Court of Venus, The

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T_H_E Courte of Venus. Newly and diligently corrected with many proper Ballades newly amended, and also added thervnto which haue not before bene imprinted.

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The Prologue.

IN the moneth of may when the new tender grene

Hath smothly couered the ground that was bare

Poudred with flours, so wel be_sene

I would haue brought my hart out of care

And as I walked in the wood so fayre

Thycke of grasse among the floures swete

And many a holsome herbe fayre vnder the fete.

I heard one hunt, me-thought it did blow

In a great horne of styfe sowne

At the roote of the heart, as farre as I could know

Toward the cry I had me fast bowne

And at the last, for_weary I sat me downe

Thynking a whyle to take my restyng

The houndes were gone out of my hearing.

And for-that I kn[e]w my-selfe to be alone knew] know 1563

And sodeinly my grefe, I beganne to complayne

Me-thought I had good place, my-selfe to mone

And ease my hart of myne owne payne

Besechyng Venus to lose me out of chayne

I was so fast and sure stong through the hart

Wyth the fyry chayne, that I could not start.

And as I was making my complaint

Of my true seruyce to my lady deare

And how nothing I was repentaunt

Saue to her presence, I was not taken nere

Genius came and asked me what cheare

Who is with Venus put in such trust

That lyke to dye for loue, confesse them he must. them: perhaps emend to 'then'?

Venus knew I had a woful hart

And wher we thus content she knoweth her relefe

To me therfore she send her owne clarke

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To slacke my sorowes, and helpe me of my gryefe

That was so far in daunger and myschiefe

For whether I would, she knew I durst not speake

Whych caused my hart in sonder to breake.

I layd my head betwixt my life and death,

Vpon his kne, and what he said I heard

And by that time I scarsly drew my breath

But hard his tale or I answered

It hath bene pity, him to haue disturbed

Oftentimes he bad, that I should leaue my wo

And sayd of my dysease ther were fyue hundreth mo.

He bad therfore that I wyth pen and ynke

[.]ery wyth wryting should make my complaynt

Ther shalbe a redresse, soner then ye thinke

And bad no more that my hear[t] should raynt heart] heare 1563

And of our bylles, he sayd he would none want

Of them he thought to haue good comfort

And would present him-selfe in Venus court.

For she entendeth, and that is in al hast

To surmount the parlyament as fast as can be done

And Iupiter himselfe within this day past

Hath commaunded Marcury for to be gone

Vpon his message, some cal him Stylbone

With his commission also for to compel

Mynos to come, the iudge of dreful hel.

To the mount of Cethro, wher Venus doth dwel

The preparement made is so farre exceding

That of such triumphe no storyes doth tel

That is aboue al other so farre transcending

And for the whyle, she had me by copying

Of these complayn[t]es which doth folow complayntes] complaynes 1563

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And after that I should know the matter thorow

The whole fashion of euery-thing

He would me send therfore we must be gone

Of matters determined, as wel as of the meting

But I besought him, or euer I were alone

That of Venus court he would interpret the fashion

Some-thing to make but he would not consent

Tyl it were concluded by the parliament.

But thus farre he sayd he durst report

That loue without charitie, should be put downe

Nor periured persons, should no more resort

Vnto the court[, for] Venus doth frowne court, for] court of 1563Fraser's suggestion.

When the religion hath them bowne

And to Diana them-selfe hath also sworne

And yet through Heccates in her court be borne.

Whom the Poets cal the gods of courtesy

That now is in so great dyspleasure

And like to be expelled for his baudry

Whych hath done mischiefe out of measure

Ipocrysye is spyed for al his treasure

That he spedeth as wel as the false foxe

As that in armes, had many a bloudy boxe.

And Venus intendeth Diana to compel

For to supporte vnder the coulour of chastitie

No more in asking, but to expel

Out of her retynew inconueniently inconueniently: incontinently? (Fraser)

For whose supporting she is had in ielousye

And thus he went and bad me farewel

And at another tyme he would me more tel.

