ARAMANTHUS

Forgive me Sir, I saw you not indeed. Thus studious I am wont to pass the time, By true proportion, of each line from line. To tell you that in this extreme distress, Were but a tale of Fortune's fickleness. Sometime I was a Prince of Lesbos I'll, And lived beloved, while my good stars did smile: But clouded once with this world's bitter cross, My joy to grife, my gain converts to lose. A short discourse of that which is too long How ever pleasing, can never seem but wrong: Yet would my tragic story fit the stage, Pleasant in youth, but wretched in mine age. Blind Fortune setting up and pulling down, A busde by those my self raised to renown: But y to which wrings me near, and wounds my heart, Is a false brother's base unthankful partly. You sing of yours, and I of mine relate: To every one, seems worst his own estate. But to proceed, exiled thus by spite, Both country I forgo, and brother's sighed: And coming hither where I thought to live, Yet here I cannot but lament and grieve. How are your sorrows subject, let me hear? A conflict, but to try your noble mind, As common unto youth, as rain to wind. Are you then sir, despised of your Love? Was she then lost within this Forest here? They know the want of health that have be sick, My self sometime acquainted with the Like, Do learn in duty of a kind regard, To pity him whose hap hath be so hard. How long I pray you hath she absent been? Mercurio regnant virum, subsequent Luna, Faeminum designate. I cannot tell what reason it should be, But love and reason here do disagree. By proof of learned principles I find, The manner of your love's against all kind. And not to feed you with uncertain joy, Whom you affect so much, is but a Boy. Mine Art does tell me so. I dare avouch what lately I have said, The love that troubles you, is for no maid. If it be false, mine Art I will defy. Repress the fury of your troubled mind: Walk here a while, your Lady you may find. Love carries him, and so retains his mind, That he forgets how I am left behind: Yet will I follow softly, as I can. In hope to see the fortune of the man. Well said my Boy, thou knowest not how to lie. What speed in that I told to you of late? I told you you should find a man of her: Or else my rule did very strangely err. The fittest remedy that I can find, Is this, to ease the torment of your mind. Persuade your selves that great Apollo can, As easily make a woman of a man, As contrariwise he made a man of her. Then humble suit prefer To him: perhaps your prayers may attain, To have her turned into her form again. Then in these verdant fields all richly died, With nature's gifts, and Floras painted pride: There is a goodly spring whose crystal streams Beset with myrtles, keep back Phœbus beams: There in rich seats all wrought of Ivory, The Graces fit, listening the melody: The warbling Birds do from their pretty bills Unite in concord, as the brook distilles. Whose gentle murmur with his buzzing notes, Is as a base unto their hollow throats. Garlands beside they wear upon their brows, Made of all sorts of flowers earth allows: From whence such fragrant sweet perfumes arise, As you would swear that place is Paradise. To them let us repair with humble heart, And meekly show the manner of your smart: So gracious are they in Apollos eyes, As their intreaty quickly may suffice. In your behalf, I'll tell them of your states, And crave their aides, to stand your advocates. Come go with me: I'll do the best I can. It is sufficient recompense to me, If that my silly help have pleasurde you. If you enjoy your Love and hearts desire, It is enough: nor do I more require. Lives my Atlanta, whom the rough seas wave I thought had brought unto a timeless graven? Welcome bade boy. I speak, and mean not him, nor him, nor thee, But speaking so, I speak and mean, all three. You three serve three, those three do seek to one, One shall her find, he comes, and she is gone. I take your meaning better then your speech, And I will grant the thing you do beseech: But for the tears of Lovers be no toys, I'll tell their chance in parables to Boys. Thy masters Do, shall turn unto a Buck. Thy masters Ewe, be changed to a Ram, Thy master seeks a maid, and finds a man. Yet for his labour shall he gain his meed, The other two shall sighs, to see him speed. No: hast thee home, and bid him right his wrong, The shepherdess will leave his flock ere long. No: tell him so, and bid him tend his Dear: And cease to woe, he shall not wed this year. Better my Boy, thou shalt thy master find, And he shall find the party he requires: And yet not find the sum of his desires. Keep on that way, thy master walks before, Whom when thou findest, lose him good Boy no more.