The Maiden's Dream

sig: A1

¶The maydens dreme Compyled and made by Chrystofer_Goodwyn, In the yere of our Lorde. M.CCCCC.xlij.

¶The Prohemye of the Authour.

BEholde you yonge Ladyes, of hyghe parentage

And you yonge virgyns, of eche degre

Here is a pamphlet, euen mete for your age

Where as in a myrrour, you maye lerne and se

Howe vycyous loue, you shulde eschewe and fle

Hauynge alway shamfastnes, in your maydenly face

Then can you neuer mysse, of vertue and grace.

sig: [A1v]

¶To loue I counceyll you, neuer enclyne

Except onely, it be for maryage

To the entent, to haue therby lyne

Yet in that case, take hede you not rage

For hasty loue commonly, ryght soone wyll aswage

And beware that you loue not, before you be wyse

Lest you repent you, more ofter than twyse.

¶Yet dyuers in loue, hath had happy chaunce

I speke by my-selfe, and many one mo

That of perfyte chaste loue, haue ben in the daunce

And sped to our myndes, yet for to do so

Thousandes haue myssed, and fynysshed in wo

Therefore I rede you, take good aduysement

Of good abydynge, none can repent.

¶Called is the name, of this lytell boke

The (Maydens dreme) which I hope shalbe

For your erudycions, yf you therin loke

Many a good instruccyon, here shall you se

Howe vertue to ensue, and vyce for to fle

For herein is contayned, both golde and glasse

They that worke well, shall well brynge to passe.

¶Thus to god, I do you commyt

Prayenge you to accept, this my lytell warke

For that it is so rudely done, is but for lacke of wyt

Howe-be-it euery man, can not be a clarke

Nor euery byrde flye, so hyghe as the larke

Ye wot what I meane, thus fare you well

Happy be they, that folowe good councell.

¶Thus endeth the Prologue.

sig: A2

¶The maydens Dreme.

IN the lusty, fresshe moneth of may

When the byrdes reioyse, euery glad speryte speryte: =spirit

Wyth theyr venerien voyces, in the dawne of the day venerien: =Venerean, 'pertaining to Venus or her service'

Then I whiche had not slept, of the hole nyght

By Morp[h]eus sodaynly, had lost my syght Morpheus] Morpleus 1542

Whiche in a golden slombre, right soone had me cast

Recheles youth, oft slepyth full fast.

¶As soone as I in, this slombre was brought

Two persons me-semyd appered in my syght

The one sayd (fayre loue) chaunge you must your thought

For come is the daye, passed is the nyght

Of chyldysshe ygnoraunce, wherefore of ryght

You must nowe lerne, what you are come to

Your yeres shall ensygne you, what you shall do. yeres: =ears

¶You are, she sayde, fayre, fresshe, and goodlye

Of all your membres, well proporcyoned

One of the mynyonest, vnder the skye

Amyable, pleasaunt, and well-fauored

Wherefore you shulde do, a great mysded

Yf to your age, you applye not your reason

For eche thynge ought, to be taken in season.

¶I neuer knewe, a more goodly mayden

More comely of body, ne fayrer of vysage

In your apparell, so fresshely besene

All correspondent, vnto your swete age

Your whyte quauering dugges, wold make a man rage

Of nature and loue, you be the chefe marke,

Good is the workman, that fortunatly doth warke

sig: [A2v]

¶Of reason and wysdom you haue suffycyent

As a mayde, of tender an age

In you there wanteth, none intendement

You are both wyse, dyscrete and sage dyscrete] be dyscrete 1542

You be also extracte, of noble lynage

Yet all this we maye, as nothynge repute

Onles in due season, be gathered the fruite.

¶Yf I were a man, beleue me for certayne

To be my loue, I wolde you requyre

For of all other, you be the most souerayne

Of bewtye, fauoure, and fresshe attyre

There is none lyuynge, but wolde you desyre

Your excellent bewtye, wolde a saynt moue

Ryght happy is he, that hath a fayre loue.

¶The mayden.

THen with that, made they a pawse

These two semblaunces, that I haue of tolde

The one approched nyghe, promotynge her cause

The other was not, fully so bolde

Her mind yet to vtter, I parceyued she wolde

Thus with me in my slombre, they wonderly wrought

Sowndly they slepe, that taketh no thought.