And therfore I must (my reader) intreat

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Desyryng you hartely to be content

For though I haue not, I wyl not forget

To describe the court, I wil deligent deligent: see OED s.v. diligent v

And at the end of this complaynt set it

But I as nothing of myne induction nothing: noting?

Wyl once report of Genius instruction.

And here foloweth, wherin you may rede

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To the court of Venus a greate nomber

Their harts they say be as heauy as lead

Their sorowful wo, I am sure you wil tender

For if that I were mayden vncumber

And had such myght as she hath mone

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Out of their payne they should be lettin gone.

¶Thus endeth the prologue, and hereafter foloweth the new court of Venus.

CV9=Fraser [1]

MY penne take payne a lytle space

To folow the thing that doth me chase

And hath in hold, my hart so sore

And when thou hast this brought to passe:

My pen I praye the wryte no more.

Remember how thou hast oft pleased

And al my sorowes also eased

But now vnknowen, I knew before

That wher I trust I am deceyued

And yet my pen thou canst do no more.

A tyme thou hadst as other haue

To wryt whych way my hope to craue

That tyme is past, wythdraw therfore

[Sens we doe] lose and other saue Page trimmed, text supplied from 1549

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As good leaue of, and wryt no more,

And vse to worke another way

Not as ye would but as ye may

For els my lyfe is past restore

And my desire is my decay

And yet my pen now wryt no more.

To loue in vaine whosoeuer shal

Of worldly payne it passeth al

As in like case, I find wherfore

To hold so fast, and yet to fal

Alas my pen now wryte no more.

Seyng thou hast taken payne this space

To folow that whych doth me chase

And hath in hold my hart so sore

And now to haue brought this to passe

My pen I pray the to wryt no more.

Finis.

CV10=Fraser [2]

MY lute awake performe the last

Labour that thou and I shal wast,

And end that I haue new begone

For when this song, is gon and past

My lute be stil for I haue done

As to be heard wher care is none

A lead to graue in a marble-stone

My song may perse, heart as sone

Should we then syng, wepe or mone

No more my lute for I haue done.

The rocke doth not so cruelly

Repulse the waues continually

As she my sute and affection.

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So that I am past al remedy

Wherby my lute and I haue done

Proud of the splen that thou hast [g]ot got] shot 1563, gott Folger

Of symple hart, through loues [sh]ot shot] got 1563, shot 1549, Folger

Vnkind although thou hast them won

Thinke not he hath his owne forgot

Although my lute and I haue done.

Vengeaunce may fal on such dysdayne

That maketh but game of earnest paine

Trow not alone vnder the sonne

Vngently to cause to louers plaine

Although my lute and I haue done

And then may chaunce the to repent

The time that thou hast lost and spent

To cause thy louer to sighe and sowne

Then shalt thou know beauty but lent

And wyshe and want as I haue done

My lute be stil this is the last

Labour that thou and I shal wast

And end that I haue begonne

Or when this song is song and past

My lute be stil for I haue done.

Finis,

CV11=Fraser [3]

TO whom should I sue to ease my payne

To my mysters, nay nay certayne mysters: =mistress

For feare she should me then disdayne

I dare not sue, I dare not sue.

When I should speake to my mystres

In hope for to get redres

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When I should speake, when I shold speake

What hap had I that suffereth payne

And if I myght her grace attayne

Or els she would here me complayne

What hap had I, what hap had I.

I fly for feare to be espyed

Or of euil wil to be destroyed

The place wher I would faynest abyde

I fly for feare, I fly for feare.

Though I wer bold who should me blame

Loue caused me to do the same

Wyth honesty it were no shame

Thou[g]h I were bold, though I were bold. Though] Thouth 1563

And here an end, wyth ful glad wyl

In purpose for to serue her styl

And for to part thinke none yl

And here an end, and here an end.

Finis.

