Than doth the sun the candle light,
Or brightest day the darkest night.

2 And thereto hath a troth as just
As had Penelope the fair;
For what she saith, ye may it trust,
As it by writing sealed were:
And virtues hath she many mo
Than I with pen have skill to show.

3 I could rehearse, if that I would,

The whole effect of Nature's plaint,
When she had lost the perfect mould,

The like to whom she could not paint:
With wringing hands, how she did cry,
And what she said, I know it, I.

4 I know she swore with raging mind, Her kingdom only set apart,

There was no loss, by law of kind,

That could have gone so near her heart;

And this was chiefly all her pain,
'She could not make the like again.'

5 Sith Nature thus gave her the praise,
To be the chiefest work she wrought,
In faith, methink! some better ways
On your behalf might well be sought,
Than to compare, as ye have done,
To match the candle with the sun.

TO HIS MISTRESS.

If he that erst the form so lively drew
Of Venus' face, triumph'd in painter's art,

Thy father then what glory did ensue,

By whose pencil a goddess made thou art? Touched with flame that figure made some rue,

And with her love surprised many a heart. There lack'd yet that should cure their hot desire: Thou canst inflame and quench the kindled fire.

TO THE LADY THAT SCORNED HER LOVER. 1 ALTHOUGH I had a check,

To give the mate is hard;
For I have found a neck,1
To keep my men in guard.
And you that hardy are,

To give so great assay

Unto a man of war,

To drive his men away;

2 I rede 2 you take good heed,
And mark this foolish verse;
For I will so provide,

That I will have your ferse.3
And when your ferse is had,
And all your war is done,
Then shall yourself be glad
To end that you begun.

3 For if by chance I win

Your person in the field,
Too late then come you in

Yourself to me to yield.

Neck:' apparently an expression used in chess playing, but the meaning
Rede:' advise. 3 Ferse:' the queen at chess.

is not clear.

For I will use my power,

As captain full of might;
And such I will devour

As use to show me spite.

4 And for because you gave

Me check in such degree,

This vantage, lo! I have,

Now check, and guard to thee.

Defend it if thou may;

Stand stiff in thine estate :

For sure I will assay,

If I can give thee mate.

A WARNING TO THE LOVER, HOW HE IS ABUSED BY HIS LOVE.

Too dearly had I bought my green and youthful years, If in mine age I could not find when craft for love

appears;

And seldom though I come in court among the rest,
Yet can I judge in colours dim as deep as can the best.
Where grief torments the man that suff'reth secret smart,
To break it forth unto some friend, it easeth well the

heart.

So stands it now with me, for, my beloved friend,
This case is thine, for whom I feel such torment of my

mind;

And for thy sake I burn so in my secret breast,
That till thou know my whole disease, my heart can

have no rest.

10

I see how thine abuse hath wrested so thy wits,
That all it yields to thy desire, and follows thee by fits.

Where thou hast loved so long, with heart and all thy

power,

I see thee fed with feigned words, thy freedom to devour :
I know (though she say nay, and would it well withstand)
When in her grace thou held thee most, she bare thee but
in hand.

I see her pleasant chere in chiefest of thy suit;

When thou art gone, I see him come that gathers up the fruit;

And eke, in thy respect, I see the base degree

Of him to whom she gave the heart that promised was to thee.

20

I see (what would you more), stood never man so sure
On woman's word, but wisdom would mistrust it to endure.

THE FORSAKEN LOVER DESCRIBETH AND FORSAKETH LOVE.

1 Он loathsome place! where I
Have seen and heard my dear;
When in my heart her eye

Hath made her thought appear,
By glimpsing with such grace,

As fortune it ne would
That lasten any space,

Between us longer should.

2 As fortune did advance
To further my desire,

Even so hath fortune's chance

Thrown all amidst the mire.

And that I have deserved

With true and faithful heart,
Is to his hands reserved

That never felt the smart.

3 But happy is that man

That 'scaped hath the grief,
That love will teach him can,
By wanting his relief.
A scourge to quiet minds
It is, who taketh heed;
A common plage1 that binds
A travail without meed.

4 This gift it hath also:
Whoso enjoys it most,
A thousand troubles grow,

To vex his wearied ghost.2
And last it may not long,
The truest thing of all:
And sure the greatest wrong,
That is within this thrall.

5 But since thou, desert place, Canst give me no account

Of my desired grace,

That I to have was wont;
Farewell! thou hast me taught,
To think me not the first

That love hath set aloft,

And casten in the dust.

'Plage' a toil or net. 2Ghost' spirit, mind.

R