¶Thus as I was, slomberynge in my slepe

The swete sygnyfiaunce, of my dreme I gan to deuyse

Also what were these Ladyes, I toke busy kepe

That had with me reasoned, in so straunge wyse

Then theyr apparell, I dyd well aduyse

Wherein were gret letters, which I dyd rede with ease

Alwayes newe thynges, doth meruaylously please.

sig: A3

¶These letters forthwith, I began for to spell

And set them togyther, with all myne entent

As a mayden that coulde not, rede very well

Yet at the last, I knewe what they ment

The names of these ladyes, that were so gent

In them were contryued, wherefore to my mynde

He that well sercheth, shall alwaye well fynde.

¶The one was named (Amours) a noble dame

Rychely arayed, and it had ben a quene

As a lady of great renowme and fame

Whiche we call loue, so fresshely besene

The other was shamfastnes, that worketh loue moche tene

To wycked loue contrary, euer she is bent

Symple was her chere, and also her rayment.

¶Loue then began, with me for to reason

So dyd shamfastnes, when she se her tyme

They tolde me many, a goodly sermon

Comynge before me, as strayght as a lyne

And gaue me great batayle, eche one in theyr tyme

Assaylynge me with wordes, that persed my harte

Great is the assaulte, where none wyll astarte.

¶Loue.

¶Loue spake fyrste, and to me she dyd saye

My fayre mynyon doughter, so tender and yonge

Acustome thy youth, to sporte and to playe

To daunce and to lute, with many a swete songe

To haunte wanton company, to daly amonge

For fro me thou hast not, yet scaped the trase

Youth must aquyte her, or she from the passe.

sig: [A3v]

¶Shamefastnes.

¶Then answered shamefastnes, in sentence shorte

My fayre doughter, you shall not do so

For euyll is the worlde, beware of reporte

If you so offended, howe shulde you then do

Your louers wolde despyse you, and leue you in wo

So shulde you be shamed, in euery towne

Bewtye is nothynge, without good renowne.

¶Loue.

¶Shame whiche of feare, is engendryd and spronge

With this her doughter, Shamefastnes

Neuer dyd good, to them that be yonge

(Sayde loue) for youth to deceyue doughtelesse

They are euermore redy, to put them in presse

Beleue her not fayre mayde, for all her pratle

For age can nothynge, but bable and tatle.

¶Shamefastnes.

¶Ha my dere doughter, howe sore were you to blame

100

If suche an euyll woman, you dyd byleue

Not worth a festue, were then your good name festue: =fescue

For euery creature, then wolde you repreue

Whiche at the laste, full sore shulde you greue

Therfore beware, lose not your vyrgynyte

105

A vyrgy[n] is a name, of great honour and dygnyte.

¶Loue.

¶If you gyue credence, to this dastardly shame

You shall neuer be set by, a putred oynyon putred: =putrid

Take nowe your pleasure, lyke a lusty yonge dame

Or euer that youth be, departed and gone

110

Wherefore chuse, some goodly companyon

With whom you maye take, all your lust and plesaunce

There is no treasure, without suffycyaunce.

sig: [A4]

¶Shamefastnes,

¶Suche lyght counceyll, so soone to byleue

And after to take therby, some dysease

115

With gr[e]at payne you shulde, your-selfe then releue great] grat 1542

Wherfore I wyll tell, that shulde you best please

Suche hasty loue, is not worth a pease

To cast awaye your-selfe, euyll were that quayntaunce

For hasty loue, engendreth repentaunce.

¶Loue.

120

¶To suche a yonge damoysell, it doth appertayne

To be fryske, both ioyous, and Iolye

And when in suche poynt, she doth her mayntayne

To counte her amysse, it were a great folye

For she that with youth, can daunce best and dalye

125

Is counted most noble, be it mayden or wyfe

We haue in this worlde, no more but a lyfe.

¶Shamefastnes.

¶Helas, aduyse the, or euer thou smarte

Or els thou shalt be, lyke a marche-hare

Lyftynge thy hed vp, euyn lyke a harte

130

That thorowe the worlde, is chased with care

From suche foly, my doughter, alwaye beware

Be sobre and symple, and kepe the at home

A mayde is not set by, when her sadnes is gone.

¶Loue.