CV12=Fraser [4]

DYsdaine me not without desert

Nor leaue me not so sodeynly

Sence wel ye wot that in my hart

I meane nothing but honesty

Dysdayne me not

Refuse me not without cause why

Nor thynke me not to be vniust

Synce that by lot of fantasye

The careful knot nedes knyt I must.

Refuse me not.

Mystrust me not though some ther be

That fayne would spot thy stedfastnes

Beleue them not seyng that ye se

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The profe is not as they expresse

Mystrust me not.

Forsake me not til I deserue

Nor hate me not til I swarue

For syth you knew what I entend.

Forsake me not.

Dysdayne me not being your owne

Refuse me not that I am so true

Mystrust me not til al be knowen

Forsake me neuer for no new

Disdayne me not.

Finis.

CV13=Fraser [5]

FOrtune what ayleth the

Thus for to banyshe me

Her company whom I loue best,

For to complayne me

Nothing auayleth me

Adew farewel this nights rest.

Her demure countenaunce

Her womanly countenaunce

Hath wounded me through Venus darte,

That I cannot refrayne me

Nother yet abstayne me

But nedes must loue her with al my hart.

Long haue I loued her

Oft haue I proued her

Yet alas through dysdayne

Nothyng regardyng me

Nor yet rewardeth me

But letteth me lye in mortal payne.

Yet shal I [l]oue her stil I loue] Ioue 1563

Wyth al my hart and wyl

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Wher-so-euer I ryde or go

My hart my seruyce

Afore al ladyes

Is hers al-onely and no mo

She hath my hart and euer shal

In this terrestial

What can she more of me require

Her whom I loue best

God send her good rest

And me hartely my whole desyre

Finis.

CV14=Fraser [6]

I May by no meanes surmyse

My fantasy to resyst

But after the old gyse

To cal on had I wyst

And thought it to suffyce

That agayne I shal haue none

Yet can I not deuyse

To get agayne myne owne.

It is my hart that I haue lost

God send it me againe

I should it haue what-euer it cost

Or els I am but slaine

I study day and night

And loud I cry and cal

To be deliuered quyte

From her that I am thral

And yet agaynst al right

Of force I must stil mone

For it doth passe my might

To get agayne myne owne. etc.

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In tormentes I am torne

That no rest find I can

None so vnhappye borne

Sence that the world began

I aske but such corne

And such sede that was sowne

And yet though I had sworne

I cannot get my owne.

But seyng that I cannot

Attayne my true desyre

Nor by no meane may not

Crepe out of the fyre

Geue ought of your owne

By reason that you should not

Let me to haue myne owne.

Finis,

CV15=Fraser [7]

IF fantasy would fauour

As I deserue and shal

My loue my lady paramour

Should loue me best of al

And if I not attayne

The grace that I desire

Then may I wel complayne

My seruyce and my hier

Fantasy knoweth how

To forbeare my true hart

It fantasye might auow

Wyth fayth to take part

But fantasy is frayle

And fletynge styl so fast

That faith may not preuail

To helpe me fyrst nor last

Since fantasy at his luste

Doth rule al by gesse

Wherto shoulde I put trust

In truth and stedfastnes.

Yet gladly would I please

That fantasy of my hart

That may me onely ease

And helpe my careful smart.

Therfore my lady deare

Let se your fantasy

To make some [hope] appeare hope] 1563 omits, hope 1549

Of helpe and remedy

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For if ye be my frend

And vndertake my wo

My gryefe is at an end

If ye contynew so.

Els fantasy doth not ryght.

As I deserue and shal

To [haue] her day and night haue] 1563 omits, haue 1549

To loue me best of al.

CV16=Fraser [8]

DUring of payne and greuous smart

Hath brought me lowe and wonderous weake

That I cannot comfort my hart

Why sighest thou my hart and wil not breake

The sighes and plaintes are al in vaine

The teares that from thyne eyes doth leake

This life is death, this ioy is payne

Why syghest thou hart and wil not breake

Thou clymest to catche wher is no hold

Thou pullest the stringes that be to weake

Thy careful lyfe cannot be told

Why syghest thou hart and wyl not breake

The faythfuller thou dost endure

Lesse she regarded to heare the speke

And seyng pytye wyl the not cure

Why sighest thou hart and wil not breake.

