she sat:

And proved plain there was no beast, nor creature bearing life, Could well be known to live in love without discord and strife: Then kissed she her little babe, and sware by God above, The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of love.

She said that neither king nor prince nor lord could live aright, Until their puissance they did prove, their manhood and their might.

When manhood shall be matched so that fear can take no place,
Then weary works make warriors each other to embrace,
And left their force that failed them, which did consume the rout,
That might before have lived their time, their strength and

nature out:

Then did she sing as one that thought no man could her reprove,
The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of love.

She said she saw no fish nor fowl, nor beast within her haunt,
That met a stranger in their kind, but could give it a taunt :
Since flesh might not endure, but rest must wrath succeed,
And force the fight to fall to play in pasture where they feed,
So noble nature can well end the work she hath begun,
And bridle well that will not cease her tragedy in some:
Thus in song she oft rehearsed, as did her well behove,
The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of love.

I marvel much pardy (quoth she) for to behold the rout,
To see man, woman, boy and beast, to toss the world about:
Some kneel, some crouch, some beck, some check, and some
can smoothly smile,

And some embrace others in arm, and there think many a wile,
Some stand aloof at cap and knee, some humble and some stout,
Yet are they never friends in deed until they once fall out:
Thus ended she her song and said, before she did remove,
The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of love.

47.

GEORGE GASCOIGNE

A Lover's Lullaby

ING lullaby, as women do,

SING

1525?-77

Wherewith they bring their babes to rest;
And lullaby can I sing too,

As womanly as can the best.
With lullaby they still the child;
And if I be not much beguiled,
Full many a wanton babe have I,
Which must be still'd with lullaby.
First lullaby my youthful years,

It is now time to go to bed:
For crooked age and hoary hairs

Have won the haven within my head.
With lullaby, then, youth be still;
With lullaby content thy will;

Since courage quails and comes behind,
Go sleep, and so beguile thy mind!

Next lullaby my gazing eyes,

Which wonted were to glance apace;
For every glass may now suffice
To show the furrows in thy face.
With lullaby then wink awhile;
With lullaby your looks beguile;
Let no fair face, nor beauty bright,
Entice you eft with vain delight.

And lullaby my wanton will;

Let reason's rule now reign thy thought;
Since all too late I find by skill

How dear I have thy fancies bought;