¶Yea thou art thy mothers onely darlynge

135

Therfore thou mayste, loue secretely

In goodnes and honour, care for nothynge

Praysed therfore, thou shalt be hyghly

At Bankettes and playes, be present dayly

At great feastes and tornays, where most people resorte

140

To moche to be fearefull, doth greatly dyscomforte.

sig: [A4v]

¶Shamefastnes.

¶To be tymorous in youth, as semeth me

Is a sygne, greatly for to be praysed

For feare with youth, alwaye shulde be

For recheles youth is, to be dyspysed

145

Wherfore drede is a sygne, as I haue deuysed

Of puer and clene chastyte, in mayden and wyfe

Eche noble harte, ought to drede a shamfull lyfe.

¶Loue.

¶Is it then shame, for to be Ioyous

And for to please, the people therby

150

What shulde we be, of other scrypulous scrypulous: =scripulous, a by-form of scrupulous; see OED s.v. scripulous

Or for that ensueth, to care for so greatly

Who that in youth, wyll lyue solytary

Prouyth by reason, to haue a weke spyryte

The assaye (at the laste) makyth the warke perfyte

¶Shamefastnes.

155

¶Other to auayle, thy-selfe for to harme

Is no great wysdome, as semeth me

I swere to the, by this ryght arme

If thou to loue assent, thou doest great folye

For thoughe thou, to thousandes set forth thy beaute

160

They wyll therfore esteme the, but lyke a beest sauage

Fylthy is the water, out of the ryuage.

¶Loue.

¶Thynkest thou it synne, for to beholde

Upon theyr fresshe cou[r]sers, these galantes so gaye coursers] cousers 1542

Betraped in sylke, syluer, and golde

165

Whiche with speare and sheld, at the iustes doth assaye

Manfully to wyn, the pryse yf they maye

Whiche won thorowe your loue, they gyue you the prayse

Thus amorus hartes, reioysen alwayes.

sig: B1

¶Shamefastnes.

¶Thou canst not do, to be more defamed

170

Then of a louer, to haue the name Then: =Than

For sonest by hym, thou shalt be shamed

That flaterynge in Amours, wyll call the his dame

God kepe the from suche, perpetuall shame

Or to be in suche a hasarde, for to desyre

175

A grene bough wyll bren, yf it be in the fyre.

¶Loue.

¶Reknowlege the goodes, gyuen the by nature

That so largely hath endued the, with vertus manyfolde

And eke therwith hath formed the, so fayre a creature

That it is a great pleasure, the for to beholde

180

Lease not therfore thy tyme, aduenture and be bolde Lease: =Leese, 'lose'

Leste thou yelde accompt, at the daye of dome

We ought to take hede, of that shall after come.

¶Shamefastnes.

¶The more goodly that nature, hath the formed

And with the more bewtye, she hath the furnysshed

185

So moche more with grace, thou shuldest be endoctryned

And with great vertues, for to be garnysshed

For yf thy harte to euyll, then be enployed enployed: =employed

For euermore, thou shalt lose thy good name

Well doth they watche, that flyeth fro shame.

¶Loue.

190

¶It were no nede (me-thynke) the to warne

If euer loue, had done the dyspleasure

Or to moue the thereto, so it were for thy harme

Rede the hystoryes, and thou shalt fynde I am sure

What payne noble parsons, for loue wolde endure

195

Yea were she neuer so hygh a prynces

To loue or be loued, wolde put her in prees.

sig: [B1v]

¶Shamefastnes.

¶Some ladyes I thynke, hath ben conuerted

With dyssolute loue, them-selfes to acquaynte

Whiche after ryght sore hath them repented

200

In makynge many a dolefull complaynte

Better thou were of that to make restraynte

Then forthwith to repent, as it were past and gone

For a thynge that is done, remedye is none.

¶Loue.

¶Dyd not kynge Arthurs moste noble wyfe

205

Ysode polixiene, and also medee

And many mo ladyes, of excellent lyfe

To Amorus loue, gyue all theyr stude

Whiche hath gyuen them a name of perpetuyte

Nowe of this tell me, who can them reproue

210

They neuer had Ioye, that neuer dyd loue.

¶Shamefastnes.

¶Who that wolde serche, theyr storyes thorow-out

Shulde fynde theyr ende, to be nothynge honorable

For dolorously all they endyd, without dout

As god be vnto me fauorable

215

Therfore be not to them agreable

Of examples there be, mo then one or two

Lascyuyous loue, doth fynysshe in wo.