As good thou were a_sunder to ryue

As thus in thought thy-selfe to breake

Better to dy then thus to lyue

Why syghest thou hart and wil not breake.

I pray the pytye shew redresse

Or els come death thy-selfe awreake

And if thou fynd no gentlenesse

Syth no more, but hart thou breake. breake] breaket 1563

Finis.

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CV17=Fraser [9]

Now must I lern to faine

And do as other do

Seing no truth doth raine

That I may trust vnto

I was both true and playne

To one and to no mo

And vnto me againe

Alas she was not so.

Vnknowen againe my hart

Into my foes hand

And euer I could astart

Out of that careful band

Al the wyt I had

Could sca[r]ce the knot vndo scarce] scace 1563

This careful lyfe I had

For one that was no[t] so. not] no 1563

The night right long and heuy night: Fraser emends to nightes.

The dayes of my torment

The sighes continually

That thorow my hart went

My colour pale and wan

To her dyd playnly shewe

That I was her true man

And yet she thought not so

Out of her sight no pleasur

But to my hart gret paine

And teares out of measure

Yt out of mine eies did raine

Her absence was my death

For to depart her fro

And yet alas her fayth

Was fayned and not so.

Not the feuer quartayne

Doth halfe a man so shake

As dyd the wo and payne

That dayly dyd me take

No slepe could I nor rest

But tossyng to and fro

And wheras I loued best

Alas she did not so,

And seing it is my chaunce

My loue in vaine to wast

I am not in that daunce

The first nor yet the last

But wise he is by once

That can his foly know

To reuoke at once

Seyng she wyl no[t] so. not] no 1563

Finis.

CV18=Fraser [10]

LOue whom you lyst and spare not

Therwyth I am content

Hate whom you lyst and spare not

For I am indyfferent

Do what you lyst and dread not

After your owne fantasye

Thynke what you lyst and feare not

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For al is one with me.

For as for me I am not

Wauering as the wind

But euen as one that reketh not

Whych way you turne your mind

For in your loue I doubt not

But as one that reketh not

Whether you hate or hate not

Is least charge of my thought.

Wherfore I pray you forget not

But that I am wel content

To loue whom you list and spare not

For I am indyfferent

Finis.

CV19=Fraser [11]

MEruaile no more al-tho

The songes I sing do mone

For other life then woe

I neuer proued none

And in my hart also

Is grauen with letters depe

And many thousands mo

The flouds of teares to wepe.

How may a man in smart

Find mater to reioyce

How may a woful hart

Set forth a pleasaunt voyce

Play who can that [part] part] depart 1563

In me must nedes appere

How fortune ouerthwart

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Perdye ther is no man

If he neuer saw syght

That parfectly tel can

The nature of the light

How should I than

That neuer tasted but soure

But do as I began

Continually to loure.

Such chaunce perchaunce may chaunce

To cause me chaunge my tune

And when such chaunce doth chaunce

Then shal I thanke fortune

And if such chaunce do chaunce

Perchaunce or it be long

For such a pleasant chaunce

To sing some pleasant song.

Finis.

CV20=Fraser [12]

SHal she neuer out of my mynd

Nor shal I neuer out of my payne

Alas her ioy doth [me] so bind me] 1563 omits, me 1549

For lacke of helpe now am I slayne

I neuer told her of my mynd

What payne I suffer for h[er] sake her] his 1563, her 1549

Alas what paynes myght I now find

That no displeasure with me she take

Yf I speake fayre she sayth I flatter

And if I dare not, I shal not spede

If I to her do wryte a letter

Then will she say she cannot rede.

Shal I dyspayre yet [for al]l this Text illegible, supplied from 1549

Nay nay my hart wil not do so Fragment breaks off here, at bottom of page