¶Loue.

¶Narcissus that to loue, wolde neuer assent

Was chaunged by a fountayn, as in Ouid we fynde

220

By the goddes sharpe, and ryghtfull Iudgement

Be neuer therfore, so hawte nor vnkynde

But loue them agayne, whose harte thou hast and mynde

So shalt thou loue, for loue optayne

Honorable loue, is neuer in vayne.

sig: B2

¶Shamefastnes.

225

¶Susanne for her chastyte, of god was preserued

Bycause to folysshe loue, she wolde not condyscend

Saued she was, from beynge defoyled

Her honoure to kepe, she dyd euer entend

Hard was her begynnynge, vyctoryous was the end

230

Therfore lerne this of me, both mayden and wyfe

To dred t'offend god, is a blyssed lyfe.

¶Loue.

¶One maye well loue, without vyllanye

Or that any dyshonour, therby shulde aryse

For yf that any vyllayne, do thynke any folye

235

God can correct hym, in sondery wyse

In all honoure (my doughter) do not despyse

To loue, as nature doth entend

They that do as they ought, do not offend.

¶Shamefastnes.

¶Swete and atrayant, is the enterynge in-to loue

240

It is hony with gall, and myrre confycte

The begynnynge dowse, the end bytter to proue

For it wyl leue the alloone, as it seeth the discomfyte

In wo and care, wherfore it were great profyte

Neuer therin to enter, for all the kynde femynyne

245

For in the tayle, lyeth al the venyme.

¶Loue.

¶When a secrete man, you do parceyue and fynde

Hym truely to loue, you nede not to drede

So that he be loyall, secrete and kynde

In louynge suche one, you can not yll spede

250

For eche of you shall haue to your mede

All your pleasure togyther, with great Ioye and solace

One can not loue, in euery place.

sig: [B2v]

¶Shamefastnes.

¶Nothynge there is, so secretely hyd

But it is openly knowen, to all at the last

255

There was neuer woman, so well assuryd

That to couer her cryme, yet had the cast

But out it must, by some euyll blast

For feare to euery hascard, then must thou enclyne hascard: =haskard, 'base fellow'

Loue can departe, when she seeth tyme.

¶Loue.

260

¶Herken (my swete loue) is it not great owtrage

That is thus spoken, by this ypocryte

Helas, what wylt thou do, with thy yonge age

Shalt thou passe it ouer, as in the darke nyght

And thus cowardly, to put loue to flyght

265

Not payeng the trybute, of thy yonge dayes

Warkes be not fynysshed, without the assayes.

¶Shamefastnes.

¶My syster to loue, without flaterynge

Engendreth good loue, withouten fable

But the stroke of the matrasse, after losed is the stryng matrasse: =matrass, 'quarrel or bolt for the cross-bow'

270

If it flye farre, is not very stable

So cordiall loue, to all agreable

If it be put to farre, at aduenture

With payne can forget, suche is her nature.

¶Loue.

¶If nature wolde forfet, aboue yet is dame reason

275

For to withdrawe, and in tyme to correct

To th'ende that none shulde be deceyued at no season

Therfore thou mayst loue, withouten suspect

Of any creature, for to be detect

If thou rule the by reason, I swere by god on hye

280

For reason doth gouerne, aboue the sterry skye.

sig: B3

¶Shamefa[st]nes.

Shamefastnes] Shamefanes 1542

¶Who trusteth all vpon reason, as semeth me

May theyr good name, aduenture to farre

But who that, his neygbours howse doth se neygbours: =neighbour's

To be brennynge, in flamy[n]ge fyre

285

To saue theyr owne, had nede haue desyre

Lest other lykewyse, by theyrs shulde them warme

They are wyse can beware, by an-others harme.

¶Loue.

¶Eche one may knowe, and it is not fable

That a fayre mayden, that wyll haue no loue

290

Semyth to be folysshe, nyce, and vnstable

And knoweth no goodnes, ne none wyll proue

Whose iye as a_slepe, neuer doth moue

Without facyon, good mayntayne or maner mayntayne: =maintain, 'bearing, deportment, behaviour'

To haue knowlege, is a great treasure.

¶Shamefastnes.

295

¶To haue sobre knowlege, I counte it not yll

Without couetynge, to be subtyll-wyse

From pratelynge language, kepe your tonge styll

For that is in a mayden, the mother of all vyce

Be symple in chere, in answere take aduyse

300

Speke but lytell, onles ye be demaunded

For in moche clatter, many lyes are dyscharged.

¶Loue.

¶Yea, let them saye, what they saye wyll

That mayden, hath no maner of goodnes

That alwaye from loue, wyll kepe her-selfe styll

305

None shall her comforte, in her dystres

For euery creature, is loued doughtles doughtles: doubtless

For theyr graces, and good condycyon

A mayden ought not, to be a rebellyo[n].

sig: [B3v]

¶Shamefastnes

¶Haue shame alwayes, before your iyes

310

When you shall be to loue esprysed

The worlde shall loue you, in the more goodly wyse

And you shall not therby, of god be despysed

Thus let alwaye your empryse, be wysely conduted conduted: =conducted

To god I commende you, for done is my message

315

Who good counceyll beleueth, is counted as sage.

¶The mayden.

THen dyd I thanke, these ladyes both twayne

For the good counceyll, that they dyd me gyue

Promysynge I wolde, do my busy payne

Neuer t'offende, whyle that I dyd lyue

320

With that dame Aurora, of my dreme dyd me depryue

Wherwith all sodaynly from my slepe I abrayde

Pleasaunte dremes, maketh folke well a_payde.

¶When I fully was awake, out of this slombre

I thought oft of that in my slepe I had seen

325

And many tymes in my mynde, I dyd it remembre

For I wolde therof fayne, perfyte haue been

Thus at the last I had it so grauen

In my harte that I coulde not put it awaye

Dremes often are true, it can be no naye.

330

¶Then when I was vp, I went for to fynde

If by aduenture I coulde, get one to wryght wryght: =write

For I had fyxed holy my mynde

My dreme to enpresse, yf that I myght enpresse ='to put in the printing press'; cf. OED s.v. impress v1, 4. This sense is not recorded in OED s.v. enpress v, 'to press hard upon, oppress'.

Thus founde I one, that dyd it gladly endyght

335

Whose pen to be swyfte, I dyd greatly desyre

Longe taryenge on ryuers, oft is great daungyre.

sig: [B4]

¶Thus haue I recited it worde for worde

As in my dreme I dyd it fynde

As well as I coulde in my mynde it recorde

340

One sence vnwrytten not leuy[n]ge behynde sence ='the meaning or interpretation of a dream, or of anything cryptic or symbolical'; see OED s.v. sense n, 20b

And yf I haue fayled, it was not my mynde

Wherfore accept my good-wyll, I hartely you pray

The most expert is not assured alwaye.

¶And yf ther be conteyned of neuer so small substaunce

345

Any-thynge herein, worthy of memory

Or that therby any maye take theyr plesaunce

Let them the[re] gyue credence as they se cause why there] the 1542

Herein yet maye you lerne, howe to auoyde foly

And yf the name hereof you wolde wete

350

The maydens dreme, called is this pamphlete.

¶Lenuoy of the Authour.

GO forth lytell boke, and do thy-selfe present

Unto my yonge ladyes, and maydens of eche astate

Prayenge them with the to be content

And also with me that doe the dedycate

Unto them cheyfly, wysshynge them fortunate

And althoughe the metre, deuoyde be of eloquence

Yet is therin to be noted, many a good sentence.

¶Wherfore good vyrgyns all, I hartely you pray

For to take in gree, this my lytell payne

Howbeit I knowe well, that no man may

Take in hande a warke, but some wyll it dysdayne

But as for the Iugement, of any suche lyght brayne

I force not, so you therby I not offende

Whom alwaye (god wot) to please I do entende.

sig: [B4v]

¶The Authours name.

THus Adue, myne owne maystresses all

To (Chryst) I commende you, that sytteth on hye

Unto whom my prayers, I (Offre) shall

That with hym you may reygne, aboue the sterry skye

So I requyre you all hartely

(Good) virgyns to praye that I maye (wyn)

The eternall Glory, in auoydynge syn.

¶Thus endeth this lytell boke called the Maydens dreme.

¶Imprynted by me Robert_wyer, For Richarde_Bankes.

¶Cum priuilegio Regali.